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Associated Press 18y

Belbin might be able to skate for USA in Turin

WASHINGTON -- 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 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," said Belbin, of
Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

"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. gold medalists.
They won the silver medal at the World Championships in March,
giving the United States its first medal at worlds in ice dancing
since 1985.

They won Skate America earlier this year, but didn't qualify for
last weekend's Grand Prix final in Tokyo because they missed a
second event when Agosto pulled a groin muscle. Agosto is expected
to be ready for nationals.

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