If I win election in foreign country, do I automaticallly lose US citizenship?

T

TwoScoops

New Member
Here's a hypotheical situation:

I am a naturalized US citizen for many years.

I run in a local election in a my home country.
(congress/parliament, mayor/governor, city council,
judge/sheriff/police chief... or even school board,
for example)

Let's say that I win the election and then I take oath of office.

Do I automatically lose my US citizenship? Or do I need to visit
the nearest US embassy/consulate and formally apply to give up
my US citizenship?

Thank you. :)
 
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Jackolantern said:
You can't automatically lose your US citizenship. Running (not just winning) for political office of another country is grounds for revoking your US citizenship, but they still have to initiate court proceedings against you.
Click to expand...

the keyword here is "winning" the election... (and also having already
taken oath of office, under a foreign flag/constitution)

but until the US government officially revokes my US citizenship,
I am still legally a US citizen?

and if nobody ever rats on me, about winning an election in
a foreign country, and the US government doesn't find out, I will
continue to be a valid US citizen?

or is there a time limit that I must notify the US government about
this status?

Thanks! :)
 
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I doubt this question is easily answered.
As a german with dual citizen ship permission, it would be an interesting subject to find out. Saying this, there is an official process I have to go through on both sides and I am very sure, there are some "gochas" that aren't out in the public domain.

i.e. If I take Arnold's job, why would the US mind or for that matter my current home state Govenor in Germany? Assuming I have US citizenship.
 
Is this ever enforced?
Recently the new york times had an article about the voting in the Dmocrats abraod primary. The Sports minister of Italy, who holds dual citizenship was interviewed as she came out of a polling station in Rome. I wonder whether anyone at USCIS took notice . Will her US citizenship be revoked.?
 
schandrag said:
Is this ever enforced?
Recently the new york times had an article about the voting in the Dmocrats abraod primary. The Sports minister of Italy, who holds dual citizenship was interviewed as she came out of a polling station in Rome. I wonder whether anyone at USCIS took notice . Will her US citizenship be revoked.?
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That's what I was thinking... Giovanna Melandri is a US citizen.
Swas in the Italian parliament for a long time... and also an Italian
cabinet minister for a while....

Obviously she had to take oath in Italy when she entered into
those offices. Why does she still have her US citizenship?
(as evidenced when she voted for Obama quite recently as a
Democrat living abroad)

Now I'm officially confused.... :D Does the US and Italy have
some sort of arrangement? Or just because she's a hot girl? :D

Thanks for any info! :)
 
As the page I linked to says, they look at it on a case-by-case basis. Getting into politics or the military of an enemy country is certainly more problematic than doing the same with allies of the US.
 
Jackolantern said:
As the page I linked to says, they look at it on a case-by-case basis. Getting into politics or the military of an enemy country is certainly more problematic than doing the same with allies of the US.
Click to expand...

The country I'm inquring about is an extremely close
military & political ally of the US. (in fact, some may
say this country is like the 53rd State of the United
States)

So I guess the person has nothing to worry about? :)
 
TwoScoops said:
The country I'm inquring about is an extremely close
military & political ally of the US. (in fact, some may
say this country is like the 53rd State of the United
States)

So I guess the person has nothing to worry about? :)
Click to expand...

You're referring to Israel, aren't you?
 
I don't get this one either. Why run for office in your home country if you want to be a US Citizen? It's like that lady in the other post that got her Citizenship just to go and live in India. Call my crazy, but why become an American if you obviously do not care about it enough to not to want to run for office in a different country? You guys are all confusing me tonight :confused:
 
If th other country recogonises dual citizenship and allows you to run in a election you have no problems till you decide to accept the postion. If you do accept the position the Dept. of State my initiate proceedings to de naturalize you. This is very subjective and it may be hard to find a prior case.
 
Jojo72 said:
I don't get this one either. Why run for office in your home country if you want to be a US Citizen?
Click to expand...
We're not talking about people wanting to become US citizens, these are people who already are US citizens. Most political positions are temporary; they may plan to return to the US after serving their term(s) in office.

However, there is an increasing trend of people moving back to their birth country permanently, shortly after becoming US citizens (not to run for public office, just to go back to live). Apparently they think of US citizenship as a travel pass more than anything else, as it allows traveling to various countries without a visa.

But this trend only seems to be for people whose original citizenship didn't allow such travel benefits. I don't recall seeing any cases of a Canadian or Western European leaving the US permanently right after becoming a US citizen. For them, if they are not living in the US, US citizenship gives them almost zero benefits. So if they want to go back to their original country, they just go back directly without bothering to go through the citizenship process first.
 
Jackolantern said:
We're not talking about people wanting to become US citizens, these are people who already are US citizens. Most political positions are temporary; they may plan to return to the US after serving their term(s) in office.

However, there is an increasing trend of people moving back to their birth country permanently, shortly after becoming US citizens (not to run for public office, just to go back to live). Apparently they think of US citizenship as a travel pass more than anything else, as it allows traveling to various countries without a visa.

But this trend only seems to be for people whose original citizenship didn't allow such travel benefits. I don't recall seeing any cases of a Canadian or Western European leaving the US permanently right after becoming a US citizen. For them, if they are not living in the US, US citizenship gives them almost zero benefits. So if they want to go back to their original country, they just go back directly without bothering to go through the citizenship process first.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your thourough explanation and lifting my confusion.
 
Jackolantern said:
We're not talking about people wanting to become US citizens, these are people who already are US citizens. Most political positions are temporary; they may plan to return to the US after serving their term(s) in office.

However, there is an increasing trend of people moving back to their birth country permanently, shortly after becoming US citizens (not to run for public office, just to go back to live). Apparently they think of US citizenship as a travel pass more than anything else, as it allows traveling to various countries without a visa.

But this trend only seems to be for people whose original citizenship didn't allow such travel benefits. I don't recall seeing any cases of a Canadian or Western European leaving the US permanently right after becoming a US citizen. For them, if they are not living in the US, US citizenship gives them almost zero benefits. So if they want to go back to their original country, they just go back directly without bothering to go through the citizenship process first.
Click to expand...

As soon as I become a US citizen, I will actually end up having to apply
for visa to some countries.(which I didn't have to do using my home
country's passport) In fact, there are places that I will not be allowed
to enter, as a US citizen...
 
I think it would depend on the country in question and whether or not there would be some benefit to US foreign policy.
Recently, the Bangladeshi government has decided that Bangladeshi's who become British nationals will not lose their Bangladeshi citizenship and they will be able to hold political office in Bangladesh. Shortly after the announcement, my friend's father (dual US/Bangladesh citizen) was having dinner with American Embassy officials in Dhaka and the informed him that they sent a note to the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry asking for same policy for Bangladeshi-Americans.
 
I am taking a guess that the 53rd state reference is to UK... british passport does not require visas for certain countries vs the US. :D
 
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