Dual Citizenship - Yay or Nay?

[Paul H 4]

So my wife Jenni, who immigrated from Canada, is now in the process of removal of conditions of her green card. In a year she can apply for Naturalization. Is there any reason for her not to do so?

I am interested in those that chose not to become U.S. Citizens and the reasons why. Please share if you are comfortable doing so.

I am also interested in what benefits she would gain if she does become a citizen. Voting is one. What else?

Thanks!

[candyann 0]

So my wife Jenni, who immigrated from Canada, is now in the process of removal of conditions of her green card. In a year she can apply for Naturalization. Is there any reason for her not to do so?

I am interested in those that chose not to become U.S. Citizens and the reasons why. Please share if you are comfortable doing so.

I am also interested in what benefits she would gain if she does become a citizen. Voting is one. What else?

Thanks!

I am replying because I went through a similar situation a number of years ago, only the other way around. I emigrated to Canada from the U.S. to be with my partner, and was deciding whether to become a Canadian citizen. So I researched dual U.S. and Canadian citizenship a lot.

My conclusion was that there are advantages to dual citizenship, and no disadvantages, at least for U.S.-Canadian. The only disadvantage might be a personal, emotional one, on the part of Jenni, if she is uncomfortable swearing the oath to renounce all other citizenships (which is a U.S. requirement). In practical fact, she would not be required to give up her Canadian citizenship but the U.S. still insists that she say so.

The main advantage to becoming a citizen that I thought of, besides voting, is that it freed me forever from visa issues. No matter which country I live in, I never have to worry about losing my status or having to reapply (unless I commit a deportable crime, which obviously I don't plan to do). This is important if circumstances might ever arise in which you might live in Canada again for a period of time. You may not foresee this now, but if it were possible, U.S. citizenship would guarantee your return. Whereas a Green Card can be lost if someone does not live in the U.S. any longer.

I am sure others will have more up-to-date information. Good luck whatever you decide.

[Saylin 1,605]

So my wife Jenni, who immigrated from Canada, is now in the process of removal of conditions of her green card. In a year she can apply for Naturalization. Is there any reason for her not to do so?

I am interested in those that chose not to become U.S. Citizens and the reasons why. Please share if you are comfortable doing so.

I am also interested in what benefits she would gain if she does become a citizen. Voting is one. What else?

Thanks!

I'll become eligible to apply for citizenship in 5 days. But as of right now, I have zero plans to apply. Two reasons: I can't, in good faith, renounce my Canadian citizenship during the oath (even though, as the member above said, I technically wouldn't be giving it up) and second, as of the current state of this country, I can't see myself being a "proud American" and being supportive of some of the principles of this country. There just seems to be so much wrong with this country (yes, I realize Canada has its own issues as well, but it just seems like so much cr@p is going on here). But, who knows, I might apply for it once my 10 year green card gets closer to expiring, but for right now, no.

There's a plethora of advantages though to becoming a US citizen. I bookmarked this page years ago and you should give a look: http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Pros_and_Cons_to_Getting_US_Citizenship It's from a British expat website, but it still pretty much all applies.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Personal decision. More advantages than disadvantages! As others have mentioned, even though you renounce your other citizenship at the oath ceremony it means nothing. I see no reason why to keep giving the USA gov't more $$$ every 10 yrs and the prices for the green card and naturalization just keep going up and up. I'm happy to be a USA citizen and will always be a law abiding citizen, and grateful I am able to live in a free country (many here in Nicaragua would love to have that opportunity) But I will always be Canadian and if any one asks me--I reply Canadian--simple as that.

[N&S 32]

One reason for it would be if you are planning to at some point live in Canada for a few years (maybe kids are in the cards and you want to live near Jenni's family for a few years) then it would be easier afterwards for her to come back. I know there is a way to apply for a re-entry permit after a longer absence but as I understand it's not guaranteed and having to go through the visa application process again would be a big pain IMHO.

Disadvantage is that she would need to pay US taxes, no matter where you guys ended up living - there are loads more but that one is less emotional and more practical and might or might not outweigh the cost of the renewal of GC every 10 years.

[Teddy B 17,251]

There are great benefits in becoming a US citizen when it comes to estates and transferring property from one spouse to the other. If both spouses are US citizens, these transactions are exempt from the estate tax. Otherwise it costs big bucks. My wife will more than likely become a US citizen if not for this reason alone.

