USA Citizenship - Need advice

pazza2000

Maybe here is not the correct place to seek advice, though i am sure some of you will have a better idea than I.

Just decided to apply for US(dual) citizenship on the basis of my Mother whom is a US citizen, though now lives here in the UK. Been unable to speak to anybody from the US embassy on how to apply, all they do is send me out the confusing application form. Anyway, leaving for the states soon for a vacation, and then going onwards to Austalisa tavelling for a year. I would like to apply for my US citizenship whilst i am away but i understand this may be hard. Can i apply whilst in the USA or Austalia.

Also, is their anybody i could go to, to seek advice(cheaply :-D) as the application form and what i need is bambooziling.

Im worried that it will be difficult to do the application process whilst abroad, and my mother is little help with stuff like this(shes american afterall).

Really want to return from Oz to the USA and not the UK and be able to work(as a citizen) and its annoying as i feel with difficulties, whish will be where i am and the mammoth application form, i feel it will be difficult, though i am entitled to citizenship i reckon(mother was resident in the US till she was 20, have many ties their etc)


Any advice or words of wisdom?????

hammy_the_hammer

http://www.richw.org/dualcit/faq.html#discover

might help

Voyager2002

As Cecil Rhodes pointed out, if you are born British you have won first prize in the lottery of life.

Maybe you should try to appreciate what you have, instead of pursuing what is really fools' gold.

Sam_Bee

If the forms you have to fill in are bamboozling you, I suggest you get professional help (solicitor or the like), as I doubt there is anyway round filling them in.

dzug

If this were an American site you would have been bombarded with replies suggesting you consult an Immigration Attorney.

Maybe consult one during your holiday there?

M4RKM

why bother getting citizenship, it is worth the same as British citizenship.. just apply for a greencard, as you are allowed to, and still be british..

you do realise, that if you become a USA citizen, you are no longer a British Citizen, i'm sure that's one of the rules that the USA has.... so you can't do dual... i think... don't hold me to it though

cjalynch

I would certainly echo previous post and get some professional help if you can. The US system is complex and difficult. Green cards are not an "easy" route either. I am married to a US citizen and previously held work permits for the USA and would always advise seeing a lawyer if you can't get the advice you need from the embassy website (not cheap but there are several based around the embassy in Grosvenor square). I think also that it is probably advisable to make your application from the UK rather than trying from within the US as this may be seen as you misrepresenting your intentions when you arrived in the country on a "visit" if you see what I mean. It might feel a lot like you are jumping through hoops, the paperwork IS tricky and they will be very specific about what they want to see from you.
Sorry this is not very helpful, but my experiences with US immigration have not always been great!

M4RKM

cjalynch wrote: »

..but my experiences with US immigration have not always been great!

Which is why i'm still in sunny Wakefield, and not Boston, MA..

Voyager2002

markymoo wrote: »

why bother getting citizenship, it is worth the same as British citizenship.. just apply for a greencard, as you are allowed to, and still be british..

you do realise, that if you become a USA citizen, you are no longer a British Citizen, i'm sure that's one of the rules that the USA has.... so you can't do dual... i think... don't hold me to it though

I know a number of people who are citizens of both the USA and the UK. I understand it was President Kennedy who changed the law to permit dual nationality.

However, a British passport gives access to many more countries than does a US passport, so I really don't see the point of getting US nationality. I hope you don't want to live there? I mean, their economy is in deep trouble; they don't have a health service; and most of their towns and cities don't even have proper buses. Plus, even if you did manage to get a job there you would not be paid in proper money (pounds or euros) but in something called dollars. These dollar things have very little value in most of the world.

pazza2000

Voyager2002 wrote: »

I know a number of people who are citizens of both the USA and the UK. I understand it was President Kennedy who changed the law to permit dual nationality.

However, a British passport gives access to many more countries than does a US passport, so I really don't see the point of getting US nationality. I hope you don't want to live there? I mean, their economy is in deep trouble; they don't have a health service; and most of their towns and cities don't even have proper buses. Plus, even if you did manage to get a job there you would not be paid in proper money (pounds or euros) but in something called dollars. These dollar things have very little value in most of the world.

...All the same, i think i would like to try working & living their, or at least have the option to. I am sure you can have dual nationality...my Mother has it, has lived in the UK for 20years but still uses her US passport.

...What i do know is, it is hard to get Green card for the states, very hard. Nationality is my best bet, i hope i can master the application process, and affordably.

.....Does anybody agree that applying whilst over their may hinder my chances?? As they treat those eligibile to apply for US citizenship, & do so, with respect,as if they are citizens....well, from what i gather from the site.

Ps. I like Britian but feel their i am better suited to the States....well, a paticular part. Dont live anywhere near London and leaving very soon, so ill need to apply whilst overseas.....complicated i imagine however important to me :-(

superdon

Where abouts do you like pazza2000 and why if you dont mind me asking?