#but dual citizenship always. that man was born on american soil.

[shivjoys]

if greg is canadian then he’s one of those guys who spent half his childhood in the U.S and is always talking about it like it will give him status points (it doesn’t)

[wearejapanese]

PSA to all Japanese citizens with multiple citizenship:

[We kindly ask people not to re-blog this information]

It is A MYTH that you are required to choose between your Japanese citizenship and your other citizenships by the time you are 22. Yes, I know MOFA says that on their website, but this doesn’t reflect policy as executed by MOJ and embassy staff.

The way you retain your Japanese citizenship is simple. Prior to turning 22, go to a Japanese embassy/ consulate or a Japanese passport office (within Japan) and ask the staff to provide you with the form declaring your Japanese citizenship (国籍選択届). To sign this form, you must provide proof of your citizenship in the form of: 

1) Your Japanese passport 

2) Your koseki

If you are living outside of Japan, you should also file a 在留届 form in order to vote in elections through your nearest Japanese embassy and participate in censuses. 

This loophole applies only to those whose other citizenships were not obtained through naturalization. In other words, these have to be citizenships you are entitled to without your active consent (ex. being born on American soil, being a woman who marries an Iranian man, your parents filed for your other citizenships when you were an infant, etc.). MOFA states that following your submission of the 国籍選択届 form, you must renounce your other citizenships within 2 years, but the reality is they never follow up on this and embassy staff have actually encouraged people to submit these forms to protect their Japanese citizenship.

Note that this is not the same as being legally recognized by the Japanese government as a dual citizen. Your retention of your Japanese citizenship is conditional on you NOT exercising the rights of your other citizenships while you are in Japan. In other words, you wouldn’t be able to apply to any programs or use any vouchers reserved for non-citizens (ex. the JET program or the JR Japanese Rail Pass). You may not seek asylum at foreign embassies for crimes committed while in Japan. You must also always enter and exit Japan using your Japanese passport. However, you can still open bank accounts, pay into and (after 15 years worth of payment) receive social security, vote in elections, etc.  In the eyes of the Japanese government, you are a Japanese person first and foremost.

Of course, the policies of other countries should also be a factor in your decision. Some countries, like the US and the UK, don’t care if you also have Japanese citizenship and also don’t acknowledge renunciations demanded by foreign governments. Some countries, like Ukraine, are playing the same game as Japan. Other countries, like China or India, will revoke your citizenship with them if you are found to hold other citizenships.

Finally, some countries, like Russia, will require you to inform them of your other citizenships. If you are uncomfortable with actively participating in this grey area and the countries for your other citizenships have no issue with you holding Japanese citizenship, you can simply opt to allow the deadline to pass by and keep renewing your Japanese passport whenever it expires while also not using your non-Japanese passport in Japan. Worse case scenario, the Japanese government may ask you to choose again after you turn 22, but frankly, they haven’t so far, and if you had renounced it at 22, you would have lost it anyway.

Here is some background on the situation: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2016/09/14/issues/japans-dual-citizens-get-tacit-nod-keep-status-shadows/ 

US Specific: http://www.turning-japanese.info/2011/05/faq-can-you-not-renounce-your-original.html

[rivalsofnycupdates]

“She is water. Soft enough to offer life, tough enough to drown it away.”

■ ABOUT. ■

name: Leyla Ozturk age: twenty-eight occupation: actress gender: female pronouns: she /her sexuality: heterosexual

■ HISTORY. ■

It had been a cold autumn morning in Instanbul, Turkey when the youngest had entered the world. Aysu Öztürk Aydin and Kemal Öztürk had long been awaiting the arrival of their only little girl. Three boys having been born to the happy couple a couple of years before her. The eldest of her brothers was six when she was born, another four and the youngest of the male Öztürks had been two. She had made her arrival known, kicking and screaming the moment she had taken her first breath. It was then that her mother knew, she would be a handful. Her father had known it the moment he laid eyes on her. She’d been a beautiful little baby girl and if her brothers were any example, she would grow to remain just that… beautiful. He nicknamed her Banu ( meaning princess ) before she was even old enough to learn her actual name. The rest of the family catching on right away. In fact, for a while, her brothers had thought it to be her name. The young children never knew a moment of trouble. Food was never scarce, the roof above their head was stable and firm, the clothes that hugged their bodies were expensive and clean. The Öztürk name one holding power in Turkey. Her father had inherited the family company from his father, owning hotels, museums, factories, mines. They had found ways to keep a steady and clean income which kept them at the very top without even breaking a sweat.

Leyla had just turned four when her father left his younger brother in charge of the Istanbul companies and turned his attention to none other than New York City, New York. He had bought a home for his family and moved them right to the states without a second thought. The children had dual citizenship because Aysu, their mother, had been born in the States and had gone back to Turkey for her studies - where she met Kemal. A few years later, they were back on American soil. This time, to stay. Leyla and her brothers were enrolled in the best schools possible, up with the rest of the local millionaire’s children and amongst the elites. Her two oldest brothers settled in right away, making friends with the other children but remaining loyal to their youngest siblings. English was not a stranger to them, their mother had taught them when they were learning Turkish, finding it easier to teach two languages at the same time. There was a difference in atmosphere that young Leyla, hadn’t been too fond of. At first, having been just a child, she paid it no attention. Instead, was often found running after her brothers - causing mischief alongside them or at Dance rehearsals. As the years went by, however, her attentiveness would change. Her focus would shift onto bigger problems, the main picture.

