Posted by
tsuiwah
20 yrs ago
I was hoping for some advice on whether we should our son get a HK passport or a USA passport at birth. My understanding is that we can always get the USA passport later and it wouldn't affect his rights as a USA citizen, but other than travel-related issues and the ability to run for president of the USA (hardly an issue), I am not sure if there are other pros and cons for having one passport over the other.
From a travel documents cost and hassle perspective, I think a single USA tourist visa application costs HK$800 every time. On the other hand, there are many countries where a HK passport doesn't need a visa while a US passport does. Within Asia, a HK passport probably is better.
For the USA/expat citizens who have a Hong Kong-born child, did you get your child a home-country passport at birth?
If you chose to go with a HK passport first, what was the primary reason? And do you get any hassles from immigration when you return to your home country with your child?
Thanks!
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Well, I don't have a HK born child, but I have a 1/2 American, 1/2 Japanese child, so some of the same rules may apply to your situation. She was born in Japan, and because we were moving to China soon after the birth, I hurried everything along and applied for her US and Japanese passports right away. I don't think Japan or the US acknowledge dual citizenship, but I have been advised to show only her US passport when entering/leaving that country, and the same for Japan. That way neither country really has knowledge of her other citizenship and won't make trouble. At least this is what other parents have told me. My question is though, will Chinese or HK immigration wonder where she's come from when I show only her Japanese passport, the one that has her Chinese visa, after trips to the U.S.?
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FOTH, I can't do anything for your ignorance on visa issues. There are certainly more than a few countries where a HKSAR passport is preferable for entry.
LouisaDunn, thanks. I intend to talk to my US consulate but it is a pain nowadays with their new online appointment system, which does not appear to be very inquiry-friendly. I just figured there must be at least a few other parents here who have some relevant experience.
AFAIK, the USA does not permit dual nationality (with the possible exception of Israel and even then I am not sure if it is officially permitted) and that's not what I am suggesting. My son can choose his nationality based on his parent's passports. It's either/or, not both passports. You need to declare that you have relinquished nationality in another country before obtaining USA citizenship.
Although this is far into the future and irrelevant to this discussion, one reason to not have US citizenship is to avoid being taxed on your global income.
nirizawa, you have a couple of replies to you question in the travel forum...
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tly
20 yrs ago
My son was born in HK. I am a Taiwan citizen and my hubby, Australian. Since China considers Taiwan a part of their country, my son was given permanent residency here. He now has a permanent resident sticker on his passport which is pretty much one step before citizenship. He has free access to HK, can work here in the future, etc. And of course we opted for Australian citizenship for him. But to choose between US citizenship is a tough one due to taxes. Good thing Australians don't have that worry till they get back. What's your wife's citizenship? How does your son qualify for a HK passport?
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crj
20 yrs ago
A different questions.
Father is UK passport holder
Mother is USA passport holder
Parents are married and both are perm residents, but not Chinese.
Want the child to have a UK passport, not a USA passport.
Main reason: Worldwide tax issue, child can decide when older if they want a USA passport - but why burden them with the tax issues at birth?
Does anyone have any experience with this? Can a child get the UK passport based on the father being born in the UK and his UK passport?
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tly, I just assumed that my son, if born in HKSAR to a parent with a ROA (Right of Abode) permanent HKID would be able to obtain a HKSAR passport (although neither I nor my wife carry one). Is that not the case?
FOTH, if five countries qualify under your definition of a few, is ten then too many (because there are easily more than ten -- in Africa alone)?
Here are five that don't require a visa to enter with a HKSAR passport versus $$$ for a visa (or "reciprocity") with a USA passport:
Pakistan - $120
Tanzania - $50
Indonesia - $25
Egypt - $15
Chile - $100 (reciprocity)
(and, yes, these are all countries I have had to pay $$$ to enter with a USA passport)
For a better comparison of the others, take a look at both: http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/topical_4.htm
http://www.traveldocs.com/visas.htm
In addition, I think the trend going forward is for more countries to offer favorable visa requirements for a HKSAR passport holder while the opposite is true for USA passport holders. Not so long ago, Chile's reciprocity fee was $20 and Pakistan's fee was around $50.
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small correction:
Pakistan now charges HK$40 for a HKSAR passport holder (previously no visa required), while the cost is still $120 (HK$900+) for a USA passport holder. In addition, the USA passport holder must be "interviewed" by the consul general, while the HKSAR passport holder doesn't need to bother.
So, take out Pakistan and add Bangladesh ($100) to the list of five...
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zlmao
20 yrs ago
Friends, I have the same question as well. My husband has US Passport and I have Chinese Passport (but a US Permanent Resident). We both have HKID (but not permanent HK residents) working here. Will our baby get HK passport once he/she is born, by nature? Or we can apply for US passport for him/her? But I learned that in order for a foreign-born baby to get US passport, he/she must first stay in US for 5 years. Is it the rule these days? Your insight will be very helpful!Tsuiwah, let's compare notes when we both have any.
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tly
20 yrs ago
To my knowledge and what I have read so far, the only way your child can get at HK passport/citizenship if born here is if one of his parents is a Chinese citizen (Mainland, Taiwan, HK, Macau?) I don't know about permanent residency though. You should just go to the immigration department and ask at the info counter. I feel its quicker than calling. If your wife is not busy and its convenient for her, she can go ask. When I was 8 months pregnant they let me get in front of the line so I didn't have to wait.
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cara, excellent advice, but the simple answer is that I am a lazy a** (which my wife will confirm or at least reminds me of frequently).
Now, having said that, I did schedule an appt with my home consulate. But some of us, including yours truly, didn't just breeze through fourth grade and are still trying to make up for lost time. I appreciate hearing about other experiences and getting some advice to be better prepared. This is especially true in a foreign environment, and really the only reason a site like AsiaXpat exists. People share information, and it is up to the readers to decide what is worth taking. Over time, if all the information is full of cow dung, then the site won't exist. I guess that's why some sites succeed while others fail.
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i am malaysian and my hubby british. my son has malaysian and british passport. i know malaysia doesn't allow dual nationality, but we just dont let them know. when we enter malaysia, we use malaysian passport, when we enter UK, british passport. i guess this will go on until our child is 18 and he decide which nationality he wants.
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Hello! You might in need of Helper for your child. I'm looking for job there in HK. I worked with 1 employer for 11 yrs. I will email you my RESUME and photos if you wish. I took a break here in the Philippines for 7 months. Now I want to be back there in HK. Thank you very much and email me netesteban2002@yahoo.com
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