ILR or US citizenship? Please help:(

If I want to become UK and US citizen then I have to give my Pk citizenship. But my question was if I obtain ILR for UK , my GC for US will be forfeit? And I will not be able to apply US Citizenship?

Establishing residency and settling in another country -- ILR or FLR are both visas for settlement -- means your green card is forfeit. You cannot be settled in two places.

If I want to become UK and US citizen then I have to give my Pk citizenship. But my question was if I obtain ILR for UK , my GC for US will be forfeit? And I will not be able to apply US Citizenship?

It's not a simple yes or no, as we don't know your exact circumstances, but obtaining ILR won't automatically forfeit your green card. You technically forfeit your green card if you settle outside the US, but as it has been mentioned before, you've been told by immigration officers that you're still eligible for citizenship in the US, which makes things confusing. So, it's not possible to say what the status of your green card is, although it SEEMS like it should no longer be valid. However, as I said before, my brother in law has also been told he's still eligible for citizenship despite residing outside the US and making regular trips back to the US. You'd need to consult an immigration lawyer, as you're getting mixed answers from immigration officers and people here who are familiar with green card rules.

IF you qualify for US citizenship and become naturalised, there's nothing stopping you from holding ILR if you reside in the UK. You can't retain ILR in the UK and reside permanently in the US, though. In my opinion, if you want to become a citizen of both the UK and US, you should find out your options, possibly from a lawyer, and if you qualify, become naturalised as a US citizen, reside in the UK and apply for ILR, then eventually get UK citizenship. There are strict residency rules for retaining ILR and becoming a citizen, so you wouldn't be able to apply for ILR in the UK, move to the US, retain ILR and later become a UK citizen. You would have to become a US citizen now (if you're eligible) and live in the UK with ILR until you can apply for citizenship. If you were to obtain ILR and move to the US, you'd lose ILR and would have to start the visa process over from the beginning if you wish to return to the UK, which is why it's advised to get citizenship before moving away from the UK.

It's confusing, I know.

You will be able to hold US citizenship and retain your Pakistani citizenship while living in the UK with ILR, as Pakistan does allow you to hold dual citizenship with the US, and you do not have to give up your Pakistani citizenship when you become a US citizen.

I'm unclear of your circumstances. It sounds like you're living permanently in the UK, but where you want to live in the future was unclear. Basically, as I said, find out your options for US citizenship and get it if you can. There's nothing stopping you from being a US citizen (if you qualify) and holding ILR in the UK.

Without knowing your exact circumstances, it's not possible to offer more advice. If you explained where you are living now and your future plans for where you want to live over the next few years, it would help us offer better advice.

I think the advice given so far is as clear as we'll be able to offer, even if we had every detail of MRK's life. This is a question for immigration lawyers.

I hate to say IT but I think thats why they started these  new money restrictions because of ppl like mrk doing things like this , thats all I'm saying , and ruining it for everyone else

Great now everything is fault, jeez thanx Scotland9. I was here to get honest advice. And new money restrictions can't be my fault. UKBA knows how fast people immigrating here in UK from other countries, Who don't want make some money in these days. And people like me, Who pays a lot of tax every month is always beneficial  for any country. I am glad and very thankful for everyone's advice. It was good head's up for everything . And according to UK immigration and US immigration lawyer I am eligible  for both US citizenship+ILR at same time. Thanks

Thanx Edinburg 83:)

Want honest? It sounds dodgy and fraudulent that you are living in another country while waiting to apply for citizenship in another on the basis of residence. This is an American/British community and these people went through the hardship on both sides of the pond, trying to do things legitimately. To see someone who appears to be cheapening and cheating the process is insulting, not to mention ruining the integrity of citizenship. We know that was not what LPR was intended for.

That said, it really doesn't matter to me. I imagine that all you want to do is work and keep both countries as options since both are always tightening controls. I mean, would you apply for US citizenship if you could keep your green card after applying for ILR? I doubt it. You're not going to get an unbiased answer in this forum. As another said, seek a lawyer if you haven't.

More honest; my opinion only.

DH got US citizenship in 2010. Based on the application process he went through, I cannot imagine that anyone in the US (aside from some dodgy 'get round the rules' adviser) who has been given ALL of the facts would say you are eligible for US citizenship.

Unfortunately we personally know 2 people who did get US citizenship based on lies and a fraudulent application. They too just want to make money and then retire back 'home'.

Get a lawyer, sure, but for the sake of everyone who does it the right way, and has endured a lot pain, play by the rules and don't try to circumvent.

As I said above that get ILR idea is my wife's idea, she wants me to become British citizen, but Because of family reasons I am here  once i done with them, i ll be long gone, i shouldn't be here on first place. And the people I spoke to wasn't dodgy, they qualified immigration lawyers. Who knows rules better then anyone;)

Immigration lawyers want your money. They're not exactly known for having your best interests at heart. A difficult case, possibly involving several appeals, is just what they'd like from you. You probably look like a walking gold mine to them, frankly.

You might be right about me being gold mines for them. Everything happens for the reasons.  If there is problem for me in the future then no one can stop it.

Immigration lawyers want your money. They're not exactly known for having your best interests at heart. A difficult case, possibly involving several appeals, is just what they'd like from you. You probably look like a walking gold mine to them, frankly.

A reputable lawyer would tell you up front if they think a case will be difficult and require several appeals.

A reputable lawyer would tell you up front if they think a case will be difficult and require several appeals.

No reputable lawyer would tell a person that they can go against USCIS guidelines, either.

Thanx Edinburg 83:)

You're welcome. I hope that helped, although the information is confusing. Best of luck to you.


As for others here... mrk is filing tax returns in the US and qualifies for US citizenship, so what is the problem? I applied for my British citizenship as soon as I found out that my husband was being transferred outside the UK so we'd be able to move back there easily one day, and I don't see anything different with mrk's situation. He wants to be able to live in the UK with his wife, but also wants to be able to live in the US (where it sounds like he has family and friends) down the road. He qualifies for both ILR and US citizenship (despite what others are saying about his green card being invalid, my brother-in-law also qualifies for US citizenship despite not living in the US currently, so there is a possibility mrk is not cheating the system as some claim) - what is the issue?