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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Greece
Timeline
Posted
6 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Any time you're in Greece you will only be considered a Greek citizen even if you show your US passport on entry. If you get in legal trouble in Greece or required to go through military service, US embassy / consulate won't help you! Only when you go through formal citizenship renounciation in Greece you will no longer be Greek. On the other hand, soon enough US travellers will have to pay fees and fill forms to visit EU. But if you travel to EU on Greek passport you would not have to do it plus you would have unlimited time in EU and not 90 days (on US passport). 

Lol, good to know. Not that I will ever visit that ***hole of a country again. 🤣

Not even on vacation. I can't stand their system and their "who cares?" attitude. 

 

Any why wouldn't the US help you if you get in trouble?

When you take the Oath you pledge to denounce all loyalties to other countries and you should have the same rights as other US citizens, since you are expected to have all the duties and obligations too. Then what's the point of becoming a citizen? (Just philosophical questions)

Click "spoiler" below for a detailed account of our journey to a CR1 visa via DCF in Athens, Greece.

 

2011 - Met hubby online and became friends
Early 2013 - Confessed our love for each other * Late 2013 - I got pregnant with our daughter
2014 - Our baby was born in Athens, Greece and completed our family. We now have two boys and a girl!! 2013 - 2015 - Looking for jobs in Greece, none were available (due to socioeconomic crisis) 2015 - Decided only way to feed our family was to immigrate and started the process December 2015 - Got married (Greece has a LOT of red tape for foreigners marrying Greeks)
January 2016 - Finished gathering all documents and getting them translated
* * DCF in Athens, Greece * *

28th January 2016 - Finally filed I-130s
29th June - ISSUED!!!!!!1st July - Visa packages and passports delivered to DHL.4th July - Visas in hand! CU in two weeks USA!!
19th July- POE Detroit. All went well!! (excluding our screaming, jet lagged toddler!!)

 

After Arrival in the US

September 2016 - Hubby is diagnosed with congestive heart failure
October - February 2016 - Battle with drug use, overdosing, bringing home a tiny paycheck

March - July 2017 - I am working 80 hr weeks to make ends meet. Discovered hubby's affair. Still overdoses and is hospitalized. Has quit working all together.
July - October 2017 - Marriage counseling. Revealed hubby has "several" mental conditions. Is started on several mental meds.

October 2017 - Got accepted for a college course. Got better job to help raise my kids.

October 2017 - March 2018 - Situation at home is toxic. He files for divorce.

July 2018 - Divorce is final. I have full custody of our daughter.

 

ROC (GC expires July 19th 2018)

July 16th - Package for ROC is delivered to the CA service center (divorce waiver).

August 30th - NOA1 received with 18 month extension (fee waiver approved).

March 28th 2019 - Biometrics

August 8th 2019 - Case Approved No RFE No Interview - 10 year GC in production

N400 (Online - Detroit, MI office)
June 6th 2023 - Applied for naturalization under 5 year rule.
June 7th 2023 - Application received/Biometric will be reused.
June 16th - Interview scheduled.
July 27th - Upcoming interview.



**Our DCF journey to an IV took 5 months and 1 day from turning in the I-130 to getting "Issued"**


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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Greece
Timeline
Posted

Ha... looks like Greece will allow dual citizenship as I knew but also: 
LOSS OF THE GREEK NATIONALITY

The following cases discharge the individual from his Greek nationality:
(A) Obtaining a foreign nationality
Everyone who obtains foreign nationality or accepts public service in a foreign country, if the acceptance entails the obtaining of the nationality of that foreign country."

So... which is it? Make up your mind Grece!!

Click "spoiler" below for a detailed account of our journey to a CR1 visa via DCF in Athens, Greece.

 

2011 - Met hubby online and became friends
Early 2013 - Confessed our love for each other * Late 2013 - I got pregnant with our daughter
2014 - Our baby was born in Athens, Greece and completed our family. We now have two boys and a girl!! 2013 - 2015 - Looking for jobs in Greece, none were available (due to socioeconomic crisis) 2015 - Decided only way to feed our family was to immigrate and started the process December 2015 - Got married (Greece has a LOT of red tape for foreigners marrying Greeks)
January 2016 - Finished gathering all documents and getting them translated
* * DCF in Athens, Greece * *

28th January 2016 - Finally filed I-130s
29th June - ISSUED!!!!!!1st July - Visa packages and passports delivered to DHL.4th July - Visas in hand! CU in two weeks USA!!
19th July- POE Detroit. All went well!! (excluding our screaming, jet lagged toddler!!)

