USA/AUS dual citizenship
Jun 20th 2003, 2:12 pm
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2003
Location: Belgium
Posts: 247
USA/AUS dual citizenship
I've been reading that it's possible for an Australian to obtain an American citizenship, without giving up their Australian citizenship.
What about the reverse? Is it possible? Is it practical?
What about the reverse? Is it possible? Is it practical?
Jun 20th 2003, 3:42 pm
#2
Brisbane in early 2004
Joined: Nov 2002
Location: USA
Posts: 124
Yes,
It is possible. If you are a US citizen, when you become Australian Citizen, you do not lose US citizenship. Without doing anything, you are a dual citizen.
It is *practically* very difficult to lose US citizenship, you have to either do something very drastic or formally renounce it (the details of which I do not know).
Here is a good website to visit for getting information:
http://www.richw.org/dualcit/
../Leo
It is possible. If you are a US citizen, when you become Australian Citizen, you do not lose US citizenship. Without doing anything, you are a dual citizen.
It is *practically* very difficult to lose US citizenship, you have to either do something very drastic or formally renounce it (the details of which I do not know).
Here is a good website to visit for getting information:
http://www.richw.org/dualcit/
../Leo
Jun 20th 2003, 3:56 pm
#3
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2003
Location: Belgium
Posts: 247
Originally posted by Leo
Yes,
It is possible. If you are a US citizen, when you become Australian Citizen, you do not lose US citizenship. Without doing anything, you are a dual citizen.
It is *practically* very difficult to lose US citizenship, you have to either do something very drastic or formally renounce it (the details of which I do not know).
Here is a good website to visit for getting information:
http://www.richw.org/dualcit/
../Leo
Yes,
It is possible. If you are a US citizen, when you become Australian Citizen, you do not lose US citizenship. Without doing anything, you are a dual citizen.
It is *practically* very difficult to lose US citizenship, you have to either do something very drastic or formally renounce it (the details of which I do not know).
Here is a good website to visit for getting information:
http://www.richw.org/dualcit/
../Leo
From what I've read in another forum, I'm beginning to see why the US is so liberal about letting its citizens maintain citizenship.. they still tax their citizens who are working abroad, declaring incomes in other countries.
Jun 21st 2003, 4:27 am
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: USA/AUS dual citizenship
jgombos wrote in
news:[email protected]:
>
> I've been reading that it's possible for an Australian to obtain an
> American citizenship, without giving up their Australian citizenship.
>
> What about the reverse? Is it possible? Is it practical?
It's possible, but as has been briefly discussed on this group, go read up
on US tax law. There's some nasty surprises in there for US citizens (and
perm residents) that may make you want to drop US citizenship or not take
it up.
Mike
news:[email protected]:
>
> I've been reading that it's possible for an Australian to obtain an
> American citizenship, without giving up their Australian citizenship.
>
> What about the reverse? Is it possible? Is it practical?
It's possible, but as has been briefly discussed on this group, go read up
on US tax law. There's some nasty surprises in there for US citizens (and
perm residents) that may make you want to drop US citizenship or not take
it up.
Mike
Jun 21st 2003, 5:04 am
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: USA/AUS dual citizenship
> I've been reading that it's possible for an Australian to obtain an
> American citizenship, without giving up their Australian citizenship.
Until April 2002, Australian law did not allow an adult Australian
to voluntarily request and acquire another citizenship, without
losing his Australian citizenship. That restriction was repealed
effective in April 2002. The change was not retroactive. But
still, from an Australian point of view, Australia will not take away your
citizenship if you voluntarily acquire another one.
An Australian (or any other person) who naturalizes in the US,
must take the US naturalization oath, which contains a statement
of renunciation. However, Australia and many other countries
do not view this renunciatory statement as having any effect
under their laws. The US State Department has chosen to take
the position that when a naturalized US citizen's original country
refuses to let go, then they will not mind if that person continues
to deal with that country as one of their citizens. He must deal
with the US as a US citizen.
> What about the reverse?
