U.S. citizen parents are forced to return to the States for lengthy periods of residency to confer citizenship on their children born abroad. H.R. 783 makes it easier for U.S. citizen parents to pass on U.S. citizenship to their children born abroad. Third. the bill makes available. with regard to the U.S. history and government knowledge portions of the naturalization test. an exemption similar to the one that is available now with regard to the English test. This exemption applies to persons over 65 years old who have been permanent residents for at least 20 years. The bill also provides a general waiver of all testing requirements for persons of any age who. because of physical or developmental disability or mental impairment. could not reasonably be expected to pass the test. Fourth. the bill allows an individual who lost U.S. citizenship because of failure to meet the retention requirements of the law as they existed prior to repeal in 1978. to regain such citizenship upon application to the Attorney General and upon taking the oath of allegiance. provided such person meets the requirements of existing law. The Subcommittee on International Law. Immigration. and Refugees held a hearing in the 102d Congress on H.R. 5599. legislation containing similar provisions. The subcommittee heard testimony from a variety of witnesses. including Representatives FRANK. MINETA and ALEXANDER. each of whom had introduced bills dealing with particular problems addressed by H.R. 5599.
Keywords matched
naturalization Refugees Immigration