What country of birth do I put in passport application

[AbuA 1]

Alamro, just put Jordan. I mean, it's just a means to an end, right? It doesn't make you any less Palestinian at the end of the day. It's like the oath ceremony, when you have to disavow any association with any other land. I have a British friend that woun't become a U.S. citizen because he point blank refuses to speak the words necessitated in the swearing of the oath. Why?? Is it going to make him any less British?? Is it going to erase his birth and upbringing? Is it bollocks! He'll always be a Brit in his heart just like you'll always be a Palestinian - there's no "betrayal" issue here if that's what you're worried about. ;-)

I agree. It is really not a matter of betrayal or anything. In fact, I kinda prefer Jordan but I don't have a Jordanian birth certificate. USCIS insisted on putting Jordan on the naturalization certificate because congress doesn't allow to have neither Palestine nor West Bank.

[allyinchicago 8]

everyone I know that was born in Palestine and has a US passport had to put place of birth as Jordan. I really wish this could be changed. people just don't understand

[Brit Abroad 166]

Alamro, just put Jordan. I mean, it's just a means to an end, right? It doesn't make you any less Palestinian at the end of the day. It's like the oath ceremony, when you have to disavow any association with any other land. I have a British friend that woun't become a U.S. citizen because he point blank refuses to speak the words necessitated in the swearing of the oath. Why?? Is it going to make him any less British?? Is it going to erase his birth and upbringing? Is it bollocks! He'll always be a Brit in his heart just like you'll always be a Palestinian - there's no "betrayal" issue here if that's what you're worried about. ;-)

That's the very reason I won't become a US citizen, although I was eligible 4 years ago. If it's how you reconcile self with identity that's the way it is. For others, the compromise doesn't bother them, for some of us it does.

[JimmyHou 610]

It seems to make sense to just put city as a place of birth which will be in west bank according to the state department guidelines.. However, this will create conflict between the naturalization certificate which says Jordan. Question is, once a US citizen, would I ever need to show my Palestinian certificate down there road?

Thanks again.

There are some instances where you will need to show a birth certificate (not necessarily immigration related).

There are almost none where you will have to show a naturalization certificate after you have a passport.

I would be more worried about my passport not matching my birth certificate than not matching my naturalization certificate.

[JimmyHou 610]

Either way, I wouldn't expect a problem. A person born in Zagreb in 1965 and naturalized in 1985 would have his place of birth listed as Yugoslavia on both his birth certificate and his naturalization certificate. But if he gets a US passport today, it'll say Croatia. It's up to the State Department to determine where his city of birth is according to their guidelines. In fact, I'm not even sure if they'll let you put down Jordan, since that is not where your city of birth is based on their rules, but you can try if you feel it will make things easier.

Remember, as someone else already said, that USCIS is in a different department and they have different rules. Just because they couldn't put West Bank or city of birth on your certificate doesn't mean anything. Just decide which one you prefer.

[AbuA 1]

I received my passport today and it has PALESTINE as country of birth. Amazing!

[FaZz 2]

I received my passport today and it has PALESTINE as country of birth. Amazing!

Congratulations !

Palestine it is. ; )

[JimmyHou 610]

I received my passport today and it has PALESTINE as country of birth. Amazing!

Haha! So much for all that stuff about state department regulations!

Congratulations on your new passport.

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

I agree with this poster Alamro. If I had to put in a country as my place of birth which I may never wanted to, when it comes to the end point, do I want to get my US citizenship and have it as less haste as possible...screw that, I would put that country in. No one really will be looking at your passport/certificate on a daily basis and start judging you why you have Jordan there while you're not even from Jordan and so on. Life goes on. You'll use your passport probably a few times a year to travel (if you travel a bit more each year) other than that you'll be working at a local place in the US where the closes they'll ask you for will be your driver's license/state identification card, and maybe your SSN if applicable. So, I would say shove it, swallow and just write in Jordan. Life goes on...yours will too.

Alamro, just put Jordan. I mean, it's just a means to an end, right? It doesn't make you any less Palestinian at the end of the day. It's like the oath ceremony, when you have to disavow any association with any other land. I have a British friend that woun't become a U.S. citizen because he point blank refuses to speak the words necessitated in the swearing of the oath. Why?? Is it going to make him any less British?? Is it going to erase his birth and upbringing? Is it bollocks! He'll always be a Brit in his heart just like you'll always be a Palestinian - there's no "betrayal" issue here if that's what you're worried about. ;-)

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

Did not notice this...I guess all things resolved...now you can sleep with your passport under your pillow knowing it says Palestine....

I received my passport today and it has PALESTINE as country of birth. Amazing!

[kcoyclay1 98]

I understand and sympathise with your conundrum on this issue, but just this time, I would set aside my justifiably ideological pride and indicate Jordan as a previous response suggested.

Good luck!

I sincerely hope the person understands what you just are trying to communicate. I can understand why the VJer wants Palestine as her place of birth and not Jordan which was chosen by USCIS; it is not the correct birthplace.

I don't think it is pride why the VJer wants it to be Palestine; however, if the USCIS refused to put it in as the place of birth, I would suggest that the VJer does the same in order to have similar information in the US records.

I received my passport today and it has PALESTINE as country of birth. Amazing!

Awesome!

[hbattat 0]

Alamro, I am having the same issue. What steps did you actually do to get it to say Palestine on your passport?

[JimmyHou 610]

Alamro, I am having the same issue. What steps did you actually do to get it to say Palestine on your passport?

Maybe the OP will come back and answer, but if I remember correctly, he just wrote Palestine as the country of birth on the application and that's what they put on the passport. If you look at the State Department instructions to passport issuing officers (earlier in this thread) you'll see that this isn't what should have happened according to the guidelines, but it worked out for the OP. If you were born in Palestine post-1948, your passport should say Gaza, West Bank, Jerusalem, or Israel according to the rules. You can also choose to have your city of birth listed instead (I assume you'd have to attach a note to do this, but I'm not sure). Or you could just do what the OP did and try your luck. Remember that USCIS rules are more restrictive than DOS rules, so your naturalization certificate is unlikely to say Palestine.

Good luck!

[AbuA 1]

Alamro, I am having the same issue. What steps did you actually do to get it to say Palestine on your passport?

I simply put Palestine following State Department regulations. I had to include my birth certificate. It appears that their system runs independently from USCIS so having Jordan on the certificate of naturalization will have no impact what goes on the passport since you have to submit your birth certificate.