Bissau-Guinean nationality runs by descent, and the country has generally accepted that its nationals hold other citizenships — a diaspora concentrated in Portugal, France and Senegal makes that a practical necessity. The obstacle here is not the rule but the absence of any consular authority in the United States to document it.
Quick facts
Membership of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries matters more than it might appear: it shapes where the diaspora goes, where the working embassies are, and which country’s mission is likely to be able to help.
What to establish
| Question | Why it matters | Where to ask |
|---|---|---|
| What documents does the family hold? | Determines what is possible | Family records |
| Can the UN mission assist? | It is the only presence here | The mission, in writing |
| Could Lisbon handle it? | That embassy is fully operational | The embassy in Portugal |
| Your U.S. immigration position | May bear on what you should do | An immigration lawyer |
| Land and inheritance | Customary and statutory rules mix | A lawyer in Bissau |
Anyone whose position in the United States is unresolved should take immigration advice before approaching any authority of their country. It costs a consultation and can matter a great deal.
What to do
- Take immigration advice first if your position here is unresolved.
- Gather every Bissau-Guinean document the family holds.
- Write to the Permanent Mission in New York and ask what it can do.
- Ask whether a Bissau-Guinean embassy elsewhere could handle your file.
- Establish the children’s position alongside your own.
- Take local legal advice on land and inheritance.
Documents to gather
- Bissau-Guinean passport or identity card, including expired ones.
- Birth certificate.
- Parent’s documents where the claim is by descent.
- Marriage certificate where applicable.
- U.S. naturalisation certificate where relevant.
- Any correspondence with Bissau-Guinean authorities.
Where to enquire
At the Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York; decisions rest with the authorities in Guinea-Bissau.
Additional notes
Keep expired documents
Where there is no consulate to verify anything, an old passport may be the best evidence you have.
Lisbon is worth asking
The embassy in Portugal serves a large community and is fully operational.
Children
Their position follows the parents’ documented status, so secure the parents’ records first.
Take proper advice
A lawyer familiar with Bissau-Guinean law is the right source for anything consequential.