Question about citizenship....

[JD1974]

No idea where to put this so I thought here would be ok, if not Coldwater please move.



Ok here is a little background...

My uncle served in the Air Force in the UK, he married my aunt, whom is British in the US. After his enlistment was up he came back to the states. They have a son who was born in the US. When their son was around 2 they all moved back to the UK. They divorced. My uncle lived in the UK until he died 2 years ago.

Fast forward 18 years and my cousin would like to come visit here. Now my question is this...is he British or is he an American citizen living in the UK? My grandmother is working on getting his b/c so he can get a passport, how would that work? Would he get a British passport or an American one?

From what I know he has personally not given up his American citizen status, so does anyone have any ideas about which country would hold his passport?

[JD1974]

The child is a US citizen and will retain joint citizenship until he is an adult and can decide for himself. At that point it is my understanding that he can take advantage of both without having to renounce the other.


Yes that is where I am confused about this, my uncle is an American citizen his ex-wife is a British citizen and my cousin was born in the US then moved with his parents to the UK (before they divorced). Do you know which country he would have to apply for a passport with? If he is a dual citizen does that mean he can apply to either? The reason I am wondering about it is because if he is seen as an American citizen how can he receive a passport from the UK?

Hope that isn't confusing!

[Shells2]

Yes that is where I am confused about this, my uncle is an American citizen his ex-wife is a British citizen and my cousin was born in the US then moved with his parents to the UK (before they divorced). Do you know which country he would have to apply for a passport with? If he is a dual citizen does that mean he can apply to either? The reason I am wondering about it is because if he is seen as an American citizen how can he receive a passport from the UK?

Hope that isn't confusing!

I was kind of in the same situation.

I was born in the US to American Citzens. My parents immigrated to Canada and gave up their US citizenship when I was a minor, and became Canadian Citizens. Because I was a child, my citizenship was not revoked and I still hold both. Your cousin would be in the same boat. I hold a Canadian Passport, but I can also apply for an American one as well I was told.

[Cornblossom]

Anyone born in the United States is an automatic American citizen.

[penguin01]

Anyone born in the United States is an automatic American citizen. Right: no application needed. If he wants an American passport he should just use his birth certifcate just like other Americans and apply for that.

I guess if he would like UK citizenship also he should apply to them for that - and get a passport thru them after that if he wants a UK passport also.
The nice thing about dual citizenship (and passports) is that when you travel you can decide which one might be safer or less unpopular wherever you are going.
When I went to Europe during a difficult time for the US my kids got me all kinds of Canadian patches for my jacket and my backpack. Everything but "please don't shoot, I'm Canadian!":thumbsup:

[Jayne]

Right: no application needed. If he wants an American passport he should just use his birth certifcate just like other Americans and apply for that.

I guess if he would like UK citizenship also he should apply to them for that - and get a passport thru them after that if he wants a UK passport also.
The nice thing about dual citizenship (and passports) is that when you travel you can decide which one might be safer or less unpopular wherever you are going.
When I went to Europe during a difficult time for the US my kids got me all kinds of Canadian patches for my jacket and my backpack. Everything but "please don't shoot, I'm Canadian!":thumbsup:

As far as I know (not researching this but from experience)..there is dual citizenship..not a problem in the US..and probably not a problem in the UK..his mother was a UK citizen..father a US citizen..he has "dual citizenship". I don't know what the UK demands but I don't see a problem here...they get the US passport..then present the documentation for the UK passport..he can use one or the either or both.

interesting..something for me to look into this weekend!

jmo

J

[interested]

Your cousin is a US citizen on two counts, he was born on US soil & one parent was a US citizen.

http://www.uscis.gov/propub/ProPubVAP.jsp?dockey=d80392bc35a3c2106c6ed639df026 e96

http://immigration.findlaw.com/immigration/immigration-citizenship-naturalization/immigration-citizenship-naturalization-did-you-know.html

http://www.usimmigrationsupport.org/dual_citizenship.html

For example: a child is born in the United States to foreign parents. In this example this child has U.S. Dual Citizenship since the child is automatically a citizen of the United States and a citizen of its parent's home country. The same applies to children of U.S. citizens born abroad where the child is both a U.S. citizen and a citizen of the country of birth.

US Dual Citizenship: The U.S. government allows dual citizenship. United States law recognizes U.S. Dual Citizenship, but the U.S. government does not encourage it is as a matter of policy due to the problems that may arise from it. It is important to understand that a foreign citizen does NOT lose his or her citizenship when becoming a U.S. citizen. An individual that becomes a U.S. citizen through naturalization may keep his or her original citizenship. However, as some countries do not recognize dual citizenship, it is important to consider it carefully before applying for U.S. citizenship.

[JD1974]

Thanks everyone for the answers! I wondered about the US embassy and I told him he may want to check there and see if he should get a passport through them (if they can do that). I guess I had never really thought about his circumstances until my grandmother told me he was having a hard time getting his birth certificate online because he doesn't have a credit card.


Anyway I will tell him the first thing he needs to do is contact the embassy in the UK. I wonder if they will want his social security number? I know if his mother lost his birth certificate she has definitely lost his social security card.

[Jayne]

Thanks everyone for the answers! I wondered about the US embassy and I told him he may want to check there and see if he should get a passport through them (if they can do that). I guess I had never really thought about his circumstances until my grandmother told me he was having a hard time getting his birth certificate online because he doesn't have a credit card.


Anyway I will tell him the first thing he needs to do is contact the embassy in the UK. I wonder if they will want his social security number? I know if his mother lost his birth certificate she has definitely lost his social security card.

the US embassy should have access to his social security number and work things out. I was "stuck" in Europe three decades ago...after a failed/bankrupt music thing..had to get back home..and the company (NY) didn't have enough money for all of us to get back "home"...the embassy asked for SSNs...I knew mine and had my card..my companion/friend didn't..they found it "pronto" and processed us through. I would imagine even if the Embassy can't produce the passport they can produce the documents so he can get one. That's what they are there for..to protect citizens, among other things.

jmo

J