Interview tomorrow/Will they take or invalidate passport?

[mugs 0]

Hi Everyone,

My wife has her interview for naturalization tomorrow. (Hooray! Finally!!!)

She is worried that they will take away or somehow invalidate her Chinese passport and she knows that she won't be a U.S. citizen until she takes the oath (whenever that might be) so in the waiting period she would like to fly back to China for a couple of weeks for the Spring Festival.

Can anyone ease her mind and tell her that they won't take away or ruin her passport? I don't think they will but I'm not positive...

Thanks!

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Hi Everyone,

My wife has her interview for naturalization tomorrow. (Hooray! Finally!!!)

She is worried that they will take away or somehow invalidate her Chinese passport and she knows that she won't be a U.S. citizen until she takes the oath (whenever that might be) so in the waiting period she would like to fly back to China for a couple of weeks for the Spring Festival.

Can anyone ease her mind and tell her that they won't take away or ruin her passport? I don't think they will but I'm not positive...

Thanks!

The US government has no power to remove a passport for another country, only the country the passport is for can do that. Does China permit dual citizenship? The US will send a document to the Chinese government telling them that she took an oath as a US citizen so if they don't permit dual citizenship they MAY revoke her Chinese citizenship.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

According to this: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/essential/...nationality.htm she will lose her Chinese passport, but not because the US takes it, but because China doesn't recognise dual nationals.

Sorry.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

She will keep her passport and her green card after her interview. Her passport belongs to her and the Chinese government - the US cannot take it. The US cannot even take away her Chinese citizenship. China, however, can if they do not recognize dual citizenship. Your wife will hold on to her green card until her oath ceremony, then will turn it in at the ceremony and will receive in its place her Naturalization certificate. Good luck on the interview.

[lucyrich 20]

They may want to look at her passport to verify her travel dates. They won't keep her passport.

Whether her Chinese passport remains valid is a question for the Chinese government. I don't know Chinese law. But I suspect that even if China takes away Chinese citizenship of people who obtain another nationality, there would be no effect on her Chinese passport until she actually obtained US Citizenship. Just going to the interview shouldn't have an effect. But maybe I'm wrong. It's worth checking into Chinese citizenship laws.

[Sand 5]

Good Luck !

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Just to make it obvious, she will not lose her passport at the interview but the chinese government WILL revoke her chinese citizenship once the US advises them that you are now a US citizen (which is the policy when you take the citizenship oath).

See here: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/essential/...nationality.htm

Edited February 2, 2010 by Vanessa&Tony

[mugs 0]

Just to make it obvious, she will not lose her passport at the interview but the chinese government WILL revoke her chinese citizenship once the US advises them that you are now a US citizen (which is the policy when you take the citizenship oath).

See here: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/essential/...nationality.htm

I don't think the U.S. gives out any information about U.S. citizens to the Chinese government. I'd be surprised if they did.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I don't think the U.S. gives out any information about U.S. citizens to the Chinese government. I'd be surprised if they did.

They do. I read it on a US government website advising the US Department of State (I think DOS) sent a letter to your home country advising you had taken US citizenship. The reason it was mention on that site (I'm still trying to find it) was a question regarding dual nationality and how some countries don't rely on that letter to revoke your home country citizenship but instead require you to send in a revocation form (this could be an old site so old information they don't do anymore but I know they DID, and possibly still do).

Until I find it you're welcome to pretend that it doesn't happen, in either event the end result is the same, the Chinese government WILL revoke Chinese citizenship on the acquisition of citizenship of another country.

Edited February 2, 2010 by Vanessa&Tony

[mugs 0]

They do. I read it on a US government website advising the US Department of State (I think DOS) sent a letter to your home country advising you had taken US citizenship. The reason it was mention on that site (I'm still trying to find it) was a question regarding dual nationality and how some countries don't rely on that letter to revoke your home country citizenship but instead require you to send in a revocation form (this could be an old site so old information they don't do anymore but I know they DID, and possibly still do).

Until I find it you're welcome to pretend that it doesn't happen, in either event the end result is the same, the Chinese government WILL revoke Chinese citizenship on the acquisition of citizenship of another country.

