Dual Citizenship - Yay or Nay?

[Flames9_RN 358]

And if you decide to go back to Canada--with no plans to come back to the USA, you can give up your USA citizenship.

[cee-gee 20]

I was under the impression that I would have to give up my citizenship to Canada and Australia (I already have dual) -mind blown btw... I don't really know if that changes anything for me, but I still have a while to make that decision. I do see the pros and cons, and I can apprecaite why people would make either decision. I'll have to follow up on this topic to help gather more insight!

[Udella&Wiz 325]

This is the oath - it doesn't say denounce citizenship, you denounce your allegiance which is loyalty or commitment to another country or state. By becoming a US citizen you are definitely committing to the US. Another thing to remember is that only the country who gave you the other citizenship can take it away, hence the reason the US is not insisting you renounce all other citizenships, they can't take them away from you. There are definitely other countries which do not allow you to keep their citizenship if you take citizenship somewhere else but Canada is not one of them.

be free people - be 'DUAL' !

"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."

ps yes abjure means renounce....but still, get over it

Edited February 7, 2014 by Udella&Wiz

[NikLR 13,227]

I'll be honest, I'm not sure I like the USA enough to do this.

I know after 3 years I can, and maybe closer to the end of my 10 year gc I may want to instead of paying more money to the USCIS (the rates will have likely been raised by then.) But right now, I have no intentions of obtaining US Citizenship.

One downside that people haven't said is filing taxes, which a USC must do. I was reading a magazine recently and it's the prime reason why people do give up their US citizenship. They make good money in their new country and suddenly have to pay more taxes to the US government because they are doing well in their new country.

[Flames9_RN 358]

I'll be honest, I'm not sure I like the USA enough to do this.

I know after 3 years I can, and maybe closer to the end of my 10 year gc I may want to instead of paying more money to the USCIS (the rates will have likely been raised by then.) But right now, I have no intentions of obtaining US Citizenship.

One downside that people haven't said is filing taxes, which a USC must do. I was reading a magazine recently and it's the prime reason why people do give up their US citizenship. They make good money in their new country and suddenly have to pay more taxes to the US government because they are doing well in their new country.

Doesnt really matter if ur married to a USA citizen..You will be filing anyways....And as I mentioned above....something happens--death, divorce, you head back to Canada, one can renounce ur USA citizenship.

[NikLR 13,227]

That is true. I'll have to see how I feel about it when the time comes. Maybe the USA will have grown on me by then. Who knows.

[Lights 56]

I'm so new to this process… how much are the fee's? When you do your AOS it's $1070 and that's for 2 year GC? Then after that what's the fees for the 10? And when do you normally have the opportunity to apply for citizenship? If you lose your GC how much is it to replace it?

I know someone mentioned the US tax implications if you were to move back and didn't give up your US citizenship… but I wonder what will happen to RRSP's etc on the Canadian end if you give up your Canadian citizenship. I already feel I would want to become dual but I'm glad I have the opportunity to learn this early on.

[warlord 73]

I've had dual US-Canadian citizenship for many years now.

Pros: - You can live outside the US anywhere in the world without having to possibly abandon your Green Card.

- Work anywhere you wish in the US (only very few high end military/gov't jobs will require US citizenship at birth)

- You can't be denied entry into either the US or into Canada

- You have 2 passports, some countries it's easier to get into with one, or the visa fees are different depending on which one you use. You have an option to "shop" for the best visa fee.

- No renewing the Green Card every 10 years.

- Option of visiting either consulate or embassy in a foreign land if needed (some cities may not have both)

- And many others I can't think of

Cons: - The only one I can think of is taxes. You will always be required to file US taxes regardless of where you live in the world, this can be a pain. It doesn't mean you owe anything, but you do still have to file and disclose all monies anywhere in the world.

So that's the break down that I can think of. Yeah some people have an issue with the bearing arms and the only declaring themselves as a American and that's it in the oath. Others like me, were happy to do that and were excited and proud to be able to say that. All a matter of how you think of it, but has no actual real bearing on anything. After all just because the US won't recognize you as a Canadian, Canada will never think that you are not a Canadian...

[Teddy B 17,252]

That is true. I'll have to see how I feel about it when the time comes. Maybe the USA will have grown on me by then. Who knows.

