Community Chat

[Andreatoo]

the US government doesn't recognize dual citizenship.

What doesn't make sense to me is that when a family comes to this country,  with minor children, and the adult parents become naturalized yet their children remain citizens of another country?! Their MINOR children!

I had 2 friends that came here, one at 5 and the other at 7 years of age..Didn't find out until they became adults that they weren't citizens (they both assumed they were)

Happens more frequently than you'd think. Even those that adopt from another country, go through the legal process of adopting the child into their family yet that child, unless they take the seperate measure, isn't a citizen!

[DiAnne]

I have neighbors where the father is an American and the mother is Canadian.  There oldest daughter (teenager now) was born in Canada but the younger two were born in America.  Just in passing conversation she mentioned that they were trying to get Canadian citizenship for the younger two children due to recent events here. She did not say dual citizenship and I never thought to ask. 

[SahmIam]

My husband and I are were both born in the UK; we both moved here later in life and met in our late 20's. I was granted US citizenship because my parents were Americans but living and working in the UK; my husband became an US citizen due to his field. All of our children were born in the US.

The breakdown:

*Husband has UK and US citizenship (dual citizenship)

*I have UK and US citizenship (dual citizenship)

*All our children have US AND UK citizenship (dual citizenship).

When in doubt, contact the embassy of the country you believe you can claim citizenship of. Passports are in US and UK; husband and I have our National Health numbers and our children can qualify for care within 90 days of living there as natural born citizens.

I have no idea how this works with other countries, however.

[songbird]

I was born in  Italy.  I became a citizen when my parent (My mother...father died here) becam naturalized.  However Italy recognizes duel cittizenship.  So I can still use my Italian passport and my American one. My younger sister was born in the U.S. Recently the Italian army sent a letter to my 27 year old brother that he is drafted in the Italian army.  Obviously a mistake.  Received a letter of appology.  Apparently quite a few countries recognize duel citizenship. By the way...much as I love Italy, that country never uses common sense, LOL>

[proudlyfromNJ]

My sister has lived in Australia for over 30 years. She has dual citizenship. Her husband was born in Finland and came to Australia as a teen. He has Australian citizenship. Their son was born in the US and was still an infant when they moved to Australia permantly. He also has dual.

[songbird]

Interesting article about duel citizenship in the U.S.

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-dual-citizenship-20141228-story.html

[jaxs mom]

It depends on the country. There is no universal answer. In some countries children can claim the citizenship of their parents and grandparents. 

[jaxs mom]

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@Isobel Archer wrote:

Well after googling - which seems to be at least one way to find out - it seems that while the US does not favor dual citizenship, the Supreme Court has ruled that it is allowed.  This is true either for an immigrant from another country retaining original citizenship and a person born here who decides to also swear allegience to another country.

So if the mother's other country allows the child to be a citizen, then I guess it would have dual citizenship (if born here).

It is also true apparently that the State Department may not be able to help those with dual citizenship if they run into trouble in their other country.  Also, people with dual citizenship may be denied security clearances etc., if the dual citizenship is with countries we consider enemies as one of the requirements of citizenship anywhere is to claim allegience to that country and conflicting allegiences can send us back to the situation with the Japanese Americans (and I don't know how may -if any - had dual citizenship, but for those who did, internment doesn't seem like the evil it would other wise have beeen  if they had renounced that citizenship - and this could come up again with dual citizens say of Iran or other state sponsors of terror against the US.)

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Of course it's allowed. My husband is US born and has dual citizenship. In fact he also could have citizenship with 2 other countries in addition if he applied for it. 

[songbird]

U.S. parents that adopt foreign born children have to go through a process that gives them U.S.Citizenship.  Years ago a couple adopted a German child.  Yet neglected to process citizenship.  She grew up, got a driver's licence, voted and then....& at 19 had the misfortune to pick a fight with someone over a boyfriend.  When the police came in, realized she was not a citizen (now with a felon tied to her name) tried to deport her to a country she does not know, language,family, etc. 

I remember seeing the story on TV. Still don't know what ever happened to her.

[151949]

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@Marp wrote:

Each country sets their own citizenship policies.  If the mother is a U.S. citizen and/or the child is born here s/he would be an American citizen.  It would depend on the mother's dual country's policies whether or not the child is also a dual citizen.

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IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MOTHER'S CITZENSHIP - if the child is born in the USA the child will be a citizen of the USA. There is no question about that. My grandmother was pregnant with my Dad & Uncle when she left Ireland and they were born here and were US citizens with USA birth certificates, though my Grandparents were both Irish citizens.