Should I get French citizenship?

Factual Questions
1

My father was born in France to Polish refugees of World War II. He immigrated to the USA when he was 3 years old but never held a French passport (I think the family came over on refugee visas).

Is my father a French citizen? If yes, how can he be recognized as a citizen and what procedures would he need to follow in order to get a French passport? What would be the obligations of having French citizenship while living in the USA (e.g. would he need to file a French tax return each year)? Overall, is getting French citizenship a good idea or not?

Would I be able to get French citizenship too based on my father having been born in France?

Thanks in advance!

2

Doesn’t sound like your father automatically qualifies for French citizenship. Therefore, neither do you.

3

Well he doesn’t automatically qualify but would he be considered “Stateless” (which would confer nationality upon birth) because his parents were refugees?

4

Considering that the OP’s dad is currently in his late 60’s / early 70’s, I highly doubt that he is currently stateless. But who knows.

5

I would bet that dad would have to apply for/ clarify citizenship first? But still, unless they qualify him as citizen since birth there is no reason he would have a citizenship to confer on number one son.

Should you get it? Yes, if you can it does not hurt. IIRC the USA is the only place that makes citizens who have no residence/connection left pay taxes forever to the country, so there’s probably no tax liability unless you move there.

You do get the right to live/work anywhere in the EU as a citizen of a member country, IIRC. If you are thinking about doing that…

6

Well my father has been a US citizen since he came over but the question is what his citizenship status was when he was born in France. I doubt that he was a US citizen. And I doubt that his parents’ Polish citizenship was transmitted to him. So what was he? Stateless?

7

If his parents were Polish citizens, then I think it’s likely that he was born a Polish citizen, and hence not a French citizen.

8

Sounds like the OP is trying to find some back door way of obtaining French citizenship, via his father’s birth. It doesn’t sound like his father is really that interested in obtaining such a citizenship.

For what purpose? If it’s that important…move to France, after five years of living there, apply for naturalised citizenship.

9

Well I’m considering working in Europe for a few years and I assume that would be a lot easier if I were French.

10

Since Poland is part of the EU, have you checked up on whether you are entitled to Polish citizenship?

11

I wouldn’t want to bring that up with my grandparents - they wouldn’t want me to get Polish citizenship after what they went through during the war.

12

Maybe you wouldn’t even need to bring it up with them. What documents do you have on hand relating to the nationality of your parents and grandparents?

13

Sounds like Polish citizenship would be easier for you: Polish nationality law - Wikipedia

Except for this: