Do you think dual citizenship is a good idea?

[Time2gopeacefully 0]

Do you think dual citizenship is a good idea? Do you consider loyalty toward this country will be questioned if you have dual citizenship?

Edited February 23, 2009 by Hey-wassapenin?

[Emancipation 2]

I'd only become a citizen for convenience. That may not be the right reason, but practically speaking it makes the most sense for us.

[mkg265 2]

I'm only getting my Albanian citizenship for convenience. I have to pay $10-20 every time I enter the country and we're building a home there and I need citizenship to get my name on the owners papers.

My husband on the other hand, wants American citizen because he wants to be an American. The visa gets us together, the citizenship keeps us together.

[bora bora 1]

Dual citizenship is convenient. I want to move back to Brazil (I'm the USC) in a couple of years so it'd be better for my husband to become a USC so he can travel back and forth as he pleases without worrying about a GC. I also think it could be the same for me to become Brazilian. Plus, our children will have dual citizenship, so why not their parents?

[Dr. Obvious 49]

I'd do it also for convenience. Alas, I have to provide the German government with a statement from the US Embassy confirming that I renounced my US citizenship before I could have German. That being the case, forget it. And here I was thinking that they actually needed more citizens.

[Uncle Wally 2]

I think it's an excellent idea. If I could have dual US/EU citizenship, I'd grab it in a heartbeat with no feelings whatsoever of disloyalty toward Uncle Sam.

Unfortunately for my wife and me, Japan does not allow for dual citizenship for adults. I am therefore discouraging her from trying to get US citizenship, as should I get mowed down by a crosstown bus or something, she might have trouble returning home to Japan.

[Nessa 23]

yup

[Saddle Bronc 124]

With the aftereffects of Reagan's 1986 scamnesty still happening, the best option for me was to get US citizenship and then deal with marriage issues (ok, I decided ahead of naturalisation that I would go for K-1, but...).

Do you think dual citizenship is a good idea? Do you consider loyalty toward this country will be questioned if you have dual citizenship?

One time when they will question is when you're applying for a job (government, or contract) which requires a clearance, such as many positions which work with ICE; unrenounced dual-citizenship, even of a NATO ally, can put the kibosh on further processing of the application and prospects of actually starting the job.

Some of the questions in that case:

• How did you obtain dual citizenship? (sounds like they cannot figure you already had pre-existing citizenship and then got naturalised to US)
• Have you, or will you in future, renounce the other (than US) citizenship? (ok, now they do seem to have figured pre-existing citizenship)

[46]

One time when they will question is when you're applying for a job (government, or contract) which requires a clearance, such as many positions which work with ICE; unrenounced dual-citizenship, even of a NATO ally, can put the kibosh on further processing of the application and prospects of actually starting the job.

Some of the questions in that case:

• How did you obtain dual citizenship? (sounds like they cannot figure you already had pre-existing citizenship and then got naturalised to US)
• Have you, or will you in future, renounce the other (than US) citizenship? (ok, now they do seem to have figured pre-existing citizenship)

How you obtained dual citizenship is highly relevant. It applies due to the difference between naturalization and birth citizenship. One cannot help where one is born; however, if you naturalized in another country first swearing loyalty to it, then the United States, your loyalties are highly suspect. I know several individuals who treated Canadian citizenship as little more than a way station to US citizenship. Put another way, you don't swear loyalty if born with a citizenship.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

How you obtained dual citizenship is highly relevant. It applies due to the difference between naturalization and birth citizenship. One cannot help where one is born; however, if you naturalized in another country first swearing loyalty to it, then the United States, your loyalties are highly suspect. I know several individuals who treated Canadian citizenship as little more than a way station to US citizenship. Put another way, you don't swear loyalty if born with a citizenship.

Admittedly, I did get Canadian citizenship by naturalisation prior (try 23 years--in fact, prior to even Canada-US free-trade deal being signed) to getting US citizenship, but it wasn't due to having any pre-existing plans of becoming a US citizen (I immigrated to Canada with parents at age 8, naturalised there at 18).

[NatPatBen 3]

I hadn't put much thought into it before, so I appreciate this poll.

I would like to get dual citizenship, as I eventually want to move to Jamaica, but come back to the US frequently. I'll have to investigate how to get the dual citizenship.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I hadn't put much thought into it before, so I appreciate this poll.

I would like to get dual citizenship, as I eventually want to move to Jamaica, but come back to the US frequently. I'll have to investigate how to get the dual citizenship.

If Jamaica allows dual-citizenship, then you will have it the moment you are sworn in. So, that's all you will need to check.

[raymaga 25]

I have dual citizenship (U.S and Canadian). I wanted to become a U.S. citizen, and I would NEVER give up my Canadian citizenship.

[46]

How you obtained dual citizenship is highly relevant. It applies due to the difference between naturalization and birth citizenship. One cannot help where one is born; however, if you naturalized in another country first swearing loyalty to it, then the United States, your loyalties are highly suspect. I know several individuals who treated Canadian citizenship as little more than a way station to US citizenship. Put another way, you don't swear loyalty if born with a citizenship.

Admittedly, I did get Canadian citizenship by naturalisation prior (try 23 years--in fact, prior to even Canada-US free-trade deal being signed) to getting US citizenship, but it wasn't due to having any pre-existing plans of becoming a US citizen (I immigrated to Canada with parents at age 8, naturalised there at 18).

I'm not accusing you of anything, but that's the reason they ask. They are looking for divided loyalties.