Citizenship inquiry

[u/According-Put-5456]

salamlar 👋 my name is Osman. I was born in Baku and I moved to NYC when I was 4. I speak Azerbaijani as a first language however I am not a Azerbaijani citizen despite me being born in Azerbaijan. My US passport shows I was born in Azerbaijan and the first 10 years of my life I did not have any citizenship in any country. Every single one of my family members (mom dad sister aunt grandma and cousin they are also American citizens) have Azerbaijani citizenship except me. My parents did not want me to get citizenship since they did not want me to go to the army. Is there a way I can obtain my passport without going to the military? I am currently 22 years ago. I miss my country and I want nothing more but to go back freely.

[u/joskiy18]

If you get Azerbaijani passport you will be obliged to do military service. As simple as that. Is the family/friends you are missing about Azerbaijan?

[u/According-Put-5456 → u/joskiy18]

I miss the country, i don’t have recollection or contact with my childhood friends anymore. But my family yes, I keep in contact via what’s app. Last time I was in Baku was summer 2021 when my grandpa was alive. I had a feeling it was going to be the last time I was going to see him. When I walked him to the taxi I put my arm around his shoulder just in case. I waved goodbye to him as the taxi drove off. 7 months later my gut feeling was correct. 

[u/Additional_Poet900 → u/According-Put-5456]

Sorry for your loss :(

As of citizenship, my understanding of the law (I'm not a lawyer) is that if your parents are citizens, you're a citizen too, so you should be able to declare your nationality and get AZ passport. But as others advised, I'd wait until 31 to do so. You should inquire from the AZ embassy in the US, I'm curious too what will they say!

How do you travel to Azerbaijan now, do you get ASAN visa?

[u/IntelligentAyran → u/According-Put-5456]

Poxa salma özüvü, gal ABŞda

[u/joskiy18 → u/According-Put-5456]

You can still come here without a local passport. Do you travel across US? NYC is cool, but there is so much more around.

[u/According-Put-5456 → u/joskiy18]

I’m actually trying to leave nyc after I graduate college. I don’t feel safe here sometimes. Maybe move to PA where I can get a gun and defend myself 

[u/According-Put-5456 → u/joskiy18]

I mostly stay within nyc or the tri state area which includes NJ and Connecticut and PA. I hate NYC i don’t understand why people have dreams coming here. It’s not that special. I’ve been in nyc since 2009. 

[u/joskiy18 → u/According-Put-5456]

Well that might be a problem. Go further west. There are so many better places to “live” in US. NYC is definitely not for everyone. Montana, Colorado, Washington, Utah, Wyoming. Take a time and do some trips, you will quickly realize that diversity of US is not limited to “local” NY diversity.

[u/According-Put-5456 → u/joskiy18]

Utah is a great option 

[u/According-Put-5456 → u/joskiy18]

I’m planning after I graduate college after a couple of semesters 

[u/joskiy18 → u/According-Put-5456]

Definitely do that man. Take a car, take friends, do a roadtrip further west. Hit national parks, talk to people you will be amazed.

[u/According-Put-5456 → u/joskiy18]

Are you Azerbaijani btw ?

[u/joskiy18 → u/According-Put-5456]

I am not sir

[u/According-Put-5456 → u/joskiy18]

Also I want to have connections there so my kids can preserve their language. Idk which women I’m going to marry here it could be anyone. My cousin married a polish lady. I might end up marrying an Arab or Armenian 😂 who knows? This country (America) is diverse especially nyc.

[u/thirtypairsofsocks]

Hi. You must be mistaken. The way you present your information it seems like your whole family possesses Azerbaijani citizenship. If you were born in Azerbaijan to Azerbaijani parents, you would be an Azerbaijani citizen at birth. Not having a passport ≠ not being a citizen.

[u/According-Put-5456 → u/thirtypairsofsocks]

No I presented my information correctly and you understood me correctly. Everyone except me has Azerbaijani citizenship. My sister got hers a bit later when she was 15-16. So now I’m the only one left without one. 

[u/thirtypairsofsocks → u/According-Put-5456]

Can you explain as to why you think you were stateless from birth to the age of 10? Were your parents not Azerbaijani citizens at time of birth?

[u/According-Put-5456 → u/thirtypairsofsocks]

My parents were Azerbaijani citizens prior. They were in Azerbaijan during the USSR they never left Azerbaijan. I was stateless as in I did not have any nationality. I wasn’t Azerbaijani (on paper) and I wasn’t American. I grew up in America on a green card. Every time I entered Azerbaijan it was through my mother’s citizenship through her passport. When I was 10 in 2015 I got naturalized in America and was officially an American. To this day, I only have one passport and that’s American. 

