Mumsnet Talk

I always thought that American citizenship is for life (unless you renounce it), but there was a thread a couple of weeks ago where someone was born in the US but then had to travel back there once every 10 years to keep the citizenship

DS was born in the US to non-American parents, was issued birth certificate and American passport. We left when he was year and a half old, so nine and a half years ago. We let the passport expire.

Do I need to renew it pronto and take him there for a visit? Anyone know?

Not an expert but I don't think American citizenship is linked to passport.

If DS has dual nationality I think he has to chose one or the other at 16 years old.

If he is an American citizen I don't think he can get into the US on any other passport than an American one so you'll have to renew it to even get into the States.

Thanks. Yes, I know he needs to enter US on American passport. I'm pretty sure that he doesn't need to choose his nationality, USA are fine with dual nationalities.

He definitely was a US citizenship as born there, got birth certificate and US passport, but my my question is whether there is anything we need to do for him to keep it, like travel to the States once every few years etc.

And I did check US embassy website and it seems to say it's all ok, but that thread on MN made me doubt myself.

sorry was a US citizen, not a citizenship!

Hmm, it seems like it's for life. Still, dos anyone know? TIA

it's for life as far as I know. it gets dodgy if your dc wants to pass on their citizenship though

My mate- same situation as yours- said her boys have to chose their citizenship at 18 years old. They can renounce their American one then- think it might be linked to having to file US tax returns forever.

Your DS has American citizenship full stop. America used to make dual nationals choose at age 18 but they no longer do so.

On a practical level you should probably keep the American passport up to date just in case.

He will be a citizen for life. Don't forget that if he decides to keep his citizenship he will have to register for the draft within 30 days of turning 18. I think you can do it online now.

Citizen for life when born in the US. No need to visit every 10 years to retain citizenship, but if you do enter the US then need to us a US passport, will need to sign up for selective service at 18 (draft) and responsible to file taxes on worldwide income for life.

I think you have to return if you have a green card, not if you have citizenship.
I have US and UK citizenship and have not been to the US for seventeen years.

Two of my children have US passports...one due to being born there, the other a bit more complicated.

We have concerns about the tax issue, if they live in a country without reciprocal agreement, so no longer see it as a great gift to the children...

...and now I just read 'the draft'...bloomin eck what's that???? Totally clueless...please can someone shine some light?

He is a citizen for life unless he renounces it officially (there is a form available from the State Dept I believe).

The thread I saw a few weeks ago was about a child born to an American parent and a British parent in the UK and even so that child is an American citizen for life too. Is this the one you are thinking of OP?

Renew his passport, and if you ever travel to the US with your child make sure you use his American passport. You can use any other passport he bears for any other international travel but entering or leaving the US he must use the US passport as he is a citizen.

The draft is selective (military) service registration, which enables the US govt to draft a male aged 18 or over (conditions apply; see history of Vietnam War) for military service in time of duly declared war. My DS aged 19 registered for the draft upon turning 18 and is not worried about being drafted as there is no likelihood of draft conditions applying any time soon and he is a university student. Emphasis is on selective in selective service registration.

When your DS is coming to the end of his secondary school days, look into American university opportunities, and especially look at US financial aid -- he may find it less expensive to go to university in the US than in the UK.

He's American for life. There is no need to keep going to the US, or keep his passport up to date.

If he is British, there is no need to choose nationalities at any future age. Both citizenships are for life.

Ooh, so many responses, thank you!

Yes, math, that was the thread I was thinking about, one poster (not OP) said she was born in the US and said citizenship didn't cause her any trouble (as per taxes etc) but that she remembers to go there once every x years. I might have read it wrongly, though.

Yes, I'm aware of tax and draft issues, but still think it's a brilliant opportunity for DS to be able to study and work there if he chooses to do so. He's not British and I find marked differences between higher education institutions in the country he lives in and the US and also general work opportunities/attitude/openess to initiative etc (ok, we're in France, and dear Lord, isn't it all fucking rigid and stale and constrictive here).

I think it's well worth it for the study and work opportunities. US universities often have amazing financial aid and being able to work while studying is a major plus. DD1 was able to pay off a student loan before graduating thanks to a job she kept for three years - worked p/t during term and f/t for all holidays, managed to sublet a room during the hols and still stay afloat financially.