Dual citizenship

[Donal78 0]

Hi,

Dont know if this is the right forum to put this in.

Im irish and my fiance is american.We are moving to the states in 2 weeks and getting married in 2 months from tomorrow. Longer term down the road when we have kids and such i suppose i will have to make a decision to denounce my irish heritage which i would hate to do. I would be happy to have irish/american dual citizenship as i have strong ties with both countries. I know when we have kids i want to them to have a strong irish background and such.

The reason why i ask is i have heard that some people have been told by the immigration people to make a choice!!

Currently the US goverment frown apon dual citizenship but there is no law against it either. Is there anyone on here that has dual citizenship?

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Keep both.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I agree. I would have maintained my German citizenship had I known that all it takes is to file some forms with the German authorities prior to taking on US citizenship. Too late for me now but I think anyone that can should keep both.

[faith 0]

If you can, keep both.

My hubby can't because Denmark doesn't allow them to have dual citizenship. (But our kid(s) will automatically get to be able to chose when they turn 18) I would definitely keep both if you get the choice.

[Lou Lou 1]

Without a doubt I'm keeping both

[zyggy 9]

Without a doubt I'm keeping both

Ireland is like the UK and Canada in that the taking of another Citizenship does not result in the loss of Irish Citizenship. In order to lose Irish Citizenship, you would have to do so in front of an Irish Consular Officer.

So since Ireland allows dual, why not have both.

The US does not make you formally renounce your other Citizenships in order to naturalize. They do not make you "choose"... As far as they are concerned, you are a US Citizen inside of the US and nothing else. What you are elsewhere is your concern.

Edited February 20, 2006 by zyggy

[irishgirl73 0]

keep both-definetly!!!!!

I am the US citizen & I have just applied for my dual-citizenship. Can't wait to get my Irish passport My Grandmother & my Mom had to denounce their irish citizenship years ago when they came here-but things are much different now-Thank God!

[ladybird216 2]

keep both-definetly!!!!!

I am the US citizen & I have just applied for my dual-citizenship. Can't wait to get my Irish passport My Grandmother & my Mom had to denounce their irish citizenship years ago when they came here-but things are much different now-Thank God!

Irishgirl....can you apply for a UK citizenship if you are resident in the US? Ken would love to get a UK passport but we didn't think he could if we didn't live there!

Jen

[irishgirl73 0]

keep both-definetly!!!!!

I am the US citizen & I have just applied for my dual-citizenship. Can't wait to get my Irish passport My Grandmother & my Mom had to denounce their irish citizenship years ago when they came here-but things are much different now-Thank God!

Irishgirl....can you apply for a UK citizenship if you are resident in the US? Ken would love to get a UK passport but we didn't think he could if we didn't live there!

Jen

I can apply b/c my Grandparents were born there(my Mom was actually born in England, if she had been born in Ireland, I would automatically be an Irish citizen by birth). If his parents, or grandparents were born over there, then as far as I know he can apply for dual-citizenship. Look up info on the net. I went to the Consulate General of Ireland website & they mailed me all the forms I needed. I have to send in a copy of my birth cert, my Mom's English birt cert, Grandmothers birth cert & her marriage cert. I will pay the $200 & it is a done deal. Pretty great isn't it? I will look for ya-I know there is a website for British dual-citizenship. Since my Mom was born there-I could go the british route & it would be a lot easier-but I am going to go for my Irish one(that is where my family is from & oh of course the love of my life).

keep both-definetly!!!!!

I am the US citizen & I have just applied for my dual-citizenship. Can't wait to get my Irish passport My Grandmother & my Mom had to denounce their irish citizenship years ago when they came here-but things are much different now-Thank God!

Irishgirl....can you apply for a UK citizenship if you are resident in the US? Ken would love to get a UK passport but we didn't think he could if we didn't live there!

Jen

I can apply b/c my Grandparents were born there(my Mom was actually born in England, if she had been born in Ireland, I would automatically be an Irish citizen by birth). If his parents, or grandparents were born over there, then as far as I know he can apply for dual-citizenship. Look up info on the net. I went to the Consulate General of Ireland website & they mailed me all the forms I needed. I have to send in a copy of my birth cert, my Mom's English birt cert, Grandmothers birth cert & her marriage cert. I will pay the $200 & it is a done deal. Pretty great isn't it? I will look for ya-I know there is a website for British dual-citizenship. Since my Mom was born there-I could go the british route & it would be a lot easier-but I am going to go for my Irish one(that is where my family is from & oh of course the love of my life).

found this-not sure if this helps or not

When the British Nationality Act 1948 came into effect on 1 January 1949, citizens of the United Kingdom and colonies who subsequently became naturalised citizens of other countries no longer automatically lost their British nationality. Since that date, citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies who became naturalised citizens of a foreign state retained their status as British subjects, citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies, unless they made a formal declaration of renunciation in front of a British Consul or other British official authorised to accept such declarations. A declaration made before a foreign official for the purpose of acquiring another nationality or for any other purpose did not affect the position in United Kingdom law. With the enactment of the new nationality law (British Nationality Act, 1981) which came into effect on 1 January 1983 the provisions for the recognition of dual nationality and the procedure for renunciation of British citizenship have been retained.

