dual canadian citizenship for my husband and i

[bogartnoir 1]

hi folks! long time, no see. my husband and are are about to celebrate our 2 year anniversary (obtaining a visa eventually does happen!!!). with the expiration of his green card looming, we were wondering if it would be possible for us to receive dual citizenship.

he is canadian through and through and i know he will become naturalized to stay with me, but it sort of breaks my heart for him to give up such a big part of his identity.

my father is his sponsor and although he is very fond of my husband, he would like his legal obligation to end when it can. so we are looking into different options. the ideal would be that we would get dual citizenship. but how difficult is that to get?

any help is appreciated!

thanks!

[Harsh_77 718]

Maybe I m not undertanding your case correct.

Your spouse enters on K1 and got a a 2 yr GC in Feb of 2011.

His conditional GC would not expire until Feb of 2013, which means 90 days before that he will have to apply for removal of contidions.

Once that is approved he would be issued 10 Yr GC.

He would be eligible to apply for citizenship only after 3 years of stay on GC. (Only if he is still married to USC)

[hikergirl 277]

The only way he would not have dual citizenship when he naturalizes in the US would be to go to the Canadian Embassy and renounce his Canadian Citizenship. So you don't have to worry of him being stripped of anything.

For you the only way to get citizenship in Canada is similar to the US. Get residency through marriage and live in Canada a certain amount of time.

Hope this helped.

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Obtaining US citizenship is no more difficult than every other part of the immigration experience, when you're eligible for it. Since he has only been a US PR for a little more than a year, I'm afraid he has a while to go before he can even consider it. Harsh outlined it for you.

And you were also asking about you obtaining Canadian citizenship? Unfortunately being married to a Canadian does not mean you are automatically eligible to become a Canadian citizen. You would need to become a Canadian PR ad live in country for a period of time to fulfill the residency requirements.

Also, he doesn't need to become a US citizen to stay with you. After he obtains his 10 year GC he can just renew it every 10 years and remain in the US as a PR. I know a woman that has been a US PR for over 60 years.

Edited April 24, 2012 by Hugglebuggles

[sheeshkabelle 153]

Maybe I m not undertanding your case correct.

Your spouse enters on K1 and got a a 2 yr GC in Feb of 2011.

His conditional GC would not expire until Feb of 2013, which means 90 days before that he will have to apply for removal of contidions.

Once that is approved he would be issued 10 Yr GC.

He would be eligible to apply for citizenship only after 3 years of stay on GC. (Only if he is still married to USC)

Yes, the two years to ROC is from the date on his green card, not your anniversary date.

After 3 years of the date of his first green card, he can apply for naturalization. He will not lose his Canadian citizenship and he can legally carry both passports.

They only way for him to lose his Canadian citizenship is to go to a Canadian Embassy, renounce his citizenship formally, fill out some forms, then a federal judge will later sign off on it.

[torontogal4388 20]

Yes, the two years to ROC is from the date on his green card, not your anniversary date.

After 3 years of the date of his first green card, he can apply for naturalization. He will not lose his Canadian citizenship and he can legally carry both passports.

They only way for him to lose his Canadian citizenship is to go to a Canadian Embassy, renounce his citizenship formally, fill out some forms, then a federal judge will later sign off on it.

This issue is confusing to me too. Once a person is eligible to become a U.S. citizen - can they become a US Citizen (removing all sponsorship obligations) AND not renounce Canadian Citizenship - thereby becoming Dual Citizen?

I have been struggling with this very concept. And I've had lots of people ask me if I can go the Dual Citizenship Route. Someone seriously please CLARIFY

Thanks,

Georgia

Edited April 24, 2012 by torontogal4388

[pocheros 101]

This issue is confusing to me too. Once a person is eligible to become a U.S. citizen - can they become a US Citizen (removing all sponsorship obligations) AND not renounce Canadian Citizenship - thereby becoming Dual Citizen?

