Certain U.S. nationals who are not citizens could ask for U.S. citizenship status when applying for a passport. The option would apply only if they live in a U.S. state or certain U.S. territories.
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American Samoa Statutory Nationality and Citizenship Act is a House bill in committee. The latest recorded action: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Latest action on H.R. 6158: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Who this affects: This bill mainly affects U.S. nationals who are not citizens, especially people from American Samoa. It also affects the State Department, which would have to process these passport requests and mark each passport with the correct status. The bill could also matter to agencies, states, and benefits programs that rely on passport records to decide whether someone is a U.S. citizen.
Why this matters: People from American Samoa can be U.S. nationals without being U.S. citizens, and that can affect voting, public benefits, and other rights tied to citizenship. This bill would create a direct way for some of them to choose citizenship through a passport application. It could reduce confusion for people who need to prove their status. The bill may also raise hard questions because the option depends on where someone lives.
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