Quote:
Originally Posted by Erin
Right, I know they allow it but don't they not recognize it? What I mean is to the United States you are an American citizen and that's it, i.e. your UK citizenship theoretically doesn't exist to the U.S. now that you are a citizen here or something like that?
Or conversely if Brandon becomes a New Zealand citizen the U.S. will still consider him a U.S. citizen regardless of the Kiwi citizenship?
I thought there was some law like that in effect, but I could just be talking out of my a**, since I've never had to deal with any of this!
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That's essentially correct but there isn't any law--no country really likes to acknowledge or recognise it but it's allowed (it used to be that it wasn't allowed but that was overturned some time ago). When Brandon becomes a NZ citizen the US government won't care--to the US gov he is American and always will be (unless he renounces). To the Kiwi's he'll be a Kiwi.
To the US, I am an American and to the UK/EU I am British/an EU citizen. I have to use my US passport when entering or leaving the US and use my UK passport when entering or leaving the EU: both countries insist upon that. I can vote in both countries, etc. However, my UK citizenship means nothing to the US and my US citizenship means nothing to the UK.
My husband is dual Aussie / British as he was born in Australia to British parents. He may apply for US citizenship next year if we end up staying here.
There are some cases in which dual citizenship can be a problem: certain Gov jobs will not give full security clearance if one is a dual, and becoming a US citizen brings a lifetime of filing US tax returns (even if you leave the US). There are lots of positives though, namely being able to move country without visas, work permits, etc.