(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (6) and (7) of section 1481(a) of this title, no national of the United States can lose United States nationality under this chapter while within the United States or any of its outlying possessions, but loss of nationality shall result from the performance within the United States or any of its outlying possessions of any of the acts or the fulfillment of any of the conditions specified in this Part if and when the national thereafter takes up a residence outside the United States and its outlying possessions.
(b) A national who within six months after attaining the age of eighteen years asserts his claim to United States nationality, in such manner as the Secretary of State shall by regulation prescribe, shall not be deemed to have lost United States nationality by the commission, prior to his eighteenth birthday, of any of the acts specified in paragraphs (3) and (5) of section 1481(a) of this title.
(June 27, 1952, ch. 477, title III, ch. 3, § 351, 66 Stat. 269; Pub. L. 97–116, § 18(r), Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1621; Pub. L. 99–653, § 20, Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3658; Pub. L. 100–525, § 8(o), Oct. 24, 1988, 102 Stat. 2618; Pub. L. 103–416, title I, § 105(a), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4308; Pub. L. 104–208, div. C, title VI, § 671(b)(3), Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–721.)
Editorial Notes
References in TextThis chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original, “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.
Amendments1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–208 struck out comma after “United States nationality”.
1994—Pub. L. 103–416 in section catchline substituted “loss of nationality” for “expatriation”, in subsec. (a) substituted “lose United States nationality” for “expatriate himself, or be expatriated” and “loss of nationality” for “expatriation”, and in subsec. (b) substituted “lost United States nationality” for “expatriated himself”.
1988—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–525 amended Pub. L. 99–653. See 1986 Amendment note below.
1986—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–653, as amended by Pub. L. 100–525, substituted “paragraphs (3)” for “paragraphs (2), (4),”.
1981—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–116, § 18(r)(1), substituted “paragraphs (6) and (7) of section 1481(a)” for “paragraphs (7), (8), and (9) of section 1481”.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 97–116, § 18(r)(2), substituted “and (5)” for “(5), and (6)”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1996 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 104–208 effective as if included in the enactment of the Immigration and Nationality Technical Corrections Act of 1994, Pub. L. 103–416, see section 671(b)(14) of Pub. L. 104–208, set out as a note under section 1101 of this title.
Effective Date of 1988 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 100–525 effective as if included in the enactment of the Immigration and Nationality Act Amendments of 1986, Pub. L. 99–653, see section 309(b)(15) of Pub. L. 102–232, set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 1988 Amendments note under section 1101 of this title.
Effective Date of 1986 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 99–653 applicable to actions taken before, on, or after Nov. 14, 1986, see section 23(g) of Pub. L. 99–653, set out as a note under section 1481 of this title.
Effective Date of 1981 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 97–116 effective Dec. 29, 1981, see section 21(a) of Pub. L. 97–116, set out as a note under section 1101 of this title.
Right of ExpatriationProvisions preserving the right and disavowal of foreign allegiance, see note under section 1481 of this title.