Dual Citizenship - Yay or Nay?

[Dualie 185]

Hi Flames! Maybe you can help me on that. I have been trying to find out how to obtain those records, as I lost my UER several years ago. There has to be a way to get a hold of copies somewhere. Do you know anything about that? Can you point me in the right direction? (I got out in 1981 so they were all paper records back then. Dating myself, hahaha)

Thanks in advance!!

Edited February 7, 2014 by Dualie

[Flames9_RN 358]

Hi Flames! Maybe you can help me on that. I have been trying to find out how to obtain those records, as I lost my UER several years ago. There has to be a way to get a hold of copies somewhere. Do you know anything about that? Can you point me in the right direction? (I got out in 1981 so they were all paper records back then. Dating myself, hahaha)

Thanks in advance!!

Could try Veterans affairs: http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/help/faq

1 can get their whole military records, but may take a while, as they photocopy it.......http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/022/f2/022-909.007-e.pdf http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/022/022-909.007-e.html

Not sure if getting your whole military records would be of any use for immigration, but interesting to go through. Your best bet may be to contact Veterans Affairs--I'm sure they have come across it as well. Or what you could do, it write something up, giving a brief overlook of your military history (trades, etc), and state you were honorably discharged and get it notarized. Or if you live close to your former unit, go there and see if they can dig something up.

There was 1 other person recently that had to get their military records, bu tnot sure if they were still in at the time or had been out for awhile.

[Dualie 185]

Thanks so much. I have had no luck with Google, it just directs me to archival stuff. Canadian Forces site said you can write in or fax in a request but they don't tell you who to send it to or where to send it. I think I will call Veterans Affairs. Failing that, Service Canada..

Thanks for your help!

*update* Your link to collectionscanada had the application I needed. Thanks so much!*

Edited February 7, 2014 by Dualie

[Flames9_RN 358]

Thanks so much. I have had no luck with Google, it just directs me to archival stuff. Canadian Forces site said you can write in or fax in a request but they don't tell you who to send it to or where to send it. I think I will call Veterans Affairs. Failing that, Service Canada..

Thanks for your help!

*update* Your link to collectionscanada had the application I needed. Thanks so much!*

That will get everything and I mean everything, Mine was a few inches thick! But not sure if its any good for immigration! I don't have the pkg with me here in Nicaragua, so can't look at it. There may be an old UER in there that may work--just get it notarized!!

[Sprailenes 47]

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

Yes I know that.

[nightingalejules 678]

I will definitely apply for citizenship as soon as I am able. Partly because I'm kind of jealous that my husband gets two passports (he's dual Canadian and US- born in Canada to USC parents) and I only have one! (Mostly kidding about that, but, you gotta admit that having 2 passports is kinda cool!)

But for me, it has more to do with the affidavit of support that my mother-in-law will have to commit to, when I immigrate (since hubby lives here in Canada with me right now, he doesn't have sufficient US income or assets to sponsor me by himself).

Not that I expect to be a burden on society, apply for welfare or foodstamps or medicare... I fully intend to be able to support myself. But it bothers me that someone else is legally responsible for me, financially. Once I become a citizen, her legal responsibility for me ends. And that will make me feel really good.

I am also aware that since my own mother is aging and has a chronic health problem, I may at some point need to return to Canada for a fairly extended period of time to be with her. I wouldn't want that to jeopardize my immigration status. I'd want to be able to tell my Dad and siblings - "however long you need me, I'm here."

So, yes, as soon as the 3 years are up, despite the fact that I will have just gotten my 10 year GC, I will be applying for naturalization.

(I still plan on spelling colour and favour and honour and neighbour with a "u" though... you can take the girl out of Canada...)

Edited February 8, 2014 by nightingalejules

[lilacvioletiris 11]

My Canadian DH is going to apply for citizenship because of the affidavit of support I filled out. He knows he wants to support our family and have me stay home with our newborn twins who are 7 weeks today. Not having to report to the government if we move is also a factor. He would like to vote as well.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

(I still plan on spelling colour and favour and honour and neighbour with a "u" though... you can take the girl out of Canada...)

