Can I Move Abroad After Becoming a Naturalized U.S. Citizen? (2024)

FAQs

Can I move abroad after becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen? ›

No Longer Can One Lose U.S. Citizenship By Living in Another Country. At this time, no penalties exist if a naturalized U.S. citizen simply goes to live in another country. This is a distinct benefit of U.S. citizenship, since green card holders can have their status taken away for "abandoning" their U.S. residence.

(Details can be found in Keeping Your Green Card After You Get It.) This is one of the primary motivators for people to apply for naturalized U.S. citizenship. A naturalized citizen can live for as long as they wish in another country, with almost no risk to their U.S. citizenship status.

The government does not require naturalized U.S. citizens to give up their citizenship in their country of origin. Although the Oath of Allegiance to the United States speaks of renouncing “allegiance and fidelity” to other nations, U.S. immigration law does not explicitly address the topic of dual citizenship.

Americans cannot effectively renounce their citizenship by mail, through an agent, or while in the United States because of the provisions of section 349(a) (5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Renunciations that do not meet the conditions described above have no legal effect.

You may lose your U.S. citizenship in specific cases, including if you: Run for public office in a foreign country (under certain conditions) Enter military service in a foreign country (under certain conditions) Apply for citizenship in a foreign country with the intention of giving up U.S. citizenship.

If you plan to stay outside of the United States for more than one year but less than two years, you will need a re-entry permit for readmission. You must be physically present in the United States when you file the Form I-131 to apply for the permit.

The 4 year 1 day rule mostly works as follows. Once you've broken continuous residency, a new period will begin to run on the first day you return to the U.S. Form the day you must stay in the U.S. for a minimum of 4 years and 1 day before you can apply for naturalization again.

Demonstrate good moral character for at least 3 years prior to filing the application until the time of naturalization. Attachment to the principles of the U.S. Constitution and well-disposed to the good order and happiness of the United States during all relevant periods under the law.

Naturalization is the process to become a U.S. citizen if you were born outside of the United States. If you meet certain requirements, you may become a U.S. citizen either at birth or after birth. Check your eligibility.

In the United States, people born in the country are citizens. The 14th Amendment, ratified on July 9, 1868, states, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”

What happens if you don t update Social Security after naturalization? ›

When you are hired for a job, your employer can enter your SSN into a U.S. Department of Homeland Security web-based system, E-Verify, to determine your eligibility to work in the United States. If your record has not been updated, this may impact the information your employer receives about your work eligibility.

Renunciations Are On The Rise…

Renunciations of U.S. citizenship are on the rise. Between 2005 and 2009, less than 2,500 people renounced. Between 2010 and 2020, this number went up to 36,840.

A common misconception is that a person who renounces US citizenship turns their back on everything they are entitled to from the US. However, that is not necessarily the case. After renouncing, you would still receive all Social Security benefits to which you're currently entitled.

The Downsides of Renouncing

If you aren't a US citizen it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to get a job in the US. If you're like one friend of mine who has a really high paying job overseas, you need to consider how this loss of access will affect your lifestyle.

A naturalized citizen can't hold the office of the Vice-President or the President of the United States; these offices are only open to natural born citizens.

Getting back your citizenship will be irrevocable and irreversible. The only exception to getting back U.S. citizenship is if you renounced before age 18. Then you can claim before the Department of State that you want U.S. citizenship again, but you must do so within six months of turning 18.

Renouncing your U.S. citizenship will not automatically cancel your tax obligations. Prior obligations remain, so you would only be a non-resident on an ongoing basis. You must notify the IRS of the change in your status by filing Form 8854 and then filing a copy with the Department of Treasury as well.

Typically, a naturalized U.S. citizen cannot be deported because they are a citizen of the United States. However, there are certain circ*mstances where a U.S. citizen may be deported depending on the nature or severity of their crimes, so naturalized citizens being deported isn't impossible.

The most common path to U.S. citizenship through naturalization is being a lawful permanent resident (LPR) for at least five years. For more information on determining the earliest accepted filing date for your naturalization application, see the USCIS Early Filing Calculator.

What is the 7 year rule for immigration? ›

The new immigration registry bill would replace the 1972 cutoff date with a rolling eligibility, allowing individuals to apply for registry after living continuously in the United States for at least seven years and meeting certain admissibility requirements.

Although some Permanent Resident Cards, commonly known as Green Cards, contain no expiration date, most are valid for 10 years. If you have been granted conditional permanent resident status, the card is valid for 2 years. It is important to keep your card up-to-date.

An applicant who is subject to the 3-year continuous residence requirement may apply 2 years and 1 day after returning to the United States to resume permanent residence. This is known as the “four years and one day” rule and is described in 8 CFR §316.5(c)(1)(ii).

In the case of permanent residents, any absence of more than six months of duration is likely to be scrutinized. In severe cases, your status will be revoked and you would face deportation. In such cases, the permanent resident is said to have abandoned his/her US Residence.

A U.S. Certificate of Citizenship is granted to a person who acquires or derives citizenship from his or her birth to U.S. parents. A naturalization certificate, on the other hand, is granted to a person who becomes a citizen through the naturalization process.

