Dual Citizenship: Time to Consider

There's a new United States "citizenship test" and it focuses on the concept of democracy.

Any non-citizen submitting a U.S. citizenship application on or after October 1, 2008 will have to know the answers questions such as: "What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?"

"What does the Constitution do?" Applicants for naturalization as new citizens will be quizzed on any 10 of the 100 and must correctly answer at least six. We're told that CIS bureaucrats revamped the test to emphasize understanding of American democracy concepts, rather than rote memorization of facts about history and government.

Citizenship

It's not something most of us think about much, but let’s examine the elements of citizenship and also the meaning of having a passport (Less than 30% of Americans do have passports, a fairly low number). Citizenship can be loosely defined as the legal relationship between an individual and the sovereign nation in which he or she lives. That status is defined by the law of each nation, conferring or limiting a person’s duties and rights. Citizenship usually can be acquired most simply by birth in a specific nation, or from one's parent(s). Only through the formal process of citizenship acquisition, called naturalization, can one legally acquire the right to a second or alternative citizenship.

Second Passports

The English political philosopher Edmund Burke (1729-97) observed in another time: "Early and provident fear is the mother of safety." His words of caution are still good advice for world travelers today. Safety means travel using a national passport that keeps the bearer as far away as possible from controversy. This can be a hard thing to achieve with a U.S. passport.

Travel in the Middle East, the Balkans, parts of Russia or Asia using a U.S. passport may mean you're a target for terrorism. But there are even more attractive reasons to obtain a second passport. Holding a passport from any of the 27 European Union nations gives you the valuable right to live, work and do business in every one of those EU nations.

Second passports can be obtained as a matter of right based on ancestors born in nations such as Ireland, Italy, Poland or even the United Kingdom. If you can afford it, economic citizenship can be obtained at a price from the few nations that still sell these; Dominica and St. Kitts and Nevis.

There's no need to surrender your current U.S. passport if you do acquire a second passport. U.S. law supports the right of Americans to enjoy dual citizenship. The Sovereign Society offers advice on second passports for its members.

In an unsettled world, acquiring a second citizenship is a wise decision; an investment in your future. Your second citizenship will last a lifetime, and that protective shield can be extended to your spouse and children as well.

Opposing Trends

Today, the world’s passport requirements are moving in opposite directions. Some are becoming more liberal and others more rigorous. With the advent of the European Union, national borders of 27 nations have fallen. Over 400 million people within the EU are able to travel freely without having to show individual national passports.

On the other hand, the 9/11 attacks have caused the U.S. government – and many other nations – to tighten formerly easy visa rules for foreign visitors. Eventually most visitors to America will be forced to have digital, biometric passports with detailed personal and physical information readable by computers. The EU and the UK are adopting similar passport standards.

Another restrictive development is the denial of passports for a host of civil and other wrongs. In the U.S. any parent in arrears for $2500 or more in child support loses his or her passport. Then too, the U.S. government keeps a computerized record of every exit and entry a US passport holder makes, together with the nations visited.

All of which commends the possibility that you should consider obtaining a second passport from another nation. We can tell you how – and it's fully legal.

* For my own estimate of second passports from many nations, see my latest version of The Passport Book, or explore legal tax-saving possibilities offshore in one of my best-selling books, Where to Stash Your Cash Legally: Tax Havens of the World.