Dual Citizenship Question...

Mina Loy

Hi There.

I am awaiting the arrival of my FS240 (Consular report of Birth Abroad) so I can apply for my american passport. My father was American and Mother Irish (both deceased). I'm just wondering as I forgot to ask (and some people are suggesting it may happen?) if whether or not the US Government will request I give up my Irish Citizenship? When I obtain my passport I am automatically and American Citizen... I can ask them next time I'm at the embassy but I'd rather not be surprised by their answer! I am planning on emigrating in the next couple of months... and I plan on travelling there on the US passport..am I allowed bring my Irish Passport with me also? That sounds stupid but it's also been playing on my mind..

Thanks in advance

blueythebear

Mina Loy wrote: »

Hi There.

I am awaiting the arrival of my FS240 (Consular report of Birth Abroad) so I can apply for my american passport. My father was American and Mother Irish (both deceased). I'm just wondering as I forgot to ask (and some people are suggesting it may happen?) if whether or not the US Government will request I give up my Irish Citizenship? When I obtain my passport I am automatically and American Citizen... I can ask them next time I'm at the embassy but I'd rather not be surprised by their answer! I am planning on emigrating in the next couple of months... and I plan on travelling there on the US passport..am I allowed bring my Irish Passport with me also? That sounds stupid but it's also been playing on my mind..

Thanks in advance

You are permitted to hold dual citizenship and the USA will not be requesting you revoke your Irish citizenship as far as I'm aware.

Had a friend with dual citizenship in the US Army for 5 years. He was told to renounce his Irish citizenship but that was only because he was getting promoted to the point where he required Top Secret clearance which they would only give to a full bona fide 100% americano.

So you should have no problems

dermot_sheehan

The U.S. government won't require you to give up being irish:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1753.html

Mina Loy

blueythebear wrote: »

You are permitted to hold dual citizenship and the USA will not be requesting you revoke your Irish citizenship as far as I'm aware.

Had a friend with dual citizenship in the US Army for 5 years. He was told to renounce his Irish citizenship but that was only because he was getting promoted to the point where he required Top Secret clearance which they would only give to a full bona fide 100% americano.

So you should have no problems

Sounds good. I cant find the info anywhere online and there is a number to call which is only open Tues and Thurs from 10-12.30 which is impossible to get through to.

Apparently though ( my memory is failing me!) there is a difference between dual nationality and dual citizenship..if that makes sense..and it's a recent change on the USA's part...I have no idea how that would change what you said ..if it does?

Mina Loy

gabhain7 wrote: »

The U.S. government won't require you to give up being irish:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1753.html

I've read thate page before but it's only just sunk in..thanks Gabhain...I gather they don't like it necessarily but can't really do anything about it

Dj Stiggie

With regards to the passport, you can have both, but you're only allowed travel on one. You can technically bring both, but you're not meant to.

I only know this because my aunt is a dual citizen so I'm not totally sure of the laws involved etc

Hope this, in some way, helps!

Mina Loy

Dj Stiggie wrote: »

With regards to the passport, you can have both, but you're only allowed travel on one. You can technically bring both, but you're not meant to.

I only know this because my aunt is a dual citizen so I'm not totally sure of the laws involved etc

Hope this, in some way, helps!

Hmm yes I still don't know the answer there...I could just send Irish Passport ahead in post lol? Or leave it here for safekeeping with someone?!?

dermot_sheehan

You can travel with two passports, I routinely travel with two with no problems. You must use your U.S. one to enter the united states, and you should use your irish one to enter the eu.

Imhof Tank

I have both US and Irish passports and how the US embassy explained it to me (in 1987) when I got the US passport was that when in the US I would be subject to all laws applicable to US citizens, whereas when I was anywhere else in the world I could opt out of such matters by relying on the Irish citizenship.

An example given was if the US brought in a military draft in a war situation - if I was inthe US at such a time then I would be liable for it, but if i was in Ireland or anywhere else then no problem.

Another example given was in relation to tax issues.

Incidentally, apart from travel to the US obviously, I would always use the Irish passport. On one occassion when the Irish passport was expired I travelled to Tunisia with the US passport - I was picked out of the line at the airport and detained for an hour or so and questioned pretty aggressively as to what my intentions were etc.

FreudianSlippers

gabhain7 wrote: »

You can travel with two passports, I routinely travel with two with no problems. You must use your U.S. one to enter the united states, and you should use your irish one to enter the eu.

Yeah exactly, I got a US passport when I was younger because my parents moved to the US for a while. I always use my US passport entering the US and my Irish passport leaving it. Occasionally they'll ask you a question or two, but once you explain the situation and offer to show them the other passport they really don't mind.