When I first moved here, what's interesting is
I never wanted to stay
like I only came to England
to get a degree and then just kinda experience England
then go back to America
obviously, the greatest country in the earth...
and then I didn't
for the first time since I've moved to England, this has been
the first time I've felt like
I've been in a home?
I'm applying to Boston University, Temple University, aaaaand
the city of London, university of London, Cass Business School
Don't know about that one yet
Especially, I just uh finished my application to Cass Business School in London
The only problem with Cass is that it's in London, and it'd be scary
I don't know how I'm gonna do anything
I don't really know what I'm gonna do right now. I have too many decisions to make.
uhmmm
but either way
Everything'll work out I hope!
Really looking into London. Ya can't do this ever again ya know?
Once in a lifetime
And then, the riskiest choice is London for university
I've decided to go to England. That's where uh I've chosen to attend university.
I successfully got my visa I'm really excited I'm going to friggin' England
I'm in Londonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
I can't just drop out and get a job within social media math realm in England
because then they'll deport me.
Cause I've been having to workout all this visa stuff! I had to quit my job because I'm not legally allowed to work in the country
And I've just been like ah how can I stay? Don't wanna lose all my friends :(
Recently my job has made me redundant.
I have a 30 day notice to GET OUT. Once you lose your job here, it's literally like time bomb ticking
they're like oooo we got another one! Let's try and kick him out the country!
Good news. I got a job offer on Wednesday, and I accepted it so for the most part I'm set.
I've actually found a new visa type thing the tier 1.
If I can get this which I should be submitting next week
That means I can now live in the UK for 5 years with no more crazy restrictions
that make me stressed out if I like lose my job or if I want to travel or something.
I think the best news I can possibly give to you about myself recently is that I have now been approved for a tier 1 exceptional talent visa
which if you don't know means I can stay in the UK and live and work and play for up to 5 years and then get my citizenship
Here we are. It's been a long journey. I am at the absolute final step of getting my British citizenship.
All I have to do is hit submit on this lovely app they've invented here
And then someone will verify my documents, and then hypothetically that's it.
I'm a British Citizen. Submit.
Thank you.Your application has been submitted.
Your details have now been sent to the UKVI for processing. What do I need to do now? Nothing.
They'll contact me if they require any input.
Oh my god.
That's it.
Now I just wait.
Again.
*breathes heavy*
Oh man...
And now, the wait is over. Today is the day of my official British Citizenship Ceremony
Honestly, it's been a day that's so far in the distant future that it never really felt real.
Like it couldn't really exist.
A day with far too many variables and far too much time in between like
I just have to study for another 2 years or work another 3 years at this job or another 2 years at this job
or stay on this visa for another year or take a test and then wait another year and then get a special visa and then wait a year after that, but...
all that aside...
I did it.
I've made it.
I'm here.
and within an hour, cause I guess that's the type of person I still am
one hour from my ceremony... I'll be getting British Citizenship officially.
It's all paid off.
I'll be saying my oath, giving my pledge to the queen, and I'll be an official British citizen.
I don't think anyone really understands just how many times I nearly had to leave
Not from my own decision but just due to how incredibly difficult this whole process is.
I don't know if you know this, but the first visa I got to move to the UK was the Tier 4 Student Visa.
And that visa expired (well that was my "YOU MUST LEAVE" date) on February 28th 2014
Now, when your visa expires, on that day, that's not a day you pack your bags, that's a day you're meant, to leave
So if you don't have another job if you don't have another way of staying well you've got to leave the country.
I didn't have a solution, and I would've had to leave the country except that I had found a job
on February 27th, 2014
because I hadn't given up on just wanting to stay just a little bit longer.
Just by the skin of my teeth. I don't even mention it in a YouTube video.
I think I just lightly grazed upon it like I found a job in the nick of time.
In the nick of time.
That's not the only time that's ever happened.
And from there I just bounced around, from the Tier 4 student visa, to a Tier 2 work visa to another Tier 2, another Tier 2,
Then I moved to the Tier 1 Exceptional Talent visa
Then the ILR Indefinite Leave to Remain and now
Here I am in front of you
From memorising 66 page immigration documents to try and educate possible employers on how they could possibly employ me
To even flirting with the idea of even becoming a teacher in the UK
It was clear that my want to prolong my time in the UK
was mmmmore than I was letting on
This really did just burn inside me with this feeling of I'm just not done yet.
