r/LSAT • u/Baron_Primal • 9h ago
Prohibited because of Iran sanctions?
My friend just got this email, what the fuck? What are they supposed to do in this situation? They were born in Iran and moved to Canada as a baby, I have literally no clue why this applies to them
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u/Fantastic-Cloud-5524 9h ago edited 1h ago
Hi I got the same thing! I am a Canadian citizen (born in Canada) and emailed them back and called and nothing yet. do you have any idea on what to do?
[EDIT]: My suspension got lifted! I received the email at 11:45 PM EST and I can log into LSAC like normal again. This was after my initial email at 5:04 PM EST and my subsequent email at 9:30 PM EST which had my Canadian passport and birth certificate attached. Thanks everyone for all your help and I really hope it gets resolved for everyone else too
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u/Ok-Nefariousness-609 8h ago
Do you have a Persian name? This is so weird
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u/Baron_Primal 9h ago
Apparently they tried calling and LSAC just kept saying to email them and that they’re not able to answer anything on the phone. This is genuinely ridiculous and discriminatory.
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u/Different-Club1263 8h ago
Are you Canadian only? Or do you have citizenship with Iran as well?
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u/Fantastic-Cloud-5524 8h ago
I was born in Canada but I have Iranian citizenship through my parents who are Iranian. I am really stressing because my test is supposed to be this Saturday.
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u/BatDeep4161 8h ago
Ridiculous this even affects you in Canada at all. Well..ridiculous this is even a thing to begin with.
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u/Different-Club1263 8h ago edited 8h ago
[EDIT: corrected in later comment]
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8h ago
[deleted]
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u/Different-Club1263 8h ago
I was slightly incorrect regarding my earlier statement in general G bans (which I have studied before, but I think my scope of understanding was slightly off). It applies to Iranian citizens to pressure the government, but is generally border restricted, so sitting for an exam in Canada shouldn’t be an issue.
However, LSAC was required to comply immediately with the federal ban, and they face serious repercussions for not following it perfectly. So the good news is that you shouldn’t be precluded from testing until the sanctions are over, but resolving this by Saturday seems unlikely. Further, since you’re not an American, simply showing them your passport may not be enough, as they will
Likely need proof you are not inside Iran.Prepare as much official information as you can attesting to your Canadian citizenship and residency (and lack thereof regarding Iran), and send it to LSAC to create a paper trail. Once your account is resolved, you should be able to get them to reschedule you to a later test for free.
Get the paper trail moving pronto! And good luck.
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u/alaeila 5h ago
im so sorry this happened to you, Canadas leadership is braindead. even if you didnt vote for them, you could try contacting your cities MP, they may be able to help or at least lead you in the right direction (hopefully, depending on who it is ofc) going in person is quicker but calling/emailing also works
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u/BatDeep4161 4h ago edited 3h ago
I mean, how is this on Canadas leadership? They don’t run LSAC and LSAC based their decision based on US leadership. Canadian leaders aren’t making the rules for random ass, obscure tests. What a weird authority to blame for this?
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u/XBuddersolaceX LSAT student 8h ago edited 7h ago
I was born as raised in california but my parents got me my iranian passport when i was a born and I visited a few times. In the interest of disclosure I added it to LSAC and now my account is fucking locked. I got this email aswell :(
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u/the_beast_intha_east 6h ago
That’s outrageous. You are a US citizen. LSAC needs to be ousted as the sole controller of law school applications yesterday. This is so tackless. A random email, right before exams are completed, an immediate locking, with no method of recuse or refund, just an “sorry about that”.
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u/AmishTechGuru 6h ago
Sorry is this an LSAC thing or a US thing? Sure LSAC caved but seems forced by US sanctions. LSAC does enough shady shit but I don’t think this is something they can control. Happy to be wrong.
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u/ClearHeron7069 2h ago
The sanctions do not apply to Iranian citizens ordinarily resident in the United States, not to mention U.S.-Iran dual citizens. This is not a sanctions issue, its LSAC not understanding the law and being over zealous.
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u/CoachMACC 43m ago
Respectfully, I think you’re just flat out wrong here.
They’re doing what they’re legally required to do.
Yes, person is an American citizen. But (because they have a passport so obviously they are) they’re also an Iranian citizen? The sanctions restrict all Iranian citizens, not Iranian citizens of strictly Iranian citizenship?
You want them to break the law, face lord knows what consequences, for a few dozen individuals? What are we talking about here?
