cabaiguan juan Posted January 4, 2015 Posted January 4, 2015 So i found out that I could get citizenship with Ireland making me a dual citizen (USA & Ireland). I'm curious if anyone here has dual citizenship or has looked into it. What are the benefits of dual citizenship? How is it traveling with two passports? Do you use one for certain countries? Do you ever get suspicious looks from Customs when you use the different passports? What made you decide to get/maintain dual citizenship? Did your country require military or public service? How does this affect taxes, banking, personal property? I'd love to hear from the experiences of others on this.
Duxnutz Posted January 4, 2015 Posted January 4, 2015 Dual citizen: Australia - USA Benefits include taxation in both countries (meant to do tax returns in both places as both Aus and US tax folks on their worldwide income after certain amounts), a feeling of confusion on where you belong and confused customs agents (I leave one country on one passport and enter on the other). Personally I don't travel on my US passport anywhere but entering the States but each is just as good as each other. I got my passports through birth and then living in another country (Australia), the only limits I've encountered from being a dual citizen was being ineligible from each countries Armed Forces. I tried getting into the Airforce here when I was a youngster and they said I'd have to give up my US citizenship. Likewise with the National Guard.
Vinnyc Posted January 4, 2015 Posted January 4, 2015 I have many friend who have dual citizenship. They use one passport at a time when traveling they tend to choose the one that will get them the easiest passage. For example if you went to Cuba you would use your irish passport. For taxes they pay based on which country they reside in. I have not seen it affect banking or personal property.
santela Posted January 4, 2015 Posted January 4, 2015 The biggest benefit I could think of is you will be able to travel to Cuba. I tried to book a flight to Cuba from a third country with Virgin Airlines using my US passport and got rejected. Now it seems like my best shot of getting there is through Mexico, but I just can't be bothered with all the hassle. So I'm jealous of your situation! BTW, does anyone know if I can fly from Canada to Cuba with my US passport?
Vetteman Posted January 4, 2015 Posted January 4, 2015 The biggest benefit I could think of is you will be able to travel to Cuba. Unfortunately I don't believe dual citizenship where one of them is US, has any impact on the ability to legally travel to Cuba.
Philski Posted January 4, 2015 Posted January 4, 2015 I hold both UK and Swiss passports, although the introduction of the Schengen Agreement means that the Swiss part holds fewer advantages than before. It does mean that would be easier for me to own property in many parts of Switzerland than a non-Swiss, and probably some others that I haven't needed to explore.
cabaiguan juan Posted January 4, 2015 Author Posted January 4, 2015 Other members of my family are interested in holding dual citizenship for work purposes. They also mentioned that they could own property in the EU. My purposes are not as noble, but it still seams pretty cool to have option to travel as an Irish citizen. Unfortunately, there is a cost associated with getting an Irish Citizenship and I'm debating if its worth the cost. What are the perks of being Irish?
Dara Posted January 4, 2015 Posted January 4, 2015 What are the perks of being Irish? - We're loved by all (a perk of never having invaded anyone else's lands)- We're funny! - We make the best whiskey in the world - We're the only country who get a day off to party on St Patrick's day (while other countries have to fit a whole days drinking into after work) Along with many others.... Having said that we pay **** loads of personal taxes, have pretty bad weather and pay over the odds for most things thanks to taxes and duties :-(
jazzboypro Posted January 4, 2015 Posted January 4, 2015 I don't but my wife does, Cuban+Canadian. Having a Canadian passeport allows her to travel to the USA without problems. I took her to NY last summer and she has many friends in Miami we'll probably go there in a near future.
milo Posted January 5, 2015 Posted January 5, 2015 By birth, I am a citizen (based on local laws) of three countries on three separate continents. Taxation is tough; but, generally not an issue. The benefit outweighs the burden( especially in the case of public education. For example, holding a a passport from an EU member state reduced the cost of my post-grad studies 10-fold. 20k Euros vs. 2K Euros. That said, I believe the privilege of citizenship by birth should (and for the most part does, save the Irish, Poles and a few other EU states) only be extended to the first generation born outside the legal and territorial bounds of a country.
santela Posted January 5, 2015 Posted January 5, 2015 Unfortunately I don't believe dual citizenship where one of them is US, has any impact on the ability to legally travel to Cuba. I tried to book a flight from Shanghai to Cuba and was refused because of my US passport. I would imagine if I had a second passport then I could just use that and they wouldn't even know I'm American. I know I won't be able to travel from US to Cuba directly though if that's what you mean.
