Multiple Citizenships and adoption

[Fatbrit]

Originally Posted by amerimex in britain

Just to add to this, I checked the Bureau of Consular Affairs website (sorry I cant post links yet) and called them about both adoption and multiple citizenships. What I found out is that the US discourages multiple citizenships due to complications it can cause but they will not make you renounce your citizenship if you are acquiring citizenship through adoption, birth or marriage (there may be a few others but I don't remember). Basically if you are claiming citizenship just because then thats where you might have to renounce.

There's no better research on the legal position of US dual citizens than at Dual Citizenship FAQ. BTW, never tale legal advice from federal officials or their propaganda -- they're allowed to lie to you!

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by amerimex in britain

Just to add to this, I checked the Bureau of Consular Affairs website (sorry I cant post links yet) and called them about both adoption and multiple citizenships. What I found out is that the US discourages multiple citizenships due to complications it can cause but they will not make you renounce your citizenship if you are acquiring citizenship through adoption, birth or marriage (there may be a few others but I don't remember). Basically if you are claiming citizenship just because then thats where you might have to renounce.

I have not yet found out if Mexico will make me renounce my citizenship but Ill keep you posted.

As far as adoption, I basically called to see if I had to do anything specific since my daughter is a US citizen but I was told I need to contact a private attorney. Not much information about that there. Ill add to this if I find anything else out.

Practically speaking, if you go to any US consulate to attempt to renounce your US citizenship (since you can't do so anywhere in the US anyhow), the first thing they will do is to try and talk you out of it. The US government can't make you renounce - if they really get mad at you, they can take your US citizenship away, but I don't think they've actually done this to anyone in a couple of decades.

If you do renounce, it's permanent. No changing your mind. No going back, and no chance to take US citizenship at a later date.

There are still laws on the books that say they can take away your citizenship if you serve in a foreign army, work for a foreign government in certain types of positions or if you voluntarily take another nationality (i.e. if you have to apply for it rather than it being automatically bestowed upon you). These laws have been ignored now since 1990 - however they periodically are cited on government websites as warnings. I suppose that's what they mean when they say that the US government "doesn't encourage" dual nationality.
Cheers,
Bev