Dual Citizen

Because Canadian Thanksgiving is tomorrow and I was asked why I celebrate it.

I am a Dual Citizen.

I am a Citizen of Canada (as well as a Commonwealth Citizen of the Member Countries of the British Commonwealth.)

I am a Citizen of the United States.

My Mother was born in Canada to a Canadian Father and an American Mother.

My Father was born in the United States to two American Parents.

In 1960 my Canadian Grandfather became an American Citizen and until 1877 Canada didn’t allow Dual Citizenship so he lost his Canadian Citizenship (as did my Mom who was under 18 years old at the time.)

In 2009 Canada passed a bill to give Canadian Citizenship back to those that had automatically lost it (when they became a Citizen of another Country or if they lived outside of Canada for 10 years.)

My Mom applied for and got her Canadian Citizenship back.

I then applied for Canadian Citizenship and received it.

I am considered a Native-Born Canadian Citizen (not a Naturalized Citizen.)

I am also considered a Native-Born American Citizen (not a Naturalized Citizen.

I have to use my Canadian Passport to enter Canada and my American Passport to enter the United States.

I can use either Passport to enter any other country although if I use my Canadian Passport to enter the United Kingdom or another Commonwealth Country I have more rights than if I enter the UK with my American Passport

Since 2009 we have had low-key celebrations for Canadian Thanksgiving in October and a bigger celebration for American Thanksgiving in November.