UK/US citizenship

[Team Walsh 1]

I've read through some resources and I am still confused about retention of UK citizenship. My fiance and I have been discussing whether or not he should become naturalized when the time is right. He does not want to revoke UK citizenship. It appears that the UK will allow a person to retain their UK citizenship even if they become a citizen of another country. My question is...When you swear your oath of allegiance when becoming an American citizen do you renounce your UK-ness? Has anyone here from the UK become a US citizen and is still a UK citizen?

Thanks all!

[payxibka 10,044]

US does not require a renunciation

[bowflex 0]

I know for Canadiens who go for American citizenship renounce their Canadien citizenship through the American oath, but Canada actually doesn't recognize that oath so they end up keeping their Canada citizenship and gaining their American citizenship. Good luck!

[payxibka 10,044]

much better put

Based on the U.S. Department of State regulation on dual citizenship (7 FAM 1162), the Supreme Court of the United States has stated that dual citizenship is a “status long recognized in the law†and that “a person may have and exercise rights of nationality in two countries and be subject to the responsibilities of both. The mere fact he asserts the rights of one citizenship does not without more mean that he renounces the other,†(Kawakita v. U.S., 343 U.S. 717) (1952). In Schneider v. Rusk 377 U.S. 163 (1964), the US Supreme Court ruled that a naturalized US citizen has the right to return to their native country and resume their former citizenship and also remain a US citizen, even if they never return to the United States.

Edited May 16, 2008 by fwaguy

[YuAndDan 153]

You are talking about dual citizenship, this subject comes up very often on VJ, and the UK does recognize dual citizenship, and he wont be giving up UK citizenship when becoming a US citizen.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=112295

http://www.visajourney.com/search/index.ph...;sa=Search#1218

[Chocolot 0]

I've read through some resources and I am still confused about retention of UK citizenship. My fiance and I have been discussing whether or not he should become naturalized when the time is right. He does not want to revoke UK citizenship. It appears that the UK will allow a person to retain their UK citizenship even if they become a citizen of another country. My question is...When you swear your oath of allegiance when becoming an American citizen do you renounce your UK-ness? Has anyone here from the UK become a US citizen and is still a UK citizen?

Thanks all!

Hi Although you pledge allegiance to the US, your country of birth still recognises you as 'its' citizen, it means that you enter and leave the US on your US passport, however you enter and leave GB on the GB one.

hope that helps, I cant find the URL right now

[motu 5]

There are also some very interesting laws in some of the other countries - my Iranian born friend who became a US citizen - his US citizenship is not recognized by Iran - he has to carry his Iranian passport and be subject to all their rules including military service! The basis is - even though you may renounce all other citizenships when taking the US oath - the other countries do not recognize that as applying to your citizenship of your native country.

[richie894 0]

It depends on the country. Some countries require you renounce your citizenship when you become "American". In the case of the UK, they don't. Once you are a British citizen you are always one. You will not loose it unless you go into an embassay and fill in some paperwork to remove the citizenship.

[Team Walsh 1]

Thanks so much everyone!! As always....a wealth of kindness and knowledge here!