Help

[michele2011]

Hi everyone! Desperate need of help!!!!!
My name is michele and I am now living in belfast northern ireland and I've been here for 22years.
My father was in the american army and he retired in 1988.
I have been travelling to america for the past few years on holidays until last year they told me that I should never have been allowed to travel to america on a british passport and they were not going to let me through customs to go on holiday but after 3hours of waiting at the terminal at gatwick airport they let me through but told me that the next time I would only be allowed to america with a american passport. That was the first time I ralised that I was still an american citizen and started this journey I'm on. I have been wanting to move back to the states and don't know where to start so I have a lot of questions and I don't know who to turn too!
Can I move over there without visas?
How do I start looking for jobs?
Is there anyway I can get my high school diploma in the uk?
Why have I got a british passport if I can't travel with it?
Also in 2008 I got married in florida( travelled with british passport) and it says on my certificate that I'm a british citizen, is that legal? Is my marriage invalid?
REALLY NEED HELP

[tcscivic12]

Originally Posted by michele2011

Hi everyone! Desperate need of help!!!!!
My name is michele and I am now living in belfast northern ireland and I've been here for 22years.
My father was in the american army and he retired in 1988.
I have been travelling to america for the past few years on holidays until last year they told me that I should never have been allowed to travel to america on a british passport and they were not going to let me through customs to go on holiday but after 3hours of waiting at the terminal at gatwick airport they let me through but told me that the next time I would only be allowed to america with a american passport. That was the first time I ralised that I was still an american citizen and started this journey I'm on. I have been wanting to move back to the states and don't know where to start so I have a lot of questions and I don't know who to turn too!
Can I move over there without visas?
How do I start looking for jobs?
Is there anyway I can get my high school diploma in the uk?
Why have I got a british passport if I can't travel with it?
Also in 2008 I got married in florida( travelled with british passport) and it says on my certificate that I'm a british citizen, is that legal? Is my marriage invalid?
REALLY NEED HELP

Being a British Citizen and a US citizen is legal as dual citizenship is allowed and does not make your marriage invalid. If you are truely an American Citizen then it is as simple as getting your American passport to enter the United States again. Also, if you are an American citizen you may want to check with the IRS if you owe any taxes if you haven't done this already. Start looking for jobs on sites like monster.com.

[Fatbrit]

Originally Posted by michele2011

Hi everyone! Desperate need of help!!!!!
My name is michele and I am now living in belfast northern ireland and I've been here for 22years.
My father was in the american army and he retired in 1988.
I have been travelling to america for the past few years on holidays until last year they told me that I should never have been allowed to travel to america on a british passport and they were not going to let me through customs to go on holiday but after 3hours of waiting at the terminal at gatwick airport they let me through but told me that the next time I would only be allowed to america with a american passport. That was the first time I ralised that I was still an american citizen and started this journey I'm on. I have been wanting to move back to the states and don't know where to start so I have a lot of questions and I don't know who to turn too!
Can I move over there without visas?
How do I start looking for jobs?
Is there anyway I can get my high school diploma in the uk?
Why have I got a british passport if I can't travel with it?
Also in 2008 I got married in florida( travelled with british passport) and it says on my certificate that I'm a british citizen, is that legal? Is my marriage invalid?
REALLY NEED HELP

Don't panic! Your whole mess isn't much of a mess and can be sorted out with some paperwork.

Where were you born?

Is your father still alive?

[michele2011]

I was born in flushing Queens NYC and I haven't seen my father in 15years

[Fatbrit]

Originally Posted by michele2011

I was born in flushing Queens NYC and I haven't seen my father in 15years

So that makes sense! The XIVth amendment to the US Constitution makes you a citizen. USCs must enter and leave the US with their US passports by law.

Your paperwork:-

Contact American Citizen Services at the US Consulate in Belfast. You may or may not have to travel to London for some of this. You need:

a) a US passport
and if you're planning to live and work in the US
b) a social security card
c) back file your taxes for the last 3 years

It's best to get b) at the same time you apply for your first passport. This is because the issue of a social security number is prolonged for those who do not apply until they are an adult. There's an SSA office in London.

c) is a requirement for all US citizens. Don't worry, unless you're rich you aren't going to be paying anything -- it's just a paperwork exercise. Again, there's an IRS office at the US embassy in London.

Print out, read and understand the background to US dual citizenship issues from Dual Citizenship FAQ

On your other questions,
- American citizens don't need a visa to live or work in the US.
- Look to taking a GED at a community college in the US if you want a high school diploma.
- You can use your British passport for anything other than entering or leaving the US.
- Your marriage is still valid. If your spouse wishes to come with you to the US and is not a USC, he will require an immigrant visa which takes 6-8 months to process.

[gworrall]

It's best to get b) at the same time you apply for your first passport. This is because the issue of a social security number is prolonged for those who do not apply until they are an adult. There's an SSA office in London.

Where exactly in London is the SSA office, out of interest? Thanks.

[Fatbrit]

Originally Posted by gworrall

Where exactly in London is the SSA office, out of interest? Thanks.

In the embassy.

Federal Benefits / Social Security | Embassy of the United States London, UK