is dual citizenship automatic?

[julis82 10]

I'm in the process to file for my N-400 but I'm confused. There's no section about dual citizenship so I'm not sure if is automatic or not and what I should do to maintain my Brazilian citizenship after I file N-400.

Thx for the help

[churawan 14]

This depends on your home country whether they allow it or not.... USA does not care if you maintain the dual status... What is Brazil's stance on this.. You will just keep both passports current and you will be fine if allowed to do so.. Japan is a country that doesn't allow dual status according to my friend from Japan, who continues on their greencard..

[The Mean Lady 604]

The US does not accept dual citizenship.

They only view you as a US citizen.

Your issues are with your home country as stated above.

You're good:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_nationality_law#Dual_citizenship

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/127522-does-brazil-allow-dual-citizenship/

[VanessaTony 3,567]

The US does not accept dual citizenship.

They only view you as a US citizen.

Your issues are with your home country as stated above.

You're good:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_nationality_law#Dual_citizenship

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/127522-does-brazil-allow-dual-citizenship/

US doesn't "recognise" it, but they do permit it. As you stated though, while they permit it, they only ever see you as a USC.

[NickD 203]

First off, not dealing with the USCIS anymore, but the DOS, these state department guys made agreements, all different with over 200 different countries. With Colombia, their agreement with this country is that my wife must have a Colombian passport to visit her mom. Right in the DOS site sorted out by country.

They don't like that term, dual citizenship, come right out and state that, prefer to call it dual naturalization instead. But the only way you can get that passport is to maintain your citizenship with that country if this is what THEIR agreement states. In my wife's case, only being born there, had to renew her citizenship with Colombia. And to make sure she done that, put her place of birth in that country on her US passport.

With Brazil, have to go to that DOS site and look up what their rules are with Brazil. With a country like India, seems like they are changing their agreements with the USA every five minutes. Another minor inconvenience is if you own property in a country, if you don't maintain your citizenship, will lose it.

Another thing you tend to notice, while we as poor slobs can get along just fine, our leaders can't.

[env88 3]

People are making this way more complicated than it really is.

You don't need to do absolutely anything from the U.S. side of things. You only need to understand that regardless of whatever other citizenship you may have, inside U.S. territory you will be treated as a U.S. citizen only and of course be required to enter on your U.S. passport.

Whether you can or can't keep your other citizenships when naturalizing in the U.S. simply depends on your other countries. Brazil is a country that doesn't even allow you to ever renounce your birth citizenship so yes, you will be both American and Brazilian.

Many other countries are way more complicated. If you are German and want to keep your German nationality, you have to ask for permission before naturalizing in the U.S. Other countries like Japan, China or India don't allow dual citizenship at all, which means you would lose those if you naturalize in the U.S. Either way, the complications might be on the side of the other countries, not on the U.S. side.

[The Mean Lady 604]

People are making this way more complicated than it really is.

You don't need to do absolutely anything from the U.S. side of things. You only need to understand that regardless of whatever other citizenship you may have, inside U.S. territory you will be treated as a U.S. citizen only and of course be required to enter on your U.S. passport.

Whether you can or can't keep your other citizenships when naturalizing in the U.S. simply depends on your other countries. Brazil is a country that doesn't even allow you to ever renounce your birth citizenship so yes, you will be both American and Brazilian.

Many other countries are way more complicated. If you are German and want to keep your German nationality, you have to ask for permission before naturalizing in the U.S. Other countries like Japan, China or India don't allow dual citizenship at all, which means you would lose those if you naturalize in the U.S. Either way, the complications might be on the side of the other countries, not on the U.S. side.

How is everyone making things way more complicated when we all said the exact same thing you did?

Also with the addition in me saying Brazil allows it.

what I should do to maintain my Brazilian citizenship after I file N-400.

Keep your passport up to date

Edited June 30, 2013 by KDH

[env88 3]

How is everyone making things way more complicated when we all said the exact same thing you did?

Also with the addition in me saying Brazil allows it.

