Naturalization - Thoughts as a Canadian?

[Justdazed 1]

I'm at the point in my life where I'd like to file sooner rather than later for Naturalization.

If it's like most websites say, "realively" benign, then I am all for it. My biggest fear however is losing my Canadian Citizenship (or ability to move back) and this would absolutely stop me from moving forward with the process. I'm thinking of maybe seeing an immigration lawyer but it would suck to pay so much money for them to regurgitate information I already know.

For those with duel citizenship how was this process? Did you go see a lawyer first?

Any other thoughts would be greatly appreciated

[Justdazed 1]

Shoot I couldn't find the edit button!

I just wanted to add that I understand losing my citizenship is pretty much unfounded. It's hard not to be a tad apprehensive when looking at everything involved with this.

[Pegworth 2]

You can have dual citizenship you don't give up your Canadian citizenship.You would have to give one up if you were to become a citizen in third country I believe. A good friend of mine and former roommate went through the whole process if you do go back to Canada you will still have to file taxes in the US. I don't think Canadians need to file taxes in Canada while residing here.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,235]

There are 250 countries in the world. In Saudi Arabia, they execute you if you exercise another citizenship, in China or Russia, they don't allow it. In Germany or Austria, you need permission from the Government, and in the U.K. and Canada, they send you flowers accompanied by a card saying "Congratulations!"

You are blessed with having Canadian citizenship, as Canada is total cool with you becoming a US citizen. Of all the possible disadvantages people from other countries try to come up with, none of those apply to Canadians. Yes, you can be called for jury duty, but I wouldn't even call that a burden. There is no way for you to lose your Canadian citizenship; it's just not possible, even if you joined the Taliban or Al Queda and bombed the sh*t out of Toronto.

Edited February 18, 2011 by Just Bob

[Flames9_RN 358]

You can have dual! In Canada's eyes your Cdn and a USA citizen. IN uncle sams eyes, your just an American citizen!

lawyer?? hell no, Naturalization was much much easier than what the CR-1 process was and had VJ. Whole forum on VJ for Naturalization.

[Inky 1,110]

Study for the test!

The forms are easy you don't need a lawyer to help you with any part of N-400. Check out the guide on VJ, thats all you need to get you going on the forms etc. USCIS has downloadable cue cards for studying and there are some online practice tests you can take.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Like Inky stated, download the cards and questions--they ask the 10 questions from the list, so there are no surprise!! As well one has to write out a sentence,lol Mine was "I drink too much coffee."

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=dd7ffe9dd4aa3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=dd7ffe9dd4aa3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.749cabd81f5ffc8fba713d10526e0aa0/?vgnextoid=5efcebb7d4ff8210VgnVCM10000025e6a00aRCRD&vgnextchannel=5efcebb7d4ff8210VgnVCM10000025e6a00aRCRD

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.749cabd81f5ffc8fba713d10526e0aa0/?vgnextoid=b51777f48e73a210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=4982df6bdd42a210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.749cabd81f5ffc8fba713d10526e0aa0/?vgnextoid=982a309186e89210VgnVCM10000025e6a00aRCRD&vgnextchannel=c242df6bdd42a210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD

OR Just google naturalization test and the link will come up!!

[Justdazed 1]

Thank you Inky, Flames, Just Bob and Peg for your comments. The thought of becoming duel is really amazing

[Flames9_RN 358]

When people ask me what citizenship I have--i just say Canadian,lol

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Had an interesting conversation with my team lead when I mentioned I was going for citizenship yesterday...she said it was too bad I had to give up my Cdn....and of course my response was 'uhm, nope - I'll be dual'. She had no clue that was allowed...she somehow thought I was trying to scam something until I explained that I could even possibly be triple had I had British citizenship as well...she was intregued.

If gaining my US citizenship meant giving up my Cdn, I wouldn't be doing it I'm allowed to love both.

[warlord 72]

Yes it's very hard to ever lose your Canadian citizenship. You actually would have to go through a process that requires paper work and a bunch of other things. From what I hear it's a pain in the #### if you really need to do it at some point (like say some high clearence government jobs that require you only to be a US citizen, even then most would also require you were born a US citizen too).

When I got my US citizenship, that's the country and the citizen I reconize myself from. The Canadian one (with my now expired passport) is just some default thing the Canadian government thinks of me as and that's it. I enter Canada as a US citizen, I travel the world as a US citizen and now all my friends and family here in the US don't laugh that I'm a Canadian, then now acknowlodge that I'm an American and don't make fun of me anymore (other then the fact they always have claimed I was the worst Canadian in history)...

[Brother Hesekiel 2,235]

Yes it's very hard to ever lose your Canadian citizenship. You actually would have to go through a process that requires paper work and a bunch of other things.

Actually, Warlord, tha'ts not "losing" citizenship. That's renouncing it. Losing requires an involuntary act. Most countries allow their citizens to renounce their citizenship, but that's not what the O.P. is concerned about. She could lose her US citizenship if she joined a terrorist organization and committed terrorist acts on the United States or becomes the Queen of another country, but she can't lose her Canadian citizenship, ever. There's just no way in hell.

On the subject of the security clearance I can contribute as well, as some fellow Germans had to deal with that issue when joining the US military. Oftentimes, totally surprising, MP showed up at the soldier's doorstep and escorted them to the German Consulate to renounce their German citizenship. What's not commonly known is that this is not required. Required is to refrain from excercising another citizenship than the US one, so the smart people surrendered their German passport to the German embassy and got a receipt to that effect. Once they are released from military duty, they go back and pick it up again.

[Flames9_RN 358]

We all know what warlord is talking about as this same topic comes up very often here in the Cdn forum! here is how you can renounce ur cdn citizenship http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizenship/renounce-how.asp

Quite simply--your not going to loose it by becoming a USA citizen!