Greencard

Greencard - US / Irish Immigration Questions

Greencard

March 13, 2008

Triple Citizenship

“I WAS born in London to Irish parents. We moved to Ireland when I was 10, then later I moved back to England, and now I live in Chicago, where I recently married a U.S. citizen. I have both an Irish and U.K. passport. I love America very much and would like to eventually become a citizen here too. I have heard of dual citizenship, but is there such a thing as triple citizenship? Will I have to give up my Irish and/or U.K. citizenship?”

DUAL citizenship, as you note, is a fairly common occurrence. Native Americans who have one parent born in Ireland are automatically considered to be Irish citizens as well, in accordance with Irish citizenship law.

It’s also quite possible for people to be citizens of more than two countries. When you obtain U.S. citizenship you’ll be a perfect example of that. Naturally you’re entitled to a U.K. passport because of your birth in London, and as your parents are Irish you also gained Irish citizenship at birth. Your marriage to a U.S. citizen means that you’ll eventually be able to apply for naturalization here, provided you meet all the requirements for doing so.

The U.S. government considers its citizens to be U.S. citizens first and foremost. It does not actively promote the concept of dual citizenship, but recognizes that, in accordance with the laws of other countries, it can, and does, exist.

“U.S. law does not mention dual nationality or require a person to choose one citizenship or another. Also, a person who is automatically granted another citizenship does not risk losing U.S. citizenship,” says a posting on dual nationality on the State Department’s website. (http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1753.html).

Though the oath of allegiance that U.S. citizenship candidates must take requires them to say the following — “I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen” – Irish citizenship law does not recognize the renunciation, nor does U.K. law.

Re-Entry Permit Change

REGULAR readers of this column will know that we constantly write about the merits of obtaining a re-entry permit for green card holders who plan on being outside the U.S. for at least a year. The permit allows the holder to be abroad for up to two years, and to return with the green card and the status it confers intact.

Last week the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) announced a significant change to the process of applying for the permit (USCIS Form I-131). Effective immediately, all applicants will now have to submit fingerprints and photographs, which will be recorded at a USCIS application support center. After the applicant files the I-131 paperwork, notification will be sent regarding an appointment with the service center nearest to the applicant’s place of residence.

Previously, travelers seeking re-entry permits needed only to submit the paperwork prior to departure from the U.S. With the new biometric component it won’t be as simple as that, so those planning trips abroad will need to plan well in advance in order to obtain the all-important document. Expedited processing is available for those who are unable to do this.

“The added biometric requirements will provide the agency with an opportunity to conduct more in-depth security background checks for applicants for immigration benefits or re-entry permits and refugee travel documents for entering the United States,” USCIS stated in a release. “These requirements also improve USCIS’ capability to verify identity and for applicants to obtain secure documents that are less subject to fraud and abuse.”

Visit www.uscis.gov for more information.

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