DandNHill

There is a huge difference between what your passport(s) says you are and who you feel you are.
I was born in England, went to Algeria at the age of 9, to France 18 months later. Moved back to England at aged 22 but feeling desperately homesick for France for several years. Settled down in England with french hubby and had 3 children. Back in the late 80s I had heard Quebec were encouraging french people to emigrate to Quebec. Hubby didn't want to do it.
Divorced french hubby and married English hubby and that's when we started planning our move to Canada.
So I'm not quite sure where I'm from. As I've said before I have a British passport, a french heart and a Canadian life!

Hurlabrick

I couldn't agree more! And it is a very personal thing.


I was born of a Canadian father and a British / Canadian mother in Canada and raised there until I was a teenager. I have lived in Britain now for the last 40-odd years. I have only a faint Canadian accent on certain words (often asked if I am from the 'west country' and I say yes, about 3000m west!).


Me - I am Canadian pure and simple!


A friend of mine is almost the reverse, Born and raised in Scotland until a teenager, then moved to Canada. Ask him and there is no doubt in his mind - he is Canadian, end of story (but proud of his heritage).


To each his own I would suggest!

DandNHill

When I moved back from France I had a french accent and was regularly asked where I was from. If I allowed them to guess they would say the West Country! Now I have a clear English accent and have a slight English accent when I speak french. However if I speak German or Spanish people think I'm french!
What a mix eh?

not2old

@ post #29, 31, 32 & 33

Exactly that, you can be whatever you want to be these days, just getting three or more citizenships would be 'just fine'

A few years after I arrived in Canada I worked with an Australian chap who met his Swiss wife in the UK, married in 1963, they had a daughter born in the UK 1964. Late 60'S they emigrated to Canada. After getting their Canadian citizenship they moved to Australia where they remain to this day.

That child (now a grandmother herself) at aged 53 could have four passports, makes you wonder if she tells everyone that she is Australian.

not2old

I get that

Back in the 80's when we PR'd in OZ & NZ I was already a Canadian citizen & while living there I'd get asked 'where are you from, are you a Brit', my response always was 'I am a Canadian' - for the reason I had spent most all of my adult life in Canada & it just seemed right to say that.

Your accent or the place you were born doesn't dictate 'who you are' - you the individual with the citizenship of whichever country it is that you have or hold (some have two, three or more) can be what they want to be.

For whatever reason, some folks will voluntary give up (renounce) the citizenship of the place of their birth, while others 'feet firm on the ground' will keep on being PR's and to never (come hell or high water) take out citizenship of their new homeland.

Isn't nice though to have more than one citizenship with a passport to go along with it?

DandNHill

In 1988 I started my application for french citizenship. But then decided there was really no need as Europe was one big happy family!
Big mistake!

not2old

not a 'big mistake', just 'missed opportunity'

is it still too late for you?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French...ch_nationality

Live & learn like everything else in life, such as the link for the OP with his PR card

DandNHill

I checked your link but as I thought unfortunately not.

At the time I was eligible as I had been living there for over 10 years and also because I was married to a french citizen. He and I split up in 2001 and we were no longer living in France.
Oh well if all else fails maybe my children will sponsor me as they are french by descent... I think. More reading needed.

mrken30

I class myself as English, not British, not a a citizen of the United Kingdom.

not2old

all in good fun

"English", what the bloody hell is "English", how can you be "English", I've never heard such a load of tripe

I suppose you have an "English" passport also?

Pulaski

It's the same sort of idiocy as people who say they are Scottish or Welsh.

mrken30

My passport says European Union as primary, then underneath it mentions something about United Kingdom and Great Britain. Maybe I am Irish because it mentions Ireland on my passport. I have never been to Ireland.

I think there is a difference between nationality and citizenship.

not2old

Pulaski

I believe that is how my first green card came to be issued showing me as being Irish.

BristolUK

I would say the final step was permanent residency.
Now that is probably the best reason for citizenship that I've seen here.