Although acquisition or use of US citizenship does not of itself jeopardise retention of British citizenship, and there is not objection on the part of British authorities to a dual citizen using a US passport, it should not be assumed that the reverse is also true. A US citizen voluntarily acquiring British citizenship may lose his US citizenship; and a dual citizen who makes use of his British citizenship in certain ways, for example joining HM Forces, taking an oath of allegiance to Her Majesty and in certain circumstances exercising other rights or privileges of British citizenship, may jeopardise his US citizenship. The US authorities expect dual citizens to travel out of and into United States territory only on US passports. British citizens who are also US citizens are therefore advised to consult the US State Department (or if overseas a US Consul) before taking any action which might be regarded as inconsistent with their status as US citizens.

A British citizen may return and resume residence in Britain at any time, regardless of being a dual national, provided that he has not made a formal declaration of renunciation of British citizenship as described in paragraph one above.Such persons may in British law exercise any right possessed generally by British citizens, but of course it is their own responsibility to ascertain from the appropriate US authorities what effect, if any, their action may have on their status as a citizen of that country.

Children born in the United States whose fathers (and for those born after 31 December 1982 either of whose parents) are British citizens become United States citizens by birth and may also be British citizens by descent. [The position of such children is explained in Dual Nationality (Children)].

British citizens who are also citizens of another country are advised that they cannot be accorded official British protection when they are in the territory of the other citizenship. If, under the law of that country, they are liable for any obligation (such as military service) the fact that they are also British citizens does not exempt them from it.

[j&js 0]

I looked into it at one point and I am pretty sure that to get Irish citizenship through marriage you need to live there for 2 years...

So some day my kids will get automatic citizenship through their father, and my whole family will have Irish passports except me!

[irishgirl73 0]

I looked into it at one point and I am pretty sure that to get Irish citizenship through marriage you need to live there for 2 years...

So some day my kids will get automatic citizenship through their father, and my whole family will have Irish passports except me!

It's crazy isn't it??? For some reason it is very hard to get dual-citizenship through marriage & you are right you have to wait like 2 years

Not fair that you won't have an Irish passport Were any of your relatives born over there? Granparents???

j-

totally off subject but I notice you are from Boston-I am going there this weekend(first time) any good Irish places you can recommend? I have heard of a few but I thought I would ask.

[ladybird216 2]

Thanks Irishgirl.....I thought that was the case. It doesn't look like we will be living in the UK for 2 years anytime soon, so I guess Ken won;t be getting his UK passport.

Jen

[Donal78 0]

I looked into it at one point and I am pretty sure that to get Irish citizenship through marriage you need to live there for 2 years...

So some day my kids will get automatic citizenship through their father, and my whole family will have Irish passports except me!

My Fiance is in the same boat. Our kids will automatically have dual citizenship but she wont unless we move to ireland for 2 years after we marry and i cant see that happening as we intend to stay in the states indefinately.

Its a shame though!! If we ever decide to move back my gf would have a job in the morning in Galway. I cant say the same about myself.

Irishgirl best of luck with the dual citizenship.

Edited February 20, 2006 by galwayman

[irishgirl73 0]

I looked into it at one point and I am pretty sure that to get Irish citizenship through marriage you need to live there for 2 years...

So some day my kids will get automatic citizenship through their father, and my whole family will have Irish passports except me!

My Fiance is in the same boat. Our kids will automatically have dual citizenship but she wont unless we move to ireland for 2 years after we marry and i cant see that happening as we intend to stay in the states indefinately.

Its a shame though!! If we ever decide to move back my gf would have a job in the morning in Galway. I cant say the same about myself.

Irishgirl best of luck with the dual citizenship.

It is a crazy system isn't it? thanks for wishing me luck

[lostinlove228 0]

I have dual citizenship. The US allows to have up to 3 citizenships. Your children should also have dual citizenship seen there father is Irish. I don't know about Irish law, but the that is the law in the US.