How to Get U.S. Dual Citizenship

 Thoroughly understanding the laws and processes of dual citizenship application in the United States gives applicants a significant advantage. You can obtain U.S. dual citizenship by birthright or by naturalization, each requiring a thorough process under U.S. immigration laws.

While the process may seem straightforward on paper, it can become complicated without experience in handling the application process, costs, delays, or denials. Common challenges include proving eligibility, navigating bureaucratic procedures, and addressing unique circumstances such as past immigration history or conflicting nationality laws.

Our guide helps you to fully understand the process – everything from eligibility requirements and application steps to potential challenges, costs, and ways to get legal support.

What Is U.S. Dual Citizenship?

Dual citizenship or dual nationality means holding citizenship in two countries simultaneously. Immigration laws of most countries allow an individual to have dual nationality if they meet all the requirements of the laws of both countries. In the United States, there are two ways through which you can obtain second citizenship:

Birthright and parentage

The first is birthright and parentage. This means a child born on United States soil to foreign parents automatically acquires U.S. citizenship at birth. By being born in the country, the person can lay claim to citizenship of both the U.S. and his parents’ country of citizenship. The only exception is the children of diplomats, who do not receive citizenship by being born in the U.S.

Naturilization

The second way that United States dual nationality can be obtained is by naturalization, either through marriage to a U.S. citizen or residing as a permanent resident for a specific period:

• Through marriage to a U.S. citizen: 3 years as a permanent resident (with continuous residence and meeting other requirements).
• Through general naturalization: 5 years as a permanent resident (with continuous residence and meeting other requirements).

U.S. immigration law allows a foreigner married to an American citizen to obtain citizenship and simultaneously maintain the citizenship of his or her country of origin. Also, A foreigner not married to a U.S. citizen may receive U.S. citizenship and retain their original country’s citizenship. Likewise, a U.S. citizen can naturalize to another country and still maintain U.S. citizenship. Either way, you can obtain U.S. citizenship either as your country of birth or as your naturalized country.

Learn about the difference between citizenship and nationality.

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Requirements for Dual Citizenship in the USA

To become a U.S. dual citizen through naturalization, you must meet the following requirements:

• Obtain an Immigrant Visa (Green Card): This step confirms that you meet the requirements to live and work permanently in the U.S. 
• Minimum Age: You must be at least 18 years old at the time of applying
• Lawful Permanent Resident Status: Provide evidence of being legally admitted as a lawful permanent resident
• Physical Presence Requirement: Prove that you have continuously had a physical presence in the country for up to 5 years (or up to 3 years if you are applying as a spouse to a citizen of the United States)
• Good Moral Character: Show that you are a person of good moral character and have been a person of good moral character for at least five years
• Attachment to U.S. Ideals: Demonstrate an attachment to the principles and ideals of the U.S. Constitution;
• Civics Knowledge: Have knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of the history, and of the principles and form of government, of the United States, (civics); and
• Oath of Allegiance: Take an Oath of Allegiance to the United States.

The success of these processes will lead to taking an oath of allegiance to the United States. Having successfully completed the process, you get the certificate of naturalization, which officially confirms your citizenship in the United States. This legally gives you the privilege to own and carry a U.S. passport wherever you go in the world. You will also have the right to vote during elections and enjoy all other rights accorded to a bona fide U.S. citizen.

Foreign Dual Citizenship Laws

The United States does not require you to renounce foreign citizenship to become a U.S. citizen, meaning dual citizenship is allowed. If a foreign country’s law permits parents to apply for citizenship on behalf of minor children, nothing in U.S. law impedes U.S. citizen parents from doing so. Nonetheless, it is critical to check the embassy or consulate of your other country to see if they allow dual citizenship.

Example

You were born in India, but then your parents immigrated to the U.S., and you subsequently received U.S. citizenship. In that case, you would have gained American citizenship through naturalization. For one reason or another, you would probably want to inquire whether you could also gain Indian citizenship through your birthright citizenship. However, India, in particular, does not allow citizens to hold any other citizenship than Indian, according to the Indian Citizenship Act of 1955. For this reason, they automatically cancel your Indian citizenship as soon as the government is aware that you obtained citizenship in another country. However, India offers the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, which grants certain rights similar to residency but is not full citizenship.

It is crucial to research which countries allow you to hold two citizenships so that you can begin the process as soon as possible. Below, you will find the list of countries that allow their citizens to hold citizenship in other countries.

Like every sovereign nation, applying for U.S. dual citizenship requires following a diligent application process.

How to Get Dual Citizenship in the U.S.

