Dual Citizenship with Canada and the USA?

[carocaro 22]

I'm a dual :-)

I applied for Naturalization and became dual at 3 year mark due to marriage to US Citizen. My son, who is over 18, is applying this year after 5 years.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

I'm dual and so is my daughter. I applied under the 3 yr rule since I had married a US citizen, she applied under the 5 yr rule since she was 19 when I obtained mine and couldn't piggyback on me.

No issues, no problems

[Ms Hogan 295]

It's one of the more minor issues with the visa.

I just wanted to clarify the 3 year rule for anyone else looking to apply for citizenship!

Is his card back-dated to the date of his entry or is dated at a point after you got married and filed for it? Just curious.

[Ms Hogan 295]

You all have made my day! There was no way I would ever give up my Canadian citizenship, I love Canada far too much, so I thought I would just be a permanent resident for as long as I lived in the USA, now I know I can do both. Thanks!

Yes, but America won't consider you a Canadian citizen that's the kicker. You have to say you renounce all others at your oath ceremony so to America you're just American. But Canada doesn't ask you to renounce anything. You can have both. It's actually hard to STOP being a Canadian, just ask Ted Cruz!

[Boiler 43,393]

Is his card back-dated to the date of his entry or is dated at a point after you got married and filed for it? Just curious.

Neither, when you are approved.

[fellaamazing 72]

The last time I read, Canada doesn't prohibit dual citizenships.

As far as US is concerned, you can keep as many citizenships you had before becoming a US citizen. But if you apply for citizenship of any other country after US, you would have to give up your US citizenship.

Good thing about Canada as well, that you don't have to maintain residency, or pay income taxes if you don't live there. Not the case with US residency.

[warlord 72]

Canada is actually one of the few countries that makes it hard to actually give up citizenship. So that's why I just said screw it, I'll just keep both and remain an American-Canadian.

And yes, the US won't recognize any other citizenship, but that doesn't mean anything to the other country that you have citizenship from. So Canada will always regardless of how many citizenships you have, will always call you Canadian...

[fellaamazing 72]

Canada is actually one of the few countries that makes it hard to actually give up citizenship. So that's why I just said screw it, I'll just keep both and remain an American-Canadian.

And yes, the US won't recognize any other citizenship, but that doesn't mean anything to the other country that you have citizenship from. So Canada will always regardless of how many citizenships you have, will always call you Canadian...

I was born in Pakistan. Naturalized to become Canadian. And now I am waiting for my GC.

I attempted to give up my Pakistan citizenship, for many good reasons. But turn out that their process is not documented at all. If you don't handle it carefully, such as saying, "I don't like your country's policies or religion" etc, they will make sure your application will disappear in thin air without any further processing.

In US, even though I am living here legally, and will eventually become a citizen, but I am always treated as a "foreigner" or "alien" (code word for terrorist) in any social setting.

As soon as I joined this forum, I was welcomed and treated like Canadian.

So there is no way, I would ever give up my Canadian citizenship where I am treated fairly and equally regardless of different culture upbringing.

[Boiler 43,393]

I know I will never acquire an American accent so will always be an Alien from that perspective.

[fellaamazing 72]

I know I will never acquire an American accent so will always be an Alien from that perspective.

lol.. You might.. Just don't call bathroom "washroom", they will laugh.

[Boiler 43,393]

The rooms with no baths?

[kc247 22]

The last time I read, Canada doesn't prohibit dual citizenships.

As far as US is concerned, you can keep as many citizenships you had before becoming a US citizen. But if you apply for citizenship of any other country after US, you would have to give up your US citizenship.

Good thing about Canada as well, that you don't have to maintain residency, or pay income taxes if you don't live there. Not the case with US residency.

That doesn't sound correct to me? I am quite sure a US citizen can move to Canada and eventually get Canadian citizen without renouncing their US citizenship...

[NikLR 13,220]

(a) A person who is a national of the United States whether by birth or naturalization, shall lose his nationality by voluntarily performing any of the following acts with the intention of relinquishing United States nationality—

(1) obtaining naturalization in a foreign state upon his own application or upon an application filed by a duly authorized agent, after having attained the age of eighteen years; or

(2) taking an oath or making an affirmation or other formal declaration of allegiance to a foreign state or a political subdivision thereof, after having attained the age of eighteen years; or

(3) entering, or serving in, the armed forces of a foreign state if

(A) such armed forces are engaged in hostilities against the United States, or

(B) such persons serve as a commissioned or non-commissioned officer; or

(4)

(A) accepting, serving in, or performing the duties of any office, post, or employment under the government of a foreign state or a political subdivision thereof, after attaining the age of eighteen years if he has or acquires the nationality of such foreign state; or

(B) accepting, serving in, or performing the duties of any office, post, or employment under the government of a foreign state or a political subdivision thereof, after attaining the age of eighteen years for which office, post, or employment an oath, affirmation, or declaration of allegiance is required; or

(5) making a formal renunciation of nationality before a diplomatic or consular officer of the United States in a foreign state, in such form as may be prescribed by the Secretary of State; or

(6) making in the United States a formal written renunciation of nationality in such form as may be prescribed by, and before such officer as may be designated by, the Attorney General, whenever the United States shall be in a state of war and the Attorney General shall approve such renunciation as not contrary to the interests of national defense; or

(7) committing any act of treason against, or attempting by force to overthrow, or bearing arms against, the United States, violating or conspiring to violate any of the provisions of section 2383 of title 18, or willfully performing any act in violation of section 2385 of title 18, or violating section 2384 of title 18 by engaging in a conspiracy to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, if and when he is convicted thereof by a court martial or by a court of competent jurisdiction.

(b) Whenever the loss of United States nationality is put in issue in any action or proceeding commenced on or after September 26, 1961 under, or by virtue of, the provisions of this chapter or any other Act, the burden shall be upon the person or party claiming that such loss occurred, to establish such claim by a preponderance of the evidence. Any person who commits or performs, or who has committed or performed, any act of expatriation under the provisions of this chapter or any other Act shall be presumed to have done so voluntarily, but such presumption may be rebutted upon a showing, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the act or acts committed or performed were not done voluntarily.

Nope that's pretty much how it works.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/1481

Edited April 17, 2015 by NLR

[Boiler 43,393]

That doesn't sound correct to me? I am quite sure a US citizen can move to Canada and eventually get Canadian citizen without renouncing their US citizenship...

Correct, or anywhere else that allows it. UK for example.

[NikLR 13,220]

Basically a USC can become a dual citizen of another country if they're not yet 18 years old. After then, if they apply for citizenship or say an oath that makes a declaration of allegiance to another country, they can be considered no longer a USC. That doesn't mean that US government actually does anything about it, but they can. Likely because the person isn't actually intending to relinquish their US citizenship when they do it.

Edited April 18, 2015 by NLR