US Citizenship automatically revokes previous citizenships?

[Kathryn Baer 1]

So, I may not have this question under the right category.

I heard yesterday that if you obtain US Citizenship, that it automatically revokes any other previous citizenship's. So as a Canadian, me going to the US with my husband and eventually obtaining citizenship would cancel my Canadian citizenship? Just needing some clarification.

[Scandi 4,173]

Depends on the other country, not the US. Canada is fine with double citizenship afaik, as are most other western countries with a few exceptions. My home country Sweden allows double citizenship as well, if it didn't I wouldn't even consider getting a US citizenship.

[payxibka 10,045]

33 minutes ago, Kathryn Baer said:

So, I may not have this question under the right category.

I heard yesterday that if you obtain US Citizenship, that it automatically revokes any other previous citizenship's. So as a Canadian, me going to the US with my husband and eventually obtaining citizenship would cancel my Canadian citizenship? Just needing some clarification.

Who did you hear it from?  Many countries allow dual citizenship.

[Jorge V 195]

15 minutes ago, payxibka said:

Who did you hear it from?  Many countries allow dual citizenship.

I've seen a lot of confusion come from the oath ceremony. I don't remember the exact words as it's been 10+ years since I attended my mom's, but it says something vague that may be interpreted as having to renounce all other allegiances.

 

But in practice, the US can't force you to give up other citizenships. They can, however, choose to ignore your other citizenship if there were ever a conflict. If you were a dual US/Canadian citizen and both countries wanted to detain you for whatever reason, the US would consider itself to have a higher priority with the excuse that they only recognize your US citizenship. This doesn't mean that you no longer have Canadian citizenship, only that the US government is choosing to ignore it in favor of your American citizenship.

[canadian_wife 1,823]

I have been a dual Canadian/American citizen for just over a year.  The U.S. oath ceremony requires one to surrender allegiances to all countries a person has previously been a citizen of.  However, Canada does not recognize this an surrendering Canadian citizenship.  To do that it involves an application, fees, and an interview.  

 

In short, you may be a dual Canadian/American citizen if you choose. 

 

Good luck 

[Boiler 45,728]

I was wondering where you heard this as well, not true.

[YecaCruz 379]

As mentioned, there are a handful of countries that absolutely make you choose one citizenship or the other. To renounce a citizenship often times you have to go to the embassy and file papers and do a ceremony. In the US you will only be recognized as US citizen, vice versa in other countries; for example in Nicaragua my husband would be a Nicaraguan only and in the US he would be a US citizen (when he gets there) . That means you can't do something of criminal nature and then go running to the nearest embassy to avoid getting in trouble with local laws.

 

I will be shooting for Nica citizenship as soon as my husband get his US citizenship so I've done lots of reading up about having dual passports. The wording that gov'ts choose on their forms and stuff can be tricky

[Hypnos 6,577]

As stated, this depends solely on the other country in question, not the US.

 

The UK also does not consider the American oath of allegiance to become a US citizen as revocation of British citizenship, so you can keep both if you so choose.

[felipeTAYA 18]

My understanding is that you can keep your other citizenship, however if you are in country that you are a citizen the USA embassy would not be in a position of assist you in case of arrest, you can also be conscript into the military of that country. Also, the USA would not notify another country that you were arrested or that you be executed. (not that notifying will make a difference).    

[MsKayC 109]

The US does not recognize dual citizenship for naturalized citizens. I took my oath ceremony this past October and before we took the oath we were told this by the officer. However, my home country recognizes dual citizenship so I can retain citizenship there. So when my home country passport expires I can still renew it and get all the privileges of a citizen of that country. 

[Ryan H 3,815]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Progress Reports to US Citizenship Discussion.

[Jeanne Adil 1,651]

i was born flying over Canada and plane had to land (because of me)

i have both citzenships

[TNJ17 1,329]

That is not true. The US allows for dual citizenship. Some countries don’t.

[caliliving 606]

18 hours ago, Kathryn Baer said:

So, I may not have this question under the right category.

I heard yesterday that if you obtain US Citizenship, that it automatically revokes any other previous citizenship's. So as a Canadian, me going to the US with my husband and eventually obtaining citizenship would cancel my Canadian citizenship? Just needing some clarification.

Do you know how many dual can/am citizens there are?

 

However, you don't really need it. A Canadian passport is very powerful and you can travel anywhere on it. I'm mostly considering getting citizenship in case I end up back in Canada someday I would want to be able to come to the USA freely (a year out and you need to give up your green card). But I would say no hurry in getting citizenship! 

 

Edited December 30, 2017 by caliliving

[bakphx1 789]

The US does not require that you renounce a citizenship of another country to become naturalized.  Your original country may take away citizenship upon becoming naturalized in another country, but they determine that.