Does my wife need to renounce her Canadian Citizenship to become a US citizen?

[gabarooch86 1]

As the title states, does she need to renounce her citizenship to become a US citizen through naturalization? 

[Unlockable 7,315]

*** Moved to "Regional (Canada)" Forum from General Discussion *** as you will likely get more help there.

[merc0230 28]

Short answer, no. (Not as far as the US is concerned)

There is a Supreme Court ruling that addresses this, but I don't know it. I'm certain someone will come through with more knowledge and provide it.

 

As to Canada....no idea.

[bad4tatt 168]

6 minutes ago, gabarooch86 said:

As the title states, does she need to renounce her citizenship to become a US citizen through naturalization? 

Absolutely not. She can be a dual citizen.

[AshMarty 360]

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/travel-legal-considerations/Advice-about-Possible-Loss-of-US-Nationality-Dual-Nationality/Dual-Nationality.html

 

"U.S. law does not mention dual nationality or require a person to choose one nationality or another. A U.S. citizen may naturalize in a foreign state without any risk to his or her U.S. citizenship."

 

 

I work with a man that is dual Canadian/US citizen so I would assume Canada has similar rules to the US. 

[NikLR 13,231]

No. 

[gabarooch86 1]

15 minutes ago, merc0230 said:

Short answer, no. (Not as far as the US is concerned)

There is a Supreme Court ruling that addresses this, but I don't know it. I'm certain someone will come through with more knowledge and provide it.

 

As to Canada....no idea.

I am a dual citizen myself (Canada/US), but I was born a US citizen. I know Canada and US allow dual citizenship, just curious if she would need to renounce it. 

[Crazy Cat 42,035]

There is no prohibition regarding dual citizenship from a US standpoint.  However, a US citizen must enter and exit our country as a US citizen.

[gabarooch86 1]

Just now, missileman said:

  However, a US citizen must enter and exit our country as a US citizen.

It might be a rule, but not enforced often. I can attest to this not being true. I have entered/exited the US on my Canadian passport many times. 

 

Thanks for the response regardless, the consensus seems to be she should be ok. 

 

 

[merc0230 28]

3 minutes ago, gabarooch86 said:

I am a dual citizen myself (Canada/US), but I was born a US citizen. I know Canada and US allow dual citizenship, just curious if she would need to renounce it. 

Maybe I no longer understand your question, because to me you already know the answer. She can have dual citizenship, why would she want to renounce it?

[Crazy Cat 42,035]

2 minutes ago, gabarooch86 said:

It might be a rule, but not enforced often. I can attest to this not being true. I have entered/exited the US on my Canadian passport many times. 

 

Thanks for the response regardless, the consensus seems to be she should be ok. 

 

 

From https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/travel-legal-considerations/Advice-about-Possible-Loss-of-US-Nationality-Dual-Nationality/Dual-Nationality.html

 

[gabarooch86 1]

Just now, merc0230 said:

Maybe I no longer understand your question, because to me you already know the answer. She can have dual citizenship, why would she want to renounce it?

Because I'm unfamiliar with the Naturalization process. The answer is quite clear, just wanted to know that if she needed to renounce it to become a citizen. I know you are allowed dual citizenship. 

[mushroomspore 3,044]

No. I know the American citizenship oath says something like, "I renounce all allegiance and fidelity to foreign princes, states, etc." However this is not the same as ACTUALLY renouncing other citizenships. That part of the American oath is just the new citizen's promise to uphold their new American citizenship and acknowledging that the American government now only recognizes their American citizenship and doesn't care about other citizenships they may hold. That is not the same as the US and/or the native country requiring renounciation.

 

My Asian parents had to renounce their native citizenships when they became Canadian citizens because their native country does not allow their citizens to hold other citizenships. They had to go to the federal building in the capital, surrender their passports and file paperwork. Canada does not require this if their citizens become citizens elsewhere. I'm born and raised in Canada and had a bunch of teachers who were American-Canadian (some were native Canadians and some were native Americans).

Edited August 15, 2018 by mushroomspore
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[gabarooch86 1]

1 minute ago, missileman said:

From https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/travel-legal-considerations/Advice-about-Possible-Loss-of-US-Nationality-Dual-Nationality/Dual-Nationality.html

 

Thank you. It is a written rule, but not often enforced at the border. 

1 minute ago, mushroomspore said:

No. I know the American citizenship oath says something like, "I renounce all allegiance and fidelity to foreign princes, states, etc." However this is not the same as ACTUALLY renouncing other citizenships. That part of the American oath is just the new citizen's promise to uphold their new American citizenship and acknowledging that the American government now only recognizes their American citizenship and doesn't care about other citizenships they may hold. That is not the same as the US and/or the native country requiring renounciation.

 

My Asian parents had to renounce their native citizenships when they became Canadian citizens because their native country does not allow their citizens to hold other citizenships. They had to go to the federal building in the capital, surrender their passports and file paperwork. Canada does not require this if their citizens become citizens elsewhere. I'm born and raised in Canada and had a bunch of teachers who were American-Canadian (some were nstive Canadians and some were native Americans).

Exactly what I was looking for! Thank you! 

[merc0230 28]

1 minute ago, gabarooch86 said:

Because I'm unfamiliar with the Naturalization process. The answer is quite clear, just wanted to know that if she needed to renounce it to become a citizen. I know you are allowed dual citizenship. 

Ah ok. The answer is still no, but mushroomspore answered it more eloquently.