Citizenship certificate form & dual nationality

[kcorner]

I am applying for a Canadian citizenship certificate for my minor daughter. She was born in the US, but her claim to Canadian citizenship is through me. I was born in Canada to US citizen parents in 1971 and lived there until moving to the US as an adult, where I live now. Not currently planning to emigrate, just to document my daughter's citizenship.

There's a question on that form (CIT 0001 sec 8B) about me (a parent) as to whether I was a citizen of any other country prior to 1977, which I think is relevant because before that Canada mostly did not recognize dual nationality.

I don't think there's anything on the record about acquiring or renouncing citizenship for me from 1971 to 1977. I did however later claim US citizenship on the basis of an event (my birth) that was prior to 1977. I also still consider myself a Canadian citizen (e.g. passport, have voted federally).

Is the most appropriate answer to the certificate application question 8B that I was not a citizen of any other place prior to 1977, or a longer explanation that I do now claim US citizenship from birth in 1971, but never asserted this prior to 1977?

Thanks

 

[hawk39]

I am applying for a Canadian citizenship certificate for my minor daughter. She was born in the US, but her claim to Canadian citizenship is through me. I was born in Canada to US citizen parents in 1971 and lived there until moving to the US as an adult, where I live now. Not currently planning to emigrate, just to document my daughter's citizenship.

There's a question on that form (CIT 0001 sec 8B) about me (a parent) as to whether I was a citizen of any other country prior to 1977, which I think is relevant because before that Canada mostly did not recognize dual nationality.

I don't think there's anything on the record about acquiring or renouncing citizenship for me from 1971 to 1977. I did however later claim US citizenship on the basis of an event (my birth) that was prior to 1977. I also still consider myself a Canadian citizen (e.g. passport, have voted federally).

Is the most appropriate answer to the certificate application question 8B that I was not a citizen of any other place prior to 1977, or a longer explanation that I do now claim US citizenship from birth in 1971, but never asserted this prior to 1977?

Thanks

I believe the law was as long as both your American parents had residency in the US prior to your birth, then you were born with US citizenship. You can simply list your date of birth with the reason 'Citizenship by Descent'. Even though dual citizenship was not recognized before 1977, it was not forbidden to have if acquired involuntarily as a child, so this isn't something you have to hide or explain.