Dual Citizenship

[Juneusacanfly 0]

Hello Visa Journey!

I have a question regarding acquiring a dual citizenship. I'm a newly naturalized US citizen last December and i'm planning to apply for dual Filipino citi. My question is do I need to wait specific time before I apply? I am planning to apply this week or do I need to wait?

[Noel194 53]

The USA does not recognize dual citizenship so there is no waiting period.

[airwolf 0]

you can apply now, there is no specific time to apply as long as you have your naturalization certificate.At the PH embassy they will just gave you certificate and they will put CANCELLED in your Philippine passport, with annotation of DUAL CITIZENSHIP.it is only one day, they process your application in the morning and the oath in the afternoon.

[newacct 688]

The U.S. completely doesn't care about this. Don't know the specific requirements from the perspective of the Philippines though. You might ask in the Philippines forum. I remember seeing people talk about the dual citizenship thing in there.

[NickD 203]

From http://travel.state.gov/law/citizenship/citizenship_778.html

"Dual Nationality Dual Nationality means that a person is a citizen of two countries. A person who is a dual national owes allegiance to both countries. Dual nationality can occur as the result of a variety of circumstances. The automatic acquisition or retention of a foreign nationality, acquired, for example, by birth in a foreign country or through an alien parent, does not affect U.S. citizenship. U.S. law does not require a person to choose one citizenship over the other. It is prudent, however, to check with authorities of the other country to see if dual nationality is permissible under local law. Dual nationality can also occur when a person is naturalized in a foreign state without intending to relinquish U.S. nationality and is thereafter found not to have lost U.S. citizenship: the individual consequently may possess dual nationality. The U.S. Government does not encourage dual nationality. While recognizing the existence of dual nationality and permitting Americans to have other nationalities, the U.S. Government also recognizes the problems which it may cause. Claims of other countries upon dual-national U.S. citizens often place them in situations where their obligations to one country are in conflict with the laws of the other. In addition, their dual nationality may hamper efforts to provide U.S. diplomatic and consular protection to them when they are abroad, especially when they are in the country of their second nationality."

If you were born in the Philippines, already a citizen of that country, with my wife, born in Colombia, she has no choice but to remain a Colombian citizen if she wants to ever see her family again. This was done by an agreement between our Department of State and the Colombian government. We have no say in this matter. To do that, she had to renew her Colombian citizenship. But that was because and only because, she was born there. If she was not born there and wanted to become a citizen of that country, she would have major problems and so would you if not born in the country you are choosing to apply citizenship for. Have to watch your wording on this subject.

From that same website:

"Potentially Expatriating Acts Section 349 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1481), as amended, states that U.S. citizens are subject to loss of citizenship if they perform certain specified acts voluntarily and with the intention to relinquish U.S. citizenship. Briefly stated, these acts include:

1. obtaining naturalization in a foreign state upon one's own application after the age of 18 (Sec. 349 (a) (1) INA);
2. taking an oath, affirmation or other formal declaration of allegiance to a foreign state or its political subdivisions after the age of 18 (Sec. 349 (a) (2) INA);
3. entering or serving in the armed forces of a foreign state engaged in hostilities against the U.S. or serving as a commissioned or non-commissioned officer in the armed forces of a foreign state (Sec. 349 (a) (3) INA);
4. accepting employment with a foreign government after the age of 18 if (a) one has the nationality of that foreign state or (b) an oath or declaration of allegiance is required in accepting the position (Sec. 349 (a) (4) INA);
5. formally renouncing U.S. citizenship before a U.S. diplomatic or consular officer outside the United States (sec. 349 (a) (5) INA);
6. formally renouncing U.S. citizenship within the U.S. (The Department of Homeland Security is responsible for implementing this section of the law) (Sec. 349 (a) (6) INA);
7. conviction for an act of treason (Sec. 349 (a) (7) INA)."

[Juneusacanfly 0]

Yes I was born Filipino citizen.If that is the case, obtaining my former citizenship is not a problem. My kids , my grand children, my parent and my whole family still living in The Philippines. The only thing that my problem if i do not have my dual citizenship I may no longer own a property in the Philippines which is I have to transfer all my properties to my children. another thing is: My husband wants to retire in the Philippines.

[FlyingLonghorn 12]

Yes I was born Filipino citizen.If that is the case, obtaining my former citizenship is not a problem. My kids , my grand children, my parent and my whole family still living in The Philippines. The only thing that my problem if i do not have my dual citizenship I may no longer own a property in the Philippines which is I have to transfer all my properties to my children. another thing is: My husband wants to retire in the Philippines.

The US allows dual citizenship (it allows octo-citizenship frankly) but as others have mentioned it is normally the lawful way one must enter the US to use an American passport. Everything else is up to the other country and their rules. Some older residents in the P.I. have claims to be US Nationals even, from back in the US colonial days. You will be fine.

