Dual Citizenship
The thread about the collapse of the US dollar actually reminded me of something that I wanted to do when I was younger, but never knew how.
I've always wanted to apply for dual citizenship between the U.S. (what I am) and the U.K. (where I used to live and where my father is from). It's for no real practical purpose, at the time I decided I wanted it I was 12 and just wanted to feel like I was truly part of another group rather that just looking over the fence.
I'm a little older now and realize that a person can just want something for no reason at all, so I've rekindled my interest in the citizen application process.
My mother is a U.S. citizen and my father is a citizen of the U.K. along with my grandfather, grandmother, and so on. I honestly don't even know if that matters or not. I think my grandfather once told me that since I was his grandchild I could play for Man United if I was good enough.
That's hardly a complimentary green card, but it did raise my curiosity.
I bring this up now because I am going to be physically in the U.K. in about 7 days and if the process is much easier while I'm there, then I might just go do it.
My theory is that it is going to be an amazing hassle and I probably don't even want to be asking this question.
Has anyone else gone through this or know a little bit about the process? Roo, perhaps?
I have dual US and UK citizenship, but I'm afraid I'm not going to be much help.
My mother is from the UK and she asked me one day when I was around 12 (coincidentally) if I wanted to have dual citizenship. I asked what the drawback was, and since there was essentially none, I said sure. She took care of the rest.
I'm going to assume it will take longer than 7 days to get the process going though.
MrDeVil909: I feel it necessary to point out that there are drug resistant strains of most STDs. Especially in developing nations.
Funkenpants: Great. Yet another area in which we're losing our lead to foreigners.
I thought that the US doesn't allow you to become a citizen while retaining your citizenship in another country, but that once you are a US citizen, you can then go ahead and apply for citizenship in another country, and just sort of keep it on the down low, i.e. don't try to travel into the US with your fancy new British passport. You just can't apply for U.S. citizenship second. Conversely, if you had started out a British citizen and wanted to become a US citizen, you would have to renounce your British citizenship to the U.S. government, become a citizen, and then go back to the British and say you lost your passport or something.
It's been years since I thought about this at all, and my interest in the issue is one of curiosity only, so take that information with a shovel full of salt.
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Well, it does limit your chance to get a prestige class.
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I'm American right now. I want to have dual citizenship, so that would add Britain on. I think that's OK.
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Alienz has it right:
The U.S. does ask you to renounce any foreign citizenships when you apply to become a US Citizen, and as far as I know the US does not recognize dual citizenship.
Which means it should not be a problem for you, Chiggie. I figure the U.K would be a fool not to take you Chiggie. I hear you're one of the top prospects coming out of this year's draft.
MrDeVil909: I feel it necessary to point out that there are drug resistant strains of most STDs. Especially in developing nations.
Funkenpants: Great. Yet another area in which we're losing our lead to foreigners.
I think if your father is a UK citizen and you were born in the US, you automatically have dual-citizenship.
I'm Canadian, but I got my US citizenship after living there for many years, while still retaining my Canadian citizenship. My sister, also being Canadian, had a daughter in the US. My daughter has dual-citizenship as a result.
I don't know.
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Chig, I've looked into this from a similar angle, given that I'll be applying for my indefinite leave to remain next April.
Unfortunately, I don't think you are eligible to apply directly. You were born before 1983, but since your British parent is your father, you don't fall under the eligible categories.
Now, I'm not sure exactly about the ancestral side of things, but here is a page for it. But you'll have to remember that the Labour government has recently put a test of 'Britishness' into place if you want to apply to become a British citizen. How boned up are you on your 'Last of the Summer Wine'?
When are you over and where are you going to be?
Quintin_Stone wrote:
I had a friend whose father was from Lebanon, so he had dual citizenship, but had to renounce one to get into the army (he stuck with his US citizenship since he couldn't get the MO he wanted if he was a foreign citizen).
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I was born in '83 so I'm not sure how that plays out. Either way this was just a curiosity. If I have to be tested on my "Britishness" I don't think they'll accept, "complains a lot and sometimes pronounces sch with a 'sha' sound."
I know that lemonade means sierra mist. I'm not really boned up on the national stuff.
I think the older I get the more I get set into the American customs because I hardly ever see my Father anymore. I don't get the refresher course as often as I used to. I'm irreversibly American, so a fancy passport doesn't really matter anymore.
I actually just thought it might make traveling, banking, and general overseas business a little easier.
Nothing to have a wobbly about.
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US citizens are not prohibited from having dual citizenship. Both of you guys are wrong.
Those who are US citizens by birth are not prohibited from accepting foreign citizenship as well, if they get it automatically (ie. because parents were foreign citizens). Chiggie, you should find out from the local UK consulate whether you get UK citizenship automatically - they would know how that squares away with US law.
And those who are US citizens by naturalization are not prohibited from retaining their original citizenship, either. They are required to renounce "allegiance" to foreign states, but there is no requirement to take any formal steps beyond the pledge (ie. formally renounce citizenship).
I'll refer you to the following interesting FAQ for more details: http://www.richw.org/dualcit/law.html
And of course the State Dept info page:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1753.html
But I'm not a lawyer, of course.
Fancy passport aside, having dual citizenship with Europe is HUGE. It really gives you access to all of Western Europe and now most of Eastern Europe. I mean being able to work and live in any of those countries without the hassle of visas and the like is amazing.
As mentionned earlier get a hold of the closest UK consulate in your area and get a application form.
At least I can still get by on my looks.
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Correct. You are asked to renounce the allegiance, not formal citizenship. What the pledge essentially asks is that you shall never bear arms on behalf of any other government, and you shall put the interests of America above those of all other countries.
BTW, the second part of this concept is something that many immigrant Jews have a trouble grasping, as I noticed.
Noone is going to take away your British passport. They'll just take your Green Card and will give you a Certificate of Naturalization instead.
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You beat me to it.
Having an EU passport is a very good thing in this day and age. A UK one gets you everywhere in the Commonwealth too... it's never a bad thing to maximize your options.
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I think you should do it, but like some have mentioned (in very wordy ways) the US does not acknowledge your citizenship in other countries. What that means is that when you enter the US you have to use your US passport. I am American but was born in Colombia, when I enter Colombia I have to use my Colombian passport.
When you do become a citizen of the US you are asked to renounce alliance to any other country.
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Thanks for all of the information everyone. I'll start poking around and see if I can't get a hold of one of those applications.
Thanks again.
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