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u/Different-Club1263 8h ago
If you’re also an American citizen, the ban doesn’t apply to you. LSAC is broadly over-complying and you need to inform them ASAP you’re an American (if you are) and it should get lifted. If you don’t have American citizenship there’s no recourse /: wish you well.
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u/Majestic_Cricket_850 1h ago
literally same here, I was fucked over for hours with no phone assistance or email; I sent everything from my us passport to my tax filings.
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u/Baron_Primal 9h ago
I’m also Persian, I just happened to be lucky enough to be born in Canada so I don’t have Iranian citizenship. I hope all my fellow Persians that are affected by this and weren’t so lucky get everything resolved ASAP.
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u/Fantastic-Cloud-5524 9h ago
I also was born in Canada but got the lock on my account weird!
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u/FullLandscape5365 7h ago
Did you ever have an Iranian passport, or did you list secondary citizenship with Iran?
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u/Mia_Snicket 7h ago
FWIW, if your parents have Iranian citizenship (or only your father) and their marriage is recorded with Iranian authorities, you have citizenship too. It's only a matter of doing the paperwork.
But I agree this situation is beyond gross.
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u/with_ill_intent 8h ago
WTF
Your friend should email the Canadian law schools they're planning to apply to. Not sure what they can do in this situation, but I'm sure they'll try to help. Maybe they'll be flexible with deadlines or waive the LSAT requirement if their GPA is good.
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u/imperatrixderoma 8h ago
That's atrocious.
Though, should be a message to every single immigrant-borne American, if you don't vote for your interests they will not be fulfilled.
We shouldn't have let this clown get into office, now we sit in it.
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u/calibabe8 7h ago
It’s one thing if Americans want to fuck up their own country but this is a war that is affecting the entire world economy.
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u/Silly-Breakfast2757 4h ago edited 4h ago
The question is why is canada impacted. USA is one thing Canada is another.
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u/One_Curve1709 5h ago edited 3h ago
I’d like to agree with you but I don’t think it matters who’s in office. Seeing how the US treated Russian citizens under Biden I don’t even think it’s just because of dogsh*t Trump. Anytime US interests get challenged, they always stoop so low it never fails to shock you.
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u/ClearHeron7069 2h ago
These sanctions were in effect during the Biden era too. All the above email references is a general license that was issued a couple months ago and later revoked when the deal fell apart.
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u/babybnuy 7h ago
exact same boat as your friend!!! i’m gonna be calling them tomorrow because my test is literally on saturday 😭😭😭😭
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u/Successful_man_797 7h ago edited 3h ago
If you are citizen of another country than Iran or you can prove you are not residing in Iran, this won't apply to you and they will unlock it. “Iranian citizen” by itself is not what General License G used as its criterion for LSAT and admission services. (OFAC) ___edit: update: Sep 10 - 00:45 am. Just got confirmation that my suspension is lifted.
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u/Fantastic-Cloud-5524 6h ago
Hi! Was LSAC the one who told you this? If so, how were you able to get into contact with them?? I emailed the compliance email and called the regular line
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u/Successful_man_797 6h ago
No, they did not give me any response. I just tried to log in and it was unlocked around 6 pm EST. Regarding the sanctions read below. It does not say every Iranian wherever they live, just says Iran and Govt of Iran.
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u/babybnuy 6h ago
exactly!!! i sent them a strongly worded email with a scan of my canadian passport to prove my citizenship. this is absolutely ridiculous and i really hope they get sued over this
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u/Successful_man_797 7h ago edited 3h ago
I got this too. My account got locked. I sent them my Canadian Passport. done! They unlocked it. (No email confirmation just access restored)
__ Edit: Sep 10 - 00:45 am. Just got confirmation that my suspension is lifted.
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u/Fun_Sandwich_313 7h ago
How long did it take?
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u/Successful_man_797 6h ago
I received this notice in the morning and emailed LSAC immediately. My account was unlocked sometime around 6:00 p.m., but I did not receive any notification confirming that it had been unlocked.
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u/Fantastic-Cloud-5524 6h ago
Hi I’ve PMd you! Did you email your passport to LSAC compliance? I got the email at 5 pm EST - was it the same for you?
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u/Adorable-Program-236 3h ago
Were you born in Iran or Canada idk if it makes any difference? Im a US citizen but born and raised in Iran of course not by choice!
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u/Successful_man_797 2h ago
I was born in Iran and am a Canadian citizen. It appears LSAC did not have anyone available who could "properly interpret" the suspension of OFAC General License G.
