I Became a United States Citizen. Here's How. 

Folks we need to congratulate him in a way a British person understands. “Not bad, Lawrence. Not bad.”

When I was in high school, a classmate told me she would be absent the next day and could she see any notes I would take. I asked if everything was okay and she said, "Tomorrow, I'll be just like you! I'm going to become a citizen!"Forty-five years later, I can still hear the pride and excitement in her voice. Congratulations, Lawrence.

Congratulations, Laurence!!! My Mum came across the pond in 1946. After she had gone through all the hoops that you've gone through, she showed up to be sworn in, only to discover that because her father had been a citizen when she was born, she was already a citizen. They gave her a certificate anyway, dated on her date of birth.

Warmest and most extremely heartfelt congratulations Lawrence! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇬🇧

Congratulations 🎉 You know more about the US than most born and raised here!

I used to love naturalization ceremonies. While I was in the government, my staff and I processed almost 600,000 new citizens on our court over a 10-year period, sometimes 8-900 per day, five days per week. It was always such a joyful event. Congratulations, and welcome to citizenship. It can seem like a small thing from outside, but it changes a lot for the new citizen. Really happy for you.

My very British mother moved to the US in 1959. She became a citizen in 1984. She felt she had to earn it. It was one of the greatest days in her life. She was so proud of herself. She had always loved America having grown up in WWII England. She held more respect for the American military than anyone I know. She always said if it had not been for the GI's she'd be speaking German if she was even alive. So I am so glad that you took that huge step. It helps that you still keep your British citizenship.

Welcome to our big, crazy, messed up family, Lawrence. We're stoked to officially have you with us.

I feel like I've never been happier to say to someone I don't know, "Welcome to America!" Your video brought tears of joy to my eyes and happiness to my heart. Congratulations Lawrence, we're sincerely blessed that you are now officially, one of us! ❤️🎉🥳🤗🇺🇲🇬🇧

"The English child who'd obsessed over American textbooks was now a textbook American." I admit it, I got a little choked up on that one. Well done, Lawrence. Congratulations, my fellow American.

As a US citizen, I consider you to be a wonderful addition to the family. Congratulations!! All the best for you!!!

I grew up in Australia & Malaysia & born in Australia & became a US Citizen a number of years ago - without a doubt the most meaningful day of my life - there’s ups and downs in life & if you can meet it in the middle - you will never be ungrateful - truly blessed to call myself an American

I...I'm not crying... YOU'RE crying!! 🥲 Welcome Laurence, we're proud to have you, irredeemable laziness notwithstanding... 🎉🍻🍻

Congratulations!! Well done!! America loves you, Laurence!🇺🇸❤️🇺🇸

I used to be a bartender. A woman from Cambodia also worked there and we became friends. Some regulars and I would quiz her on practice test questions while we worked. She passed the test and I attended her swearing-in ceremony. It was very moving. 🇺🇸

Congratulations ! My wife got hers 2 years ago. We are proud to have you as a fellow American !

Congratulations! My brother in law became a citizen a couple of years ago and found it really touching when he traveled on his US passport for the first time. Instead of the semi-harassment he was accustomed to upon returning to the US on his green card (he’s from Central America and I’m ‘guessing’ CBP is concerned about drug trafficking from there), he happily reported that the only thing they said when he had his passport was “welcome home.”

Congratulations! I was 5 when my mother became a citizen and I attended her swearing in ceremony. I still remember it 66 years later. I'm thrilled for you.

Congratulations and Welcome to the Club Lawrence! This proud Vet loves your videos and is honored to call you a fellow citizen!

I was born a US citizen and I'm fairly certain I would not pass the citizenship test without studying as hard as you clearly did. Those are not easy questions and I appreciate the work you put into achieving your goal. Congratulations!

Congratulations Laurence 🙂 I am from East Anglia and after being here over 30 years on a green card I made citizenship in March of 2021 🇺🇲 This past November I voted for the first time and it was then that I felt complete as a USA citizen 😀 your video brought back memories of my day being interviewed, my interviewer opened his first question to me asking me if the queen knew I was here lol He asked me so seriously and then broke into a laugh... Congrats Laurence, my husband and I love your shows. If your ever in Michigan pop in for a cuppa tea 🙂

Your wife did a great job being the questioner. Her apathetic tone was spot on and funny

Congratulations! Happy that you are part of our voting public. You are definitely a great addition to our nation.

