Can dual citizenship be commission as officer?

acoyle

acoyleh
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Aug 31, 2020
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Hello, I have questions regarding having Dual citizenship. I have 2 citizenship (Thai and American). Thai and America have been in a good relationship for a long time and I want to know that in order to be commission as an officer in the USAF do I have to renounce my citizenship? (I read from somewhere and it said that some country with good relationship with America doesn't have to renounce their citizenship)
 
Hello, I have questions regarding having Dual citizenship. I have 2 citizenship (Thai and American). Thai and America have been in a good relationship for a long time and I want to know that in order to be commission as an officer in the USAF do I have to renounce my citizenship? (I read from somewhere and it said that some country with good relationship with America doesn't have to renounce their citizenship)
You will have to renounce your citizenship other than your American one regardless of what country it is if you're commissioning as an officer. U.S. Military officers can only hold one citizenship: American and American only. It's different if you're enlisting though.

There are cases where some countries don't allow you to renounce their citizenship. In that situation, you will have to sign a document that basically states that you renounce your foreign citizenship and you will only stay loyal to the United States (and of course not take advantage of any benefits that come from your foreign citizenship). Though you are not "really" renouncing it, that will be in effect the entire time you're in the military.
 
You will have to renounce your citizenship other than your American one regardless of what country it is if you're commissioning as an officer. U.S. Military officers can only hold one citizenship: American and American only. It's different if you're enlisting though.

There are cases where some countries don't allow you to renounce their citizenship. In that situation, you will have to sign a document that basically states that you renounce your foreign citizenship and you will only stay loyal to the United States (and of course not take advantage of any benefits that come from your foreign citizenship). Though you are not "really" renouncing it, that will be in effect the entire time you're in the military.
Not entirely true. I commissioned with dual citizenship (by birth) and still hold my foreign citizenship. The document you mention - and the one I signed - states you will renounce your citizenship if asked to do so by the US government. However, formal renouncement would require a person to do this through the government of the country in question. The above document is basically meaningless outside of the DoD.
 
I also hold Thai + American passports, so it's cool to see someone else in the same boat! I know that it can be pretty difficult to renounce your Thai citizenship (especially if you are a male due to conscription and other things), but as foxtailsean said above, it can be done.
 
Hello, I have questions regarding having Dual citizenship. I have 2 citizenship (Thai and American). Thai and America have been in a good relationship for a long time and I want to know that in order to be commission as an officer in the USAF do I have to renounce my citizenship? (I read from somewhere and it said that some country with good relationship with America doesn't have to renounce their citizenship)
I had triple citizenship with one of them being South Korean. I had to renounce both citizenships other than my American one. Yes, you have to renounce the other citizenship. It was a bit tough for me but I know how you feel. I believe Thailand has a conscription policy. South Korea has one too and it’s almost impossible to avoid (for example: the national South Korean soccer team was only able to avoid conscription if they won their World Cup match). My best advice for you is to go to your nearest Thailand embassy for this (I had to go to the one in DC). Fortunately for me, my special circumstances allowed me to renounce my citizenship at my embassy without penalty. It’s a long and tedious process but I wish you best of luck!
 
I also hold Thai + American passports, so it's cool to see someone else in the same boat! I know that it can be pretty difficult to renounce your Thai citizenship (especially if you are a male due to conscription and other things), but as foxtailsean said above, it can be done.
Since you are an applicant, my advise and so of others with valuable experience on this forum is to check with SA. They are source of right information, not this forum. Dual citizenship is a important matter and have legal repurcussions.
 
I had triple citizenship with one of them being South Korean. I had to renounce both citizenships other than my American one. Yes, you have to renounce the other citizenship. It was a bit tough for me but I know how you feel. I believe Thailand has a conscription policy. South Korea has one too and it’s almost impossible to avoid (for example: the national South Korean soccer team was only able to avoid conscription if they won their World Cup match). My best advice for you is to go to your nearest Thailand embassy for this (I had to go to the one in DC). Fortunately for me, my special circumstances allowed me to renounce my citizenship at my embassy without penalty. It’s a long and tedious process but I wish you best of luck!
Thank you so much! in my case I'm a female so I don't think the conscription policy will affect me. Do you think would still have to renounce my citizenship?
 
