I just became a PR of canada and just curious , I know I have to wait 5 yrs, but I'm just curious, after the 5 yrs, I would like to apply for citizenship in canada, but I also want to keep my citizenship of USA, dont not want to give it up, so is it possible when the time comes can I apply for dual citizenship? and what is the process on that?
You only have to wait 3 years to become a citizen! And yes, you can keep both types of citizenship. I don't believe there is any special process beyond the regular application. My wife and I printed the citizenship app off so we could see what they are looking for. It is MUCH simpler than the PR app!
ooh great, 3 yrs is much better, Im glad it will be much simpler, that will be great, so ya know ya will hear from me again after the 3 yrs
Yes you can become a "dual citizen" but technically there is no recognized status as "dual citizen." So there is no application or procedure for becoming a dual citizen. It is just a descriptive term applicable to anyone who has citizenship in multiple countries.
Canada allows PRs to become citizens without renouncing any other citizenship they have . . . so when you become a Canadian citizen, you do not lose any other citizenship you had.
When, after becoming a Canadian citizen, you enter the U.S., you enter the U.S. as a U.S. citizen and while in the U.S. your status remains that of a U.S. citizen -- it is only outside the U.S. that you have status as a Canadian citizen.
When it comes time to renew your U.S. passport (after obtaining Canadian citizenship) there has been (have not looked at the form lately) one item that persons holding citizenship in multiple countries may have to cross out and handwrite an explanation . . . that is some time down the road, obviously, and forms can change, probably will change, so there is no point in fully exploring this minor quirk at the present.
In contrast, at least up to somewhat recently (I don't know the current process), a Canadian who became a U.S. citizen had to actually renounce their Canadian citizenship in order to do so.
The U.S. does not have a policy prohibiting dual citizenship but in most respects it simply does not recognize an American citizen's citizenship of any other country.
dpenabill Wrote:Yes you can become a "dual citizen" but technically there is no recognized status as "dual citizen." So there is no application or procedure for becoming a dual citizen. It is just a descriptive term applicable to anyone who has citizenship in multiple countries.
Canada allows PRs to become citizens without renouncing any other citizenship they have . . . so when you become a Canadian citizen, you do not lose any other citizenship you had.
When, after becoming a Canadian citizen, you enter the U.S., you enter the U.S. as a U.S. citizen and while in the U.S. your status remains that of a U.S. citizen -- it is only outside the U.S. that you have status as a Canadian citizen.
When it comes time to renew your U.S. passport (after obtaining Canadian citizenship) there has been (have not looked at the form lately) one item that persons holding citizenship in multiple countries may have to cross out and handwrite an explanation . . . that is some time down the road, obviously, and forms can change, probably will change, so there is no point in fully exploring this minor quirk at the present.
In contrast, at least up to somewhat recently (I don't know the current process), a Canadian who became a U.S. citizen had to actually renounce their Canadian citizenship in order to do so.
The U.S. does not have a policy prohibiting dual citizenship but in most respects it simply does not recognize an American citizen's citizenship of any other country.
For what its worth as I just sent in my renewal for my passport (not a Canadian citizen yet) but the current application does not ask about any other citizenship, doesn't even mention other citizenship.
Hmmmm . . .
I just checked the forms. The "Acts or Conditions" still require the applicant to verify that they have not been naturalized as a citizen of a foreign state. If so:
Quote:
If any of the below–mentioned acts or conditions have been performed by or apply to the applicant, the portion which applies should be lined out, and a supplementary explanatory statement under oath (or affirmation) by the applicant should be attached and made a part of this application.
It is easy to overlook but it is still there. The particular condition is stated as follows:
Quote:
I have not, since acquiring United States citizenship/nationality, been naturalized as a citizen of a foreign state;
That sheet was not even provided to me at the post office, they just handed me the application, guess thats why I missed it as its not on the actual application.
What exactly are they asking for with that statement? What do they mean line out?
It doesn't pertain to me as I never gained citizenship but just curious.
The in-person form is different from the form for mail in renewal, but I am pretty sure their forms (including the DS-11 as well as DS-82, that is, including whichever one you filled out) have pretty much the same language in the signature box, to the effect "I declare under penalty of perjury all of the following . . . " in which, in addition to affirming that statements made are true and correct and such, there is language about not having performed any of the acts list under "Acts or Conditions" (unless . . . see previous post of mine above).
The referenced "Acts or Conditions" are buried in the boilerplate stuff, all that relatively small print (medium small not real small) about payment by check, remittance of fees, uses of social security numbers, paperwork reduction statement, privacy act statement, and among various notices, there is also the referenced "Acts or Conditions," not at all prominent, but it is still there.
Moreover, most of the box containing the referenced "Acts or Conditions" are the obvious ones, like "renouncing" one's U.S. citizenship, or having been convicted of things like treason or attempting to overthrow the government, so if you do not actually read them line by line (let alone totally skip all that stuff, which I assume most people do) the one about acquiring citizenship in another country can very easily be overlooked.
I am not anticipating becoming a citizen for at least two, maybe three more years, so I was not thinking much about this either, figuring the forms and particular requirements are likely to change in the meantime.
My understanding is that you draw a line through exactly that one phrase, and then you have to add a supplementary statement in which you simply state that you have been naturalized as a citizen in Canada with full intent to maintain/retain your U.S. citizenship. Canada's citizenship process does not require the renunciation of any other citizenship the person holds, so it has no effect on one's U.S. citizenship (this was not true . . . I don't recall, thirty or forty years ago, when the oath for Canadian citizenship required exclusive allegiance).
It is no big deal. More or less a technicality. If you became a citizen of Cuba or Iran or North Korea, then it might be a big deal.
Americans living in Canada can even have their passports renewed by mail just like those living in the States. It's like we never left.
AWA1979 Wrote:That sheet was not even provided to me at the post office, they just handed me the application, guess thats why I missed it as its not on the actual application.
What exactly are they asking for with that statement? What do they mean line out?
It doesn't pertain to me as I never gained citizenship but just curious.
are u back in Canada??
aussie Wrote:are u back in Canada??
Not yet, coming back in August.