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Dual
Citizenship for Germans in the US
Until
recently, Germans could not become US-citizens without giving
up their German citizenship. This has changed as of January
1, 2000. Starting with the new millennium Germans need no
longer fear that after extended stays outside the US, the
INS will let them wait on Ellis Island.
After
living for 5 years as a green card holder in the US, (or three
years, if the green card was obtained through marriage), a
German citizen can apply to keep his citizenship ("Beibehaltung")
before accepting a foreign citizenship (Paragraph 25 Staatsangehoerigkeitsgesetz).
The German
administration still figures out how to properly process these
application and as a backup measure uses the naturalization
procedure to master the paperwork. Naturalization proceedings
are red tape intensive and ask questions which under the situation
at hand should be answered with a twist .
The process
normally takes six to nine months and costs
260 $.
We can
provide you with forms and represent you in these proceedings
with the Bundesverwaltungsamt in Köln.
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