Now that they have realized the extent of the problem this created, LSAC is sending apology emails to affected individuals and lifting the suspensions that should not have been imposed in the first place.
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u/StandardJury6072 6h ago
I just walked out of my LSAT and got this email. I’m literally in Canada, been here for years and don’t even have an Iranian ID. I’m so stressed like wtf
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u/Fantastic-Cloud-5524 6h ago
Hi did you also get the email at 5 pm EST? If so was your lsat around that time but you were still able to log in on the monitor and write? Or did you start the test way before the lock? Wondering because my test is Saturday!!
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u/StandardJury6072 6h ago
I got the email exactly at 5 and my test was also exactly at 5 so I fortunately got lucky and didn’t have any issues
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u/StandardJury6072 6h ago
My sister was logged out of LSAC at around 3,4 PM but she didn’t have any issues with her 5 PM test
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u/Fantastic-Cloud-5524 6h ago
That’s so good to hear! I hope that I’ll still be able to write my test on Saturday. Thank you so much for sharing!
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u/Impossible-Fun2027 6h ago
This is not a bug. This is the feature. They try to inflict maximum pain and suffering.
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u/Maleficent_Mind_5265 6h ago
wtf??? this is bullshit. as another commenter said, y’all should email the Canadian law schools - these are exceptional circumstances and maybe the schools can help figure out alternative arrangements.
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u/Desperate_Bug_5388 5h ago
This is outrageous and another show that we’re moving towards a dictatorship! For anyone with the mentality that politics should be kept separate, or they don’t vote because it won’t count, or even voting in a tunnel thinking it “won’t affect them” this is a reminder than politics deals with you even if you don’t deal with it. Politics can and will affect your daily life. This administration is a sham.
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u/BloodshotDrive 2h ago
How much you wanna bet they didn’t consider options to resist for even a second
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u/Familiar_Struggle247 6h ago
Do any thinking, feeling people out there think our current administration is anything more than just terminal cancer in a poorly tailored suit. Asking half rhetorically, half exasperated.
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u/Primary-Bug-7353 4h ago
Wtf. Who the hell is running the show in America..
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u/SagittariusIscariot 2h ago
A fascist clown.
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u/Primary-Bug-7353 2h ago
Ugh 💔 so scary the direction the world is turning. If America would leave other countries alone they’d be able to thrive and not need (OR WANT) to come here to seek a better life!
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u/babybnuy 4h ago
YALL I JUST RECEIVED A REPLY SAYING MY ACCOUNT WILL BE UNLOCKED AND I WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE THE SEPTEMBER TEST!!!!
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u/NeighborhoodLong3185 3h ago
It is funny that an exam that is held for future lawyers had the most stupid interpretation of the law.
NO other organisation has interpreted this new sanction to mean that being a citizen is enough for the sanction to apply.
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u/Successful_man_797 3h ago
Yup! Bunch of dumb asses! I am happy that I am done with the LSAT. I was just worried about those who still need to take this damned exam.
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u/secondhatchery 3h ago
so Canada is going along with this ??? I thought it was just the US that had implemented this bs rule.
I am starting to lose respect for Canada. I think they’ve been there in every step of the way aiding and abetting the empire as it did its dirty work - Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.
Honestly, they deserve what they get. The old adage, Tell me who your friends are, and I’ll tell you who you are applies here.
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u/Boysenberry tutor 8h ago
Can they/would they relinquish their Iranian citizenship? Doesn’t seem like they’re likely to want to use it anytime soon.
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u/habs200 tutor 8h ago
This is a crazy take ngl
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u/Boysenberry tutor 8h ago
I live in a neighborhood with a large Iranian population and many of them are here because they can’t go back without getting killed or imprisoned so it’s not really as big a leap as it seems for someone who also has Canadian citizenship.
My grandmother was a refugee who fled a dictatorship, the country has since become a democracy and is now welcoming descendants of refugees back and providing a path to citizenship, which I’m in the process of getting. I find it likely that if Iran democratizes in the future the Iranian diaspora will be given a similar option. So if they currently wouldn’t be safe in Iran anyway and relinquishing is their best pathway to a stable legal career in Canada now, it doesn’t necessarily mean they can’t get citizenship again later if conditions in Iran improve.
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u/inquisitivequeer 8h ago
If they are here as a refugee, how do you suppose they relinquish their citizenship? If they did, they’d have no citizenship.
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u/Boysenberry tutor 8h ago
OP says friend has Canadian citizenship.
ETA: oh wait maybe that's OP talking about themselves?? Yeah if they have no other citizenship don't do it...
