You’re considering getting dual citizenship so that you can have citizenship in your home country as well as the U.S. Now, you’re wondering: Is it worth it? Or should you give up citizenship in your home country once you become a U.S. citizen?
Learn about what being a citizen of two countries entails, whether it’s positive or negative.
Upsides of Being a Citizen of the U.S. and Another Country
When you are a citizen of another country as well as the U.S., you are free to live and work in both. You will have the right to vote in elections and donate to candidates, and you’ll have access to social services, such as healthcare. If it’s important to you to know more than one language, this might be possible if you have dual citizenship. You also get to experience two cultures and show them to your children, too. You can own property in both countries and travel between them easily, without having to obtain visas or fill out paperwork. Additionally, you’ll have two passports, which simplifies travel.
Downsides of Being a Citizen of the U.S. and Another Country
When you have dual citizenship, you will have to abide by the law of both countries. This can be especially difficult when it comes to taxation. If you are a U.S. citizen living somewhere else, you will still have to pay taxes on the income you earn anywhere else in the world. You could end up owing double the amount of taxes because of this – taxes to your home country and taxes to the U.S. It depends on your situation. You’ll have to ask an accountant who specializes in this what you can do.
Another potential downside is that it’s a difficult, complicated, and long process to become a U.S. citizen. It costs $725 to apply, which could be a barrier for some people. Before you can become a citizen, you will need to have had a green card (permanent resident) for at least five years, so it’s not a quick process.
Does Your Country Allow Dual Citizenship?
The U.S. allows you to be a dual citizen – but some other countries do not. For instance, India, China, Poland, Georgia, Ukraine, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia and a handful of other countries do not allow you to have dual citizenship. That means you’ll have to give up your citizenship from one of those countries if you decide to become a U.S. citizen. This could have a detrimental effect on you and your family, so you’ll need to make the best decision once you weigh those factors. Make sure you look into whether or not your country allows you to have dual citizenship with the U.S. before you apply.
Working With an Immigration Attorney
If you want to ensure you’re going about getting citizenship in the proper way, then consider working with an immigration attorney. They will help you apply, giving you the best chance possible of garnering dual citizenship.
Contact a Florida Immigration Attorney
Do you have questions about becoming a U.S. citizen with the assistance of an immigration attorney in Florida? Then contact Florida Immigration Law Counsel through our website or by calling 1-800-666-4996. We deal with the government so you don’t have to. We look forward to helping you at this time.
