Dual nationality

[billybronco]

Does having British nationality and acquiring a foreign nationality hinder
one in anyway, jobwise, benefits wise etc?.

I just got rejected for a job I was offered because they said I "didnt
declare" I was dual national (they never asked in the first place).

[Marcus Fox]

Post by billybronco
Does having British nationality and acquiring a foreign nationality hinder
one in anyway, jobwise, benefits wise etc?.
I just got rejected for a job I was offered because they said I "didnt
declare" I was dual national (they never asked in the first place).

Dunno, but I'm certainly interested to know more about this. I was born in
Ireland to British father and Irish Mother in 1979. As far as I can see,
this gives me British/Irish nationality - being born in Ireland confers
Irish, having a married British father gives British. I don't think it
matters that they are now divorced, as that would be taking away nationality
once I already have it. I have an Irish passport, but no British passport
yet, for purely financial reasons.

Marcus

[Alun]

Post by Marcus Fox

Post by billybronco
Does having British nationality and acquiring a foreign nationality
hinder one in anyway, jobwise, benefits wise etc?.
I just got rejected for a job I was offered because they said I "didnt
declare" I was dual national (they never asked in the first place).

Dunno, but I'm certainly interested to know more about this. I was born
in Ireland to British father and Irish Mother in 1979. As far as I can
see, this gives me British/Irish nationality - being born in Ireland
confers Irish, having a married British father gives British. I don't
think it matters that they are now divorced, as that would be taking
away nationality once I already have it. I have an Irish passport, but
no British passport yet, for purely financial reasons.
Marcus

I assume it was a job requiring a security clearance? Dual nationality
could be relevant in that case.

[billybronco]

Post by Alun
I assume it was a job requiring a security clearance? Dual nationality
could be relevant in that case.

Yes it was. Why is Dual nationality relevant in a security clearance case?.

[Alan Walker]

Post by billybronco

Post by Alun
I assume it was a job requiring a security clearance? Dual
nationality could be relevant in that case.

Yes it was. Why is Dual nationality relevant in a security clearance case?.

IANAL but I worked for MoD for twelve years. Failure to declare something
material on a form is enough to stop you getting a security-cleared job.

Alan

[billybronco]

Post by Alan Walker

Post by billybronco

Post by Alun
I assume it was a job requiring a security clearance? Dual
nationality could be relevant in that case.

Yes it was. Why is Dual nationality relevant in a security clearance case?.

IANAL but I worked for MoD for twelve years. Failure to declare something
material on a form is enough to stop you getting a security-cleared job.
Alan

Thanks for everyones comments. I phoned up the company for a further
explanation. They said it was just the fact that I hadnt specifically
"declared" that I was dual nationality (I didnt even think to state this, I
think they take it as lieing). BTW it wasnt a government/sensitive role,
twas an IT helpdesk role.

i waited nearly 2 fkin months for them to do this clearance, and this. Oh
well back to the Dole office, Ill never be applying for a fkin "security
clearance" job again.

[Alan Walker]

Post by billybronco

Post by Alan Walker

Post by billybronco

Post by Alun
I assume it was a job requiring a security clearance? Dual
nationality could be relevant in that case.

Yes it was. Why is Dual nationality relevant in a security clearance case?.

IANAL but I worked for MoD for twelve years. Failure to declare
something material on a form is enough to stop you getting a
security-cleared job.
Alan

Thanks for everyones comments. I phoned up the company for a further
explanation. They said it was just the fact that I hadnt specifically
"declared" that I was dual nationality (I didnt even think to state
this, I think they take it as lieing). BTW it wasnt a
government/sensitive role, twas an IT helpdesk role.
i waited nearly 2 fkin months for them to do this clearance, and
this. Oh well back to the Dole office, Ill never be applying for a
fkin "security clearance" job again.

Good idea, the simple fact that I was ex-MoD resulted in all sorts of dull
and boring posts being pushed at me by agencies.

Alan

[Stephen Gallagher]

Post by billybronco

Post by Alun
I assume it was a job requiring a security clearance? Dual nationality
could be relevant in that case.

Yes it was. Why is Dual nationality relevant in a security clearance case?.

It depends on the type of security clearance,
and the type of work. In some cases, the fact that
a person has dual nationality may cast a doubt as
to whether or not he will be fully loyal or that he
may find himself in a position where he may not want
to always act in the best interest of his employer.

[price]

You make an interesting point about the being fully loyal or not. But if
dual nationality is a way to predict loyalty, it's certainly not going to be
as accurate today, in the UK, as religious identity. By which I refer to
Muslims and Jews, one of which is possibly to have an international Islamic
state as a first loyalty, while the other will possibly be primarily
orientated towards Israel. I think we can see this with the Jews in the USA
and the Muslims in the UK. Dual nationality was probably more important a
few years ago.

Post by Stephen Gallagher

Post by billybronco

Post by Alun
I assume it was a job requiring a security clearance? Dual nationality
could be relevant in that case.

Yes it was. Why is Dual nationality relevant in a security clearance case?.

It depends on the type of security clearance,
and the type of work. In some cases, the fact that
a person has dual nationality may cast a doubt as
to whether or not he will be fully loyal or that he
may find himself in a position where he may not want
to always act in the best interest of his employer.

[Alun]

Post by price
You make an interesting point about the being fully loyal or not. But
if dual nationality is a way to predict loyalty, it's certainly not
going to be as accurate today, in the UK, as religious identity. By
which I refer to Muslims and Jews, one of which is possibly to have an
international Islamic state as a first loyalty, while the other will
possibly be primarily orientated towards Israel. I think we can see
this with the Jews in the USA and the Muslims in the UK. Dual
nationality was probably more important a few years ago.

