Will someone loose his citizenship of his country of birth by becoming the citizen of another country.?

Question

What are the international (U.N.) rules concerning this matter. Would like to receive answers from those actually involved.

Answer 1

To the best of my knowledge, International law and the UN, don't have the authority to rule over the citizenship laws of Sovereign Countries or States. However, the UN continues to investigate the idea of Global Citizenship.

Concerning United States Citizenship.
Loss of citizenship (INA § 349, 8 USC § 1481)
Section 349 of the INA [8 USC § 1481] specifies several conditions under which US citizenship may be lost. These include:

* becoming a naturalized citizen of another country, or declaring allegiance to another country, after reaching age 18;

* serving as an officer in a foreign country's military service, or serving in the armed forces of a country which is engaged in hostilities against the US;

* working for a foreign government (e.g., in political office or as a civil servant);

* formally renouncing one's US citizenship before duly authorized US officials; or

* committing treason against, or attempting or conspiring to overthrow the government of, the US.

The primary effect of recent developments in the US regarding dual citizenship has been to add the requirement that loss of citizenship can only result when the person in question intended to give up his citizenship. At one time, the mere performance of the above (or certain other) acts was enough to cause loss of US citizenship; however, the Supreme Court overturned this concept in the Afroyim and Terrazas cases, and Congress amended the law in 1986 to require that loss of citizenship would result only when a potentially "expatriating" (citizenship-losing) action was performed voluntarily and "with the intention of relinquishing United States nationality".

On 16 April 1990, the State Department adopted a new policy on dual citizenship, under which US citizens who perform one of the potentially expatriating acts listed above are normally presumed not to have done so with intent to give up US citizenship. Thus, the overwhelming majority of loss-of-citizenship cases nowadays will involve people who have explicitly indicated to US consular officials that they want to give up their US citizenship.

Answer 2

Not necessarily true. It depends on the country. Some countries do not allow dual nationality, and to become a citizen of that country, you must renounce all prior citizenships. Germany, India, Singapore are some examples - become a citizen there, and you must renounce US citizenship. Otherwise, as long as you abide by other countries' visa & immigration laws, US citizen can leave US in childhood and never set foot in the US again. No impact on US citizenship.

Answer 3

I'm a South African who has recently received an immigrant visa and who will be moving to the land of the free on the 17th of January 2007.

I think the dual citizenship question is governed by the countries concerned, but I know that I will be eligible to retain my South African citizenship after naturalization in the US. I believe that will be the case for most countries although I do not think that one is allowed to hold passports from more than one country at a time.

God bless and c u soon!

Answer 4

Yes, it is possible as many countries do not recognise dual citizenship. Singapore is one of them. A dual citizen may find his Singaporean citizenship revoked. I don't suppose there are international treaties governing this. This is very much a national issue, specific to the country involved.

Answer 5

This depends on the laws of your former domicile and those of your new country. Some countries allow dual-citizenship others don't. It is not a UN or a Human Rights Issue.

Answer 6

It depends on the country. I am both a citizen of the Dominican Republic and of the United States.

Answer 7

It depends on the policies of the two countries whose passport you want to hold. If both allow dual citizenship then you're fine, if only one allows it you'll either not get it or have to give up the one you already have.

Answer 8

Way around this is to get a new Idenity.. The french foregin legion allows you to change your idenity..... But the join up is like 6 years min....

Answer 9

some yes, some no - depends on the country(ies) involved - it is not a UN decision

Answer 10

i would have thought so