Dual Citizenship USA/UK

[BeverleyFL 0]

I'm along way from my citizenship path, but our interviewer today at our (successful) AOS interview stated that in 3 years I can apply for US citizenship, but had to inform me that although the US recognized dual citizenship, the UK does not.

From what I had read in this forum and other sites, I thought both US and UK recognized dual citizenship - I wasn't about to argue with the interviewer - was just so happy that he granted the 10 year greencard!

Any thoughts?

[diadromous mermaid 36]

I'm along way from my citizenship path, but our interviewer today at our (successful) AOS interview stated that in 3 years I can apply for US citizenship, but had to inform me that although the US recognized dual citizenship, the UK does not.

From what I had read in this forum and other sites, I thought both US and UK recognized dual citizenship - I wasn't about to argue with the interviewer - was just so happy that he granted the 10 year greencard!

Any thoughts?

Unless things have changed recently, I think the officer was confounding terminology. It isn't a case of not "recognising" dual citizenship, but rather that a country passively ignores other countries' claims on its citizens.

For comprehensive information on dual citizenship issues, have a look at Rich Wales' site:

http://www.richw.org/dualcit/

[TracyTN 237]

My understanding is that, while neither country 'recognizes' dual citizenship officially, the only way to 'get rid' of your UK citizenship would be to renounce it.

[luv2teach77 41]

Your interviewer got things wrong...

As Tracy said, Unless you walk into a British Embassy or Consulate, hand over your passport and renounce your British Citizenship, you are always considered a British Citizen.

If dual citizenship was not allowed then I would be renewing my greencard every 10 years and keeping my British passport. I don't want to be a US citizen so badly that I'd willingly turn my back on the country I was born in !!

Mark

[BeverleyFL 0]

I thought he was wrong too ... but I wasn't going to start a debate at that point of my interview!!!

I've been checking and there is nothing (so far) on the Foreign & Commonweath Office web site that states the UK doesn't recognize dual citizenship.

The part I am reading now ...

HELP FOR DUAL NATIONALS

If you are British and also a national of another country then you are a dual national. Being a dual national affects the level of consular help you receive. This page explains what assistance a British Consul may offer dual nationals.

I'll keep reading, but things look good so far!

Yup ... read further ... he was wrong.

HELP FOR DUAL NATIONALS

If you are British and also a national of another country then you are a dual national. Being a dual national affects the level of consular help you receive. This page explains what assistance a British Consul may offer dual nationals.

If you have some connection with a foreign or Commonwealth country, for example, by birth, by descent through either parent, by marriage or by residence, you may be a national of that country in addition to being a British national. You should check with the authorities of any other country with which you are connected. It is for them, and not for the British Government, to determine whether you hold the nationality of their country. Acquisition of British nationality or citizenship does not necessarily cause you to lose your nationality of origin.

Should have checked their web site first ... thanks for the replies!

[Dr_LHA 3]

I'm along way from my citizenship path, but our interviewer today at our (successful) AOS interview stated that in 3 years I can apply for US citizenship, but had to inform me that although the US recognized dual citizenship, the UK does not.

Its the opposite way around I thought, i.e. that the UK recognises you as a dual citizen, but the US does not. In the eyes of the US if you get citizenship, you are only a citizen of the USA. For the UK, you are a dual citizen, as you do not give up your UK citizenship by becoming a US citizen, unlike some other countries (e.g. Germany).

So basically if you swap "US" and "UK" in the last part of your first paragraph, it's correct.

Edited August 24, 2006 by dr_lha

[diadromous mermaid 36]

I'm along way from my citizenship path, but our interviewer today at our (successful) AOS interview stated that in 3 years I can apply for US citizenship, but had to inform me that although the US recognized dual citizenship, the UK does not.

Its the opposite way around I thought, i.e. that the UK recognises you as a dual citizen, but the US does not. In the eyes of the US if you get citizenship, you are only a citizen of the USA. For the UK, you are a dual citizen, as you do not give up your UK citizenship by becoming a US citizen, unlike some other countries (e.g. Germany).

So basically if you swap "US" and "UK" in the last part of your first paragraph, it's correct.

Interesting viewpoint dr hla. In order to be sworn in as a US citizen, an immigrant must verbally denounce allegiance to another country and as such you are perceived by the US as having only one citizenship, but in the eyes of the monarch unless you formally give up the UK citizenship, you're always a British subject and therefore have "dual" nationality.

[Dr_LHA 3]

Exactly....

...apart from that you used the term "British subject" incorrectly here. "British subjects" are people who are are connected with Britain (e.g. born on a british colony) but do not hold citizenship. People from Britain are "British Citizens" and are not "British Subjects" but definition of the fact they have citizenship.

[munchkins 0]

Good to know

[homesick_american 1]

I'm along way from my citizenship path, but our interviewer today at our (successful) AOS interview stated that in 3 years I can apply for US citizenship, but had to inform me that although the US recognized dual citizenship, the UK does not.

From what I had read in this forum and other sites, I thought both US and UK recognized dual citizenship - I wasn't about to argue with the interviewer - was just so happy that he granted the 10 year greencard!

Any thoughts?

That's weird because I've heard neither country officially recognizes dual citizenship, i.e. if you are a citizen of both but are in the US, you are treated as a US citizen, not a UK citizen.

From what I've heard, the UK officially does not care if its citizens take up citizenship in another country and it should not affect your UK citizenship. In fact, it's supposed to be almost impossible for a natural-born citizen of the UK to lose their citizenship, and becoming an American citizen certainly won't threaten it.

You're worrying about nothing!

[Michaela_Hassan 1]

I just got my citizenship this year. And at the swearing in ceremony they told us that the US does NOT require you to give up the citizenship of your original country, even though you do the oath about the allegiance.

Michaela

[Saddle Bronc 124]

As with Canucks, Limeys can have dual-nationality with US.

The US does not recognise the dual-national as a citizen of any country other than US however--and the dual-national cannot use the non-US passport for entering the US.