Title 8Aliens and NationalityRelease 119-73not60

§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

Last updated Apr 3, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of State may, under his rules, give a nationality certificate to U.S. nationals who are not naturalized citizens if they show proof and need it for a foreign court or administrative case. The certificate is only for that case and is sent by 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 8Aliens and Nationality

Last Updated

Apr 3, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60