Many people who hold two passports are dual citizens, but not all of them
As an American citizen, when you naturalize in another country and become a dual citizen, generally you are not obligated by U.S. law to inform U.S authorities in any way.
This is a relatively common question I get from American clients pursuing second citizenship.
For example, if you were born a U.S. citizen and then naturalize in the Dominican Republic to become a dual American-Dominican citizen, you do not have to inform the U.S. government by some form, notice, or other communication.
Note: beware that some additional obligations that a U.S. citizen has undertaken, such as those attendant to a U.S. federal security clearance, or expedited entry programs (such as Global Entry) may impose an obligation to inform a U.S. government agency if you become a dual citizen. Consult with a professional to be screened for your particular situation.
Naturalizing in the United States
However, the scenario above is not to be confused with a non-U.S. citizen naturalizing in the United States. if you are a citizen of a non-U.S. country and you naturalize in the United States, you may indeed have some obligation by your home country’s government to inform them in some way. Whether such a requirement exists depends on the laws of your home country.
One example is Spain which requires Spanish nationals voluntarily naturalizing elsewhere to inform the Spanish government of their desire to maintain Spanish citizenship, within three years. Worse yet, some other countries strip you of their citizenship if you naturalize in the U.S.
As always, understand that becoming a dual citizen means subjecting yourself to a second set of benefits as well as a second set of legal obligations.
Each immigration and citizenship case is particular and you should consult with a qualified immigration and citizenship lawyer about your case before taking any steps. The Law Office of Parviz Malakouti does not guarantee the accuracy of information presented nor assume responsibility for actions taken in reliance of this information. The information in this page could become outdated. Attorney marketing.
