Getting Green Card from US Passport

M

Mov

Registered Users (C)
Hello, I would like to know if it is possible for me to re-acquire my green card even though I now have US passport. The reason I want to do this is because I want to retain my native citizenship and dual citizenship is usually not allowed (they require me to renounce my US citizenship). When my mother naturalized and got US citizenship, I automatically got US passport (I was 15 years old) and never took oath or anything, I never really wanted to get naturalized either but it was automatic. However, I wish to have my native citizenship rather than US.

Thanks.
 
I don't think you can get GC back but if you want your native citizenship back so much why do you need GC?
 
Since you acquired US citizenship without you taking any action, does your country of original citizenship not take that into account?
You will not be able to re-acquire your GC based on your earlier avenue of sponsorship. You will need a fresh and valid avenue to get a GC.

Mov said:
Hello, I would like to know if it is possible for me to re-acquire my green card even though I now have US passport.
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Triple Citizen said:
Since you acquired US citizenship without you taking any action, does your country of original citizenship not take that into account?
You will not be able to re-acquire your GC based on your earlier avenue of sponsorship. You will need a fresh and valid avenue to get a GC.
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The country in question (Austria) does not usually allow dual citizenship. However, since I was a minor and got US passport involuntarily, I believe within 2 years of turning 18 I'm allowed to re-acquire and thus renew my Austrian passport. However, I will most likely have to renounce US citizenship. I don't understand though if I already have US citizenship why I can't go back to being just a permanent resident. If I do renounce the US citizenship, do I have to go through the long process again to get green card?
 
My green card hasn't expired yet (though it is close to), maybe I could still use that to renew? Or can I request to renew my greencard?
 
Green card to citizenship is a one way street - there is no turning back.
You cannot renew your green card since it is no longer considered valid after your parent(s) naturalized.

Your only hope is to renounce US citizenship by appearing at a US consulate/embassy abroad and then somehow finding your way to a green card by either asking your parents to sponsor you or by employment. You will also have to be over the age of 18.
 
So, I have to renounce US citizenship outside the US? And then re-apply for permanent residency? I'm going to move out of US once I'm done with my studies, on the other hand.
 
Mov said:
So, I have to renounce US citizenship outside the US? And then re-apply for permanent residency? I'm going to move out of US once I'm done with my studies, on the other hand.
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Yes, you move out of US and renounce US citizenship before a US consular official. Then you can apply for permanent residency if you qualify under family or employment category.
 
Mov said:
So, I have to renounce US citizenship outside the US? And then re-apply for permanent residency? I'm going to move out of US once I'm done with my studies, on the other hand.
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It is usually not good to poke into people's business, but excuse me this time...

Why do you want to do this? As a USC, you should be able to travel to Europe/Austria anyway. Is there something specific you are trying to achieve ... employment / taxation? There might be other ways if you can discuss the root cause behind this request?
 
sanjoseaug20 said:
It is usually not good to poke into people's business, but excuse me this time...

Why do you want to do this? As a USC, you should be able to travel to Europe/Austria anyway. Is there something specific you are trying to achieve ... employment / taxation? There might be other ways if you can discuss the root cause behind this request?
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I want to live in EU in the future and possibly set up business in EU. Also, I never wanted to become US citizen in the first place.
 
Did you check with the Austrian authorities to find out if you really lost your Austrian citizenship as a result of your involuntary acquisition of US citizenship as a child? Austria does not have an absolute ban on dual citizenship.
 
If I do renounce the US citizenship, do I have to go through the long process again to get green card?
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Yes. If you renounce US citizenship, your immigration status reverts to nothing, and the green card process would have to be redone from the beginning.
 
Jackolantern said:
Did you check with the Austrian authorities to find out if you really lost your Austrian citizenship as a result of your involuntary acquisition of US citizenship as a child? Austria does not have an absolute ban on dual citizenship.
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This is what I found on wikipedia:

A person who lost Austrian nationality as a child (other than by deprivation) may re-acquire it by declaration within 2 years of turning 18.
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Either way, re-acquiring Austrian citizenship when I live or study in the EU should be no problem; I will have the renounce US citizenship which I'm fine doing (EU citizens can visit US without visa).
 
But you are presupposing that you lost Austrian citizenship, when the only certain fact at this time is that you gained US citizenship. So apparently you haven't consulted the relevant Austrian authorities to find out if in your particular circumstances you have indeed lost Austrian citizenship in the first place. If you haven't lost Austrian citizenship in the first place, there is no need to re-acquire it.

And if you want to quote wikipedia, they also say:
An Austrian citizen who acquires another citizenship by voluntary action automatically loses Austrian citizenship.
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Your acquisition of US citizenship was not voluntary, so perhaps you would not automatically lose Austrian citizenship.
 
When I talked with the embassy, it sounded like that most likely I had lost citizenship (since my mother voluntary naturalized and thus it goes for me too) but it is really easy to get it back, I believe I get to make that choice when I turn 18. The only catch is I have to give up US citizenship (Austria usually doesn't allow dual citizenship). I doubt they would allow me to have both citizenships.
 
A parent voluntary naturalizing does not mean their child obtained US citizenship voluntarily.

You really need to get them to give you something official in writing about the status of your Austrian citizenship, so you can have more certainty of how to proceed.
 
If you try, you MAY qualify under the last point below

Dual citizenship

Austrian law substantially restricts dual citizenship. In general, only the following categories of Austrian citizens may possess a foreign nationality:

* those acquiring another nationality at birth, such as children born to Austrian parents in another country, thus automatically gaining citizenship of that country, or those born with an Austrian and a foreign parent.
* naturalized Austrian citizens who are unable to renounce their existing nationality.
* those who acquire Austrian citizenship on the basis of being appointed a professor at an Austrian university.
* Austrian citizens who naturalize in another country with permission obtained to retain Austrian citizenship.
 
hashitoxicosis said:
If you try, you MAY qualify under the last point below

Dual citizenship

Austrian law substantially restricts dual citizenship. In general, only the following categories of Austrian citizens may possess a foreign nationality:

* those acquiring another nationality at birth, such as children born to Austrian parents in another country, thus automatically gaining citizenship of that country, or those born with an Austrian and a foreign parent.
* naturalized Austrian citizens who are unable to renounce their existing nationality.
* those who acquire Austrian citizenship on the basis of being appointed a professor at an Austrian university.
* Austrian citizens who naturalize in another country with permission obtained to retain Austrian citizenship.
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you have to request permission before you naturalize.
 
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