A US citizen can become a citizen of another country and he will
not lose his US citizenship as long as his intention is to keep it.
The US State Department as a standard presumption that a US
citizen who acquires another citizenship does so with the intention
of keeping his US citizenship.
Also, Australia does not require newly naturalized citizens to give up
their old citizenships. So, a US citizen can become an Australian
citizen and keep both.
Is it possible? Is it practical?
It may be practical. Having both citizenships means that the person
is free to live and work in the US, Australia, and even New Zealand
as I understand it. It may also make it easier for the person to obtain
a temporary employment authorization in Canada, since there are
options available to US citizens under NAFTA. Also, a US citizen
with British grandparents, who becomes an Australian can then
obtain a UK ancestry visa (open only to citizens of British Commonwealth
countries) to work in the UK.
Having more than one citizenship does come with certain obligations, and
the obligations of both citizenships would apply.
Although neither the US nor Australia have a mandatory military service
requirement, you could be called to serve, if either country decided to
invoke a draft. Australia has a mandatory voting requirement, meaning
you must vote in elections. Does this apply to Aussies who live abroad?
One unusual US obligation is that the US takes the view that the worldwide
income of all US citizens is subject to US taxes, even if you don't live in the
US and even if the income was not earned in the US. There are exemptions
and credits that can be taken to prevent double taxation, but at a minimum
US citizens who live abroad are normally required to file a US tax return
each year, the same as they would if they lived in the US, even if only to
say that they owe no US tax. There also could be instances where a
US citizen living abroad would end up paying US tax that he wouldn't
pay if he werent a US citizen.
Stephen Gallagher
> American citizenship, without giving up their Australian citizenship.
Until April 2002, Australian law did not allow an adult Australian
to voluntarily request and acquire another citizenship, without
losing his Australian citizenship. That restriction was repealed
effective in April 2002. The change was not retroactive. But
still, from an Australian point of view, Australia will not take away your
citizenship if you voluntarily acquire another one.
An Australian (or any other person) who naturalizes in the US,
must take the US naturalization oath, which contains a statement
of renunciation. However, Australia and many other countries
do not view this renunciatory statement as having any effect
under their laws. The US State Department has chosen to take
the position that when a naturalized US citizen's original country
refuses to let go, then they will not mind if that person continues
to deal with that country as one of their citizens. He must deal
with the US as a US citizen.
> What about the reverse?
A US citizen can become a citizen of another country and he will
not lose his US citizenship as long as his intention is to keep it.
The US State Department as a standard presumption that a US
citizen who acquires another citizenship does so with the intention
of keeping his US citizenship.
Also, Australia does not require newly naturalized citizens to give up
their old citizenships. So, a US citizen can become an Australian
citizen and keep both.
Is it possible? Is it practical?
It may be practical. Having both citizenships means that the person
is free to live and work in the US, Australia, and even New Zealand
as I understand it. It may also make it easier for the person to obtain
a temporary employment authorization in Canada, since there are
options available to US citizens under NAFTA. Also, a US citizen
with British grandparents, who becomes an Australian can then
obtain a UK ancestry visa (open only to citizens of British Commonwealth
countries) to work in the UK.
Having more than one citizenship does come with certain obligations, and
the obligations of both citizenships would apply.
Although neither the US nor Australia have a mandatory military service
requirement, you could be called to serve, if either country decided to
invoke a draft. Australia has a mandatory voting requirement, meaning
you must vote in elections. Does this apply to Aussies who live abroad?
One unusual US obligation is that the US takes the view that the worldwide
income of all US citizens is subject to US taxes, even if you don't live in the
US and even if the income was not earned in the US. There are exemptions
and credits that can be taken to prevent double taxation, but at a minimum
US citizens who live abroad are normally required to file a US tax return
each year, the same as they would if they lived in the US, even if only to
say that they owe no US tax. There also could be instances where a
US citizen living abroad would end up paying US tax that he wouldn't
pay if he werent a US citizen.
Stephen Gallagher
