2024-25 US Pairs Discussion - Triple-Twisting Through Tornado Alley

[Amy L]

Are we about to find out about more sekret marriages in pairs now?

 

[farahfan]

You qualify to apply for citizenship 5 years after becoming a permanent resident, and getting permanent residency takes at least 2-3 years fastest

Yeah that's what everyone else has had to do. So I'm assuming there's something we don't know about Efimova's process, that would speed it up. Otherwise, I don't understand how USFS can be allowing them to harbor hope of going to the Olympics. Even Bal/Nagy said in an interview recently that they are hoping to get that second Olympic spot, that Ef/Mit can't take because of citizenship issues.

Are we about to find out about more sekret marriages in pairs now?

haha, no please. But even marriage would only speed up the green card process not the citizenship process, if I understand correctly. You still have to do your residency time.

 

[tony]

haha, no please. But even marriage would only speed up the green card process not the citizenship process, if I understand correctly. You still have to do your residency time.

No, getting married does speed up the process to as little as three years (after green card), and I'm pretty certain you can start filing for the process 90 days before the 3 years even hits.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

No, getting married does speed up the process to as little as three years (after green card), and I'm pretty certain you can start filing for the process 90 days before the 3 years even hits.

Tony where have you been. I feel like I haven’t seen you in a month.

 

[tony]

Tony where have you been. I feel like I haven’t seen you in a month.

Studying.

 

[farahfan]

No, getting married does speed up the process to as little as three years (after green card), and I'm pretty certain you can start filing for the process 90 days before the 3 years even hits.

Yikes. This is making me speculate way too much. I’ve got to sign off.

 

[Karen-W]

The only thing that I can think is that one of her parents has American citizenship & they made sure she obtained a US passport when she was a child. But I don't think that is the case at all.

 

[Amy L]

The only thing that I can think is that one of her parents has American citizenship & they made sure she obtained a US passport when she was a child. But I don't think that is the case at all.

I don't think so either. Wikipedia says that both of her parents are Russian, mom is a skating coach/dad is a doctor. She was born in Finland and her parents seemingly still live there. The timing wouldn't really work for anyone to detour to the US long enough to get citizenship.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Who is the coach on the right again? I remember him.

 

[Rukia]

maybe she was just trying to manifest or hasn't really bothered to look into it let her live

 

[Karen-W]

maybe she was just trying to manifest or hasn't really bothered to look into it let her live

I could have sworn they gave an interview either before Nats last year or this past fall where they indicated they were in it for 2030 since they knew citizenship by 2026 was a non-starter. Maybe the article author just got confused.

 

[farahfan]

I could have sworn they gave an interview either before Nats last year or this past fall where they indicated they were in it for 2030 since they knew citizenship by 2026 was a non-starter. Maybe the article author just got confused.

I’m going with the thesis of the Very Confused Journalist.

 

[Private Citizen]

Maybe they discussed Olympics (generally) and the journalist automatically assumed 2026 instead of 2030? None of their actual quotes seem to reference Milano-Cortina or 2026; all of the verbiage around 400 days, etc. is the journalist's language.

 

[Tesla]

From the article:

"I wanted to continue because my goal was and is to go to the 2026 Olympics. With my previous partner, that was also the goal. I was just not there and I want that," Efimova said. "And therefore, I was determined to go on."

 

[Karen-W]

So, Phil Hersh asked for clarification on Alisa's citizenship process during tonight's press conference and she shed ZERO light on it... Her answer was decidedly murky. Here's the video (timestamped) -

 

[Rukia]

So, Phil Hersh asked for clarification on Alisa's citizenship process during tonight's press conference and she shed ZERO light on it... Her answer was decidedly murky. Here's the video (timestamped) -

christina and vadym wondering why they never considered this vibes based attempt for citizenship before

 

[farahfan]

So, Phil Hersh asked for clarification on Alisa's citizenship process during tonight's press conference and she shed ZERO light on it... Her answer was decidedly murky. Here's the video (timestamped) -

Ok, so technically the thesis of Very Confused Journalist still stands, but now we’ve got two instead of one.

