Loss of birth country citizenship

[Iris1954 9]

We will be applying for USA citizenship soon.  After receiving it do I need to do anything in regards to informing my birth country that I am now a USA citizen?  My birth country does not allow dual citizenship?  If I do not inform them will they have a way of figuring out that I took USA citizenship?

 

 

    

[Mike E 11,739]

5 minutes ago, Iris1954 said:

After receiving it do I need to do anything in regards to informing my birth country that I am now a USA citizen?

Dunno. What’s your country of birth?

5 minutes ago, Iris1954 said:

My birth country does not allow dual citizenship?

Well does it? 

 

5 minutes ago, Iris1954 said:

If I do not inform them will they have a way of figuring out that I took USA citizenship

Pretty easily actually.

 

For example:

 

Most of the countries I’ve traveled to have passport control officers staffing ports of exit, including flights departing their international airports.
 

 When you present your passport of that  country and your boarding pass for a U.S. bound flight, to the officer, the officer might flip through your passport asking you where your visa is to travel to the USA.  

 

If you are suspected of being a U.S. citizen you could get a secondary inspection.  If they find your U.S. passport then you are subject to arrest, indictment, conviction, sentence, and prison. 
 

 

[Crazy Cat 41,811]

20 minutes ago, Mike E said:

When you present your passport of that  country and your boarding pass for a U.S. bound flight, to the officer, the officer might flip through your passport asking you where your visa is to travel to the USA.  

Good point!  

[SalishSea 17,801]

44 minutes ago, Iris1954 said:

We will be applying for USA citizenship soon.  After receiving it do I need to do anything in regards to informing my birth country that I am now a USA citizen?  My birth country does not allow dual citizenship?  If I do not inform them will they have a way of figuring out that I took USA citizenship?

 

 

    

When you omit THE critical detail (country of citizenship), no one can reasonably help you.

[Iris1954 9]

Laos.

[Mike E 11,739]

4 minutes ago, Iris1954 said:

Laos.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_citizenship has no information on Laos

 

https://www.multiplecitizenship.com/wscl/ws_LAOS.html you will lose citizenship of Laos if you become a U.S. citizen. 

 

 

[Iris1954 9]

3 hours ago, Mike E said:

Yes, I know Laos does not allow dual citizenship.  That was mentioned in my first post.   The question remains is that after my partner gets USA citizenship would he need to inform the Laotian government?  Does the USA inform them?   Has anyone dealt with this after getting citizenship?

 

[Mike E 11,739]

11 minutes ago, Iris1954 said:

Yes, I know Laos does not allow dual citizenship.  That was mentioned in my first post.

Well actually you asked a question about that. So I answered it.

11 minutes ago, Iris1954 said:

 

The question remains is that after my partner gets USA citizenship would he need to inform the Laotian government?  Does the USA inform them?   Has anyone dealt with this after getting citizenship?

All the source material, such as the Lao Embassy,  are written in a Brahmic script that I cannot read.

Edited January 21, 2023 by Mike E

[Family 3,988]

Link is a bit dated but clearly states one should contact the Laos Embassy in the case of “involuntary loss of citizenship “ when acquiring another country’s citizenship. 
So your answer is YES, contact your embassy 

 

https://www.multiplecitizenship.com/wscl/ws_LAOS.html

LOSS OF CITIZENSHIP: 

VOLUNTARY: Voluntary renunciation of Laotian citizenship is permitted by law, however, permission must be granted by the National Assembly. Persons should not assume renunciation of citizenship to be automatically guaranteed. Contact the Embassy for details and required paperwork. 

INVOLUNTARY: The following are grounds for involuntary renunciation of Laotian citizenship: Person voluntarily acquires a foreign citizenship, though persons in this situation should not assume Laotian citizenship would simply be lost by default. Naturalized citizenship was obtained by fraud or false statement. Naturalized citizen has engaged in behavior detrimental to the state of Laos. 

ANY QUESTIONS concerning citizenship, or requests for renunciation of citizenship, should be directed to the address below:

Embassy of the Lao People's Democratic Republic Consular Section 2222 S St., NW Washington, DC 20008 

Embassy/Consular Telephone: 202-332-6416/17 Fax: 202-332-4923

www.loaembassy.com/discover/index.htm

[Iris1954 9]

The question remains of how would the Laotian government know if my partner took USA citizenship?  Is there a mechanism in place where the USA would notify the Laotian Embassy?  Has anyone had experience with taking USA citizenship and trying to retain the citizenship of your birth country when said country does not allow dual citizenship? 

[top_secret 2,405]

1 hour ago, Iris1954 said:

The question remains of how would the Laotian government know if my partner took USA citizenship?  Is there a mechanism in place where the USA would notify the Laotian Embassy?  Has anyone had experience with taking USA citizenship and trying to retain the citizenship of your birth country when said country does not allow dual citizenship? 

It seems you are asking what are the odds of someone getting caught if they were in contravention of Lao laws.  No one here could probably even speculate.  There is no direct mechanism whereby the US Government informs the Lao Government of former Lao citizens acquiring US Citizenship.  

 

On 1/20/2023 at 1:23 PM, Mike E said:

Most of the countries I’ve traveled to have passport control officers staffing ports of exit, including flights departing their international airports.

