This is just a thought -
I'm an American citizen wishing to relocate from Boston to Munich...Let's say I meet the man of my dreams at the airport (and he happens to be German), and we get married. What would that mean in terms of my American citizenship? Would I have the option of becoming a dual citizen (American-German)? Would I be able to renounce my American citizenship (which I wouldn't really want to do) and become German through my "husband"?
Any info. on this topic will be appreciated.
Thank you!
Germany's English-speaking crowd
In association with The Local
In association with The Local
Advertisements:
American marrying a German
Would I qualify for German citizenship?
No, but you do qualify for permanent resident status. The US does not officially recognise dual citizenship, so if you decide you want to get German citizenship
after the 5-8 year time limit, then you would have to give up your US citizenship (Officially) Sometimes some people get lucky and sneak around the system ang get both.
However I wouldn't want to get caught.. Your children, should you have any with the German guy would have Dual US/German citizenship until their 18th birthday. They
would then have to choose.
after the 5-8 year time limit, then you would have to give up your US citizenship (Officially) Sometimes some people get lucky and sneak around the system ang get both.
However I wouldn't want to get caught.. Your children, should you have any with the German guy would have Dual US/German citizenship until their 18th birthday. They
would then have to choose.
I had no idea that the US does not recognize dual citizenship. That's news for me. Are you sure?? I was pretty positive that both Germany and the US accept d/c. hmmm, something to read more about. Or, do you know where to find out?
Your problem would not be on the US side, it would be on the German side. Unless you specifically renounce it, the US won't take your citizenship away except perhaps in an egregious case of treason, so it de facto, although usually not de jure, tolerates dual citizenship. Germany, as the above link probably shows, expressly forbids it unless it would be an extreme hardship to renounce your initial citizenship, which is not the case for US citizens. As far as someone getting around the German requirement to renounce your US citizenship in the event of naturalization as a German, I would like to know how that was achieved. The only circumstance that I am aware of in which you could keep your original US citizenship is if you were naturalized by Germany as the descendant of a person whose German citizenship was revoked for political reasons by the Nazis BEFORE that former German ancestor acquired the citizenship of another country. This primarily applies to the descendants of German Jews.
There are plenty of ways to reside in Germany without German citizenship. I doubt that dual citzenship will be allowed anytime soon here because there is little or no constituency for the idea of people as a ressource here, instead they are de facto usually viewed as a burden. I think that the reasons for this is that about 40% of the economy is goods exports, and that the social system will be under strain for the foreseeable future.
There are plenty of ways to reside in Germany without German citizenship. I doubt that dual citzenship will be allowed anytime soon here because there is little or no constituency for the idea of people as a ressource here, instead they are de facto usually viewed as a burden. I think that the reasons for this is that about 40% of the economy is goods exports, and that the social system will be under strain for the foreseeable future.
...and the Germans don't really like the Americans.
if you decide you want to get German citizenship after the 5-8 year time limit
*Ahem*I was told that as a spouse, I could get citizenship in Germany after 3 years of living here. This was from the woman at the KVR who processed my permit application. It's also listed as 3 for spouses of German nationals on the website of the German embassy in the US.
Your children, should you have any with the German guy would have Dual US/German citizenship until their 18th birthday. They
would then have to choose.
Wrong. The children do not have to choose, ever. They have an equal right to both. I know, as I have two German/American children.would then have to choose.
Darkknight is just full of shit today.
...and the Germans don't really like the Americans.
Apparently, only the Albaniens still like the Americans. Whoo-hoo. Nice to have friends, eh?
