Possession of Citizenship

U.S. citizens have the right to participate in the political system of the United States (with reservations for prisoners, ex-prisoners, and naturalized persons), are represented and protected abroad by the United States (through U.S. embassies and consulates), and are allowed to reside in the United States, and certain territories, without any immigration requirements.

Citizens are liable for jury service. Citizens are also required to pay taxes on worldwide income, including income earned while residing abroad (regardless of the duration of the residence). Male U.S. citizens and permanent residents who reach the age of 18 are required to register under the Selective Service Act (while the U.S. does not actively use conscription, it reserves the right to do so), failure to do so is a criminal offense (up to 5 years imprisonment, $20,000 fine, and the suspension of federal educational grants/loans). The United States Government also insists that U.S. citizens travel into and out of the United States on a U.S. passport, regardless of dual nationality. The Selective Service Act established the first peacetime conscription in United States history. ... The government of the United States, established by the United States Constitution, is a federal republic of 50 states, a few territories and some protectorates. ...

Acquisition of Citizenship

Natural-born citizens

Most United States citizens are natural-born. Generally, a natural-born United States citizen was born in the United States or born to United States citizens.

Birth within the United States

Children born in the United States (including, in most cases, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands), are U.S. citizens at birth (unless born to a foreign diplomatic staff). A birth certificate is considered evidence of citizenship.

Through birth abroad to two United States citizens

In most cases, you are a U.S. citizen if both of the following are true:

1. Both your parents were U.S. citizens when you were born
2. At least one of your parents lived in the United States prior to your birth.

Your record of birth abroad, if registered with a U.S. consulate or embassy, is proof of your citizenship. You may also apply for a passport or a Certificate of Citizenship to have your citizenship recognized.

Through birth abroad to one United States citizen

In most cases, one is a U.S. citizen if all of the following are true:

1. One of your parents was a U.S. citizen when you were born;
2. Your citizen parent lived at least 5 years in the United States before you were born; and
3. At least 2 of these 5 years in the United States were after your citizen parent's 14th birthday (see note below).

Your record of birth abroad, if registered with a U.S. consulate or embassy, is proof of one's citizenship. You may also apply for a passport or a Certificate of Citizenship to have your citizenship recognised.

Note: If you were born before November 14, 1986, you are a citizen if your U.S. citizen parent lived in the United States for at least 10 years and 5 of those years in the United States were after your citizen parent's 14th birthday. November 14 is the 318th day of the year (319th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 47 days remaining. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Naturalized citizens

Naturalization is the process by which one becomes a citizen of a country. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you may be eligible to become one through naturalization. For the biology usage, see Naturalisation (biology). ...

If you become a U.S. citizen through naturalization, then you are not considered a natural-born citizen. Consequently, naturalized U.S. citizens are not eligible to become President of the United States. For example, as of 2005, the current Secretary of Commerce and the current Secretary of Labor cannot succeed to the presidency because they became U.S. citizens through naturalization. Ordinarily, the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Labor are tenth and eleventh in the presidential line of succession, as established by the United States Constitution and the Presidential Succession Act. In general, a natural-born citizen of a country is someone who is legally recognized as that countrys citizen as of the moment of birth, rather than by acquiring citizenship afterwards through naturalization. ... The President of the United States (unofficially abbreviated POTUS) is the head of state of the United States. ... Carlos M. Gutierrez (originally Gutiérrez) (born November 4, 1953) is the 35th U.S. Secretary of Commerce, succeeding Donald Evans. ... Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao Elaine Lan Chao (Chinese: 趙小蘭, pinyin: Zhào Xiǎolán, Wade-Giles Chao Hsiao-lan; b. ... The office of the U.S. Secretary of Commerce in the mid-20th century. ... The United States Secretary of Labor is the head of the United States Department of Labor. ... The presidential line of succession defines who may become or act as President of the United States upon the incapacity, death, resignation, or removal from office (by impeachment and subsequent conviction) of a sitting President or a President-elect. ... The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. ... The Presidential Succession Act of 1947 (codified as Title 3, Chapter 1, Section 19 of the United States Code) establishes the order of succession to the office of President of the United States in the event neither a President nor Vice President is able to discharge the powers and duties...