 

After Arrival in the US

September 2016 - Hubby is diagnosed with congestive heart failure
October - February 2016 - Battle with drug use, overdosing, bringing home a tiny paycheck

March - July 2017 - I am working 80 hr weeks to make ends meet. Discovered hubby's affair. Still overdoses and is hospitalized. Has quit working all together.
July - October 2017 - Marriage counseling. Revealed hubby has "several" mental conditions. Is started on several mental meds.

October 2017 - Got accepted for a college course. Got better job to help raise my kids.

October 2017 - March 2018 - Situation at home is toxic. He files for divorce.

July 2018 - Divorce is final. I have full custody of our daughter.

 

ROC (GC expires July 19th 2018)

July 16th - Package for ROC is delivered to the CA service center (divorce waiver).

August 30th - NOA1 received with 18 month extension (fee waiver approved).

March 28th 2019 - Biometrics

August 8th 2019 - Case Approved No RFE No Interview - 10 year GC in production

N400 (Online - Detroit, MI office)
June 6th 2023 - Applied for naturalization under 5 year rule.
June 7th 2023 - Application received/Biometric will be reused.
June 16th - Interview scheduled.
July 27th - Upcoming interview.



**Our DCF journey to an IV took 5 months and 1 day from turning in the I-130 to getting "Issued"**


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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Indonesia
Timeline
Posted
35 minutes ago, EM_Vandaveer said:

Of course the names don't match... That's very common especially with women. My current legal name also doesn't match my birth name because I took my husband's surname. Your birth certificate always shows your birth name. The fact that you were born with that name doesn't change even if your legal name does.

Indeed. Showing birth certificate together with a proof of legal name change (i.e. either marriage license or the court document) should be fine.

 

We have a related situation - we (the parents) are changing our names, and our old names are on our son's birth certificate. We'll have to see (but it's a low priority) if we can get that reissued, as well as our marriage certificate, but very few places we plan to visit would ever want to see our marriage license (Google 'hotel raid unmarried couples' at your own risk)

 

US entry :

GC issued :
CIS Office :

2016 (me, H-1B) / 2017 (her, H-4)

2018-06-20

Chicago IL

Date Filed : 2023-03-22

NOA Date :

Bio. Appt. Notice :

2023-03-22

2023-03-24

Bio. Appt. :

2023-04-13

Interview Notice :

Interview Date :

Oath Ceremony :

2023-05-24

2023-07-13 (approved)

TBD

Posted (edited)
55 minutes ago, Marrienne said:

Ha... looks like Greece will allow dual citizenship as I knew but also: 
LOSS OF THE GREEK NATIONALITY

The following cases discharge the individual from his Greek nationality:
(A) Obtaining a foreign nationality
Everyone who obtains foreign nationality or accepts public service in a foreign country, if the acceptance entails the obtaining of the nationality of that foreign country."

So... which is it? Make up your mind Grece!!

The loss of citizenship is not automatic in most countries. Either Greek government initiates it after learning you committed a crime etc and no longer wants you to be a Greek. Or you initiate it by filing proper papers and paying fees. Until that process is done, even if you don't have their passport, you're their citizen for life.

Edited by OldUser
Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, Marrienne said:

Any why wouldn't the US help you if you get in trouble?

Because countries agreed how to act when dual citizen is in this situation. US acknoledges Greece has authority over you because you're their citizen. I'm 99% sure Constitution of Greece mentions that no matter if you have other citizensips, they consider you Greek until you renounce it.

 

Same would happen if US citizen naturalized in France. US would not intervene usually, unless it's a big politician etc.

 

Same would apply to you in the US, you wouldn't be able to show your Greek passport and ask for their help if US authorities detain you (of course I know you wouldn't do it since you don't like Greece). Just giving an example 

Edited by OldUser
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Indonesia
Timeline
Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, Marrienne said:

Ha... looks like Greece will allow dual citizenship as I knew but also: 
LOSS OF THE GREEK NATIONALITY

The following cases discharge the individual from his Greek nationality:
(A) Obtaining a foreign nationality
Everyone who obtains foreign nationality or accepts public service in a foreign country, if the acceptance entails the obtaining of the nationality of that foreign country."

So... which is it? Make up your mind Grece!!

