Any time limits to citizenship?

B

brajac

Registered Users (C)
One of the members of this discussion group mentioned that if you leave USA withing 1 year of naturalization to live abroad permanently then that could make a case for denaturalization by BCIS. Is this correct? I was under the impression that once a citizen, always a citizen. Please share your knowledge in this regard.

Thanks.
 
There is no such denaturalization clause anymore. It used to be there, but it was removed in 1996. After becoming a US citizen, you are free to live anywhere in the world, just make sure you file US income taxes on your worldwide taxes every year.
 
brajac said:
One of the members of this discussion group mentioned that if you leave USA withing 1 year of naturalization to live abroad permanently then that could make a case for denaturalization by BCIS. Is this correct? I was under the impression that once a citizen, always a citizen. Please share your knowledge in this regard.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

There is no such requirement. However your impression once a citizen always a citizen is wrong as naturalized citizenship can be stripped at a later stage if some charges are proven against you.
 
Here are the ways to lose your US citizenship:

(1) obtaining naturalization in a foreign state (Sec. 349 (a) (1) INA);

(2) taking an oath, affirmation or other formal declaration to a foreign state or its political subdivisions (Sec. 349 (a) (2) INA);

(3) entering or serving in the armed forces of a foreign state engaged in hostilities against the U.S. or serving as a commissioned or non-commissioned officer in the armed forces of a foreign state (Sec. 349 (a) (3) INA);

(4) accepting employment with a foreign government if (a) one has the nationality of that foreign state or (b) a declaration of allegiance is required in accepting the position (Sec. 349 (a) (4) INA);

(5) formally renouncing U.S. citizenship before a U.S. consular officer outside the United States (sec. 349 (a) (5) INA);

(6) formally renouncing U.S. citizenship within the U.S. (but only "in time of war") (Sec. 349 (a) (6) INA);

(7) conviction for an act of treason (Sec. 349 (a) (7) INA).
 
The other way is for the government to prove that you were never naturalized. If they can prove you lied on your N-400 or in your interview (example, you were Nazi in WWII and said no to the question), they can go after you.
 
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