Dual Citizenship question?

[cmoore25 4]

How long does a child (born in the US) of a UK born citizen have to file for dual citizenship? Does it need to be immediate? Or can they do it when they are adults?

The reason I ask is - my father, grandmother etc are all UK born citizens. Eventually Allan and I would like to move back to the UK (4-5 years). I was thinking it might make it easier to move back if I applied for dual citizenship. Also, I was thinking it might make travel for visits to/from the UK much easier for now too...

[Helen Louise Pile 80]

How long does a child (born in the US) of a UK born citizen have to file for dual citizenship? Does it need to be immediate? Or can they do it when they are adults?

The reason I ask is - my father, grandmother etc are all UK born citizens. Eventually Allan and I would like to move back to the UK (4-5 years). I was thinking it might make it easier to move back if I applied for dual citizenship. Also, I was thinking it might make travel for visits to/from the UK much easier for now too...

I have thought about this too. I looked into it and here's what I found.

http://ukinusa.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/living-in-usa/birth-registration/

Helen

[cmoore25 4]

Thanks I have done a little digging, and it looks like it has to be done before the child is 18...but, still searching - there must be a loop hole or something!! Lol

[Boiler 45,663]

There is no time limit, there are still people who do do have a Passport, never needed one. I do not think my Grandparents got one until they were in their 50's.

But you seemed to also ask if you acquired British Citizenship as well.

[Helen Louise Pile 80]

Thanks I have done a little digging, and it looks like it has to be done before the child is 18...but, still searching - there must be a loop hole or something!! Lol

I think you're right. I knew a girl in Scotland who was born in the US and she was 18 trying to get dual citizenship to come and live in the UK and was having some difficulty. I didn't know her well and that is just anecdotal, I just remember it. I hope someone can answer your question!

Edited September 17, 2011 by Helen Louise Pile

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

If your father is British you are a born British citizen with no time limit on "acquiring" dual citizenship. You used to be able to acquire citizenship through a British grandfather, but I believe that is no longer the case.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

How long does a child (born in the US) of a UK born citizen have to file for dual citizenship? Does it need to be immediate? Or can they do it when they are adults?

The reason I ask is - my father, grandmother etc are all UK born citizens. Eventually Allan and I would like to move back to the UK (4-5 years). I was thinking it might make it easier to move back if I applied for dual citizenship. Also, I was thinking it might make travel for visits to/from the UK much easier for now too...

I can tell you with 100% certainty that at this time there is no deadline. There USED to be a deadline. Back when I was under 18 (10+ years ago) I had to get it before I turned 18. My little sister and brother have not got their passports yet (which is how you claim) and there isn't a problem with that even though they're both over 21. That's not the say the rules won't change though.

Out of interest you also don't "apply" to be a dual national, you either are or aren't. You are but you just need to get the documents to prove it.

[cmoore25 4]

Vanessa&Tony - Thanks!! Well, then I guess I will start looking into proving it, rather than applying for it, once all is said and done with the K1 process and things have settled down a bit!

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Vanessa&Tony - Thanks!! Well, then I guess I will start looking into proving it, rather than applying for it, once all is said and done with the K1 process and things have settled down a bit!

Here's info on who DOES need to register prior to applying for a passport: http://ukinusa.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/citizenship/registration-british-citizen1 so I COULD be wrong, your situation could be different to mine (born overseas to a UK father in 1983).

[Robert&Karen 264]

Had my Scottish father registered me when I was born, I'd have citizenship. I am over 18(WELL over) and I can still claim citizenship through him, yet my children would not be citizens.

[Alex & Rachel 78]

aorobert, as I understand it you DO have British citizenship (depending on how your father obtained his citizenship):

If you were born outside the United Kingdom before 1 January 1983

If you were born outside the United Kingdom before 1 January 1983, you became a British citizen if, immediately before that date, you were a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies and had the right of abode in the United Kingdom.

You may have had citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies by descent from a father who had that citizenship, or because you were registered or naturalised as a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies.

Source: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/britishcitizenship/othernationality/Britishcitizenship/bornoverseas/

Also, although my children will be British citizens automatically, as I understand it my grandchildren cannot, unless my child (their parents) decides to live in the UK for a period of at least three years:

A child will have an entitlement to be registered under section 3(2) of the British Nationality Act 1981 if:

they were born outside the United Kingdom; or

they were born after 21 May 2002 outside any of the British overseas territories; and

they were born to parents, one or both of whom are British citizens by descent; and

the parent who is British by descent was born to a parent (the child's grandparent) who was a British citizen otherwise than by descent (or would have been but for their death); and

the parent who is British by descent lived in the United Kingdom at any time before the child's birth for a continuous period of three years*; and

during the period they were living in the United Kingdom the parent was not absent for more than 270 days; and

the application is made before the child's 18th birthday.

Edited September 19, 2011 by Alex & Rachel

[Robert&Karen 264]

My father was born in Scotland, I was born in Canada. My job requires US citizenship however.