Dual citizen, am I able to get UK passport?

[camerontea]

I was born in Hong Kong in 1971. Both my parents are Chinese and not British citizens. We now live in the US. I have a old Blue British passport (expired) which I used to travel to America in 1975. I got US passport & citizenship in 1994. I was told by someone at the British consulate in NY that I am considered a dual citizen as long as I never renounced my British citizenship. Is this true? Am I able to apply for a new UK passport? or even British citizenship?

Here's where I am confused. I believe my passport is not a BNO passport. I do not have a HK Identity card, but do have my original HK birth certificate. I spoke to someone at Passport & Consular services, as well as Immigration and Nationality, and they couldn't answer my question.

Any help or advice would be much appreciated!

[Siggi]

Whilst you may be considered a daul national by the British, who have no problem with you one holding two nationalities,but as a American you may only hold one nationality.So if you wish to remain American do not even consider trying to pick up a second nationality.

In terms of your British blue passport I beleive you have British oversea nationals passport, which unfortunately does'nt really offer too many advantage's in terms of travel, as many country's don't recognise it as a full British passport and therefore you will require visa's.
Example your would require a Schenang if you have a BON passport.

[SYH]

Whilst you may be considered a daul national by the British, who have no problem with you one holding two nationalities,but as a American you may only hold one nationality.So if you wish to remain American do not even consider trying to pick up a second nationality.

In terms of your British blue passport I beleive you have British oversea nationals passport, which unfortunately does'nt really offer too many advantage's in terms of travel, as many country's don't recognise it as a full British passport and therefore you will require visa's.
Example your would require a Schenang if you have a BON passport.

thats not true, the us tolerates dual nationality
they just don't like it
http://www.uscitizenship.info/uscitizen ... itizen.htm

[Siggi]

SYH Please explain!!

[Siggi]

SYH sorry I did'nt read the attachment!

[camerontea]

It's true. The US says that since I was born in a British colony and acquired US citizenship later, I am considered a dual citizen. However, I am subject to all laws (and punishment for breaking them)living in the US and was told that they require my US Passport when I leave and enter the US.

[sakura]

The US most certainly recognises dual (or more) nationality - I know quite a few people who are US citizens and British, Swedish, French, Nigerian, etc. They have never had any law barring dual (or more) nationality. The only time this might be an issue is if you want to work for the CIA or something.

[sakura]

It's true. The US says that since I was born in a British colony and acquired US citizenship later, I am considered a dual citizen. However, I am subject to all laws (and punishment for breaking them)living in the US and was told that they require my US Passport when I leave and enter the US.

You might be a dual citizen, but the question is whether you are a dual citizen with the UK (British citizen) or Hong Kong, China (Chinese citizen). What does your old passport say? Does it say CUKC, BDTC, BOC or anything?

The rules changed so many times; read here for more http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_na ... _Hong_Kong (I am generally loath to provide a link to Wikipedia, but it is the best place to find all the info in one, short of the BIA website, of course!)

[camerontea]

It doesn't say anything about BNO,BOC, or CUKC inside. In the backcover it says "Holder has right of abode in Hong Kong"

Does this mean since I never applied for BNO passport that I've lost my British citizenship? I am not considered a PRC citizen because I applied for US citizenship.

[Wanderer]

I know Russia always considers it's citizens as Russian and doesn't even acknowledge any other citizenship held.

What difference that makes I dunno.

[sakura]

It doesn't say anything about BNO,BOC, or CUKC inside. In the backcover it says "Holder has right of abode in Hong Kong"

Does this mean since I never applied for BNO passport that I've lost my British citizenship? I am not considered a PRC citizen because I applied for US citizenship.

I don't know. I thought you (and most other HKers) lost BC (British Citizenship) with the BN Act 1981 in anticipation of HK's handover to China. Those with BN(O) do have special provision in regards travelling to the UK/EU, but are not considered British Citizens.

I don't know much about this (where's JAJ et al!). Maybe look through this http://www.immigrationboards.com/viewto ... =hong+kong

[global gypsy]

The info at this site may be relevnat for you:
http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/messa ... parentid=0
=========
On 30 June 1997 (i.e. when sovereignty over Hong Kong returned to the People’s Republic of China), British Dependent Territories citizens lost that citizenship if they were connected only with Hong Kong. However, special rules were introduced in 1986 allowing British Dependent Territories citizens from Hong Kong to acquire the new status of British National (Overseas). Those who did not register as British Nationals (Overseas) and who had no other nationality or citizenship on 30 June 1997 became British Overseas citizens on 1 July 1997.

When the British Overseas Territories Act 2002 was introduced on 26 February 2002, British Dependent Territories citizenship was renamed British overseas territories citizenship.

On 21 May 2002, British overseas territories citizens became British citizens automatically under the 2002 Act if they had that citizenship by connection with a qualifying territory (see Note 3).

Note 3 British dependent territories1 on 1 January 1983

Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands and Dependencies2, Gibraltar, Hong Kong3, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, St Christopher and Nevis4, St Helena and Dependencies, the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Virgin Islands.
=======
As others have mentioned, US does recognize dual citizenship.

[JAJ]

It doesn't say anything about BNO,BOC, or CUKC inside. In the backcover it says "Holder has right of abode in Hong Kong"

Does this mean since I never applied for BNO passport that I've lost my British citizenship? I am not considered a PRC citizen because I applied for US citizenship.

Correct. If your only claim to British nationality was through Hong Kong, and you did not apply for a BNO passport, you lost your British nationality on 30 June 1997. (there was an exception for those with no other nationality but this does not apply to you).

You may still have a Hong Kong right of abode:
http://www.immd.gov.hk

Be careful that if you enter China (or HK) on Hong Kong documents you will have no right to U.S. consular protection.