Dual nationality = twice the paperwork

[lederhosen]

So I spent a fair chunk of today re/enrolling in stereo. Australian was easy, since it's just a change of address from last time; US is fiddly, since I don't have my SSN at hand (last used it seven years ago) and my passport needs renewing, but in theory I'm eligible to vote and the paperwork's going in.

I always find it vaguely disconcerting when a form asks me to specify my 'race', as US paperwork so often does. I know exactly what answer I'm *supposed* to give, but my instinctive response is "and what the hell do you need that to figure out my entitlement to vote?"

ION, work has a new naming scheme based on cartoon characters, so now we really do have a Mickey Mouse printer.

Comments

[silverblue.livejournal.com]

'Homosapien'.

(They don't need to know the real truth about Lemuria anyway.)

[thorfinn]

Well, if you don't tell them you're white, then how can they tell they're not supposed to send the police around to beat you up?

[turnberryknkn.livejournal.com]

How does dual citizenship work? How did you get it, how do you maintain it? As you might imagine, this has suddenly become an extremely popular topic among American-passport only holding citizens in many circles right now...

[lederhosen.livejournal.com]

In my case, I was born in the US to Australian parents; I acquired US citizenship by birth and was naturalised as an Australian citizen soon after. At the time, it was very hard for an adult to obtain dual nationality; I understand it's become easier since.

The US policy on dual nationality can be found here.

The brief version: you can lose US citizenship if you're voluntarily naturalised as a citizen of another country *with the intention of relinquishing US citizenship*. "Such an intention may be shown by the person's statements or conduct, Vance v. Terrazas, 444 U.S. 252 (1980), but as discussed below in most cases it is assumed that Americans who are naturalized in other countries intend to keep their U.S. citizenship. As a result, they have both nationalities." (This is a bit more relaxed than I remember; I think they were tougher on dual citizenship back in the '80s).

Beyond that, hanging onto dual citizenship doesn't require much in the way of active maintenance; it's more a collection of "don't"s. The main ways you can lose US citizenship:

- voluntarily, by renouncing it
- obvious stuff: treason, or being part of the armed forces of a hostile state (I think the so-called 'Patriot' act might have extended this to non-state organisations)
- serving as an officer in the armed forces of a foreign state
- employment with a foreign government
- taking a formal oath of allegiance to a foreign state

However, "[the above actions] can cause loss of U.S. citizenship only if performed voluntarily and with the intention of relinquishing U.S. citizenship. The Department has a uniform administrative standard of evidence based on the premise that U.S. citizens intend to retain United States citizenship when they obtain naturalization in a foreign state, subscribe to routine declarations of allegiance to a foreign state, or accept non-policy level employment with a foreign government."

Of course, how the *other* nation involved feels about dual citizenship may be another question. I'm also not sure whether taking out US citizenship requires you to give up any previous nationality - I was a US citizen first, so that wasn't an issue for me.

[ex-cerebrate131.livejournal.com]

I'm also not sure whether taking out US citizenship requires you to give up any previous nationality.

"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the armed forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."

...so I'm guessing so, officially, even though some countries - like the UK - officially decline to recognise anyone's desire to give up their previous citizenship. Although not at least trying after speaking the above probably qualifies one for triple citizenship in the nation of Lying Bastardia.

[lederhosen.livejournal.com]

See, I was too lazy to look it up (having spent entirely too long poking around government websites already today), but I was pretty sure somebody would fill the gap. Thanks :-)

Note that a child can acquire US citizenship without swearing that oath, which potentially increases their options.

(FWIW, Australia has generally been pretty relaxed about dual citizenship, at least where the Right Sort Of Country is involved.)

[ex-cerebrate131.livejournal.com]

Indeed. Only a requirement for by-will citizens, not by-birth.

Given my druthers, I'd like to see that loophole closed tout suite.