Becoming a U.S. citizen

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

Hah, I'ma CFP. YOu don't pay double taxes due to the tax treaty between Canada and the U.S. I'm not a U.S. tax expert but I do know that.

I'm a designated accountant as well, though taxation is not my particular area of expertise. This is where you know your situation best. If your daughter holds anything remotely complex in terms of investments that may have foreign tax witholdings implications (ie Trusts or Master Limited Partnerships) there may be advantages / disadvantages to citizenship and resulting tax burden. Not saying there is, but it doesn't hurt to check with someone that deals with expat tax.

That is if it applies. If all she has is employment income than yes, tax treaty's got you covered there and it should be relatively straightforward and I wouldn't even bother with the tax advice.

[SportsJunky]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

My wife was born in the States but has only Canadian citizenship. It now appears that our daughter will likely move to the States for several years of university.

Does anyone here know about the process of my wife and daugher applying for dual citizenship and if this provides any benefit? It might help our daughter if she needs to work during her university years. My wife and I will not likely live in the States, except maybe part time during retirement, but there may be some value for our daughter. Does it help our daughter if he mother has dual citizenship. I understand that my daughter is eligible for dual citizenship because her mother was born in the States.

Any advice appreciated.

I'm also a dual citizen. My parents were both U.S. citizens and I was born in Canada.

My understanding is that if your wife was born in the U.S. she is a U.S. citizen already obviously and will just need to formally fill out the paperwork to receive a passport. She should have a social security # that was issued to her when she was born?

Your daughter is eligible for U.S. citizenship based on her mother's country of birth. I would recommend she apply for her U.S. passport (SS # comes with it) even if she isn't planning on going to school down there. It's just nice to have it taken care of early IMO. Talk to the U.S. Consulate General in Edmonton or Calgary. Also almost all questions can be answered with a quick google search as I found out.

[Bill Bumface]

I have a friend who went to school in the US and has stayed there to work. She has to leave every year to renew her work permit/visa and it has been a giant PITA several times. So if you may save her some headaches there.