Dual Nationality
 

Isn't it amazing for those of us with dual nationality - British and American, I mean? When you consider how many people are literally killing themselves trying to be an American or British citizen and we have citizenship of both countries. I count myself very lucky.

Re: Dual Nationality
 

Well then, Happy Citizenship Day to you, too!

Re: Dual Nationality
 

Well kind of, but I do think back to when I was in Bangladesh during the gulf war, and I passed myself off as Irish (pointing to the 'Ireland' bit). the alternative avaliable to me, now that I have eligiblity for a US passport, would just make things worse.

UK and US passports the best and the worst passports to have.

Re: Dual Nationality
 

+1

Re: Dual Nationality
 

How so?

Re: Dual Nationality
 

best: ability to live in two economically advanced and political/socialy liberal countries. Ease of visa for most countries.

worst: not liked by many countries, top of the kidnap list in some places.

Re: Dual Nationality
 

I too consider it a great privilege, though 50% of it was hard earned.

There is also the other side of me that sees it as my dirty little secret, as it is often met by some quite surprising remarks by others if (on the rare occasion these days) I mention it in public. You know, the usual "you should pick on or the other", "you should have been made to give back your UK passport when you left the UK", or the worst, and probably the most common "well, I don't think that is right!"

The concept of dual nationality baffles a lot of people, but apparently pisses off a lot more.

Re: Dual Nationality
 

I second this - we're very lucky to have both. Lucky for the kids too who will be dual citizens by descent.

Re: Dual Nationality
 

Even better, you can live anywhere in the EU. And according to a chart I saw in the Economist, UK citizens can travel visa-free to more countries than passport holders of any other country.

Re: Dual Nationality
 

A few years ago DH was traveling on a train from Moscow to Warsaw. When the train stopped in Belarus the officials who came onboard went mental when they saw his American passport. The train was delayed for a long time while they went through all his belongings. He told me that I would have been very scared if I had been on that train.

Re: Dual Nationality
 

The former massively outweighs the latter, particularly given that if you're in the latter situation you should have appropriate security detail, or be accepting of the risks.

Re: Dual Nationality
 

And then there's those with triple or more nationalities :)

Re: Dual Nationality
 

Good point. I know a guy with three nationalities.

So, that raises a question: if British and American are the two best to have, what would be the third?

Qatari by birth would give some level of income, which would be nice. Australian would be a great place to have the right to live.

Another other thoughts?

Re: Dual Nationality
 

I have UK and US citizenship,but I'm increasingly unsatisfied with any nationality.
I see nation states as a very 19th Century construction and define myself locally rather than globally. If I could get by without a passport I would! If I had to describe myself it now it would be as as a Bostonian or as a socialist libertarian Yorkshireman. Cleaving to any particular nation gives me the willies.

Re: Dual Nationality
 

Actually, I'm totally with you. If we allow the free movement of capital, it follows that we should allow the free movement of labor.