citizenship

[david hagar]

If a person becomes a citizen of this country, do they give up their citizenship from the natural country?

Beattledog

[Brazilophile]

... in response to citizenship, posted by david hagar on Jul 19, 2005

During my US naturalization process 5 years ago, I asked US immigration officials about having to renounce my citizenship of birth.  The guy gave me barely half a second of his attention and just said "Don't worry about it".  

The instructions for naturalization state that the applicant must renounce all prior citizenships, allegiances to foreign countries, kingships, earldoms, and all other royalty titles, before becoming a US citizen.  This is supposed to be done at the swearing in ceremony.  At mine, there was no such requirement.  We only became US citizens.

I had no problems applying for and receiving a US passport.  I had no problems applying for and receiving a new country of birth passport when it had expired last year.

That said, it seems these rules are enforced only when the country in question has a compulsory military service requirement and that country is not a close ally of the US.  The US won't allow someone who may take up arms against it (ie serve in the military of an enemy) become a US citizen.

[OkieMan]

... in response to Re: citizenship, posted by Brazilophile on Jul 20, 2005

I guess I did not realize that you were a natualized citizen.  Might I ask where you come from originally?  It would be narrow minded to think that all of us will agree on everything.  But, from my prospective, the heat that you have taken on this board is because we are war!  This war is unlike any war we have ever been in, and since it is not with any specific government, but is made up of these terrorists cells across the globe, all of us get very touchy about bombings,etc.  I also have a son who fought in Iraq twice.(a Marine)  He knows first hand how absolutely ruthless these terrorists are.  So, please consider this when you say things like you have recently.  Thank you.

                            OkieMan

[Gator]

... in response to citizenship, posted by david hagar on Jul 19, 2005

Since you did not state the country I assume you mean the USA.

No, duel citizenship is allowed.  Mrs. Gator (no, her first name is NOT Ali) is a US citizen but also retained her Colombian citizenship. If I decide to become a naturalized Colombian citizen I will retain my US citizenship.

However, most of the laws forbidding dual citizenship were struck down in 1967 by the US Supreme Court. The court's decision in this case, Afroyim v. Rusk, as well as a second case in 1980, Vance v. Terrazas, eventually made its way  into the federal statute books in 1986; up till that time, the old laws were still on the books, but the State Department was effectively under court order to ignore them.

Rules against dual citizenship still apply to some extent to people who wish to become US citizens via naturalization. The Supreme Court chose to leave in place the requirement that new citizens must renounce their old citizenship during US naturalization. However, in practice, the State Department is no longer doing anything in the vast majority of situations where a new citizen's "old country" refuses to recognize the US renunciation.

The official US State Department policy on dual citizenship today is that the United States does not favor it as a matter of policy because of various problems they feel it may cause, but the existence of dual citizenship is recognized in individual cases. That is, if you ask them if you ought to become a dual citizen, they will recommend against doing it; but if you tell them you are a dual citizen, they'll usually say it's OK.

[david hagar]

... in response to Re: citizenship, posted by Gator on Jul 19, 2005

Gator

Thanks for the information

Beattledog

[utopiacowboy]

... in response to citizenship, posted by david hagar on Jul 19, 2005

n/t