Hello

I have a question that I am sure has been posted many times, but I have not been able to find it. I apologize if it has been covered many times over. My brain has been somewhat linty lately, I blame work sucking away all my active brain cells. My husband I wondering about the bonuses to dual citizenship. He is English and I am the Yank. Does anybody have any advice for us as to the ins and outs, pros and cons, etc. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

#@!!* (formerly known as squidge)

Often discussed on the US Citizenship forum.

Being able to come and go as you please and for as long as you please would be my No 1.

Uh...which one of you is wanting to acquire dual citizenship?

You taking UK citizenship should not affect your US citizenship, though I can't think of a single good reason to do it. I've lived in the UK for six years and I've never given any thought to becoming a UK citizen. I don't even want to vote here; I don't care.

If your husband wants to vote, that's a good reason to take US citizenship...his UK citizenship would not be in jeopardy but if he was in a third country and got into trouble, the UK government would be less willing to help him; they're a bit childish that way. If he doesn't, then there's really no good reason to. He can live in the US as a PR quite happily for the rest of his life with no problems whatsoever; other people have done it.

What is Dual Citizenship (or Dual Nationality)?

Dual citizenship or dual nationality is simply being a citizen of two countries. The United States allows dual citizenship. For example, if you were born in Mexico you are a native-born Mexican. If you move to the United States and become a naturalized US citizen, you now have dual citizenship. Dual citizens can carry two passports and essentially live, work, and travel freely within their native and naturalized countries.

Some dual citizens also enjoy the privilege of voting in both countries, owning property in both countries, and having government health care in both countries.

Dual citizenship is becoming more common in our increasingly interconnected, global economy. Many countries are now seeing the advantages of dual citizenship and are liberalizing their citizenship laws (India, the Phillippines, and Mexico are recent examples). Dual citizenship has the advantages of broadening a country’s economic base by promoting trade and investment between the dual citizen’s two respective countries.

Some countries do not allow dual citizenship. For example, if you were born South Korea and become a US citizen, you will most likely lose your Korean citizenship if the Korean government finds out about it. But an increasing number of these countries that prohibit dual citizenship are not enforcing their laws regarding dual citizenship. So, you may informally have dual citizenship if your native country does not take away your citizenship after you become a US citizen.

Read Entire Article Here

Sigh, here we go again. As Boiler pointed out, being able to come and go as you please is a benefit for either a UKC or a USC to take citizenship with the other country. Also voting in a country where you have made your life is important to some people, even if it's not to you. And actually, I don't know where you get your information about the UK government being 'childish' about representation of one of their own, it's actually only within the country with which the dual citizen has citizenship (in this case, the US) where the UK government is unable to assist you, and it is thus noted within a UK passport.

A guy down the street got naturalised after 15 years as a LPR, he had issues getting back in after a long trip to S America and he had heard of LPR's being deported for offences that would not have been a major problem for a USC.

He had not intended to, but just those 2 issues made it a no brainer for him.

There are many many more.

The only reason I can think of a UK person not becoming a US citizen is that US citizens are required to file tax returns not matter where they are in the world. So if you become a US citizen, and then decide to move back to the UK, you have two choices: continue to file taxes to the USA with the IRS even though you no longer live there, or give up your US citizenship formally to the US embassy.

The USA is the only developed nation that requires its citizens to file taxes even if they don't live in their home country, BTW.

Yeah, what Candace said is true. I have duel citizenship (US and Italy). The only time the US government would not help me out in a foreign country is in Italy. When I am in Italy and enter on my Italian passport the US government wouldn't help me out if I got in trouble. But really, that's only fair I think!!!

I was curious about this topic as well. I was thinking about having UK citizenship (I am the US citizen). I wondered how hard it would be to do this. It would be nice to travel freely throughout the EU. It kinda sucks when I have to stand in a massive long line and Neil can just walk past and flip open his passport and walk on by. We travel a lot so I think that would be the biggest benefit to me. How hard is it to obtain UK citizenship along with your US if your spouse is UK? Can you even do it if you're not living in the UK? I think we'll move back there eventually but not anytime soon.

Same deal as the US--you have to actually live in the UK for three years as a PR before you can apply for your UK citz.
Sucks to be us, I know (no way we're moving over there).

My husband is a US citizen but lived in the UK for years and had an Unlimited Leave to Remain stamp in his passport. This entitled him to work, claim benefits, all sorts.

He came back from a holiday and an immigration officer stamped his passport with a tourist stamp, which invalidated his Unlimited Leave to Remain stamp. He could no longer work or claim any benefits. It took him months of writing to the Home Office, assembling paperwork, getting relatives to write to the Home Office, and a stack of other headaches to get his Unlimited Leave to Remain stamp back.

