Job Discussion Forums

[Micro67]

Has anyone done it (non-Euros, obviously)? There is a company that offeres a service, but it looks like it gets pretty expensive and they don't make any guarantees (www.uslawfirm.com).

[lajzar]

First off, I'd avoid any company that offers such a service. They smooth the way by knowing what paperwork is required, but ultimately, they can't do anything you couldn't do by yourself.

There is no such thing as an "EU passport". Each member state has its own passport, and the requirements to acquire citizenship, and by extension, the passport, vary from state to state.

Your best bet is to first consider your background. Do you have any familial links that tie you in any way to a particular EU country? If not, you probably dont stand any chance at all, but contact your favourite embassy anyway. If yes, contact the relevant embassy, and ask what their particular requirements are, and whether you could qualify. It is a slow process, but the embassy will have all the information you may require for the country it represents. Theres no reason not to contact all of them, except of course time.

Small warning: depending on the country and your age, acquiring citizenship may impose an obligation on you to do military service.

The other way is, of course, political asylum, but I suspect his doesn't apply in your case. Some countries also have a small number of citizenships on offer to people with valued skills (but work visas are the usual route for this), but teaching English isn't one of these for any country I know of.

[Micro67]

[Micro67]

[Phil_b]

[dagi]

To aquire a passport from any EU country you usually have to live in the country for 5 up to 15 years (depending on the country) and you need to be fully integrated into the local society, e.g. speak the language.
If you have ancestors of some EU country it does not make you eligible for a passport in the first place. Germany used to have very "loose" laws, people were eligible for German nationality when they German ancestors but since half of Russia moved to Germany the law has been changed and it's become much more difficult. So some German auntie will not get you a German passport.
The easiest thing would be to contact the embassies or local authorities.
For Germany that is www.auswaertigesamt.de !

[Jetgirly]

^ I got a German passport through loose connections.

My grandfather fought for Germany in WW2 on a submarine. It was captured off the coast of Canada and he was taken in as a POW. When the war ended my grandmother came over and they popped out two kids (including my dad) before they became Canadian citizens.

A couple years ago my dad looked into the possibility of getting a German passport for work purposes, and found out that it was possible. He had to do A LOT of digging around because my grandparents had kept poor records, and he needed their original marriage certificate. I think the most difficult thing was finding documentation that proved they were German citizens at the time he was born, because when they became Canadian citizens they threw away a lot of stuff relating to Germany. Anyways, it took him about sixteen months or so, but he finally got approved and was sent a passport.

With his passport came literature that explained how German citizenship is paternal... males can pass it on to their children (but not their wives). My brother can apply for citizenship and pass it on to his kids, I can have citizenship but not pass it on, and my mom is out of luck. My dad filled out the paperwork for me and I received my passport last December. I have never set foot in Germany and don't speak a word of German.

It's interesting that my dad was issued a ten year passport and I was only issued a five year passport. It may be pre- and post-9/11 differences, or it could be male/female differences... I'm not sure. But I do have to be cautious about the time running out.

[grahamb]

An interesting story. Does anyone else out there have a POW connection?

[ejw]

The question is, is it all worth it? Unless one of your parents has citizenship in an EU country, the quickest way is to marry or cohabit with a citizen of an EU country. That gives you the right to reside in that EU country, which leads to permanent residency, which in turn allows you to apply for citizenship. This all takes time and commitment. It also means residing in the same country all the time, learning that country's language in order to function in the country, and basically settling down there for a period of about five years or so.


I married a Swede in 1980. He is deceased now but since I now have a house and two children I am planning on getting Swedish citizenship. Even if I apply today, it will take a year. I don't know what it is like in the rest of Europe but ESL is dead here. The jobs are few and far between and you absolutely must have connections. The easiest way to get a teaching job in Sweden is to be a qualified English-speaking elementary or middle-school teacher. The international schools are usually looking for people. My advice is to forget ESL and become a certified teacher in the regular school system. You are much more likely to get employment in Europe then. If/when you eventually head back to the US/Canada or wherever, you will also be able to get a decent paying job with benefits.

Good luck
EJW

[bjamesw]

I'm currently a U.S. citizen living in Michigan. A few have now weighed in on their experiences with dual citizenship. After a few emails exchanged with the Polish embassy, I think I may be eligible.

To what extent does gaining citizenship in any of the EU countries confer all rights and privileges and, as well, submit one to taxes, responsibilities, and duties to the state? I know it differs; but what are your experiences? I would like to think it is wise to have dual citizenship and the papers in hand "just in case" - If job opportunities were presented, or if vacations and travel were available to me in the future. But I wonder if, on balance, there may be unforeseen liabilities?

Can anyone tell me where to get this sort of information? I know I could get all these details eventually from the Polish consulate, but I'd prefer to hear from others who have dealt personally with the realities of dual citizenship.
Thanks for any help on this.

[Gorm]

This is not-so related, but does anyone know about Norwegian passports?
I'm a 2nd generation US citizen. Both Norwegian and English are my mother tongue(s). More than half of my family still resides in Norway, including 4 first cousins-first removed and some 2nd cousins. I will also ask them about it.

Thanks,

Gorm