Keep your passport up to date

Well I didn't specify but... I think NickD was making a very simple concept WAY more complicated than it is.

Which is: the U.S. doesn't care at all and has nothing to do with it. Inform yourself with your other countries before naturalizing since it's impossible to list here the different stipulations of 190 other countries.

In the case of Brazil, you can't ever even renounce or lose it so... yes OP will be a dual citizen.

[newacct 688]

First off, not dealing with the USCIS anymore, but the DOS, these state department guys made agreements, all different with over 200 different countries. With Colombia, their agreement with this country is that my wife must have a Colombian passport to visit her mom. Right in the DOS site sorted out by country.

They don't like that term, dual citizenship, come right out and state that, prefer to call it dual naturalization instead. But the only way you can get that passport is to maintain your citizenship with that country if this is what THEIR agreement states. In my wife's case, only being born there, had to renew her citizenship with Colombia. And to make sure she done that, put her place of birth in that country on her US passport.

With Brazil, have to go to that DOS site and look up what their rules are with Brazil. With a country like India, seems like they are changing their agreements with the USA every five minutes. Another minor inconvenience is if you own property in a country, if you don't maintain your citizenship, will lose it.

Another thing you tend to notice, while we as poor slobs can get along just fine, our leaders can't.

C'mon. We've been through this like 10 times already and you're still repeating the same BS.

Your wife needs a Colombian passport to visit Colombia because she is a Colombian citizen, because of Colombian law. That's it. It has nothing to do with the U.S.

[NickD 203]

C'mon. We've been through this like 10 times already and you're still repeating the same BS.

Your wife needs a Colombian passport to visit Colombia because she is a Colombian citizen, because of Colombian law. That's it. It has nothing to do with the U.S.

Suggest if you see a NickD post, just skip it, will save you a lot of trouble. And its not just the foreign country, its also the State Departments agreement they made with that country. They even tell you if you need to maintain your foreign passport or not with that country. Concerns were shown about that USCIS oath you took. But again, no longer dealing with the USCIS on this issue, but the State Department. This was addressed to the OP, and not to you.

[BigDaddy28 228]

To be honest I think that some people sometimes hate on NICKD because of the way he says things. But if you follow what he says he explains what you are asking for.

All NICKD is saying:

GO to Department of State website and look up your country. (Like you are entering it on US passport) and it will tell you if you need visa, if people born in Brazil can keep their citizenship or not.

One thing that NICKD is trying to get your attention to is: IF you think of renouncing your Brazilian citizenship you might not be able to keep any property in there even though you have the right to do so from your family.

Now NICKD used his wife as an example because that's the most country he is familiar with, you can't blame him for that.

C'mon people we are human beings we are not perfect that's why we have forums like this to get the best ideas. Since I came her I learned a lot I bet I can open an immigration office lol. But really I don't think that a person should be attacked for using his LIMITED knowledge as a human being.

[Autumnal 25]

TL;DR version: go check your home country's stance on naturalization and citizenship. Some will have no restrictions or special requirements, others will need you to do something, and some won't accept it at all. The onus is on you to do the research. The US expects you to travel into the US on a US passport, because you're American.

[NickD 203]

Now NICKD used his wife as an example because that's the most country he is familiar with, you can't blame him for that.

C'mon people we are human beings we are not perfect that's why we have forums like this to get the best ideas. Since I came her I learned a lot I bet I can open an immigration office lol. But really I don't think that a person should be attacked for using his LIMITED knowledge as a human being.

Well, I can read! This from the DOS site on Brazil:

"ENTRY / EXIT REQUIREMENTS FOR U.S. CITIZENS: Brazil requires U.S. citizens to carry a valid U.S. passport and visa when traveling to Brazil for any purpose. You must obtain your Brazilian visa in advance from the Brazilian Embassy or consulate nearest to your place of residence in the United States. There are no "airport visas" and immigration authorities will refuse entry into Brazil to anyone not possessing a valid visa. The U.S. government cannot assist you if you arrive in Brazil without proper documentation. Travelers under 18 years of age and their parents should carefully review the visa application requirements. The adjudicating official at the Brazilian Embassy or consulate may require a birth certificate and notarized travel authorization to issue a visa to a minor.

