Bob

oh yeah....that one...though hardly worth it these days is it

Bob

Can do it at a consulate too, but it costs a bit of money and time...can't get it back either I don't think...

Bob

Some nations don't allow dual citizenship...or some don't allow it automatically like germany....

Englishmum

Here's the official UK position on children and adults with dual nationality:

http://www.britainusa.com/sections/a...=41001&a=25317

and for more detailed info regarding the status according to dates of birth ie. children born outside the UK after 1st Jan 1983 and before 21 May 2002 / also for children born on or after 21 May 2002. It is complicated so it is probably easier to look at the flow charts:

http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/ind...y_descent.html

There is also a Flow Chart here for children born on or after 21 May 2002 if you click on the Word Doc (Chapter 4 Annex D):

http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/ind.../annex_d.html?

Going slightly off topic, my husband's English friend and colleague in the Singapore office had a problem when his son was born. Mark is married to a Singaporean woman and he wanted his son to have British citizenship (so to eventually avoid having to do National Service and to be allowed to attend an International school). Unfortunately, Mark's dad - the grandfather of the little boy - was (like my mum) born during WWII on a British Army base in Malta, and this was recorded on the birth certificate. He had a battle with the staff at the British High Commission in Singapore because the grandfather wasn't born in the UK....he got so angry he said "do you want me to bloody well take the family photo album FedExed in from England so you can see the baby's deceased great-grandfather in his British Army uniform?" He got the British passport in the end......

As far as I understand it, British citizenship can only be passed on to a child not born in the UK for one generation....so any child born outside the UK who goes on to have children also born outside the UK can't pass on citizenship by descent.

There are also laws regarding US citizenship by descent too....I think there is something about the parent having to have lived a certain no. of years in the US after the age of 14 to pass on citizenship.....for example many, many Taiwanese have US passports as 'insurance' in the event of a takeover from China...they can't pass on US citizenship for ongoing generations (where would it end?) if the parents have virtually no links with the US any more.

fatbrit

Child's not in a predicament, but you are!

Yep - but Indian is tricky if that was where you were heading. Till recently you had to dump it if you took another. Law changed recently, but whether it's as easy as US/UK I have no idea.

Angry White Pyjamas

The only reason (I can see) of wanting to take US citizenship is if you intend to stay here the rest of your life. After all, just because you cease to be a PR doesnt mean you cant come back for holidays if you wanted to. Unless 'They' throw you out for 'some reason'.

scrubbedexpat099

I had no intent but decided it was silly not to.

A friend of mine did after 15 years her recently, He had a scare on PR status after having gone to Brazil for a few months, and then found out that an infraction with the Police and he is on the next plane home.

Here is some bumf:

You can renounce your British citizenship, British Overseas citizenship or British subject status by completing the declaration of renunciation on form RN1. If you hold more than one of these citizenships or status, you can renounce them all on one form.

Source: http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/ind...claration.html

Information about dual nationality

The Law in the United Kingdom

In general there is no restriction, in UK law, on a British national being a citizen of another country as well. So, if you get another nationality, you will not lose your British nationality.

Source:
http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/ind...tionality.html


US Position on Dual Nationality

A person naturalized as a U.S. citizen may not lose the citizenship of the country of birth. U.S.law does not mention dual nationality or require a person to choose one citizenship or another.

Source
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_p.../cis_1753.html

JAJ

Correct as a general rule, however there are exceptions. It helps to know the law well as many consular officials do not.

The following is a good guide to the nationality rights of children born outside the UK:
http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/ind...tizenship.html

However even this is not comprehensive as it says nothing about the fact that the Home Office will register as British the children of unmarried British fathers who would have been British if parents were married. Provided application is made before the child is 18.

This has been policy for almost six years but the Home Office seemingly refuses to advertise it. They will however normally grant applications that are made - again, it's important to know the law and policy yourself and not rely on "helplines".


Jeremy

JAJ

And for emphasis, this is NOT required to become (or remain) a US citizen.





Jeremy

JAJ

What three nationalities? Presumably US is one. What are the other two and on what basis do you expect your child will be able to claim them?




Jeremy

JAJ

It's very simple. If you are a US citizen, the US authorities expect you to deal with them as if you were *solely* an American. So you always show a US passport to US officials, you file your US taxes, you register for Selective Service if required - you cannot use a foreign citizenship to get out of any of these obligations.

However they do not care how you present yourself to a foreign government, or what status you hold in a foreign country, so long as you don't take active steps to cease being American.

Newly naturalised US citizens are expected to adhere to the same obligations as any other US citizen. However they are not expected to get certificates from their old country proving loss of that other citizenship (many countries would make this impossible anyway). Nor are they expected to hand over foreign passports.


Jeremy

gruffbrown

Simple to you Thanks for clearing that up.

Bob

US for being born in the US, Brit through mother, and the third through the father I would presume.

I've a mate who has three that way, saved him a shed load of hassle when he came he a couple months ago to study for a phd...though getting a US passport took a while by all accounts

Lion in Winter

Indeed he does.

Mexico has only recently allowed its nationals to hold Mexican citizenship if they also hold another citizenship.

The only real issue is that if you are a national of one country, your other country can't protect you against that country. So my son, for example, can't be protected by the British Embassy against anything the U.S. might care to do (such as draft him ). But he has lost nothing of his British Citizenship, and has his own little UK/EEC passport. When he's a teenager you can bet we'll be having some discussions about what the assorted obligations, advantages, disadvantages of his citizenships might be, but he will have the right to keep them all should he wish.

scrubbedexpat099

He would at least have a safe haven to go to in such circumstances.