Interview schedule I

Background

Where are you from originally?

How long have you lived in New York City? How long have you lived in the United States?

What was your primary reason for moving to the United States? Were there any other reasons?

What do you think of New York as a place to live? What do you think of the United States in general?

Do you consider New York to be your permanent home?

Are you a naturalized U.S. citizen or do you plan to become a naturalized citizen? If not, why?

If you are a naturalized U.S. citizen, did you retain the citizenship privileges of your home country as well? Why did you decide to become a U.S. citizen?

If you are not a naturalized citizen, do you feel pressure to become a citizen because of the new immigration and welfare reform proposals?

How often do you return to the island where you grew up?

When was the last time you visited the island and how long did you stay?

Do you maintain ties with relatives or friends on the island?

Can you tell me something about life on the island? For example, what are the economic and political conditions like?

What kind of work did your parents do?

Do most of your relatives live there? If not, where do they live?

Do you eventually plan to return to the island and live there permanently? Why or why not?