If you’re intrigued by Egypt’s new citizenship by investment program, consider the following…. A citizenship like Egypt’s, with weak visa-free travel still provides at least one enormous benefit. The passport. Not the visa-free travel provided by the citizenship, but the very passport itself. A second passport decentralizes your dependency on a nation-state to allow you permission to travel ELSEWHERE. Even if you have to get visas on that passport, Passports provide GENERAL permission to travel. Visa, residencies and citizenship provide permission to travel to a SPECIFIC place. You need both general and specific “permissions.” #freedomofmovement #multiplecitizenship #egypt #citizenshipbyinvestment

Attempt #8 to use the Palau digital residency ID.👇 I tried to use the Palau ID to notarize a document at a UPS store in Las Vegas, Nevada. Result: UNSUCCESSFUL #documentdependence #palau #digitalresidency #freedomofmovement https://www.malakoutilaw.com/palau-digital-residency-id-to-obtain-nevada-notarization-from-ups-field-report-8

Proposed rule published in the CFR yesterday on 10/02/2023 to bring the cost of renunciation of U.S. citizenship down to $450 again. 👇 Cheaper is always better but I wonder how many people will actually be moved to renounce based on the fee reduction from $2,350 to $450. I suppose time will tell. 🤷‍♂️ Comments on the proposed rule are open until November 1st, 2023. “In the years since the fee was increased, members of the public have continued to raise concerns about the cost of the fee and the impact of the fee on their ability to renounce their citizenship. While there is no legal requirement for individuals to declare their motivation for renouncing U.S. citizenship, anecdotal evidence suggests that difficulties due at least in part to stricter financial reporting requirements imposed by the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), Public Law 111–147, on foreign financial institutions with whom U.S. nationals have an account or accounts may well be a factor.” #UScitizenship #citizenshiprenunciation

Federal Register

Schedule of Fees for Consular Services-Administrative Processing of Request for Certificate of Loss of Nationality (CLN) Fee

The Department of State ("Department") is proposing to amend the Schedule of Fees for Consular Services ("Schedule") to reduce the current fee for ...

Interesting (although ultimately unsuccessful) argument used by the Japanese plaintiffs wanting to naturalize elsewhere, according to this article. 👇 “They argued that with more countries allowing multiple citizenship, the clause in Japan's nationality law that strips people of Japanese nationality violates the Constitution, which guarantees the right to pursue happiness and equality under the law.” #dualcitizenship #japan

Top court upholds ruling in favor of Japan's ban on dual nationality - Japan Today

Japan's top court has dismissed an appeal by a group of people living in Euro...

Due to inflation, “freedom of movement” is now just a trip to the suburbs.

“Is U.S. citizenship worth the burden?” Of course everyone can have their opinion… But, remember this: The ONLY way to competently comment on a person’s future benefits and drawbacks of renouncing U.S. citizenship is to, AT VERY LEAST, have a thorough understanding of: 1️⃣ U.S. non immigrant visa law (including discretion & inadmissibility) and 2️⃣ The varying strength of rights of access different ppl (and nationalities) have to the juggernaut U.S. economy, including - employment access - entrepreneur access - real estate investment access - securities and other passive investment access Those are both complex topics. Unfortunately, many of the loudest commentators on the U.S. renunciation question appear to be the most ignorant. They don’t know what they don’t know. Listen to practitioner-experts, not influencers. #InfluencerVsExpert #uscitizenship #grownostr

CBP has you over a barrel on searches while entering the U.S. BUT, there is a 2018 CBP memo 👇 that requires CBP to contact CBP Chief Counsel office before conducting the search IF the subject of the search asserts part of the contents are subject to attorney-client privilege. The Chief counsel office then has to set up a “filter team” to handle and segregate the docs claimed to be attorney - client privilege. Also, there are also search protocols in the memo re other “sensitive” documents claimed to be: - medical records - journalist docs - “business or commercial information” One has to claim the searched documents are subject to the protocols when the devices are being taken over. Of course, these “protections” are hardly complete in any way, shape or form, but in some cases, they may just create the friction during the search process necessary to eventually get one out of having to show some private info. In other words, it could be a limited useful tool. #mobilitynostr #dualcitizenship #grownostr #freedomofmovement https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2018-Jan/CBP-Directive-3340-049A-Border-Search-of-Electronic-Media-Compliant.pdf

Is there any nightmare you can imagine that's worse than being an adult, fighting a disease, being conscious and communicative, expressing clearly that you want to LIVE, and then being forcibly taken off life support? Being killed a month, a week, a day or an hour earlier than your natural time is murder, both morally and legally. I ardently hope there's public shame, humiliation and criminal prosecution for those who marched this woman to death's door before her time. #grownostr

Access Restricted

Attempt #6 to use the Palau digital residency ID.👇 I attempted to purchase alcohol from a Walgreens store. Result: SUCCESSFUL. #documentdependence #palau #digitalresidency #freedomofmovement #Alcohol https://www.malakoutilaw.com/palau-digital-residency-id-to-purchase-alcohol-from-walgreens-store-field-report-6

Please allow me to clarify one thing.

People who have never experienced a #documentdependence issue related to ID, vital records or a passport have no idea how it can grind your life to a halt and wreck any immigration or travel plans you have. It's just like someone who's never had trouble breathing being unaware of how inextricably intertwined oxygen is with their daily existence.

Attempt #5 to use the Palau digital residency ID. 👇 This time to request a California marriage certificate via Vitalchek.com. Result: unsuccessful. #documentdependence #palau #digitalresidency #freedomofmovement https://www.malakoutilaw.com/palau-digital-residency-id-request-a-california-marriage-certificate-field-report-5

Document (Passport & ID) Expirations & Renewal Friction Any required government contact to maintain a passport or ID is a bottleneck in the waiting and potential attack vector on your freedom of movement. That's why, generally, an automatic extension by law is better than an extension pursuant to an application. That's why 10 year passports are better than 5 year passports. 5 year IDs are better than 2 year IDs, and so-on. This principle should be kept in mind when pursuing visas, residencies, citizenships, and official identification cards & documents. In some cases, it could even be a tie-breaker in making a close decision of which of two mobility assets to pursue. #freedomofmovement #multiplecitizenship

Another successful use-case for the Palau digital residency ID. This time in California. 👇 #palau #digitalresidence #documentdependence #freedomofmovement https://www.malakoutilaw.com/palau-digital-residency-id-to-obtain-a-california-notarization-field-report-4

Don't ever confuse "you get" with "you can apply for." #citizenship #residency #visa #passport #ID

This tweet from September 5th illustrates the weaponization of the passport issuance apparatus in Belarus to prevent people from being able to travel, move, or escape. 👇 Passport issuance by nation-states is a highly centralized exercise of power over human freedom of movement. Each country that issues you a passport is an entity that can give you (general) permission to travel. More countries = less chance you don’t have permission. #multiplecitizenship #passport #freedomofmovement