All green card holders, as long as they meet key conditions, can apply for U.S. citizenship after five years (known as the “five-year rule”) — but those with a U.S. spouse and a green card through marriage can apply after only three years (known as the “three-year rule”).

To determine your 90-day early filing date, begin by identifying your 5-year or 3-year date as a lawful permanent resident. For example, if the date on your Permanent Resident Card says “July 4, 2017,” you met the 5-year permanent resident requirement on July 4, 2022.

Therefore every person born within the United States, its territories or districts, whether the parents are citizens or aliens, is a natural born citizen in the sense of the Constitution, and entitled to all the rights and privileges appertaining to that capacity. ... Under our Constitution the question is settled by ...

The main difference between naturalization and citizenship is that a citizenship certificate is given to someone who acquires citizenship through their US parents by being born in the country. A certificate of naturalization is obtained by someone who becomes a citizen through the naturalization process.

U.S. nationals, including dual nationals, must use a U.S. passport to enter and leave the United States. Dual nationals may also be required by the foreign country to use its passport to enter and leave that country.

Which country doesn t allow dual citizenship? ›

Today, most advanced economies allow dual citizenship; notable exceptions which restrict or forbid it are Austria, Japan, the Netherlands, and Singapore.

In order to update your Social Security record, you must visit an SSA office in-person. They recommend that you wait at least 10 days after your ceremony. Be prepared to show them your Certificate of Naturalization or your U.S. passport.

You can apply for a U.S. passport immediately after your naturalization oath ceremony. However, if you decided to change your name as a part of your naturalization process, you will need to update other documentation, such as your social security card and driver's license before you can apply for a U.S. passport.

If your immigration status changed or you became a U.S. citizen, you should tell us so we can update your records. To get your immigration status or citizenship updated in our records, you need to show documents that prove your new immigration status or citizenship.

In a Nutshell

Of the applications submitted each year, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) approves about 23%, denies about 2–3%, and leaves about 70% pending. This article covers the U.S. citizenship by naturalization process and statistics on that process.

An applicant has two opportunities to pass the English and civics tests: the initial examination and the re-examination interview. USCIS denies the naturalization application if the applicant fails to pass any portion of the tests after two attempts.

You can elect to have received a full payout on the day before you renounce, and are taxed accordingly on your US tax return, or you can elect to forego tax treaty benefits on these items and your retirement income will be taxed at a flat 30% tax rate when distributed.

If you leave the U.S., we will stop your benefits the month after the sixth calendar month in a row that you are outside the country. You can make visits to the United States for specific periods of time, depending on how long you've been outside, to continue receiving your benefits.

Renunciation of citizenship is the voluntary loss of citizenship. It is the opposite of naturalization, whereby a person voluntarily obtains citizenship.

Why are so many people renouncing U.S. citizenship? ›

Why So Many Renunciations? The current tax laws—and the reporting, filing and tax obligations that accompany them—have made many Americans choose to renounce their citizenship, not just because of the money, but because they find the tax compliance and disclosure laws inconvenient, onerous, and even unfair.

Furthermore, a person who has renounced U.S. nationality will be required to apply for a visa to travel to the United States, just as other aliens do. If found ineligible for a visa, a renunciant could be barred from the United States.

After five years, divorce does not affect your eligibility because eligibility does not depend on marriage. The USCIS will not automatically assume that divorce equals a false marriage. However, you may have to jump through extra hoops and wait longer to become a full citizen.

Although rare, it is possible for a naturalized U.S. citizen to have their citizenship stripped through a process called "denaturalization." Former citizens who are denaturalized are subject to removal (deportation) from the United States.

Naturalized or derivative citizen – If you have a certificate of citizenship or naturalization, you may use the original naturalization certificate, citizenship certificate or a U.S. passport to prove citizenship.

Part of citizenship eligibility involves spending at least three months in a certain state or in a USCIS service district before you file an Application for Naturalization (Form N-400). However, you can move during the course of the application process without disrupting it.

Unlike Permanent Resident cards, Certificates of Citizenship and Certificates of Naturalization do not expire.

A U.S. Certificate of Citizenship is granted to a person who acquires or derives citizenship from his or her birth to U.S. parents. A naturalization certificate, on the other hand, is granted to a person who becomes a citizen through the naturalization process.

The Attorney General is authorized to cancel any certificate of citizenship, certificate of naturalization, copy of a declaration of intention, or other certificate, document or record heretofore issued or made by the Commissioner or a Deputy Commissioner or hereafter made by the Attorney General if it shall appear to ...

You will not be able to travel abroad until you have your U.S. passport. Please allow sufficient time between your ceremony and any planned travel to receive your passport. In addition to your Certificate of Naturalization, a passport serves as evidence of citizenship.

Can I move after my citizenship interview? ›

If you move to a new home after your U.S. citizenship interview has been scheduled, you first need to notify USCIS of your change of address.

Three-Month Residency Requirement (in State or Service District) In general, an applicant for naturalization must file his or her application for naturalization with the state or service district that has jurisdiction over his or her place of residence.