102 Misc. 447 | N.Y. Sup. Ct. | 1918
The petitioner is a British subject. He arrived in the United States on the 25th day of May, 1910, and between that time and some time during the year 1914 he was almost continuously employed aboard a vessel of British registry flying the flag of Great Britain. In 1914 that vessel was transferred to American registry, and he continued his employment thereon. During the period of his service aboard ship petitioner spent about eight weeks ashore each year in this country. A declaration of intention was filed by him on June 5,1912. The petitioner was married before his arrival in this country, but he did not bring his wife to reside in the United States until July, 1915. The question, therefore, is whether service aboard a vessel of foreign registry, flying a foreign flag, is a residence within the meaning of the statute requiring a “ continuous ” residence in the United States for five years prior to the filing of a petition for citizenship. The applicant is a man of good character, and I should not hesitate to admit him if I was satisfied that the statute had been substantially complied with by a continuous residence in the United States. The statute does not require the residence to be “ continuous ” in the sense that an applicant must be physically, from day to day, within the United States (United States v. Cantini, 212 Fed. Repr. 925; United States v. Rockteschell, 208 id. 530; Matter of Schneider, 164 id. 335), but there must be such a residence as to satisfy the court that it was the intention of the petitioner to make this country his permanent home. A residence aboard a foreign vessel cannot be construed as a residence in the United States. It can only be considered as being upon foreign territory. This proposition is not without authority. Wharton on the Conflict of Laws (3d ed., § 356) says: “A ship in the open sea is regarded by
Application denied.