He then applied for UK citizenship as soon as possible. It also helps if you're planning on leaving the country for extended periods then coming back again.

The reverse... I got a US green card, but then left the country for several years. I lost my green card and am now starting all over again applying for a new one. The moment I get the chance I am going to apply for US citizenship.

The only downside I can think of about citizenship is if it makes you eligible for the draft... this was an issue for my husband who also has Brazilian citizenship (so he is a triple-citizen now I guess?). He was eligible for the draft in Brazil and the US at the same time. He had to inform the US of changes of address until he stopped being eligible - can't remember what age.

too bad. I guess Neil will just always have to wait for me until I get through the massive line. poor us haha. I guess I'll have to wait til I get to the UK for a long time again. it was worth a try. thanks

Sigh indeed.

I can come and go as I please from the UK, and I'm not a citizen. My husband can come and go as he pleases from the US, and he's not a citizen. So...let's set that argument to one side because in our case it is irrelevant.

I'm not a citizen in this country because voting is not as important to me as my refusal to recite a loyalty oath to a woman whose only accomplishments were to be born to the correct set of parents, then to disgorge four completely useless human beings, one of whom will eventually take her place. No, no, and hell no, in that order. I don't care ENOUGH about voting to pledge a loyalty oath to the queen. Any queen.

I got my information about the UK government not helping dualies from my husband, who is the UK citizen in our relationship and claims to have heard this 'repeatedly' from 'many dualies'. You could argue with him if you like; it's one of his reasons for not wanting to take US citizenship.

Thank you everybody. I appreciate all the feedback. I am sorry I did not reply sooner, we were beset by numerous doctor's appointments, sigh.

The Queen vs GW, Pelosi, Dingy Harry etc.

Tough choice.....not.

It has been said that is you are a USC they the UK Gov will not help you out in the US, to me that is not a big enough deal.

On balance the only thing that would stop me is if I could not be dual, I had to give up my UKC.

This was not my original intent, but if you go through all the factors, for me its a no brainer.

But everybody is entitled to their own choice on the matter.

It's very relevant. Neither of you can come and go as you please; you're always at risk of being denied entry to your spouse's country.

There is another reason that I haven't seen mentioned so far. I have heard (haven't managed to confirm it, and haven't experienced it personally) that non-US Citizens are not entitled to inheritance tax relief. Therefore, if you are, for example, a UK Citizen (and green card holder) married to a US Citizen, living in the USA, and the US Citizen spouse died, then the UK Citizen would pay tax on the full inheritance amount. Whereas, US Citizens only pay tax over a certain (very large) amount. I don't recall what the threshold is.

This would be a good enough reason for me to take dual citizenship.

Anyone else heard about this?

G

It appears to be a very emotive subject for some....whilst i appreciate homesick american may have some "issues" with the system in the UK - and i am not sure why but when i read her posts i get the feeling there is someone who really does not like living in the UK - the best way to get advice on this i suspect is to contact the relevant official departments. Personally - and i am biased - i am a patriot i would prefer to retain my UK citizenship but will consider US citizenship when the time comes - as for swearing oath to the queen homesick american - we live in a democracy you are at liberty to choose - i dont imagine anyone else will care whatever your decision but yourself!

Yep, it's been discussed here. But note that an estate usually won't pay estate taxes if its value is less than a million dollars, regardless of who is inheriting the estate. If it's transferred between US Citizen spouses, there's no limit to the value of the estate that may be transferred tax free. In addition to the estate tax issue that only arises upon death, there's another issue. While both spouses are alive, there's a limit to how large a gift a US Citizen can make to a non-citizen spouse without paying gift tax. A few articles Google dragged up...


http://www.fpanet.org/global/planners/esta...nning_Jan02.cfm

http://www.advisortoday.com/archives/2001_...feigenbaum.html

http://www.pmstax.com/estate/nraliens.html

http://www.hg.org/articles/article_1031.html

LOL...sure, there's always a risk but it's so miniscule as to be ridiculous. I'm not going to take UK citizenship to mitigate such a tiny risk; I feel it's stupid and a waste of time. And being denied entry to the UK would not exactly break my heart anyway.

Truffles, loyalty oaths to the Queen have been required as part of the naturalization process in the UK for several years now.

I do realize that I have a choice whether or not to become a citizen of the UK, and despite having been eligible to apply for citizenship since 2004, I have elected not to. I think that pretty much speaks for itself.

