John Richardson - What Is The Difference Between Renouncing And Relinquishing US Citizenship?

Section 349(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act is the U.S. statute governing "relinquishment" of U.S. citizenship.

"Renunciation" is described in 349(a)(5) as one way of "relinquishing" U.S. citizenship.

Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that there is ONLY "relinquishment" and that the process of "renunciation" is one example of "relinquishment".

Nevertheless, many people identify "renunciation" as the specific form of relinquishment that takes place before a U.S. consular officer outside the United States.