Just to let any South Africans out there who are planning on applying for a US citizenship, that there are a few steps you have to go through on the South African side, that is if you want to keep your citizenship. Nothing major but possibly important. You have to fill out the form BI-1664 (Application for Retention of South African Citizenship). It is quite simple, and supposedly quick, we mailed my wife's off this week so we shall see about the quickness.

What you need is:
Notarized copy of your passport (possibly of your green card)
An affidavit that you currently don't have any other citizenship besides SA - we notarized that too
A money order for $19
A pre-address postage and pre-certified envelope

Also when you get it you still have to enter SA on your SA passport.

Just thought I would post this incase it was useful to any of you guys.

Thanks for the post. I mailed my form to the LA office this week, but the requirements they sent me were slightly different:
* BI-1664
* Notarized copy of passport
* Notarize affidavit that you don't have any other citizenship AND the reason why you want dual citizenship
* Regular copy of green card
* Money order for $19
* The requirements did NOT say anything about pre-addressed envelope...

Maybe it's different depending on the consulate you file at...

I think it might be because I think I orginally called the chicago office and they didn't mention the envelope, so when I reconfirmed the info needed at the Washington office (the one we have to file at) they mentioned that.

Did they actually send you the requirements, that would have been nice. Neither office I called offerred anything of that sort.

Yes - I sent an email to the LA office, and 5 days later the requirements (and application form) showed up in the mail. Remarkably and uncharacteristically efficient

Just an update -- I got my "certificate" from the SA consulate today to say that I will retain my SA citizenship when I take up US citizenship. The only requirement is that you have to enter and exit SA with your SA passport.

Thanks to both of you for this information you have posted. We knew that once our daughter was born, she would have joint citizenship. However, we weren't too sure on what I had to do be able to keep mine.

We just got the letter today saying she is approved to get her US citizenship. Funny thing is the embassy never used the pre addressed envelope we sent in, they sent it in their own with postage paid. I guess the guy I talked to at the washington embassy didn't know his stuff. Well 4 dollars well spent.