Understanding Dual Citizenship
If you have become a naturalized U.S. citizen, that does not mean that you automatically relinquish your citizenship in your native country. It simply means that you are now a citizen of two countries. This concept is known as dual citizenship or dual nationality.
The United States does allow dual citizenship, but it does not encourage dual citizenship because of the problems it may cause. Even though the United States allows dual citizenship, your native country may not.
Prior to becoming a naturalized citizen of the U.S., you should investigate whether your native country allows dual citizenship. If so, you may also enjoy the privilege of owning property and having voting rights in both countries.
A person in the United States may acquire dual citizenship in many ways. The most common forms of gaining this designation are:
- Being born in the United States to parents who are not U.S. citizens
- Being born outside of the United States to one parent who is a United States citizen and the other parent is a citizen of another country
- Being born in a foreign country to U.S. citizens
- Becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen while maintaining citizenship in his or her native country
- Marrying a non-U.S. citizen
Remember, being a citizen of two countries means that you must observe the laws of both countries. Dealing with these issues can become quite complex.