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I am a middle eastern who have been living in the UK for a while, at the same time my relatives applied for my Green Card. The Green Card was granted this year also because of my residency in the UK I am entitle to apply for British citizenship. Now my question is: If I apply for the British citizenship, does it affect my Green Card in anyway?

Thank you.

Your US Green Card provides you with no advantage for acquiring British Citizenship.

How long have you been living in the UK and under what right to residence

Thank you for your reply.

I have both US Green card and British permanent residency. Now I want to apply for British citizenship. I am not looking for an advantage, because I already have all the requirements. My worry is how becoming a British citizen could negatively affect my US Green card.

Sardar1987 wrote:Thank you for your reply.

I have both US Green card and British permanent residency. Now I want to apply for British citizenship. I am not looking for an advantage, because I already have all the requirements. My worry is how becoming a British citizen could negatively affect my US Green card.

Are you aware that a Green Card can be withdrawn if you remain outside of the US for more than 180 days in a 12 month period. Equally if you are outside of the UK for more than 90 days in the 12 months period (or 180 days during the 5 year qualifying period) prior to applying for BC the application will be refused.

You may find it difficult to comply with residence requirements in both the US and the UK.

Casa wrote:
Are you aware that a Green Card can be withdrawn if you remain outside of the US for more than 180 days in a 12 month period. Equally if you are outside of the UK for more than 90 days in the 12 months period (or 180 days during the 5 year qualifying period) prior to applying for BC the application will be refused.

You may find it difficult to comply with residence requirements in both the US and the UK.

Thanks. Yes, I am aware of those facts. Fortunately I was able to comply with these requirements and now I am eligible to apply for British citizenship. My only question is, is becoming a British citizen going to disqualify me in keeping my US Green card?

As the green card makes you liable for American tax reporting, I'm sure they won't be in a hurry to take it away. I can't believe how much I've had to spend over the years just to comply with the mandated reporting of my American passport.

So you hold an American passport?

If so, you can have dual US/UK citizenship without a problem. You had only mentioned a Green Card.

Casa wrote:So you hold an American passport?

Sorry, that was just me. Didn't mean to confuse the situation for the original post.

Casa wrote:So you hold an American passport?

If so, you can have dual US/UK citizenship without a problem. You had only mentioned a Green Card.

No I don't. I have an American Green card and I am going to apply for British citizenship.

U.S. law states:

"a person who acquires a foreign nationality by applying for it may lose U.S. nationality. "

milspectees wrote:U.S. law states:

"a person who acquires a foreign nationality by applying for it may lose U.S. nationality. "

You can only lose U.S. citizenship if you actively state that you wish to renounce it in front of a U.S. consular outside of the United States. There is over a century's worth of legal precedent that support and reinforce that law. Only the recent case of Yaser Esam Hamdi suggests a possible loophole, and that is an extreme situation.

In any case, that has nothing to do with the OP's question. His Green card won't be affected, but he will have to meet the residence requirements to acquire UK citizenship. That seems rather implausible considering the residency requirements for retaining a Green card.

milspectees wrote:U.S. law states:

"a person who acquires a foreign nationality by applying for it may lose U.S. nationality. "

The OP doesn't have US citizenship to lose.

However, US immigration may find that s/he has abandoned her/his permanent residence status in the US, in light of satisfying the UK's residence and future intentions requirements for UK naturalisation.

milspectees wrote:U.S. law states:

"a person who acquires a foreign nationality by applying for it may lose U.S. nationality. "

Not quite. A person must do it with an intention of giving up their US nationality. The US does allow dual nationality.

Muira wrote:

milspectees wrote:U.S. law states:

"a person who acquires a foreign nationality by applying for it may lose U.S. nationality. "

Not quite. A person must do it with an intention of giving up their US nationality. The US does allow dual nationality.

Can we please stay on track with the OP's original question, without going off topic.