Dual Citizenship

Does the USA allow for dual citizenship? Meaning, if my British husband were to apply for US citizenship, would he be forced to give up his British citizenship?

Also, if I applied for British citizenship, would I be forced to give up my US citizenship?

Yes both the UK and US allow it.

But it takes many years and lots of money to qualify in the U.K.  Less years and much less money for the US but still time!

I love that we can do that!
My husband is under the impression that only I can get dual citizenship and the USA will force him to give up his British citizenship to become American.

Nope - you can only lose your current citizenship if you formally renounce it in front of a government official (or if you commit treason or something).

It costs $2,350 to renounce US citizenship and £321 to renounce UK citizenship.

Why would anyone pay to renounce their US citizenship?

Why would anyone pay to renounce their US citizenship?

People have been renouncing in record numbers in recent years.

Lots of people are "accidental Americans" and have no allegiance to the US and don't want to be burdened with lifelong tax returns, potential additional taxation from their home country, and FATCA.  And some other countries don't allow dual citizenship (Germany for example).

My kids are dual and may decide they don't want to deal with the US government when they are older.  If that's the case, I'll foot the bill for them to renounce.  Hopefully, they'll be excited by it and feel they have additional opportunities.

Look up Boris Johnson and his case.  He was an accidental American and just renounced last fall.

Being an American abroad can be very very annoying and expensive, due to the US taxing based on citizenship instead of residency like civilised countries. It means if you make your life abroad, it starts getting complicated and expensive to stay within the ever changing laws. For those of us who were never particularly attached to our American citizenship, it's worth it in the long run. When I did it, it 'only' cost $450, and frankly it's some of the best money I've spent. Not being associated with Trump: priceless :-P

I definitely haven't thought about it like that.

I want to become a UK citizen, but I couldn't bear losing my US citizenship. I feel it is a huge part of me. 

I am certainly glad that my husband won't need to give up his UK citizenship as well. It's just nice to have the availability.

We are both dual US/UK citizens and can confirm that your husband won't have to give up his British citizenship. There is a whole section in the US passport detailing the rights of a dual citizen, e.g. If you are in the country of your other citizenship you cannot except help from the US consulate.

He will still have to swear allegiance to the USA. If he is currently living in the UK then, as mentioned above, all his UK income immediately becomes taxable in the USA and he will have to start filing US tax returns.

He will still have to swear allegiance to the USA. If he is currently living in the UK then, as mentioned above, all his UK income immediately becomes taxable in the USA and he will have to start filing US tax returns.

But in order to qualify for citizenship in the first place he would have had to spend sufficient time there that he would have had to file US tax returns and declare all his UK income already anyway. 

I was under the impression that  I can declare citizenship after 5 years here in the uk, but that unless we lived in the states my husband could not declare us citizenship. Is that incorrect?

I was under the impression that  I can declare citizenship after 5 years here in the uk, but that unless we lived in the states my husband could not declare us citizenship. Is that incorrect?

Yes, that's correct.

In order to gain UK citizenship, you must hold ILR (so have lived in the UK for 5 years) and meet the residency requirements (as stated above).

In order to gain US citizenship your spouse must hold US permanent residency and have held a green card for at least 3 years.

So the only way for you to both become dual citizens is to live in the UK for at least 5 years, apply for UK citizenship, then apply for a spousal visa for your husband to move to the US, and live in the US long enough for him to gain permanent residency and US citizenship.

But in order to qualify for citizenship in the first place he would have had to spend sufficient time there that he would have had to file US tax returns and declare all his UK income already anyway. 

Oh yes, I forgot about that 

.In order to gain UK citizenship, you must hold ILR (so have lived in the UK for 5 years) and meet the residency requirements (as stated above). 

I thought under the new scheme, we could not apply for citizenship for 10 years? (ILR after 5)

I thought under the new scheme, we could not apply for citizenship for 10 years? (ILR after 5)

Nope, still 5 years... currently,.. who knows how that may change in the future!