For those of you who are currently American citizens, were any of you born outside the United States? I was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The worst thing about it: I can't be President of the United States. I only spent the first 10 days of my life and July 2003-September 2006 in Canada. Out of 24 years, I spent 3 years, 2 months, and 10 days outside the U.S., and I can't be President. Outrageous I tell you :mad: :mad: :mad: .

I was born in Van Nuys, California.

But why would you want to be President? I wouldn't- you get attacked (verbally) practically everyday for doing your job. Who needs that?

But why would you want to be President? I wouldn't- you get attacked (verbally) practically everyday for doing your job. Who needs that?


I don't. I'm saying if I wanted to, I couldn't since I was born outside the states. I spent 1/8 of my childhood in Canada, and I couldn't become President if I wanted to.

I don't. I'm saying if I wanted to, I couldn't since I was born outside the states. I spent 1/8 of my childhood in Canada, and I couldn't become President if I wanted to.
In that case, you can be President of Canada (if you want). ;) (Or Prime Minister, whatever the title is.)

I don't. I'm saying if I wanted to, I couldn't since I was born outside the states. I spent 1/8 of my childhood in Canada, and I couldn't become President if I wanted to.

Now hold on....were your folks naturalized US citizens when you were born? The generally held opiniion is that children born "overseas" to US citizen parents count as "natural born citizens" per the Constitution (though some interpretations do differ), and are eligible. (John McCain was actually born in the Panama Canal Zone, for example) At the very least, your candidacy would help define a precedent one way or another - which is sorely needed.

Now hold on....were your folks naturalized US citizens when you were born? The generally held opiniion is that children born "overseas" to US citizen parents count as "natural born citizens" per the Constitution (though some interpretations do differ), and are eligible. (John McCain was actually born in the Panama Canal Zone, for example) At the very least, your candidacy would help define a precedent one way or another - which is sorely needed.


My mom was born in Haiti, but moved here at a very young age. My dad was born in Brooklyn. They were citizens when I was born. With that being said, would I still not be able to become President?

If your mom was a US Citizen at that time, yes. If not, it's more gray than it was before, but with your dad being a citizen, I think that still OK's you.

I'm not a lawyer or constitutional expert, though. (Yet)

If your mom was a US Citizen at that time, yes. If not, it's more gray than it was before, but with your dad being a citizen, I think that still OK's you.

I'm not a lawyer or constitutional expert, though. (Yet)


I never knew that. I thought being born outside of the United States meant I couldn't run for President or any other government position.

Anyway, I'm glad to be back in the U.S. I spent over 3 years in Canada. The winters were wicked.

Oh really? How wicked were they? Truthfully, I'm one of those people who isn't truly at home until they're freezing their blank off, and these 50-60 degree in the day, no snow, sunny, winters we've had the last few years in Kentucky...they suck..

I never knew that. I thought being born outside of the United States meant I couldn't run for President or any other government position.




Being born on a military base or US soil elsewhere (like an embassy) also makes you a US citizen.

My mom and sister have lived in the US for 27 years, but both have retained their Canadian citizenship.

I was born here so am a defacto citizen, but I also have citizenship to Poland because my parents were here barely a year when they had me. Which is nice, cause now that we're in the EU, I can freely move around anyway I want to in the EU and have automatic citizenship. :)

Out of 24 years, I spent 3 years, 2 months, and 10 days outside the U.S., and I can't be President. Outrageous I tell you :mad: :mad: :mad: .

I wouldn't worry too much, if the current guy is anything to buy, your past doesn't make much difference :lol: .

J

I have a very similar case to you Ricky. I was born in Italy. I was only an Italian Citizen three days. My dad works for the state department so we were living there at the time. If I was born at the embassy or the base I wouldn't have been born an Italian citizen, but I was born in an Italian hospital, which is kind of neat because the hospital I was born at is about a mile away from the Vatican. My birth certificiate is all in Italian.

Yes. I was born in the UK, and I've lived there all my life, apart from holidays to America.

I've got dual nationality, since my mother is American.

I was born here.
One of my good friends, however, was born to two US citizens while they were on vacation in Ireland. :lol: My boyfriend has been in the US for 11 years and recently got his citizenship, so no presidency for him.

Fairly sure that if your parents were US citizens (or like it's been said: embassy or military base) then you are a citizen and can be president.

I was born in Canada too, but I lived there for half of my life. :) Dual citizenship does have its advantages!

Oh really? How wicked were they? Truthfully, I'm one of those people who isn't truly at home until they're freezing their blank off, and these 50-60 degree in the day, no snow, sunny, winters we've had the last few years in Kentucky...they suck..


Depends on where in Canada. Hamilton is just around Lake Ontario from Toronto (approx. where I live) and it can get brutally cold but it's because of the Great Lakes. The dampness really makes it bone chilling. I was born in Sudbury though - northern Ontario and even though it would get to 40 below there, it didn't seem quite as cold because it was a "dry cold" - if that makes any sense.
Our summers can be brutal too though - just as hot and humid as it is in the southern states. Now with this global warming we're really getting some crazy stuff.
I'm headed to Dallas this Friday and it's been about the same temp. here as it has been there the past week.
If you live in British Columbia - it's more like the weather in Seattle - quite temperate and they don't usually get snow much (although, again, this crazy winter they're getting hit hard out there like Denver is). Alberta isn't too bad either. They get "Schnook" winds that can bring really warms temperatures during the winter. Newfoundland you'd probably love - it's hell on earth there but they sure know how to have fun in the cold.

Sorry - off topic slightly there.
Ricky88 - I'm sure as long as at least one of your parents was a U.S. citizen when you were born, that gives you dual citizenship and you could probably run for office. As Fleet says though - major thankless job and you can make a lot more money in the private sector than in government.