During a return flight last week from Mexico, I presented the CBP officer my US passport and custom card. What puzzled me is that the CBP officer asked if I'm a US citizen eventhough he swiped my US passport. In the back of my head I felt like answering "no, I just carry a US passport for fun". Makes me wonder the purpose of such a obvious question.
Strange question at POE
- Thread starter Bobsmyth
- Start date
I think just his professional habit. But techinically one can have a US passport without being a US citizen but only a US national.
People born on two US territories are still not US citizens but only US nationals. I don't know why the residents on these
two US terrotories do not fight for citizenship like other US territories.
Of course I don't think the CBP officer you met want to make a disctiutin between being a citizen and a national. He just asked
as a habit
Being a US national but not a US cityizen is really a right that can only aquired by birth. It is more previledged than citizenship in that sense.
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Hi Bobsmyth,
Same experience for my friend and neighbour, there were driving back from Canada and handed 5 US passports (whoe family) to the CPB and the officer asked what is their citizenship
I think it is a standard question they just kinda ask everyone; like when you call telephone directory assistance and ask for the number for American Airlines and the first question thay ask " Business or Residence ?".........
Same experience for my friend and neighbour, there were driving back from Canada and handed 5 US passports (whoe family) to the CPB and the officer asked what is their citizenship
I think it is a standard question they just kinda ask everyone; like when you call telephone directory assistance and ask for the number for American Airlines and the first question thay ask " Business or Residence ?".........
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Could be. I wonder if they ask the same for US born citizens.
spiderman03
Registered Users (C)
Read this before several times. Don't know the accuracy of it but I think it could be correct.
" There is a technical distinction between a citizen of the United States and a national of the United States. All citizens of the U.S. are nationals, but all nationals are not citizens. The term national of the United States is defined in section 101(a)(22) of the INA, and explained in detail in section 308 of the INA."
" There is a technical distinction between a citizen of the United States and a national of the United States. All citizens of the U.S. are nationals, but all nationals are not citizens. The term national of the United States is defined in section 101(a)(22) of the INA, and explained in detail in section 308 of the INA."
It is a crime for a non-citizen to claim tobe a citizen. There does not seem to be a law says it is a crime for a citizen to claim to be a non-citizen unless under oath
Charge is just "lying to a CBP". But if a non-citizen claim to be a citisen to a CBP he can be be changed under severals names - lying to a CBP and falsely claim to be a citizen etc
It is a correct statement. However, US national status is reserved for those born in or having ties with an outlying possession of the United States (ex:American Samoa and Swains Island.)
Remember, lying to IO for any immigration benefit is considered to be a big crime.
This question could be a good trap for someone who has fake documents.
Even if the person is not detected at this instance, he can later be deported (when fake id is discovered) for lying to IO.
This question could be a good trap for someone who has fake documents.
Even if the person is not detected at this instance, he can later be deported (when fake id is discovered) for lying to IO.
On the annotations page, US non-citizens nationals have an endorsement that states their non-citizenship status. If the page is empty, it means this particular person is a citizen. However, I do not think the CBP officer asked this question because of this.
Vopral. please see below on your question if foreign born person can become US National ( American Samoa)...Sorry we take over this thread
www.samoaimmigration.gov.ws/about/contact.html
I think these type of US Nationals should 1st become American Samoa citizens, then draw the benefits of US Nationals (as hobby, I love to read about these small islands with foreign controls.)
www.samoaimmigration.gov.ws/about/contact.html
I think these type of US Nationals should 1st become American Samoa citizens, then draw the benefits of US Nationals (as hobby, I love to read about these small islands with foreign controls.)
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Hmm, you listed Samoa's immigration page, not American Samoa. Samoa is a different country...
sorry guys, I overlooked.....You may want to check this....but i could not locate the immigration site....probably you can their gov number to inquire about this
http://americansamoa.gov/