From: stephen@sprunk.org   
      
   On 23-Jun-14 15:04, Adam H. Kerman wrote:   
   > Stephen Sprunk  wrote:   
   >> On 23-Jun-14 04:51, Adam H. Kerman wrote:   
   >>> Stephen Sprunk  wrote:   
   >>>>  "the Department determined that those who would be eligible   
   >>>> to apply for such a certificate may instead apply for a United   
   >>>> States passport that would delineate and certify their status   
   >>>> as a national but not a citizen of the United States."   
   >>>   
   >>> Uh, you missed the fact that it's an optional procedure because   
   >>> the State Department didn't want to create a nearly pointless   
   >>> new document. Otherwise, passports for citizens just make a   
   >>> statement about nationality.   
   >>   
   >> It's unclear to me whether they _always_ get that note on their   
   >> passports or only in the case where they specifically request it,   
   >> which would seem rather odd.   
   >   
   > It was quite clear to me that, unless they apply for the specific   
   > notion using the specific form, their passport won't make the   
   > distinction.   
      
   There is no mention on that page of what happens if they apply for a US   
   passport _without_ using that form.  Seems easier for the State Dept to   
   always put that note on their passports, regardless of which form they   
   use to request it.   
      
   >> Everyone assumes that having a US passport means you're a US   
   >> citizen, but perhaps that's because the number of non-citizen   
   >> nationals today is so small.   
   >   
   > It's a distinction in US domestic law, only, meaningless in foreign   
   > travel.   
      
   It's relevant in domestic situations, e.g. when one has to prove their   
   US citizenship (for whatever reason) and a US passport is accepted as   
   such proof--even though it only proves US nationality.   
      
   > The former trust territories now in "compact of free association"   
   > with United States, don't conduct their own defence nor foreign   
   > relations. Do they get their passports from the US State Department?   
      
   CNMI is part of the US now; people born there are US citizens except for   
   any older residents that elected to become non-citizen nationals instead   
   for some reason, and they get US passports from the US State Dept just   
   like any other US nationals do.   
      
   That "Compact of Free Association" stuff is a smokescreen; CNMI is now   
   no different from Puerto Rico.   
      
   S   
      
      
   --   
   Stephen Sprunk         "God does not play dice."  --Albert Einstein   
   CCIE #3723         "God is an inveterate gambler, and He throws the   
   K5SSS        dice at every possible opportunity." --Stephen Hawking   
      
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