Serving The Immigration Needs Of The San Diego Area Since 1984

Know the ins and outs of holding a dual citizenship

On Behalf of | Jan 4, 2019 | Citizenship

People in the United States have the option of holding a dual citizenship. This includes people who are interested in becoming naturalized U.S. citizens while they still have their citizenship in another country. There are some specific things that you have to consider if you are planning on trying to do this.

One important point is that you have to obey the rules of both countries. This can pose a problem when the laws directly contradict each other. In some cases, the dual citizenship itself violates laws. In the United States, there isn’t any law that recognizes dual citizenships, but there isn’t any law that forbids it either.

Another consideration is the tax implication of a dual citizenship. You might be responsible for paying income taxes in both countries, which could become an expensive proposition. Still, you would have to do this in order to remain compliant with the law.

You also have to determine what type of passport you will need to hold. In the United States, citizens are required to use a U.S. passport when you enter and leave the country. The same might be true for other countries, which could lead to a conundrum for you, so this is worth checking out.

If you are considering becoming a U.S. citizen and holding a dual citizenship, you should be sure that you know exactly how this will impact you. The steps you take here will include you pledging allegiance to the United States, so be sure you can honestly do that while continuing to hold a citizenship in another country.