I don’t comment much on YT, but I feel like I have to now. A most hearty Congratulations Lawrence! I wish you the best of all luck going forward as you continue to find all the things Britain and your other home, America, have and do not have in common! I’m happy you feel at home in America, man. Even happier you feel at home in the beautiful Midwest. Hope everything is smooth sailing for you in 2023. Hope everyone reading this has smooth sailing this year.

This year my best friend became a US citizen. He also continues to have dual citizenship (in his case, Poland). I was honored that he included me as part of his family for the swearing-in ceremony. This was at the Federal building in Chicago and consisted of a much smaller candidate group than yours (perhaps 80-100). When we were standing in line, we were informed that only two guests were allowed per candidate, and those spots (naturally) went to his wife and son. However, the guy behind us in line was alone, so I became his guest for the day and was able to attend. It was a great day. My friend has been in the US since 1993, and it took him nearly 30 years to achieve this goal. Congratulations to you on becoming a US citizen.

That was a gripping depiction of how you became a citizen! You’re a terrific comedian and I’m happy to have you as a fellow American!

Congratulations! My hubby became a citizen January 15, 2015 in the Federal Courthouse in Kansas City, Missouri. He was born in Guyana (South America). It was the proudest day for he and I. I helped him study for his test which was very helpful when he and I actually began to work for Immigration. He still works there, I retired. The process is like a roller coaster ride. It isn't cheap nor is it easy. Again congratulations from the cousin of 2 presidents and niece of 1 (Adams, Adams and Jefferson). God Bless!

Congratulations, Lawrence. I remember a story Madeline Albright told about the difference between the British and the Americans when she and her mother were displaced during WWII. They first lived in England, and whenever she told people that she had fled Czechoslovakia, the English would ask her: "When will you be able to go home?" Years later, she and her family moved to the USA. And when she told them her circumstances, they always asked: "When are you becoming an American citizen?" (she came to the US in 1948 and became a citizen in 1957). And now you have an answer for that question, too. Hip hip Huzzah.

From an American who loves British culture, congratulations. We are blessed to count you among our ranks!

Congratulations Laurence!! Now you’re officially an American RU-vid sensation

I'm proud to be your sister American! It's embarrassing that I was born here but you know more about my (now our) country than I do, lol. Edited to add two things. 1. Your mother is beautiful! 2. I'm shedding happy tears for you, which caught me off-guard.

Congratulations Lawrence! My stepdad got his citizenship in 2008. Sadly, my mom had passed away from cancer 5 weeks earlier. He seriously thought he wouldn’t get it without her alive anymore, but he’d done everything needed already. It’s just very sad that Mom didn’t get to share in his triumph.

Congratulations on your citizenship. My sister-in-law aced her exam and finally became a citizen 2 months ago after living here w us for 10 years. Helping her study for the exam was eye-opening for me too, questions on things that I, a born citizen, shamefully didn't even know, but I do now.

I teared up when my Guatemalan buddy had his ceremony. You're Truly welcome and embraced, fellow American

So proud to have you as one of my fellow countrymen! You probably know more about this country than probably 80% of us!

Congratulations! I was honored to sing with my choir at a swearing-in ceremony in Boston several years ago, where over 200 new citizens were naturalized. Unexpectedly powerful experience!

Congratulations Laurence! Proud to have you as a fellow American! 🇺🇸

Congrats, Lauren! I typically don’t comment on this channel, but this is such wonderful news. I became a citizen on October 25 in 2018. That’s what I took the oath and everything. The citizenship test was about a month before that. It is so funny that I still remember the date because you can’t forget it. At least that was true for me. Congratulations once again! Now I’ll go back to watching the rest of this video.

Congratulations Laurence 🇺🇸🇺🇸 We love ya and are proud to finally be able to call you a fellow citizen!!

Congratulations Lawrence 🎉. We're lucky to have you. 🇺🇲

Lawrence I have been in the US military for 37 years in uniform and now as a Disabled Veteran military Civil Servant. I’ve served with British military folks and visited England as well. Bloody good to have you as a fellow citizen. Have a safe and happy new year my friend.

