In 2004, two Dominion teachers made the trip from Romania to the United States, leading them into what would become a 19 year process to officially become U.S. citizens.
Calin Lupas, a math teacher, and Meda Lupas, a Spanish teacher, left Zero Day early this year for their naturalization interview and test, the final step in their process of becoming U.S. citizens. “Until you become a citizen, everything is framed by expiration dates. Everything was done under the spectrum of it will expire, [or] it’s for a certain duration of time. So this is a completion of this transition process,” Mr. Lupas said.
Becoming naturalized citizens has been a 19 year journey for the Lupas’ starting back in Romania. After attending the same university in Romania prior to having met, Mr. and Mrs. Lupas migrated to the United States in 2004 separately. The decision to obtain all documents legally was not a responsibility the two took lightly. Countless trips back and forth between the two countries and working with a lawyer requested by the school district accumulated expenses of roughly $10,000. “I don’t think it’s [as much] a monetary burden as [it is] a psychological one,” Mrs. Lupas said.
For Mrs. Lupas, a big factor in her decision to become an official U.S. citizen was her 86 year old father, who was a political prisoner and fought against communism actively. His perspective of the American ideals being primordial led to his great encouragement upon his daughter to become an American citizen.
“For me, becoming a citizen guarantees better security, [a] safety net for the whole family, and for our daughter,” Mr. Lupas said.
Their daughter, Sofia Lupas, a sophomore, was born a United States citizen, but aided her parents in this process. The Naturalization test participants must complete is half English and half civics, with the Lupas’ spending a portion of time studying with the help of their daughter.
After the completion of the test and interview session, the Lupas’ received the exciting results: they passed. The Naturalization Oath Ceremony was the final step, where citizens receive a Certificate of Naturalization, official proof of their U.S. citizenship.
“I feel happy, and I feel like this is the right decision for our family,” Mrs. Lupas said.
