Dual nationality?

Amarylis,

I'm also a dual national (not US/UK), and who knows, may get a third. My wife and I have already figured out that the day we have kids they will be tri-nationals by birth!

It will be interesting to see what happens with immigration now though. Some have suggested that the current US policy from 1990 of allowing dual citizenship to be changed and make it a felony to have another passport in possession, vote in another election etc.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:H.R.3938:

Dual Nationality is wonderful (so far) from my experience. I was born here in the US, but my mother was born and raised in the UK. She became a citizen when I was 12, so we thought she was no longer a UK citizen. Since I'm moving to the UK to study/live this September, I was looking into visas and the like. Much to my surprise I found out I'm a British citizen as well, and that my mum is still a UK citizen too! I only found this out from the nice people at the Los Angeles Consulate and it made me so excited. I was in the UK about a month ago and going through the passport line fast was wonderful. Only thing that seemed a problem was the Immigration official coming back into the US didn't realize that US citizens can be dual nationals (the US gov't just has some stiff rules about using your US passport for entering and leaving the country). But othe than that it's great, I highly recommend it.

Liberty,

Did you show the customs people your UK passport when entering the US? When you are a dual citizen, you should always use your US passport when leaving and entering the US. Also, when you check in on a flight to the US, make sure you use your US passport since they scan the passports on flights to the US and check that they match when you arrive. Just makes things a little easier, the customs people don't need to know you have another passport :-)

Is there a link to where I can apply or find out how much it is etc to become a dual national?

You can look on www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk for forms and guidelines.  Are you sure that you qualify for British Citizenship?


Victoria

Are you sure that you qualify for British Citizenship

I'll be marrying my british citizen fiance this July, then be getting my FLR, in which I have to acumulate three years of being in the country before applying for dual citizenship....

I think I qualify?

And hmmm, so if I do this, then I still have to do taxes in the US? Even if I don't own a home or anything? Um, I've been here on a fiance visa, and I didn't do this year's taxes....

And hmmm, so if I do this, then I still have to do taxes in the US? Even if I don't own a home or anything? Um, I've been here on a fiance visa, and I didn't do this year's taxes....

Yeah you still have to file taxes if you are a citizen of the US

Modified to say 'file' taxes not pay!

And hmmm, so if I do this, then I still have to do taxes in the US? Even if I don't own a home or anything? Um, I've been here on a fiance visa, and I didn't do this year's taxes....

US citizens are taxed on worldwide income (but you probably won't have to pay anything unless you make over a certain amount - I think it's $80K?)  As a US citizen you are required to file a tax return every year, no matter where you're living.

US citizens are taxed on worldwide income (but you probably won't have to pay anything unless you make over a certain amount - I think it's $80K?)  As a US citizen you are required to file a tax return every year, no matter where you're living.

Correct, there is a credit and you only pay takes on income over $80K.

You should file a tax return, because while as long as you don't owe taxes, the IRS won't get to upset, if you ever do and return to the states, you are going to have a lot of explaining to do.  There is a lot of information over in the Tax forum on this.