dual citizenship

[visacheck 3]

I just wanted to ask a question. Take China... a country that doesn't allow you to have dual citizenship... If you become an American the u.s. government isn't go to call the chinese embassy and inform them nor would you use an american passport to enter China..... nor would you even have the same name as that on your american passport (if your a girl). So if my wife leaves amerca on her american passport and uses her Chinese passport to enter China how would they know she is an american unless we say something? The chinese border police don't care about exit stamps and even if they do America doesn't have them so again how would they know? Now if I (the american) were to try and become chinese they would take my passport away (but couldn't I just say I lost it and need a new one at the american embassy... assuming that the chinese government doesn't say anything to them?). Now I know most countries in the world deal with each other a lot as far as people go, some share databases and others even hold coop war games together with the u.s. but china isn't one of them. There is no way the government in america could know if I did anything illegal in china because even the chinese government in beijing can't know if I did something illegal in say far west or south china (I know this for a fact after talking to chiefs of police and former miltary). So maybe in some rare situation you could get around dual citizenship.

Yes you could get around dual citizenship when you use chinese passport on chinese immigration. Coming back to US means your wife would have to use her US passport with no entry or exit stamp from China. You better hope that US does not care about passport stamps like China... You better hope that US does not care if China allows dual citizenship or not.

[freetv 7]

I just wanted to ask a question. Take China... a country that doesn't allow you to have dual citizenship... If you become an American the u.s. government isn't go to call the chinese embassy and inform them nor would you use an american passport to enter China..... nor would you even have the same name as that on your american passport (if your a girl). So if my wife leaves amerca on her american passport and uses her Chinese passport to enter China how would they know she is an american unless we say something? The chinese border police don't care about exit stamps and even if they do America doesn't have them so again how would they know? Now if I (the american) were to try and become chinese they would take my passport away (but couldn't I just say I lost it and need a new one at the american embassy... assuming that the chinese government doesn't say anything to them?). Now I know most countries in the world deal with each other a lot as far as people go, some share databases and others even hold coop war games together with the u.s. but china isn't one of them. There is no way the government in america could know if I did anything illegal in china because even the chinese government in beijing can't know if I did something illegal in say far west or south china (I know this for a fact after talking to chiefs of police and former miltary). So maybe in some rare situation you could get around dual citizenship.

Yes you could get around dual citizenship when you use chinese passport on chinese immigration. Coming back to US means your wife would have to use her US passport with no entry or exit stamp from China. You better hope that US does not care about passport stamps like China... You better hope that US does not care if China allows dual citizenship or not.

I have had border guards that were in a hurry and others that asked me where I was overseas and even skimmed through my passport, but they have never looked at it close enough to see the stamps or dates for that matter. I entered Europe in Amsterdam and got my entry stamp there but later went from Spain to Switzerland and then to Hong Kong and never received an exit stamp for the e.u. (which I did when I left through amsterdam on another trip). So exit stamps are hit and miss.

Edited October 20, 2009 by freetv

[snj_immigrant 0]

I have had border guards that were in a hurry and others that asked me where I was overseas and even skimmed through my passport, but they have never looked at it close enough to see the stamps or dates for that matter. I entered Europe in Amsterdam and got my entry stamp there but later went from Spain to Switzerland and then to Hong Kong and never received an exit stamp for the e.u. (which I did when I left through amsterdam on another trip). So exit stamps are hit and miss.

If there is an exit passport stamping process (have never been to China but most countries, including Europe, have outgoing passport stamping) typically ask you how you are going to enter the destination country (they ask for your greencard/look for visa stamp on passport etc.)...If not the passport control people, the airline will definitely ask this, since otherwise, they are financially responsible for transporting someone back if they are found to be inadmissible in the USA....

[Italian_in_NYC 259]

First of all, if you hold a EU passport, there's NEVER a stamp on your passport when you enter the EU.

Also, the US don't care which passport you use abroad. The only requirement they have is to use a US passport to enter (and exit, but nobody checks this) the US.

If you go on the Dept of State website it even says that if you're a dual citizen, you might be forced to use your other passport when going to your other country of citizenship.