I need to stay.
Even when I thought I'd cracked the code and things felt like they'd gotten a bit easier for me
When I managed to get a job on my Tier 1 visa working for a social influencer marketing agency
Only part-time, that way I could focus the majority of my time doing what I'm truly passionate about.
Making these YouTube videos about cultural differences, language-learning, engaging with my community, all of that.
I felt like everything just worked.
I also nearly got deported yet again.
Because the issue is, once you don't fulfil the terms of your visa,
they don't really have any leeway there.
and it turns out the company I was working for ended up going under
JUST after. Just after I had gotten enough time there
to fulfil the terms of my visa.
I needed to work at least 12 of the recent 18 months upon application in order to apply
They had gone under within a week of me hitting that 12 months out of 18.
I feel like not only am I filled with such an intense drive, and passion, and determination just to get to this point that I am right now...
But also... a sheer amount of luck.
I've created so many videos in the UK.
So many lifelong friends.
A business.
So many memories
that it's about time I stop faffing about and put a ring on it.
And here I sit, down to the last minute again
cause ya know, the ceremony is literally in under an hour I do need to make it there.
But I felt like this was important.
Now normally, I was planning on having some really big ceremony with 40 of my friends and family and
bringing all of you there so you could experience this journey with me.
Those of you who have supported me from this entire journey
From that humble beginning of I am kinda scared to move to London
I don't even think I'm gonna do it.
to actually achieving British Citizenship
However, obviously due to Covid and everything it seemed like that dream was very much crushed
earlier last year
and in fact I delayed the citizenship ceremony as much as I legally could
hoping that maybe they would give me some leeway and the ceremony could continue
maybe in a month or two when regulations ya know, end, and
therefore hey! I can have friends and family over, but...
Well I am becoming a cititzen here, and I do have to accept that the people here are really into their rules. Okay?
And if it says you only have six months after getting your letter
Well, by God, they are going to make sure for no other reason
you only have 6 months
so
I am able to have a ceremony with 2 housemates hopefully uh filming this whole ceremony for you
and well... like I said
I should stop faffing about. Let's get to the registrar.
Here goes nothing.
The only things you need to get citizenship in this country,
beside all of the crazy giant things I've already talked about is a letter from the government saying you've been invited.
and a BRP Bio Residence Permit.
I've got the goods.
Let's go.
I, Evan Edinger, swear by almighty God that on becoming a British Citizen
I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to her magesty Queen Elizabeth II
her heirs and successors according to law.
I will give my loyalty to the United Kingdom and respect its rights and freedoms
I will uphold its democratic values. I will observe its laws faithfully.
I will fulfil my duties and obligations as a British Citizen.
Thank you. Thank you.
*mumbles* wish I'd done that without a mask...
*UK_National_Anthem.wav*
*takes final solely American breath*
it's just Let Freedom Ring. It's an American song. ;)))
You wanna zoom in on this? it's uh
it's quite a low-quality jpeg
We got some pixelation happening up in here.
Maybe it's from the Google images.
You can't even read the... yeah
Congratulations?
Congratulations, you won!
Well.
I did it.
For those of you who have been along with me on this journey no matter how long.
I just wanna say, thank you.
You don't know how much this truly has meant to me to
put me in this position to allow me to just achieve what I never really thought possible.
and to those of you possibly new to this journey or my next
well if you'd like to know what I got in my Being a British Citizen envelope
here from the registrar including next steps on hopefully
my next passport
well subscribe. I hope I earned that from ya.
I'll be updating you guys next Sunday and the week after
and hey. if you wanna watch old videos, I've been making videos every single Sunday
haven't missed on in 8 years
so you can watch any of those... anyway
Thank you so much. And thank you to the UK for allowing this
Hopefully it was a good decision. Hopefully I earned that from ya!
Anyway, I'll see you guys next Sunday.
Cheerio.
No one says that... ha
Thanks for watching! uh
Check my description for relevant stuff and I hope you guys have a fantastic day
regardless of what day you're watching this on
So I'll see you guys later. Good bye!