<p>I’m confused on the common app regarding dual citizenship. My father was born in Ghana and holds dual citizenship with the U.S and Ghana. I have never been to Ghana nor have I applied for a passport for Ghana. </p>
<p>The law states:
“A person is a citizen of Ghana by birth if he/she was born on 7th January 1993 or born after that date in or outside Ghana at the date of his/her birth only if either of his/her parents or one grandparent was or is a citizen of Ghana.”</p>
<p>So does this by default make me a dual citizen?</p>
<p>I respectfully don’t agree with Texaspg. To put it simply, you have been a dual national since birth. You can lose it (your Ghanaian citizenship) by renouncing it or you can travel to Ghana by applying for a Ghanaian passport with proof of your Ghanaian citizenship i.e. Your birth fathers Ghanaian. Birth certificate</p>
<p>Although the article is interesting, it doesn’t directly address the OP’s concern. Point 8 addresses the concern of someone whom the article assumes is a Ghana citizen. The answer concerns itself with dual citizenship for that person. The OP’s concern is the opposite. He is a US citizen uncertain about his Ghana citizenship.</p>
<p>I think I am being dense here so I might not understand the OPs concern fully. Its possible to be a citizen of a country without realizing it. As far as I can see Jay1996 (if he was born in 1996) was a citizen of Ghana at the time of his birth because his Dad was a Ghanaian citizen. If he has not taken any steps to renounce his Ghanaian citizenship or acquired citizenship of a country that does not permit dual citizenship (eg. Germany) then he continues to be a Ghanaian citizen. He is also an American citizen by birth. Therefore he is a dual citizen. If he wants to go live in Ghana, he just needs to prove his citizenship by showing his fathers Ghanaian birth certificate. If he want to get a Ghanaian passport, he needs to prove his citizenship (like any other Ghanaian has to when they apply for a passport) with his dads birth certificate.</p>
<p>Whilst I understand your concern, as of May 2012 (since the Supreme Courts ruling) one doesn’t need to register as a dual citizen. There is no paper work to confirm someone citizenship. The situation you are quoting from is from 2010 when there was requirement for dual citizen to register with the Ghana Consulate for the issuance of a dual citizenship certificate (before the Supreme Court ruling). The information on the embassy’s website is outdated.</p>
<p>^ or for that matter, can it in any way hurt an applicant. I know that admission for international applicants at the most selective colleges is more challenging than it is for an american. Is it any different for a dual citizen?</p>
<p>I guess it depends on what countries are involved. With Italian citizenship for instance, your kid can live and work in any EU country without a visa, work permit etc. Dual citizenship also comes with some responsibilities eg military service. In some countries certain jobs, especially those requiring a high security clearance, are reserved for people with single citizenships.</p>