Comments on: To keep Chinese citizenship or lose it — that is the question

By: Rising Son

Rising Son — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 07:03:06 +0000

So many people treat US citizenship/green card as a utilitarian tool, which I totally understand. For travel convenience, for scholarship reasons and, let’s face it, for the grossly generous welfare checks. But to be a US citizen or even a PR, one should appreciate the country’s history, heritage, etc.
I have seen so many putative “Americans” who are socially, linguistically, politically and culturally detached from the United States. Did you know that 30% of HK people hold US citizenship or green cards? I doubt most of them actually know anything about US history other than that Washington and Lincoln were famous presidents.

Of course, a part of this problem lies with the US government whose loony liberals pass out citizenship and green cards like supermarket food samples

(I should note here that I am a naturalized US citizen.)

By: Jocelyn

Jocelyn — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 03:25:51 +0000

Thanks for the comment, John. What a small world, to meet someone who actually took a class with Peng Kaiping. I’m glad to hear you enjoyed the class.

By: John Lin

John Lin — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 19:04:41 +0000

Haha, I personally know the first guy å½å‡¯å¹³ (Peng Kaiping) on your website “Listing citizenship on a university departmental website” http://rwxy.tsinghua.edu.cn:8001/psy/newsindex.jsp?classid=12 he taught us behavioural studies when I was at Tsinghua (it was his sabbatical year from Berkley) Great guy.

By: Jocelyn

Jocelyn — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 04:10:33 +0000

Hi Harris,

Thanks so much for the comment, and I’m so glad you enjoy my writing.

Sounds like going abroad has given you a new opportunity for self-discovery — that’s outstanding. Well, from my experiences and connecting with those of my readers, I can tell you that there are foreign women out there who would love to date you. Good luck with your own journey, and you’re welcome to visit here anytime!

By: Harris

Harris — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 22:09:51 +0000

Hello Jocelyn,

Your blog is very interesting. I am so impressed by your experience in China. Just like me now, I am in Germany and experiencing the culture difference, which give me a deep insight of Europe. The culture is really different from China. But I like it. Today i am in Germany for two years but haven’t been back to China for two years. I miss home, but home is everywhere for me. Since I walked out of the gate of my home, I say, my life gonna be different from others, for example, I wanna have a foreign wife in the future, I am looking for a true love here but right now I still keep on researching. I wanna live in a multicultural region with different people from different countries. To me, the difference often bring me the fun and lot of interesting stuff to me. I will come often to your blog and become the fanns here.

Enjoy your life in China.

Xiaoheng

By: Jocelyn

Jocelyn — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 00:16:09 +0000

Thanks for the comment, Stuart!

I would agree that there might be some logical reasons to give it up if we were to reside permanently in the US. But we plan to move permanently back to China. In that case, having Chinese citizenship is a benefit. You don’t have to pay as much of a down payment on a home as a foreigner, it’s easier to start a business (something my husband is considering) and, of course, he won’t need a visa to reside there.

Additionally, the pride factor is a big issue for a lot of Chinese men. My husband is proud to be Chinese and simply does not want to relinquish his citizenship. It really has nothing to do with being part of the government — it’s just that, for him, giving up Chinese citizenship is like turning his back on his motherland. I have heard other foreign women with Chinese husbands have the same experience.

By: Stuart

Stuart — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:28:09 +0000

Wow, a lot of comments here. My wife is Chinese (she’s a college professor here in the U.S. now) and we dealt with this very issue back in 2002. Basically, assuming you are primarily living in the U.S., the decision of whether or not to give up your Chinese citizenship is one between the practical and the emotional side of things. There is no real reason to keep the Chinese citizenship other than for emotional purposes. The reasons for switching to an American citizenship are mostly practical (visa’s and travel being a biggie). My wife decided to drop her Chinese citizenship after being in the U.S. for about 10 years (and married for 7) when we wanted to do some travelling and found that while I could get Visas with little trouble, she could not. Having the whole family (we have 2 kids) with the same citizenship also makes for peace of mind when we are coming and going to and from China, something we do fairly frequently.

Your husband will still be “Chinese”. Changing that piece of paper doesn’t change who he is in the least. It just smoothes over legal issues and satisfies governmental rules. Now, if your husband views “being chinese” as “being part of the current government” this may be a different matter but I know for my wife she is Chinese regardless of who handles the politics or who issues the documents.

By: Jocelyn

Jocelyn — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:20:45 +0000

@Chinamatt,

Thanks so much for the comment!

What you said about the green card is true. But it can be risky if, like us, you’re looking at moving permanently back to China. Keeping that green card is contingent on proving you still have your permanent residence in the US, and all of those things that demonstrate it. That means if your situation looks suspicious, someone at border control can stop you and you could get your green card revoked. It could also just be a whole lot of hassle (demonstrating you’re still a resident of the US through things like bank accounts, maintaining a home here, etc), and I’m not sure either of us want that.

But for you and your wife, since you are going to live permanently in the US, US citizenship might make sense. Especially if it means your wife gets preference for certain jobs.

P.S.: Like your website — I found your journal a few months ago and was thoroughly intrigued.

By: Chinamatt

Chinamatt — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:03:24 +0000

I’m not absolutely sure about it, but I’m fairly certain that your husband can keep his US green card while living in a foreign country as long as he returns to the US for a short stay every 6 months.

When my wife first moved to the US she thought she’d just keep her Chinese citizenship for as long as possible. Now she thinks it’s just easier to get her US citizenship when she’s eligible (she’s seen a lot of nice jobs that require citizenship).

If China recognized dual citizenship, I’d have no problem with my wife hanging on to it. Maybe they’ll reconsider that policy in the near future.

By: Roadblock

Roadblock — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:12:38 +0000

I think it is a very bad idea to ask for advice on doing things illegal. And I for one will certainly not advice any one to do anything that is prohibited by law. As I understand the Chinese nationality law, you already renounced your Chinese citizenship, the motion you took up your current British citizenship. You are a Chinese national no more. You may only enter China as a British citizen carrying British passport with a valid Chinese visa. Travelling with a void passport, or entering China without a visa is illegal. So you must not do it.

Chinese nationality law
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationality_Law_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China

Take a look at Article 3 and Article 9. They are very explicit. Do not try to break the law.