 

 When you present your passport of that  country and your boarding pass for a U.S. bound flight, to the officer, the officer might flip through your passport asking you where your visa is to travel to the USA.  

 

If you are suspected of being a U.S. citizen you could get a secondary inspection.  If they find your U.S. passport then you are subject to arrest, indictment, conviction, sentence, and prison. 

With Lao immigration this would probably be settled with a cash gratuity handed off around a corner where there are no cameras.  Lao Immigration is notorious for picking through the fine details of US associated Lao travelers looking for discrepancies that "need settled".  Lao and former Lao citizens are wise to have their papers in order.  The land borders are far worse than the airports.   I have some "experience" with Lao Immigration myself and I know allot of former Lao refugees who have traveled back in more recent years and some who can never go back even to visit.  They have plenty to say about Lao Immigration.  Their advice would be to NOT have any discrepancies. 

[Iris1954 9]

Thanks for the input guys.   I have asked many of the Lao I know here in the USA also but there doesn't seem to be a clear answer.  Both my husband and I have had many interactions with Lao immigration so we are not so concerned with that aspect.  The issue is my partner is fearful of losing his Lao passport.  Can those of you who have actually taken American citizenship chime in?  Especially those coming from countries that do not all dual citizenship.  Has anyone had direct experience with this issue?

[Areaze 7]

On 1/21/2023 at 3:33 PM, Iris1954 said:

Thanks for the input guys.   I have asked many of the Lao I know here in the USA also but there doesn't seem to be a clear answer.  Both my husband and I have had many interactions with Lao immigration so we are not so concerned with that aspect.  The issue is my partner is fearful of losing his Lao passport.  Can those of you who have actually taken American citizenship chime in?  Especially those coming from countries that do not all dual citizenship.  Has anyone had direct experience with this issue?

My country, Indonesia, is similar to Laos in that it doesn't allow dual citizenship. I don't have to inform the Indonesian embassy that I am now an American citizen and I can still use my Indonesian passport to travel. The complication arises when it comes to entering and leaving Indonesia. Indonesian immigration has, the majority of the time, asked me for my green card or USA visa when exiting. Now that I am a citizen I obviously have no green card to show, and that would give away that I am American. Laos may be similar in that if there is exit immigration checks, they will find out.

 

Some people I have known use a third country to try and avoid this. Such as leaving and entering Indonesia with an Indonesian passport but arriving/going to a visa free country, such as Singapore, before traveling onwards to the US with their US passport.

Edited February 4, 2023 by Areaze

[OldUser 6,608]

The questions for you to think about:

1. Do you have any property in Laos?

2. Do you have business in Laos?

3. Are you about to inherit something in Laos?

4. Do you travel to countries visa free that Laos offers (US passport offers access to way more placea)

5. Is loss of citizenship automatic? Or even if you notify it takes time and will of officials to renounce your Laos citizenship?

6. Any penalty in law for dual citizenship?

 

I can see one obvious downside of losing Laos citizenship - on USA passport you will need visa to visit family and friends back in Laos.

 

If you have property, business or about to inherit something - losing Laos citizenship would be a downside.

 

Do you know for sure loss of citizenship occurs in practice and what does it take?

For example, I know some countries do not allow other citizenships, but involuntary loss is almost never enforced. Even when somebody notifies the government, they have go through lengthy procedure lasting several years and president of the country personally has to sign decree to take citizenship away, which happens to 1% of those who emigrated and naturalized elsewhere.

 

Another thing to remember, until you renounce or lose Laos citizenship, you will be their citizen. Even with US passport. You cannot ask US embassy to help you in that case if Laos detains you for example, or doesn't let leave the country.

 

This quote

 

"INVOLUNTARY: The following are grounds for involuntary renunciation of Laotian citizenship: Person voluntarily acquires a foreign citizenship, though persons in this situation should not assume Laotian citizenship would simply be lost by default."

 

suggests to me you will remain Laos citizen once you naturalize in the US until you undergo a special prodecure to document loss of citizenship in Laos.

 

Also, US would not tell Laos you naturalized. It's up to you to follow Laos laws and not to do anything illegal.

 

 

Edited February 5, 2023 by OldUser

[Iris1954 9]

On 2/4/2023 at 4:34 PM, Areaze said:

My country, Indonesia, is similar to Laos in that it doesn't allow dual citizenship. I don't have to inform the Indonesian embassy that I am now an American citizen and I can still use my Indonesian passport to travel. The complication arises when it comes to entering and leaving Indonesia. Indonesian immigration has, the majority of the time, asked me for my green card or USA visa when exiting. Now that I am a citizen I obviously have no green card to show, and that would give away that I am American. Laos may be similar in that if there is exit immigration checks, they will find out.

 

Some people I have known use a third country to try and avoid this. Such as leaving and entering Indonesia with an Indonesian passport but arriving/going to a visa free country, such as Singapore, before traveling onwards to the US with their US passport.

This is exactly what I am thinking.  He could fly into Thailand on his Lao passport and then cross by land into Laos.  I also think before his Laotian passport was about to expire he could travel back and request a new one to be issued.  

 

Another idea would be just to use his USA passport while going back and worth.  If he ever decided to live in Laos again I assume no one would put two and two together.

 

Thanks for your information.