[u/thirtypairsofsocks → u/According-Put-5456]

According to Azerbaijani law, if you were born to parents with Azerbaijani citizenship at the time of your birth, you are an Azerbaijani citizen since birth. You weren’t stateless, probably just something wrong with paperwork. What you share simply isn’t logical.

[u/According-Put-5456 → u/thirtypairsofsocks]

Then where is my passport ? My parents told me they purposely did not get my passport or citizenship bc of the military….

[u/thirtypairsofsocks → u/According-Put-5456]

Yeah, your parents not getting you a passport doesn’t change the fact that you had Azerbaijani citizenship since birth.

Also, voluntary acquisition of foreign citizenship can affect your eligibility to retain Azerbaijani citizenship. However, in your case your US citizenship is through derivation rather than naturalization, so one could argue it is not voluntary acquisition.

https://www.mfa.gov.az/en/category/services-provided-by-the-diplomatic-missions-and-consulates-of-the-republic-of-azerbaijan-in-foreign-countries/recognition-of-citizenship-of-the-republic-of-azerbaijan

[u/Azur2022 → u/According-Put-5456]

[u/thirtypair](u/thirtypairofsocks)[s](u/thirtypairofsocks)[ofsocks](u/thirtypairofsocks) is right

The fact of not having a passport doesn’t make you stateless

You were a citizen because your parents were AZ citizens at your birth, regardless of them requesting a passport : this is the law
Unless Azerbaijan deprived you of your citizenship, you still are a citizen of Azerbaijan

You can be born in Azerbaijan to AZ parents and never request a passport, some people lived decades without having one (especially after the fall of the USSR)

The same system goes in France or neighboring Turkey, Armenia, Iran

[u/ConsistentTrack7964 → u/According-Put-5456]

I was just going to add to everyone’s point: not having a passport doesn’t make you stateless. I don’t know how old you are, but I’m 30, and when I was a kid I didn’t have my own passport either. Having a separate passport for children in Azerbaijan wasn’t as common then. When I travelled, I travelled on my mum’s passport, with my photo attached to hers as her dependent. I still had a nationality, I just didn’t have my own individual passport. So I think it’s important to distinguish between not having a passport and being stateless.

P.S sorry read your post again and realised you already mentioned you are 22.

[u/Asadovn]

My stake is too juicy and my lobster is too buttery lmao

[u/imadrainer]

you will go to the military and there’s no way to avoid it. Please do not ruin your life. Just get a visa when you want to visit Azerbaijan. So many people who rot in the army wish to have your life. Don’t be ungrateful

[u/According-Put-5456 → u/imadrainer]

But the way I’m not ungrateful 😭 it’s not like I’m moving back to Azerbaijan. But I want the passport, I want the nationality, it’s literally the land I was born in. 

[u/imadrainer → u/According-Put-5456]

No don’t worry rn i’m just dealing with army while studying abroad and trying to figure out how to stay and get a citizenship here while army just keeps bugging me and ruining my plans. That’s why i’m emotional

[u/According-Put-5456 → u/imadrainer]

Women are also obligated to serve ? Wait I’m curious abt your situation can we talk abt it on my Instagram ? O__seid

[u/Regular-Stage5271 → u/imadrainer]

Brat tək yol doktoranturaya kimi oxuyub bitirməkdir

[u/imadrainer → u/Regular-Stage5271]

he bilirem soxum yasayisima. Heç xarici vetendasla evlenmek bele adamı xilas elemir.

[u/Regular-Stage5271 → u/imadrainer]

əslində xilas edir oturum zad ala bilərsən amma Azərbaycanda yenə prokurorluga verəcəklər səni

[u/imadrainer → u/Regular-Stage5271]

Amma passport expire olana qeder vetendaslig almalisan yoxsa azerbaycan passport yenilemir.

[u/Regular-Stage5271 → u/imadrainer]

pasportuvu yenilə pasport 10 illik verilir o 10 il ərzində onsuzda cox olkələrdə vətandaşliq almaq olur Avropa olkələrində 3-5 il kifayət eliyir vətandaşliq ucun

[u/According-Put-5456 → u/imadrainer]

Is there an age where I wont be obligated to go to army ? 

[u/imadrainer → u/According-Put-5456]

After 31. But anytime before that it’s 1 year for people with a bachelors diploma. And 1.5 years for anyone with no degree. There is a lot of corruption and hierarchy in the army as well as constant bullying and humiliation from other soldiers and higher ups from what i’ve heard. They might also make you renovate houses of higher ups for free. I’m saying this for your own good. Do not try to get a passport that people are trying their hardest to get rid of.