🇺🇸 Welcome to the American family, Laurence! Oh, how I wish the swearing-in ceremony were followed with a good ol’ American picnic for new citizens, complete with red & white checkered tablecloths, hot dogs, hamburgers, apple pie, and a sandlot game of baseball for the kids! Thanks for sharing your exciting news with us in your usual charming way. 🎉

Wow!! Made me tear up a bit there. CONGRATULATIONS!!!! We're incredibly lucky, happy, and honored to have you join us! Thank you!! (My most treasured family photo is of my mother holding my little sister during her naturalization ceremony. If you've never seen one, you owe it to yourself to go and observe the joy of people becoming U.S. citizens!!)

You make me feel proud to be an American citizen, Laurence :) Your excitement to live in this country and your subsequent commitment to having successfully pursued US citizenship makes me glad that I live here, too.

Congratulations 🎊🎈🎉🍾. Like you, I felt so happy when I became a US citizen. I say I have two homes: the UK will always be my biological home and San Francisco is my philosophical and spiritual home. I love being a US citizen.

Your announcement gave me a big smile. It is great hearing about your citizenship. Also great that you didn't lose your British citizenship. Being born here I never really knew how that worked. Your dual citizenship is a bit like having your cake and eating it too!

Yay! Congratulations, Laurence! We're honored to have you! 🇺🇸

Congratulations, Lawrence! I'm happy to call you a fellow United States Citizen!

Congratulations! I helped my wife become a citizen ten years ago. She had been here in the U.S. for several years on a green card before we met, and had become somewhat complacent with it. After we got together, I encouraged her to move forward, so she started the process. I coached her almost nightly for several months while she waited for her various appointments. Like you, she barely squeaked by on the knowledge interview, but she made it. I was very proud of her while watching her naturalization ceremony. She got her U.S. passport a few weeks after that and has used it numerous times since. Definitely easier than traveling abroad on her old passport and a green card.

CONGRATULATIONS Lawrence! We are honored to have you as a fellow countryman.

Congrats, Laurence! So very happy for you!! I almost spit my drink out when you said, "I also did it for the clicks." Also, can I just say, as a lifelong Chicagoan, I appreciate that you call the building the Sears Tower? I don't care who owns it, it will always be the Sears Tower. And thank you for your videos. I've learned so much about England AND the US from you.

Somehow I missed this video of yours! Congrats Lawrence! I myself became a citizen of your northern neighbour last June. I'm also also like to procrastinate, so it took me 13 years since I was eligible to do it :D Of course when I finally decided to apply, I had my English exam scheduled on March 21, 2020... As we all know the world abruptly stopped on March 13, 2020 :> So the thing that should take +/- 12 months since applying, took over 2 years. Thank Godness the Canadian exam has multiple choices, but there is 20 questions. Because of the leftover rules after the "vid", my ceremony was unfortunatelly on a zoom call, so it took some celebration from it. But anyway, congrats again from a dual citizen of Poland and Canada :)

Congratulations, Lawrence! You, like every one who becomes a new citizen of the United States by choice, make this country a better place to live every day. Thanks for doing so much to continue to tie the United States and Great Britain together. As someone who loves both countries you are greatly appreciated. Have a awesome day!

Thank you for choosing to do this and share it with us, and a most heart-felt congratulations on attaining your United States citizenship! God Bless, and officially speaking, WELCOME!

Congratulations, and Welcome Home! I stumbled on a naturalization ceremony once. I was at the local USCIS office for a software demo. When we came out, a single elderly man was being sworn in, his daughter by his side. It was so moving to hear him promise to defend this land that we love. It's not something taken lightly... (but I love the humor!)

Congratulations, fellow citizen! Well done. Thanks for sharing your experience. You always brighten my day 😄

Congratulations, you are now one of my favorite *American* RU-vidrs! Somewhere in my father's house there is a photo of my mother's swearing-in ceremony, with three-year-old me sitting on her lap holding an American flag. I hope my own kids get to experience the same if and when my wife naturalizes some day!

Congratulations! Just so you don't feel bad about taking a few years longer than required, I'm British but received my Canadian citizenship 43 years after moving here. I was a child at the time so I couldn't just do it myself, and then I got so used to living here I kept forgetting I wasn't Canadian. But it's quite a feeling to do that ceremony, isn't it, whichever country we have chosen to adopt.

Welcome, Laurence. You're a good guy, and we're lucky to have you...

