Sponsors
The bill gives noncitizen U.S. nationals clearer, selectable passport labeling and a more codified State Department procedure, at the cost of greater administrative discretion and potential legal or practical confusion about status and benefits.
U.S. nationals who are not citizens (e.g., residents of certain U.S. territories) will be able to obtain passports explicitly labeled “national, but not a citizen,” giving them clearer, accurate travel and identity documentation.
Applicants living in States or covered territories can elect in writing to have passports identify them as both a U.S. national and a U.S. citizen, providing personal choice over how their status is presented on official documents.
The bill establishes a clearer administrative procedure for State Department passport determinations, which could reduce inconsistent adjudications and administrative appeals for applicants and streamline processing for federal employees.
Applicants must prove their status “to the satisfaction of the Secretary,” giving the State Department broad discretion that could lead to inconsistent denials or processing delays for nationals seeking passports.
Allowing passports to identify some holders as both “national” and “citizen” may create confusion about legal status and access to citizenship-based benefits or employment eligibility for holders, and could complicate interactions with employers or foreign authorities.
Repealing INA §325 (8 U.S.C. §1436) removes existing statutory language and procedures, which could produce unforeseen administrative or legal consequences and create uncertainty for both applicants and federal agencies.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Introduced November 19, 2025 by Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen · Last progress November 19, 2025
Changes passport rules for people who are U.S. nationals but not U.S. citizens (non-citizen nationals). The State Department must issue a passport that identifies such an applicant as “national, but not a citizen” once the applicant proves that status. If the applicant lives in a U.S. State or in a territory covered by the immigration code provisions for U.S. citizenship and asks in writing, the State Department must instead issue a passport that identifies them as both a United States national and a United States citizen. The bill also updates a passport section heading and repeals an older statutory provision on passports.