You would also be correct that I do not like living in the UK...I wouldn't call myself 'homesick' if I loved it here. We've been planning this move for three years now and I am ready to leave the UK today. This minute. This second.

Homesick American - Thank you for the clarification on your feelings in regard your current host country - as you have declared openly that you have such feeling - any further opinionated " barbs" you throw out regarding the UK can now be disregarded as having any value to anyone except yourself. Seems you use this forum to slide into your posts your clear and distinct dislike for my country - ggod luck with your move - i too hope it is soon - like they say in your country " dont let the door hit your ### on the way out". I intend to embrace the differences between my home country and USA - to accept the way things are done there may differ from the way i am used to - that way i have more chance of getting the best out of the experience.

Yeah, that was how I felt at first myself. It took a while for me to grow to dislike the UK. It's easy to act high and mighty when you haven't been through the immigrant experience yourself.

But hey, good luck. You'll need it.

I have no idea what little ole england did to offend you so badly but i hold firm to the adage " people can only get to me if i let them" i have no high and mighty views - i have resided in germany/holland for 3 years and spain/gibraltar for approx 3 years so when it comes to living in different cultures and socialising accepting differences i think i may actually have an idea what i am talking about dont you think? perhaps ? maybe?........i decided i had 2 choices in each of these countries - i could be negative resentful and whinge or i could view it as an chance to learn new things including the language and come away better for it ! and suprise suprise I DID! I thank you for your good wishes but i think i will be just fine in the good ole US of A !

Tell me, truffles...do you get lonely up there on your pedestal?

You have never been an American residing in Europe during the Bush administration. You do not and will never understand the crap I've had to put up with, and sounds to me like you don't even want to try; that's very tolerant of you. Sure, the British aren't well-liked in Europe but you guys have it easy compared to us. Also, you'll have it easier in the USA than I did here, probably because Americans aren't nearly as xenophobic.

Have a nice life.

No pedestal here - no room or time for self pity - so am i right to interpret what your real beef is that as an American in England you feel you have to answer for your government decisions and behaviour?
Are you saying every single British person you meet gives you a hard time for being American? I dont think that is so......are you tarring everyone with the same brush?
If you dislike the Bush adminstration so much i am puzzled to the eagerness to return to it?

If you recall my response was intially triggered by your constant denegration of UK, i see it in nearly everyone of your posts irrespective of the topic in question so i would ask you to reconsider who thinks she is sitting on a pedestal?


I have been fortunate to travel extensively France Germany Holland Malta Gibraltar Spain and a few others - noone has seriously held me responsible for the actions of the British Government - yes - sometimes someone will ask my view and we may debate the whys and wherefores but i am unaware that the British are unwelcome anywhere in Europe? They ask because they are interested and it gives both parties to get a view from the other side.

As for xenophobia- the British cannot afford to be that way with our european neighbours - we have traded with other, married each other, fought together long before the USA existed. We are famous for having digs at our european neighbours and they likewise do the same! Most people are more tolerant than you think.


As for not understanding the crap you have to deal with - well - I have a work colleague who is american - and we often discuss the american policies how he dislikes the Bush adminstration and he has with help from the natives learnt that when we discuss the differences we are not holding him soley and individually responsible for his countrymen maybe we are just interested in getting his view?- he is actually very happy here!

Why take up British USC? Well I'm not totally sure, but doesn't that cause an issue with being a USC? I thought it did on some level.

Anyways, why take it up if you could? Simple, the freedom as mentioned to work anywhere in the EU. To me pledging to the president I just had to pledge to for my USC is no different then pledging to the queen. So what, no biggie...

In theory it could, in practice it almost certainly would not jeopardize anyone's US citizenship. I've never heard of anyone losing their citizenship because they were naturalized as a British citizen. I just don't want to do it.

My refusal to swear an oath to a monarch is simple, and there are two basic reasons for it.

A.) Regular, everyday UK citizens are not required to do so
B.) I'll be dead in the cold ground before I pledge an oath to someone whose major accomplishment in life was emerging from the correct vagina

It has nothing to do with Queen Elizabeth II or the British royal family specifically...that goes for all monarchs. If you're OK with pledging your loyalty to the US and its leaders, great. Take the oath. I'm not comfortable with pledging loyalty to a queen, so I decided not to take UK citizenship. It's my right not to. I'm OK with people living the rest of their lives in the US without taking citizenship if that's what they want to do; there's no rule that says they have to. Doesn't make me think less of them as people.

