Pros and Cons of getting US Citizenship as a Canadian

[smurrito 1]

Hi there,

I'm planning on getting my US citizenship within the next year or two - but have come across some people who don't want to do it. What do you guys think? What are the biggest cons to getting your US Citizenship? I can't think of too many, and since I can keep my canadian citizenship I don't see what the big deal is - thoughts?

Thanks!

Edited March 20, 2014 by smurrito

[kc247 22]

It's all personal feelings for people. I have no interest in it at the moment, maybe years from now if we end up staying here, just because it would make it easier if we did end up moving back to Canada and decided to move back to the US. & because you are done with paperwork and USCIS! My only problem is I am a very proud Canadian! I don't really like in the oath how it mentions renouncing all allegiance to any other place you are a citizen..or something like that. I know it doesn't mean you actually have to renounce your citizenship but I don't take the words lightly. I couldn't do that in good conscience because to me, my Canadian citizenship will always come first. It's hard to say what will happen in the future but the only reason I came here was because tuition for my husband was wayy too much in Canada compared to what he pays here, if it goes my way & he can get a job in Canada, we will move to Canada in a few years when he is done his schooling..but we shall see! It is a personal decision though many people have different views on it. I think there was a thread on this not too long ago you could read.

[smurrito 1]

Found it: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/238473-benefit-of-n-400/

Thanks!

[Erica & L 50]

Well, after I receive my 10 year GC my wife and I will hopefully be done our school by the end of that and have degrees and careers that would make it easier for her to become a Canadian citizen. As for the oath, because it doesn't actually take away my Canadian citizenship, those are just words to me and I wouldn't mind going through the whole speech, I just don't see it happening for our long term plan. Timelines can always change but we do know that we don't want to live in the US for the rest of our lives, but like other poster said, tuition and the cost of living etc is a lot more affordable down here and our only option at the moment. My wife hates the US and would much rather live in Canada now if we could, she fell in love with it the first time she traveled to meet me!

Edited March 20, 2014 by Erica & Lily

[HuskerPower66 3]

My wife tells me she is choosing not to become an American citizen because of her personal feelings against renouncing other citizenship during the oath. She is a proud Canadian and while dual citizenship doesn't affect that, she feels more comfortable staying solely a Canadian citizen and a permanent resident of the US.

[carocaro 22]

My wife tells me she is choosing not to become an American citizen because of her personal feelings against renouncing other citizenship during the oath. She is a proud Canadian and while dual citizenship doesn't affect that, she feels more comfortable staying solely a Canadian citizen and a permanent resident of the US.

I probably would have written the same thing three years ago, but after travelling twice abroad to countries where there was political unrest and realizing if anything happened I would be at Canadian embassy and my husband at the US embassy, it seemed wise for me to complete the process so that I might hold dual citizenship through Naturalization. There is peace knowing the whole stressful and time consuming immigration process is actually over forever and I now have the same rights and security as those around me (well other than me being able to run for President ;-) I am also, and will forever be, a proud Canadian and if I could choose, other than the winter weather, we would be in Canada. Life throws interesting loops at us at times :-)

Caro

[Maria and Jason 55]

I am a proud Canadian, but closing that door, the extra citizenship just seems a bit silly.

You never know when one country, or the other can go to #######.

[Glyn and Kathy 288]

Going to poke my nose in even though neither one of us is Canadian. The only issue most people see is having to file US taxes for the rest of your life...even if you leave the US. Saying that though, you NEVER know what will happen in the future and being a citizen of each other's countries will make your life so much easier. Take it from someone who has been through immigration FOUR times...yes that's right...twice with the UK and twice with the US. Hubby will be getting his citizenship this time around, but unfortunately, I didn't get mine before we left the UK (again) but so glad we came back when we did because my dad died a couple of months later.

[Not a Tailor 1,370]

I'll definitely be getting citizenship as soon as I qualify. I'm a firm believer in the political process and that those who don't vote shouldn't complain about your governing body. I find it very unnerving that I will be living permanently in a country which will be having a federal election in which I cannot vote. That means that my fate is entirely, 100% at the whims of people I have never met. Yes, a vote counts for very little, but a vote still counts. This is actually a huge sticking point for me. I have voted in every eligible election since the day I turned 18. I will be investigating my options for volunteering for the campaign of whomever I support for the next US federal election, if I am there in time.

I also would very much like to be able to move freely within the US without having to make sure to fill out forms and submit them to USCIS every time. My wife is a graduate student in a specialized field who is looking to start post doctoral studies in 3-4 years. In her field, it is career suicide to do your post-docs at the same place you did your PhD, so we will be moving from state to state quite regularly for a long time--possibly even out of country! She also will be doing field work out of the country quite regularly and I worry that if her field work burden becomes too high at any time, I will be unable to accompany her without risking my residency and then could have to choose between going through the visa process again and being apart from someone who has become the core of my life. The whole point of all this money and time and just... everything? Is so I can be with her. Why wouldn't I do something that ensures that I can never be removed from her side without that being our choice?

