Title 8, Aliens and NationalityRelease 119-102
§1502 Certificate of Nationality Issued by Secretary of State for Person Not a Naturalized Citizen of United States for Use in Proceedings of a Foreign State
Title 8 › CHAPTER 12 — IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY › SUBCHAPTER III — NATIONALITY AND NATURALIZATION › Part IV — Miscellaneous › § 1502
Summary
Secretary of State can issue a nationality certificate, under rules they set, to a non‑naturalized person who proves U.S. nationality and needs it for foreign proceedings; it is only for that case and must be sent via official channels.
Full Legal Text
Title 8, §1502
Aliens and Nationality, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The Secretary of State is authorized to issue, in his discretion and in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed by him, a certificate of nationality for any person not a naturalized citizen of the United States who presents satisfactory evidence that he is an American national and that such certificate is needed for use in judicial or administrative proceedings in a foreign state. Such certificate shall be solely for use in the case for which it was issued and shall be transmitted by the Secretary of State through appropriate official channels to the judicial or administrative officers of the foreign state in which it is to be used.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification Section was formerly classified to section 101 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
8 U.S.C. § 1502
Title 8, Aliens and Nationality
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102