State Department Ruling Grants Entry to Wives of Naturalized Citizens

(Jewish Daily Bulletin)

The wives of naturalized American citizens, who were married before September 22, 1922, are now allowed to enter the United States in full enjoyment of their former matrimonial citizenship, it was announced by the Department of State.

The department is now making it possible for these women to overcome the presumption that they are not citizens (which may arise through their residence for two years in the country of their birth or for five years in another foreign country) provided their husbands have maintained their citizenship unimpaired.

A new ruling of the Department of State covering these cases was added to the regulations published in the issue of April 17, by a departmental order of April 22. This adds the following to the authorized evidence which may be prescribed to overcome the presumption of expatriation against naturalized citizens:

“In the cases of married women who acquired American citizenship through marriage or the naturalization of their husbands before September 22, 1922, and whose husbands are still residing permanently in the United States, that they themselves have made their plans to come immediately to the United States to reside permanently and are applying for passports for that purpose only.”

Under previous rulings, these women have been allowed to enter the United States in the status of non-quota immigrants, as alien wives of American citizens. The new provision recognizes the rights of citizenship which they legally acquired by their marriage to American citizens before the 1922 law.

The women affected by the new ruling include hundreds of wives whose husbands, after coming to this country, have acquired citizenship while leaving their families abroad during the growth of their children, but whose intention of ultimately coming to the United States to join their husbands permanently is only now being realized.

The wives, however, of citizens who have been naturalized since September 22, 1922. may acquire citizenship only by their own naturalization. In order to enter the United States they must come as aliens, being admitted with a non-quota immigrant visa as the alien wives of American citizens.