According to what I know Mary can still retain her Canadian Citizenship. My friends family are all Duals (from what they told me)... and our ex-attorney told us the same thing.

Now I know there has to be some difficulties and she doesn't think it will be so easy.

How does it really work? What privileges does she loose?

She cannot lose Canadian citizenship unless she renounces it to the Canadian government.

It really is that easy, no privileges are lost

More info: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizenship/retain.asp

Plain and simple. When I took the oath and became a USC last winter, I became "dual". In Canada's eyes I'm a Canadian citizen, to the US I'm an American citizen. That's all.

I still get 2 passports from each country (though I will probably stop applying every 5 years for the Canadian one). You don't lose any privilage that you don't already have living in the US already. If you move back to Canada you then upon I think a short time will get your health care back and everything as if you never have left.

Some countries have problems with it like India and Peru where you can't be both, but Canada doesn't care. The only thing to decide is if you want to bring both passports with you on your visit to Canada (showing the Canadian one to customs there and then the US one to US customs on the way home) or just bringing in your US passport. That's the only delima there is. Myself I'll just take my US one and leave the Canadian one in the safty box in the US...

Is that legal?

Oh yes!!! I would prefer to travel on a Cdn passport!!

Jon, is there anything in particular that makes you think there would be difficulties with Mary retaining Canadian citizenship?

I was thinking more or less health care stuff (in case we need health care in Canada). And really she just had worries, I was just double checking

That's a residency issue (not linked to citizenship as PRs get provincial healthcare). She's unable to receive provincial healthcare if she is not resident in that province. However, if/when she comes back to live in Canada, she's eligible for that.

Like Misa Said,lol! Just because ur a Cdn Citizen doesn't mean ur entitled to Cdn health care! Once ur a non-resident of Canada, no more Cdn health care.

I know its based on residency - but she lives with her parents now. So I was thinking we might have a little time where shes still a "resident"

Which brings me to another question. US Passport says her married name (or it will), but the CA Passport would have her maiden name. Do we have to update her CA Passport right away? The different names is what I thought would raise eyebrows with traveling.

just bring along the marriage certificate when traveling....

and I am not sure how living with the parents would make any difference with residency.... if you are no longer living in Canada you no longer can access Canadian benefits...

Just a reminder when it comes to timelines: for her to attain a US passport she will have to have US citizenship. According to your timeline, you are applying for a K-1 fiancee visa. From approval, then it's Adjustment of Status after you marry, which will result in a conditional immigrant visa CR-1, valid for 2 years. After that you will apply for Removal of Conditions (give or take 1 year process they tell me); and after that (in spouses cases is 3 years me thinksss) she can apply for Naturalization/Citizenship. Just take that into account; the citizenship issue is still a loooong way ahead.

Good luck with your application!!!!

Good note about the marriage cert. I suppose it would be best if we updated her CA Passport to match her GreenCard.



Yep - I forgot how long that takes, I got a little ahead of myself. Becoming a citizen is very important to her. She wants to be able to vote and participate in the country that is her new home.

That's fantastic! I just said what I said because 1.- I'm insane, and 2.- I tend to loose sight of the task at hand quite easily and think everyone is as daaaaaaah as I am

actually with AOS you will not get a CR1 visa you will get a conditional green card and become a permanent resident .....

if you have been married for less then 2 years you will get a conditional green card but if you have been married for over 2 years you will get a 10 year green card....

then after 2 years you have to remove the conditions if you got the conditional green card...

the 3 years to become a citizen starts from the date you become a permanent resident, conditional or not...

you are so right it's upsetting I WANT TO BE SMAAAAAAAARTERRRRRR.
luvyah, L

If you are a Canadian citizen, you are required to declare yourself as a Canadian citizen when you enter the country. That means presenting your Canadian passport at the border entry, not your US passport. Same goes for US, if you are an American citizen, you are required to declare yourself as an American when entering the country, and show your US passport. Which means of course, if you are traveling between the 2, you must carry both.

There are pros and cons to dual citzenships, know what they are before you make a final decision.

Actually if you are duel you can claim either citizenship. There is no stipulation you "must" present the Canadian passport upon arrival to Canada unless you are living in Canada as a duel citizen. Many people do bring both, but many do not. In fact many dual citizens no longer apply or have Canadian passports anymore.

For me Canada may view myself as a Canadian citizen. I consider myself as an American and so does the US. So I will present myself as a US citizen. The only difference is yes theoretically I could be denied like any other person and I would not have any legal basis to enter the country as if I would if I presented myself as Canadian, but that is about it. I however am not worried about being denied entry into Canada at all...