US + Swiss Citizenship

[acoban 0]

Hi everyone,

Thanks to this forum board, I was able to navigate the paperwork and sponsor my Swiss wife to immigrate to the USA. This was 6 years ago. As a US citizen married to a Swiss national, I am at this point in time eligible to apply for Swiss citizenship according to Swiss law:

This rule generally applies to foreign spouses married to a Swiss for at least three years and who have lived in Switzerland for a total of five years, including the year immediately prior to application. People “with close ties” to Switzerland may also apply for the fast-track procedure even if they live abroad. In that case, the couple must have been married for at least six years. The spouse must have had Swiss citizenship before getting married.

http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/becoming-a-citizen/29288376

I do not want to lose my US citizenship (I was born in the USA) and would like to maintain dual citizenship. Does US law allow this? What do I do, who do I contact? USCIS doesn't pick up a phone call!

Thanks!

Drew

[millefleur 5,052]

US law definitely allows dual citizenship. It seems Switzerland also allows it. So, what's the problem? Seems like you're good to go if you have both.

VJer Penguin_ie is from Switzerland. She can probably help answer your questions.

[Penguin_ie 6,000]

Hi there,

yes, it sounds as if you are elligible, if you and your wife have ties to Switzerland. What exactly that is is not specified, but from friends who have done it (my own USC husband is not interested), it is stuff like visiting often, still having Swiss bank accounts, owning property there etc.

[acoban 0]

Thank you!

The problem is I think I heard or read somewhere that if a natural born US citizen applies for dual, he/she can risk losing his US citizenship. Am I wrong here?

Thanks again!

[millefleur 5,052]

Thank you!

The problem is I think I heard or read somewhere that if a natural born US citizen applies for dual, he/she can risk losing his US citizenship. Am I wrong here?

Thanks again!

I think that's wrong. I've known Americans who later obtained second citizenship and everything was fine.

As long as you're not planning to renounce your citizenship or it's not for some kind of dubious/illegal reason, seems like everything is fine. Here's what the State Dept site says:

A U.S. national may acquire foreign nationality by marriage, or a person naturalized as a U.S. national may not lose the nationality of the country of birth. U.S. law does not mention dual nationality or require a person to choose one nationality or another. Also, a person who is automatically granted another nationality does not risk losing U.S. nationality. However, a person who acquires a foreign nationality by applying for it may lose U.S. nationality. In order to lose U.S. nationality, the law requires that the person must apply for the foreign nationality voluntarily, by free choice, and with the intention to give up U.S. nationality.

The problem usually arises if a person takes a second citizenship of a country which does not recognize dual citizenship. If both countries recognize dual citizenship, then you're free to keep both without any problems.

Edited October 20, 2016 by millefleur

[Stevephoto 230]

I think that's wrong. I've known Americans who later obtained second citizenship and everything was fine.

As long as you're not planning to renounce your citizenship or it's not for some kind of dubious/illegal reason, seems like everything is fine. Here's what the State Dept site says:

Thank you.....good to know!