U.S. citizens and other foreign travelers must fill out a small immigration form on arrival that will be stamped and handed back by immigration officials at the airport. It is important to retain this form to hand back to immigration officials upon exit from the country. According to the Brazilian Embassy’s website, visitors who lose this form will have to get clearance from the Brazilian Federal Police to leave the country and may have to pay a fine."

Now for the OP:

"Special Entry/Exit Requirements for Dual Nationals: U.S. citizens who also have Brazilian nationality cannot be issued Brazilian visas and must obtain a Brazilian passport from the Brazilian Embassy or Consulate nearest to their place of residence to enter and depart Brazil. In addition to being subject to all Brazilian laws affecting U.S. citizens, dual nationals may also be subject to other laws that impose special obligations on Brazilian citizens. Information about dual nationality can be found on our website."

So as a US citizen with your place of birth listed in Brazil, you must have a US passport to leave or enter the USA. And you must have a Brazillan passport to enter or leave Brazil. Exactly the same for Colombia that my wife has to do to visit her relatives. As you can see, our DOS is telling us what we have to do.

Next steo is to go to here:

http://www.brazil-help.com/brazil-emb-consul.htm

And contact your nearest Brazil consulate to find what else you have to do. They don't care how far you have to travel, in my wife's case, had to make an appointment and show up in person. Then since she had a child ID for Columbia, had to renew her Colombian citizen first, get a new ID card, then she could apply for the Colombian passport, this was more than one trip for us. Total cost for us, not including travel was $1,800.00.

[HeatDeath 430]

I think, generally speaking, that needing a passport of country <X> to enter country <X> if you are [still] a citizen of country <X> is pretty normal, if not universal. I don't know for sure if Canada has this requirement, but all of their online material that I've seen recommends in the strongest possible terms that Canadians use their Canadian passports whenever they would need to use a passport.

I would personally love to know, from some authoritative source, if a Canada-US dual citizen is in violation of Canadian law or regulation if they enter Canada with a US passport and do not disclose or mention their Canadian citizenship to the border officers. I may try hitting up the Denver consulate or Canadian Border Services to find out. It'd be nice to know if I'll need to update my newish Canadian passport a few years from now, or if they'll accept just a US passport (perhaps in conjunction with an expired Canadian passport, which as I understand it still proves Canadian citizenship in some contexts).

The complication where retention of Columbian citizenship is required to maintain ownership of Columbian property and Columbian financial accounts is not as widespread, thankfully, and a culture of [apparently] widespread minor corruption in the Columbian government minor officials certainly isn't going to help things either. Oh well, not much that can be done there.

Edited July 2, 2013 by HeatDeath

[NickD 203]

For years the Canadian/USA governments had like a don't ask don't tell policy, that is until Bush came alone, anything to get our minds off Iraq. Thousands of Americans went up their during the Viet Nam war to avoid the draft here. Found jobs and even mates to marry. If living in the USA, know of several living here suddenly having problems with the USCIS. Also a lot of our manufacturing was moved up there so corporations could save money on health insurance. Freely visited Canada hundreds of time, only issue is where my paycheck came from for income tax purposes. Since I was a resident of the USA, that is where my paycheck came from, even though we both were working for the same corporation.

DOS site is only good for learning the entry and exit requirements to your home country, rest of it is learning the laws of your country. I do know USA corporations were allowed to own businesses in Canada, but that is sure changing, can now get better deals in China. Prior to Reagan, foreign corporations were not permitted to own businesses in the USA, in particular, any thing to do with communications. That sure changed with Sony and Fox owning a huge share of it.

Also recently learned prior to our Civil war, the British government owed the USA a lot of money, and that to even that our was going to give the USA Canada in exchange for that debt. But with the Civil war, lost faith in us, because our government was incapable of even holding this country together. They also did not like our republic form of government, heck I don't like that either. They sure couldn't do that to Canadians, so that deal was off.