Estate/ Taxes

All property left to a spouse is exempt from estate tax, as long as the spouse is a U.S. citizen. In general, the U.S. gift tax and estate tax laws permit unlimited tax-free transfers of property between spouses if the transferee spouse (i.e., the spouse receiving property) is a U.S. citizen. This "marital deduction" often is said to reflect the view that a husband and wife represent a single economic unit. But the marital deduction is not allowed if the transferee spouse is not a U.S. citizen, even if the non-citizen spouse is a permanent resident of the United States.

[Ontarkie 14,133]

i never looked into it that hard to see if this is true or not but I was told that Arkansas has some weird law that if my husband passed his family if they wanted could take everything from me. So that was a bit more motivation as just in case their is truth to it I didn't want to take chances. The tax issue is not an issue for me as if we moved to Canada we would still have to file US taxes as he would still be a USC. I like the freedom it gives us, also I'm very much in the train of thought like Flames I see myself as a Canadian first regardless.

[floridaboundcanuk 7]

I'll be applying for American citizenship the moment I'm able. I see no downsides whatsoever as it will let me be a productive member of society in the place I chose to live.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

I applied as soon as I was able and I've been Dual for a couple years now. I don;t see any negatves to being Dual and some of the reasons above were motivators. I don't see myself moving back to Canada anytime soon if ever, but who knows in my old age. I wanted to be able to vote in the country I resided in and in some cases in my career, citizenship is also required. I didn't want the hassle of carrying my GC, worrying about losing it and being an immigrant forever.

[Lights 56]

What do you guys mean by technically, it means nothing? At the Oath Ceremony they will ask you to promise not to have other citizenship, but you don't actually have to go to the Canadian Gov't to renounce your passport and citizenship from Canada?

I've always thought, when I got to that stage, that I would become a dual citizen. I would like to bring my parents over, years from now, when they retire so I can take care of them in their old age. But I can't be 1000% sure that I won't ever want to live in Canada again. Plus, don't you still need citizenship in order to collect your retirement? I have contributed to a locked RRSP account through an employer for many many years. I believe giving up your citizenship to Canada would also mean losing part of my retirement savings for the last 10+ years?

[Saylin 1,605]

What do you guys mean by technically, it means nothing? At the Oath Ceremony they will ask you to promise not to have other citizenship, but you don't actually have to go to the Canadian Gov't to renounce your passport and citizenship from Canada?

I've always thought, when I got to that stage, that I would become a dual citizen. I would like to bring my parents over, years from now, when they retire so I can take care of them in their old age. But I can't be 1000% sure that I won't ever want to live in Canada again. Plus, don't you still need citizenship in order to collect your retirement? I have contributed to a locked RRSP account through an employer for many many years. I believe giving up your citizenship to Canada would also mean losing part of my retirement savings for the last 10+ years?

Even though you say during the oath ceremony you denounce all citizenships, it doesn't mean you have to go and renounce it in Canada. You can absolutely keep your Canadian citizenship!

[Lights 56]

Even though you say during the oath ceremony you denounce all citizenships, it doesn't mean you have to go and renounce it in Canada. You can absolutely keep your Canadian citizenship!

Ahh, OK. I can see why it would be tough, personally, for some people to do that then. Since they're being required to take an oath and they know they want to remain dual.

[Saylin 1,605]

Ahh, OK. I can see why it would be tough, personally, for some people to do that then. Since they're being required to take an oath and they know they want to remain dual.

Yeah, that's part of my issue with not applying for it.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Way I look at it---Politicians lie all the time--and they are suppose to be the leaders of the country!! :-) I don't believe in forking over more $$$$ to the gov't than I have to! Lose ur greencard, more $$$ thrown out! Just my 2 cents and thats the great thing about Free countries, its my opinion--and no one else to care,lol

[Saylin 1,605]

Way I look at it---Politicians lie all the time--and they are suppose to be the leaders of the country!! :-) I don't believe in forking over more $$$$ to the gov't than I have to! Lose ur greencard, more $$$ thrown out! Just my 2 cents and thats the great thing about Free countries, its my opinion--and no one else to care,lol

No kidding!