Eligibility for naturalization

To become a naturalized United States citizen, you must be a legal permanent resident of the United States, and have resided in the United States for five years before you apply. You must be a "person of good moral character", and must pass a test on United States history and government. Most applicants must also have a working knowledge of the English language. An American citizenship test is an exam that immigrants must pass in order to achieve legal citizenship in the United States. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...

Nationals who are not citizens

According to 8 U.S.C. §1408 it is possible to be a U.S. national without being a U.S. citizen. A person whose only connection to the U.S. is through birth in an outlying possession, (which as of 2005 is limited to American Samoa or Swains Island), or through descent from a person so born acquires U.S. nationality but not U.S. citizenship. Nationals who are not citizens cannot vote or hold elected office. However, they may live in the United States without restriction and naturalize as U.S. citizens under the same rules as other resident aliens. The United States Code (U.S.C.) is a compilation and codification of the general and permanent federal Law of the United States. ... Swains Island or Olosenga Island, Olohega Island, Quiros Island, Gente Hermosa Island , and finally Jennings Island. ...

U.S. Nationals are not U.S. citizens; however, all U.S. citizens are U.S. nationals. Indeed, U.S. passports normally make no distinction between the two, mentioning only the bearer's nationality, not her or his citizenship.

Loss of U.S. citizenship

Various court decisions have ruled that citizenship is a constitutional right and cannot be deprived without due process. However, a U.S. citizen may lose citizenship for a variety of reasons which include:

1. Service in a foreign armed forces
2. Employment with a foreign government of which the person is a citizen
3. Renunciation of citizenship to a U.S. diplomatic officer
4. Renunciation of citizenship within United States to the proper authority (this only applies 'in time of war')
5. Naturalization as a citizen of a foreign state

It is also important that the person in question has the intention during the majority of these cases of relinquishing U.S. citizenship and also that the person has another nationality to assume (a person cannot become stateless for renunciation purposes). If a dual national is required to perform military service for a foreign military, and does so without the intention of losing U.S. citizenship, this does not constitute a breach of citizenship. There are also special provisions for persons who are deemed to be avoiding U.S. taxation (which is, in theory, applicable up to ten years after the official loss of citizenship), which can result in loss of right to entry into the United States. While in practice there is little to stop a foreign citizen who has performed a said act from entering the U.S., the U.S. State Department "requires" that a Certificate of Loss of Citizenship be obtained at a U.S. embassy or consulate (though this is generally treated as a grey area, judged on a case by case basis). Armed forces are the military forces of a state. ... A stateless person is someone with no state or nationality, usually because the state that gave their previous nationality has ceased to exist and there is no successor state. ... Multiple citizenship is simultaneous citizenship in two or more countries, whether it is recognised by all countries or not. ... Military service is service in the armed forces of a nation or the military arm of a political organization. ... Taxation in the United States is a complex system which may involve payments to at least four different levels of government: Local government, possibly including one or more of municipal, township, district and county governments Regional entities such as school, utility and transit districts State government Federal government // Federal taxation...

See also

• Oath of citizenship (United States)
• Citizenship
• Nationality law

The United States Oath of Citizenship is an oath that must be taken by all immigrants who wish to become United States citizens. ... Citizenship is membership in a political community (originally a city but now usually a state), and carries with it rights to political participation; a person having such membership is a citizen. ... Nationality law is that branch of a countrys legal system wherein legislation, custom and court precendent combine to define the ways in which that countrys nationality and citizenship are transmitted, acquired or lost. ...

External links

• U.S. Citizenship Information
• U.S. Naturalization
• Citizenship & Nationality Law - US State Department
• Rich Wales Dual Citizenship FAQ