American citizenship and avoiding getting drafted in Greek army

[hellaslover 0]

Hello everybody,

I was born and raised in Greece, until 7 years ago when i moved to U.S. Since it's mandatory for all the young men to be drafted in the Greek army, and i'm considered greek, i will have to get drafted as well. In the summer of 2005 i was called to attend the army(with other ppl my age) while i was there for vacation. I was able to get an extension and not get drafted since i could prove that i was attending school in the U.S. Thing is, this extension has expired and the college that i go to is not recognized in Greece, unless i transfer to a State university and i can't right now, so they won't give me another extension.

I have 2 questions:

1) If i go to Greece for vacation this summer will i be in danger of getting "caught" at the airport and forced to go into the army? I have heard that i could go for less than 6 months with no problems, is that true?

2) If i get an American passport will i have any problems in Greece with the army or will they leave me alone for ever? If so, how long does it take to get a passport (and what is the process?) I live in Sacramento, CA if that helps...

I don't know if this is the right place to post but i'm new here..

If somebody can help me please do!

[Dan J 277]

Hello everybody,

I was born and raised in Greece, until 7 years ago when i moved to U.S. Since it's mandatory for all the young men to be drafted in the Greek army, and i'm considered greek, i will have to get drafted as well. In the summer of 2005 i was called to attend the army(with other ppl my age) while i was there for vacation. I was able to get an extension and not get drafted since i could prove that i was attending school in the U.S. Thing is, this extension has expired and the college that i go to is not recognized in Greece, unless i transfer to a State university and i can't right now, so they won't give me another extension.

I have 2 questions:

1) If i go to Greece for vacation this summer will i be in danger of getting "caught" at the airport and forced to go into the army? I have heard that i could go for less than 6 months with no problems, is that true?

2) If i get an American passport will i have any problems in Greece with the army or will they leave me alone for ever? If so, how long does it take to get a passport (and what is the process?) I live in Sacramento, CA if that helps...

I don't know if this is the right place to post but i'm new here..

If somebody can help me please do!

This is one of the problems with dual citizenship.

The only way you can get out of it for good is to renounce your Greek citizenship. Its unlikely that Greece is going to force the US to send you home. But its a possibility you will be forced into the army if you visit Greece.

[Alex+R 0]

Greece promises that its male citizens under 50 who do NOT reside in Greece more than six months of the year will not have to serve time in the military. However, no offense, but it is Greece, and as you probably know, sometimes they don't follow their own rules very well.

[DeadPoolX 9]

Here's some information, from the U.S. State Department, on dual-nationality:

The concept of dual nationality means that a person is a citizen of two countries at the same time. Each country has its own citizenship laws based on its own policy. Persons may have dual nationality by automatic operation of different laws rather than by choice. For example, a child born in a foreign country to U.S. citizen parents may be both a U.S. citizen and a citizen of the country of birth.

A U.S. citizen may acquire foreign citizenship by marriage, or a person naturalized as a U.S. citizen may not lose the citizenship of the country of birth.U.S. law does not mention dual nationality or require a person to choose one citizenship or another. Also, a person who is automatically granted another citizenship does not risk losing U.S. citizenship. However, a person who acquires a foreign citizenship by applying for it may lose U.S. citizenship. In order to lose U.S. citizenship, the law requires that the person must apply for the foreign citizenship voluntarily, by free choice, and with the intention to give up U.S. citizenship.

Intent can be shown by the person's statements or conduct. The U.S. Government recognizes that dual nationality exists but does not encourage it as a matter of policy because of the problems it may cause. Claims of other countries on dual national U.S. citizens may conflict with U.S. law, and dual nationality may limit U.S. Government efforts to assist citizens abroad. The country where a dual national is located generally has a stronger claim to that person's allegiance.

However, dual nationals owe allegiance to both the United States and the foreign country. They are required to obey the laws of both countries. Either country has the right to enforce its laws, particularly if the person later travels there. Most U.S. citizens, 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. Use of the foreign passport does not endanger U.S. citizenship. Most countries permit a person to renounce or otherwise lose citizenship.

Information on losing foreign citizenship can be obtained from the foreign country's embassy and consulates in the United States. Americans can renounce U.S. citizenship in the proper form at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad.

I highlighted the "important and relevant" items within that entry for you. I'd recommend checking out Greece's equivalent of this website as well, in order to see what it has to say.

[Converse34 1]

I knew a guy at university who was as Greek as they come, but I think he was born in canada, so he only had a canadian passport. I believe he had Greek residency and basically he admitted to never getting his Greek passport to avoid the military. I am sure they are other forums on the internet you could search to find possible loop holes. Good luck!!