[Juneusacanfly 0]

The US allows dual citizenship (it allows octo-citizenship frankly) but as others have mentioned it is normally the lawful way one must enter the US to use an American passport. Everything else is up to the other country and their rules. Some older residents in the P.I. have claims to be US Nationals even, from back in the US colonial days. You will be fine.

Thanks

~JN~

[Juneusacanfly 0]

The USA does not recognize dual citizenship so there is no waiting period.

Thank you

~JN~

[NickD 203]

Same problem my wife has in Venezuela, can't own her property unless she maintains her citizenship. If we sold it, can't bring the money out of Venezuela. It would just be lost that she worked hard for, for 25 years to pay it off. If we sold it and left the money in their banks, would disappear with the likes of Chavez. If we purchased items down there and tried to bring them back, their inflation is so crazy, would be lucky to get 20% of it back. So just waiting and hoping things change in that country.

But we both would like to severe ties with that country, but have our hands tied. We are looking forward to changes with this upcoming election, but don't have much hope. People down there think Chavez's administration are saints because they have state owned stores that sell powered milk and dried up beans at more reasonable prices. And seem to have no knowledge of the billions of dollars he has sent to anti-American countries to gain their support.

[pjjf 0]

Hi,

My wife just received her USC in San Diego 3/20/13, on the same day, right after the ceremony, we drove up to the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles where she re-acquired her Philippine citizenship and also applied for a new PI passport..since the old one (which was still current) was effectively canceled the moment she took the USC Oath.

So, in one day she gained US Citizenship, lost her Philippine citizenship, and 5 hours later re-gained her Philippine citizenship...was a busy day ! Of course we stopped at Gerry's Grill outside LA in Artesia on the way home

Check out the Philippine Consulate or Embassy website for Dual Citizenship information. Cost $50 for re-acquiring citizenship.

Good Luck !

[NickD 203]

Philippines sounds like an honest country, could have been a US state if they voted differently back in 1947. Colombia wouldn't even let my wife enter that country because she was born there unless she renewed her Colombian citizenship. Cost us $1,500.00, but would have been another $500.00 under the table if we wanted instant service.

US corporations love the Philippines, can get labor and they have to work their cans off for five bucks a day. In particular in the semi-conductor field with no EPA to deal with in that country. Most of Silicon Valley moved there, but getting a much better deal in China. With China, can get hard working people working 16 hours per day for a buck.

Told my congressman, I will be happy to work here 16 hours per day for a buck, just drop my property taxes to around five bucks per year. Didn't get a reply from him.

[EricN 0]

Who physically canceled the original PI passport and when? My wife is soon to be in the exact same situation you described below. Just wondering why you had to get the new passport.

Thanks,

EN

Hi,

My wife just received her USC in San Diego 3/20/13, on the same day, right after the ceremony, we drove up to the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles where she re-acquired her Philippine citizenship and also applied for a new PI passport..since the old one (which was still current) was effectively canceled the moment she took the USC Oath.

So, in one day she gained US Citizenship, lost her Philippine citizenship, and 5 hours later re-gained her Philippine citizenship...was a busy day ! Of course we stopped at Gerry's Grill outside LA in Artesia on the way home

Check out the Philippine Consulate or Embassy website for Dual Citizenship information. Cost $50 for re-acquiring citizenship.

Good Luck !

[pjjf 0]

Who physically canceled the original PI passport and when? My wife is soon to be in the exact same situation you described below. Just wondering why you had to get the new passport.

Thanks,

EN

Hi,

By my wife taking the USC oath there is a section of the oath where new US citizens give up citizenship to other countries (see phrase below). Technically and officially by taking the oath this gives up your citizenship to the PI and as such your PI passport becomes invalid / cancelled as you are no longer a citizen of PI. This begs the question of "how would the PI govt. ever know?" which I researched but could not find any evidence of info sharing between the 2 govts...maybe / maybe not, I don't know...certainly possible. I guess my wife could have tried to fly to the PI and use her older (but still current) PI passport to see what happens but we didn't want to chance it.

According to the PI govt information the loss of PI citizenship [does] occur when PI citizens take the USC oath. As such they have provided the option for former PI citizens to re-acquire PI citizenship pretty easily and cheaply ($50). A new passport would be needed also once the re-acquire is approved (not as cheap as the re-acqire process)...my wife was able to complete both steps in one afternoon..we went prepared with the needed documents, photocopies to spare time as we got to the LA consulate early afternoon. The PI consulate & embassy websites have all the necessary information, steps, costs and documents needed.

USC oath snippet "I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, ......."

Good luck !

[newacct 688]

By my wife taking the USC oath there is a section of the oath where new US citizens give up citizenship to other countries (see phrase below).

Not true. It says renounce "allegiance and fidelity". I don't know of any country that has taken that as a renunciation of citizenship.

Technically and officially by taking the oath this gives up your citizenship to the PI and as such your PI passport becomes invalid / cancelled as you are no longer a citizen of PI.

This is due to Philippine law, which says you lose your Philippine citizenship if you apply for and get another citizenship.