Russian Citizenship for US Born Child

[Used to be broken 147]

I have no clue how that is documented in Russia, but it's only a matter of documenting it, not applying for it, not discussing the merits and downfalls of dual citizenship, none of it.

there is never a matter of "only documenting" it in FSU world

Why would the parents make sure their child has Russian citizenship? Because you can't put a price tag on citizenship.

I get why, I wasn't questioning that. I think you can put a pricetag on citizenship in fact some countries sell them. Although not as common now since 9/11. But if you did put a price on them, I think Russia would come in well below, EU, Canada, and US Citizenship on Ebay

Law Puts Millions in Jeopardy

The St. Petersburg Times

MOSCOW - A new law on obtaining Russian citizenship has created a pile of red tape that threatens to leave more than a million Russians stateless when their Soviet passports are annulled Jan. 1.

About 1.5 million Soviet citizens who returned to Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union could be stranded without citizenship and benefits after an ongoing passport exchange program ends, Vladimir Shumov, the head of the Kremlin's citizenship directorate, was quoted as saying by Izvestia on Thursday.

The problem is rooted in a Kremlin-backed law on citizenship that was passed last June. President Vladimir Putin lambasted the law in his state of the nation address last Friday.

The law requires those applying for Russian citizenship to obtain at least 15 stamped documents from various government agencies, said Yevgeny Bobrov, a lawyer with the nongovernmental Forum of Migrants Organizations. To get the first document, the applicant must be the citizen of some country - which the Soviet-passport holders are not.

PRICELESS !

The ability to move and live wherever one wants is priceless. Do YOU know what living in Russia will be like in half a Century when, perhaps, half of Americans point at their shopping kart when asked about their most priced possession?

I agree with the freedom of movement comment.. I have no idea what living in Russia will be like in 1/2 century in terms of cultural norms and society, but I am relatively certain it will still be colder than Florida and that is all I need to know.

Edited October 16, 2010 by brokenfamily

[SMR 368]

I had hoped for some more practical advice on the logistics of formulating dual citizenship for our son but I realize that this probably won't be very forthcoming.

While I wouldn't go so far as to call this all hogwash, I think Just Bob has a good point. Citizenship is a sticky thing because although to gain it later in life you typically have to take an oath, you don't when you are born with it. Whether or not an oath is implied in your birth is doubtful in my opinion.

From a more practical perspective, my son's dual citizenship won't become a serious issue for 15+ years, at which time he'll have to make his own decisions. It's my guess that there won't be conscription in Russia in 17 years, but no one knows, of course. When you're in a country that you have citizenship in, that citizenship typically takes precedence over all others. In third countries, it's a tricky and subjective topic.

[visaveteran 1]

I had hoped for some more practical advice on the logistics of formulating dual citizenship for our son but I realize that this probably won't be very forthcoming.

While I wouldn't go so far as to call this all hogwash, I think Just Bob has a good point. Citizenship is a sticky thing because although to gain it later in life you typically have to take an oath, you don't when you are born with it. Whether or not an oath is implied in your birth is doubtful in my opinion.

From a more practical perspective, my son's dual citizenship won't become a serious issue for 15+ years, at which time he'll have to make his own decisions. It's my guess that there won't be conscription in Russia in 17 years, but no one knows, of course. When you're in a country that you have citizenship in, that citizenship typically takes precedence over all others. In third countries, it's a tricky and subjective topic.

If you want practical advice, contact the Russian Embassy in Washington, DC, or when you're in Russia, and ask how it's done. Or pay a Russian immigration lawyer for one hour of his time. Then follow directions.

I don't think a lot of American-Russian couples go the dual route---in fact, most Russian wives work harder bringing over, or work to get their kids to come to the USA after the marriage; so what kind of expertise on the subject can you expect on here? The same limited comments: yes, you can do it; there will be a lot of paperwork and probably some bribes to pay; you will have to accept that Russia will have a military draft to deal with (despite your optimistic outlook). The details are for you to find by starting the actual process...so start it and let us know how it works.

Let me just throw a little cold water at you...my wife's son became the center of interest when the draft people found out his mom was married to an American and she lived in the USA. The KGB interviewed him a number of times, and when he was drafted they sent him to an unusual duty station. We think his calls to his mom were bugged as the phone he had to use was from the military...no private cell phones allowed. And, as is customary, they beat the ####### out of him repeatedly and treated him like dirt. He came home a very different person...not for the better.

[lee08 0]

All this is hogwash. There, I said it!

The kid is BORN with both citizenships. He doesn't have to choose, he doesn't have to take an Oath of Allegiance, nothing of that. Due to jus sangius he's a Russian and a US citizen. I have no clue how that is documented in Russia, but it's only a matter of documenting it, not applying for it, not discussing the merits and downfalls of dual citizenship, none of it.