[Alex+R 0]

I knew a guy at university who was as Greek as they come, but I think he was born in canada, so he only had a canadian passport. I believe he had Greek residency and basically he admitted to never getting his Greek passport to avoid the military. I am sure they are other forums on the internet you could search to find possible loop holes. Good luck!!

That was my brother's situation. That's why none of us has the passport right now.

[hellaslover 0]

i don't understand the deal with dual citizenship...are you guys saying that once i'm in Greece i have to follow the laws as a greek (and join army)? But once i'm in the U.S they can't send me back?

Most likely i will not have time to obtain an american citizenship, since its February now and i want to leave end of May..My brother was born in U.S and has American passport but still has to join the army (he went to school in Greece) but he never had any problems going back and forth. I heard that if you have an American passport they don't really go into depth to check at the airports, they just let you travel with no hassle, is that true?

Let's say i go in the summer and i get caught, could the American Embassy in Athens protect me since i live in the U.S and have a green card?

[Niels Bohr 72]

If you're a US Citizen, why would there be a need for a foreign country to draft you? The US do not acknowledge dual citizenship. For those who got naturalized, I hope you still remember the ceremony. Renounce your citizenship from Greece. It's up to you. Greece recognizes dual citizenship, but the US do not. It's all up to you.

[hellaslover 0]

If you're a US Citizen, why would there be a need for a foreign country to draft you? The US do not acknowledge dual citizenship. For those who got naturalized, I hope you still remember the ceremony. Renounce your citizenship from Greece. It's up to you. Greece recognizes dual citizenship, but the US do not. It's all up to you.

So once i renounce my greek citizenship i can't get drafted? What if i keep both? And if i decide to renounce the greek can i do that here before i go to Greece at the same time i get my american?

[Dan J 277]

i don't understand the deal with dual citizenship...are you guys saying that once i'm in Greece i have to follow the laws as a greek (and join army)? But once i'm in the U.S they can't send me back?

Most likely i will not have time to obtain an american citizenship, since its February now and i want to leave end of May..My brother was born in U.S and has American passport but still has to join the army (he went to school in Greece) but he never had any problems going back and forth. I heard that if you have an American passport they don't really go into depth to check at the airports, they just let you travel with no hassle, is that true?

Let's say i go in the summer and i get caught, could the American Embassy in Athens protect me since i live in the U.S and have a green card?

Yes, in Greece, you are Greek and have to follow the laws that apply to a citizen. Including join the army if they require it.

The US embassy will not help you in Greece as long as you have Greek citizenship.

[mawilson 2,133]

I heard that if you have an American passport they don't really go into depth to check at the airports, they just let you travel with no hassle, is that true?

That's true right now. It might not be 10 years from now, when the Greek army computers are

connected to the airport computers. Your best bet to avoid getting drafted in Greece is to change

your name (or change the spelling of your name) as part of the naturalization procedure in the U.S.,

but even then your U.S. passport will still show Greece as 'place of birth' which might tip off the

authorities to something being amiss if their future system doesn't recognise you as a Greek citizen.

[Ban Hammer 13,710]

If you're a US Citizen, why would there be a need for a foreign country to draft you? The US do not acknowledge dual citizenship. For those who got naturalized, I hope you still remember the ceremony. Renounce your citizenship from Greece. It's up to you. Greece recognizes dual citizenship, but the US do not. It's all up to you.

that's not true.

Edited February 6, 2008 by charlesandnessa

[Saddle Bronc 124]

If you're a US Citizen, why would there be a need for a foreign country to draft you? The US do not acknowledge dual citizenship. For those who got naturalized, I hope you still remember the ceremony. Renounce your citizenship from Greece. It's up to you. Greece recognizes dual citizenship, but the US do not. It's all up to you.

that's not true.

Actually, more complex.

On dual citizenship US uses "ostrich approach" except when:

• dual is travelling on US gov business
• dual is reentering US and attempting to use non-US passport (a US citizen generally MUST use US passport to re-enter)

[Sand 5]

My opinion if u go you will get caught !

[Zee Bee 61]

i don't understand the deal with dual citizenship...are you guys saying that once i'm in Greece i have to follow the laws as a greek (and join army)? But once i'm in the U.S they can't send me back?

Most likely i will not have time to obtain an american citizenship, since its February now and i want to leave end of May..My brother was born in U.S and has American passport but still has to join the army (he went to school in Greece) but he never had any problems going back and forth. I heard that if you have an American passport they don't really go into depth to check at the airports, they just let you travel with no hassle, is that true?

Let's say i go in the summer and i get caught, could the American Embassy in Athens protect me since i live in the U.S and have a green card?

If you go to Greece and don't even have American citizenship then the US will do nothing. As far as they are concerned you are a Greek citizen and subject to the laws of Greece.