Let me preface this by saying that I'm not looking for legal advice here. If anyone has any anecdotes to share that seem pertinent, I wouldn't mind hearing them, but mostly this is just a post because this is the only forum I actively participate in and it's not really a topic I can bring up at work without getting looked at funny.
My mother's from Glasgow, as is her entire family. She moved to the US in the 1960s but has quite refused to take US citizenship; this is something of a point of pride with her.
When I was born, in the 1970s, citizenship only passed down via British fathers, so I've been an American all my life.
Apparently, at some point in the last 30-mumble years, the rules changed, the UK government no longer considers women second-class citizens, and all it will take for me to claim dual citizenship is to fill out a form, find a couple of character witnesses, and, oh yes, pay about 500 pounds application fee, non-refundable if there's any problem.
I found out about this last week, no idea when the rules changed.
I'm a bit hesitant to do it while I'm still in school, since I'm getting Federal aid and the last thing I want the US government to do is to say "Oh, look, you're Britain's problem, take up your education with them", so this is sort of a long term thing.
AND, I honestly don't have any practical use for dual citizenship other than, well, it would be an easy explanation for the next waitress that looked at me funny when I asked for mayo with my fries.
Chips, I mean. Damnit.
But, there's just a touch of built up annoyance about the whole thing where I didn't get it automatically because it happened to be my mother. I won't deny that.
So, anyone gone through this or know anyone who has? If you happen to have a story like "oh, yeah, my buddy did this and HM Revenue came after him for 20 years of back taxes", that would be good to know about in advance, sort of thing.
My mother's from Glasgow, as is her entire family. She moved to the US in the 1960s but has quite refused to take US citizenship; this is something of a point of pride with her.
When I was born, in the 1970s, citizenship only passed down via British fathers, so I've been an American all my life.
Apparently, at some point in the last 30-mumble years, the rules changed, the UK government no longer considers women second-class citizens, and all it will take for me to claim dual citizenship is to fill out a form, find a couple of character witnesses, and, oh yes, pay about 500 pounds application fee, non-refundable if there's any problem.
I found out about this last week, no idea when the rules changed.
I'm a bit hesitant to do it while I'm still in school, since I'm getting Federal aid and the last thing I want the US government to do is to say "Oh, look, you're Britain's problem, take up your education with them", so this is sort of a long term thing.
AND, I honestly don't have any practical use for dual citizenship other than, well, it would be an easy explanation for the next waitress that looked at me funny when I asked for mayo with my fries.
Chips, I mean. Damnit.
But, there's just a touch of built up annoyance about the whole thing where I didn't get it automatically because it happened to be my mother. I won't deny that.
So, anyone gone through this or know anyone who has? If you happen to have a story like "oh, yeah, my buddy did this and HM Revenue came after him for 20 years of back taxes", that would be good to know about in advance, sort of thing.
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