dual citizenship

R

resham

Registered Users (C)
Hello,

I am eligible for UK citizenship and US citizenship as well.
I would like to know if there will be any kinds of problem if I apply for US citizenship and then UK citizenship? Or should I apply for UK citizenship first and then US? Please advise. I will appreciate your thankful suggestions.
 
I have British passports but I'm now in the process to apply for my US citizenship. After I get my US cizitenship, hopefully in a few months, I doubt that if I would ever need to use my British passport or citizenship at all, since I live and work in the US for so long.

UK recogizes due citizenship since large amount of British "subjects" live outside of Greater British, in places such as Australia, NZ, HK, Canada, and of course USA. However, the US is less liberal or tolerent than UK on this regard. You will have to publically, absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all your allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of who or which you have been a subject or citizen. (See the Oath of Allegiance for details). The state Department also request US citizens to travel with US passport only, although this is not illegal to use 2 passports.

Besides, I don't see much benefit to hold both UK & US citizenship unless you are strong root in UK while still living in the US. These two countries are so similar both politically and culturally, almost as Canada vs US. I live in New England. The old England is only across the ocean.

Just out of my own curiosity, how do you manage to qualify for naturalization for both US & UK at the SAME TIME? I assume that you live in the US. Do you marry a British girl or something? Please enlighten me. Good luck!
 
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resham said:
Hello,

I am eligible for UK citizenship and US citizenship as well.
I would like to know if there will be any kinds of problem if I apply for US citizenship and then UK citizenship? Or should I apply for UK citizenship first and then US? Please advise. I will appreciate your thankful suggestions.
Click to expand...

From the point of view of U.S. law, it is OK to have multiple citizenships.

However, it may be better for you to get a U.S. citizenship first.
If you get a UK citizenship first, you may have to justify during the U.S. naturalization interview that you did not intend to abandon your green card status.
 
Two comments.

1) You need to become fully versed in the US law on dual citizenship which is both complex and vague. I do know that you are allowed to retain your citizenship of birth and still be granted US citizenship (assuming your birth country allows this). However, applying for two nationalities at the same time seems a very dubious strategy to me and I would imagine that you need the advice of a good immigration lawyer.
2) The US does allow its citizens to travel on other passports as long as they leave and enter the States on their US passports
 
I was born in HongKong and I believe as a ethnic minority those who were 21 yr old on Feb 1997, UK recently passed a law to give away citizenship to them.

I will apply for US citizenship then and think over UK citizenship later. Thanks.
 
I would suggest like everyone else to apply for US citizenship and after it is done, go ahead with UK citizenship. I dont see it a problem. You may wanna move to UK some day, even if you dont move there why not claim UK citizenship if you are eligible for it. But it is only my opinion and I would do it if I was in your place. By UK and USA law you can hold both citizenships.
 
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Hi Resham,
Yes that's what I'd do. If you live in the US, the US citizenship is of primary importance to your life. Get it first. Later on, if you can get a UK citizenship too, that'd be a bonus but not a big deal in my opinion. Generally UK is more liberal in terms of naturalization laws. If you qualify, you will be still qualify whether you have a US citiship or now. It does not require you to renource your previous allegience or anything as US law does.

I'm not familiar with this newly passed law related to HK-born minority. Do you have a web-link for this or any further details? Does "minority" means non-Chinese? I was wondering if they would grant a full UK citizenship or some kind of special subject class, such as BNO (British Nationals born Overseas) they issued back in 1997? BNO is basically a travel document, which does not grant permition to live and vote in UK as other citizens do.
 
Check out the dual citizenship FAQ (http://www.richw.org/dualcit). Although the guy is not a lawyer, it is pretty much definitive in regards to dual citizenship (particularly US/other dual citizenship).

In general, there is no problems (as long as "other" doesn't object), but there are some gotchas.
 
Which Countries Allow/Prohibit Dual Citizenship?