I will always be proudly Canadian and that will always, always be my first and foremost national identity. I am okay with swearing to renounce my Canadian citizenship and not doing it. It's not ideal, but knowing that a friend of mine had triple citizenship at birth makes me feel a lot better (US/Canadian/Japanese, due to registrations of birth abroad).

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I also weighed this choice carefully when I was eligible to become a US citizen. What became the turning point for me is that under tax laws, non-US spouses are treated differently than US spouses if something happens to the US spouse. We are an older couple, so realize that life can bring unexpected tragedy more easily than one would wish. In the US when a citizen dies, basically their spouse inherits their estate (wills, etc. also have an impact here). Under US tax law, any death/estate taxes are deferred while the surviving US spouse is alive, only coming due when he/she also dies. If the surviving spouse is not a US citizen, however, that tax deferral does not happen. All taxes on the estate come due immediately as the IRS wants to make sure they get their 'fair share' in case the non-US spouse decides to return home to their own country rather than remaining in the US. I felt, that as a dual US-Canadian citizen, if something happened to my husband, I would have enough to deal with already without having to worry about international IRS requirements as well, and since I did not lose my Canadian citizenship (I am a Canadian first, an American second ), I chose to become an American as well. The freedom of knowing I can live anywhere in the US and Canada - plus no longer having to deal with USCIS - with the only obvious headache is making sure I continue to file a tax return with the IRS is also an attractive benefit.

Ultimately, there is no right or wrong decision and each individual needs to decide what is 'right' for them.

Edited March 21, 2014 by Kathryn41

[Flames9_RN 358]

I consider myself to be the proudest of the proud Cdn Citizens......Cdn Tattoos, nearly 15 yrs in the Cdn Military, wore Cdn socks to my Naturalization ceremony (respectfully hidden) Having American Citizenship, does not make me any less Canadian. And America is a Great country, with a lot of great people. I'm around Americans everyday, they know I'm Cdn as I don't hide that. There ca be some draw backs, but when one starts to investigate the + outweigh what some would say are -'s Each their own! My wife is a very proud American, I love her to death, so it can't be that bad,lol Plus like someone stated above, it is important to be able to vote and cast your say in elections--If you don't vote, you can't complain!! And many Allied Soldiers, workers, civilians have died so we can enjoy these freedoms.

Edited March 22, 2014 by Flames9_RN

[neiks 19]

Agree with Flames (Hi Flames! - Been a long time) Even though I still work for Canada - protecting Canada and it's people, I still believe it is in my and my family's best interest to also become a US citizen. Does not mean I am any less a Canadian. I do take oaths and pledges very seriously and know of other non-us citizens that say the pledge of allegiance at events - I do not. My kids (both dual) have asked me why I do not say the pledge of allegiance and I simply tell them I am not an American citizen but when and if I do become one I will recite it with them. As for the US citizenship oath, I do have a moral struggle with it. I guess I will try to keep it in perspective that in the US I am obliged to follow American laws but their laws have no bearing on Canadian law, thus for Canada legal purpose, can not dictate my citizenship of another country. I feel the pros do out weigh the cons. As Kathryn stated, the US tax implications are huge upon death of your spouse. Not that anyone wants to think about that but it is important to be aware of that. In some people's case it may not be a big implication - in my and my family situation it would be huge. Secondly, the ability and right to vote in elections. We have chosen the US as our home and raise our family here, therefore I feel it is important to have a say in the government not just at federal and state level but more importantly to me at the local and school elections. And lastly, at some point in my life, when my kids are off on their own, I may choose to return and stay in Canada for extended periods of time and do not want to ever be restricted from entering into the US for what ever reason and as a US citizen it becomes my right to come and go as I please.

[Dualie 185]

I am not even a Permanent Resident yet, but I definitely plan on becoming a US citizen. I am a very proud Canadian, proudly served my country for 9+ years, and my heart will always be Canadian. I have very strong ties in the United States, my half siblings and step fathers are all American citizens, and I spent the greater part of my childhood growing up in America. In my mind, Canada and the US feel like one big country with a cultural line in the middle.

Like others in this thread, I feel the pros vastly outweigh the cons where having dual citizenship is concerned. The words referring to renouncement refer to allegiance, they don't insist that we renounce citizenship,(I believe, correct me if I am wrong). Anyway, my family is so blended that it makes total sense that I become a citizen if for anything else, ease of travel and residence.

I grew up thinking I was American (until I was told otherwise in my teens), and so I have a strong allegiance to both countries. To be a citizen of both countries would be an honour and a privilege. Just my two cents (even though we don't have pennies here anymore, lol!)

Edited March 27, 2014 by Dualie

[NikLR 13,227]

I haven't decided yet. I will make the decision at the 5 year mark. (I already have to send in relationship evidence next year, be damned if I'll do it again a year later!) I guess I pretty much until that 10 year card expires too. Words are not "just words" to me; I take any and all oaths very seriously. Maybe being brought up the way I was has that affect, who knows. The positives do outweigh the negatives of course and I can alwaya denouce it if I end up living in Canada again.

Edited March 27, 2014 by NLR