Belbin in? Congress approves immigration measure Ice dancer Tanith Belbin could gain American citizenship in time to represent the United States in the Turin Olympics under an immigration measure approved by Congress.
Belbin, of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., and other people "of extraordinary ability" would face a faster immigration process under a provision in a spending bill that won approval late Wednesday in the Senate. If eligible, Belbin and partner Ben Agosto are considered America's best hope for figure skating gold in Turin. A medal of any color would be the United States' first in ice dancing since 1976. "It's just the best Christmas gift I could ever ask for," Belbin said Thursday in a phone interview from Ontario, where she was visiting family members. The immigration measure, authored by Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., was included in a bill providing funds for the Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services. It next moves to President Bush for his signature. Levin called it a "common sense fix that will enable her to complete the citizenship process in time to represent the U.S. in the 2006 Olympics." U.S. Olympic Committee chairman Peter Ueberroth called it "a matter of fairness, not just to Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, but to an entire group of individuals who, as naturalized citizens, will make important contributions to our country." Ueberroth said he was "confident they will make our country proud." Belbin, 21, is Canadian but has lived in suburban Detroit since June 1998. Her immigrant worker visa was approved in 2000, but she didn't receive her green card until July 2002. Because of a typical five-year waiting period, she was not expected to gain citizenship until 2007 without the change, meaning the pair would have to sit out the Olympics. Getting the measure through Congress was considered the largest obstacle for her to perform in the Olympics. But the proposal had been caught up in a larger legislative fight in recent weeks that finally ended late Wednesday. "It's been a crazy roller coaster ride," Belbin said. "We are grateful for this and would have been grateful for this experience regardless of the outcome," Belbin said. Belbin has been able to compete for the United States in international competitions, including the world championships, where she and Agosto won a silver medal last year. But only American citizens can be on the Olympic team; under U.S. Figure Skating's selection procedures, she needs to have a U.S. passport by Jan. 28. The Olympic team will be chosen next month at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, where Belbin and Agosto have won the last two dance titles. The couple qualified for the 2002 Salt Lake City Games with a second-place finish at nationals, but couldn't compete because of Belbin's citizenship issues. Levin's measure would help Belbin and about 100 other "aliens of extraordinary ability" in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics speed up their citizenship. Levin said because of a rule change in 2002, those with "extraordinary ability" can seek visas and green cards at the same time. But Belbin started the process before the rule change and had to wait 18 months after getting her visa before she received her green card. If Belbin had been working under the new system, she would have become a U.S. citizen this month, the senator said. The measure shortens the residency requirement from five to three years between the receipt of the green card and the date of their eligibility for naturalization. It applies to those who began their naturalization process before July 2002. With Sasha Cohen and Michelle Kwan both sidelined for much of the fall with injuries, Belbin and Agosto are the United States' best prospects for a gold medal right now. They have skated together for more than seven seasons and are former world junior champions and two-time U.S | 
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