Countries Which Allow Dual Citizenship:
Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Cyprus, Egypt, El Salvador, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, France, Greece, Hungary, India**, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand, Pakistan*, Portugal, Serbia and Montenegro, South Africa*, Spain (only in certain cases), Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tonga (only in certain cases), Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America, Western Samoa.

* Persons retain their former citizenship if they apply to retain it before taking out Australian citizenship.
** Also, India announced in the past that it allow dual citizenship with only OCI/PIO for Indian-origins or spouses/children of Indian citizens/Indian orgins.

Countries Which Prohibit Dual Citizenship:
Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Burma, Chile, China, Denmark, Ecuador, Fiji, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran*, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nepal, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zimbabwe.

* Iran does not recognize dual citizenship but continues to recognize its citizens as Iranian.
* Note that Germany has recently amended its citizenship laws so that in some exceptional circumstances, dual citizenship is now allowed. Consult the German Foreign Office web site for details.


Please note however that laws may change in some countries and we cannot guarantee that this list is completely up to date


Which countries requires visa for US citizens

All informations can be found at:
http://www.passportsandvisas.com/visas/index.asp

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1765.html

http://www.henleyglobal.com/visa_restrictions.htm (good resources)
 
USGC485 said:
Which Countries Allow/Prohibit Dual Citizenship?

Countries Which Allow Dual Citizenship:
Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Cyprus, Egypt, El Salvador, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, France, Greece, Hungary, India**, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand, Pakistan*, Portugal, Serbia and Montenegro, South Africa*, Spain (only in certain cases), Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tonga (only in certain cases), Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America, Western Samoa.

* Persons retain their former citizenship if they apply to retain it before taking out Australian citizenship.
** Also, India announced in the past that it allow dual citizenship with only OCI/PIO for Indian-origins or spouses/children of Indian citizens/Indian orgins.

Countries Which Prohibit Dual Citizenship:
Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Burma, Chile, China, Denmark, Ecuador, Fiji, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran*, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nepal, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zimbabwe.

* Iran does not recognize dual citizenship but continues to recognize its citizens as Iranian.
* Note that Germany has recently amended its citizenship laws so that in some exceptional circumstances, dual citizenship is now allowed. Consult the German Foreign Office web site for details.


Please note however that laws may change in some countries and we cannot guarantee that this list is completely up to date


Which countries requires visa for US citizens

All informations can be found at:
http://www.passportsandvisas.com/visas/index.asp

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1765.html

http://www.henleyglobal.com/visa_restrictions.htm (good resources)
Click to expand...


One quick addition: Germany allows dual citizenship provided one applies for and is approved for a "Beibehaltungsgenehmigung" (great word, eh? :) ) from the German government, which authorizes you to keep the German citizenship when taking on the US (or another) citizenship. Otherwise, you automatically lose the German citizenship.

(Just went through that process a few months ago.)
 
Also the Netherlands allows you to retain your Dutch Citizenship if you acquire your spouse's Citizenship, like in my case my spouse is a US Citizen.
 
USGC485 said:
Which Countries Allow/Prohibit Dual Citizenship?

Countries Which Allow Dual Citizenship:
Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Cyprus, Egypt, El Salvador, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, France, Greece, Hungary, India**, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand, Pakistan*, Portugal, Serbia and Montenegro, South Africa*, Spain (only in certain cases), Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tonga (only in certain cases), Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America, Western Samoa.

* Persons retain their former citizenship if they apply to retain it before taking out Australian citizenship.
** Also, India announced in the past that it allow dual citizenship with only OCI/PIO for Indian-origins or spouses/children of Indian citizens/Indian orgins.
Click to expand...

Can you please give the reference for this list of countries that allow dual citizenship?

India should not be on that list. Overseas Citizenship of India is nothing more than a green card with no residency requirements. You don't get an Indian passport, can't vote in Indian elections (though that is not a big loss), can't work as a govt employee (if you look at the lifestyles of the babu's, some would consider that a big loss :rolleyes:) and can't purchase agricultural land. Basically, OCI does not get you parity with Indian citizens.
 
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