28 Oct How Immigration Attorneys Help Restore Your Citizenship
Immigration attorneys play a crucial role in helping individuals restore their citizenship after it has been lost, whether through renunciation, relinquishment, or complications due to dual citizenship.
South African citizenship can be lost in several ways, including voluntary renunciation, the automatic loss due to acquiring another citizenship without retention, and other specific legal conditions related to naturalised citizens.
Voluntary Renunciation
SA citizens can apply to voluntarily renounce their citizenship. To be able to do this, they must already have citizenship in another country. Once the renunciation is registered, all rights and privileges of a South African citizenship are forfeited, including the invalidation of the South African passport and loss of voting rights.
Automatic Loss Due to Acquiring Another Citizenship
If a South African citizen acquires citizenship of another country without applying for and being granted retention of South African citizenship, they automatically lose their South African citizenship. This rule applies to those who took up foreign citizenship after October 6, 1995. However, there has been legal controversy over this automatic loss, with courts ruling some provisions unconstitutional.
Loss by Naturalised Citizens Engaging in Certain Acts
Naturalised South African citizens may lose their citizenship if they participate in a war under the flag of another country that South Africa does not support.
How June Luna Immigration Attorneys Can Assist
We can assist individuals who have lost their South African citizenship by:
Understanding the Legal Framework and Eligibility
Our team of immigration attorneys is well-versed in South African citizenship laws, including the recent changes and provisions like Section 6(1)(a) of the Citizenship Act. We help our clients determine if they qualify for restoration and guide them on how to use official tools such as South Africa’s new online portal designed for citizenship restoration.
Personalised Case Evaluation and Strategy
Attorneys take the time to understand each client’s unique circumstances, including how citizenship was lost and any complicating factors. June Luna Immigration Attorneys offer a personalised approach that allows us to craft the best legal strategy to maximise the chances of a successful restoration.
Document Preparation and Submission
Restoring your citizenship requires submitting detailed and accurate documentation. Our team assists in gathering, organising, and presenting all necessary documents to meet legal requirements and avoid any common mistakes that could delay or jeopardise the application.
Advocacy and Representation
If complications arise, such as disputes over eligibility or administrative errors, we advocate on behalf of our clients, representing them in communications or hearings with immigration officials to protect their rights and interests.
Ongoing Support and Updates
Immigration laws and procedures can change, thus we keep our clients informed about relevant updates and adjust strategies accordingly to ensure compliance and improve outcomes.
Restoring your citizenship can be a complex legal process, especially for those affected by specific provisions of the Citizenship Act or who have lost citizenship due to acquiring another nationality without proper retention. Using SA’s new portal to restore citizenship, once launched, will streamline the process in coming days.
June Luna Immigration Attorneys aim to help you restore your South African citizenship by providing expert legal guidance, personalised case management, thorough document preparation, and strong advocacy throughout the restoration process, making a complicated journey much more manageable and effective. Ready to start your restoration journey? CONTACT US today.