USA/Canadian Citizenship

[quakingaspen]

Hi guys.    This forum is much quieter than the Family Class Sponsorship forum!

I am sure that this question has been asked before.  I surfed through at least half of the pages in this forum, and I still wasn't quite satisfied.  For some reason it seems like there aren't many Americans asking these questions.

I just received my permanent residence through the Family Class on May 2.  So, I still have a few years before citizenship is something that I really need to get concerned about.  But I have been thinking about it and trying to decide if obtaining Canadian citizenship is the right thing for me to do.

My biggest concern is that I do not want to lose my US citizenship.  I know that the only way I can lose my citizenship is if they feel that I have the intention or have acted with the intention of losing or giving up my citizenship.  From what I have read, there is sort of a grey area where they could say that by obtaining Canadian citizenship, perhaps my intent was to give up my US citizenship.

How does it all actually work?  My preference would be to gain dual citizenship, but (again) I do not want to risk my American citizenship.

I'd appreciate any insight!

[scylla]

There's no grey area. You can be a US/Canadian dual citizen (I know several). So feel free to apply for Canadian citizenship when you qualify! 

To the best of my knowledge there are two ways to lose US citizenship:

1) You consciously renounce it (you can't do this by accident since there's paperwork involved)
2) You weren't born a US citizen but became one later in life, then commit a horrific crime and US immigration consequently strips you of citizenship status (I'm sure this doesn't apply to you!)

[GK]

You won't loose your US citizenship.  My son has tripple citizenships (US, Canadian and Swedish).

[scylla]

You won't loose your US citizenship.  My son has tripple citizenships (US, Canadian and Swedish).

Lucky guy! I wish I had triple citizenship. I would love to have a EU passport. 

[Morena]

You won't loose your US citizenship.  My son has tripple citizenships (US, Canadian and Swedish).

Is this true? Have your son applied for Canadian citizenship?

[Leon]

Is this true? Have your son applied for Canadian citizenship?

The son is probably born in the US with one Canadian parent and one Swedish parent.  If all countries allow more than one citizenships, he gets to keep all 3.

[Morena]

The son is probably born in the US with one Canadian parent and one Swedish parent.  If all countries allow more than one citizenships, he gets to keep all 3.

Thanks Leon. That was my thinking....because my son is dual citizen US/CAN...and it was possible because he was born in Canada and i was born in US.  But if i would like to apply for canadian citizenship one day, i don't know if it is possible without loose my US citizenship.

[Leon]

Thanks Leon. That was my thinking....because my son is dual citizen US/CAN...and it was possible because he was born in Canada and i was born in US.  But if i would like to apply for canadian citizenship one day, i don't know if it is possible without loose my US citizenship.

It is not a problem.  Many people have done this.  There is a myth going around that some people believe that the US doesn't allow dual but it is not true.  The US doesn't forbid you from having a dual citizenship.  They require you to file taxes in the US forever and ever no matter if you do not live there.  They require you to use a US passport when you enter or leave the US.  Other than that, they do not interfere and you can have as many other citizenships as you like.

[Morena]

It is not a problem.  Many people have done this.  There is a myth going around that some people believe that the US doesn't allow dual but it is not true.  The US doesn't forbid you from having a dual citizenship.  They require you to file taxes in the US forever and ever no matter if you do not live there.  They require you to use a US passport when you enter or leave the US.  Other than that, they do not interfere and you can have as many other citizenships as you like.

This is are great news! thanks for the information!

[quakingaspen]

Thank you, guys!  I appreciate the information.  I'd really like to have dual citizenship.  Permanent Resident doesn't seem sooo... permanent.    So I appreciate the reassurance. 

So I guess I'll plan on that in a few more years.