helloworld

Hi!

I was born in HK with official birth certificate, holding only BNO (previously BDTC) passport. I am in the process of adjusting my status in US (from H1 to PR from marriage). Does anyone know what nationality should I put down?

Thanks a lot for your help.

Stuart Brook

helloworld wrote:
    > Hi!
    > I was born in HK with official birth certificate, holding only BNO
    > (previously BDTC) passport. I am in the process of adjusting my status
    > in US (from H1 to PR from marriage). Does anyone know what nationality
    > should I put down?
    > Thanks a lot for your help.
    > --
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

As far as the INS is concerned your nationality is the place of your
birth, which now will be described as China!

helloworld

I think "Hong Kong" by itself is a category. It's in greencard lottery and non-immigrant visa counting as well. "China" is a separate group.

Jaj

In fact as China (mainland) is still seen for many purposes as
distinct from China (Hong Kong SAR) I think it would be ok to answer
'Hong Kong' if you're asked for place of birth.

For nationality, if you carry the BNO passport, just answer the truth
- British National (Overseas).

Jeremy

    >On Mon, 16 Sep 2002 19:10:37 GMT, Stuart Brook
    ><[email protected] a> wrote:
    >helloworld wrote:
    >> Hi!
    >> I was born in HK with official birth certificate, holding only BNO
    >> (previously BDTC) passport. I am in the process of adjusting my status
    >> in US (from H1 to PR from marriage). Does anyone know what nationality
    >> should I put down?
    >> Thanks a lot for your help.
    >> --
    >> Posted via http://britishexpats.com
    >As far as the INS is concerned your nationality is the place of your
    >birth, which now will be described as China!

Stuart Brook

helloworld wrote:
    > I think "Hong Kong" by itself is a category. It's in greencard lottery
    > and non-immigrant visa counting as well. "China" is a separate group.

Someone in another group from Hong Kong recently noted (with some
horror) that he his nationality had been put down as China.

helloworld

i got an official reply from the british embassy:

You are a British national with the status British National (Overseas).

Further information about nationality can be found on the Home Office
website http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/default.asp?PageId=38

thanks.

Stuart Brook

helloworld wrote:
    > i got an official reply from the british embassy:
    > You are a British national with the status British National (Overseas).
    > Further information about nationality can be found on the Home Office
    > website http://www.i-
    > nd.homeoffice.gov.uk/default.asp?PageId=38
    > thanks.
    > --
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

You have to remember that each country makes up its own mind as to what
your citizenship is based on evidence. The USA uses *Country of Birth*
and not nationality except in unusual circusmances. That you were born
in Hong Kong which is now considered a part of China, the US looks at
the evidence and says Nationality of Birth - China! There is no country
of birth "British National (Overseas).

Jaj

Stuart
The original poster asked about what 'nationality' he should put down.

You seem to be confusing it with country of birth.

The US does use country of birth as the basis for eligibility for the
DV Lottery (in which, China (mainland) and China (HKSAR) are treated
as separate units).

But if a form asks for nationality, it's perfectly acceptable to put
down British National (Overseas), which is a form of UK nationality,
not Chinese.

Jeremy

    >On Tue, 17 Sep 2002 02:16:43 GMT, Stuart Brook
    ><[email protected] a> wrote:
    >helloworld wrote:
    >> i got an official reply from the british embassy:
    >> You are a British national with the status British National (Overseas).
    >> Further information about nationality can be found on the Home Office
    >> website http://www.-
    >> ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/default.asp?PageId=38
    >> thanks.
    >> --
    >> Posted via http://britishexpats.com
    >You have to remember that each country makes up its own mind as to what
    >your citizenship is based on evidence. The USA uses *Country of Birth*
    >and not nationality except in unusual circusmances. That you were born
    >in Hong Kong which is now considered a part of China, the US looks at
    >the evidence and says Nationality of Birth - China! There is no country
    >of birth "British National (Overseas).

Amer20034

He can put down whatever he wants, and if the INS officer buys it, he
will get through.

But if the INS officer says there is no such thing as BNO, he will be returned
to China.

The Chinese in China have very effective means of dealing with subversives who
think BNO is a nationality, or that HK is still a separate country.
China owns Hong Kong.
Subversives who believe otherwise should be turned over to the Government of
China for an "education".

What amazes me is that even the Chinese don't want to be Chinese anymore.

----
Helping immigrants return to their HOMEland

Thomas Lau

helloworld wrote:

    > Hi!

    > I was born in HK with official birth certificate, holding only BNO
    > (previously BDTC) passport. I am in the process of adjusting my status
    > in US (from H1 to PR from marriage). Does anyone know what nationality
    > should I put down?

    > Thanks a lot for your help.

    > --
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

jafarb

Well I was born in HK and am in the same situation. After 1997 I always go by this:

Nationality: British or British National (Overseas)
Citizenship: None, unless you have acquired other citizenship. BNO is a nationality without citizenship.
Place of Birth: British Hong Kong. This is in line with other former British colonies such as British East Africa, British India, etc. You can't say that you were born on, say 1 Jan 1960 in Hong Kong, China, cos HK was not part of China in 1960, just like there was no such place as Bangladesh in 1930.

Amer20034

Is this what the UK is doing now?
Granting a 2nd-class citizenship to people, as long as they don't invade the
UK?

I wish the USA would hand out Canadian citizenships


jafarb [email protected] wrote:

    >Well I was born in HK and am in the same situation. After 1997 I always
    >go by this:
    >Nationality: British or British National (Overseas)
    >Citizenship: None, unless you have acquired other citizenship. BNO is a
    >nationality without citizenship.
    >Place of Birth: British Hong Kong. This is in line with other former
    >British colonies such as British East Africa, British India, etc. You
    >can't say that you were born on, say 1 Jan 1960 in Hong Kong, China, cos
    >HK was not part of China in 1960, just like there was no such place as
    >Bangladesh in 1930.
    >Originally posted by helloworld:
    >> Hi!
    >> I was born in HK with official birth certificate, holding only BNO
    >> (previously BDTC) passport. I am in the process of adjusting my status
    >> in US (from H1 to PR from marriage). Does anyone know what nationality
    >> should I put down?
    >Thanks a lot for your help.
    >--
    >Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Jaj

    >On Fri, 27 Sep 2002 19:04:19 +0000, jafarb wrote:
    >Well I was born in HK and am in the same situation. After 1997 I always
    >go by this:
    >Nationality: British or British National (Overseas)
    >Citizenship: None, unless you have acquired other citizenship.

Most BNOs have Chinese citizenship, although those of non-Chinese
ethnic origin generally don't.

If you've not got any other citizenship you should see whether you can
register as a British citizen under the British Nationality (Hong
Kong) Act 1997.


    >BNO is a
    >nationality without citizenship.

Correct.


    >Place of Birth: British Hong Kong. This is in line with other former
    >British colonies such as British East Africa, British India, etc. You
    >can't say that you were born on, say 1 Jan 1960 in Hong Kong, China, cos
    >HK was not part of China in 1960, just like there was no such place as
    >Bangladesh in 1930.

Often there is a need to use the current name of your place of birth.

For many purposes however, a distinction is drawn between HK and
mainland China.


Jeremy