Can a Canadian Spouse Apply For US Citizenship while I am a PR of Canada

[Cheeseburger]

5-10 years down the road, I would love for both my wife and I to be dual citizens of both the US and Canada. I am a US citizen and hope to become a Canadian PR within the next year (stage 2 of process). My wife is a Canadian citizen and is sponsoring me to move there. From my understanding once I become a PR of Canada, I can satisfy my 2/5 year residency requirement even if we move to the US, as long we go together. So is there anything to stop us from from moving to the US once I become a PR and having her get a US green card and then US citizenship? I doubt we will go that route, and most likely I would apply for Canadian citizenship before we consider moving to the US and getting her US citizenship. But I like to know what my options are, just in case.

I love the US, and I have grown to love Canada as well. My family is still all in the US and my wife's family is all in Canada. It has been such a difficult decision to make in regards to what direction we want to go with our lives. It is hard to think about the idea that one of our parents won't really get to see their future grandchildren grow up. We would love to one day have the freedom to live wherever life takes us (in North America less Mexico), without the restrictions of immigration requirements and residency.

So is this possible? Or would her living with me in the US and applying for US citizenship after I become a Canadian PR somehow conflict with my PR requirements?

 

[Ponga]

While this is technically possible, it will likely upset a few people here...especially those that feel that you are intentionally circumventing the system by wanting to live [full time] in The US and will likely never `move' to Canada.

The truth is that it would be extremely difficult for your wife to maintain her Green Card residency requirements, if she does not spend 6 months (out of every year) living in the U.S., so... if you were to move to Canada, your life would be complicated in that regard.

No idea how easy it will be for her to get U.S. citizenship, or for you to get Canadian citizenship, but with the pending Bill to revise the Canadian citizenship requirements, it'll take you a couple of years longer than it would, today.

 

[Cheeseburger]

That is not my intention at all. And IF we even did do this we would fully intend to return to Canada in order to obtain full citizenship. This is really about family and ideally I would love for us both to be able to freely move to either country and work. Are you implying that the goal of obtaining dual citizenship would upset people?

 

[Ponga]

Not at all. I wish you all the best if that's your plan.

Some have gotten their PR and lived abroad, with their Canadian citizen spouse/partner for years, with no real intention of returning to Canada. THOSE are the ones that seem to upset those that are fighting tooth and nail to get their PR, so that they can LIVE in Canada.

Your plan, albeit rather complicated, seems doable, but be prepared for a very long ride. Simultaneous citizenship tests...on both sides of the border?!?! Yikes!

 

[scylla]

So is this possible? Or would her living with me in the US and applying for US citizenship after I become a Canadian PR somehow conflict with my PR requirements?

There's no conflict with your PR requirements. You can certainly do this.

 

[keesio]

Your wife should think hard about how much she wants to be a US citizen. I say this because the US is one of two countries in the world (the other being a small African country) which tax by citizenship, in addition to residency. For example I still have to file (and sometimes pay) US taxes even though I have lived full time in Canada for the last 14 years and am also a Canadian citizen. And filing taxes for US expats is a pain and can be costly (I pay roughly 1K to an accountant to file my US taxes while I pay $20 for TurboTax to file my Canadian taxes). As a citizen, you will have to always file your US taxes no matter where you live in the world but right now your wife does not have to deal with it.

 

[JessNess]

Your wife should think hard about how much she wants to be a US citizen. I say this because the US is one of two countries in the world (the other being a small African country) which tax by citizenship, in addition to residency. For example I still have to file (and sometimes pay) US taxes even though I have lived full time in Canada for the last 14 years and am also a Canadian citizen. And filing taxes for US expats is a pain and can be costly (I pay roughly 1K to an accountant to file my US taxes while I pay $20 for TurboTax to file my Canadian taxes). As a citizen, you will have to always file your US taxes no matter where you live in the world but right now your wife does not have to deal with it.

I am a US citizen in Stage 2 of PR process and I COMPLETELY AGREE with Keesio.

I actually fully plan on renouncing my US citizenship once I have Canadian Citizenship down the road (asap!). Technically, if you don't file your annual tax return in the USA no matter where in the world you are or how long you have been absent from US soil, the IRS can and will come after you. I do my own taxes currently because I'm not working in Canada while I wait for this process to be over but on my tax returns I will have to declare my Canadian income and if the USA doesn't think I have either paid enough taxes for what I have earned OR I have too many write-offs, etc, then I have to PAY THE DIFFERENCE TO THE US GOVERNMENT. Not cool. Not into it. I mean I get it, but I'm not into paying for a government that I want nothing to do with anymore, lol. The US is also cracking down on those earning foreign incomes and living abroad so you can bet you'll be likely audited frequently. No offense to other Americans on this forum, but the US government is not anything I want to be part of anymore.

Just food for thought