• U.S. citizens are allowed dual nationality.world map image by Attila Toro from Fotolia.com
  
  A person with dual citizenship or dual nationality is someone who is a citizen of two countries at the same time. A U.S. citizen who also possesses citizenship of another country usually obtains this due to a significant life event as compared to a choice. For example, a U.S. citizen may marry a foreigner and automatically become a citizen of that country. Or a naturalized citizen of the U.S. may retain her status as a citizen of her country of origin. The United States government recognizes dual citizenship and in many situations allows it.
  
  

Losing U.S. Citizenship

• A United States citizen who by his own volition attempts to become a citizen of a foreign country may lose his U.S. citizenship. In order to lose the rights to U.S. citizenship, this attempt at foreign citizenship needs to be done with free choice. The intention must also be to give up U.S. citizenship. This needs to be proven by documented intent and behavior in order for the U.S. to strip an American of her citizenship.
  
  

Problems with Dual Citizenship

• The U.S. government does allow for dual citizenship. According to New Citizen's website, it does not encourage this policy. They report this is due to the problems that may arise with this double nationality. Other countries' claims on U.S. citizens who also have citizenship with them may conflict with U.S. law. This dual citizenship may limit U.S. ability to help citizens in foreign countries. Also, sometimes the country of residence for a dual national has a stronger claim to that person's allegiance, as with requirements for service in its armed forces.
  
  

Requirements as a U.S. Citizen with Dual Nationality

• The U.S. government requires a dual national to represent herself as a U.S. citizen when leaving or returning to the U.S. When dealing with officials on any local, state or federal level, she should identify herself as an American and realize that she will be held to the laws of the United States. If a U.S. citizen with dual nationality needs to go to a U.S. embassy in the other country of citizenship, he will need to identify himself as an American. International law usually says the country an individual is in currently has legal claim. If the individual does not identify himself as American, it will be harder for the embassy to advocate for him.
  
  

Other Countries

• This oath is sworn by all who become naturalized U.S. citizens: “I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen.” Dual citizenship may go against the significance of this statement. However, the U.S. government has not asked any naturalized citizen to renounce his original country's citizenship. It just asks that the new citizen remembers he agreed to allegiance and fidelity to the United States in exchange for citizenship.