Why would the parents make sure their child has Russian citizenship? Because you can't put a price tag on citizenship. The ability to move and live wherever one wants is priceless. Do YOU know what living in Russia will be like in half a Century when, perhaps, half of Americans point at their shopping kart when asked about their most priced possession?

I don't spend much time here anymore but I had to reply to this thread.

I didn't see anyone else here in the op's situation except for myself. Me and my Russian wife have a little baby boy now, he was born here in the USA, and he is an AMERICAN CITIZEN. Not a Russian citizen. My wife is very proud and myself that he was born here and she has stated that he will never be a Russian citizen in her lifetime and I 100% agree with her. There are just too many problems associated with a male having dual citizenship between the US and Russia such as already mentioned in previous threads and we want our son to be able to travel to Russia later in life to visit family without having to worry about this.

[slim 1,525]

she has stated that he will never be a Russian citizen in her lifetime

My wife said she'd never be an American citizen... and got her blue passport a few weeks ago.

[Used to be broken 147]

My wife said she'd never be an American citizen... and got her blue passport a few weeks ago.

Like someone else said earlier, freedom of movement is priceless, the world just opened for her when she got her blue passport no VISA hassle to go on vacation

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

It's the parents' moral duty to provide their child with as many options as possible. Once the child is old enough to decide, he can do that. But limiting the child's options is just cruel. As I said, in 40 or 50 years, the world can and probably will look a lot different than today. Russia can become THE hot spot to live, while the US, after ten too many unnecessary wars and a second long depression is on its knees, the people desperate, the economy in the toilet and already been flushed down. What if people would saw their arms off in order to get into Russia and your child has to say: wow, I could have a Russian passport, by my parents were so blinded and shortsighted, they really f*cked it up for me. I can only hope my mom and dad burn in hell forever for what they have done to me.

[Used to be broken 147]

I had hoped for some more practical advice on the logistics of formulating dual citizenship for our son but I realize that this probably won't be very forthcoming.

The US Embassy explains how to register a US Citizen abroad and I have done it. Couple a trips to pick up documents and send in a fee, then the certificate comes in mail.

I don't know if the Russian Embassy has a link on this, but I am pretty sure it will be in Russian, so might have your wife look for it and see if it explains the procedures. If not I am sure the Russian Consulate or Embassy in the US will have this information, again in Russian so just have her give them a call.

[clueless_in_usa 8]

My wife said she'd never be an American citizen... and got her blue passport a few weeks ago.

Slim, for some reason your wife's story sounds very familiar ... I'll wait until my wife has a chance and I'll let you know whether history repeats

[SMR 368]

The US Embassy explains how to register a US Citizen abroad and I have done it. Couple a trips to pick up documents and send in a fee, then the certificate comes in mail.

I don't know if the Russian Embassy has a link on this, but I am pretty sure it will be in Russian, so might have your wife look for it and see if it explains the procedures. If not I am sure the Russian Consulate or Embassy in the US will have this information, again in Russian so just have her give them a call.

Yeah, they do have a link. It's in Russian but I read Russian so no problem there. The process is somewhat more involved than the process to register for US citizenship. To be honest, the complication comes as much from the American side as the Russian side. The fact that every state manages its own birth certificates and does things differently makes things difficult, for instance. American doesn't really consider apostilles as normal but Russia swears by them.

I was just wondering if anybody could share experience, either first or second hand. I suppose the only person who's said they know anyone who has done or is doing this is Gary. I guess, I'll go forward and keep you posted if anyone is interested in how things are going.

[Used to be broken 147]

Yeah, they do have a link. It's in Russian but I read Russian so no problem there. The process is somewhat more involved than the process to register for US citizenship. To be honest, the complication comes as much from the American side as the Russian side. The fact that every state manages its own birth certificates and does things differently makes things difficult, for instance. American doesn't really consider apostilles as normal but Russia swears by them.

I was just wondering if anybody could share experience, either first or second hand. I suppose the only person who's said they know anyone who has done or is doing this is Gary. I guess, I'll go forward and keep you posted if anyone is interested in how things are going.

As far as the Apostille, go to your county vital records website and see they can find a link for it. Like you said its a bit different state by state, but the county sends to the Secretary of State (of the state) not the US Sec. and they do the Apostille, at least in the state I lived in. I paid a fee, and had to send two self addressed stamped envelopes.. the county sent to the state the state sent to me. then you start on the Russia side.. good luck with that.

[slim 1,525]

Like someone else said earlier, freedom of movement is priceless, the world just opened for her when she got her blue passport no VISA hassle to go on vacation

Totally not my point, but correct all the same.

It's the parents' moral duty to provide their child with as many options as possible. Once the child is old enough to decide, he can do that. But limiting the child's options is just cruel.

So what you're saying is all those "Jerry Springer" folks here in the U.S. are cruel to their children?

Slim, for some reason your wife's story sounds very familiar ... I'll wait until my wife has a chance and I'll let you know whether history repeats

So you're saying your wife says one thing and then does another? No way!