 

[Tesla]

Ok, so technically the thesis of Very Confused Journalist still stands, but now we’ve got two instead of one.

Maybe it's her if others are getting confused. She did mention 2026 in the first article.

 

[her grace]

Maybe she has an in with the Trump administration?

 

[Carolla5501]

You qualify to apply for citizenship 5 years after becoming a permanent resident, and getting permanent residency takes at least 2-3 years fastest

I’ve gone through this recently with two people, and it’s a slow process. The only way I know that you can get it done faster is a special law pass by Congress, which I think is highly unlikely for a figure skater. We don’t have a talent path as far as I know.

And honestly, if anything under this administration, it’s liable to slow down, not speed up. Unless of course he can convince she can convince Melia to dump the president and she can marry him.

 

[Tesla]

I just watched the clip. I don't think it's confused journalists.

 

[farahfan]

I just watched the clip. I don't think it's confused journalists.

I was being sarcastic. We’ve got two confused journalists but two different kinds of confusion. Just like the Trump folks are being sarcastic too.
I’m pretty stumped. She arrived to the US in Summer 2023 I believe and she needs citizenship by January 2026? They’re working with lawyers? There ends my knowledge of US immigration.

 

[Tesla]

I was being sarcastic. We’ve got two confused journalists but two different kinds of confusion. Just like the Trump folks are being sarcastic too.
I’m pretty stumped. She arrived to the US in Summer 2023 I believe and she needs citizenship by January 2026? They’re working with lawyers? There ends my knowledge of US immigration.

I'm sorry. Sometimes, I have a hard time getting sarcasm.

 

[Carolla5501]

The journalists don't seem near as confused as the skater IMHO.

 

[PRlady]

I’ve posted this before but it took my husband (from allied non “shithole country”) 3.5 years from green card application to citizenship. And we were told this was very fast, most of it during Biden admin. Additionally, he checked every box -older, not going to have more kids, property-owner and financial security, married to American who also has property and savings. He even worked full time here three years before retiring.

My daughter’s college BFF is an immigration lawyer for the government and she expects the process to slow down again now.

 

[Private Citizen]

The journalists don't seem near as confused as the skater IMHO.

Not to be a conspiracy theorist, but it seemed to me like they were hiding or sidestepping something. If I were more interested, I'd start checking marriage records in the counties near where they train.

 

[Karen-W]

I don't know if I would call Alisa confused. She was being pretty damn opaque and evasive with her answer.

Additionally, Misha jumped in, when Hersh pressed about 2030 (which was what all of us presumed was the end goal given the citizenship timeline we know exists in the US), and said they hadn't discussed anything post-2026.

I got the distinct impression they both believe there is some reason for expedited citizenship. And if they believe that, well, good luck. The only time the citizenship process was sped up for figure skaters was back in 2005, to benefit Tanith Belbin (and Max Zavozin) and it did take special Congressional legislation. Now, whether or not something like that could pass in today's climate, is a huge question. She did at least emigrate here legally, she does have exceptional talent, but they aren't a medal contender and we have other teams at the same caliber or better than them, so there isn't much argument that they are needed on the team over another team with two skaters who are already both US citizens. If they were medal contenders or the best pairs team we had by some measure, then I could see the justification, but there isn't a compelling reason for Congress to pass any special legislation.

 

[barbk]

Not to be a conspiracy theorist, but it seemed to me like they were hiding or sidestepping something. If I were more interested, I'd start checking marriage records in the counties near where they train.

I hope one of the journalists at the next presser asks her directly if she is married.

 

[Karen-W]

Not to be a conspiracy theorist, but it seemed to me like they were hiding or sidestepping something. If I were more interested, I'd start checking marriage records in the counties near where they train.

Good Lord, that's something I hadn't even considered, but...

I hope one of the journalists at the next presser asks her directly if she is married.

You know, we all have plenty of time before the Pairs FS tomorrow evening. Fans can start doing the initial research and if we do find anything post it on social media, making sure to tag Hersh. He is an old-school, trained journalist and he isn't someone the USFS would dare silence with a threat to revoke his credential.

 

[Theatregirl1122]

Wouldn't this be a very short timeline even if she were married? Although I suppose they might not understand that.