experience with dual citizenship?

[...]

so apparently i am eligible to get Italian citizenship through my Grandmother, and a few members of my family are looking into it. im thinking it would be convenient when traveling, but other than that i dont have much vested interest in the matter.

im wondering if any of yall have gone through the process and would recommend it?

also as an American, are there any downsides to the process?


my main concern is with obtaining a security clearance, ive had one in the past, but it has gone dormant.....im wondering should i need one again if being a dual citizen would complicate the matter? @THEIS im assuming you might have some knowledge in this?

 

[Maggot]

Morning Mike, Id say ask someone in authority about the clearance? If there is no problem Id say go for it. I have a friend who married a Scottish girl and she uses it to her advantage.

 

[THEIS]

Hi,

DS does not operate on the blanket of yes or no in regards to clearance with/for a dual citizenship applicant.

Here is 2016 notification letter on Dual Citizenship Security Clearance Implication:
https://careers.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Dual-Citizenship.pdf

Here is the Security Executive Agent Directive (4)-Effective June 8, 2017:
https://news.clearancejobs.com/2017...hip-guideline-security-clearance-eligibility/

Sincerely,
Theis

 

[Loonhunter]

Italian?
Could come in handy if “they” ever open the “books” so you could become “made”.

 

[Threadcutter308]

You should also look into any (possible double) taxation issues. I was going to move to Vancouver B.C. and buy a company. The double taxation (world income) and exit taxation was just too complicated and expensive. I didn't see that you were thinking of moving, but you still check and make sure.

 

[Redmanss]

If a security clearance is remotely possible in your future, I would absolutely avoid going the route of dual citizenship. I'm a little fuzzy on the details as it's been over a decade since I was a recruiter, but IIRC if someone enlisted/commissioned into the US Mil with dual citizenship and wanted a clearance required MOS, they had to formally renounce all other citizenships. For non-military clearances (and I know a few that went through this with both DoS and DoD), the act of gaining dual citizenship as an adult would absolutely delay clearance approval, and would likely prevent any clearance approval above Secret level. Citizenship other than US is considered loyalty to that country in at least equal level to our own, and the granting of clearances is highly scrutinized to anyone with dual citizenship.

I have a friend who had dual US-Italian citizenship from birth (he was first generation American), when he went for his TS-SCI (PIP) he had to renounce his Italian citizenship. Now that of course is a VERY high level clearance, but it's one situation I personally know of.

For convenience of travel, maybe the latest EU drama with possibly requiring Americans to get visas to travel could be a bit inconvenient and circumvented through getting an Italian passport, but otherwise would not give any additional benefits in my experience (and I've traveled internationally A LOT). The only visas I've ever had to get was when I was working abroad in hot and dusty shit holes.

 

[Unknown]

As I haven't traveled outside the USA in years, I'm not sure what I could use dual citizenship for even if I had it. Some countries can demand military service if you are a citizen there and of military service age.

 

[Blutroop]

Do you see yourself voluntarily going back to work somewhere your clearance would be needed? If not I’d get the dual citizenship. I love the constitution but can no longer see the country that created it when I look around..

 

[buffalowinter]

Redmanss is correct. I'm not sure what the regs are now but I had to become a naturalized US Citizen to get my Secret clearance. I can't recall if it was my for my Secret or later for my Top Secret/SBI, but at some point I definitely had to officially renounce my English citizenship. If you have dual citizenship you fall under jurisdiction of both legal systems. In other words, If you have dual Italian/American citizenship, and go on vacation in Italy, you better be clear on your tax liability as a citizen living abroad. The most common problem with dual citizenship I have personally seen is kids born to service members stationed in Germany. In one case, the dependant child was born in Germany and 18 years later ended up turning 18 while living with his parents stationed again in Germany and was hauled off to fulfill his German Military conscription.

 

[acudaowner]

we have not tried it yet , but if you can why not i do not see a down side to having two vrs only the one i would not renounce the us as long as you plan to live in country . My grandmother also had dual citizenship with Italy though when she first came to this country in 36 they made her renounce Italian citizenship for American only , she got it back many years later .

 

[THEIS]

Hi,

Dual citizens with TS/SCI no longer have to turn in their foreign passports any longer per the SEAD 4 but they need to understand 1 million percent that they must Enter and Exit the USA on their USA passport.

Feb 9, 2019
https://news.clearancejobs.com/2019...o-longer-have-to-hand-over-foreign-passports/

Sincerely,
Theis