Dual citizenship’s appeal grows, here and abroad

[momopi]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massac ... p_Emailed6

[Think Different]

Typical "America-love it or leave it" bullshit comments from the peanut gallery at the end of the article. If Americans only knew what benefits or better lifestyle they could have beyond their borders...

But then again, some people prefer to live with blinders on.

Check this out for more info:

http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fil:DualCitizenMap.PNG

See the note under the picture: "Beskrivning [redigera]

This is a map I made of the countries which do (yellow) or do not (red) allow dual citizenship. Original data from the US Office of Personnel Management [1]. I used this blank world map. Migrated from the English Wikipedia."

[momopi]

I hold both US and ROC (Taiwan) passports. The map shows TW in red, which is incorrect:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationalit ... ralization

Article 9 of the ROC Nationality Act requires prospective naturalized citizens to first renounce their previous nationality, possibly causing those persons to become stateless if they then fail to obtain ROC nationality.[2] The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has noted that this has caused thousands of Vietnamese women to become stateless.[3] Article 9 does not apply to overseas Chinese holding foreign nationality who seek to exercise ROC nationality. Such persons do not need to naturalize because they are already legally ROC nationals.

The Act does not restrict ROC citizens from becoming dual nationals of other countries. Dual nationals are however restricted by Article 20 from holding most public offices in Taiwan. Indeed many immigrants to Taiwan give up their original nationality, obtain ROC citizenship, then apply again for their original nationality—which some countries will restore, some after a waiting period. (Notably, the United States government has no such procedure.) This entire process is fully legal under ROC law, though statistics are not available regarding how many people do this. The Act also permits former nationals of the ROC to apply for restoration of their nationality.

[Rock]

I hold both US and ROC (Taiwan) passports. The map shows TW in red, which is incorrect:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationalit ... ralization

Article 9 of the ROC Nationality Act requires prospective naturalized citizens to first renounce their previous nationality, possibly causing those persons to become stateless if they then fail to obtain ROC nationality.[2] The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has noted that this has caused thousands of Vietnamese women to become stateless.[3] Article 9 does not apply to overseas Chinese holding foreign nationality who seek to exercise ROC nationality. Such persons do not need to naturalize because they are already legally ROC nationals.

The Act does not restrict ROC citizens from becoming dual nationals of other countries. Dual nationals are however restricted by Article 20 from holding most public offices in Taiwan. Indeed many immigrants to Taiwan give up their original nationality, obtain ROC citizenship, then apply again for their original nationality—which some countries will restore, some after a waiting period. (Notably, the United States government has no such procedure.) This entire process is fully legal under ROC law, though statistics are not available regarding how many people do this. The Act also permits former nationals of the ROC to apply for restoration of their nationality.

Its not difficult to naturalize in Taiwan but requires around 6 years without marriage. All you need to do to qualify is: 1.) reside there legally (with Alien Resident Certificate) for over 183 days a year for 5 continuous years, 2.) produce a clean and current fingerprinted federal police record on yourself from your country of citizenship, 3.) pass an exam on general Taiwan knowledge offered either in written Chinese or orally in Mandarin, Taiwanese, Hakka, or perhaps even an aboriginal language. Once you qualify, you can apply for conditional naturalization. After that is granted, you visit your (de-facto) embassy, renounce your citizenship, obtain a certificate of loss of nationality (may take several weeks), and then use this along with your approved conditional naturalization to apply for permanent Taiwan naturalization. If you ever leave the country after being granted conditional naturalization but before obtaining permanent naturalization, you will probably have to submit an updated federal police record on yourself from your former country of citizenship.

For US citizens, its a tough decision. Because once you revoke and are formally approved with a certificate of loss of nationality, there's no going back. The 'divorce' is final and you will have to apply for visas to visit as if you were any other citizen of your new country.

As for becoming stateless, I would imagine the risk is fairly low now for those who apply for Taiwan naturalization. Because if there's any problem, it should be discovered during the conditional stage. The only exception would be if you were to be caught committing a crime either in your country of original citizenship or Taiwan between the time you have revoked our citizenship and the time you are approved in Taiwan for permanent naturalization. Also, I believe Taiwan reserves the right to revoke your naturalization under certain circumstances for the first five years after it is approved. Those might include committing a serious crime in Taiwan, having a previously unknown criminal record discovered somewhere, etc. After five years pass, your new status is fully protected under law.

[ErikHeaven]

Renouncing citizenship sounds more and more better everyday.

[Jester]

TD, that was a VERY useful map. Thank you!