Calling all dual US-Canadian citizens

[Tina&Roland 4]

For those Canadians who have recently received their US citizenship, did the IO take away your passport or asked you to renounce your Canadian citizenship? I have my citizenship interview early next month, but I plan on keeping my Canadian citizenship and passport. If that would be an issue when becoming a US citizen, I may have to think twice.

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

Tina

[SAT 9,609]

You're permitted to keep your Canadian citizenship. They will not take your passport. So don't worry.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Officials from another country cannot take your Canadian citizenship away, only Canadian officials could (and they won't) - think of it that way

I have happily enjoyed being dual for almost 2 yrs

[Flames9_RN 358]

Nopers!!! They will not and can't. Yes I guess somewhere in the oath that you pledege, it may say something about renouncing ones citizenship or something, but it truly does not mean anything. Your still a Cdn Citizen! Simple as that!

[newacct 688]

1. You cannot lose Canadian citizenship unless you actively renounce it by going through a process with the Canadian authorities and they approve it.
   
2. The United States does not care about its citizens' other citizenships at all. It neither asks you to renounce your existing citizenships to naturalize; nor does it have a problem with you continuing to exercise your other citizenships, or even apply for new citizenships, while being a U.S. citizen. Except that it does require citizens to "enter and exit" with a U.S. passport.
   

I am a dual citizen of U.S. and Canada living in the U.S. In practice, I always use only my U.S. passport. I maintain a Canadian passport but never use it.

Edited March 5, 2013 by newacct

[newacct 688]

Yes I guess somewhere in the oath that you pledege, it may say something about renouncing ones citizenship or something

It actually says renounce "all allegiance and fidelity"

Edited March 5, 2013 by newacct

[pocheros 101]

You can be a dual citizen, no worries.

Canada has recognized duals since 1977: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/dual-citizenship.asp

Department of state also recognizes duals (or rather, it does not "force" you to renounce your foreign citizenship): http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1753.html

Here is a helpful thread on the topic: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/332613-us-citizenship/

A post from Kathryn41:

You can hold dual Canadian and US citizenship. You don't even have to do anything to obtain 'dual citizenship' except take the oath of US citizenship. It happens automatically. While the US Oath says you give up allegiance to any other 'potentate' date=' etc. (interestingly enough, the wording is such that the Canadian system as a country could actually be said to slip through the cracks of the definition if you wanted to get nit-picky ), the US only has rights over its own citizenship. It has no rights over what another country says and does, thus it cannot take away your Canadian citizenship because that is the sole right of Canada. Since Canada recognizes dual citizenship and has since 1977, I believe, you still remain a Canadian even if you have citizenship in another country.

The only way to get rid of your Canadian citizenship is by filing an actual written application form of Renunciation with Citizenship and Immigration Canada and have it approved. The US basically turns a 'blind eye' to US citizens who retain citizenship in other countries and basically considers them to be only Americans, while at the same time recognizing that there are Americans who hold citizenships elsewhere. They don't like it, but they put up with it.

As an American you are liable for all of the laws and regulations that are in place affecting Americans - even if these laws do not impact you as a Canadian citizen. There will, therefore, be some 'limitations' on what you can do as a Canadian because of that - not because you are a Canadian but because you are an American - the example of visiting Cuba is one of those. As a Canadian you can visit Cuba but you are still an American, and as an American you can only go to Cuba under very narrowly defined conditions. It is a balancing act in many ways. You always have to remember that you have responsibilities and requirements for both countries, not just one or the other as it suits your convenience.

The benefits of having US citizenship in addition to Canadian citizenship, however, outweigh the liabilities (at least for now), so if you wish to be able to live and travel freely throughout Canada and the US, you may wish to take out US citizenship as well, knowing that your Canadian citizenship is safe and cannot be taken away from you. And yes, I have both a valid Canadian passport and a valid US passport.

To just renew the green card - and remember you are still subject to all of the residency and physical presence requirements of a Permanent Resident which means you really can't live and work anywhere other than the US except for short periods of time - you would file the I-90, re do biometrics and then get the renewed Green card.[/quote']

Edited March 5, 2013 by pocheros

[FlipgalRN 19]

For those Canadians who have recently received their US citizenship, did the IO take away your passport or asked you to renounce your Canadian citizenship? I have my citizenship interview early next month, but I plan on keeping my Canadian citizenship and passport. If that would be an issue when becoming a US citizen, I may have to think twice.

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

Tina

You will get to keep your Canadian citizenship and Canadian passport.