Is dual US/UK citizenship possible?

I've got both US and UK citizenship. US form being born here, UK form my parents. My parents got naturalized US citzenship and retained their UK citzenship as well. The US has never questioned it at all, neither has Britain. Not sure if they have rules about it or not, but they sure don't seem to care one way or the other.

jb60606 said:

...I'm pretty sure that marrying me would instantly make her a US citizen.....

Click to expand...

it'll get her a visa to live in the USA but not make her a citizen

jb60606 said:

But she could then gain US citizenship after 3yrs, correct?

Click to expand...

yeah I think it's 3 years for spouses of US citizens. She still has to be of "good moral character"

As far as I know the US has no issues with dual citizenships, they just consider you a US citizen and ignore the UK part of it.

Macky-Mac said:

yeah I think it's 3 years for spouses of US citizens. She still has to be of "good moral character"

Click to expand...

I believe it's more like 5 years-that's what they told me, at least.

Here you go:
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis

You may want to visit the site yourself to get the details...

U.S. Policy
The current citizenship and immigration laws of the United States do not specifically address dual nationality. According to the State Department, “the U.S. Government recognizes that dual nationality exists but does not encourage it as a matter of policy because of the problems it may cause.”216

The State Department notes that problems may arise from
• claims of other countries on dual national U.S. citizens that may conflict with U.S. law;
• conflicts that arise from a dual national’s allegiance to both the United States and the foreign country;
• dual nationals are required to obey the laws of both countries, which may be in conflict; and
• each country having the right to enforce its laws, particularly when the dual national is in that country.
Further, U.S. Government efforts to assist its dual citizens abroad may be limited. In particular, the country where a dual national is located generally has a stronger claim to that person's allegiance.217

Click to expand...

I looked into dual U.S. (natural-born) and Canadian (naturalized) citizenship a while ago. Do some more poking around on the U.S. state department website. I eventually found some very helpful information (although I don't have links, unfortunately).

Basically, you lose your U.S. citizenship if you swear allegiance to another country with the intention of renouncing your U.S. citizenship. The state department has decided that obtaining foreign citizenship alone is not enough to show intent. Basically, you have to swear the oath, then show up at the U.S. embassy with your passport, turn it in, and sign a paper renouncing your citizenship. If you don't do that, you keep your U.S. citizenship. The recommendation was that, after obtaining your foreign citizenship, you call the embassy and tell them you have obtained foreign citizenship but still want to keep your U.S. citizenship, just to make sure everyone is clear on the subject.

Of course, this applies to friendly countries only. You lose your citizenship if you become a citizen of, say, Cuba (regardless of how we actually feel about that relationship).

Surely said:

I believe it's more like 5 years-that's what they told me, at least.

Click to expand...

for most people it's 5 years but for spouses it's 3

There isn't any British requirement to renounce your second nationality.

To be eligible for British citizenship, you need to have indefinite leave to remain in the UK, and have already lived in the UK for at least 5 years (3 years if you're married to a British national).

Personally I don't see the point in applying for British nationality, unless it makes your life easier by removing visa or work permit requirements.

stomer said:

Personally I don't see the point in applying for British nationality, unless it makes your life easier by removing visa or work permit requirements.

Click to expand...

Because as a British national you get automatic rights to live and work in any European country without the need of citizenship. You also get free healthcare in any European country as well. Sounds like a pretty damn good deal to me. I wouldn't mind being a citizen of the US but nothing would make me renounce my British passport you just get far too many benefits in Europe.

Cromulent said:

Because as a British national you get automatic rights to live and work in any European country without the need of citizenship...

Click to expand...

Err.. that's what I meant by 'makes your life easier'.

stomer said:

Err.. that's what I meant by 'makes your life easier'.

Click to expand...

Well that is the point. I'm not sure I see the reasoning behind the initial question in that case. I doubt anyone would get British citizenship "because they felt like it". The only other reasons I can think of are if they got a job over here or if they married a British person.

Cromulent said:

I doubt anyone would get British citizenship "because they felt like it".

Click to expand...

Are you saying that every naturalised British citizen, has become naturalised because of material gain? I'm sure that there are plenty of naturalised citizens who have become British because they feel that they share the same cultural views and the majority of the indigenous population, and/or want simply officialise their belonging to the United Kingdom.

Is it possible to get more than 2 citizenships? Currently I'm British only but since my family comes from Poland I'm eligible for citizenship there (needed to build property there, I believe). But I'm planning on moving to the US since I've been offered a few jobs. Chances are I'll be spending most of my future there but if I'm limited to 2 citizenships then I'll have to cancel my application for Polish citizenship.

Obviously, the answer to your first question is: yes. Be prepared to provide all kinds of information to get her green card. I think that unless you have kids you have to write a kind of story about where/how/when you met and you may have to supplement that with pictures. She may also have to undergo a number of health checks etc.

Also, a bit of advice. You two might consider applying for her green card in London. In the US it can take a few years. Overseas, it's much faster.

I'm a dual US/UK citizen (but I did it the other way round) AND I've been through the immigration process with my spouse (who's from neither country).

Your initial question has been answered. It is possible and you do not have to renounce your US citizenship.

I'm an american and I'm married to an Englishman and will be a dual citizen myself not too long from now. (for reasons pretty much spelled out in Cromulent's posts)

You can hold as many nationalities as you want or can get!

Aron Peterson said:

You can hold as many nationalities as you want or can get!

Click to expand...

The second part "can get" is key.

Most countries, in concept, do not want you to have citizenship with another country.

Within Europe dual nationality is very common. I was born with both British and Italian. Many of my class mates at University have dual nationalities, in particular those whose parents have worked for the UN or EU and have had to live in several countries during their upbringing.

There seems to be no problem at all.

Apart from the novelty factor, it's also good if I lose one passport I have the other . Also... some countries prefer me as an "italian" to a "brit" if you get what I mean Perhaps you Americans should consider a French passport if you want to live and work in, say... the middle east.

We were told in US Gov't class that the US is getting rid of Dual Citizenship because of "National Security" reasons. Is this true or no?

Dual citizenship? or Multi nationality

I am a Brit, who got citizenship earlier this year so now Im an American also.

The dual nationality is more of a default thing really. You become an American citizen - however, Britain never lets you go, so you retain both citizenships as a default.

I dont believe that there is a 'dual citizenship' thing - cos I looked it up before I went thru with it. I think its more of a multi nationality - but its a default or omission.

Hope this helps.

Molly