In a surprising turn of events, a 62-year-old doctor from Virginia, who has practiced medicine in the United States for over three decades, has shockingly had his citizenship revoked due to his late father's status as an Iranian diplomat at the time of his birth.
Despite being born in the US, Siavash Sobhani received a letter from a State Department official revealing that he was mistakenly granted US citizenship as an infant, as children born in the country to parents with diplomatic immunity do not automatically acquire citizenship.
Expressing his shock, Mr. Sobhani, who has dedicated his life to his medical profession and community service, emphasized his contributions, including working during the COVID-19 pandemic. Learning that he was no longer a US citizen after 61 years was profoundly disconcerting to him.
Mr. Sobhani applied for a new passport in February, anticipating a routine process based on his previous renewals. However, he received a letter from the State Department stating that he should not have been granted citizenship at birth due to his father's diplomatic role. The letter directed him to apply for lawful permanent residence, and he has since incurred significant legal fees in the process.
Despite multiple confirmations of his US citizenship throughout his life, especially during passport renewals, Mr. Sobhani now finds himself in a state of uncertainty. While he has applied for permanent residence as instructed, he worries about the prolonged waiting period for resolution.
Considering retirement at 62, Mr. Sobhani had plans to explore other countries with his wife. However, the citizenship ordeal has disrupted these plans, preventing him from visiting friends and family abroad, including his father-in-law in Lebanon who is seriously ill.
The uncertainty surrounding the resolution of his case has left Mr. Sobhani grappling with the prospect of being unable to attend important events, including the funeral of a loved one, emphasizing the emotional toll of this unexpected turn of events on his life.
