Name Change & Employment Question

[JimmyHou 610]

When my wife became a U.S. Citizen, the Philippines considered her Filipino citizenship to be renounced. She didn't have to submit any paperwork at all, nor did she have to go to the Philippines Consulate. The Filipino government automatically considers a Filipino citizenship to be renounced when a Filipino naturalizes here in the U.S.

That's why she had to apply to reacquire her Filipino citizenship. You can visit the Philippines Consulate's website to learn more about reacquiring Filipino citizenship. Also, the form for reacquiring Filipino citizenship is available on their website.

Thank you, that makes sense. :-)

You had said I. Your last post that it was the US that required the renunciation, so I was confused. Thanks for clearing this up for me!

[Tahoma 2,291]

Thank you, that makes sense. :-)

You had said I. Your last post that it was the US that required the renunciation, so I was confused. Thanks for clearing this up for me!

FYI...The USCIS calls the oath of allegiance "The Oath of Renunciation and Allegiance."

[JimmyHou 610]

FYI...The USCIS calls the oath of allegiance "The Oath of Renunciation and Allegiance."

You're right, however the oath involves a renunciation of foreign allegiance, not foreign citizenship. This means that when I take the oath of citizenship, I will retain my Egyptian citizenship however, I am pledging (for example) that I will support the United States in the event of a war between the two countries.

In the 1952 Supreme Court case of Kawasita v. United States, the court ruled that dual citizenship has long been "recognized in the law" and that "The concept of dual citizenship recognizes that a person may have and exercise rights of nationality in two countries and be subject to the responsibilities of both. The mere fact that he asserts the rights of one citizenship does not, without more, mean that he renounces the other".

So the United States does not consider the oath of allegiance to be a renunciation of foreign citizenships. Congress could have attempted to pass a law making this the case (along which then would have been subject to constitutional review by the Supreme Court), but they have chosen not to do so.

Most countries frankly don't care what you swear to in the United States If you want to give up their citizenships you have to go and and renounce your citizenship according to their laws and procedures. Some countries may consider the oath of allegiance a loss of your citizenship, and some countries don't allow dual citizenship at all.