Hello, all. For those who asked, I renounced on Friday 2nd Feb at US Embassy London. I applied for a loss of nationality appointment in July 2023 and was at last invited for an appointment at the end of January 2024. I had to send in scans of all my documents and fill in a form and email that back as well. After receiving my documents, they sent me an appointment date. Here's what happened on the day:
I arrived at the embassy at 9.51AM. My appointment was at 11AM.There was no queue, just a couple of people. I was asked for my name, appointment time and ID. I passed through airport style security. There were no queues. At reception, I was asked for my appointment time and given a slip showing my reason for attending as Loss of Nationality, with a number starting with L. I went to the second floor as directed, where there are windows numbered 25 through 41, seating, screens noting numbers being called and what window to report to, as well as which number is current at what window, and a tannoy announcing which window to report to. I counted the number of tickets listed on the screen. There were about 11 other people there with numbers starting L, so I assume they were there for the same reason as me. It's possible it was a renunciation 'clinic' which accounts for the lack of queues. Within minutes, I was called to window 41 where I was shown documents I am familiar with and have seen online. My details were confirmed and passports taken along with the Royal Mail special delivery self addressed envelope I had been instructed to bring. I was sent back to wait, having been told I would visit two more windows in this visit. I was soon called to cashier's window 25 where a swipe of my card relieved me of $2350. I was asked to sign a receipt. I was sent back to wait. Each of us was sitting quite apart from one another, in typical waiting room fashion when there is space available, but an older lady with salt and pepper hair and a chunky wooden pastel necklace sat down next to me. 'Hello,' I said. 'Hi,' she said, then after a pause, 'Bit dodgy isn't it?' 'Is it?' I replied. 'Well, to me it is,' she said. 'Are you here to renounce?' I noticed she had some sort of accent, neither from UK nor America. I said yes and just then I was called to window P6, around the corner. This was the consular's window. I was provided a chair at this window, instead of having to stand. The consular officer asked me to raise my right hand and affirm my name and date of birth and place of birth. Then she asked me to sign the documents I'd seen at the first window. She asked me to raise my right hand and read the oath on the form, which I did in my most clear and careful reading voice:
I desire and hereby make a formal renunciation of my U.S. nationality, as provided by section 349(a)(5) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, as amended, and pursuant thereto, I hereby absolutely and entirely
renounce my United States nationality together with all rights and privileges and all duties and allegiance and
fidelity thereunto pertaining. I make this renunciation intentionally, voluntarily, and of my own free will, free of any
duress or undue influence.
I then signed it and she took it. She returned my UK passport. She explained my cancelled US passport and loss of nationality certificate would be sent to me in 3-6 months. We wished each other good day and I went out as I'd come in at 10.41AM. That was it.
