Citizenship renunciation

[Lizziees]

Hi All,

I'm one step away from taking my oath to become a Singapore citizen but I received a bad news from the embassy that I'm not allowed to.

By my country's law, we are unable to renounce our citizenship. My country allows dual citizenship however Singapore do not allow that.

Any advise?

[Strong Eagle]

What country? What embassy?

[JR8]

Iran?

[Not being nosey, just I think more will perhaps come of the discussion if it is disclosed]

[BBCWatcher]

I don't think it matters which country in terms of providing the generalized answer. If you want to provide the name of the country perhaps more specific advice is possible.

Every country decides for itself who is and is not its citizens. Singapore's government doesn't control that, nor do you in this instance, as it happens. Assuming you've made every reasonable effort to comply with your new country's requirements, fine. Keep answering questions truthfully, and please note that if you take the oath of citizenship you are swearing to Singapore that you are renouncing allegiance to other governments. You're expected and required to act accordingly -- including not renewing your foreign passport, for example. If Singapore's government discovers that you have in any voluntary way been acting as anything other than only a citizen of Singapore -- such as securing and documenting that foreign citizenship for your children, to pick another example -- then the government reserves the right to terminate your citizenship unilaterally.

Given all that, you may want to avoid travel to or other entanglements with your current country of citizenship, especially if you would have to violate your oath in the process.

As an aside, I've never quite understood how Singapore's government requires new citizens to renounce their citizenships when several countries, at least, don't let you do that if you would become stateless. Which you technically would become since you don't have Singapore citizenship until after the oath and registration, not before. It seems like the Singapore government's order is backwards and impractical. But there it is.

[Lizziees]

Ok it's the Mexico Embassy. They are unable to produce the letter renunciation. They will only provide me with a explanation of the Mexican's law and when I requested for English, they give me an address to do the official translation.

[BBCWatcher]

From what I've read, Mexican nationality (specifically), if you were born in Mexico, is not something that you can terminate.

The generalized advice above applies, I'd say.

[Strong Eagle]

Ok it's the Mexico Embassy. They are unable to produce the letter renunciation. They will only provide me with a explanation of the Mexican's law and when I requested for English, they give me an address to do the official translation.

It may make some difference... were you born in Mexico? Were you born to Mexican citizens? If the answer to both of these questions is "yes", then the Mexican constitution says you can't ever not be a Mexican. Otherwise, you may have some hope.

The only other thing you might do is show them the Constitution... it's really about not being taken away from the land... perhaps they can find a special dispensation.

[imroot]

Ok it's the Mexico Embassy. They are unable to produce the letter renunciation. They will only provide me with a explanation of the Mexican's law and when I requested for English, they give me an address to do the official translation.

Wiki speak: (Not sure though how up to date it is)

Loss of nationality and loss of citizenship

The 37th article of the constitution establishes that Mexicans by birth (natural born Mexicans) can never be deprived of their nationality, as defined in the Nationality law, in the acquisition of another nationality.
Even though Mexican nationals by birth may never lose their nationality, Mexican citizenship, and thus its prerogatives, may be lost if a person does the following:
- accepts nobility titles from foreign countries;
- serves in a foreign government without the authorization of the Congress of the Union;
- accepts or uses foreign distinctions, titles or functions, without the authorization of the Congress of the Union, with the exception of those that are literary, scientific or humanitarian in nature;
- helps a foreign citizen or government against Mexico in any diplomatic claim or before an International Tribunal.

[Lizziees]

up =(

[PNGMK]

I guess you have not succeeded?

[Lizziees]

Yeah mexico embassy cant provide that letter and ica keep asking for it.

[PNGMK]

You may need to apply for citizenship in another country and surrender that to ICA.

[sundaymorningstaple]

http://www.cnbc.com/2013/11/14/buying-c ... dable.html

[BBCWatcher]

They will only provide me with a explanation of the Mexican's law and when I requested for English, they give me an address to do the official translation.

Have you submitted this explanation (with translation) to ICA? If so, what happened?

The Mexican embassy is quite correct. There is simply no provision under Mexican law for terminating your citizenship. It's legally impossible. (Mexico isn't the only country like that. There are a couple others.) Singapore can do whatever it wants to do with respect to granting or denying you citizenship -- that's Singapore's sole right -- but Singapore cannot force the Mexican government to do anything, nor can you.

It's a genuine "Mexican standoff"!

[PNGMK]

I do feel for OP. One of my colleagues is from Mexico and she goes through hell trying to get Visa's arranged for working out here. None of the neighbouring countries are not friendly to Mexico.... however OP you could apply for an Asia Business Travel Card (http://www.businessmobility.org) as that will allow Visa free travel to 16 countries or so in this area.