usoruk

Just a question-I have been reading a lot of posts about US born kids, one parent is British, getting a British citizenship. I am a British citizen, am a perm. resident with a green card. Hubby is American by birth and kids are all US born. Should I get my kids British Citizenship and why. Should I get US citizenship and why?? thanx

lifehouse51

My thoughts:

1. If you know that you'll be settling in the U.S., then getting U.S. Citizenship is nice, because you no longer have to worry about losing your PR if you're out of the U.S. for too long. Holding a U.S. Passport also allow you to travel visa-free to a few places that UK Passport doesn't. On the other hand, you'll be subject to worldwide taxation. Furthermore, Renouncement of US citizenship's a complicated/hard process, I know someone who went through it successfully but the paperwork was annoying.

2. I don't see harm with your kids getting UK citizenship as well. Neither the US or UK will force dual citizenship holders to give up one of their citizenships. The U.S. doesn't "Recognize" dual citizenship, but "Tolerates" it. Dual/Multiple Citizenships can create problems in some cases, but many seem to hold the UK/US combination without much trouble.

usoruk

thankyou, what sort problems could arise from dual citizenship for myself and the kids. Hubby wonders why I don't get a US cit. He thinks I may one day move back with the kids and not having the US cit. will make the move easier.

lifehouse51

This article may be of interest to you: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual_citizenship

If you hold on to your green card, and later move back to the UK and stay outside of the U.S. for a prolonged period of time without a re-entry permit, you could be considered as having abandoned your PR status.

lapin_windstar

My thinking on the kids for UK citizenship thing is "you may as well". That way the kids will be able to live and work in the EU any time they want. There is no real cost: so far there is no prospect of worldwide taxation and there hasn't been a draft/conscription in many decades.

As for the US citizenship: much the same, really. There's probably no critical practical difference on a daily basis but once you get US citizenship, you can't get it taken off you (unless there was fraud etc).

Bit of a weird thing to say. Consult a qualified and experienced family lawyer but I don't remember having heard that not having US citizenship would make it easier to remove kids from the jursidiction.

Duncan Roberts

Your kids will almost certainly have British citizenship anyway, you don't do anything to get it. With the multiple citizenships including US. It's not that the US doesn't recognize "dual citizenship," more that it has no position. THe UK has rules which say they don't care, the US doesn't have them either way.

jeepgirluk

My tuppence or two cents worth... US Citizenship gives you the freedom to go back to the UK, without abandoning your PR status, should the need arise.

UK passports for your children opens the future to travel or living in the UK in the future if they wish to as Lapin_winstar said above.

You don't lose anything by gaining US citizenship or by your children having British passports. It's a win-win.

lifehouse51

Two comments:

1. Even if you are a US citizen, it's possible but hard to renounce it. I know an Australian Ex-US citizen that did it. You can only do it outside of the US and tons of paperwork to do. Plus it can be denied if it is felt that you were not well informed of the consequences of your decision. If you have alot of assests (a billionaire) they will force you to pay tax for a number of years after renouncement

2. A drawback of US citizenship is worldwide taxation. Another is the potential for conscription in time of war, though that only applies to male citizens

Duncan Roberts

That's often not a drawback since most males in the US and in the age range would be eligible for the selective service. It may only be an issue if you move to a different country where as a previous visa holder/resident you would be off the hook.

lifehouse51

I always wonder how it works for Foreign nationals working/studying in the US? I never register for selective service myself ( am I supposed to?). Recently filled out some forms for working at a Veterans Affairs Hospital, And as a federal institution, it asked me if I was registered and claimed they would run checks on everyone. I flat out wrote I refused to sign up as i am not a citizen nor PR. Haven't heard anything from them about withdrawing the job offer

hobbes79

I went for Brit citizenship on our US born daughter since I like the idea that if she's 20 and feels like spending a year in Spain, France, UK, etc... she just can. I know Americans that talk about such adventures (I think Diane Lane was in such a movie!) but as much as we moan about the US immigration system, for non EU citizens, moving to Europe isn't as straightforward as the movies portray.

I have a friend of Sicilian descent who wanted to go for a year. But she was 100% American, so no go...

Just opens up an option.

onthepunt

remember that a UK passport will give your children many more options in their lives for residency or easy travel.. a UK passport isnt just for the UK, its free reign in the EU.

Jerseygirl

As someone else said your children are already dual citizens...getting their birth registered with the British Embassy and getting a UK PP now will make it easier for them in the future to prove citizenship. Why wouldn't you do this? When they get older they could live and work in any European country as well as the US...a great opportunity for them IMO.

One good reason for US citizenship for you apart from being assured entry into the US is inheritance tax. As you have a greencard you would probably have to fill in a US tax return for many years to come if you move out of the US anyway. Many of us expats have taken US citizenship...me included.

hobbes79

http://www.sss.gov/FSaliens.htm

If you live in the US, male and under 26, you are required by law to sign up for selective service. Even illegal immigrants are required to!

In the N-400 US citizenship application, you have to provide your Selective Service number if you lived in the US prior to 26. If you didn't, you need to explain why.

Duncan Roberts

Most are required to if you fall in the 18-26 age range when they got here. Basically non-immigrants are exempt. Other than the N-400 there are possible legal ramifications for not registering to the tune of up to a $250,000 fine and/or up to 5 years in jail. I have no idea if anyone has ever been prosecuted under those laws though.

http://www.sss.gov/must.htm