Renunciation Questions Thread
Ask your questions about Renunciation here.
This thread will be focused closely on renunciation questions and answers. If the conversation starts to ramble, those comments will be moved to another thread.
Sub-topics (more will be added as they occur):
Farrell v. Tillerson. Plaintiff is contesting Bern Embassy’s rejection of his CLN application due to his not having appeared in person at the embassy and his having been issued a passport after the relinquishing act.
Renunciation Spin-Off Conversations. Conversations that spin off from questions asked on the main Renunciation Questions thread are moved to this one.
Previous Renunciation Threads:
Renunciation and Relinquishment of United States Citizenship: Discussion thread (Ask your questions)
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I only had one interview, and that was for the renunciation itself. I filled out a form, which took the place of the first interview. I should think you’ll be asked why you want to renounce, and if anyone is forcing you to do so. When I was asked why at my interview, I said ‘I want to fully commit to the country in which I’ve spent my entire adult life.’
this first interview will be by telephone.
ps: will I also be asked about relinquishent questions as well? e.g. on ds4079 I said I had verbally accepted a job in government. slightly confused by the questions they might ask.
Each Embassy does their own thing, so I’m not certain anyone can guarantee what may or may not be asked. But they are not there to trip you up. The staff just want to make sure you want to go through with this. They are usually very kind to the person who is renouncing.
if they ask for example was it your intention to relinquish your citizenship when you verbally accepted the government job? – can I say no I want to renounce?
It doesn’t make any difference if you relinquish or renounce. Nor do I think they’ll care about the government job. I’ve sworn an oath of allegiance to the Queen numerous times (when taking on British citizenship and every time I start in a new church as a priest in England) but the Embassy insisted that did NOT mean I’d lost US citizenship, although I wanted it to do so!
Quite frankly, they make it hard for you to relinquish. Just say you want to renounce whatever.
@purpleflower
https://local.theonion.com/beaver-overthinking-dam-1819568416
@ purpleflower,
Bird Person is spot on.
They don’t ask much, but it’s reasonable they want to be sure you know what you’re doing, so they might ask a question or two, basically parroting the DS-4081. Quite likely they’ll just ask, “Have you read the Statement of Understanding of Consequences (DS-4081) carefully?” Main thing, they’re not trying to trip you up.
And being a renunciation (as opposed to a relinquishment), there’s really nothing to ask about. They just have to make sure the person understands the consequences and is acting voluntarily, not much to it. From reports I’ve heard or read, they seem to either presume you’re acting voluntarily (from your demeanour, I guess) or they just ask “Are you doing this voluntarily?”, and as far as consequences usually just ask if you’ve read the 4079 carefully and maybe point out one or two of the points on it. This isn’t required or relevant, but they may ask why are you renouncing. BirdPerson finds it likely they will at London and her reply to it was great. If they ask you much more than that, they’re possibly, or probably, starting to go out of bounds — like they can’t ask about taxes (beyond the irrelevant-for renunciation question on the 4079, do you file US tax returns?) nor “Are you really doing this because you don’t like President Trump?” and stuff like that.
London has a reputation for handling renunciations just like routine business, pleasant and professional to deal with. I’ve been following renunciation/relinquishment matters since Brock started eight years ago, interacted with State Department in a few cases, and I do not foresee you’ll have any problems. Sounds like a routine renunciation at a embassy with a good reputation. And on the very, very, very unlikely chance you run into a problem, remember you have a team of friends here who’ll pitch in with advice.
Please sleep well!
Can the State Dept. withhold the CLN if renunciant is a defendant in a pending civil lawsuit?
No.
Could renunciation be denied/withheld if the renunciant is the defendant in a pending civil lawsuit filed in a US federal court?
No. A US citizen has a right to renounce their citizenship, and the criteria are that you are legally capable of renouncing (that you’re 18 years of age or older and have the mental capability to understand what you are doing) and are doing it voluntarily. So, being in a lawsuit doesn’t impact a renunciation or the issuance of a CLN.
You might want to take a look at this document 7 FAM 1270 Renunciation of US Citizenship. This is from the State Department’s Foreign Affairs Manual and is basically the “How To” guide for consulate officers handling renunciation, and outlines what is involved/what they need to know/etc. It’s about 9 or 10 pages long, but in point form, so it’s easy to read.