dual citizenship which passport to use when?
Jun 1st 2007, 6:00 am
#16
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: dual citizenship which passport to use when?
questions wrote on 05/31/07 20:24:
>> hi all,
>>
>> very glad that i got my US passport. now, here's a question: as a
>> dual citizen (UK and US) what is the best way to travel outside the
>> country? when leaving and entering the US of course the US passport
>> would be used, but are there any issues with entering another country
>> on a UK passport and then returning to the US with only the US
>> passport?
>>
>> Just curious - this dual nationality thing is new to me
>
> So as I have been reading this thread, I am extremely excited. I read at
> another forum about a gentleman who was told by the BCIS that he would
> have to surrender his British passport at the ceremony
That is complete rubbish. A passport is the property of the issuing government,
and no US government person has *any* business confiscating foreign passports.
Period.
> 1) Is there any special paperwork that needs to be completed for dual
> citizenship?
Not in the US. Your other country of citizenship may have specific rules. As an
example, Germany requires a special application to keep German citizenship in
case of acquiring another citizenship.
> 2) Does it need to be notated anywhere on the paperwork that you would
> like to have dual citizenship?
No. If you keep your old citizenship depends solely on that other country's laws.
--
I am not a lawyer.
For reliable advice, consult a competent immigration attorney.
>> hi all,
>>
>> very glad that i got my US passport. now, here's a question: as a
>> dual citizen (UK and US) what is the best way to travel outside the
>> country? when leaving and entering the US of course the US passport
>> would be used, but are there any issues with entering another country
>> on a UK passport and then returning to the US with only the US
>> passport?
>>
>> Just curious - this dual nationality thing is new to me
>
> So as I have been reading this thread, I am extremely excited. I read at
> another forum about a gentleman who was told by the BCIS that he would
> have to surrender his British passport at the ceremony
That is complete rubbish. A passport is the property of the issuing government,
and no US government person has *any* business confiscating foreign passports.
Period.
> 1) Is there any special paperwork that needs to be completed for dual
> citizenship?
Not in the US. Your other country of citizenship may have specific rules. As an
example, Germany requires a special application to keep German citizenship in
case of acquiring another citizenship.
> 2) Does it need to be notated anywhere on the paperwork that you would
> like to have dual citizenship?
No. If you keep your old citizenship depends solely on that other country's laws.
--
I am not a lawyer.
For reliable advice, consult a competent immigration attorney.
Jun 2nd 2007, 4:12 pm
#17
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: dual citizenship which passport to use when?
> > So as I have been reading this thread, I am extremely excited. I read
> > at another forum about a gentleman who was told by the BCIS that he
> > would have to surrender his British passport at the ceremony but when
> > he called, he was told something completely different.
When a person naturalizes in the US he must surrender his green card,
but they do not take a person's passport from them.
> > So, from this I
> > am assuming that you are allowed to have dual citizenship.
US citizens may hold and make use of other citizenships. They must
deal with the US as a US citizen and follow the laws that would apply
to persons who hold US citizenship alone (such as entering the US on a
US passport, not a foreign one).
See http:/www.richw.org/dualcit/
> > I understand that this is not exactly related to this topic, but I
> > thought to give it a try and ask a couple of questions:
>
> > 1) Is there any special paperwork that needs to be completed for dual
> > citizenship?
The US has no special requirement. But your other country of
citizenship may. It is necessary to check with that other country to
be sure.
A person naturalizing in the US may want to check with their original
country before becoming a US citizen. In some cases, the original
country will automatically take away its citizenship if he voluntarily
acquires another one. In other cases, the original country will allow
him to keep his original citizenship, but they do have some paperwork
that he must complete either before and/or after taking US
citizenship. Still, other countries will not take away their
citizenships when a person takes another citizenship.
It is interestng to note that while the US has a statement of
renunciation in its naturalization oath, many countries do not view it
as having any effect under their laws. In those cases, the people
involved continue to hold their original citizenship, in addition to
now also holding US citizenship. Britain is one such country.
British citizens do not lose their original citizenship when they
become US citizens because the US renunciatory statement has no effect
under British law.
> > 2) Does it need to be notated anywhere on the paperwork that you would
> > like to have dual citizenship?
If you mean paperwork from the US, the answer is no. A person ends up
being a dual citizen because the laws of two or more countries
independently confer their citizenship upon him at the same time. It
has nothing to do with requesting to be a dual citizen. Once
naturalized, the US basically views you as a US citizen. The fact
that another country views you as being one of its citizens is
immaterial to them.
> > at another forum about a gentleman who was told by the BCIS that he
> > would have to surrender his British passport at the ceremony but when
> > he called, he was told something completely different.