Also, even if asked at the POE about entry/exit stamp, just say that you use your other passport. There's nothing illegal about that.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I just wanted to ask a question. Take China... a country that doesn't allow you to have dual citizenship... If you become an American the u.s. government isn't go to call the chinese embassy and inform them nor would you use an american passport to enter China..... nor would you even have the same name as that on your american passport (if your a girl). So if my wife leaves amerca on her american passport and uses her Chinese passport to enter China how would they know she is an american unless we say something? The chinese border police don't care about exit stamps and even if they do America doesn't have them so again how would they know? Now if I (the american) were to try and become chinese they would take my passport away (but couldn't I just say I lost it and need a new one at the american embassy... assuming that the chinese government doesn't say anything to them?). Now I know most countries in the world deal with each other a lot as far as people go, some share databases and others even hold coop war games together with the u.s. but china isn't one of them. There is no way the government in america could know if I did anything illegal in china because even the chinese government in beijing can't know if I did something illegal in say far west or south china (I know this for a fact after talking to chiefs of police and former miltary). So maybe in some rare situation you could get around dual citizenship.

Yes you could get around dual citizenship when you use chinese passport on chinese immigration. Coming back to US means your wife would have to use her US passport with no entry or exit stamp from China. You better hope that US does not care about passport stamps like China... You better hope that US does not care if China allows dual citizenship or not.

I faced that issue when coming back from India in 2005. I had entered India with 2 Canadian passports (expired one with visa, and unexpired one for travel/entry), and then showed the totally-blank US passport when re-entering at JFK. I was shown to another room, where they took a few minutes and then handed my passport back.

In the specific case of India (which does not allow "true" dual citizenship--as in will not issue Indian passport, but lifelong visa is OK), holding on to the Indian passport can cause problems later if the naturalised Indian decides to apply for PIO or OCI (as it is supposed to be turned-in to the embassy).

[anca 0]

OK, so i found out that Romania accepts dual citizenship, I am about to apply for a U.S. passport and my romanian passport expires next year, I intend to keep my romanian citizenship so I will try to renew my romanian passport. Now the question is do I renew it in my maiden name or my married name.

I hope somebody has an answer.

Thanks.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

OK, so i found out that Romania accepts dual citizenship, I am about to apply for a U.S. passport and my romanian passport expires next year, I intend to keep my romanian citizenship so I will try to renew my romanian passport. Now the question is do I renew it in my maiden name or my married name.

I hope somebody has an answer.

Thanks.

People on VJ, who traveled with two passports with two names that didn't match the name on the airplane ticket, have been refused to board a plane. I'd say that's a good reason to keep both names on both passports identical.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

I just wanted to ask a question. Take China... a country that doesn't allow you to have dual citizenship... If you become an American the u.s. government isn't go to call the chinese embassy and inform them nor would you use an american passport to enter China..... nor would you even have the same name as that on your american passport (if your a girl). So if my wife leaves amerca on her american passport and uses her Chinese passport to enter China how would they know she is an american unless we say something? The chinese border police don't care about exit stamps and even if they do America doesn't have them so again how would they know? Now if I (the american) were to try and become chinese they would take my passport away (but couldn't I just say I lost it and need a new one at the american embassy... assuming that the chinese government doesn't say anything to them?). Now I know most countries in the world deal with each other a lot as far as people go, some share databases and others even hold coop war games together with the u.s. but china isn't one of them. There is no way the government in america could know if I did anything illegal in china because even the chinese government in beijing can't know if I did something illegal in say far west or south china (I know this for a fact after talking to chiefs of police and former miltary). So maybe in some rare situation you could get around dual citizenship.

I can't tell you if you get away with it and how long. You may be able to commit crimes for a long time until they put a rope around your neck. What I do know, however, is that claiming to be a US citizen is a serious offense and I can't imagine that claiming to be a Chinese citizen is seen as a harmless joke by the Chinese government. I wouldn't want to spend a decade in a wet dark prison cell for that. But that's just me; you may feel differently about that.

[Italian_in_NYC 259]

OK, so i found out that Romania accepts dual citizenship, I am about to apply for a U.S. passport and my romanian passport expires next year, I intend to keep my romanian citizenship so I will try to renew my romanian passport. Now the question is do I renew it in my maiden name or my married name.

I hope somebody has an answer.

Thanks.

People on VJ, who traveled with two passports with two names that didn't match the name on the airplane ticket, have been refused to board a plane. I'd say that's a good reason to keep both names on both passports identical.

Some countries just don't allow to change name even after marriage.

