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Renounce U.S. Citizenship
Loss of U.S. Citizenship (Expatriation)

Important Considerations Before Renouncing U.S. Citizenship

Review additional steps to take and important information if electing to renounce U.S. citizenship.

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Remember that expatriation is a personal right and can never be exercised by another person (including parents and/or legal guardians).

Loss of U.S. citizenship is a serious and irrevocable act which deserves your thoughtful consideration. It is imperative that you fully understand the nature of its consequences prior to requesting a Certificate of Loss of Nationality. If you decide that this is the course of action you wish to pursue, there are several steps you need to take including arranging an appointment to come into the Embassy to sign the Statement of Understanding, the Loss of Citizenship Questionnaire and/or the Oath of Renunciation, in the presence of a Consular Officer. Please note that the Statement of Understanding clearly states that the action you are taking is irrevocable.

Important Information on the Loss of Nationality Process

Become familiar with legal requirements and possible expatriating acts before beginning this process. Pay particular attention to your right to request an informal initial appointment to discuss your possible loss of citizenship with a consular official over the phone or in-person prior to your final interview.  For questions related to expatriation tax and possible tax implications, please consult with the Internal Revenue Service.

Please gather all the required documents below:

  1. Evidence of U.S. citizenship; (such as your most recent U.S. passport or U.S. birth certificate, if you are not in possession of your U.S. passport;
  2. U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad, if applicable;
  3. Bio-pages of all current foreign passports;
  4. Certificates of Naturalization for any country, including the United States, if applicable;
  5. Certificates of Citizenship for any country, including the United States, if applicable;
  6. Evidence of any name changes, if applicable (for example marriage or divorce certificates, court orders or deed polls);
  7. Completed form DS-4079 – download the form from the Department of State website here;
  8. Completed Loss of Citizenship Questionnaire – download the form as a PDF and
  9. Completed Informal Loss of Citizenship Acknowledgement, which must be signed/dated and sent as a scanned document.  Download the document as a PDF.

Read all steps to take if electing to renounce U.S. citizenship

Fees

You will be required to pay a non-refundable fee of $2,350 or equivalent in Bosnian Marks.

Residents of Bosnia and Herzegovina

When you have all the required documents, and you are ready to request an appointment, you should send scanned copies of them to sarajevoacs@state.gov.

Appointments are scheduled approximately one month in advance, on a first come, first served basis. Please request an appointment only if you are able to attend.

On the day of your appointment, you will meet with a Consular Officer and be given another opportunity to review the Statement of Understanding prior to taking the Oath of Renunciation or signing the DS-4079 questionnaire. Your completed packet will be returned to the Department of State for review and approval. If approved, the date of expatriation will be determined based on individual circumstances. In straightforward renunciation cases the Certificate of Loss of Nationality will be the date the Oath of Renunciation was administered. It is important to note that this process may take several months to complete.