Dual Citizenship UK & USA

[mysweetmarie]

can someone please advise me, as I don't exactly know how or where to begin. I am a US citizen, married to a Brit since 2004. I have the Leave to Remain visa but I am interested in becoming a dual citizen for both here in England and the States. I've lived in England since 2003, I've been employed here since 2005 and my husband and I own our home here. All my family lives in the USA and so I do not wish to abandon it altogether but now that I've heard it is possible to obtain dual citizenship, I am highly interested.
But........where on earth do I begin? The sites I have been finding are totally confusing to me and I need pointers in the right direction to begin this process. Many thanks for anyone who can offer me an answer without the run-around I've been experiencing through websites!

[c1mth0g]

To the best of my understanding, neither the US nor the UK have objections to dual citizenship, so you can just naturalize as a British citizen. I believe if you go to the official UK government websites, this is stated pretty clearly. On the US web site, it is less clear (because I think the US position is something like they discourage but do not object). I believe there has been a case (not sure whether it is Supreme Court or not) that makes it pretty clear that you retain your US citizenship even if you naturalize elsewhere (unless you do something like explicitly renouce your US citizenship before a US consular officer).

[mysweetmarie]

ok, thank you, I'll look into that. I did see where you just filled out the application form but I wasn't sure it was that easy and thought I would have to go through a lot more than that. So I'll have two passports and that's all it takes to become a dual citizen? I don't have to do anything about my American status, do I? As far as I know, nothing has changed there.......I still have an American bank account and no one has given me any trouble about it. When my passport is up, I am assuming I need to get one in the States and here? I guess that's what 'dual' means, doesn't it! I'll try doing what you said and see where it gets me. Again, thank you.

[c1mth0g]

Here is the UK official information:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/briti ... tionality/

and here is the official US information:

http://travel.state.gov/law/citizenship ... p_778.html

Notice that on the US side, it says that naturalization can cause you to lose your citizenship, but if you scroll a little down the page, you will see that that only happens if you explicitly renounce your US citizenship.

You don't have to do anything on the US side. There are extra US tax requirements for citizens living abroad (tons of extra forms) but that affects you as a US citizen abroad, not as a British citizen. On the other hand, holding British nationality may allow you to take advantage of some tax treaties between the US and the UK.

[mysweetmarie]

Thank you. I've looked it up and will get on it right away. May I also ask, when my passport expires in a few years, is there a way to renew it from here in England through the American Embassy, and if so, do you know if I would be able to do this through the post? I appreciate all your help.

[c1mth0g]

Yes you can definitely renew it at a US embassy or consulate abroad.

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/ac ... index.html

It looks like doing it by post is currently OK, but this changes all the time, so you'll need to check again close to the expiration of your US passport.

[mysweetmarie]

You are wonderful to help me out like this! You've answered every single question I had and I am so grateful. Many, many thanks and have a lovely week.