HK Father - Mother in US giving birth / Dual citizenship?

[realjoy]

Emigra, may I pm you?
in regards to this issue as well:


Many years have passed, but I still have similar questions to ask.

My husband Has both HKID, HK passport and US passport. I Am a us citizen (have a us passport) & a dependent visa HKID.

I want to have my baby in the USA, but am afraid it will be much more difficult for the baby to get the benefits of being a hk citizen in this way.

How much easier does it get if I just have my baby here in HK, go directly to the US embassy to get the baby's us passport.

I just would really like to have my baby in the USA but willing to sacrifice my comforts if it means my child will have more benefits by being born in HK.
Thank you for all your advice!!!

[Gruntfuttock]

I would say have the child in HK, and let it make it's own decision about whether to take US Citizenship and the lifetime of taxation that goes with that when s/he is old enough to do a cost/benefit analysis.

[realjoy]

Gruntfuttock- yes I apreciate the sentiment. However, I dont have the support system to raise my child the way Id like to as I do in the states. So are you suggesting that I just bring the baby to the USA for the first few years as a HK citizen, not usa? Also, I just prefer to have the baby grow up in clean air and such at the very least for 2-3 years... would that interfere with this issue?

[closedcasket]

We have a saying in the US for people like you...you want to have the cake and eat it too


Look, at the end of the day the important thing is for your child to have US citizenship. I'm not just saying that because I am an American, I'm saying that because it offers your child such a wide array of opportunities. And you are right, raising your child in clean air is important too.


If your child ever gets to the point where he or she has to pay US taxes abroad, well that's a good problem to have... That law effects so few people that it shouldn't matter to you one way or the other..and hey, you can always renounce your US citizenship if the taxes become a burden...

[Gruntfuttock]

Please could you list some of the "wide array of opportunities" that being an American Citizen gives vs being a HK Citizen (with the option to get take US Citizenship any time)?

It seems to me much better to stay opted out of a certain cost for an uncertain benefit, particularly when opting in later has no significant additional cost.

[Morrison]

Long thread. Did not read through it.
OP is correct. See Chinese nat law in English on HK Immis website. All you need to pay attention to is that one Chinese parent does not fall into the category permanently settled abroad. Eg father also has US citizenship/ or greencard and resides in US when the child is born

[closedcasket]

Please could you list some of the "wide array of opportunities" that being an American Citizen gives vs being a HK Citizen (with the option to get take US Citizenship any time)?

It seems to me much better to stay opted out of a certain cost for an uncertain benefit, particularly when opting in later has no significant additional cost.

Well, if you throw in the option to become US citizen anytime..than I guess it is a no brainer.


I was simply saying that I would far prefer a US citizenship to that of a HK one, given a choice. The US is a HUGE diverse country with all sorts of options. HK is a tiny chinese city with a very uncertain future.

[imparanoic]

Gruntfuttock- yes I apreciate the sentiment. However, I dont have the support system to raise my child the way Id like to as I do in the states. So are you suggesting that I just bring the baby to the USA for the first few years as a HK citizen, not usa? Also, I just prefer to have the baby grow up in clean air and such at the very least for 2-3 years... would that interfere with this issue?

my cousin has lived in US for 20 years, but uses UK passport though he has HKid, yet, he choses not to naturalize as he knows the burden of double taxation if he lives in HK or UK with us passport

The fact that us medical system is dire ( unless u have decent insurance ) and that he can't vote, you have to pay for decent education, thus the advantages is limited, unlike UK education or NHS, even HK has better system in medical system than US

[closedcasket]

my cousin has lived in US for 20 years, but uses UK passport though he has HKid, yet, he choses not to naturalize as he knows the burden of double taxation if he lives in HK or UK with us passport

The fact that us medical system is dire ( unless u have decent insurance ) and that he can't vote, you have to pay for decent education, thus the advantages is limited, unlike UK education or NHS, even HK has better system in medical system than US

As someone who has been a part of both Medical systems, I can assure you Hong Kong's system is better in only one way...it covers everybody. I don't want to get into a healthcare debate..but let's just say if and when I move back to the US...one of the things I will look forward to the most is the US healthcare.


the public healthcare system in Hong Kong is so strained that the government is now paying people to go on Insurance plans and use the private hospitals. (which is now going to start overcrowding the private hospitals too).

[imparanoic]

As someone who has been a part of both Medical systems, I can assure you Hong Kong's system is better in only one way...it covers everybody. I don't want to get into a healthcare debate..but let's just say if and when I move back to the US...one of the things I will look forward to the most is the US healthcare.


the public healthcare system in Hong Kong is so strained that the government is now paying people to go on Insurance plans and use the private hospitals. (which is now going to start overcrowding the private hospitals too).

have you ever seen Michael moore's sicko or on an non fiction case neil blomkamp's elysium? it's frightening real compared to US medical system