My wife applied for italian citizenship and since Italy doesn't allow a woman to change her last name after marriage she will have her US passport with her married name and her italian passport with her maiden name. However, on pag 4 of an italian passport there's an option to put a note "married XXXX" where XXXX is the married last name.

[Italian_in_NYC 259]

People on VJ, who traveled with two passports with two names that didn't match the name on the airplane ticket, have been refused to board a plane. I'd say that's a good reason to keep both names on both passports identical.

I don't get it. The name on the plane ticket didn't match either name on the two passports?

[visacheck 3]

People on VJ, who traveled with two passports with two names that didn't match the name on the airplane ticket, have been refused to board a plane. I'd say that's a good reason to keep both names on both passports identical.

I don't get it. The name on the plane ticket didn't match either name on the two passports?

If you use 2 passports with different last names, one will not match the plane ticket. Thats what he meant.

[NickD 203]

I don't get how one could state the oath to become a USC, then make another oath to a different country. It seems to me, you have to make up your mind which country you want to be a citizen of. While my wife still has assets in Venezuela, we are trying our best to sell those, not easy with Chavez and if we can sell them, questioning how to bring that money out of that country. But she wanted to be and is a USC, this is her country now. That was the whole purpose of stating that oath.

I didn't at the time, but certainly do now, when drafted had to say an oath to serve and even die for my country, but if I didn't, would have been tossed in jail, how valid was that oath? But no one is twisting your arm to say the oath to become a USC, can attest to that, this was done strictly on my wife's own free will. But she did have reservations on bearing arms for this country, she is deadly afraid of guns. We and my army captain neighbor assured her, at her age, we would really be in a desperate situation if they called her to bear arms. Like terrorists in our front yard.

[freetv 7]

I just wanted to ask a question. Take China... a country that doesn't allow you to have dual citizenship... If you become an American the u.s. government isn't go to call the chinese embassy and inform them nor would you use an american passport to enter China..... nor would you even have the same name as that on your american passport (if your a girl). So if my wife leaves amerca on her american passport and uses her Chinese passport to enter China how would they know she is an american unless we say something? The chinese border police don't care about exit stamps and even if they do America doesn't have them so again how would they know? Now if I (the american) were to try and become chinese they would take my passport away (but couldn't I just say I lost it and need a new one at the american embassy... assuming that the chinese government doesn't say anything to them?). Now I know most countries in the world deal with each other a lot as far as people go, some share databases and others even hold coop war games together with the u.s. but china isn't one of them. There is no way the government in america could know if I did anything illegal in china because even the chinese government in beijing can't know if I did something illegal in say far west or south china (I know this for a fact after talking to chiefs of police and former miltary). So maybe in some rare situation you could get around dual citizenship.

I can't tell you if you get away with it and how long. You may be able to commit crimes for a long time until they put a rope around your neck. What I do know, however, is that claiming to be a US citizen is a serious offense and I can't imagine that claiming to be a Chinese citizen is seen as a harmless joke by the Chinese government. I wouldn't want to spend a decade in a wet dark prison cell for that. But that's just me; you may feel differently about that.

Wait a min, how is it a crime to enter China as a chinese citizen if you are indeed a chinese citizen? Who said I would claim to be a us citizen illegally when I am indeed an american citizen and nothing else? I was just putting out some possiblities within the confines of the system. I do not believe leaving on an american passport and entering on an american passport while using your own countries passport to enter the other country is illegal in any way. The only thing I think that would create problems is when you try to enter America on a non u.s. passport when you are in fact an American. If you avoid that, everything else SHOULD be outside the realm of u.s. government domain. Dual citizenship borders everything that is legal and illegal on international law. This is from the American embassy in Beijing, "We encourage all Chinese Americans to enter China on their American passport because the Chinese government doesn't allow embassy staff to help Americans that have entered China on a Chinese passport because they view them solely as Chinese citizens." So I think that settles the whole idea of dual citizenship of countries that don't allow it, at least from the American point of view. But lets say you are held by North Korea and you entered on a German passport.... you will be viewed as a German and only as a German. So in reality, what ever you enter the country as that is your ONLY nationality. Just like a German American that enters America on an American passport, in the eyes of the American government you are an American and it doesn't matter if the German government expects you to go to basic training in Berlin because you better show up at your local court house for jury duty or your going to jail.

