I have my green card and was planning to apply for the citizenship of US.

I am aware that Nepal does not allow dual citizenship.

I would like to know what would be the consequences (in Nepalese administration) if I were to become American citizen.

 

Will I be able to live in Nepal and carry out administrative work as a nepali?

Will I have to surrender my Nepalese passport to the US government while getting the one from US?

Will the Nepalese government know if I have chosen the US citizenship?

Most probably if not certainly and if I have to surrender my Nepalese passport, I would have to get a tourist visa to stay in Nepal. But if I have to carry out administrative work in Nepal (e.g in offices like Malpot), will they find out and will it be a problem?

 

Thank to everyone who would answer to these questions sincerely. As you know it not easy to give up your nationality, but when you know all the benefits of carrying a US passport, the temptation becomes hard to resist. But it would be nice to know at what cost.

Nothing will change except you stand at TIA "foreigners" line and you pay fee to stay in Nepal, I think $30 for 3 months but not sure.

 You don't have to give up Nepali citizenship and passport (but by law, yes you do). Only if somebody tells the Nepali authorities that you are an American citizen, and you still hold Nepali passport then you will face consequences. This is very rare.

My suggestion is transfer you properties to your love one just to be in safe side. Don’t tell people you don’t know or don’t trust that you are an American citizen.

Good luck.

Thank you Bishal for your respone.

But when once I get the citizenship of US and then apply for the US passport, will they not ask me to surrender my nepali passport? In others words, will they not keep my nepali passport?

And what about the US government informing the nepalese embassy in US about the change of citizenship?

 

 U. S. allows dual citizenship, they won't ask you to surrender your nepali PP.

U do not need to surrender your Nepali passport.As far as they are concern you are US citizen.They will not inform any embassy regarding your new status.

Just make sure you transfer all your property to your love one. Nepali goverment will not know about your US citizen unless some one complain.

Thanks everyone.

But when I enter nepal with the american passport and obtain a tourist visa in the airport, will they not check to see why a nepali guy has a foreign passport and if he still holds the nepali citizenship (just out of suspicion, or curiosity or even jealousy)? Will they not send my information to the office that takes care of "nagarikta" in Nepal?

What are the chances of these things happening, and has anyone already had this kind of experience or anything relating to it?

Thanks again.

 

 

I have heard  of few people who had trouble living dual life. One of my friend a medical doctor by profession had to transfer all his property to his borther's name because he was an US citizen. He went to Nepal and overstayed his visa period. Later the government found out that he had a dual citizenship which Nepal government does not allow. Just to be on safe side he transfered all his properties to his borther's name.

One way to avoid this situation is entering Nepal from India. In this way Nepal government does not get any record of yours. It is risky but many Nepalese with dual citizens do that.

 

I believe you have to surrender your Nepali passport to Homeland security when applying for citizenship.US does not recognize dual citizenship for people from Nepal.

maha-sakti  ji,

Thanks for starting a thread on dual citizenship dilemma.   I am also in the same situation and still unable to decide.  As long as you have a fixed assets in your name in Nepal; most likely you will have a problem regarding your ownership  of the property. Apart from that;  I don't see other major problem.  I think GC will be cancelled once the US citizenship is issued. Once the GC is cancelled; we cannot go to Nepal with a Nepali passport. Once we go to Nepal with a US passport, I am quite sure we will be questioned big time by those people in the Nepali immigration.  Everyone knows they are after money and they will not let us go easily.  I've got two options:  one is to sell the property in Nepal or transfer ownership to someone trustworthy (?) like some fellows said and go ahead for the US citizenship.  The  next one is to wait for the official implementation of the dual citizenship in Nepal which may take forever.  What do you guys think? Any more ideas ??

Been There, Done That.. and agonized over it in the beginning.

Having said that, simply put, Go For the U.S. Citizenship, for the reasons below (in no particular order and reasons)

1. Carrying a US passport lets you go to any country in the world (and now think of how hard it was for you to get a visa to the US with a Nepalese passport)

2. With all due respect to you all, we are, to some extent, all biased, racist, etc. etc. etc... But, Nepalese on Nepalese are the worst, I feel - especially at the airport or other border crossings. "Coming from America? Chance to make some dough from these golden geese."  Just flash your US passport and pretend you don't speak or understand Nepali, they will not give you hard time at all. If inquisitive greedy customs officer says, "You are a Nepali, or have a Nepali Name", reply, "I was born in the U.S.".

3. Flash your very respectable US passport even to the coolie at the airport. After he helps you bring your heavy luggage past the customs and the immigration and asks you for twenty dollars, you say, "Ma Nepali ho. Malai thag chhas?". If you can fool even him, you have passed the test.

4. At the Malpot and other offices, they are not concerned with your passports. As long as you have your 'nagarikta', which the US government has no clue or does not care, offices in Nepal does not care either. But, be mindful of your 'enemies'... they can spill the bean and you will be running back and forth to the very bureaucratic and bakshish waiting Nepali officials. So, do what you have to do. Sell your properties, transfer them to ones who you trust, or whatever...

5. Those of us who are in the US are for a reason... many in Nepal (and other countries) would sell a limb to get here. Live here. Work here. Get US citizenship. Travel the world, including Nepal, anytime you want, as long as you can afford it. Just think of it as your ancestors who came to Kathamandu from somewhere else, leaving everything behind or selling everything they had in the village. Do the same thing, with a belief that If you want, you can always go back to Nepal - by giving some bakshish or goosh, EVERTHING CAN BE FIXED. 

ssNY  ji,

Really appreciate your valuable suggestions!

Thank you everyone for your advice.

I agree with ssNY on many point. Getting the US citizenship would really us travel freely and without much racisim. I remember travelling via Bangkok once and the treatment I got compared to my american friend due to the nepalese passport I held was very bad.

Having saying that, how hard would it be to get back the nepalese citizenship if they ever find out?

I do not have any property in Nepal, but was wondering if my parents want to pass down any to me at any point, how would that affect?

 

 

You're welcome.

Forgot to write something about dual citizenship, which I also desired so badly. At a meeting or a gathering of quite an influential politician from Nepal, at the end of his talk when Q & A began, I did raise the issue of dual citizenship. He was frank, had dealt with the question before, and here's what he said, in brief, of course.

If Nepal would allow dual citizenship, citizens of the neighbor from south would overrun and outnumber Nepalese in no time. (Jana Gana Mana may sound louder than whatever our new national anthem is. )

The answer was such an eye opener, I didn't mind not having a chance to even hope for a dual citizenship.