Citizenship, Removing Conditions and Passport Questions!

[Veronik 19]

Hi everyone!

I was wondering if anyone can enlighten me on a couple of things... I've tried to find answers in the FAQs but I didn't seem to find what I was looking for

#1: Can you keep your Canadian citizenship if you go through the naturalization process? Meaning, can you have dual citizenship? American/Canadian?

#1b): If not, is it common for people to just keep renewing their 10-year green card? I don't want to give up my Canadian citizenship...

#2: Is it complicated to renew your passport while in the US? Should I wait until I'm up there for a visit to do it?

#2b) How about name change? Can I keep the name I have on it right now or do I have to change it to my married name (the name that's on my green card)?

Thanks in advance for the help everyone! Much appreciated!

[S and P 9]

Hi everyone!

I was wondering if anyone can enlighten me on a couple of things... I've tried to find answers in the FAQs but I didn't seem to find what I was looking for

#1: Can you keep your Canadian citizenship if you go through the naturalization process? Meaning, can you have dual citizenship? American/Canadian?

#1b): If not, is it common for people to just keep renewing their 10-year green card? I don't want to give up my Canadian citizenship...

#2: Is it complicated to renew your passport while in the US? Should I wait until I'm up there for a visit to do it?

#2b) How about name change? Can I keep the name I have on it right now or do I have to change it to my married name (the name that's on my green card)?

Thanks in advance for the help everyone! Much appreciated!

here's a link about dual US citizenship http://www.us-immigr...itizenship.html

[Inky 1,111]

You have to mail in your CDN passport with supporting docs from the USA if you want to renew it from within the USA.

You can go to Canada on a trip and renew your passport. You DO NOT have to change your name on your passport. That is your choice.

You keep your Canadian citizenship you will have dual citizenship, there is no way to " accidentally " lose Canadian citizenship because you have to pay a fee and see a judge and renounce it.

[Veronik 19]

You have to mail in your CDN passport with supporting docs from the USA if you want to renew it from within the USA.

You can go to Canada on a trip and renew your passport. You DO NOT have to change your name on your passport. That is your choice.

You keep your Canadian citizenship you will have dual citizenship, there is no way to " accidentally " lose Canadian citizenship because you have to pay a fee and see a judge and renounce it.

Nice, so I can go through the naturalization process and save money - instead of having to renew the green card every 10 years - and keep my CA citizenship? Good news!

Thanks for the help Inky!

[Inky 1,111]

Nice, so I can go through the naturalization process and save money - instead of having to renew the green card every 10 years - and keep my CA citizenship? Good news!

Thanks for the help Inky!

yup!

[SapphireDreams 71]

#1: Can you keep your Canadian citizenship if you go through the naturalization process? Meaning, can you have dual citizenship? American/Canadian?

Yes, you can have both. When you are in the US, the US only recognizes you as a US Citizen, not a dual.

#1b): If not, is it common for people to just keep renewing their 10-year green card? I don't want to give up my Canadian citizenship...

Yes, it's pretty common. My Father in Law has lived in the US since the 70's and just has a green card. He has no desire to become a citizen.

#2: Is it complicated to renew your passport while in the US? Should I wait until I'm up there for a visit to do it?

Nope, not at all. I just renewed mine in January and it took 4 weeks from the date I sent it in to the date I received it in the mail back. I had my photos taken while I was visiting and used my Mom as my guarantor (I needed one because I changed my name).

#2b) How about name change? Can I keep the name I have on it right now or do I have to change it to my married name (the name that's on my green card)?

You can keep your name, but if all of your ID is in your married name, you'll have to always carry your marriage certificate with you when you travel. You'll also have to remember to book your plane tickets in your passport name. Last time I flew home before I renewed my passport, the ticket agent said that she's seen a lot of people having trouble at customs carrying documents in two names. Just something to keep in mind. If you changed your name in the US, why not just change it on your passport? I don't see the benefits of carrying a passport in my maiden name, but maybe that's just me.

[lovetimhortons 1]

Hi everyone!

I was wondering if anyone can enlighten me on a couple of things... I've tried to find answers in the FAQs but I didn't seem to find what I was looking for

#1: Can you keep your Canadian citizenship if you go through the naturalization process? Meaning, can you have dual citizenship? American/Canadian?

#1b): If not, is it common for people to just keep renewing their 10-year green card? I don't want to give up my Canadian citizenship...

#2: Is it complicated to renew your passport while in the US? Should I wait until I'm up there for a visit to do it?

#2b) How about name change? Can I keep the name I have on it right now or do I have to change it to my married name (the name that's on my green card)?

Thanks in advance for the help everyone! Much appreciated!

#1: Yes you can have dual.

#1b: This is an individual choice.

#2: I called Passport Canada recently. Yes it is complicated to renew passport while in US. It takes about 20 business days (ie, one month) where you will not have a passport, as you have to mail it in. Canadian passport photo specifications are also different from US passport photos, so may be difficult to get photos for Canadian passport done in the US. Also, if you pay extra rush fee when you are at Passport Office in Canada, they can prepare your passport for you in less than 3 days. There is a possible Canada Post strike coming up too, which could cause further delays.

#2b: You don't have to change your name, but it becomes easier as you don't have to carry around marriage certificate while traveling. I plan to change to my married name!

[thetreble 19]

If it makes any one feel any better, I sent in my passport for renewal on May 3rd and my new one was in my hands by May 17th. However, I did fedex my passport application which ended up costing mt 70 bucks.

[warlord 73]

Or to even make life easier, I have decided to totally just abandon the Canadian passport all together. Once it runs out if it hasn't already, I will not bother renewing it. One passport is enough for me, plus it's 10 years not 5.

With the Green Card and never getting citizenship, my friends dad has been in the US for 40 years and never got his citizenship and still hasn't (this was 8 years ago). So yes as long as you maintain the requirements for the Green Card then yes indefinitely for now that is.

With the dual citizenship, I have yet to actually hear a case where someone even bothered to renounce their Canadian Citizenship. I have no connection to Canada other then family and friends, so for me it's useless to have Canadian citizenship, however, I still wouldn't go through a process to renounce it. Why bother, there's no benefit in doing it and it takes time and energy. I think there may be a few specific high gov't jobs that might require you to do so, but other then that, it's totally pointless to bother with it. Other nations it makes more sense (especially ones that require you to serve military service like Uganda etc), but Canada, don't even worry...

[Veronik 19]

Thank you so much everyone for your replies! You have all been of great help!

My CA passport won't expire until 2013, but I guess I just wanted to plan ahead since it's close to my removal of conditions date as well... Does anyone know if it matters that I renew it a year before the expiry date? Will they allow that?

I guess I could just go ahead and change my name on it... We'll see, food for thought!

Thanks again everyone!

[lovetimhortons 1]

you can renew canadian passports within 12 months of passport expiry. for example, if your passport expires jan 1, 2013, then the earliest you can renew it would be jan 2, 2012.

passport canada is pretty helpful. they have a toll free line you can try as well as website with all the application forms.

good luck!

[Veronik 19]

you can renew canadian passports within 12 months of passport expiry. for example, if your passport expires jan 1, 2013, then the earliest you can renew it would be jan 2, 2012.

passport canada is pretty helpful. they have a toll free line you can try as well as website with all the application forms.

good luck!

Thanks a bunch lovetimhortons! And by the way, I took the in-laws to Canada last week for 10 days, and they could not get over how good and cheap Tim Hortons was!