[Italian_in_NYC 259]

I don't get how one could state the oath to become a USC, then make another oath to a different country. It seems to me, you have to make up your mind which country you want to be a citizen of. While my wife still has assets in Venezuela, we are trying our best to sell those, not easy with Chavez and if we can sell them, questioning how to bring that money out of that country. But she wanted to be and is a USC, this is her country now. That was the whole purpose of stating that oath.

I didn't at the time, but certainly do now, when drafted had to say an oath to serve and even die for my country, but if I didn't, would have been tossed in jail, how valid was that oath? But no one is twisting your arm to say the oath to become a USC, can attest to that, this was done strictly on my wife's own free will. But she did have reservations on bearing arms for this country, she is deadly afraid of guns. We and my army captain neighbor assured her, at her age, we would really be in a desperate situation if they called her to bear arms. Like terrorists in our front yard.

For many people, including me, a citizenship is just an opportunity, an oath just an administrative step. I want to be a USC because I might be transfered to Europe or Asia by my company soon and I don't want to go through the green card process again when we decide to come back.

My wife is getting italian citizenship because if we get transfered to Europe she won't have to go through the work permit process. Our kids will be dual citizens at birth and hopefully won't have to deal with any immigration process ever.

[visacheck 3]

I just wanted to ask a question. Take China... a country that doesn't allow you to have dual citizenship... If you become an American the u.s. government isn't go to call the chinese embassy and inform them nor would you use an american passport to enter China..... nor would you even have the same name as that on your american passport (if your a girl). So if my wife leaves amerca on her american passport and uses her Chinese passport to enter China how would they know she is an american unless we say something? The chinese border police don't care about exit stamps and even if they do America doesn't have them so again how would they know? Now if I (the american) were to try and become chinese they would take my passport away (but couldn't I just say I lost it and need a new one at the american embassy... assuming that the chinese government doesn't say anything to them?). Now I know most countries in the world deal with each other a lot as far as people go, some share databases and others even hold coop war games together with the u.s. but china isn't one of them. There is no way the government in america could know if I did anything illegal in china because even the chinese government in beijing can't know if I did something illegal in say far west or south china (I know this for a fact after talking to chiefs of police and former miltary). So maybe in some rare situation you could get around dual citizenship.

I can't tell you if you get away with it and how long. You may be able to commit crimes for a long time until they put a rope around your neck. What I do know, however, is that claiming to be a US citizen is a serious offense and I can't imagine that claiming to be a Chinese citizen is seen as a harmless joke by the Chinese government. I wouldn't want to spend a decade in a wet dark prison cell for that. But that's just me; you may feel differently about that.

Wait a min, how is it a crime to enter China as a chinese citizen if you are indeed a chinese citizen? Who said I would claim to be a us citizen illegally when I am indeed an american citizen and nothing else? I was just putting out some possiblities within the confines of the system. I do not believe leaving on an american passport and entering on an american passport while using your own countries passport to enter the other country is illegal in any way. The only thing I think that would create problems is when you try to enter America on a non u.s. passport when you are in fact an American. If you avoid that, everything else SHOULD be outside the realm of u.s. government domain. Dual citizenship borders everything that is legal and illegal on international law. This is from the American embassy in Beijing, "We encourage all Chinese Americans to enter China on their American passport because the Chinese government doesn't allow embassy staff to help Americans that have entered China on a Chinese passport because they view them solely as Chinese citizens." So I think that settles the whole idea of dual citizenship of countries that don't allow it, at least from the American point of view. But lets say you are held by North Korea and you entered on a German passport.... you will be viewed as a German and only as a German. So in reality, what ever you enter the country as that is your ONLY nationality. Just like a German American that enters America on an American passport, in the eyes of the American government you are an American and it doesn't matter if the German government expects you to go to basic training in Berlin because you better show up at your local court house for jury duty or your going to jail.

Your wife is a US citizen and China does not allow dual citizenship correct? In that case your wife is no longer a Chinese citizen.

Leaving on an american passport and entering on an american passport while using your own countries passport to enter the other country is not illegal if your country allows dual citizenship. It could and might be illegal if the country does not allow dual citizenship.

So your saying, China does not allow dual citizenship but chinese who are already US CITIZENS are allowed to use their Chinese passports to enter China? Doesn't that contradict their own rule on dual citizenship?!

I guess if you can post a link from China's side saying that former chinese citizens can use their un-expired passport to enter China then we would all know that it is not illegal.