Text 17583, 56 rader
Skriven 2008-06-09 17:32:46 av Robert Bashe (2:2448/44)
  Kommentar till text 17536 av Ward Dossche (2:292/854)
Ärende: Have fun with this one
==============================
Ward Dossche wrote to Mark Lewis on Monday June 09 2008 at 06:24:

ML>> everyone born on US soil is a US citizen ;)

WD> Is eligible probably to request, and get, US citizenship at the age of
WD> 16 or 18 or something ...

No, is a "natural-born citizen". As is anyone born of at least one American
parent on foreign soil. No application is necessary. The fact of birth
establishes citizenship. Take a look as McCain, who was born of American
parents in Panama.

WD> If they opt not to, then that's it. It works the same with the other
WD> 100+ countries.

By no means. Most other countries require a child to be born of at least one
(sometimes even only the _male_) national parent. Up until some 20 years ago,
this was the case in Germany. The child of the wife of a German, born outside
Germany, was NOT automatically a German citizen. Things have changed since
then.

WD> My daughter's friend was born in Washington DC, she's 17 and has a
WD> Belgian passport.

Then her friend (regardless of any other nationality) is _also_ an American and
any (legitimate = as a married couple) children they may have are Americans
unless he officially renounces American citizenship. He need only present a
birth certificate and request an American passport.

WD> Her sister was born in Beijing and has a Belgian passport.

The Chinese rules are unknown to me.

WD>  Her brother was born in France ... Belgian passport.

France requires citizens to be born of at least one French parent, regardless
of birth location. Thus, he is NOT French unless at least one parent was of
French nationality.

WD> Matters of nationality of children born on foreign soil are settled by
WD> bi-latteral agreements between countries. And even the US doesn't
WD> permit people to possess dual-nationality.

Wrong and wrong. Countries decide themselves what is required for citizenship,
and the USA does tolerate dual citizenship. I know that for a fact, although
this policy was only implemented after 1992, when I was naturalized in Germany.
I might add that Germany to this date does NOT tolerate dual citizenship unless
this derives from an _involuntary_ circumstance (automatic citizenship due to
marriage or dual citizenship because of birth circumstances, for example). If I
were to _voluntarily_ seek and receive the citizenship of another country, the
Germans would declare my German citizenship null and void.

Cheers, Bob

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