Thanks for the info. Let me know if you find that site. I had the opposite idea because last weekend I was reading a post on this site (for the life of me I can't find it now) concerning a VJ member who had dinner with a Center director and asked alot of FAQ that people were usually curious about. They got to the subject of passports and I seem to recall that the director stated pretty specifically that the U.S. didn't inform other countries about anything concerning new citizens.

I'll keep trying to find that post!

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Ugh i'm having trouble finding the exact post but I did KIND OF find reference to it, it's a "renunciation letter" and it's mentioned in this: http://www.800citizen.com/dualCitizenship.htm

Also, important for your wife, have her read Q8 and it's answer in the above link, it discusses dangers of travelling after obtaining new citizenship

Here's another list telling you that china responded to the survey about dual nationality: http://www.800citizen.com/dualCitizenship.htm and stated that you lose it.

This link: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/essential/...nationality.htm (I also posted it previously) mentions the specific Chinese law that deals with dual-nationality. It's definitely not allowed, but I'm not sure how they'd find out, and if they DO find out, what punishments there are (another post I read said some countries frown upon it enough that you get fined for not telling them).

Edited February 2, 2010 by Vanessa&Tony

[freetv 7]

I talked about this with "justbob" on another thread a few months ago. China doesn't allow you to have any other nationality... however the U.S. doesn't give out info (to China at least... I emailed the U.S. embassy in China about this... because of course it directly relates to my wife and I...). BUT Aus, E.U., ECT (I know you like ECT tony lol) might be different. I hope you find the link Tony, it would be an interesting. Because as far as I know, they don't give it to any country... but think about it, isn't giving info to another government a privacy concern? But a Chinese visa is only about $150 and you get the protection of the U.S. government (whatever protection they can really give in China lol). So you would have to be dumb or just really poor to try and use your Chinese passport for a short visa..... a long term move might be different.

Edited February 2, 2010 by freetv

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I talked about this with "justbob" on another thread a few months ago. China doesn't allow you to have any other nationality... however the U.S. doesn't give out info (to China at least... I emailed the U.S. embassy in China about this... because of course it directly relates to my wife and I...). BUT Aus, E.U., ECT (I know you like ECT tony lol) might be different. I hope you find the link Tony, it would be an interesting. Because as far as I know, they don't give it to any country... but think about it, isn't giving info to another government a privacy concern? But a Chinese visa is only about $150 and you get the protection of the U.S. government (whatever protection they can really give in China lol). So you would have to be dumb or just really poor to try and use your Chinese passport for a short visa..... a long term move might be different.

Just had to reply.... ETC ETC ETC !!! lol. It's short for ETCETERA PEOPLE!! lol. I know you did it on purpose I'll keep looking for that link.

You do raise a valid point about kinda of "hiding" the chinese passport unless you go back permanently or something.

[Mark and Carol 4]

Hi Everyone,

My wife has her interview for naturalization tomorrow. (Hooray! Finally!!!)

She is worried that they will take away or somehow invalidate her Chinese passport and she knows that she won't be a U.S. citizen until she takes the oath (whenever that might be) so in the waiting period she would like to fly back to China for a couple of weeks for the Spring Festival.

Can anyone ease her mind and tell her that they won't take away or ruin her passport? I don't think they will but I'm not positive...

Thanks!

One quick note...your fiancee must wait until she receives her green card before leaving the U.S. Otherwise she forfeits her AOS petition and can not re-enter the U.S.

[sunny808 1]

the OP was concerned only in the interim period between the interview and oath date. how'd the interview go by the way?

Hi Everyone,

My wife has her interview for naturalization tomorrow. (Hooray! Finally!!!)

She is worried that they will take away or somehow invalidate her Chinese passport and she knows that she won't be a U.S. citizen until she takes the oath (whenever that might be) so in the waiting period she would like to fly back to China for a couple of weeks for the Spring Festival.

Can anyone ease her mind and tell her that they won't take away or ruin her passport? I don't think they will but I'm not positive...

Thanks!