Teach3r

We are both perm residents but due to retirement at home (UK)... only I can become a Citizen... my wife needs to wait 5 years to avoid losing out on pension..... Can I apply for citizenship without my spouse? What compilcations could arise?

Nutmegger

Can you clarify a few things? In a recent post you said that you were both dual citizens, was that a mistake? If you have moved back to the UK that will prevent you applying for citizenship--you have to be in the US to make the application.. What do you mean about the pension preventing your wife applying for citizenship?

Teach3r

I am writing this on behalf of a friend of mine... sorry for any confusion. By taking citizenship I have been reliably informed that my pension due at 65 will be comprimised as we are not living in the UK.

Nutmegger

I see! Or maybe I don't! Perhaps you should stop saying "my" when you are not talking about yourself, so that others who look at your history in order to try to help don't get as mixed up as me! Now I'm really confused -- is this a UK pension, a US pension?

Jerseygirl

If you meet the requirements you can apply for citizenship separately. Your wife is a British citizen...what makes you think she will lose out on her pension if she becomes a dual UK/US citizen?

Edit: Your pension will not be compromised.

SanDiegogirl

To answer one question you asked.

You can apply for citizenship as an individual. Even if married, one of the spouses can apply for citizenship even if the other does not want to do so.

Teach3r

Will start from new....

Our friend has posed a question to us....

" He wants to become a US Citizen (already green card holder) whereas his wife wants to wait 5 years until she reaches 64 and can get her pension. They believe that if she takes citizenship here it will affect her getting her full pension from the UK as they currently live in the USA."

So question 1) Can one apply without spouse for citizenship?
2) Will it affect the pension if they both apply now?

Nutmegger

Thanks!

1: Yes; it is an individual application.
2: It will have no effect on the pension.

Jerseygirl

Yes.

No.

meauxna

That is not so. Who reliably informed them of that?

sir_eccles

The only complications that might arise are questions of tax and money transfers.

JAJ

And what complications would affect a US citizen as opposed to a permanent resident?

The only complication I understand is that certain government pensions are only taxable in the UK (not in the USA) unless one is also a US citizen. But there is no question of the pension not being paid based on citizenship status.

sir_eccles

You're reading a lot more into what I wrote. I made no mention of citizenship. All I said was there may be a tax implication in receiving a UK pension.