Sooo about Dual Citizenship

[Amenspanglish 5]

Thanks to you all for your replies and your perspectives!! It makes me feel better about the whole thing, though I notice there are differences in what you say the actually policy is. I like the idea of calling the USCIS and also asking INM. Anyway, keep the discussion coming and thank you!!

[NickD 202]

The word "may" as opposed to the word "will" is used nine times in this very short document. Quite a difference between these two words, but the intention sure makes a difference. Then over 200 different countries to deal with, so no single answer.

Just find it ironic that communistic countries really want to hang unto their own people when they can't even feed them. In a socialistic country, wife had no problems in coming here, but sure had our problems bringing her minor child, they were claiming they had the means to protect minor children, one big fat joke.

Ha, all started with that gal or guy next door not working out with the question of why should one have to limit their selves when we have the whole world to chose from. What about our global economy forced upon us, while running a plant, if I had to buy components here, we go broke. Was a miracle we found each other, just wanted to be together the rest of our short lives, but then all these laws to deal with.

Then with this poor economy, no fault of ours, a couple of my kids had to leave this country just to earn a living. Nothing like having self appointed leaders with all the answers. If they really want to do us a favor, would leave us alone.

" The concept of dual nationality means that a person is a citizen of two countries at the same time. Each country has its own citizenship laws based on its own policy.Persons may have dual nationality by automatic operation of different laws rather than by choice. For example, a child born in a foreign country to U.S. citizen parents may be both a U.S. citizen and a citizen of the country of birth. A U.S. citizen may acquire foreign citizenship by marriage, or a person naturalized as a U.S. citizen may not lose the citizenship of the country of birth.U.S. law does not mention dual nationality or require a person to choose one citizenship or another. Also, a person who is automatically granted another citizenship does not risk losing U.S. citizenship. However, a person who acquires a foreign citizenship by applying for it may lose U.S. citizenship. In order to lose U.S. citizenship, the law requires that the person must apply for the foreign citizenship voluntarily, by free choice, and with the intention to give up U.S. citizenship.

Intent can be shown by the person's statements or conduct.The U.S. Government recognizes that dual nationality exists but does not encourage it as a matter of policy because of the problems it may cause. Claims of other countries on dual national U.S. citizens may conflict with U.S. law, and dual nationality may limit U.S. Government efforts to assist citizens abroad. The country where a dual national is located generally has a stronger claim to that person's allegiance.

However, dual nationals owe allegiance to both the United States and the foreign country. They are required to obey the laws of both countries. Either country has the right to enforce its laws, particularly if the person later travels there.Most U.S. citizens, including dual nationals, must use a U.S. passport to enter and leave the United States. Dual nationals may also be required by the foreign country to use its passport to enter and leave that country. Use of the foreign passport does not endanger U.S. citizenship.Most countries permit a person to renounce or otherwise lose citizenship.

Information on losing foreign citizenship can be obtained from the foreign country's embassy and consulates in the United States. Americans can renounce U.S. citizenship in the proper form at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad."

[GlobeHopperMama 95]

Mexico does not forbid dual citizenship. Your husband just needs to ensure that he always enters Mexico with his Mexican passport to be eligible for the normal treatment of a Mexican citizen while there.

[teddy000 0]

What happens to my indian citizenship after my oath?

[GlobeHopperMama 95]

Wikipedia can actually be a useful starting point when researching nationality issues, and provides links to the official references where you can read the specific laws or policies. For Mexico:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_nationality_law

For India:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_nationality_law#Automatic_termination_of_Indian_citizenship

(it seems like India automatically ceases to recognize the citizenship of a person who obtains another country's citizenship...)

[NickD 202]

Thanks to you all for your replies and your perspectives!! It makes me feel better about the whole thing, though I notice there are differences in what you say the actually policy is. I like the idea of calling the USCIS and also asking INM. Anyway, keep the discussion coming and thank you!!

Getting the USCIS involved with the DOS can be just as bad as getting OSHA involved with the EPA. Better off just to deal with the USCIS and DOS individually. Once you are done with the USCIS, you are done, now in the hands of the DOS.

Single most important factor is where you were born, practically with most countries and their relationship to the USA, that is of prime importance, most countries consider you always a citizen of that country regardless of where you go. Second is where your parents were born. My wife was born in Colombia, her kids were born in Venezuela, but because they always consider my wife as a citizen of Colombia, just the easiest amount of paper work can make her kids citizens of Colombia. USA is far stricter on these laws with resident requirements, and even registering that birth at the time that child is born with the nearest USA consulate. Colombia doesn't have laws like that, we considered sending her daughter there for college as the tuition rates were so much lower. But decided to get robbed blind by our colleges instead.