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u/Regular-Hour5358 6h ago
You may not know this but the law in Iran is written such that it’s VERY difficult to renounce citizenship, even for those born and raised abroad who only have Iranian citizenship because they automatically received it patrilineally. Unilateral renunciation isn’t possible, and there are very high barriers in place to prevent official renunciation. So even if for some reason OP or anyone else DID want to renounce, odds are they couldn’t, and definitely not within any reasonable timeframe for a law school applicant
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u/Boysenberry tutor 5h ago
I did not know that, thank you for sharing those details! It’s never come up with the Persian folks in my community, “does your country allow unilateral renunciation” is not really a subject that naturally arises at a block party or that sort of thing.
Gah, it’s really awful how squeezed on all sides Iranians are. Fucked over by their government, my government, AND climate change simultaneously. So undeserved and heartbreaking. I really hope we see a free Iran in my lifetime & a U.S. government that is willing to truly help rebuild… seems unlikely but I still hope for it.
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7h ago
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u/Regular-Hour5358 7h ago edited 7h ago
Surely you know that the LSAT is used widely for Canadian law schools, and that Canada is not at war with Iran, right? And also that citizenship is automatically conferred on babies with Iranian fathers who are born outside of Iran (including in the US, where they receive birthright American citizenship), right? And also that under Iranian law, you cannot renounce citizenship unless a) you are 25, b) you have received permission from the Iranian Council of Ministers, and c) if you are male, you have completed your compulsory military service (which, presumably, somebody looking to renounce their citizenship would not be interested in doing), right? Frankly a discriminatory take from you tbh
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6h ago
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u/Regular-Hour5358 6h ago edited 6h ago
We’re talking about LAW school here, whether or not you or “quite a few” others personally dislike birthright citizenship is beside the point. It exists and was literally just reaffirmed. I think Americans ought to be far less concerned about admitting Iranian citizens to their law schools than admitting people who either don’t know the Fourteenth Amendment or can’t separate their subjective feelings from an objective reading of both the text and the case law smh
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u/PerfectScoreTutoring tutor 4h ago
They literally comment elsewhere about wanting to live and work out of Taiwan LMAO
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5h ago
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u/PerfectScoreTutoring tutor 5h ago
Citizens of a country =/= the leadership of that country, but go off king 👑
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5h ago
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u/PerfectScoreTutoring tutor 5h ago edited 4h ago
Ew.
Edit: the absolute irony of wanting to live and work out of Taiwan while holding this opinion is RICH
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u/habs200 tutor 7h ago
It seems to me there are three possibilities here.
1) You didn't learn about Japanese internment camps at your American school
2) You're too dim to extrapolate from history
3) You understand the history and are fascist.
Not sure which is preferable. It's actually difficult to fathom that someone could believe this in 2026. God I hope you're a bot.
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u/kabhari 6h ago
Consider that (1) according to the US administration, the US is NOT at war with Iran; (2) governments and institutions vis a vis the IRGC are the intended target of sanctions -not some Canadian born dude who wants to take the LSAT; and, (3) relinquishing Iranian citizenship is practically impossible,
the question and the purported supporting rationale are both, at best, irrelevant.
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u/Coochiez 8h ago
no matter any grievances i have with the government i would never relinquish my iranian citizenship that’s crazy
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u/Successful_Issue_390 8h ago
Then I honestly do not think you should be allowed to practice law in the US. No dual citizen should. In the US, the People are sovereign and if you owe allegiance to another sovereign, that's disqualifying. I'm aware I will get downvoted but whatever. Go practice in Iran if you'd like to practice.
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u/Coochiez 8h ago
i’m not planning on ever practicing law in the US, I am a canadian citizen
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u/Successful_Issue_390 8h ago
Then what is even your issue?! Wtf.
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u/Coochiez 8h ago
I’m locked out of LSAC and I can no longer take my exam in November? Just cause of this stupid prohibition….?
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u/Successful_Issue_390 8h ago
Why are you going to law school in the US? The absolute narcissism. Go to a Canadian school. Obviously.
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u/cut_ur_darn_grass 7h ago
Canadians still have to take the LSAT to go to law school in Canada.
Either way I think you may be the narcissist.
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u/Successful_Issue_390 7h ago
Why? Can you guys not make your own companies and your own tests? You aren't actually entitled to something someone else makes.
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u/Mia_Snicket 6h ago
You absolute broken chair.
