There are many reasons why a citizen may lose his or her citizenship. Both citizens by birth and by naturalization could find themselves in such a situation.
What Makes You Lose Your American Citizenship:
- Taking an oath or formal declaration of allegiance to another country after your 18th birthday.
- Getting the nationality of another country voluntarily and at your own request after your 18th birthday.
- Serving in an foreign army that is hostile to the U.S.
- Serving as a commissioned or non-commissioned officer in the army of another country.
- Serving as a soldier in an army that is not hostile to the U.S.
Conditions that Enable the Loss of the Citizenship
- The act is voluntary
- The purpose of the act is to lose the status as citizen.
But when does the government understand that there is actually the intention to lose the citizenship? First, the two conditions mentioned above must exist. Second, the individual has to renounce the citizenship formally. Finally, the authorities take the following facts into consideration:
- The individual has a position in an army that is hostile to the United States.
- There is a sentence against the individual for treason or for attempting to overthrow the U.S. government.
- The individual serves a foreign government in a political position.