Even where your grandparents were born makes a difference, for the fun of it, contacted the Italian consulate, even third generation, and maybe its because I have assets, they want me back. The procedure is so much easier than bring an Italian here.

Then there is working in reverse with your home country, tired this route with Colombia and our DOS, like having my wife renounce her citizenship in Colombia so she could enter with her US passport. No way, even with a face to face discussion with our DOS on this subject, they refused to remove or change her place of birth on her US passport. And as long as her place of birth is on her US passport, she will never be able to cross the gates into Colombia with her US passport. She must have a Colombian passport to cross those gates, its there law, and will not recognize she renounced her citizenship. We had these discussions with the consulate in Chicago and in Bogota. You cannot change where you were born, even though this was never your choice.

But then they had us where they wanted us, made getting a new ID card and passport as complicated as possible, ended up costing us $2,500.00 US dollars to get that passport, they sure love US dollars. This gives the impression really don't care, its all about money. Can relate that to my stepson unable to get a visa to come here. He is living in my wife's condo, while we are more than willing to pay the expense to put that condo in his name, his biological dad is not, and in Venezuela law, his dad has all the say in this matter. Without being married, having kids, a job, and ownership, we cannot even get a visa for him to visit here. Believe me, we tried. Further complicated by Chavez kicking out the American ambassador in Venezuela and the USA responding by kicking out the Venezuelan ambassador in Washington DC. While our petition for him is getting as old as the universe, Obama is far more interested in the middle east and Africa. We are now in the hands of the NVC, yet another governmental agency, talk about some mean nasty people to deal with. Contacting my senator or congressman didn't help, they don't even want to get involved with this.

So the only way for my wife to see her son, is to go down there, same with her family in Colombia, none of them can get visa's to come up here. As a natural born US citizen, I have no problems in going down there. Ha, welcome to Colombia, spend a lot of your US dollars here. But the same with super rich people coming here, can come and stay as long as they want, even terrorists with lots of money. Can renew their I-94's for small change for them, further implying, if you have the money, can go anywhere you want to and stay as long as you want.

A lot written on this about that statement on our Statue of Liberty, we want your rich! Should be the new slogan, so much for bring your poor here. Those of us that petitioned for our mates in foreign countries already know that, first question you are asked, is do you have the money.

Did get on another board with US citizens that retired in Colombia and even getting their SS checks deposited down there. Had to get Colombia citizenship to stay there and buy property, was easy, as long as they had the money.

Its just all about having money.

[indiana_sweetie 120]

Did get on another board with US citizens that retired in Colombia and even getting their SS checks deposited down there. Had to get Colombia citizenship to stay there and buy property, was easy, as long as they had the money.

Its just all about having money.

The old saying "money can't buy happiness". We are always trying to say it doesn't, but when you need money to be with the ones you love....

[Amenspanglish 5]

Thanks for your responses guys! I'm definitely still interested in both of us getting dual citizenship.

[EM_Vandaveer 2,408]

The way I see it, oath and all, is that just because I'll "give up my allegiance" to my birth country, Hungary, that does not mean I am giving up my citizenship there. To me it means that if for example, the US and Hungary were to wage war on each other, G-d forbid, then I wouldn't help Hungary, but rather the US, if that makes sense.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Here's the straight dope - the US has no laws that addresses dual citizenship. The law does not prohibit it. If the law does not prohibit it, then you can do it. You can have dual citizenship. You can have as many citizenships as you want.

Read the great post about the US State Dept memo on dual citizenship; http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1753.html

"U.S. law does not mention dual nationality or require a person to choose one citizenship or another."

A US citizen can voluntarily apply for another citizenship without losing US citizenship. Lots of my friends in San Diego, California, who are US citizens of Mexican heritage have successfully applied for and granted Mexican citizenship without losing their US citizenship.

Read the memo - it says a US citizen MAY lose his US citizenship when he voluntarily applies for another citizenship AND HAS THE INTENTION OF GIVING UP US CITIZENSHIP. If a person doesn't have the intention of giving up US citizenship, then that law does not apply. "In order to lose U.S. citizenship, the law requires that the person must apply for the foreign citizenship voluntarily, by free choice, and with the intention to give up U.S. citizenship."

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Other countries have their own rules on multiple citizenship.

China and Vietnam does not allow multiple citizenship.

Philippines requires those who acquire another citizenship to apply to reacquire Philippines citizenship; http://immigration.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=163&Itemid=83

[Arlington 5]

Thanks for your responses guys! I'm definitely still interested in both of us getting dual citizenship.

One thing for you (the USC) to consider is what your career is; for U.S. citizens working for the U.S. military or government, especially those requiring security clearances, adding a second citizenship may cause big problems, quite apart from immigration law.