I also hold Thai + American passports, so it's cool to see someone else in the same boat! I know that it can be pretty difficult to renounce your Thai citizenship (especially if you are a male due to conscription and other things), but as foxtailsean said above, it can be done.
Thankyou so much! did you renounce your Thai citizenship too?
 
Thankyou so much! did you renounce your Thai citizenship too?
If you re-read the post he/she says they had to renounce his/her citizenship. Good luck to you and thank you for wanting to serve this great country.
 
Thank you so much! in my case I'm a female so I don't think the conscription policy will affect me. Do you think would still have to renounce my citizenship?
Yes, you will still have to renounce your citizenship regardless of gender. My advice is to contact the service academy and Thailand embassy since they will have the best insight for you. If you’re really committed in serving as an officer no matter what, it would probably be better to start this process sooner rather than later. The entire process took months for me. Good luck!
 
Thankyou so much! did you renounce your Thai citizenship too?
Sorry for the confusion but I actually haven't myself, but I know of others who have had to do so. I've been reaching out to the embassy but they still have not gotten back to me, so it's been taking a while. I am applying for the C/O '26 though so it shouldn't be that big of a problem if I can get it done before June of '22.
 
I would suggest this website here, which helps a lot with the issue of renouncing your citizenship.
https://library.siam-legal.com/thai-law/nationality-act-loss-of-thai-nationality-sections-13-22/

For me personally, since my father is American, it's a lot easier to renounce it than someone whose father is Thai (if you read it you'll see that everything is based on your father's nationality, obviously a very patriarchal system). Sections 14 and 17 are probably the most useful, 17 especially if you live overseas.

Best of luck!
 
Sorry for the confusion but I actually haven't myself, but I know of others who have had to do so. I've been reaching out to the embassy but they still have not gotten back to me, so it's been taking a while. I am applying for the C/O '26 though so it shouldn't be that big of a problem if I can get it done before June of '22.
Do I have to renounce my citizenship once I get admitted to the academy? or before applying to the academy?
 
Do I have to renounce my citizenship once I get admitted to the academy? or before applying to the academy?

To be completely honest with you, I am not sure. For me personally, I renounced my citizenship right before I applied to the academies. I did this because I knew I wanted to become an officer (ROTC, OTS, SA) no matter what. I would probably contact the service academy for this question.
 
Do I have to renounce my citizenship once I get admitted to the academy? or before applying to the academy?

As gpar6479 said above, it would probably be better to start renouncing your citizenship sooner rather than later, if you truly are committed to commissioning as an officer. Assuming you get into the academy, if you have trouble officially renouncing your citizenship, you can do it once you arrive at USAFA for BCT.

'Appointees who possess dual citizenship (both U.S. Citizenship and foreign citizenship) must bring their current or expired foreign passport with them to the Academy. As part of the security clearance process, you will be asked to sign a statement affirming loyalty to the United States and the willingness to renounce your foreign citizenship. Your foreign passport may be shredded during this time.' (Appointee handbook, pg. 4)
 
Do I have to renounce my citizenship once I get admitted to the academy? or before applying to the academy?
If you want to attend the academy and becoming an officer is your true desire, what's holding you back from renouncing it right now?
 
If you want to attend the academy and becoming an officer is your true desire, what's holding you back from renouncing it right now?
All of my family is in Thailand, The only family member I have in America is my mom, and she is not planning on living in America, once I graduate high school she will go back to Thailand. (Mom is not a US citizenship, Only my dad but we weren't in contact for 11 years).
 
Why can't there be a @MullenLE on this subject.

Mrs. cb7893 started process for both DS's to get Polish citizenship and passport. When DS #1 accepted his AROTC she stopped the process. DS#2 proceeded when medically DQed from NROTC scholarship and is a dual citizen.

Ever since the subject keeps coming up and there is always a lack of clarity.

I'd concentrate more on keeping records of foreign travel and contacts, even with family members and not ditch the foreign citizenship until someone of authority other than an anonymous internet poster tells you to do it. If you wash out you'll wish you hadn't renounced it.
 
@acoyle,

Pursue your dream and worry about the bureaucracy later. If you have aspire to an SA and are now a US citizen then the dual citizenship issue is small potatoes be be worked out later.

I am pulling for you and hope to see more posts from you in the future.
 
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