While Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas is eager to shed his Canadian roots, he will likely have to wait months before he becomes an undisputed full-time American.
The conservative Republican, whose Canadian birth likely makes him a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen, said Monday he will file paperwork to officially cut any citizenship ties he may have with the United States’ northern neighbor.
But the process, which includes obtaining a security clearance from Canada’s spy agency and a four-page form, could take up to eight months to complete, Reuters news service reported Tuesday.
People giving up Canadian citizenship must prove they are or will become a citizen of another country, do not live in Canada and are not a security threat. They must also explain in writing why they do not want to be a Canadian anymore.
A fee of 100 Canadian dollars — about $96 in the U.S. — also is required.
Cruz was born in Calgary, Alberta, on Dec. 22, 1970, of a Cuban-born father and Delaware-born mother. Because his mother is American, the senator, who grew up in Houston, is automatically a U.S. citizen.
“Nothing against Canada, but I’m an American by birth and as a U.S. senator, I believe I should be only an American,” Cruz said in a prepared statement.
