# Foreign Preference

**URL:** <https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/foreign-preference/19>\
**Category:** SECURITY CLEARANCE Q&A\
**Created:** [December 17, 2013, 11:00am UTC](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/foreign-preference/19 "2013-12-17T11:00:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![eric.pecinovsky](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/eric.pecinovsky/32/3_2.png) [@eric.pecinovsky](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/u/eric.pecinovsky)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 11:00am UTC](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/foreign-preference/19/1 "2013-12-17T11:00:17Z")

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**The Concern.** When an individual acts in such a way as to indicate a preference for a foreign country over the United States, then he or she may be prone to provide information or make decisions that are harmful to the interests of the United States.

**Conditions that could raise a security concern and may be disqualifying include:**

> (a) exercise of any right, privilege or obligation of foreign citizenship after becoming a U.S. citizen or through the foreign citizenship of a family member. This includes but is not limited to:
> 
> > (1) possession of a current foreign passport;
> > 
> > (2) military service or a willingness to bear arms for a foreign country;
> > 
> > (3) accepting educational, medical,  
> > retirement, social welfare, or other such benefits from a foreign country;
> > 
> > (4) residence in a foreign country to meet citizenship requirements;
> > 
> > (5) using foreign citizenship to protect financial or business interests in another country;
> > 
> > (6) seeking or holding political office in a foreign country;
> > 
> > (7) voting in a foreign election;
> 
>   
> (b) action to acquire or obtain recognition of a foreign citizenship by an American citizen;
> 
> (c) performing or attempting to perform duties, or otherwise acting, so as to serve the interests of a foreign person, group, organization, or government in conflict with the national security interest;
> 
> (d) any statement or action that shows allegiance to a country other than the United States: for example, declaration of intent to renounce United States citizenship; renunciation of United States citizenship.

  
**Conditions that could mitigate security concerns include:**

> (a) dual citizenship is based solely on parents' citizenship or birth in a foreign country;
> 
> (b) the individual has expressed a willingness to renounce dual citizenship;
> 
> (c) exercise of the rights, privileges, or obligations of foreign citizenship occurred before the individual became a U.S. citizen or when the individual was a minor;
> 
> (d) use of a foreign passport is approved by the cognizant security authority;
> 
> (e) the passport has been destroyed, surrendered to the cognizant security authority, or otherwise invalidated;
> 
> (f) the vote in a foreign election was encouraged by the United States Government.