Is it legal to receive a third-party citizenship while holding green card?
- Thread starter vadim0001
- Start date
Al Southner
Registered Users (C)
No. She can receive the US citizenship while an Israeli citizen. There is no problem at all.
Thanks for the answer. I understand it is no problem for an Israeli to receive American citizenship. But won't the fact of her obtaining a new citizenship (she has a Russian passport now) while being US resident constitute a violation of her intent to obtain US citizenship? If I understand correctly, a three-year period between receiving green card and citizenship is a sort of probation to prove the intent.
What intent? Where did you learn about this "intent"?
It doesn't matter how many citizenship one holds, one must take oath to uphold the US constitution AND denounce ALL previous allegiance to ANY other nation at the time of the oath. So, technically, once one takes the oath to become an USC, he/she becomes ONLY a USC. However, he/she is free to regain or get new citizenship afterward.
Al Southner
Registered Users (C)
I agree with VizaN. On a related note, the 3 years period for which one can apply is for people who are married to US citizens. If you are a US citizen, she holds a green card right now, she will need to wait till she has 2years,9 months to be eligible for a US citizenship as a green card holder. I wonder why people have a need for so many passports? The 3 year period has nothing to do with intent. The question is: does Russia recognize dual-or triple citizenship of its citizens? This is where you and your spouse need to be concerned about. In the age of terrorism, traveling with 3 passport is a recipe to be grilled by security officials...
Jackolantern
Registered Users (C)
Obtaining other citizenship(s) is not the problem. The problem may lie in the process to qualify for the other citizenship. If qualifying for the other citizenship requires obtaining permanent residence in the other country and/or living there for a significant amount of time, that may cause loss of the green card or denial of US citizenship.
Triple Citizen
Registered Users (C)
That, I believe, does not apply for obtaining Israeli citizenship. I may be wrong.
Jackolantern
Registered Users (C)
Like many other countries, they may have multiple paths to citizenship, some of which involve an extended time of living in the country, and others which involve just filling out forms to acquire citizenship through a family relationship with no requirement to live in the country for a long time (or for any time).
Triple Citizen
Registered Users (C)
True. However it is most likely (not certain however) that the OP's wife got citizenship under the Israeli "Law of Return" clause.
Al Southner
Registered Users (C)
Jack,
Triple is correct, Jews can return to Israel anytime and be granted citizenship under the "Law of Return". There is no waiting period at all, except for your paperwork to be processed and approved. The only proof is for one to be Jewish or one parent be, and you can claim Israel citizenship.
Just like the US, Russia only recognizes you as a Russian citizen, even if you have 5 other citizenships received after the Russian one. You are free to get however many you want to. However, if you intend to become a Russian citizen while holding some other citizenship, you need to officially surrender your other passports and citizenships before you can become a Russian citizen.