If an applicant’s behavior indicates a preference for a foreign country over the United States, then the applicant may be prone to providing information or making decisions that are harmful to U.S. interests. The applicant’s preference for a foreign country must be established by adequate evidence of heightened risks to national security. It is not prohibited for a U.S. applicant to hold dual citizenship since this does not establish a preference for a foreign country.

Foreign Preference is an issue whenever a person acts in a way that indicates a possible preference for a foreign country over the United States. Such actions raise questions about a person’s loyalty & allegiance and how the person would behave if faced with a conflict between the interests of the United States and the interests of a foreign person, organization or country. A preference for a foreign entity may cause a person to make decisions that are contrary to the interests of the United States.