I'm a fan of this site - as it provides concise information on whether dual citizenship is allowed in many countries (though I'd use that as a springboard to dive into details more to verify): https://www.dualcitizenshipreport.org/dual-citizenship/greece/

Seems like it's allowed per law 4251/2014 -- so it might be recent? Any chance the passage you quote cites the relevant law, maybe it's simply out of date.

The situation you cited is very similar to Indonesia - the process of losing citizenship is, as @OldUser noted, not automatic, but if you ever try to exercise your rights (e.g. using the Indonesian passport, or inheriting lands / companies) and are found out to have a second nationality, they revoke it.

Edited by M+K IL

US entry :

GC issued :
CIS Office :

2016 (me, H-1B) / 2017 (her, H-4)

2018-06-20

Chicago IL

Date Filed : 2023-03-22

NOA Date :

Bio. Appt. Notice :

2023-03-22

2023-03-24

Bio. Appt. :

2023-04-13

Interview Notice :

Interview Date :

Oath Ceremony :

2023-05-24

2023-07-13 (approved)

TBD

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Wales
Timeline
Posted

A lot of Greeks moved even before the EU, I simply cannot believe a EU country would have issue with multiple citizenships.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Indonesia
Timeline
Posted
1 hour ago, Marrienne said:

Lol, good to know. Not that I will ever visit that ***hole of a country again. 🤣

Not even on vacation. I can't stand their system and their "who cares?" attitude. 

 

Any why wouldn't the US help you if you get in trouble?

When you take the Oath you pledge to denounce all loyalties to other countries and you should have the same rights as other US citizens, since you are expected to have all the duties and obligations too. Then what's the point of becoming a citizen? (Just philosophical questions)

Apparently you *might* get some assistance, provided your other nationality allows citizens to enter via another passport (e.g. the US passport). Some countries do, some countries don't (not sure if Greece allows it or not)

Per the State Department guidance:https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/travelers-with-special-considerations/Dual-Nationality-Travelers.html

 

Quote

Limited U.S. Assistance Abroad: Local authorities may not recognize your U.S. nationality if you are also a national of that country, especially if you did not enter the country using your U.S. passport. The U.S. embassy or consulate’s ability to provide consular assistance may be limited.

 

US entry :

GC issued :
CIS Office :

2016 (me, H-1B) / 2017 (her, H-4)

2018-06-20

Chicago IL

Date Filed : 2023-03-22

NOA Date :

Bio. Appt. Notice :

2023-03-22

2023-03-24

Bio. Appt. :

2023-04-13

Interview Notice :

Interview Date :

Oath Ceremony :

2023-05-24

2023-07-13 (approved)

TBD

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Hungary
Timeline
Posted
On 8/22/2023 at 7:45 PM, Boiler said:

A lot of Greeks moved even before the EU, I simply cannot believe a EU country would have issue with multiple citizenships.

Netherlands & Spain don't allow it. (Spain has some exception, countries with which it's allowed.)

In Germany you have to get a special permission to retain your citizenship before you obtain another one.

Entry on VWP to visit then-boyfriend 06/13/2011

Married 06/24/2011

Our first son was born 10/31/2012, our daughter was born 06/30/2014, our second son was born 06/20/2017

AOS Timeline

AOS package mailed 09/06/2011 (Chicago Lockbox)

AOS package signed for by R Mercado 09/07/2011

Priority date for I-485&I-130 09/08/2011

Biometrics done 10/03/2011

Interview letter received 11/18/2011

INTERVIEW DATE!!!! 12/20/2011

Approval e-mail 12/21/2011

Card production e-mail 12/27/2011

GREEN CARD ARRIVED 12/31/2011

Resident since 12/21/2011

ROC Timeline

ROC package mailed to VSC 11/22/2013

NOA1 date 11/26/2013

Biometrics date 12/26/2013

Transfer notice to CSC 03/14/2014

Change of address 03/27/2014

Card production ordered 04/30/2014

10-YEAR GREEN CARD ARRIVED 05/06/2014

N-400 Timeline

N-400 package mailed 09/30/2014

N-400 package delivered 10/01/2014

NOA1 date 10/20/2014

Biometrics date 11/14/2014

Early walk-in biometrics 11/12/2014

In-line for interview 11/23/2014

Interview letter 03/18/2015

Interview date 04/17/2015 ("Decision cannot yet be made.")

In-line for oath scheduling 05/04/2015

Oath ceremony letter dated 05/11/2015

Oath ceremony 06/02/2015

I am a United States citizen!

 
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