US citizen immigrants, dual nationality in TW possible?

[Hartzell]

Article 9 of the Rep. of China (Taiwan) Nationality Act, provides that --
A foreign national who applies for nationalization according to Article 3 to Article 7 shall provide the certification of his/her loss of previous nationality. But if he/she alleges he/she can' t obtain the certification for causes not attributable to him/her and foreign affairs authorities investigate and determine that this is true, then he/she needs not to provide the certification.
Hence, as we know, when a US citizen applies to become naturalized as an ROC citizen, he/she must renounce his/her US citizenship.

I have some Taiwanese friends who are in touch with Dept. of State (DOS) officials, (in fact they tell me that their DOS contacts are higher than those of anyone in the DPP or KMT). They continually repeat that DOS officials are adamant that ROC/Taiwan is not a country, and not sovereign.

My reply is that "That is fine, but when American citizens want to assure themselves of long-term residence rights, work rights, public participation rights, etc., in Taiwan and begin the process to become naturalized ROC citizens, why does DOS allow them to renounce their American citizenship? Isn't that effectively making them 'stateless,' since the Republic of China does not exist as a country??"

Well, my friends said they were unaware of this. They asked me to collect details.

Hence, if anyone could provide details of US citizens who have actually gone through this procedure, that would be appreciated.

I assume that during the entire process, there must be some need to state WHY one wants to renounce US citizenship. The answer would of course be that this is REQUIRED under the provisions of the Republic of China Nationality Act.

I assume that in the end, some official paperwork is also issued to confirm that the US citizenship has been renounced.

Obviously, copies of any documents given to me, or any statements/depositions given to me will be held in strict confidence.

I think it would be good if the US government could come out and say that "renunciation of US citizenship in order to be naturalized in the Rep. of China" is not allowed.

But, I will need to collect some relevant paperwork to get the wheels rolling. My email contact address is as below. Thank you.

[cranky laowai]

That's an interesting approach.

The U.S. State Department states that "Persons intending to renounce U.S. citizenship should be aware that, unless they already possess a foreign nationality, they may be rendered stateless and, thus, lack the protection of any government" (DUAL NATIONALITY / STATELESSNESS) -- which makes it sound like the State Dept. holds that statelessness wouldn't be its problem. On the other hand, this is likely assumed to be temporary statelessness. The U.S. may have signed international agreements against putting people into permanent statelessness.

[Maceck]

I'm sure you've received numerous PM's on this post. I am fully in support of a movement to see the ROC recognize duel citizenship for US Citizens. It is absurd that so many have to live as second class citizens simply because they choose e to get married. It might just take a good irking by the USA to get policy changed, but, as you mentioned, this is written into the Rep. of China (Taiwan) Nationality Act.

Where do Japan and South Korea stand with regards to duel citizenship through marriage?

[tsukinodeynatsu]

No dual citizenship in Japan at all.

Not even for its citizens.

Which is still better than the ROC's hypocritical policies, of course.

[Maceck]

Doing a little research, it turns out that S. Korea just enacted a law on 1/1/11 (yes, 1 month ago) allowing for duel citizenship. The law is limited, but it does allow for USA foreigners married to a Korean to attain duel citizenship. This was finally enacted after decades of debate. Maybe Taiwan will follow suit in a 'keeping up with the Joneses' gesture?

[angelmae3995]

I sure hope something can be done... I will not renounce US Citizenship... I believe you can get a PARC if married, but you get no say in anything...

[bismarck]

That's all good and well for US citizens, but what about the rest of us? If US Citizens are allowed dual citizenship, then so should the rest of us be allowed the same. If not, then it's blatant discrimination IMO.

[cranky laowai]

That's all good and well for US citizens, but what about the rest of us? If US Citizens are allowed dual citizenship, then so should the rest of us be allowed the same. If not, then it's blatant discrimination IMO.

That would be for a different thread. What Hartzell mentioned above would be a U.S.-side approach, not a change instituted by the authorities in Taiwan.

[bismarck]

That's all good and well for US citizens, but what about the rest of us? If US Citizens are allowed dual citizenship, then so should the rest of us be allowed the same. If not, then it's blatant discrimination IMO.

That would be for a different thread. What Hartzell mentioned above would be a U.S.-side approach, not a change instituted by the authorities in Taiwan.

I get that, and you're right. All our countries should really be pushing this issue. But anyway, the (discrimination) point is moot, because there are already some countries where they get away with this. Japan being one of them, I believe.