Apply for US citizenship now may save you money

11/22/07 Update -

The Dept of Homeland Security (DHS) failed to prepare for a massive influx of applications for U.S. citizenship and other immigration benefits this summer, prompting complaints that several hundred thousand people likely will not be granted citizenship in time to cast ballots in the 2008 presidential election.

This summer, immigrants rushed to beat drastic fee increases for naturalization, legal residency, work permits, international adoptions and a host of other immigration benefits.

Citizenship cases typically took about seven months to complete. Now, immigration officials can take five months or more just to acknowledge receipt of applications from parts of the country and will take 16 to 18 months on average to process applications filed after June 1.

Such a timeline would push many prospective citizens well past voter-registration deadlines for the 2008 primaries and the general elections.

Earlier this year I reported -

If you have your green card for 5 years or more (3 years or more for someone married to U.S. citizen), it is time to become an U.S. citizen!

You'll save $275 before July 30.

Remember, by becoming an U.S. citizen, you'll save more in long run. For example, you don't have to renew your green card every ten years.

Finally, if you need a proof of U.S. citizenship for any reasons; you'll save time & money by applying for a U.S. Passport ($97 and 10 - 12 weeks) instead.

Starting July 30 2007

- The fee for Naturalization (N-400) increases from $400 to $675.

- The fee to renew or replace Permanent Residence Card (I-90) increases from $260 to $370.

- The fee to apply for Certificate of Citizenship (N-600) increases from $255 to $460.

Considering a Mac

From wsj.com

Q. Who should consider a Mac?

A. Pretty much every average consumer (has money) using a computer should at least look at the Mac.

It combines gorgeous hardware with an operating system that is superior to Windows, with better built-in software.

It can even run Windows programs if you buy and install a copy of Windows.

And you won't be vulnerable to the vast array of viruses and spyware that threaten Windows users. Only a handful, so far, have been written to run on the Mac operating system, OS X.

Q. Who shouldn't consider the Mac?

A. People playing cutting-edge games should stick to Windows computers, because there are far fewer games written for OS X. Apple doesn't offer hardware tuned for serious gaming.

People looking for the lowest-price low-end PCs should also avoid the Mac, because Apple's cheapest model, the Mac Mini, costs $599. And, it is BYOKMM - Bring your own Keyboard, Mouse and Monitor.

Q. What desktops does Apple offer for consumers?

A. Apple's main consumer desktop is the one-piece iMac, which is the best (but expensive) consumer desktop on the market. It comes in four models, with built-in 20-inch or 24-inch, flat-panel screens at starting prices ranging from $1,199 to $2,299.

Q. How about Mac laptops?

A. There are two. The entry-level MacBook has a 13-inch screen and a starting price of $1,099. The high-end MacBook Pro comes with either a 15-inch or 17-inch screen and starts at $1,999.

Apple currently doesn't offer a smaller laptop for road warriors.

Q. What minimum specs should I look for on a Mac?

A. All Macs come with at least one gigabyte of memory -- twice the minimum required for the new version of OS X, called Leopard.

If you can, get two gigabytes. Apple charges a lot for extra memory, but you can buy it for less at stores and online providers.

Macs use the same dual-core Intel processors and graphics systems as many mainstream Windows computers; and, as with Windows, you shouldn't pay extra for greater processor speed.

The iMac comes with at least a 250-gigabyte hard disk, and Mac laptop hard disks start at 80 gigabytes.

Apple offers much larger disks as options, which you should consider if you store a lot of photos, music and video files.

Personal recession

By Liz Pulliam Weston

You may feel increasingly squeezed even while your income or assets are growing. Or you might think you're doing fine when your economic foundations are being eroded underneath you.

Liz Weston looks at three important indicators on your personal finances -- your real income (and how far it goes), your net worth and your economic prospects.

If you're not doing well in at least two of these three areas, you're in danger of sliding backward in your journey.

Make some moves now to make sure that doesn't happen.

Is your real income rising or falling?

If you're not making at least 2% more than you were last year, you're not keeping up with the general rate of inflation.

Even if your overall wages are growing, you might still be feeling a pinch.

The most likely culprits are health care, energy costs and food.

All are 4% to 5% higher than a year ago. The more of your budget that is spent on these expenses, the more you're likely to feel as if you're losing ground.

How's your net worth?

Ideally, your net worth is higher now than it was last year. But it might not be.

Your home's value may have slid, your investments may have faltered or you may have added new debt.

A one-year drop in net worth isn't necessarily a crisis, but you should have a plan to start building your wealth.

Possible economic fixes:

Pay down your debt

Increase your contributions.

Build your savings.

Now it's time to look at the final piece of the puzzle: your economic prospects.

How's your future look?

Is your company growing so fast it's bursting at the seams -- or did it just announce another round of layoffs?

If it's publicly traded, what do analysts say about its future, and how's the stock price doing? What are the prospects for your industry?

Now look closer to home.

How well-regarded are you within your company and within your industry?

Have you identified your next career step and determined how to get there?

Are you adding skills and people to your network of contacts, or are you hiding in your cubicle?