Vetteman Posted January 5, 2015 Posted January 5, 2015 I tried to book a flight from Shanghai to Cuba and was refused because of my US passport. I would imagine if I had a second passport then I could just use that and they wouldn't even know I'm American. I know I won't be able to travel from US to Cuba directly though if that's what you mean. What I mean is.... I believe even if you use your second non-US passport and travel to Cuba, it is still considered an "illegal" trip by OFAC and no different than if you flew to Cancun with your American passport, and to Cuba from there.
luv2fly Posted January 5, 2015 Posted January 5, 2015 What I mean is.... I believe even if you use your second non-US passport and travel to Cuba, it is still considered an "illegal" trip by OFAC and no different than if you flew to Cancun with your American passport, and to Cuba from there. That is what a friend of mine found out. He said that if one is a US citizen they are subject to the laws of the US. The US does not recognize dual citizenship but one can be a dual citizen without loosing their US citizenship. That said, he was told it is illegal to travel to Cuba on any passport if he is a US citizen, unless traveling on an OFAC lic. Question is, who is going to know?
martymonty Posted January 5, 2015 Posted January 5, 2015 My understanding is that it's the USA laws saying it's illegal for there citizens to go to Cuba? Unless for certain exemptions. I don't think Cuba cares, so I see no problem going there from, let's say? Canada! I personally have met many Americans in Cuba. As for dual citizenship, I believe, that to become a US citizen, you have to renounce all other citizenships? Not stating any of this as fact, just my understanding!
1LegLance Posted January 5, 2015 Posted January 5, 2015 As others have said the US does not recognize dual citizenship. Matter of fact if you are a plain old single country citizen but have a green card for the USA you CAN NOT go to Cuba unless on a general lic or specific lic trip. Sorry but with a Peruvian wife and lots of family who have US, USA & Peru and Peru only passports I have looked into this from all angles. Peru is ok with me having both passports, the USA only cares about my USA passport when it comes down to legal things. All that said people need to realize it is not that hard to travel to Cuba especially if you look at the Professional Research clause on the general license list. 1
santela Posted January 6, 2015 Posted January 6, 2015 What I mean is.... I believe even if you use your second non-US passport and travel to Cuba, it is still considered an "illegal" trip by OFAC and no different than if you flew to Cancun with your American passport, and to Cuba from there. I see. You are correct. With a second non-US passport I won't have to go through Cancun. It'll still be illegal, but no one has to know ;-)
cabaiguan juan Posted January 6, 2015 Author Posted January 6, 2015 Well, Cuba wasn't my main reason for getting dual citizenship. Come to think of it, it wasn't on my mind when I thought about getting dual citizenship. I dont have a good reason for getting dual citizenship other then i think it would be cool. Who knows, if/when i decide to get dual citizenship, then there might be other benefits that i find out about.
mgravito Posted January 6, 2015 Posted January 6, 2015 US-Portugal. Makes traveling to Europe a hell of a lot easier.
avaldes Posted January 6, 2015 Posted January 6, 2015 Out of curiosity, what was easier travelling with a Portuguese passport versus a US passport?
mgravito Posted January 6, 2015 Posted January 6, 2015 The airports in the Azores (Lajes) and Lisbon specifically. Customs is much quicker.
Habanos2000 Posted January 6, 2015 Posted January 6, 2015 This summer I was asked why I didn't have dual citizenship US/Germany seeing as my mother was a German citizen. I had never really thought about it before, but even though it sounds cool to me and strikes a chord as Germany is near and dear to my heart, it just doesn't seem worth the time and effort to pursue. Of course, the possibility of having to pay taxes to two governments stops me dead in my tracks.
avaldes Posted January 6, 2015 Posted January 6, 2015 Ahh, that makes sense in Portuguese territories.
Susanne Posted January 6, 2015 Posted January 6, 2015 This summer I was asked why I didn't have dual citizenship US/Germany seeing as my mother was a German citizen. I had never really thought about it before, but even though it sounds cool to me and strikes a chord as Germany is near and dear to my heart, it just doesn't seem worth the time and effort to pursue. Of course, the possibility of having to pay taxes to two governments stops me dead in my tracks. It would make travel between Schengen countries easier, and open up the possibility of relocating relatively painlessly to the EU if you were so inclined. Looked into getting my Italian citizenship; the only issue is time... Having a legal tax presence there, as well as property, it would be physically easy; earning a living and/or starting a business would be a major PITA, tho not insurmountable... My only issue (tax and legal wise) is the USA still has hooks into you - even if you live there.
dougincanada Posted January 9, 2015 Posted January 9, 2015 Now if you cold get dual citizenship and an embassidorship from that country and have diplomatic immunity. You could smoke where you want and pull out the diplomatic immunty card when they went too fine you, that would be sweet. Now if we can get Rob to invest his billions in to starting a new country. We could all become embassidors of the peoples republic of Cohibastan. Long live the republic. 2
CanuckSARTech Posted January 9, 2015 Posted January 9, 2015 Now if you cold get dual citizenship and an embassidorship from that country and have diplomatic immunity. You could smoke where you want and pull out the diplomatic immunty card when they went too fine you, that would be sweet. Now if we can get Rob to invest his billions in to starting a new country. We could all become embassidors of the peoples republic of Cohibastan. Long live the republic. AWESOME. Legally, it would likely / maybe / hopefully fly. Realistically, I don't think Rob has enough in annual sales, compounded over the life of his business, to pay for this venture; however, I'd still buy a timeshare!!!!
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