Comments on: Thoughts of an Unnatural-Born Citizen

By: Hecate

Hecate — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:00:56 +0000

I am confused. My ex was born in the US to Canadian parents, is he now Canadian? And my children with my ex were born in the US, if he is now considered Canadian, do we have to consider them as having dual citizenship?

Thanks.

By: David Mader

David Mader — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:21:02 +0000

That makes sense – actually I’d meant to suggest some sort of opt-in for folks in my situation involving a residency requirement. If immigrant Canadians can pass along citizenship, it only makes sense to allow born-abroad citizens to do the same provided they spend some substantial period of time in Canada.

By: Catelli

Catelli — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:16:56 +0000

There is another option.

The Dutch government allows any person under the age of 25 to apply for citizenship if they were born out of country to a Dutch parent.

My Dad was born in Holland, and when he was a child his family emigrated to Canada. I (and my sister of course) though born Canadian citizens could apply for Dutch citizenship. My sister took advantage of this to study in Europe and it was a fairly painless process.

I did not. I chose not to, because my identity is Canadian, even though it is a fairly liberal law, as it has no residency requirements. I could have become a Dutch citizen and never sit foot in the country, yet still be entitled to all the benefits such citizenship entails. That struck me as unethical, which is why I didn’t go through with it.

Anyway, a variation of this could be added that would cover any children you have while in the USA. If by the age of 25, they wish to live/work/study in Canada, they could apply and be virtually rubber stamped in.

I would prefer such a process to require the person desiring citizenship to spend time living here.