US citizen in as Canadian Permanent Resident

[VisaApprovalSent]

Hello,

My daughter is a US citizen by birth ,presently 3.5 yrs years old .I (the biological mother am a PR and Indian Citizen in Canada .
She is a permanent resident (PR ).

As I am getting ready to apply for our Canadian citizenship application ,there are some questions that are in my mind...


1) Should I apply for her Canadian citizenship along with our application ? or can she continue as a PR .

2) If I do that and she gets her Canadian citizenship will she have to give up her US PASSPORT?

3) If some situations arises later before she turns 18 ,can I apply for her citizenship separately?

I would sincerely appreciate any advice .

Thanks

 

[chikloo]

Hello,

My daughter is a US citizen by birth ,presently 3.5 yrs years old .I (the biological mother am a PR and Indian Citizen in Canada .
She is a permanent resident (PR ).

As I am getting ready to apply for our Canadian citizenship application ,there are some questions that are in my mind...


1) Should I apply for her Canadian citizenship along with our application ? or can she continue as a PR .

2) If I do that and she gets her Canadian citizenship will she have to give up her US PASSPORT?

3) If some situations arises later before she turns 18 ,can I apply for her citizenship separately?

I would sincerely appreciate any advice .

Thanks

1) She can continue as PR and has no residency obligation until she becomes major.
2) If you apply she will get dual citizenship and can keep her US passport.
3)Yes, you can if have at least one parent (includes adoptive parent) who is a Canadian citizen or who will become a citizen at the same time as the child (applying together as a family).

My suggestion is since she can have dual citizenship it is better to add her to your application. If she wants she can renounce it when she turns major.

 

[janoo]

I agree that she have dual citizenship there is no harm..

 

[sunafi]

Hello all, I am in same situation, already applied for Canadian citizenship, may take a year to get; my daughter is US citizen and I didn't apply Canada citizenship for her.

I hope I can apply for her also later, if we change our mind.


But I would like to discuss what possible drawback if she remains US citizen even after becoming major and live in Canada with us.

Kindly share your thoughts / suggestions, as I am unable to make decision for my daughter's case.

I would really appreciate your comments.


Thanks a lot.

 

[sunafi]

I agree that she have dual citizenship there is no harm..

Is there any harm/ obligations while having dual citizenship? Are we sure there is no Issues while retaining dual citizenship? Please share and help.

 

[chikloo]

Hello all, I am in same situation, already applied for Canadian citizenship, may take a year to get; my daughter is US citizen and I didn't apply Canada citizenship for her.

I hope I can apply for her also later, if we change our mind.


But I would like to discuss what possible drawback if she remains US citizen even after becoming major and live in Canada with us.

Kindly share your thoughts / suggestions, as I am unable to make decision for my daughter's case.

I would really appreciate your comments.


Thanks a lot.

You can add a minor to your current application in process. If you don't do that when it is process you have to wait till you get your citizenship and then initiate hers.

I would not call being a PR in Canada as a drawback but has its difficulties like she has to maintain her residency obligations once she becomes major.

If she was a Canadian citizen and thinking whether to get US citizenship then the drawback would have been the tax returns. US Citizens no matter where they live has to file tax. So when she starts earning she has to file her taxes for US and Canada (though she is a PR).

So it is your priority on what you need at that time. I would suggest having dual citizenship and she can renounce it if she decides to not want it (Both US and Canada allow renunciation as far are not stateless). Canadian citizenship is easy to renounce whereas US is a lot of paper work. Depending on your income you may have to pay exit tax in US. Canada does not have such cumbersome renunciation process.

Again this is just a suggestion and you have to decide whats right for your child. Acquiring Canadian citizenship is easy when she is a minor or else she has to go through the same hoops we adults go through.

 

[chaudri786]

http://abcnews.go.com/International/record-number-americans-renouncing-citizenship-overseas-tax-burdens/story?id=26496154

 

[VisaApprovalSent]

Thanks janoo and chikloo for your replies.

I am too thinking on those lines and in her future even if she gives up her Canadian or US passport she can always reapply if need comes.In one she is citizen by birth( US) and the other by naturalization.(Canada)