As a natural born US citizen, I am so proud to be American. Nor do I take my citizenship for granted like so many people do. I respect and love America for what it represents, what possibilities it holds, and what great things come with bring as part of this great nation. I am honored to work with some of the newest citizens in obtaining their travel documents showing their new citizenship. I always congratulate the recipient of a recently issued Naturalization certificate. Congratulations Lawrence!

Congratulations 🎉 - as a born citizen it was such a pleasure to attend the citizenship ceremony for a friend a few years ago, it’s quite moving. I’m so glad you joined us!

Congratulations and Welcome! When you go to vote for the first time, tell the election official that it is your first time and you are a new citizen! I am an election official in Virginia. We always cheer and clap for our first time voters! Take care, stay safe, keep making these great videos!

Congrats Laurence! 🇺🇸🥳🎊🍾🥂🎉 Welcome to citizenship fellow American. 🤗 And Happy New Year to you and Tara. 🎆

Congrats! 🎉🇺🇸 I, too, am chronically and irredeemably lazy. How I got through a graduate program is honestly beyond me and it’s still an issue. Do you have any tips for a fellow lazy person?

Well done, Lawrence! Welcome to our club and by all means, help us leave it better than we found it! ❤️🇺🇲🇬🇧

As an immigration attorney of just shy of 30 years I can truly say that nothing makes me more happy than helping great people like you achieve dare I say the American Dream! Btw, anyone who has ever watched your videos knows you went 6 for 6 on the exam. Welcome to America.

Congrats. My husband received his citizenship 33 years ago. A shepherd from Yemen, obtained his dream at the age of 31 years old. He has said the hardest part was dropping his green card into the box on the way out of the courtroom. To this day, he flies the flag of his adopted country with pride.

Hell yeah! Congrats on becoming an American citizen! I hope you get all the best benefits out of it and enjoy the privilege, we're happy to have you :)

HELL YEAH BRUTHA! LOVE YA MAN. CONGRATULATIONS! To be honest you are MORE American than many Americans.

Congratulations Laurence. We were already counting you as one of our own anyways, but it's nice to have these things documented! We are grateful for your ambassadorial endeavors. Long live the Grimsby-Chicago connection. 😀✌👍👓🇺🇸🇬🇧

Congratulations to a fellow American!! It’s wonderful news. Thank you for all your hard work (Tara too ☺️). God bless!

Congratulations! Most of us have or our families have come from other places in the world. The reasons differ but all have helped the US become the unique country it is. Welcome!

You and John Oliver shared similar stories about how nerve-wracking the citizenship test can be even when you are well prepared. So glad you made it. Congratulations!🎉

Congratulations mate, as a fellow Brit from the Midlands with a similar America obsession like yourself I hope to one day emulate this 🎉

Congrats, friend. You picked a hell of a time to do it, but we're happy to have you nonetheless.

I used to edit a newspaper, and I often told younger reporters that nothing would make them prouder to be an American than covering a naturalization ceremony. I also told them that, as a class, the best interviews they would ever have we=would be with veterans.

Congratulations Lawrence! I remember my mother studying to get her citizenship and my grandparents babysitting us, so she could study. She came here from Japan by ship to the United States back in the 1950's.

Congrats! Over the years of Army service, I helped many of my soldiers attain citizenship and went to many, many swearing in ceremonies. I'm always humbled by the dedication of those who move here, work hard, and seek their citizenship.

Congratulations and welcome to citizenry!!!! This is yet another breakup between Britain and the US where the US clearly won, and it is definitely deserving of celebration. I love your content, and you yourself are incredibly endearing. I am both happy and proud to have you as a fellow citizen! 😊💝🇺🇸 You have helped to warm my cold, dead heart. 🖤--->❤️‍🔥--->💖

This is great! Congrats dude. I came here on a specialist employment visa, met a lovely local lady and we get married this year. I shall be applying for my permanent residency status this year shortly after returning from the honeymoon.

Congratulations. The test alone is pretty hard. There are born citizens that could not pass that thing. So for your dedication to making the effort and taking that plunge, I applaud you.

Congratulations! I’m glad you’ll be able to vote. Thanks for taking us through the process!