When a person naturalizes in the US he must surrender his green card,
but they do not take a person's passport from them.
> > So, from this I
> > am assuming that you are allowed to have dual citizenship.
US citizens may hold and make use of other citizenships. They must
deal with the US as a US citizen and follow the laws that would apply
to persons who hold US citizenship alone (such as entering the US on a
US passport, not a foreign one).
See http:/www.richw.org/dualcit/
> > I understand that this is not exactly related to this topic, but I
> > thought to give it a try and ask a couple of questions:
>
> > 1) Is there any special paperwork that needs to be completed for dual
> > citizenship?
The US has no special requirement. But your other country of
citizenship may. It is necessary to check with that other country to
be sure.
A person naturalizing in the US may want to check with their original
country before becoming a US citizen. In some cases, the original
country will automatically take away its citizenship if he voluntarily
acquires another one. In other cases, the original country will allow
him to keep his original citizenship, but they do have some paperwork
that he must complete either before and/or after taking US
citizenship. Still, other countries will not take away their
citizenships when a person takes another citizenship.
It is interestng to note that while the US has a statement of
renunciation in its naturalization oath, many countries do not view it
as having any effect under their laws. In those cases, the people
involved continue to hold their original citizenship, in addition to
now also holding US citizenship. Britain is one such country.
British citizens do not lose their original citizenship when they
become US citizens because the US renunciatory statement has no effect
under British law.
> > 2) Does it need to be notated anywhere on the paperwork that you would
> > like to have dual citizenship?
If you mean paperwork from the US, the answer is no. A person ends up
being a dual citizen because the laws of two or more countries
independently confer their citizenship upon him at the same time. It
has nothing to do with requesting to be a dual citizen. Once
naturalized, the US basically views you as a US citizen. The fact
that another country views you as being one of its citizens is
immaterial to them.
Jun 2nd 2007, 4:20 pm
#18
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: dual citizenship which passport to use when?
On Jun 1, 2:00 am, "Joe Feise (Immigration)" <[email protected]> wrote:
> questions wrote on 05/31/07 20:24:
>
> >> hi all,
>
> >> very glad that i got my US passport. now, here's a question: as a
> >> dual citizen (UK and US) what is the best way to travel outside the
> >> country? when leaving and entering the US of course the US passport
> >> would be used, but are there any issues with entering another country
> >> on a UK passport and then returning to the US with only the US
> >> passport?
>
> >> Just curious - this dual nationality thing is new to me
>
> > So as I have been reading this thread, I am extremely excited. I read at
> > another forum about a gentleman who was told by the BCIS that he would
> > have to surrender his British passport at the ceremony
>
> That is complete rubbish. A passport is the property of the
> issuing government
You're correct in that a passport does not have to be surrendered, and
that the passport belongs to the government that issued it.
> and no US government person has *any* business
> confiscating foreign passports.
It wouldn't necessarily be confiscation if they forwarded the passport
back to the issuing government. Over the years, I've read that some
countries actually do this when naturalizing new citizens.
But, since the US doesn't require a passport to be handed in, it
doesn't really matter.
> questions wrote on 05/31/07 20:24:
>
> >> hi all,
>
> >> very glad that i got my US passport. now, here's a question: as a
> >> dual citizen (UK and US) what is the best way to travel outside the
> >> country? when leaving and entering the US of course the US passport
> >> would be used, but are there any issues with entering another country
> >> on a UK passport and then returning to the US with only the US
> >> passport?
>
> >> Just curious - this dual nationality thing is new to me
>
> > So as I have been reading this thread, I am extremely excited. I read at
> > another forum about a gentleman who was told by the BCIS that he would
> > have to surrender his British passport at the ceremony
>
> That is complete rubbish. A passport is the property of the
> issuing government
You're correct in that a passport does not have to be surrendered, and
that the passport belongs to the government that issued it.
> and no US government person has *any* business
> confiscating foreign passports.
It wouldn't necessarily be confiscation if they forwarded the passport
back to the issuing government. Over the years, I've read that some
countries actually do this when naturalizing new citizens.
But, since the US doesn't require a passport to be handed in, it
doesn't really matter.
Jun 2nd 2007, 5:44 pm
#19
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: dual citizenship which passport to use when?
On 2 Jun, 17:20, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
wrote:
> On Jun 1, 2:00 am, "Joe Feise (Immigration)" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>
> > questions wrote on 05/31/07 20:24:
>
> > >> hi all,
>
> > >> very glad that i got my US passport. now, here's a question: as a
> > >> dual citizen (UK and US) what is the best way to travel outside the
> > >> country? when leaving and entering the US of course the US passport
> > >> would be used, but are there any issues with entering another country
> > >> on a UK passport and then returning to the US with only the US
> > >> passport?
