🚀 go-pugleaf

BIOSEE@UKCC.UKY.EDU (Stephanie Edelmann) writes:

>I have a question for you guys.  People have been asking me lately
>why I don't want to apply for citizenship in the US.  I've been 
>telling them that that's because I don't want to give up my german 
>citizenship.

My girlfriend is also a German with US Permanent Residence so
your cases are the same ...

>Now here's the question:
> 
>1. Is that actually true, do I have to give it up?

Yes, the oath that you take at the citizenship ceremony renounces 
all previous ties.  Even if your country doesn't recognize your
renunciation (e.g., Canada -- the only way to do it is filing 10
forms, in triplicate, in front of consular staff; New Zealand --
there's no such thing! (-;), the Americans will pull your citizenship
if you get caught exercising your past citizenship privileges.

>2. If I have to give it up, is that because the US won't allow dual
>citizenship or is Germany the problem?

See above, re: renunciation.  An *American* citizen can acquire
additional new citizenships if those do not require renunciation 
(of the American or other past citizenships).  Thus, an American 
can become a Canadian citizen and be a dual, but not the other way.

Some countries, especially in Europe, have legacy citizenships for 
the children/grandchildren of previous emigrated nationals.  In some
cases, those bypass the renunciation that would have been required in
normal naturalization.  You cannot reclaim your old citizenship from
your own legacy, however. (-;

Also, note that one may be *born* with dual citizenship and retain
that status throughout life.

In practice, American PR's from other western countries tend not to go
for US citizenship because there is no pressing need to do so; they're
not escaping repressive regimes to be rightfully abandoned, etc.  You
are in good company; my girlfriend and her family (12 years), Peter
Jennings, Neil Young, Wayne Gretzky, Jason Priestley (90210) -- and
many other US celebrities who are actually Canadian; Jean-Louis Gassee
of Apple Computer and Phillipe Kahn of Borland (France), and probably
many other examples too plentiful to imagine.

gld
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Je me souviens ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gary L. Dare
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