The steps to obtain citizenship:

1. Check Dual Citizenship Laws: Verify whether your country of origin allows dual citizenship by contacting your embassy or consulate of origin. If you skip this step, you may jeopardize losing your citizenship in your home country without realizing it.
2. Meet U.S. Naturalization Requirements: After confirming that your home country permits dual citizenship with the U.S., you must meet the naturalization requirements and then submit Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, to USCIS, along with the required fees. You can check case processing times here by selecting N-400 under the Form field.
3. Attend the biometrics appointment: After submitting your application, you’ll receive a notice to attend a biometrics appointment, where they will take your fingerprints and photo.
4. Complete the interview: Attend the naturalization interview, where you will answer questions about your application and take a civics test (unless exempt).
5. Undergo background check: USCIS will conduct a background check to ensure that you meet all necessary security and legal standards.
6. Take the oath of allegiance (naturalization ceremony): Once you receive your approval notice, the USCIS will schedule you for a naturalization ceremony to take the Oath of Allegiance. You may be able to do it on the same day as your citizenship interview.

U.S. Citizenship Responsibilities

As a U.S. citizen, you must fulfill certain responsibilities, including:

• Obeying federal, state, and local laws
• Serving on a jury when called upon
• Defending the country if the need arises
• Paying income and other taxes to authorities
• Supporting the Constitution.

Learn more about your citizen rights and responsibilities.

Contact our VisaNation attorneys for personalized and professional legal support to make your dual citizenship dreams a reality!

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How Much Does Dual Citizenship Cost?

To apply for U.S. citizenship, you have to get an N-400 form to process your application. You will need to pay a total of $760 for paper filing and $710 for online filing.

You can make the full payment via money order, cashier’s check, personal check, or credit/debit card. Ensure you make the payment in U.S. dollars.

Discounts and Fee Waivers

USCIS allows applicants to request a reduced fee or fee waiver for filing Form N-400 based on their annual household income:

• The fee is reduced to $380 if your annual household income is between 150% and 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
• If your household income is at or below 150%, you are eligible to waive the N-400 filing fees.
• If you are active duty or honorably discharged, you may be eligible for a fee waiver.

USCIS has different fee schedules for dual citizenship fees depending on your background. Take a look at the table below to familiarize yourself with the costs.

What If My Dual Citizenship Is Denied?

One of the most frequently asked questions about dual citizenship in the USA is if an application can be denied and what to do if that happens.

The N-400 form consists of 18 parts, and each section requires the applicant to understand and complete it correctly. Any errors, whether by commission or omission, can lead to a denial of the application. Additionally, you must follow the interview and payment procedures carefully.

Common Denial Reasons for Dual Citizenship

It is within the USCIS’s prerogative to grant or deny your application based on the reasons including but not limited to the following:

• Failure to sign the N-400
• Failure to pay the filing fee and biometric services fee along with your form
• Failure to give all information required in the N-400 or not supplying the required evidence

Learn all about 100 Citizenship Test Questions and Answers.

However, if your application gets rejected for any of the above reasons, USCIS will return the application to you, including any fees paid, and explain to you why your application is deemed deficient.

The good news, however, is that you may be allowed to correct the errors and resubmit the N-400.

In some cases, USCIS may consider it necessary to ask you for more information or evidence to back up some claims in your application. You may be invited for an interview, during which you’ll need to provide fingerprints, a photograph, or any other security-related information to verify your identity. These steps help verify your eligibility, which will determine whether USCIS grants or denies your citizenship.

Why You Should Get Dual Citizenship

Now that you know how to get dual citizenship, it’s time to learn why you should strongly consider doing so. There are probably endless benefits to being a citizen of more than one country. Below, you will discover various advantages of being a dual citizen of the U.S. and another country.

Traveling – Depending on your country of origin, having two passports, one of which is from the U.S., can open a lot more travel options. The U.S. passport is one of the best in the world for travel as it allows visa-free entry to numerous countries.

Guaranteed residence – As a holder of citizenship in any country in the world, you get absolute rights to have citizenship in that country. When you have more than one citizenship, you can pursue your life goals and career and begin your family in either of the countries.

Social benefits – Many countries worldwide allow their residents access to various social benefits and social security payments based on citizenship and/or residency requirements. Being a dual citizen will give you wider access to social benefits in more than one country. However, ensure you research the qualification criteria because some countries require you to live in the country.

Taxes – Being a U.S. citizen allows you to benefit from lower tax rates in some states. Although the U.S. is not known to be the lowest-taxed country, it still offers much lower rates than many European and other Western countries. This applies to personal and corporate taxes, which means it could be beneficial to start your business in the U.S.

Contact our VisaNation attorneys for personalized and professional legal support to make your dual citizenship dreams a reality!

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How VisaNation Law Group Immigration Attorneys Can Help

Filing for U.S. dual citizenship might look simple on paper. However, it can be complicated, especially for someone without prior experience with how the immigration system works. To avoid all the hassles and disappointment that may come up during the process, the best thing is to hire an immigration attorney.

With many years of experience in representing dual citizenship cases, VisaNation Law Group’s expert attorneys can help you through from the beginning of the process to the end. We have helped countless clients file their N-400 applications as well as get them processed and approved. Therefore, if you are considering filing for dual citizenship in the USA or you are facing challenges in getting your application granted, VisaNation is your best bet.

To get in touch with one of our immigration attorneys, you can fill out our contact form and schedule a consultation with us today.