Good luck with that The novelness wears off. I just adjusted and frankly Microsoft Office adjusted it for me. Americans don't 'get' why you're spelling everything 'wrong' and in the corporate world its appropriate to blend in. I have a fair number of Indian friends here and they enjoy my British spellings so I do it for them when we're corresponding.

One thing I hadn't noticed until recently was the spelling of catalogue or should I say 'catalog' (which just looks plain wrong)...drives me batty some days.

[nightingalejules 678]

Good luck with that The novelness wears off. I just adjusted and frankly Microsoft Office adjusted it for me. Americans don't 'get' why you're spelling everything 'wrong' and in the corporate world its appropriate to blend in. I have a fair number of Indian friends here and they enjoy my British spellings so I do it for them when we're corresponding.

One thing I hadn't noticed until recently was the spelling of catalogue or should I say 'catalog' (which just looks plain wrong)...drives me batty some days.

And "cheque!" "Check" is a verb, or a mark on a test paper! Anyway, fortunately for me, I'm not really in the corporate world... I'm a musician and voice teacher, so my "quaint and eccentric" spellings and phrases and accent are (or have been so far) actually encouraged. If your singing teacher was educated "abroad", apparently that's a selling point!

[HeatDeath 430]

One tax implication of US citizenship that hasn't been mentioned yet is estate taxes.

When two US citizens are married, and one of them passes away, the estate tax can be deferred until the widow/widower passes away as well.

When a US citizen is married to a Permanent Resident, and the US citizen passes away, the IRS will require the Permanent Resident to pay out the estate tax immediately.[i think the worry is that the PR, having [theoretically] no further ties to the US, will skip the country with the entire estate and never pay the estate taxes.]

Depending on your ages and general situation, this can constitute a fairly compelling reason to get US citizenship.

[Teddy B 17,252]

One tax implication of US citizenship that hasn't been mentioned yet is estate taxes.

When two US citizens are married, and one of them passes away, the estate tax can be deferred until the widow/widower passes away as well.

When a US citizen is married to a Permanent Resident, and the US citizen passes away, the IRS will require the Permanent Resident to pay out the estate tax immediately.[i think the worry is that the PR, having [theoretically] no further ties to the US, will skip the country with the entire estate and never pay the estate taxes.]

Depending on your ages and general situation, this can constitute a fairly compelling reason to get US citizenship.

It was mentioned. http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/479154-dual-citizenship-yay-or-nay/?p=6804818

[Tala202 27]

To answer the main question: yay. Primarily because you'd never have to deal with issues in moving back and forth. My grandmother was a GC holder (through the lottery) and she spent quite a few years of her life going back just to avoid losing the GC. Plus it'd be a plus in my career path. I think, speaking in practical terms, it's all upsides; although, I'd understand how it might be emotionally difficult for some.

That said, I have a side question. I know that you don't have to renounce your Canadian citizenship, but would you have to if you had a third citizenship? I'm asking because I would have triple (tri?) citizenship (+Iranian) and I wanna make sure that that won't be an issue on the US side of things.

[Flames9_RN 358]

To answer the main question: yay. Primarily because you'd never have to deal with issues in moving back and forth. My grandmother was a GC holder (through the lottery) and she spent quite a few years of her life going back just to avoid losing the GC. Plus it'd be a plus in my career path. I think, speaking in practical terms, it's all upsides; although, I'd understand how it might be emotionally difficult for some.

That said, I have a side question. I know that you don't have to renounce your Canadian citizenship, but would you have to if you had a third citizenship? I'm asking because I would have triple (tri?) citizenship (+Iranian) and I wanna make sure that that won't be an issue on the US side of things.

Just be aware that since you are Iranian--you may go into AP (additional processing) after your interview in Mtl

[Tala202 27]

Just be aware that since you are Iranian--you may go into AP (additional processing) after your interview in Mtl

O no. How come? I was so young when I lived there!

[NikLR 13,227]

O no. How come? I was so young when I lived there!

Because of your nationality and that of your family. It really has nothing to do with you as a person, unless you work in chemicals or biologicals or pharmaceuticals, but because of who the US does or doesn't get along with. They will likely do extra background checks on you and your family to ensure no one makes a hit on their radars. Just be prepared for that eventuality and do not quit work, give notice, or plan to move until after the visa is in your hands.