My boyfriend (a Canadian) and I (American) want to eventually get married and both get dual citizenship, what?
My boyfriend is from Montreal and I am from Virginia. We want to get married eventually and each get dual citizenship in the other country (Canada for me and the US for him). All the information I’ve read online is so overwhelming — travel visas, student visas, work visas, fiancee visas, green cards, permanent residency, naturalization, citizenship tests, Immigration officers, Immigration lawyers, Consulates, Canadian Embassy, US Embassy — I don’t know where to start. Can anyone familiar with the process give me a basic idea of what to do first? I know it’s all complicated and takes forever and I’m prepared for that.
Dual citizenship is allowed, but you need to decide where you and him are going to live. Are you planning on residing in the USA or in Canada? Citzenship requires a period of at least 4 or more years of residing within that country in order to apply. Obviously, if you will not be living in Canada, then there’s no way that you’ll be able to have a dual citizenship.
Your fiance should be willing to put aside his loyalties for Canada and put the United States first. I don’t think he has to give up his citizenship in Canada. You both will still be able to go there for at least three months at a time, even though you are not a Canadian citizen.
You should seek out a lawyer. Unfortunately, if you really want to be with him, it may require getting married, so that he may be eligible to live in the US. Your lawyer will know the right course of action, all documents needed, and will help you to achieve a positive answer to any visa/petition lodged. It is definitely not an easy process, so before you proceed, know in your heart that this is the one. Collect and retain receipts of presents bought for each other, hotel rooms shared, trips shared, pictures, letters, phone bills, anything, everything that shows that you have been in contact with him.
I’m currently going through the process with my Australian fiance in Australia. We will later go through this in the US. You can apply for residency for Canada, when you live there, but unfortunately residency and citizenship can only be applied for people intending on residing there, not if you plan on living in the US with him.
Good luck and don’t give up!
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