[TNR]

Odd question...once our Guat beauties are US citizen+s do they lose their Guat citizenship? Thanks!

[Devora]

I have spoken twice with the Guatemalan consulate's office about this -- once with the consulate's office in Chicago and another time with the consulate's office in New York City. Both times I was told very clearly that our children retain their Guatemalan citizenship. It doesn't matter that the US does not recognize dual citizenship -- Guatemala does. In the eyes of Guatemala, our children are citizens of Guatemala for life.

To maintain proof of that citizenship you simply need to keep your child's Guatemalan passport current. If you let it expire then your child will as an adult have to move back to Guatemala for a period of time (I think the consulate's office said it was 6 months) and "reactivate" their citizenship. I didn't ask what it took to reactivate.

As children their Guatemalan passports are good for 5 years. This is what I was told last year when I inquired:

* Go to a Guatemalan consulate's office BEFORE the passport expires.
* If there are two parents they both need to appear with the child.
* Bring the original Guatemalan passport, two copies of it, and the copy of the Guatemalan birth certificate that lists you as the parent(s)
* Bring the parent(s) US passports and 2 photocopies of them.
* Bring a $65 money order or cashier's check (no personal checks).

Their Guatemalan passport will continue to be in their Guatemalan name. The only way to change it to their US name (if you did a name change) is if there is a court order from Guatemala changing the name.

Of course, this could change at any time. I would advise anyone who wants to maintain their child's Guatemalan passport to call 6 months before it's due to expire and find out what you need to do. Also, if you don't live near a consulate's office you will have to ask if it must be done in person. My guess is that it does so you may need to arrange for a quick trip to the closest consulate's office.

[sfalone]

Do you think it would be a big deal if you just kept your child's Guatemalan name (if you did a name change once home) on his Guatemalan passport? I had looked into doing a name change on the Guate side and I was quote a price of $700 (my original attorney)??

Stacy

[Devora]

Stacy, that's what we're doing -- keeping his Guatemalan name in Guatemala and his (slightly amended) US name in the US. When I spoke with the consulate's office they didn't have a problem with this.

[guatparents2be]

devora, thank you!

[TNR]

What great info, thanks!

[guatmama06]

Very interesting!
THANKS

[dac_cincy]

If you have a sone, I think it was mentioned the last time this topic came up that if you keep your son's Guatemalan passport current and he travels back to Guatemala on it after age 18 he can be conpelled to serve in the army.

Not sure if this is still the case, but it is one of the reasons I am consdering letting Bug's Guatemalan passport lapse- although I am still deciding and I have 2 more years before I need to start getting his paperwork together to renew his passport.

Love and hugs,

[stephjoel99]

Originally Posted by dac_cincy

If you have a sone, I think it was mentioned the last time this topic came up that if you keep your son's Guatemalan passport current and he travels back to Guatemala on it after age 18 he can be conpelled to serve in the army.

Not sure if this is still the case, but it is one of the reasons I am consdering letting Bug's Guatemalan passport lapse- although I am still deciding and I have 2 more years before I need to start getting his paperwork together to renew his passport.

Love and hugs,

The military issue I had a question about - and taxes too. If they maintained their citizenship are they responsible for paying any taxes in Guatemala? I'm sure it would be hard to enforce, particularly if they never went back - I just want to make sure I know as her mom what the *responsibilities* of citizenship are, not just the rights.

[Devora]

If you have a sone, I think it was mentioned the last time this topic came up that if you keep your son's Guatemalan passport current and he travels back to Guatemala on it after age 18 he can be conpelled to serve in the army.

I was concerned about this as well. I did ask the consulate's office and was told "no, they would not be drafted". Of course, that's the easy answer to give. However, the more I thought about it the more I realized that:

(A) In a time of volatility I would hope my son wouldn't travel there, knowing that risk
(B) He can travel solely on his US passport in which case he would be seen only as a US citizen (no one would know he also had Guatemalan citizenship)
(C) When he's 18 then it will be his choice -- he can maintain his passport, let it lapse, travel, not travel, etc. But if I let it lapse before then and he wants to "reactivate" his citizenship (to use the word the consulate's office used), he would have to live in Guatemala for a period of time. Keeping his passport active while he's a minor does not pose any risk.

If they maintained their citizenship are they responsible for paying any taxes in Guatemala?

Only if they are earning money in Guatemala.