U.S. Confirms Citizens Cannot Apply for U.S. Visa

The U.S. Department of State has clarified that citizens of the United States are not eligible to apply for a U.S. visa, regardless of any other nationality they may hold.

This information was made available on the Travel.State.Gov portal and is particularly relevant for Americans living abroad, especially dual nationals. The department emphasized that all individuals holding American citizenship must enter and exit the U.S. using a valid U.S. passport, which applies to naturalized citizens, those born in the U.S., and those born abroad to U.S. citizen parents.

Even children who have not been formally documented as U.S. citizens are still considered U.S. citizens and thus cannot apply for a U.S. visa. The guidance also extends to the Electronic Travel Authorization system, where dual nationals using a foreign passport will have their applications denied or canceled.

The State Department advised dual nationals to be aware of the laws in countries where they hold citizenship and to seek local legal counsel if necessary.