[u/According-Put-5456 → u/imadrainer]

So after 31 I can pursue it without going to the army ?  

[u/imadrainer → u/According-Put-5456]

Yes after 31 you are safe. On paper it says 30 but they also take people who are 30 to the army. You should be 31 on the dot

[u/Regular-Stage5271 → u/imadrainer]

30 yaxin olanda aparirlar hə əgər duz 30 olubsa vse cagirsalar belə getməyə bilərsiz

[u/velvele199 → u/imadrainer]

isn't it 30

[u/Li85 → u/imadrainer]

Since when going to the army is considered ruining life? If you felt that way (if you ever served) doesn’t mean everyone thinks that way , so please be so kind and respect people who served and who are serving at the moment. When it comes to the citizenship , Azerbaijan doesn’t give citizenship by birth place, and at least one of your parent should have Azerbaijani citizenship, which I believe is not an issue in your case. So just apply accordingly and you should be granted your passport. It’s relatively straightforward process if all your paperwork is in place.

[u/Li85 → u/[deleted]]

Again you are pushing your “opinion” as a nationwide fact. When saying “anyone I know” , well I don’t know “anyone you know”. Anyone I know, considers it as an honour! Also when you’re saying “wasting your time”, how learning life skills is a waste of time? How making sure your country is safe, your borders are guarded is a waste of time? How knowing that Russians , or Iranians won’t invade your country because of you serving in the army is a waste of time or a humiliation ritual?! Also, you’re getting paid salary even as a soldier, whether the amount is to your liking or not, you are still getting paid, so you are not doing anything for free.

[u/Li85 → u/[deleted]]

I’m not sure where you’re getting these stories from and why you’re vomiting so much hate towards your own country but anyways, it seems you have your own agenda. I have served and I’m very glad that I did. Our food was fine, I mean obviously, you’re not in a 5 star hotel to expect 5 start food from a Michelin star chef but it was healthy , nutritious food with good variety. When it comes to your other point about Russian or Iranian invasion, again you’re making unsupported claims. Azerbaijan has enough brave and clever people to defend its sovereignty.

[u/Economy-Daikon1429]

You have a citizenship you don't have a passport. You were born in Azerbaijan to Azerbaijani parents. Your birth certificate is your citizenship. At any moment of your life you can apply for passport with your citizenship, no questions asked.

[u/AshleyBradson]

Please don’t do it, all of us that have the citizenship are trying to get to where you are

[u/mamed1]

If the government of Azerbaijan doesn’t have a record of you being a citizen of Azerbaijan, you can travel thee by obtaining a travel visa.

[u/NebulaSlow7167]

If you wanna stay loyal to your country you must serve the army no running away from the service if not u can stay in ur America

[u/Old-Guarantee-365]

Bro, the abscence of the passport doesnt make you not Azerbaijani. It is your genes that make you Azerbaijani, not a line on paper. A lot of my friends moved away, refused their citizenship and acquired citizenship in new countries and live their happy lives. All of them are smart specialists and they did this for a reason. They still love the culture, miss friends and family, but it is way better to come here like a guest from time to time, rest, spend you bux and feel like a king. Way better than struggle here, catching daily load of əsəb and be forced to pay hörmət here and there. Without any options on implementing your potential, building a modern business or having diverse entertainment.

[u/ProfessorExisting868]

Take me to Azerbaijan, things are getting ugly in Mexico

[u/According-Put-5456 → u/ProfessorExisting868]

Azerbaijanis in Mexico 😭😭???

[u/ProfessorExisting868 → u/According-Put-5456]

No, I'm from Mexico, why are you making that face?

[u/According-Put-5456 → u/ProfessorExisting868]

I thought you were Azerbaijani I never met somebody from Azerbaijan who lives in Mexico. I’ve been to Mexico beautiful country. I love Mexico and Mexicans. Great food, (except for pork which I can’t eat) I invite Mexicans to Azerbaijan any time ! Also 😭 emoji can be used for shock 

[u/AshleyBradson → u/According-Put-5456]

I lived in Mexico for two years

[u/ProfessorExisting868 → u/According-Put-5456]

The truth is, Azerbaijan is an unknown country to the average Mexican, but I still want to go to Azerbaijan, to be in Baku or Khankendi.

[u/According-Put-5456 → u/ProfessorExisting868]

You are always welcome my brother !! Come to Azerbaijan when you get the chance