jensan

I was born to UK citizens in 1961 and have a British birth certificate. Shortly after I was born, my parents became US citizens. I am now interested in becoming a dual citizen, and would like to start spending 6 months a year back in Scotland. I am having a very hard time getting any clear answers to what steps I need to take.

Does having a British birth certificate make getting dual citizenship easier?

What else do I need to know and do to make this happen?

Thanks for any and all advice.

WEBlue

Hi Jensan, welcome!

I'm not sure I understand your question. Are you saying you know you have US citizenship and would like to look into whether you're actually entitled to British citizenship as well?

If that's your question, have you looked at our own Britishexpats wiki on the subject of British citizenship for those born in the UK?

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Britis...United_Kingdom

Further questions on British (not American) citizenship can be answered on the "Moving Back to the UK" board of BE.

Jerseygirl

I think you could be right...I will move this over to the MBTTUK Forum,

jensan

I am a US citizen, born in New York to UK parents who later became US citizens as well. I am looking to spend much more time in, and possibly move to, Scotland over the next few years.

I discovered that I have a British birth certificate (as well as a US birth certificate) and am wondering if that will make the process of obtaining dual citizenship easier.

I am also looking for good information on becoming a dual citizen, but the embassy website isn't very clear and the phones are never answered.

Any advice?

mikelincs

The fact that you have a British Birth cert, means that you are a British Citizen, and could get a British Passport now, and are already have dual citizenship.

roaringmouse

Duplicate thread.

Pollyana

Threads merged

jensan

I have posted on the moving back to the UK, but not sure that is the right place either, as my position may be a little unique. I was born in the US and have always only had US citizenship, even though I do have both a US and a UK birth certificate (or at least that is what I think the UK certificate is). My parents were Brits when I was born, but then became US citizens. I do not believe they were dual citizens, and since they have both passed away, I am trying to find that information out. Either way, my hope is to gain dual citizenship......and I am having a difficult time figuring out how best to do that and how difficult it will be. My children are also interested in getting dual citizenship if I am able to do so. Any advice?

jensan

Any idea if me getting dual citizenship helps my children get dual citizenship as well? They are US born and US citizens now, ages 22, 21, 19, 15.

roaringmouse

It sounds like you are British by descent, and have been since you were born (i.e. there is no need to apply for it - only need to apply for a UK passport if you want to spend an extended amount of time there).

This means your children are not British citizens. If you have spent at least 3 continuous years living in the UK before your 15 year old was born, then you can apply to register that child as British by descent - but the others are too old for that now.

mikelincs

Your parents were also dual citizens, despite what is in the the oath of allegiance to the USA you do NOT lose your British citizenship when you become the citizen of any other country. It's quite a difficulf thing to lose.

WEBlue

Yes, you cannot give up your British citizenship without renouncing it, which requires making a declaration on a special form and registering it with the Home Office. Don't know if it was always the exact same procedure, but it was not easily done, at any rate.

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/br...upnationality/

scot47

If you have a British birth certificate, surely you ARE already a British citizen ?

roaringmouse

Putting the specific topic of this thread aside for a moment, since 1983 a person born in the UK is not necessarily a British citizen - so a British birth certificate does not necessarily mean British citizenship.

BritInParis

Very true, but as the applicant was born outside the UK, and therefore presumably holds a British consular birth registration certificate, then they will be British (or at least they were at the time the certificate was issued) as you cannot be registered unless you are already automatically British at birth.