Your problem would not be on the US side, it would be on the German side. Unless you specifically renounce it, the US won't take your citizenship away except perhaps in an egregious case of treason, so it de facto, although usually not de jure, tolerates dual citizenship. Germany, as the above link probably shows, expressly forbids it unless it would be an extreme hardship to renounce your initial citizenship, which is not the case for US citizens. As far as someone getting around the German requirement to renounce your US citizenship in the event of naturalization as a German, I would like to know how that was achieved. The only circumstance that I am aware of in which you could keep your original US citizenship is if you were naturalized by Germany as the descendant of a person whose German citizenship was revoked for political reasons by the Nazis BEFORE that former German ancestor acquired the citizenship of another country. This primarily applies to the descendants of German Jews.
There are plenty of ways to reside in Germany without German citizenship. I doubt that dual citzenship will be allowed anytime soon here because there is little or no constituency for the idea of people as a ressource here, instead they are de facto usually viewed as a burden. I think that the reasons for this is that about 40% of the economy is goods exports, and that the social system will be under strain for the foreseeable future.
Yo, completely agree, and then the Germans shake their heads saying that foreign nationals (like the Turks) don't integrate, it's no wonder you're not wanted.There are plenty of ways to reside in Germany without German citizenship. I doubt that dual citzenship will be allowed anytime soon here because there is little or no constituency for the idea of people as a ressource here, instead they are de facto usually viewed as a burden. I think that the reasons for this is that about 40% of the economy is goods exports, and that the social system will be under strain for the foreseeable future.
It's the race theory, if you're parents aren't German you're not German simple as. I thought about citizenship many years ago, but now that I'm allowed to (after min. 8 years of residency) wouldn't dream of renouncing my passport to have a German one. This is the whole slant in this country and if you're born in a country you should at least be able to have dual citizenship, but that's not allowed either!
Jack,
You should check on this, but I believe that UK citizens are allowed to become dual citzens of Germany. There is probably a Toytown thread on that topic, so do a search. Better yet, I have heard that berlin has to give you an answer within 6 months on an application for naturalization, but check on that as well.
You should check on this, but I believe that UK citizens are allowed to become dual citzens of Germany. There is probably a Toytown thread on that topic, so do a search. Better yet, I have heard that berlin has to give you an answer within 6 months on an application for naturalization, but check on that as well.
Just for clarification, I mean Berlin as one of the Länder, not the federal government as a naturalization application goes through the government of the state you live in.
The US does not officially recognise dual citizenship, so if you decide you want to get German citizenship
wrong.III. American-German Dual Nationality
1. Both the United States and Germany recognize the concept of multiple nationality.
Germany recognises multiple nationality under certain circumstances.1. Both the United States and Germany recognize the concept of multiple nationality.
Your children, should you have any with the German guy would have Dual US/German citizenship until their 18th birthday. They
would then have to choose.
wrong again:would then have to choose.
2. A child born to an American parent and a German parent acquires both American and German citizenship at birth, regardless of place of birth, if the parents satisfy the jus soli or jus sanguinis requirements of their respective countries. See the sections above entitled, "Basic Primer on American Citizenship Law," and "Basic Primer on German Citizenship Law." Neither country requires a person born under these circumstances to choose between American and German citizenship, i.e., he/she may keep both citizenships his/her entire life.
Aelfwynn- It has been explained to me that you can APPLY for naturalization after three years residence in Germany. The application obviously takes time to approve- I have heard up to three years waiting in some states. Just wanted to be sure that everyone understood that.
As for kids' dual citizenship, check on that- I think that it is correct that they must choose by 18, however, that is a German law, not a US one, and may face a future court challenge.
As for kids' dual citizenship, check on that- I think that it is correct that they must choose by 18, however, that is a German law, not a US one, and may face a future court challenge.
I was told that as a spouse, I could get citizenship in Germany after 3 years of living here. This was from the woman at the KVR who processed my permit application. It's also listed as 3 for spouses of German nationals on the website of the German embassy in the US.
I could have sworn it was 5 years, but after reading this, I did a websearch and came up with several sources confirming the 3 year time-frame. Maybe they changed the rules some time ago to shorten it, 'cause 10 years ago it was definitely 5 years.
You are viewing a low fidelity version of this page. Click to view the full page.