Need info re Retaining German citizenship when applying for US citizenship?

Question

Living in US. Husband and kids are US citizens. I am US resident and Germany citizen. Has anyone gone through the process of applying for retention of German citizenship prior to applying for US citizenship? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

I am no lawyer,

"success unlikely", unless your family is worth > 4 Mio USD.  

There seems to be confusion in some answers on this page: As a rule, the GERMANS do not allow you to have dual citizenship. (Grund: Gleichheit vor dem Gesetz, da koennten ja 1 Mio deutsche Tuerken kommen und das auch haben wollen.) Anyway, that's why it's called "Beibehaltungsgenehmigung". Without that, the moment you become a US citizen, you have forfeited your German passport. (The US does not care. And been like that for at least 15 years.)

When last I visited the German Consultate on the subject of "Beibehaltungsgenehmigung" they showed me a stack of applications (80 or so). I was told 70 + of those would be turned down.

The US estate tax had provisions which made the foreign "Ehepartner" a US estate 'tax evasion' suspect. Not much of a tax in Germany, but > 30% in the US. So, why not flee to Germany with your money, since no extradition for death tax from there. IRS decided, the surving GERMAN Ehepartner must pay the tax on the FULL estate (i.e. for BOTH spouses), and due immediately when spouse passes away.

That WAS why in the last few years Germany decided to allow dual citizenship, so that you would not fall in that estate tax trap. Recently though the IRS exemption was raised to 2Mio$ per spouse (and will increase further every new year). With that a majority of applicants for dual citizenship can no longer claim undue hardship. That's why the above 70+ applications for Beibehaltung will fall by the way-side.

Real issue for all, in 2011 (or so) the estate tax exemption as such will be reviewed. Nobody knows what happens at such time. I.e. who will control the IRS, Republicans or Democrats?

Summary, go and see a German consulate! They are very knowledgeable, and by no means the above "Sessel-Furtzer".

--

PS. You will NOT loose your German Social Security benefits, when you convert (vom rechten Glauben) and become a US citizen. Another treaty "auf Gegenseitigkeit" prevents that.

Answer 2

Actually, there is no such thing as dual citizenship for Germany and USA. I'm in the same situation (I'm German, he's American) and as far as I know you have to apply for keeping your German citizenship BEFORE you apply for the American. Call the embassy (don't call the one in NYC - they are a bunch of "Sesselfurzer" and don't know much. Call Washington, DC instead.

Are you married three years already? You need to be in order to apply for American citizenship.

Anyway, I am contemplating just keeping my German citizenship and staying a Permanent Resident. The only "advantages" are voting and carrying a gun (at least here in CT). I want to try to stick to my roots. Also, it seems very difficult to go through the whole process - again after applying for Residency.

Well, hope it works out for you. Good luck.

Answer 3

Never heard of a special agreement between USA and Germany considering dual citizenship, and so far never tried to apply for it - sorry, no personal experience yet.

from www.auswaertiges-amt.de:

"Ob Sie die Staatsangehörigkeit Ihres/Ihrer Ehepartners/Ehepartnerin annehmen können, hängt vom Staatsangehörigkeitsrecht des Staates an, dem diese/r angehört. Bitte beachten Sie jedoch, dass ein deutscher Staatsangehöriger, der auf Antrag eine andere Staatsangehörigkeit erwirbt, automatisch die deutsche verliert. Seit 1. Januar 2000 gibt es die Möglichkeit, die Beibehaltung der deutschen Staatsangehörigkeit zu beantragen, bevor man eine ausländische Staatsbürgerschaft annimmt. Bei dem dann folgenden Verwaltungsverfahren werden auch die privaten Motive des Antragstellers berücksichtigt. Fortbestehende Bindungen an Deutschland und triftige Gründe für den Erwerb der Zweitstaatsangehörigkeit müssen nachgewiesen werden. Nähere Informationen finden Sie hier.

Bitte beachten Sie, dass das Verfahren für diese Beibehaltungsgenehmigung positiv abgeschlossen sein muss und Sie die Urkunde hierüber erhalten haben müssen, bevor Sie die ausländische Staatsangehörigkeit annehmen.

Bitte wenden Sie sich für eine weitere Beratung an die für Ihren Wohnort zuständige Behörde."

"Welche Behörde ist für mich in Staatsangehörigkeitssachen zuständig?

Welche Behörde im Inland zuständig ist, hängt vom Bundesland ab, in dem Sie wohnhaft sind. Fragen Sie daher am besten bei der Stadt- oder Kreisverwaltung oder bei Ihrer Ausländerbehörde nach.

Bei Wohnsitz im Ausland wenden Sie sich in jedem Fall an die für Ihren Wohnort zuständige deutsche Auslandsvertretung. Zahlreiche deutsche Auslandsvertretungen bieten auf ihrer Internet-Seite Informationen zu Fragen der Staatsangehörigkeit."

Answer 4

Nope, no Dual Citizenship.

German citizenship is automatically lost when a German citizen voluntarily acquires the citizenship of another country.

Answer 5

You must renounce foreign citizenship to become US citizen!

Answer 6

get a wizard

Answer 7

First off, being a German citizen you must renounce your citizenship to become a us citizen. There was talk a couple years ago about them changing the laws governing citizenship, but there hasn't been anything concrete coming out of it. But from the direction it was heading would only apply to the russians and turks...figures...best thing to do is get hold of the German Consulate General's office to get the last est developments. I think your better off keeping your German Citizenship...you don't want to fore-fit your pension do you.

Answer 8

no as far as I know you can not keep your german citizenship and get an amaerican citizenship as well. I am a resident as well and in order to get my us citizenship i was told i have to give my german one up.If you do find a way please contact me

Answer 9

If you apply to keep German Citizenship you have to do that before. But you have to have a valid reason for the burocrats in germany to keep it. Family over there is not a reason. I looked into it and it is a hastle and expensive too. So now I am a US Citizen.

But it is possible