This chapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original a reference to this Act, meaning act June 27, 1952, ch. 477, 66 Stat. 163 , known as the Immigration and Nationality Act , which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1101 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

1988—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–525, § 9(hh), substituted “A person” for “From and after the effective date of this chapter a person”.

Subsecs. (a) to (c). Pub. L. 100–525, § 8(m), (n), amended Pub. L. 99–653. See 1986 Amendment notes below.

1986—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–653, § 18(a), as amended by Pub. L. 100–525, § 8(m)(1), inserted “voluntarily performing any of the following acts with the intention of relinquishing United States nationality” after “his nationality by”.

Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 99–653, § 18(b), substituted “or upon an application filed by a duly authorized agent, after having attained the age of eighteen years” for “upon an application filed in his behalf by a parent, guardian, or duly authorized agent, or through the naturalization of a parent having legal custody of such person: Provided That nationality shall not be lost by any person under this section as the result of the naturalization of a parent or parents while such person is under the age of twenty-one years, or as the result of a naturalization obtained on behalf of a person under twenty-one years of age by a parent, guardian, or duly authorized agent, unless such person shall fail to enter the United States to establish a permanent residence prior to his twenty-fifth birthday: And provided further, That a person who shall have lost nationality prior to , through the naturalization in a foreign state of a parent or parents, may, within one year from the effective date of this chapter, apply for a visa and for admission to the United States as a special immigrant under the provisions of section 1101(a)(27)(E) of this title”.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 99–653, § 18(c), inserted “, after having attained the age of eighteen years” after “political subdivision thereof”.

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 99–653, § 18(d), as amended by Pub. L. 100–525, § 8(m)(2), substituted “if (A) such armed forces are engaged in hostilities against the United States, or (B) such persons serve as a commissioned or non-commissioned officer; or” for “unless, prior to such entry or service, such entry or service is specifically authorized in writing by the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense: Provided, That the entry into such service by a person prior to the attainment of his eighteenth birthday shall serve to expatriate such person only if there exists an option to secure a release from such service and such person fails to exercise such option at the attainment of his eighteenth birthday; or”.

Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 99–653, § 18(e), (f), as amended by Pub. L. 100–525, § 8(m)(3), inserted “after attaining the age of eighteen years” after “political subdivision thereof,” in subpars. (A) and (B).

Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 99–653, § 19, as amended by Pub. L. 100–525, § 8(n), redesignated former subsec. (c) as (b) and substituted “Any” for “Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, any”, and struck out former subsec. (b) which read as follows: “Any person who commits or performs any act specified in subsection (a) of this section shall be conclusively presumed to have done so voluntarily and without having been subjected to duress of any kind, if such person at the time of the act was a national of the state in which the act was performed and had been physically present in such state for a period or periods totaling ten years or more immediately prior to such act.”

1981—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–116 struck out “(a)” designation as added by section 4 of Pub. L. 95–432, which was not executed since it would have resulted in a subsec. (a) designation of “(a)(a)”, and substituted in par. (1) “special immigrant” for “nonquota immigrant”.

1978—Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 95–432, §§ 2, 4, redesignated par. (6) as (5). Former par. (5), which dealt with expatriation of persons who voted in a political election in a foreign state or participated in an election or plebiscite to determine sovereignty over foreign territory, was struck out.

Subsec. (a)(6), (7). Pub. L. 95–432, § 4, redesignated pars. (7) and (9) as (6) and (7), respectively. Former pars. (6) and (7) redesignated (5) and (6), respectively.

Subsec. (a)(8). Pub. L. 95–432, § 2, struck out par. (8) which dealt with expatriation of persons who were dismissed or dishonorably discharged as result of deserting the military, air, or naval forces of the United States in time of war.

Subsec. (a)(9). Pub. L. 95–432, § 4, redesignated par. (9) as (7).

1976—Subsec. (a)(10). Pub. L. 94–412 struck out par. (10) which dealt with the expatriation of persons who remained outside of the jurisdiction of the United States in time of war or national emergency to avoid service in the military.

1961—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 87–301 added subsec. (c).

1954—Subsec. (a)(9). Act , provided for forfeiture of citizenship of persons advocating the overthrow of the Government by force or violence.