I also wonder about that Saudi doctor who was allegedly detained without charges and tortured in Saudi Arabia despite being a dual citizen. Saudi Arabia doesn't appear to allow for dual citizenship or renouncing of citizenship. What do you all think of this issue?
It’s a very bad thing.
For a US citizen to also become a Canadian citizen, that US citizen will have to swear allegiance to the queen of England. Ain’t happening.
There’s no such thing as dual loyalty. One Nation always comes first.
It helped the Kenyan.
Do you think more countries should allow dual citizenship and keep up with global forward trends? Share your thoughts with us below!
A component of the Globalism vs Nationalism debate. The next Dim President will probably waive all fees.
I think only children under the age of 21 should be allowed dual citizenship. when you turn 18 years old you then have a three year window to declare your elegance after that if you are not in country at the time you loose your American citizenship if you are in country you must declare or be deported to the country that you claim to be a citizen of.
I am agin it.
I see it as a divided loyalty. It is contrary to the meaning and purpose of national sovereignty - loyalty to only one sovereign.
My granddaughter has triple citizenship—U.S., she was born here to American father and Costa Rican mother, Costa Rican—through her mother, and Canadian—her dad got her Canadian citizenship as a minor when he became a Canadian citizen. Only problem it gives her is when she goes back to C.R. She must use her C.R. passport to enter or leave Costa Rica. She lives and works in California. I don’t think she even thinks of her citizenship status except when she travels back to see her mom.
If one wants to pay two sets of taxes and have two sets of obligations, then have at it. Wise nations should pass a law forbidding dual citizenship for net tax takers instead of net tax payers, and have some stringent requirements to avoid our current border problems.
Countries might not punish a person for holding dual citizenship, but that doesn’t mean it’s recognized. A Saudi who is a US citizen can’t use Saudi citizenship to escape any consequences of his actions in the US, and I’m sure SA feels the same way about their laws.
It’s a dangerous game.
While I was not a big fan of dual citizenship, my daughter has it, Thai and US. It matters because only Thai’s by law are allowed to own Thailand real estate, so she will be able to inherit the multiple properties her mom owns.
Secondly if there is ever a major regime change she has a fallback country.
I hope to persuade her to go to Annapolis, but only if they waiver the requirement to give up dual citizenship. It’s a financial issue.
And while Thailand does not recognize dual citizenship, they seem to allow it.
“It seems like having competing citizensips might divide a person’s loyalties, ”
My take after thinking about this for 6 years...
1. The only way to not be owned and controlled by a government is dual citizenship.
2. Dual (or greater) citizenship is most common because of identification - grandparents were Irish or Italian - and not equal loyalty to a nation.
3. Dual citizenship provides more than one travel document - that ensues the right of freedom of movement. This has become more important, as the IRS keeps creating more reasons to cancel or prevent issuance of a US passport.
4. For those that come from a country with a really lousy passport (doesn’t allow visa-free travel to many countries), a second passport can make all the difference.
5. For those who are from a failing country, like South Africa, a second citizenship and passport can save your life and open up a new future. I’ve met several people from S. Africa who had the right to leave and start over elsewhere because one parent was Irish and got the family citizenship by descent and passports that allowed their escape.
I concluded that since we do not know the future, it’s better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.
Your mileage may vary.
I have dual citizenship (US and Italy). My parents are both (legal) Italian immigrants. The only real benefit I have is that I can travel freely in Europe and can live/travel in Italy with no time restrictions if I wanted (still have a lot of relatives there). A few years ago I traveled on short notice to Brazil using my Italian passport...I would’ve had to jump thru hoops to get a visa using the US passport. So, there are benefits like that. I love Italy, there are worse places to have dual citizenship with, of course.
I once read about this benefit: Dual citizenship might work for someone who wants to travel freely through the EU countries.
For example, Americans with dual citizenship in Italy can use their Italian passports to travel freely through the other EU countries.