Post by billybronco

Post by Alun
I assume it was a job requiring a security clearance? Dual
nationality could be relevant in that case.

Yes it was. Why is Dual nationality relevant in a security clearance case?.

It depends on the type of security clearance, and the type of work.
In some cases, the fact that a person has dual nationality may cast a
doubt as to whether or not he will be fully loyal or that he
may find himself in a position where he may not want to always act in
the best interest of his employer.

I'm in the US, although from the UK. I actually think it illogical that
someone who is a naturalised American can get security clearance while I
can't. If someone is willing to change their citizenship, I would seriously
doubt their loyalty to _any_ country. At least I am a loyal citizen of an
ally.

[Stephen Gallagher]

Post by Alun

Post by price
You make an interesting point about the being fully loyal or not. But
if dual nationality is a way to predict loyalty, it's certainly not
going to be as accurate today, in the UK, as religious identity. By
which I refer to Muslims and Jews, one of which is possibly to have an
international Islamic state as a first loyalty, while the other will
possibly be primarily orientated towards Israel. I think we can see
this with the Jews in the USA and the Muslims in the UK. Dual
nationality was probably more important a few years ago.

Post by billybronco

Post by Alun
I assume it was a job requiring a security clearance? Dual
nationality could be relevant in that case.

Yes it was. Why is Dual nationality relevant in a security clearance case?.

It depends on the type of security clearance, and the type of work.
In some cases, the fact that a person has dual nationality may cast a
doubt as to whether or not he will be fully loyal or that he
may find himself in a position where he may not want to always act in
the best interest of his employer.

I'm in the US, although from the UK. I actually think it illogical that
someone who is a naturalised American can get security clearance while I
can't. If someone is willing to change their citizenship, I would seriously
doubt their loyalty to _any_ country. At least I am a loyal citizen of an
ally.

(All countries are different)

In my case, I'm a dual citizen. I'm US born (and therefore
a US citizen), and I also have British citizenship through
my British mother. Interestingly enough, US guidelines
would not disqualify me from a US security clearance as long
as I had never actively made use of my British citizenship.

But because I actually do hold a British passport (in addition
to a US passport), and I have travelled on my British
passport (albeit only to enter the UK), I would probably
not qualify for a US security clearance. I don't know
whether Britain would give me a security clearance or not.

Cheers,
Stephen

[Alun]

Post by Stephen Gallagher

Post by Alun

Post by price
You make an interesting point about the being fully loyal or not.
But if dual nationality is a way to predict loyalty, it's certainly
not going to be as accurate today, in the UK, as religious identity.
By which I refer to Muslims and Jews, one of which is possibly to
have an international Islamic state as a first loyalty, while the
other will possibly be primarily orientated towards Israel. I think
we can see this with the Jews in the USA and the Muslims in the UK.
Dual nationality was probably more important a few years ago.

Post by billybronco

Post by Alun
I assume it was a job requiring a security clearance? Dual
nationality could be relevant in that case.

Yes it was. Why is Dual nationality relevant in a security clearance case?.

It depends on the type of security clearance, and the type of work.
In some cases, the fact that a person has dual nationality may cast
a doubt as to whether or not he will be fully loyal or that he
may find himself in a position where he may not want to always act
in the best interest of his employer.

I'm in the US, although from the UK. I actually think it illogical
that someone who is a naturalised American can get security clearance
while I can't. If someone is willing to change their citizenship, I
would seriously doubt their loyalty to _any_ country. At least I am a
loyal citizen of an ally.

(All countries are different)
In my case, I'm a dual citizen. I'm US born (and therefore
a US citizen), and I also have British citizenship through
my British mother. Interestingly enough, US guidelines
would not disqualify me from a US security clearance as long
as I had never actively made use of my British citizenship.
But because I actually do hold a British passport (in addition
to a US passport), and I have travelled on my British
passport (albeit only to enter the UK), I would probably
not qualify for a US security clearance. I don't know
whether Britain would give me a security clearance or not.
Cheers,
Stephen

Interesting point. I would think they would, but from reading this thread
it seems you would be barred if you failed to disclose your US citizenship.

[Stephen Gallagher]

Post by price
You make an interesting point about the being fully loyal or not. But if
dual nationality is a way to predict loyalty, it's certainly not going to be
as accurate today, in the UK, as religious identity.

There are probably many dual British/other citizens who would have no
intention of being disloyal to the UK, just as there are probably some
people who have British citizenship alone but who may feel more loyal
to some other country.

Still, the dual citizenship issue is often used as a litmus test to
determine whether a person should have a security clearance.

[Alun]

Post by Stephen Gallagher

Post by price
You make an interesting point about the being fully loyal or not. But
if dual nationality is a way to predict loyalty, it's certainly not
going to be as accurate today, in the UK, as religious identity.

There are probably many dual British/other citizens who would have no
intention of being disloyal to the UK, just as there are probably some
people who have British citizenship alone but who may feel more loyal
to some other country.
Still, the dual citizenship issue is often used as a litmus test to
determine whether a person should have a security clearance.

I have a friend who has three passports, Sri Lanka, UK and US, in the order
in which he lived in each country. Oddly enough he speaks only English, and
with a very strong English accent, as he left Sri Lanka at an early age. He
seems to be planning to retire there, although it is almost a foreign
country to him.