>
> > >> Just curious - this dual nationality thing is new to me
>
> > > So as I have been reading this thread, I am extremely excited. I read at
> > > another forum about a gentleman who was told by the BCIS that he would
> > > have to surrender his British passport at the ceremony
>
> > That is complete rubbish. A passport is the property of the
> > issuing government
>
> You're correct in that a passport does not have to be surrendered, and
> that the passport belongs to the government that issued it.
>
> > and no US government person has *any* business
> > confiscating foreign passports.
>
> It wouldn't necessarily be confiscation if they forwarded the passport
> back to the issuing government. Over the years, I've read that some
> countries actually do this when naturalizing new citizens.
>
> But, since the US doesn't require a passport to be handed in, it
> doesn't really matter.
I knew a British guy who naturalised in the Netherlands. His British
passport was taken away by the Dutch and sent to the British
consulate, who then forwarded it to him.
wrote:
> On Jun 1, 2:00 am, "Joe Feise (Immigration)" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>
> > questions wrote on 05/31/07 20:24:
>
> > >> hi all,
>
> > >> very glad that i got my US passport. now, here's a question: as a
> > >> dual citizen (UK and US) what is the best way to travel outside the
> > >> country? when leaving and entering the US of course the US passport
> > >> would be used, but are there any issues with entering another country
> > >> on a UK passport and then returning to the US with only the US
> > >> passport?
>
> > >> Just curious - this dual nationality thing is new to me
>
> > > So as I have been reading this thread, I am extremely excited. I read at
> > > another forum about a gentleman who was told by the BCIS that he would
> > > have to surrender his British passport at the ceremony
>
> > That is complete rubbish. A passport is the property of the
> > issuing government
>
> You're correct in that a passport does not have to be surrendered, and
> that the passport belongs to the government that issued it.
>
> > and no US government person has *any* business
> > confiscating foreign passports.
>
> It wouldn't necessarily be confiscation if they forwarded the passport
> back to the issuing government. Over the years, I've read that some
> countries actually do this when naturalizing new citizens.
>
> But, since the US doesn't require a passport to be handed in, it
> doesn't really matter.
I knew a British guy who naturalised in the Netherlands. His British
passport was taken away by the Dutch and sent to the British
consulate, who then forwarded it to him.
Jun 2nd 2007, 5:57 pm
#20
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: dual citizenship which passport to use when?
On 24 May, 13:24, ian-mstm <[email protected]> wrote:
> > hi all,
>
> > very glad that i got my US passport. now, here's a question: as a
> > dual citizen (UK and US) what is the best way to travel outside the
> > country? when leaving and entering the US of course the US passport
> > would be used, but are there any issues with entering another country
> > on a UK passport and then returning to the US with only the US
> > passport?
>
> > Just curious - this dual nationality thing is new to me
>
> You should always use your US passport to enter the US, and your UK
> passport to enter the UK. Beyond that, though... there is no restriction
> on which you use and when.
There is no requirement for British citizens to use a UK passport to
enter the UK, in fact you can get a Certificate of Entitlement in a
foreign passport to show that you are not subject to UK immigration
control. If you enter on a foreign passport and get restricted leave
to enter, the restriction don't apply if you have the right of abode.
> If it was me though, I'd use the passport
> that was less likely to get me into trouble... for example, if I was
> going to France, I'd likely use my Canadian passport rather than either
> my US or UK passport!
>
> Ian
Actually, a British passport will make your life the easiest, since EU
citizens can only be refused entry on very specific grounds.
> > hi all,
>
> > very glad that i got my US passport. now, here's a question: as a
> > dual citizen (UK and US) what is the best way to travel outside the
> > country? when leaving and entering the US of course the US passport
> > would be used, but are there any issues with entering another country
> > on a UK passport and then returning to the US with only the US
> > passport?
>
> > Just curious - this dual nationality thing is new to me
>
> You should always use your US passport to enter the US, and your UK
> passport to enter the UK. Beyond that, though... there is no restriction
> on which you use and when.
There is no requirement for British citizens to use a UK passport to
enter the UK, in fact you can get a Certificate of Entitlement in a
foreign passport to show that you are not subject to UK immigration
control. If you enter on a foreign passport and get restricted leave
to enter, the restriction don't apply if you have the right of abode.
> If it was me though, I'd use the passport
> that was less likely to get me into trouble... for example, if I was
> going to France, I'd likely use my Canadian passport rather than either
> my US or UK passport!
>
> Ian
Actually, a British passport will make your life the easiest, since EU
citizens can only be refused entry on very specific grounds.
