Dual Citizenship UK/US
Feb 27th 2010, 6:44 pm
#1
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Joined: Sep 2009
Location: London
Posts: 17
Dual Citizenship UK/US
I have been trawling the internet lately trying to figure out the current status on dual citizenship between the US and UK.
Lots of the posts on here are several years old and are pretty conflicting with some saying that the US does not allow it and others saying its okay?
If a British citizen were to marry an American citizen and eventually apply for citizenship do they have to renounce their British citizenship?
What are the pros and cons of swapping from being a British permanent resident in the US to a US or UK/US citizen in the US?
: )
Lots of the posts on here are several years old and are pretty conflicting with some saying that the US does not allow it and others saying its okay?
If a British citizen were to marry an American citizen and eventually apply for citizenship do they have to renounce their British citizenship?
What are the pros and cons of swapping from being a British permanent resident in the US to a US or UK/US citizen in the US?
: )
Feb 27th 2010, 7:06 pm
#2
Septicity
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 23,762
Re: Dual Citizenship UK/US
http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Pros_a...US_Citizenship
http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Natura...ship_Resources
http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Natura...ship_Resources
Feb 27th 2010, 7:07 pm
#3
Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukie, Oregon
Posts: 9,966
Re: Dual Citizenship UK/US
I am a British citizen by birth and a US citizen by choice. There is no problem in holding dual citizenship.
The advantages are a bit of what an individuals circumstances are, but it makes a difference to social security, inheritance tax being a US citizen. Disadvantages can't say I've found any except in my unusual circumstances it changes my requirement to pay tax on one pension from the UK to US and that will cost me more in income tax.
The advantages are a bit of what an individuals circumstances are, but it makes a difference to social security, inheritance tax being a US citizen. Disadvantages can't say I've found any except in my unusual circumstances it changes my requirement to pay tax on one pension from the UK to US and that will cost me more in income tax.
Feb 28th 2010, 1:37 am
#4
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Joined: Aug 2002
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 38,865
Re: Dual Citizenship UK/US
If a British citizen were to marry an American citizen and eventually apply for citizenship do they have to renounce their British citizenship?
What are the pros and cons of swapping from being a British permanent resident in the US to a US or UK/US citizen in the US?
Ian
Last edited by ian-mstm; Feb 28th 2010 at 1:45 am.
Apr 11th 2010, 9:26 pm
#5
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 24
Re: Dual Citizenship UK/US
I've read Dual Citizenship FAQ Dual Nationality and United States Law by Rich Wales http://www.richw.org/dualcit/ but still need a key question answered.
If a UK citizen (by birth) becomes a US citizen by choice now (in 2010) then despite the language of the US naturalization oath the individual retains his/her UK citizenship and becomes a dual citizen: ie, the UK doesn't take the renunciation language seriously, and the US no longer objects to dual citizenship. Correct?
Apparently the long-standing objection to dual citizenship was relaxed after court rulings in 1967 and 1980 (per Rich Wales).
And now the question: Were those rulings retroactive? Suppose an individual (UK citizen by birth) became a US citizen in, say, 1960. Would the UK have regarded that person as a dual citizen at time of naturalization, even if the US did not? And later, after those court rulings, would the US have acknowledged the dual citizenship of the individual?
Or is dual citizenship limited to people who became US citizens after 1980?
If a UK citizen (by birth) becomes a US citizen by choice now (in 2010) then despite the language of the US naturalization oath the individual retains his/her UK citizenship and becomes a dual citizen: ie, the UK doesn't take the renunciation language seriously, and the US no longer objects to dual citizenship. Correct?
Apparently the long-standing objection to dual citizenship was relaxed after court rulings in 1967 and 1980 (per Rich Wales).
And now the question: Were those rulings retroactive? Suppose an individual (UK citizen by birth) became a US citizen in, say, 1960. Would the UK have regarded that person as a dual citizen at time of naturalization, even if the US did not? And later, after those court rulings, would the US have acknowledged the dual citizenship of the individual?
Or is dual citizenship limited to people who became US citizens after 1980?
Apr 11th 2010, 10:11 pm
#6
Retired
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,649
Re: Dual Citizenship UK/US
I've read Dual Citizenship FAQ Dual Nationality and United States Law by Rich Wales http://www.richw.org/dualcit/ but still need a key question answered.
If a UK citizen (by birth) becomes a US citizen by choice now (in 2010) then despite the language of the US naturalization oath the individual retains his/her UK citizenship and becomes a dual citizen: ie, the UK doesn't take the renunciation language seriously, and the US no longer objects to dual citizenship. Correct?
Apparently the long-standing objection to dual citizenship was relaxed after court rulings in 1967 and 1980 (per Rich Wales).
And now the question: Were those rulings retroactive? Suppose an individual (UK citizen by birth) became a US citizen in, say, 1960. Would the UK have regarded that person as a dual citizen at time of naturalization, even if the US did not? And later, after those court rulings, would the US have acknowledged the dual citizenship of the individual?
The USA does not recognise dual citizenship. It simply ignores it.
Or is dual citizenship limited to people who became US citizens after 1980?
If a UK citizen (by birth) becomes a US citizen by choice now (in 2010) then despite the language of the US naturalization oath the individual retains his/her UK citizenship and becomes a dual citizen: ie, the UK doesn't take the renunciation language seriously, and the US no longer objects to dual citizenship. Correct?
Apparently the long-standing objection to dual citizenship was relaxed after court rulings in 1967 and 1980 (per Rich Wales).
And now the question: Were those rulings retroactive? Suppose an individual (UK citizen by birth) became a US citizen in, say, 1960. Would the UK have regarded that person as a dual citizen at time of naturalization, even if the US did not? And later, after those court rulings, would the US have acknowledged the dual citizenship of the individual?
The USA does not recognise dual citizenship. It simply ignores it.
Or is dual citizenship limited to people who became US citizens after 1980?
The United States has NEVER demanded that newly naturalized citizens obtain a certificate from their former countries proving loss of nationality. The reason for this is that many countries refuse to give such documentation and insisting on it would give those countries a veto over who could and could not be a US citizen.
Apr 11th 2010, 10:15 pm
#7
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 24
Re: Dual Citizenship UK/US
Ah. So the individual in my example, naturalized in 1960, would have retained his UK citizenship.
My father will be delighted to hear that.
My father will be delighted to hear that.
