Dual Citizenship - What rights do I sacrifice?

[fallingblock]

I've got three....

U.S., New Zealand and Australia.

When I bought my SP 101 last October, the NICS people asked how long I'd lived in each country. I don't know if that was relevant to the approval or just curiosity on their part - but the sale went through with no problems.

The answer seems to be that since the U.S. doesn't officially recognize multiple nationalities, just affirm that you are a U.S. citizen on the 4473 form.

One possible problem since interlinking of anti-terror programs between nations is the use of one's local passport to depart for a destination where one also holds a passport. Airline staff may refuse the use of you local passport on a 'return' ticket. This actually happened to me at the QANTAS desk in L.A. last year. It took a while to get sorted out but was due to poor/inadequate training of the QANTAS staff.

 

[Prince Yamato]

When I was living in Canada, I was looking into dual-citizenship. Here's how I was told it works according to INS.

I can have citizenship in both countries, but in the US, they only recognize the US citizenship. IE, if there was a draft in the US, I couldn't say, "but I'm a Canadian too". Likewise, if there was a draft in Canada, and I remained in the US and Canada said, "he's one of ours," the US would say, "Umm, no, he's ours" and I wouldn't get extradited (well, at least in an ideal world).

Incidentally, the only reason I looked into dual citizenship was for employment purposes. I'd never consider it again... unless Stephen Harper would throw in a free Prohibited Class liscence and ATC

 

[Autolycus]

Cloudcroft: What identity is America losing? Could you elaborate?

I think all one should have to do to become a citizen is swear allegiance to this country. Nothing else. That is what the founding fathers intended and wrote into law.

 

[Johannes_Paulsen]

But I agree that my FIRST loyalty is ALSO to a higher kingdom...AND a higher law. But down here in this temporal world, I am an American living in America...where I came from is unimportant.

Hey -- love it or leave it, commie!

 

[geekWithA.45]

Some folks are merging the two distinct meanings of the word citizenship.

One is a technical noun, having to do with the rules/laws/definitions of a soveriegn nation. The reality is, East BeacoupChipMunkistan could enact legislation claiming that people born in Massachussetts in February are its citizens, but its impact would be zero on such folk, unless they were actually IN East BeacoupChipMunkistan.

The other is an active verb of the heart, having to do with the allegiance to a nation/laws/people/ideals.

 

[Sistema1927]

cloudcroft, (one of my favorite places BTW)

Sorry to get your panties in a twist, but I don't see how my carrying both US and Canadian passports is somehow causing this country to lose its "identity".

I am not a Canadian-American nor an American-Canadian. No hyphenation here.

I am a citizen of the United States of America, and also a subject of the Queen of England as a Canadian.

On my father's side I am 11th generation, with my progenitor arriving at the Massachusetts Bay Colony from England on the Lyon's Whelp in 1629. On my mother's side I am 1st generation, with my mother arriving in New York City on the Queen Mary in 1950.

When I was born in Newfoundland, Canada my mother was still a British subject, and my father was a US serviceman. As a result, I gained dual citizenship at birth (if my mother had not been a subject of the crown I would not have). I lived in England for a total of 5 years before ending up in your fair city when my Dad was assigned to the Vietnamese language school at Biggs Field.

I have never had any problems with "allegiance", and carry a retired ID card from the US Army. I see no reason why you would be upset that I can travel to various places in the world without visa hassles using my Canadian passport, or how that is somehow causing an "identity problem" here at home. (I have never had any problem with my identity.)

Yet, as I stated earlier, all the kingdoms of this world (including my beloved USA, the greatest nation on earth) are temporal, and my highest allegiance is to the Prince of Peace who rules over all of the kingdoms of men.

 

[SWMAN]

imagine it would raise red flags for a security clearance, but may still be okay for approved countries.

Dual citizens are not granted DoD security clearances.

 

[striker3]

Dual citizens are not granted DoD security clearances.

Not true. While you must be a US Citizen to hold a DoD clearance, I have never seen someone denied for being a dual citizen. Even with naturalized citizens, I have never personally seen someone required to renounce their original citizenship to recieve a clearance, and I have known a few who hold clearances.

 

[MrPeter]

I would suggest getting in contact with the Czech embassy if you want more information concerning possible renunciation.

Though we are not in conflict with the Czech Republic at this time, and it's unlikely we will in the foreseeable future, I would suggest you really consider your reasoning. Being a citizen comes with certain responsibilities, and they should not be taken lightly.

Mannix, thank you for your constructive comments. I am in contact with the Czech Embassy and will certainly continue to thoroughly contemplate the implications of dual citizenship.