The Öztürk name haunted her, everywhere she went. She was never Leyla, instead, she was Miss Öztürk. Make sure Miss Öztürk feels at home, only the best for her. The young girl had been Banu at home and… Miss Öztürk in social events or even at school. With the exception of fellow girl friends. That is, when she had them. In truth, she was never the type to allow others to befriend her for shallow purposes. When they did, she was sure to find out. Her father had expanded in America owning Hotels and Museums at first before buying into Restaurants and minor promising businesses. The idea of living off of her dad’s fortune for the rest of her days… disgusted her. Leyla was not looking forward to being considered an “Heiress” much less a “Spoilt little rich girl living off daddy’s money.” Her passion shifted from dance to… Modeling and Acting. Her talent was shortly after molded, her mother wasting no time in giving into little banu’s wishes. It would start off as plays and small shots in commercials, even music videos. Slowly, she would earn leading parts in school musicals, outside theatre shows and much more. Through all of this, Oscar Beaufort had been no stranger to her.

The first thing that had drawn her towards him had been his eyes. Not the ocean mirrored in his irises, though she did love that… It had been the softness in his gaze. In a cold hard man eats mans world - he was gentle. Though, no one cared to know that about him. No one except Leyla. They’d started off as friends when they were a bit younger, even throughout high school. He was the only genuine friend she had. In fact, he was the only person she even called her friend. Except for her brothers but, well, they were more of a “they have to be my friends, we’re siblings.” Oscar was a choice. Falling for him, not so much. That had been sheer coincidence and lack of control on her end. But she had not regretted a single second of falling for him. Everything with him was… real. They were not Miss Öztürk and Mister Beaufort… They were Leyla and Oscar, a normal girl with a normal boy. It meant the world to her, though, she expressed it mostly by dragging him along to little adventures and getaways. He’d been her rock, anchor and literal savior without even knowing it. Suddenly, she had someone who saw her for more than just her surname. She wasn’t just Banu or Miss Öztürk… She was so much more. He saw her, every part of her. Leyla, Banu and Miss Öztürk, they all played a key role into who she was and he was the only one who knew that. They shared a genuine, pristine and sweet love. In truth, Leyla was convinced that he had been her soulmate all along. They were meant to be endgame. Her acting career took off from one day to the other after she was casted for a leading role in an upcoming movie. The interest and fame brought her closer to her ambition and further from her love. A team of managers and advisors were set up, pulling her further into the spotlight with roles in other movies and even as the star of a tv series. The only thing that they wanted gone was… Oscar Beaufort. She struggled with complying for a while, denying and rejecting every idea that her team brought up in regards to her relationship status. Their relationship was never up for discussion, she insisted on it. Until… Of course, it was. They wanted her to have a public relationship with her co-star, for the publicity and hype and had left the offer of her having he relationship in secret. Suddenly, her emotions were no longer as important as Oscar’s and that’s when she realized that she was utterly and completely in love. Loving him in secret would only hurt him more than not being with her. At least, that’s what she gathered just before ending their relationship and flying out to California to begin her job.

■ WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON? ■

A little after her fame skyrocketed and she won some awards, Leyla found her way back home. Vacations and time off from sets were spent in her hometown alongside her beloved family. It was a nice escape and a very much needed reality check. Her trips back home always did well to keep her level headed and grounded, humbled her down to her very core. Getting once’s self to the top was enough to make the most insecure people think they were a god. That… well, that’s what she didn’t want happening to herself. Through it all, the only thing Leyla didn’t want to loose was herself. She’d had plenty of loss as it was. As far as the gangs are concerned… if her family is tied with the gangs ( which can be a possibility for the sake of plotting ), she has no clue of it. 

■ KEEP THIS AWAY FROM YOUR ENEMIES ■

Fame comes with an eery sense of loneliness that Leyla simply couldn’t handle. Not that she had a meltdown of some sort but definitely the inability to remain is California. That and the added pressure from her eldest brother’s untimely illness, her mother has all but begged that she return to the city. The TV show she had been cast on is going on three seasons and the upcoming one is set to take place in New York City upon her request. Or… more so, demand. She’s not a stuck up star, by any means. Leyla simply stated that if the production team couldn’t figure something out, she’d walk and take her talent back to her city. The promising young actress was not one anyone wanted off their project and so… Now they’re in NYC. Somehow, after years of Stardom - she’s remained with the odd feeling that something is missing. Something or… rather, someone. Leyla, however, continues her days as if this was untrue - more than embracing the fact that when she had the potential to have it all… She lost some. Currently, she’s living on her own in one of her father’s hotels - the top floor fixed for her very own pent house. It’s close enough that she can check up on her parents and visit her brothers, as well, but enough to keep her independent.

■ RELATIONSHIPS. ■

■ Oscar Beaufort: was / is her heart with two legs. They were together for a while and there was no one she would rather spend her days with but… life and others had different plans. Her lack of judgement had taken him from her and now… She doesn’t know how to speak to him or what to say.

■ Peter Darden: is her friend. They hang out and grab coffee together from time to time. Genuinely just good friends, good influences on each other.

■ Talia Barker: the closest thing she has to a best friend. Leyla was never one to have many girl friends or even a girl best friend, being close to her mother and such. But Talia and her get along well and… sometimes, you need a girl best friend.

■ CONNECTIONS. ■

■ Oscar Beaufort  > Ex Boyfriend

■ Peter Darden > Friend

■ Talia Barker > Best / Close Friend

Leyla Ozturk is a TAKEN character and is portrayed by Demet Ozdemir who’s FC IS NON-NEGOTIABLE.