Ok all you pros out there I need some advice on this as it is something hubby and I have often discussed but have no clue where to start. ???
I realise if I become an American citizen I should renounce my British, which as far as I am concerned I do not want to do. My husband would like to become a British citizen as well as retain his American, is this possible? We also have a one year old who was born here so would like to do it for him to. If this is possible is it an easy procedure??? smile
You don't have to renounce your British citizenship. Your son has british citizenship through you and can obtain a Passport.
Not sure about your husband. I believe he would have to reside in the UK to obtain citizenship.
Hubby needs to reside in the UK for 3 years to be able to apply for citizenship. I am a duel citizen. I didn't need to relinquish British Citizenship when I naturalized.
Thank you!! That solves that one smile
Yes, you can apply and you will only renounce allegience to the UK although this is only in front of a US federal judge and has absolutely no meaning to the UK. You will still retain UK citizenship unless you formally renounce that to the foreign office.
The UK recognizes dual citizenship but the USA does not. If your husband was to one day get UK citizenship, he would lose his US citizenship. It's pretty weird that you can keep yours but you must always use your US passport when leaving or entering the USA.
Actually your hubby would not necessarily lose his US citizenship.
My in-laws took Canadian citizenship but still retain their US citizenship.
Yes, you can apply and you will only renounce allegience to the UK although this is only in front of a US federal judge and has absolutely no meaning to the UK. You will still retain UK citizenship unless you formally renounce that to the foreign office.
The UK recognizes dual citizenship but the USA does not. If your husband was to one day get UK citizenship, he would lose his US citizenship. It's pretty weird that you can keep yours but you must always use your US passport when leaving or entering the USA.
Your information is a little out of date. The US recognises dual citizenship with many "friendly" countries. You do not automatically lose US citizenship when you take on dual nationality with a "friendly".
However, a person who acquires a foreign citizenship by applying for it may lose U.S. citizenship. In order to lose U.S. citizenship, the law requires that the person must apply for the foreign citizenship voluntarily, by free choice, and with the intention to give up U.S. citizenship.
Intent can be shown by the person's statements or conduct.The U.S. Government recognizes that dual nationality exists but does not encourage it as a matter of policy because of the problems it may cause.
from here:
http://www.uscitizenship.info/uscitizens...itizen.htm
I real somewhere else that taking citizenship of some other "non-friendly" countries (Cuba, perhaps? :lol:) is automatically considered "intent". I believe Japan is one, if only for the reason that Japan does not allow dual nationality.
But the UK and Canada are fine.
So what you are all saying is, if I have this right, if Hubby wants citizenship he must reside in the UK for 3 yrs first and he will not need to renounce his citizenship here. What about my son I had here? Is he entitled to both American and British? ???
Yes your son born here is entitled to both.
If you wish to you can pay to register his birth abroad with the British embassy, or
you can just get him a Brit passport if you wish without having to register the birth.
Yes your son born here is entitled to both.
If you wish to you can pay to register his birth abroad with the British embassy, or
you can just get him a Brit passport if you wish without having to register the birth.
So I obtain this through the UK Ebassy as I did my new one, what proof to I have to supply? Forgive me for sounding stupid but they will obviously require something to show I am his British mother thus entitling him correct?
You can find all the details here
http//www.britainusa.com/sections/index_nt1.asp?i=41001&L1=10080&L2=41001&d=1
including the forms you can download.
I understand kids can have dual citizenship. Do they have to renounce one or the other at age 18, or only in certain circumstances?
Our little one is born in the US and I am a British citizen lving in the US with permanent resident status.
Thanks
Gary
They do not have to renounce one (unless the two countries become less friendly)
Was not certain where to post this but as this was about dual citizenship both ways, here goes.
This doesn't apply to me - since I am married to the Brit. I have several friends here where one spouse is American and one is British (the Brit being here on a green card). During a recent conversation, it came up about what they would need to do if they decided to move back to the UK taking their American spouse with them. Bearing in mind the problems that can come up with a Brit marrying an American and wanting to live here, does the same apply the other way round. In a nutshell, if a Brit who has lived and worked here for 15 or more years, married to an American for 12 years decided to go back to the UK with his wife what would they need to do? Would the American need an entrance visa, or some other paperwork, and does the VWP work over there, i.e. can a American legally stay in the UK for 90 days.
Also, if a Brit with a green card goes back to the UK then after a few years decides they made the wrong move, can they just up and go back to the USA?
Thanks.
When my wife an I lived in the UK for a time, we had to get a spouse visa - but it was no big deal - we just went to the US consolate in Chicago with a few requirements and they issued the visa on the same day.
I think anyone who gets a green card needs to fulfill 50% residency requirements (they have to live here for 50% of the time or more), so I'd say that if he moved back, then he'd have to reapply if he came back to the US.