<p>If my parents are foreign born and i am a citizen of their country but not born there can i write that I am a foreigner ? Would I have to spend a year to be considered a real citizen of this foreign country? I am already considering taking a break year out of the country to do volunteer work in order to give an edge to my application. Any Ideas?</p>
<p>Your question makes no sense. How many different countries are involved here? Is the U.S. one of them?</p>
<p>When u say “foreigner” do u mean will colleges categorize u as an int’l applicant?</p>
<p>You don’t have to spend any time in a country to be considered a citizen of that country if you ALREADY HAVE citizenship. If you have dual citizenship in the US and elsewhere, you WILL NOT be considered an international student by any US College.</p>
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<p>A caveat. For some countries, foreign-born children automatically take the nationality of their parents, but when they reach the age of majority they have to do something to keep the citizenship. I would check with the embassy/consulate of that country to check the rules ans make sure you don’t miss any deadlines.</p>
<p>A good point GMT. I made the assumption that the OP was under the age of majority, but that could turn out to be a bad assumption.</p>
<p>galigirl3949 -</p>
<p>If I understand correctly, you are a US born dual national, with the other nationality deriving from your parents’ original citizenship status. Did I get that right? If so, then when you apply to college in the US you will be considered a US applicant. This is a good thing. You do not want to be an international applicant. Everything would be much much harder. International applicants have no advantage whatsoever in the admission process.</p>
<p>galigirl: all this seems to point to achieving some “advantage” in admissions. Your citizenship status is your citizenship status (US being the best for US colleges). What you do and where you do it (volunteer work) does not depend on your citizenship status. </p>
<p>As for formalizing your citizenship to coinicide w/your parents, that’s determined by that country’s rules – asking here makes no sense. Research what that country needs. Again, do not give up your US citizenship – that would be a huge blow on your chances at a US college.</p>
<p>By the way: why do you want to do volunteer work? Besides impressing colleges?</p>