Congratulations, you are officially one of us now! Just remember to keep your heritage alive. My grandparents came here on Ellis Island and became citizens but in their zeal for their new country, did not pass their history along to their kids. My dad asked Grandpa to teach him Polish when he was growing up but was told, 'No, we are Americans now, we speak English'. I wish my dad was able to teach me Polish as I was growing up and to hear all the stories of my family, too. Honoring your British culture at home and being part of the American culture in public is not a contradiction, it adds savor to "the American Melting Pot"...

Congratulation Lawrence and welcome. My wife and I love your videos, especially your sense of humour! (We are also big fans of the Beesleys). My family came from Nottinghamshire in the 1700s . . . love the UK!

Congrats Lawrence. I remember swearing in myself. It was one of the greatest feelings I've ever had.

This made me tear up a little bit. Congratulations, sir. I hope to see a video about your first time voting in an American election. Seeing such ownership of this responsibility as a citizen is always inspiring. All the best to you.

Aww, congratulations, Laurence. With all of the research you’ve done and all the knowledge you have gained and shared, this is indeed well deserved! 🇺🇸

Congratulations ♥️ you know more about the United States than a lot of citizens 😂 I love your videos ❤

We're happy to have you join us, Lawrence! Congratulations 👏🎉

I'm guessing the cat is forcing him out in a hostile takeover of the RU-vid channel and house

Congratulations!!!❤😊 It is wonderful to welcome a new citizen and especially one who brought so much information to so many people born in the USA and around the world about how and why the USA is the way it is and how the UK is similar and different. All done with a sense of humor and good facts. Welcome and keep up the good work. Give your wife a hug and your cat an extra scratch for me.🎉🎉🎉

Congrats, Lawrence! We're happy to have you! :) My thoughts on some of the questions: "What does the Constitution do?" is a bit tricky even when you've studied the Constitution a fair bit. I mean, it does a lot of things, but which are they looking for in a brief summary? I guess I would have gone with "It defines the roles of the different branches of the federal government, and the rights of the American people." (But under pressure, I'm not sure I would have been so coherent.) I'm guessing they went with "Name one of the *two* longest rivers" since even most native-born Americans (including myself) probably would have said the Mississippi was the longest. I'm sure I learned at some point -- and subsequently forgot -- that the Missouri is longer, despite being considered a tributary of the Mississippi. Speaking of things I forgot, I must have learned the authors of the Federalist papers in 11th grade (US History), but I'd forgotten this by 12th grade. But now thanks to Lin-Manuel Miranda, I know: "John Jay got sick after writing five James Madison wrote twenty-nine Hamilton wrote the other FIFTY-ONE!"

Congratulations! My English wife went through her similar naturalization journey with a large group in Los Angeles in 1988. Now vote! Vote at every opportunity, and realize the weight of each of your votes.

Oh I am so glad you took this massive step! There are pros and cons, but a heck of a lot of pros. Welcome, Laurence as a U.S. Citizen! Congratulations!!

Oh, Laurence. I teared up. We're honored. Congratulations!

Congratulations Laurence! You are now entitled to complain about taxes and government full time, despise winters above the Mason Dixon line, overindulge in foods that taste great but most likely will take ten years off your life, go all out on the slightest holiday, (wooHoo! National house-cat day, let’s cook all day and get lickered up!) and remember little about history! I met a young Englishman who asked me if he’d be safe in America over the 4th of July. I said “Josh, you’ll be fine. 99% of Americans don’t even know who America fought regarding our freedom.” (Really, it’s sad. Ask a young American and they’ll say something like “Russia? Germany! No I know this…Iraq?”) Well done, well done! Health wealth and happiness!

We are so privileged to have someone like you as one of us. MANY Congratulations!

Our naturalized citizens are some of our most patriotic ones and a true treasure to our society. In all the countries of this world you chose to come here and do the work to be part of it. People have been doing this since it's inception and this is what makes us unique as a nation, it's the backbone of the country. You are part of our fabric now, and we are honored to call you our fellow American. I attended a naturalization ceremony with a friend from Honduras and cried, it was beautiful and reminded me of how much we as natural born citizens take for granted.

I had a feeling of dread when I saw you had an announcement so for the first time since becoming a subscriber I held back on clicking the "Like" button before I'd watched the video. After hearing your wonderful news I breathed a big sigh of relief, so now I can say "Congratulations, Laurence! Well done!" One thing-don't ever lose your British accent.

Oooh Laurence congratulations! You're one of us now! And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. 🎇🎆🇺🇸🇺🇸🗽🎆🎇