How long one should not leave USA after getting citizenship?
- Thread starter vcpat
- Start date
cafeconleche
Registered Users (C)
You can leave as soon as you get your US passport for as long as you want.
TheRealCanadian
Volunteer Moderator
Even if you find a link that says it, it still has no legal validity.
This issue was debated ad infinitum last year around this time. That discussion can be found here:
http://forums.immigration.com/showthread.php?p=1878899
Based on a 1994 court case, and the resultant modification to the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), there is no requirement to live in the US after the aquisition of US citizenship.
http://forums.immigration.com/showthread.php?p=1878899
Based on a 1994 court case, and the resultant modification to the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), there is no requirement to live in the US after the aquisition of US citizenship.
FriscoDude
Registered Users (C)
Well I hope that's not the case, I am thinking about leaving the US for a little while once I get citizenship since I am unemployed, and if that law still applies I am screwed...
Fear Uncertainty and Doubt 
Fear not, you can leave as soon as you naturalize. I would guess you need to wait for the passport, so it might take a few hours after the oath ceremony However, don't forget that although you're leaving right away you are already and still a US citizen and that comes with rights and obligations. Among the obligations you are obliged to file tax returns while living abroad.
I am sure that if this becomes a phenomenon the US congress will be pressured to modify the law, or do something. Canada has already put an end to limitless inheritance of Canadian citizenship. Now I think it is limited to one generation or so. I think the legislation was prompted by a high number of Canadians living in Lebanon who were deemed to have little or no ties to Canada anymore:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jLCjGfJlAIx9hrR8sQwP4Zw_lKQA
Anyway, the US pretty much already does this with citizenship, so perhaps we won't see this kind of legislative tightening.
Fear not, you can leave as soon as you naturalize. I would guess you need to wait for the passport, so it might take a few hours after the oath ceremony However, don't forget that although you're leaving right away you are already and still a US citizen and that comes with rights and obligations. Among the obligations you are obliged to file tax returns while living abroad.I am sure that if this becomes a phenomenon the US congress will be pressured to modify the law, or do something. Canada has already put an end to limitless inheritance of Canadian citizenship. Now I think it is limited to one generation or so. I think the legislation was prompted by a high number of Canadians living in Lebanon who were deemed to have little or no ties to Canada anymore:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jLCjGfJlAIx9hrR8sQwP4Zw_lKQA
Anyway, the US pretty much already does this with citizenship, so perhaps we won't see this kind of legislative tightening.