I have been struggling with this very concept. And I've had lots of people ask me if I can go the Dual Citizenship Route. Someone seriously please CLARIFY

Thanks,

Georgia

Yes, that is how it happens. When you are eligible (3 years GC holder) you simply apply for American citizenship. You do not have to do anything else if/when you become an American citizen- you are AUTOMATICALLY a dual. You do not have to inform Canada or anything, your Canadian citizenship is not in danger. Many, many people are dual Canadians/Americans (such as Alanis Morissette and Celine Dione. )

Where people get confused is in the oath ceremoney you swear that your allegiance is to the US and and only the US or something like that but they CANNOT force you to renounce your citizenship, are you are free to become an American citizen so long as you meet the 3 year GC requirements.

There are a few countries that don't allow dual citizenship, like Japan, but the US is not one of them.

[torontogal4388 20]

Yes, that is how it happens. When you are eligible (3 years GC holder) you simply apply for American citizenship. You do not have to do anything else if/when you become an American citizen- you are AUTOMATICALLY a dual. You do not have to inform Canada or anything, your Canadian citizenship is not in danger. Many, many people are dual Canadians/Americans (such as Alanis Morissette and Celine Dione. )

Where people get confused is in the oath ceremoney you swear that your allegiance is to the US and and only the US or something like that but they CANNOT force you to renounce your citizenship, are you are free to become an American citizen so long as you meet the 3 year GC requirements.

There are a few countries that don't allow dual citizenship, like Japan, but the US is not one of them.

Thank you Pocheros! This is wonderful news. I love both countries - considered us all brothers and sisters all my life. Would hate to renounce my Canadian Citizenship and I do bleed maple leaves. Both countries are wonderful - different - but wonderful in their own right. I can sleep easy now and now can answer EVERYONE's crazy questions without concern. YEEHAW!!!

Edited April 25, 2012 by torontogal4388

[SapphireDreams 71]

The only way he would not have dual citizenship when he naturalizes in the US would be to go to the Canadian Embassy and renounce his Canadian Citizenship. So you don't have to worry of him being stripped of anything.

For you the only way to get citizenship in Canada is similar to the US. Get residency through marriage and live in Canada a certain amount of time.

Hope this helped.

Your information is false you do not have to renounce your Canadian citizenship.

Like Pocheros said, you make an oath at the US ceremony, but it does nothing to your Canadian citizenship. You maintain both.

Bogart - Once you hit the three year anniversary of being a permanent resident, your husband can apply for US citizenship. Once he becomes a citizen, your Dad will no longer be legally obligated anymore. Like others have mentioned you'll first need to remove conditions on the 2 year greencard, which should happen 90 days before the 2 year greencard expires. In your case, it will be beneficial for your husband to become a citizen so that your Dad is cleared.

[bogartnoir 1]

thanks very much for all the very valuable information, everybody! we would've never come this far without the help of all you superstars

[pocheros 101]

Your information is false you do not have to renounce your Canadian citizenship.

Like Pocheros said, you make an oath at the US ceremony, but it does nothing to your Canadian citizenship. You maintain both.

Bogart - Once you hit the three year anniversary of being a permanent resident, your husband can apply for US citizenship. Once he becomes a citizen, your Dad will no longer be legally obligated anymore. Like others have mentioned you'll first need to remove conditions on the 2 year greencard, which should happen 90 days before the 2 year greencard expires. In your case, it will be beneficial for your husband to become a citizen so that your Dad is cleared.

I think some posters have misunderstood hikergirl- she simply explained how one would lose canadian citizenship (by renouncing it at an embassy), which is something that you could do if you WANTED to. She didn't say you HAVE to. Her information is correct.

Please read posts carefully.

[SapphireDreams 71]

I think some posters have misunderstood hikergirl- she simply explained how one would lose canadian citizenship (by renouncing it at an embassy), which is something that you could do if you WANTED to. She didn't say you HAVE to. Her information is correct.

Please read posts carefully.

I stand corrected! Sorry misread that one.

[pocheros 101]

I stand corrected! Sorry misread that one.

No worries. I sounded kinda bitchy there, sorry!