Do I have dual citizenship status?

Hey! I'm very curious about this question. It's important for me to know, as right now I live in Canada; but I planning a trip down to the US this summer and I want to stay and live there. I've always been under the impression that I have dual citizenship status for both respective countries.

Now I was born in Canada (Montreal) in 1990. My dad is Canadian, and my mother is American. They were both Married at the time. They are separated now, but not legally divorced.

Now I looked it up on Wikipedia, and from what I've read it does seem like I do have citizenship for both countries, but I'm not sure. What can I do to check, and what exactly should I get for my trip down to the US?

Thanks!

Queen of â™¥â™¥â™¥ Maria Lopez

best advice is to ask your mother if she register your birth at the US Embassy. It's law to get U.S. citizenship from a American parent born outside the U.S. "Consular Report of Birth Abroad" must be fill out before the child reach 18 years old, your not Considered American without it...

Requirements
One of your parents was a U.S. citizen when you were born;
Your citizen parent lived at least 5 years in the United States before you were born; and
At least 2 of these 5 years in the United States were after your citizen parent's 14th birthday*.

Your record of birth abroad, if registered with a U.S. consulate or embassy, is proof of your citizenship. You may also apply for a passport to have your citizenship recognized. If you need additional proof of your citizenship, you may file an "Application for Certificate of Citizenship" (Form N-600) with USCIS to get a Certificate of Citizenship.

growing inside

At birth, you were entitled to citizenship of both countries. Your mother should have filed a consular report of birth for you before your 18th birthday for you to claim your US citizenship. If she did, you can apply for a US passport using that. If she didn't, you may not be able to get US citizenship now, I'm not sure.

Sidwell

Did you mother live in USA for 3 years before and for 2 years after her 14th birthday?
If yes then she may have been able to pass her citizenship to you.

HOWEVER you must have been registered with the US govt - via the US embassy or consulate - BEFORE YOUR 128th birthday. Do you have a citizenship certificate?

If you were not registered with the US govt before your 18th birthday, then you are NOT a US citizen. If you are not yet 18, then you can register yourself but you will need both your own and your parents birth certificates, and their marriage certificates.

vern

My understanding is that if you apply for US passport, you will need to give up the other passport. That's what INS tell tells during the oath.
If you plan on traveling to US, than get a US or Canadian passport (which ever you have now) along with your d/l to enter US border.

Alonzo L

Yes, you do have dual citizenship. Your mother is American, so you are American as well as Canadian. Just make sure you've got the papers to prove it!

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