Any UK folks NOT applying for US citizenship?

[Mark&Steph 0]

I'm only getting citizenship as there's a very strong chance I'm gonna be in the abandonment of GC category in a few years time, and quite frankly the fuss and nonsense it's taken to get it all and get to this stage, there's no way I'm gonna ####### it up by having to do it over again.

That's the same with us. We may want to go and live in the UK in a few years so the abandonment issue would be... not an issue then.

[Leney 0]

I believe my hubby intends to get his US Citizenship, mostly for his career goals, but we have often talked about retiring to Scotland when our boys have grown, so I don't think he'd ever give up his status in the UK.

[Mags 112]

Well, I will be applying for citizenship as soon as I can, no question. I don't lose anything by doing so, in fact I gain ultimately. I'll always be British, doesn't matter if I hold a dual nationality for both the UK and USA, it doesn't change me!

[Dr_LHA 3]

Tim won't. Because he's an Englishman.

One great thing about America is that you can be an Englishman, an Irishman,

a Burundi man for all I care - and still be American at the same time.

It doesn't matter if I can US citizenship though, I will never be an American, I will always be an Englishman in America.

[fozzie 41]

I wil always be English but when my wife and I go to live in England for 4 or 5 years sometime in the future abandonment becomes the issue. Who knows, maybe we never go and live in England, but we might and i would like the option to go back. US citizenship is a peice of paper - I couldn't be more english.

[Dr_LHA 3]

You don't have to abandon being a UK citizen to be a US citizen.

[kins 0]

I already abandoned my green card once when I moved back to the UK for 5 years, and it was such a hassle getting it back again. Me and my kids had to live 3500 miles apart from my husband/their dad for two months, apart from anything. I never want to do that again.

I'm DEFINITELY applying for citizenship as soon as I can. I will still be British.

I was born in Malta so I already have a couple of citizenships. My husband is American, British and Brazilian. It's no big deal.

[TracyUK 0]

The other thread got me wondering - are there any folks immigrating to the US from the UK and NOT interested in pursuing US citizenship? Simon is not interested, at least for now (my thought, not his, he has no intention at this point).

Just wondering if not, why not? I certainly don't have any problem with someone not becoming a US citizen, that is an extremely personal decision. Only curious as to why someone would make the choice one way or the other.

~Liza

ME! I am hopefully going to get my Visa soon and move to the State with my Husband and children and I have NO interest in becoming American. I am Bristish and want to stay that way. If I could have dual nationality like my children then I'd be happy to do that, but I don't want to give up my nationality

[Candace 2]

ME! I am hopefully going to get my Visa soon and move to the State with my Husband and children and I have NO interest in becoming American. I am Bristish and want to stay that way. If I could have dual nationality like my children then I'd be happy to do that, but I don't want to give up my nationality

It's been mentioned many times on the forum and I think a couple of times in this thread; you do not have to renounce your British Nationality in order to become a US citizen.

[Mags 112]

The other thread got me wondering - are there any folks immigrating to the US from the UK and NOT interested in pursuing US citizenship? Simon is not interested, at least for now (my thought, not his, he has no intention at this point).

Just wondering if not, why not? I certainly don't have any problem with someone not becoming a US citizen, that is an extremely personal decision. Only curious as to why someone would make the choice one way or the other.

~Liza

ME! I am hopefully going to get my Visa soon and move to the State with my Husband and children and I have NO interest in becoming American. I am Bristish and want to stay that way. If I could have dual nationality like my children then I'd be happy to do that, but I don't want to give up my nationality

Nope, you can be both British and American just like your kids!

[Fandango 1,439]

D and I were just talking about this last night.

We'll look more into it when the time comes. He wasn't against the idea. Not that I'm pushing it, mind you...I was just curious.

[rebeccajo 14]

There's another aspect of citizenship not usually talked about on here, and that's the ability of USC's to avail themselves of the few 'social safety nets' in this country. God forbid any of us should ever become bankrupt or destitute, but it DOES happen.

Right now, your immigrant spouse can't avail themselves of anything other than unemployment benefits. After five years, some are available, and after 40 credit hours of work (10 years) all are available. But that's under present immigration law.

There's a lot of 'anti-immigrant' mindset in the US right now, especially regarding immigrants coming into the country and 'using' our social system. I suspect in the future their may be changes to the law regarding who can and cannot draw welfare, obtain food stamps, or get a medical card.

The UK has a pretty good system for helping people migrate through life's jams. The US does not. But I think it's unfair that you could possibly live and pay taxes in this country for years and not be able to avail yourself of the little bit of help available just because you are not a citizen.

[Dr_LHA 3]

Yes, there are also significant issues with inheritance taxes in the USA if you're not a US citizen. Without sounding too morbid: if you're planning on dying in America, its better for your family if you're a US citizen. A friend of mine whose lived in the USA as a Green Card Holder for 40 years recent became a US citizen for this reason.

[no name 1]

I just asked hubby & he saId he's prefer to be back in Bristol in a couple years so apparently it might not be relevant to us! Oh well.

We'll see, a lot can happen in a few years.

Edited July 22, 2007 by devilette

[Dr_LHA 3]

I just asked hubby & he saId he's prefer to be back in Bristol in a couple years so apparently it might not be relevant to us! Oh well.

I'd definitely rather be in Southern California (that's where you are devilette, right?) than Bristol any day. Give him a few years, it took me 5 to realise that's where I want end up.

Edited July 23, 2007 by Dr_LHA