Immigrants from all kinds of different walks of life can end up pursuing U.S. citizenship though the naturalization process. This includes professional athletes. This can be seen in a recent news story football fans may have come across.
The news regards Cyrus Kouandjio, who plays offensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills. He is originally from Cameroon. When he was just a preschooler, he and his family came to America. That was 19 years ago.
Following his family’s move to the U.S., he grew up in Maryland, played football in high school and college and ended up making it to the NFL with the Bills.
This month, he had another major milestone: He became a U.S. citizen. He successfully completed the naturalization process and, on Nov. 17, he attended a ceremony in which he and over 30 other citizenship candidates were officially made citizens. He led the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance in this ceremony.
Now, Cyrus is not the first football player member of his family to become a U.S. citizen. His brother, Arie Kouandjio, completed the naturalization process earlier this year. Arie plays in the NFL as well. He plays for Washington as a guard.
As this news story underscores, there are many different roads that could lead to an immigrant pursuing U.S. citizenship. Whatever path has led a person to wanting to seek out U.S. citizenship through the naturalization process, applying for naturalization can be a complex process in which handling the various details the right way can be critical. So, whatever their particular background, an immigrant who is applying for U.S. citizenship here in Louisiana may find skilled legal guidance a helpful thing to have when trying to navigate the naturalization process.
Source: ESPN, “Bills OT Cyrus Kouandjio becomes U.S. citizen,” Courtney Schellin, Nov. 17, 2016