US/UK citizen, doesn't want to choose at age 18. How do you extend dual citizenship?

Question

I am currently a dual citizen of both the US and the UK. In my current understanding, I must choose one or the other at age 18. I don't want to. If there is a way, I would like to keep the citizenship past that. Does anyone know anything about extending the dual citizenship?

If it matters, I recieved the US citizenship "jus sanguinis", because both of my parents are US citizens, and my UK "jus soli", because i was born in the UK.

Answer 1

If you really are a dual US/UK citizen, then you don't have to choose at age 18.  Both the UK and the US allow dual citizenship.

Also, the UK doesn't have "jus soli".  You don't get citizenship there automatically for being born there.  If you are living in the US, you should call the UK embassy to find out if you are a UK citizen or not.  If your parents were permanent residents in the UK when you were born, you might be a citizen or if you lived there until age 10, you could register for citizenship, see http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/britis...

Answer 2

Yes - I don't think being born in the UK means anything today, unless one of your parents is british.  If the reason you have a british birth certificate is because your parents were living there, you can claim citizenship if you lived there the first 10 years of your life.  

However, if there are compelling reasons that UK citizenship would be in your best interest (because you want to settle there, or have a job offer that needs citizenship, or you have family), you can apply using form MN1, registering a child under 18.   'Just because it would be nice' isn't a good enough reason. The form is at: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/britis...

Answer 3

were you born in UK after 1983? (duh silly me, of course you were) 18 years from now is 1990.

what was the status of your parents?  if they were on a work permit at the time and you did NOT live in UK for the first 10 years of your life, then you do not have and never had British citizenship. If you did live in UK totally up until and past your 10th birthday, (while your parents were still on the work permit) then you do qualifiy for british citizenship.

If your parents were given permanent leave to remain at the time you were born, then yes you have UK citizenship.

I think you need to speak to an immigration lawyer in UK.

Answer 4

I have a family member who lives in Glasgow, Scotland and he has a dual citizenship like you do but he is 27 years old. I dont know why they are making you decide on one or the other because i myself am wanting to move to Scotland and get a dual citizenship in the U.K. If you would like me to i can find out more information from my family that lives there already. Just email me if you want me to.  

Answer 5

The UK doesn't have jus soli! There are ways to get citizenship if born in the UK to non UK citizens so I can not say for sure that you do not have British citizenship but check it out. Also US and UK allow dual citizenship for life. If you have both you can keep both.

Answer 6

Since both of your parents are US citizens that is a given

But the UK banned "jus soli" in 1983. Past that point one parent needs to have been a UK citizen at some point. If one of your parents has ever held a UK passport and gained US citizenship they gain regain their UK passport as well. All they have to do is mail their stuff in to the UK embassy as my mother did. The UK does not recognize foreign renounciations.

So if one parent was born in the UK they should get on it.

If you already have both passports the UK is not Germany. You do not have to pick at 18.

Basically to answer requires more info.