Well scoot Ms Truffles over and make room for me then. I've been an American residing in Europe during the Bush administration. My parents have been Americans residing in Europe druing the Bush administration. While I'll never know what crap exactly you've had to put up with, I wouldn't use that as your excuse for hating the UK. Maybe it's personal?

I think the point is it's not a requirement to get dual citizenship if you live in another country. I know many people that refuse to get American citizenship because they would rather just stay on the green card. They don't want to swear allegiance to the president or the flag or bear arms for the country etc.

As stated, it's just a matter of personal choice. Some people do and some people don't.

I'm dual and I kind of like it, and if I ever get to be triple citizenship, then I'll welcome that on as well. That of course is my choice...

*shrug* Maybe it doesn't bother you. It bothers me a lot, and I'm not even a Republican.

Please don't tell me that my reasons for leaving the UK aren't justified. I don't really care if you think they are or not, but it's highly presumptuous of you to say something like that.



Yep. That's the point.

Homesick American, I am very sorry that you are homesick and that you have had such a bad experience of living in the UK. You sound almost as if you hate the UK as much as my husband did for the 3 years he lived there. He too never had a good word to say about the way the country was run, the royal family, the people, his life SUCKED and it was the UK's fault.

Anyway being the dutiful wife I agreed to come to the US, and have adjusted pretty well (if I don't think about the idiots on the roads too much).

Now my husband is back in his beloved country that he missed soooooo much, he actually misses the UK.....go figure.

I am not trying to sound condescending in any way, but try to see the experience as just that, I am sure you have had some good times there, and also some bad. Use the experience as an experience!!

I wish you well and hope that when you get back to the US that it is STILL (after 6 yrs away) everything you are dreaming it will be.

Do you know when you are leaving the UK?

Eh...no, I'm not like that.



It sounds like your husband's problem is your husband...not his location on planet Earth. No offense.



Eh...you may not be trying to, but this is coming across as rather condescending. I've had this conversation many times with many people. It's to the point where I can't even type the letters U and K on this board without people crawling out of the woodwork to jump all over my a$$. I'm getting pretty tired of it. I'm entitled to my opinions, and I actually do not type 90% of what I'd like to.



Yeah, that wasn't condescending at all.

Thats the last time I try to be nice to you!! The post was meant with sincerity....obviously something you cant or wont pick up on....maybe cos i'm british so I obviously have nothing nice to say about you cos your american!

I'd love to hear the 90% you'd like to but dont.....cos damn you never know you may just slip something nice about somebody in there.

If that's you being nice I'd hate to see you being rude. I might have to put on kevlar!

I don't like it when people try to talk to me like I'm an idiot. I almost always take offense in those cases, and that's what I felt you did.

Have a nice life.

I don't like it when people try to talk to me like I'm an idiot.

[/quote]


If the cap fits!!!!

With your arrogant ways its people like you that give americans a bad name internationally.....

Oh good lord, not this chit again!


I have lived in the UK during the Bush (and Bush sr and Reagan) years and really, I know sometimes it sucks to be an American Abroad when people go off on their diatribes, but life is that not that difficult unless you choose for it to be.


Anyways, I'm not sure where this bad information is coming from about the UK not helping dual citizens when in a third country. Like much of what HA describes regarding life in the UK, I suspect this is highly exaggerated for comic effect. I was a victim of a violent mugging in Italy - I was knocked over and dragged by a motorcycle so that thieves could have my bag with 30 euro and my UK and US passports - and I can not say enough about how wonderful the British Consulate staff were in helping me, someone who spoke with an American accent, retrieve information I needed to prove my citizenship and process an emergency passport. They even had a member of staff liaise with the police to assist in filing report - in addition to following up later to confirm they had not found the perpetrators. (they didn't, but I blame the Napoli Polizia not the British Consulate).

I also dealt with the British Embassy in Hong Kong (and my HK visa was on my US passport) with a lot more minor issue when I lived there. They were always great.

So, not something to worry about if you want to go for dual status.

Sorry, I realize that my fiance isn't from the UK so this issue will never be mine (unless I consider German citizenship...but I don't even know yet if that's possible) but I'd just like to address the idea that pledging an oath to someone "whose only accomplishment is that she came out of the correct vagina" is technically incorrect. Since QEII's dad became king by default after the abdication of his brother, she didn't come out of the correct vagina....it was all by accident.

Come on guys. Why argue on this? We are supposed to be a community here and the last thing I like to do is close threads or worse over this type of thing. I know all of us here can find ways to make our points without resorting to personal attacks. It is also possible to make a counter point or voice an opinion without having to degrade the other person or group.

Thanks for the help.