During the initial 18 months of residing in Boston, Stacy found herself in a situation where she was unable to pursue any type of work due to her status on her husband's visa. As part of the immigration process to become a citizen in the United States, individuals are required to fulfill a residency requirement, typically living in the country for five consecutive years. However, the intricacies of life, including vacations and periodic returns to their home country of South Africa, extended the Suckermans' journey towards citizenship, ultimately spanning a period of seven years. They were official citizens between 2002 and 2003