was i born in japan?

Question

i was born on U.S. Naval Base Yokosuka which is in japan. does this mean i was born on u.s territory or does it still mean i was born in japan?

i do know this is in the wrong catergory by the way.

Answer 1

Yes you are american becuase your family had what is known as Status of Forces agreement (SOFA) status, and contrary to popular belief American Bases in japan are NOT American soil, they are japanese territories leased to the US by the Japanese Government. So you were born in Japan but have no claim to japanese citizen becuase your family tree is not japanese as well as your families SOFA statu

Answer 2

You were born on Us. territory located in the country of Japan=) So yes you were born in the country of Japan but a part owned at that time by the u.s.

Answer 3

When I was in the Navy, we had an officer that was born in Canada to Military parents that were in Canada on Military business. His birth was the only time he had ever been in Canada.

To make a long story short, he is not considered a citizen of the US and therefore is exempt from all Income taxes. So he has been collecting an officer salary from the Military completely tax free his whole career. He states that every year, he sends the IRS a letter that states he is a US citizen and should pay taxes, and they always argue that he should not pay taxes. Sounds crazy, huh?

We also had some guys that crossed the US border in Tijuana illegally, yet they were allowed to join the military. They did not pay taxes either as they were not citizens...really pissed me off, that they were illegals and as a result of their non-taxable status were making more money than me- a true American. Makes no sense whatsoever.

Not saying you should quit paying taxes and claim to be a Japanese citizen, just thought I would share these interesting stories.

My answer is that you were Born in the USA and not Japan. The soil on that base is considered US soil.

You are fully American.

Answer 4

You were born "in" the country of Japan, but on a U.S. military base. That's pretty obvious. But for example, you somehow wanted to run for President of the U.S. one day - who must have been born in the U.S. by today's laws. You would be considered born "in America" not in Japan.

Answer 5

You were born as an American in Japan. Your birth was registered with the U.S. Embassy in the Roppingi section of Tokyo. That puts you in the same legal category as native born Americans.

Answer 6

You were born in Japan, but have no claim to Japanese citizenship unless you are also of Japanese ethnicity. Being born in Japan does not qualify you for citizenship in the same way being born in the US does. Japan is full of persons of Chinese and Korean ancestry whose families have been in Japan for generations, yet Japan still considers them citizens of the nation from which their forefathers departed.

Answer 7

Racially they would be Caucasian/European. There is a potential that they could have a dual citizenship in both Japan and America. My mother had American parents, but was born in Brazil due to my grandfather's work, and she has a dual citizenship.

Answer 8

Different countries have different citizenship laws.

US law is as long as you were born on US property, you are an American citizen.

Japan law (I'm a dual citizen American and Japan) is as long as you are in a "koseki toohon" (roughly translates to "family tree") of a Japanese citizen, you are a Japanese citizen as well. You become part of this family tree by being born or married into it.

So to clarify everyone else's "maybe".... no you're not Japanese.

Answer 9

You were born in Japan, but overseas of American parents, so you get a Consular Report of Birth instead of a birth certificate.

You are an American citizen, but may have the option for dual citizenship

Answer 10

You were born in Japan under U.S. Jurisdiction and are therefore a U.S. Citizen. Japan might also recognize you as a citizen but I really don't know on that. They likely do not have to.