Jasonv

Hey guys,

I'm writing this on behalf of my dad. My family would like to keep our british citizenship, as traveling with a British passport is definitely very very useful, especially since we're in the middle east quite a bit. I've heard there are ways of doing this. What would everyone recommend? We've just become eligible to apply for citizenship!

thanks! IT's nice to have a supportive community there to help.

crg

Neither country requires you to give up citizenship. Just use the US passport when entering the US. Pass the beer nuts....

Jasonv

I'm pretty sure on the US application it asks you to renounce other citizenships....?

Poppy girl

You are correct it does state that.

And when you take the oath it which states that as well!...plus the IO at the interview will ask you.

crg

It does not state that you will renounce citizenship.

It asks if you renounce your allegiance. It doesn't ask you to renounce citizenship.

With the exception of India and a few other countries, a lot of developed countries (Canada, France, Israel, US) don't give a rat's behind if you collect passports like they were frikkin baseball cards.

Jasonv

Oh okay. Thanks!

Poppy girl

You are the expert but I was under a different impression!!

crg

I hate citing wikipedia, but here goes:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_nationality_law

Dual nationality and dual citizenship

Since the British Nationality Act of 1948, there is in general no restriction, in United Kingdom law, on a British national being a citizen of another country as well. So, if a British national acquires another nationality, they will not automatically lose British nationality. Similarly, a person does not need to give up any other nationality when they become British.

Poppy girl

I am pleased you did but why am I always hearing "Oh you can't have dual Citizenship" the US does not recognise it!

crg

That's correct, the US does not recognize dual citizenship, but they also don't prohibit it.

The US recognizes two types of people.

Type 1: US citizens
Type 2: Everybody else

So if you are a US citizen that's the end of the discussion. They don't care that you may also possess another citizenship. They generally just ignore the concept of dual citizenship.

If you are an alien with more than one citizenship and seeking a benefit, you just pick one citizenship. Which citizenship do you wish to be today? If you want to be a Canadian TN, you better present the Canadian passport. If you want to be an Australian E-3, you better present the Australian passport. You can present an expired Jamaican passport with a valid visa, and a new valid Jamaican passport, but you can't present the expired Jamaican passport bearing a valid visa, and along with a valid Trinidad passport.

nettlebed

Rich Wales' guide is invaluable.

sir_eccles

Renouncing British citizenship is a bit more involved than standing up and saying you renounce it, in typical bureaucratic style there are forms to be filled in, British forms. Filling in an American form just won't do!

Bluegrass Lass

Who are you hearing that from? Most other Americans I've ever met have no concept of our own citizenship laws. Next time ask them to provide their source of info and see how they splutter!

Poppy girl

Its been mentioned many times over the years come on come shape up you have been a member as long as me young lady

dreamercon

Here is a better citation from a UK government source:

http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/bri...alnationality/

While British Citizens don't lose British citizenship when acquiring another nationality, certain British subjects and British Protected Persons may lose their status upon naturalization in a foreign country.

Oh and btw, i love to collect passports like they were frikkin baseball cards.