Multiple Passport/ Citizenship Question
 

I have a rather complicated questions.
I was born & raised in England until I was 14, at which point I immigrated to the USA. That was about 10 years ago now, and I'm now a naturalized US citizen. I'm essentially a dual citizen, and I always fly on my British passport (though I have been scolded for it when I re-enter the country).
So here is my question... My father has a French passport, which also encompassed me as his son until I was a certain age (I literally was included on his passport, an odd practice but I guess that's how the French do it!)
From my understanding, because of my father's French passport, and the fact I used to be on it, I am also eligible for a French passport.
So, if I get a French passport, am I breaking any rules? That would give me a British, US, and French passport.
I feel like it's already frowned upon that I'm a dual US-UK citizen (I've been told twice by immigration officers at airports that there's no way I am a dual citizen because America doesn't allow it, though after much discussion I'm allowed to go through with a frown).
Is it acceptable for me to get the French passport or is there a problem?

Re: Multiple Passport/ Citizenship Question
 

The only requirement is that because you are a US citizen you must exit and enter the US on a US passport. Use your other passport(s) however you like.

Re: Multiple Passport/ Citizenship Question
 

The US doesn't care about any other citizenships that you may have.

They do care that US citizens use a US passport when entering and leaving the US because that is required by US law.

Just show your US passport when you return to the US and you won't have any problems.

(Actually you are lucky that they just told you off for using a non-US passport - they could have fined you a couple of hundred dollars ...)

Re: Multiple Passport/ Citizenship Question
 

As an aside I recall British passports used to allow you to include children on the parent's passport too. Long time ago maybe early 80s.

Re: Multiple Passport/ Citizenship Question
 

My husband's mother is French (living in the UK for the past 40 years, but never became a UKC) and as such, my husband had (has??) French citizenship and a passport. For whatever reason, when he turned 18 and had his national service waived it changed something with his standing, but he can supposedly reactivate/reclaim his French citizenship at any time. Also, supposedly our (future) children are eligible for French citizenship since their grandmother is French. Who knows - it is all a bit confusing to me. :confused:

ANYHOW - with all that useless info:p, I did some searching when we were thinking about getting my husband's US citizenship. There is no conflict in having French, American, and UK citizenships. None at all! But as long as the EU exists, is there really a reason to have both UK and French citizenships? For us, the answer is no - but if things in the EU change, we may become more proactive about my husband's French status.

Several other European countries do not allow dual citizenship (Germany and Denmark and a good number of others) - but lucky for you and us, the UK and France are not among them. :thumbsup:

Re: Multiple Passport/ Citizenship Question
 

Far earlier than the 80s. I was included on my mom's UK passport in the 1950s. Indeed, that was the passport I used to get my own UK passport a number of years ago.

Ian

Re: Multiple Passport/ Citizenship Question
 

No.


I have a UK, US, and CDN passport.


They have deliberately lied to you in hopes of intimidating or indoctrinating you into their way of thinking. The US has no specific rule either allowing or disallowing dual citizenship.

Ian

Re: Multiple Passport/ Citizenship Question
 

Yes.. this was the norm in the old days. My siblings & I were on our parents passports until we were in our teens (1950s, 60s) and when our daughter was born in England in 1982, she was added to my British passport as well as having her own US passport.

Re: Multiple Passport/ Citizenship Question
 

Yes, I meant up until the 80s. After looking it up it turns out the UK didn't stop the practice until 1998.

Re: Multiple Passport/ Citizenship Question
 

I was on my mothers passport until the early 90's. It seemed to be the done thing then.

Re: Multiple Passport/ Citizenship Question
 

You have all 3 passports? I currently have UK & Canadian and was wondering how that would work when the time came and I could get my US citizenship.

But it's good to see that it can be done :)

When entering say the UK, do you leave the US on your US passport and enter the UK with your UK passport?

Re: Multiple Passport/ Citizenship Question
 

This is shocking! (As well as untrue.)

The US government allows dual-, triple-, whatever-number citizenships, because there's no law forbidding it. Some countries do forbid holding more than one citizenship--Wikipedia has an informative article on 'Multiple Citizenship' around the world--but the US is not one of them.

Perhaps your mistake is showing or mentioning to the IO more than your US passport. I'm dual, & I've been careful to ONLY show the US passport at the US ports of entry.

Re: Multiple Passport/ Citizenship Question
 

Actually, if you read the OP's post carefully it looks as if his mistake was not showing his US passport at all when reentering the US.

Re: Multiple Passport/ Citizenship Question
 

Yes, I did note s/he said something about travelling (only?) on the UK passport, which is a no-no when entering the USA if one has an American passport.

Handslikesecrets, is there any specific reason you aren't entering the US on your American passport?

Re: Multiple Passport/ Citizenship Question
 

Honestly, I just haven't gotten around to applying for a U.S. passport. Yes, I'm aware that makes me incredibly foolish. It's on my to-do list :)