Lol, I told my wife that becoming a US citizen would be her dirty little secret.

[Sprailenes 47]

I took my time in applying for citizenship because I too was a little put off by the words of oath and I'm such a proud Canadian. However, after missing out on the chance to vote in both federal and state elections, I realized that this is the country I live in now and this is my home and I want to be able to vote. Also, I have come to really love it here and that took a LONG time because I was so attached to my Canadian roots. However, when I go back to Canada to visit now, I don't feel like it's home, I feel like a visitor and that happened slowly over time. It was weird.

I'll still be a Canadian citizen after this process is over but I'll be a citizen of this country too. It's a decision that you don't have to rush, you have 10 years to make it. Some people go for it right away, some people wait and some people don't do it all. It's really up to the individual.

[Saylin 1,605]

I took my time in applying for citizenship because I too was a little put off by the words of oath and I'm such a proud Canadian. However, after missing out on the chance to vote in both federal and state elections, I realized that this is the country I live in now and this is my home and I want to be able to vote. Also, I have come to really love it here and that took a LONG time because I was so attached to my Canadian roots. However, when I go back to Canada to visit now, I don't feel like it's home, I feel like a visitor and that happened slowly over time. It was weird.

I'll still be a Canadian citizen after this process is over but I'll be a citizen of this country too. It's a decision that you don't have to rush, you have 10 years to make it. Some people go for it right away, some people wait and some people don't do it all. It's really up to the individual.

You technically have your entire life time to apply for US citizenship, there's no due date. Although I'm guessing you're referencing the expiration of the 10 year green card?

[Sprailenes 47]

You technically have your entire life time to apply for US citizenship, there's no due date. Although I'm guessing you're referencing the expiration of the 10 year green card?

Yes obviously

But I don't know why anyone would get another 10 year green card when they could get citizenship and be done with immigration for life haha

This has been the easiest part of process thus far and I will be glad when it's really all said and done.

[Saylin 1,605]

Yes obviously

But I don't know why anyone would get another 10 year green card when they could get citizenship and be done with immigration for life haha

This has been the easiest part of process thus far and I will be glad when it's really all said and done.

Yes, it obviously makes sense financially to pay for citizenship instead of paying USCIS $$$ every 10 years, but some people just don't want to become US citizens

[Dualie 185]

I am not there yet, but I do plan to eventually become a US citizen. I will ALWAYS be Canadian because I was born a Canadian, however most of my immediate relatives are US citizens and I spent the greater portion of my childhood in the United States (long story, and I may tell it here one day). Because of this, becoming a citizen will make things a lot easier with regard to transferring properties and things like that. The America I grew up with is a lot different than today's America, and it makes me sad to see some of the things that are going on, but as a previous poster said, Canada has her issues also. I grew up feeling like I always had on foot on either side of the border, and allegiance for both sides. I served proudly in Canada's Armed Forces while my siblings served in the United States military. Ours is a family with strong ties on both sides, so for me it makes so much sense to make it easier on myself and become a citizen of both countries. I want to become a citizen of the country where my fondest childhood memories are, but I will also always be Canadian.

[Flames9_RN 358]

I am not there yet, but I do plan to eventually become a US citizen. I will ALWAYS be Canadian because I was born a Canadian, however most of my immediate relatives are US citizens and I spent the greater portion of my childhood in the United States (long story, and I may tell it here one day). Because of this, becoming a citizen will make things a lot easier with regard to transferring properties and things like that. The America I grew up with is a lot different than today's America, and it makes me sad to see some of the things that are going on, but as a previous poster said, Canada has her issues also. I grew up feeling like I always had on foot on either side of the border, and allegiance for both sides. I served proudly in Canada's Armed Forces while my siblings served in the United States military. Ours is a family with strong ties on both sides, so for me it makes so much sense to make it easier on myself and become a citizen of both countries. I want to become a citizen of the country where my fondest childhood memories are, but I will also always be Canadian.

Since u served in the Cdn Armed forces ( I did as well for nearly 15 yrs--Army, Navy and Airforce) You will have to submit paperwork for that. I can't recall what they refer to it ( I got out Jan 2005) I think it was called your UER at 1 time, but the name has changed!