On the note of possible conflict between the USA and the EU or the Czech Republic, not only do I doubt that this will happen in my lifetime (and I most certainly could be very wrong), but, to the poster who questions my allegiance to this country I say this: Just like the current conflict in Iraq I am not going to blindly follow the country I am living in into conflict because my government believes that a war is a worthy cause. I will not have anything to do with a country that requires its citizens to serve in the military, so that I may have the choice to give my life for what I believe in or not. I do not hold an Iraqi citizenship and yet I still do not agree with the war that is going on there and I never have. If America claims to be built on questioning the government and valuing the freedom of the people in this great country, then I believe my opinion is the most patriotic and American than it could be.
If there WAS a conflict between the EU and the US, I can assure you that whether I held the passport of either country or not, my allegance would be held with the side that was in the moral right. Some have described this as having allegance with a "higher kingdom". Not being religious I don't use that terminology, but that does not mean that I have a sense of morals, or I don't know the difference between right and wrong, and it certainly does not make me any less AMERICAN.
[/rant]

Sorry about that, I know it was a little off topic.

I have already made the decision based on other factors to apply for my dual citizenship. I was just unsure about whether or not I would be denied my 2A with all of the "homeland security" !%#@ that's going on lately. I'm very glad to hear that it will not come into question.

I may have to start a new thread for this, but does anyone know where I can find international gun control laws? I need to find out if I can carry in Czech Rep.

 

[avmech]

you should lose no US rights as a dual citizen

 

[SalTx]

Dual citizenship? The answer is to give up the U.S. and return to your beloved country which gives you all you desire and leave us Americans to our lonely selves.

 

[Prince Yamato]

When I was born in Newfoundland,

You're a Newfie!

And now you and I share a joke with the ~5 other Canadians on THR.

It's ok though, I used to wonder why Canadians would get mad when I said how much I loved Toronto...

the Prince of Peace who rules over all of the kingdoms of men.

I hear Saudi Arabia doesn't recognize his passport... though I bet if he got a Canadian one, they would. Or maybe just a Tim Horton's patch on his cloak.

 

[jselvy]

DON'T knock Tim Horton's
It is the quickest way to start a war with Possum Lodge.

Jefferson

 

[Prince Yamato]

I don't think Harold or Red have an ATC, so I'm not too worried

 

[jselvy]

with enough duct tape anything is possible

Jefferson

 

[Glenn Kelley]

Sistema1927,
If you are a subject of the Queen of England it is because your mother was British.Elisebeth 2 is the Queen of Canada separate from her status in England.In other words if she lost her position in England she would not automatically lose it here...or Australia or New Zealand.

 

[Sistema1927]

Glenn,

I didn't quite understand your post. According to the sources that I have seen, even though the various citizenship acts have changed the "subject/citizenship" status several times over the years, nationals of countries of which Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is Head of State may still be referred to as "Her Majesty's subjects".

My Canadian passport says (in both English and French):

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada requests, in the name of her Majesty the Queen, all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance and to afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary.

Interestingly enough, US passports state (in English, French, and Spanish):

The Secretary of State of the United States of America hereby requests all whom it may concern to permit the citizen/national of the United States named herein to pass without delay or hindrance and in case of need to give all lawful aid and protection.

I could be wrong (wouldn't be the first time), but as a Canadian citizen I am a subject of Her Majesty the Queen even if I had not obtained my Canadian citizenship by virtue of my my mother's status at the time of my birth.

Growing up with British grandparents, having lived in England, and with my mother still exercising a definite Essex accent, I have to admit that I still have a love for mother England, and even tune in to the Queen's speech on Christmas Day.

 

[Glenn Kelley]

1927,
You and I are subjects of the Queen because she is the Head of State of Canada.
In your original post you referred to her as the Queen of England.Her situation as the Queen of England has nothing to do with your being Canadian.
I understand your fondness for the land of your mothers birth it's natural.I hope you don't mind that I feel the need to point out that my country is an independent nation.

 

[Cannonball888]

I have single citizenship but dual personalities.


What he^ said.

 

[Sistema1927]

Glenn,

I fully understand your point now.

However, what do you think the odds are that she will still be the Head of State of Canada when she is no longer the Queen of England?

 

[jefnvk]

My family and I travel to Canada ALL THE TIME, to visit my grandparents. Never had any trouble going in and out through the boarders.

Well, I'm no dual citizen, but I've never had a problem getting into Canada with anything more than a smile and well, a smile. Border patrol let me through without even looking at a drivers license.

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but to you dual citizens, do y'all get taxed twice?