No Canadian Dual-Citizenship?

[CanadaLove 16]

The sitch: my husband (the petitioner) has potentially found a job he likes in Canada. For now, we're continuing with the process and keeping all options open.. one being him leaving that job on good terms and then us moving back to Canada when he gets his US citizenship.

He kind of nixed the idea of getting US citizenship as he has heard that Canada only recognizes grandfathered dual citizenship, but does not recognize them any longer. Is this true? I found this source on it, but can anyone point me to any corrobative evidence? I'm apparently going up against a government source.

[Little_My 464]

Q. I am thinking of acquiring also US citizenship, but I do not want to lose my Canadian citizenship. Can I have dual citizenship?

A. Both Canada and the US recognize dual citizenship with each other. Taking US citizenship will not affect your Canadian citizenship

Source: Web site of Consulate General of Canada in SF, USA.

http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/san_francisco/consul/faq.aspx?view=d

I also know there are VJ members who are Canadian citizens and have obtained a US citizenship through naturalization - I'm sure they can provide much more details about the process.

Edited December 7, 2011 by Little_My

[Inky 1,111]

That website is a lawyers crank, all my cousins have and use dual citizenship, US and Canadian, ALL the time for daily travel.

There are many Canadians who recently have applied and gotten US citizenship and hold Canadian Citizenship as well.

To lose Canadian citizenship you have to file forms pay fees and go before a judge.

Wow just wow, on further reading that website link you posted there are numerous grammatical and spelling errors in it !! as well as very incorrect information on the process!

Edited December 7, 2011 by Inky

[CanadaLove 16]

Heh, I mainly posted it for the first paragraph stating that since 1977 Canadians could hold dual citezenships. Didn't really read the rest.

ETA: and you're putting my mind more at ease.. I thought that was true, as reading here I've seen Canadians go for the dual-citizenship, but he was adamant about his government source being correct.

Edited December 7, 2011 by CanadaLove

[pocheros 101]

You can be a dual. Many VJers are duals as well as many Canadian born celebrities, like Celine Dion and Alanis Morrisette!

[Udella&Wiz 325]

I'm dual - as of last July. THere are no restrictions to it. Not sure where that idea came from. Tons of us here are

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

The only issue is establishing residency. I know that when I left Canada, I filed to remove my residency status. If your husband did the same thing, he'll likely need to file to re-establish that. But like the other folks have mentioned, there's no problem with holding dual citizenship in Canada or the U.S.

For what it's worth, I've been a New Zealand citizen since 2004 (through descent), and it never came into play in Canada either. Eventually I'll actually have tri-citizenship.

[warlord 73]

Yep there are many Tri-citizens out there that I know of. In fact you can have as many as you can get if you really wanted to. Canada though is an easy nation when it comes to citizenship. They will always consider someone Canadian regardless and unlike a lot of countries, Canada actually makes it hard to revoke your Canadian citizenship.

Most of us that have gone through the process are all dual. Can have both passports and stuff. I personally don't associate myself as being Canadian at all, but rather American, but I still will hold a Canadian passport and actually started using it to go into Canada rather than my US one sine my US one is getting too many stamps in it and don't want anymore Canadian entry stamps in it...

[hikergirl 277]

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/faq/citizenship/index.asp?q=dualCit

Every country decides who it considers to be a citizen. Dual citizenship is when you are recognized as a citizen by more than one country.

You do not apply for dual citizenship and there is no certificate.

Since February 15, 1977, Canadians have been allowed to take foreign citizenship while keeping their Canadian citizenship.

Above is the official word from Immigration Canada. Your hubby won't lose his Canadian Citizenship unless he chooses to renounce it.

I hope this helps!

[thetreble 19]

I just took the oath last week to become a US citizen.

Canada recognizes dual citizenship. The US does NOT recognize dual citizenship which is why they make you verbally (but not technically) renounce it during the oath.

You can still keep your dual citizenship, they just don't recognize it.

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

I just took the oath last week to become a US citizen.

Canada recognizes dual citizenship. The US does NOT recognize dual citizenship which is why they make you verbally (but not technically) renounce it during the oath.

You can still keep your dual citizenship, they just don't recognize it.

Yeah, it's really a classic case of semantics. Ultimately it comes down to fringe items like extradition etc. For example, if you were accused of a major crime in the U.S. and tried to claim you were Canadian and wanted to be granted clemency, the U.S. has no need to even consider such a thing, since you're an American citizen. For things like passing back and forth through the border as an American or Canadian, they don't care what you do when you LEAVE America, but want to make sure you return on your American passport.

Ultimately, the potential penalties are few and far between.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Q. I am thinking of acquiring also US citizenship, but I do not want to lose my Canadian citizenship. Can I have dual citizenship?

A. Both Canada and the US recognize dual citizenship with each other. Taking US citizenship will not affect your Canadian citizenship

Source: Web site of Consulate General of Canada in SF, USA.

http://www.canadaint...faq.aspx?view=d

Not true.

Canada recognizes dual citizenship, the U.S. only recognizes that it exists. What does that mean? It means that for the U.S. a U.S. citizen is only a U.S. citizen, no matter how many other citizenship he or she may hold. For Canada a Canadian citizen can also be a citizen of other countries.

Practical application: a citizen of the U.S. and Canada can exclusively travel with the U.S. passport between both countries, whereas he or she is not allowed to leave or to enter the U.S. with a Canadian passport.

Semantics, perhaps, but important ones.

[pocheros 101]

There's a thread on the pros and cons of US citizenship here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/332613-us-citizenship/

It seems to come down to whether or not you're incredibly wealthy and also if you need security clearance for particular kinds of jobs. It's not that simple, of course, but IMO (and many other VJer's opinions) the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

[CanadaLove 16]

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/faq/citizenship/index.asp?q=dualCit

Above is the official word from Immigration Canada. Your hubby won't lose his Canadian Citizenship unless he chooses to renounce it.

I hope this helps!

Yes it does, thank you!