Siavash Sobhani, a 61-year-old Iranian doctor based in Northern Virginia, recently discovered that his US citizenship, acquired at birth, was mistakenly granted due to a bureaucratic error.

Born in Washington, DC, to a father with diplomatic immunity, Sobhani applied to renew his passport in February, expecting a routine process. However, he received a shocking letter from the State Department, stating that he should not have been granted citizenship at birth and instructing him to apply for lawful permanent residence.

“I’m waiting for an interview but does that mean I wait another year for an interview?” he said. “Then another three years for the next step? Then another 10 years before I can travel outside of the country?”

The letter clarified that individuals born in the US to parents with diplomatic immunity do not automatically acquire citizenship. As his father was on a job at the Iranian Embassy, Sobhani was born at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in 1961. After living in Turkey during his childhood, he returned to the US for education, earning degrees from George Washington University and Boston University before attending Georgetown Medical School.

Concerned about the implications for his medical practice, Social Security benefits, and attendance at his son's wedding, Sobhani diligently followed the directive to apply for permanent residence. However, he faces uncertainty regarding the timeline and fears prolonged bureaucratic delays. Having already incurred over $40,000 in legal fees, he expresses concern about potential hurdles and the inability to visit family and friends abroad.