Does a Minor Have to Naturalize Along With His Parents
My ex wife has naturalized...we are all Canadians and we have joint legal custody. Does my son who's 14 have to change his status from Permanent Resident to accommodate his mother's new status or can he simply stay a Permanent Resident and continue living as he has? I would prefer this to be a choice he makes on his own accord and can't understand why she wants to change his status. Any insight would be appreciated.
Thank you.
Re: Does My Son Have to Change His Status from Permanent Resident
No reason he has to become a citizen legally. It's up to the parents to decide however.
Re: Does My Son Have to Change His Status from Permanent Resident
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sadsaddie
My ex wife has naturalized...we are all Canadians and we have joint legal custody. Does my son who's 14 have to change his status from Permanent Resident to accommodate his mother's new status or can he simply stay a Permanent Resident and continue living as he has? I would prefer this to be a choice he makes on his own accord and can't understand why she wants to change his status. Any insight would be appreciated.
Thank you.
If his status is not changed while he is a minor, by virtue of his mother's change in status, then it will be more complicated for him to do it as an adult. In fact, if he became a permanent resident by virtue of his parents, it might even be problematic for him to remain a permanent resident as an adult. Please consult an immigration attorney in your area about this before you fight this too hard. Fighting it may be something that you might regret later.
Re: Does My Son Have to Change His Status from Permanent Resident
I really have no intent on fighting this issue, I'm just confused on why he can't remain a PR until he's old enough to make the decision for himself but prior to no longer being a dependent. His mother claims to have a Naturalized Certificate for my son and did so all without including me or gaining my consent. I'm a little bit upset because I have idea what this means for his future. (ie schooling, college, scholarships etc.) Now she's telling me I have to sign a consent form for him to gain an American passport. Do I have to sign this? How can she just change my son's status in the US without my consent as a parent with shared legal rights?
Re: Does My Son Have to Change His Status from Permanent Resident
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Quoting
sadsaddie
I really have no intent on fighting this issue, I'm just confused on why he can't remain a PR until he's old enough to make the decision for himself but prior to no longer being a dependent. His mother claims to have a Naturalized Certificate for my son and did so all without including me or gaining my consent. I'm a little bit upset because I have idea what this means for his future. (ie schooling, college, scholarships etc.) Now she's telling me I have to sign a consent form for him to gain an American passport. Do I have to sign this? How can she just change my son's status in the US without my consent as a parent with shared legal rights?
Why are you so upset about this? What harm to you believe that it is causing your son? What harm would it be for him to have an American passport? If you end up in court over this matter you cannot just articulate that this upsets you, you have to be able to articulate what harm you believe will come to your son as a result of this.
This does not take away your son's Canadian citizenship because one of his parents is still Canadian, if you believe that is the potential harm.
Re: Does My Son Have to Change His Status from Permanent Resident
I don't know that there's any harm to my son in being a dual citizen...I guess that's what I'm trying to figure out. I want to know the pros and cons now that he does have dual citizenship in both countries. I guess he can just travel between both without any sort of consequences? Since he hasn't gone to college yet my main concern was around scholarships and bursaries. I'm not really upset at the idea maybe just the fact that I was never included in the decision however I know in a court of law that's not going to matter.
Thank you for your input.
Re: Does My Son Have to Change His Status from Permanent Resident
I am a dual citizen with citizenships in both the US and Canada. I hold both citizenships from birth; I'm almost 60 years old and I haven't discovered a "con" to holding both citizenships yet.
That being said, if you have specific questions I will be happy to answer them. That is an honest and sincere offer. If your purpose here is to whine that you weren't included in the decision, however, I'm likely to growl at you, and I growl pretty good, so be warned.
Re: Does My Son Have to Change His Status from Permanent Resident
Thank you, I really appreciate your offer.