Siavash Sobhani, a revered medical practitioner and long-standing resident of North Virginia, has been shaken by a shocking revelation his US citizenship has been revoked at the age of 61.
Born in the US and an esteemed figure in the medical community, Sobhani was startled to receive a letter from the US State Department following his application for a new passport in February. The communication claimed that due to his father’s diplomatic status at the Iranian Embassy during Sobhani’s birth, he should not have been granted citizenship. The letter specified that children born to parents with diplomatic immunity on US soil do not automatically inherit American citizenship.
This unexpected turn of events has thrown Sobhani’s life into disarray. Despite over three decades of dedicated medical service, every passport renewal had previously reaffirmed his American citizenship. Now, at 62, considering retirement and planning to explore the world with his spouse, Sobhani faces a bureaucratic nightmare. Instead of embarking on their dream journey, he must now navigate the complex process of applying for lawful permanent residence, a route laden with uncertainty and exorbitant legal expenses exceeding $40,000.
Expressing his concerns to The Washington Post, Sobhani voiced apprehensions about the timeline for resolution, questioning if he would have to endure a prolonged waiting period before traveling abroad. Desperate for a resolution, he has sought assistance from Virginia’s senator and his congressional representative, Gerald Edward Connolly. The congressman has already intervened on Sobhani’s behalf, corresponding with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Sobhani’s predicament is exacerbated by his inability to live safely in Iran due to his outspoken criticism of the regime. Moreover, looming uncertainties cast a shadow on his plans, including attending his son’s wedding in Portugal the following year and visiting his ailing father-in-law in Lebanon.
The once-secure and esteemed life of a devoted doctor has been abruptly thrown into uncertainty, raising questions about the system’s oversight and the human toll of bureaucratic errors. As Siavash Sobhani grapples with an uncertain future, the saga of his citizenship saga stands as a testament to the complexity and fallibility of immigration regulations.