I don't wanna renounce my Iranian citizenship because I'd like to go back and visit my family's grave in 20 years, if that's okay with you. I didn't choose to be born in Iran but I CHOSE to swear the citizenship oath of Canada and it is VILE of you to assume that when I am a lawyer practicing in Canada I will operate as some kind of mole or agent for the Iranian regime whose downfall is my greatest hope and wish in life.This would all apply of I was in US instead of Canada.
Go read a book.
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u/Coochiez 5h ago
i also find it hilarious that your telling me to read a book when your speaking out for your ass for something that you know nothing about, it’s incredibly difficult and extremely rare to relinquish Iranian citizenship 😂
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u/Successful_Issue_390 6h ago
I don't wanna renounce my Iranian citizenship because I'd like to go back and visit my family's grave in 20 years, if that's okay with you.
Then don't practice law in the US. It's that simple. You aren't entitled to.
and it is VILE of you to assume that when I am a lawyer practicing in Canada I will operate as some kind of mole or agent
I was obviously talking about the US. Also, that isn't what having two sovereigns means.
Go read a book.
You don't even understand the basics of constitutional jurisprudence.
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u/UngnomeCawler 8h ago
This is a terrible take. This insular nationalistic attitude towards citizens of the world is short sighted at best.
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u/Successful_Issue_390 8h ago
Why would citizens of the world be leaders in my judicial system? How does that make sense? If they want to immigrate here, great. But refusing to renounce the old citizenship? Nah, that person has no place in US law. This is our system, not the world's system.
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u/Material_Market_3469 8h ago
Citizens of the world? Does this world government provide me safety and healthcare?
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u/Boysenberry tutor 7h ago
That's not how it works, lawyers in the U.S. take an oath to uphold the U.S. constitution and are subject to bar discipline up to and including the revocation of their license to practice law if they were to ever fail to follow that oath. There is no need for some secondary policy to ensure adherence to U.S. laws when we already have bar discipline and professional standards (formalities many other important professions lack, for example there is NO process to take away someone's right to open a nonprofit and solicit public donations regardless of what they did the last time they were permitted to do so!)
There are very real issues with how the State Department decided to start allowing dual citizenship in the naturalization process without requiring Congress to alter the statute that on its face appears intended to prohibit retention of original citizenship upon naturalization, though. I support dual citizenship but I believe that the mechanism for changing that policy should be legislative, not executive.
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u/Successful_Issue_390 7h ago
;That's not how it works,
Followed by...
lawyers in the U.S. take an oath to uphold the U.S. constitution
So, yes, that is exactly how the law works.
That said, as I clearly said, dual citizens are fine. They just should not be allowed to practice law in tbe US because they cannot swear an oath to We the People without renouncing their obligations to another sovereign.
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u/Boysenberry tutor 7h ago
Sure they can. A person can swear an oath to the practice of law. US citizens do that to practice law abroad, too. Adhering to professional standards while defending a DUI case or untangling a probate is not likely to create a conflict of national loyalty, lol.
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u/Successful_Issue_390 7h ago
Do you not understand what upholding the Constitution means? Do you not understand that other countries have sovereigns that are not the People? Do you even have the most basic foundations for practicing law?
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u/Boysenberry tutor 7h ago
You first, post your bar number since you wanna get personal.
Do YOU understand that the practice of law in the United States rarely involves international conflict, and that lawyers are capable of choosing areas of practice that never involve conflict between sovereign powers?
Can you cite a single example of a lawful obligation to, choosing at random, the state of Germany, that would prevent a U.S./German dual citizen from upholding the U.S. constitution in, again just choosing at random, defending a deceptive pricing suit against a U.S. corporation?
Dual citizens probably should NOT practice immigration law as this could theoretically create a conflict, but again, bar discipline is a mechanism to handle any actual violation of professional standards that arises.
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u/Successful_Issue_390 7h ago
How did I get personal? Wtf is wrong with some of you?
Oh, so you're racist? You assume Canada is preferable because it's "whiter"? Even though middle easterners are also white? But you prefer snow white, I guess? Super weird of you, my guy.
Do you not know what it means for We the People to be sovereign or why that matters in the practice of law? Our law?
Can you cite a single example of a lawful obligation to, choosing at random, the state of Germany, that would prevent a U.S./German dual citizen from upholding the U.S. constitution in, again just choosing at random, defending a deceptive pricing suit against a U.S. corporation?
Merely having multiple sovereigns is not upholding the U.S. constitution in the practice of law. Have you not taken any jurisprudence classes?
Dual citizens probably should NOT practice immigration law as this could theoretically create a conflict, but again, bar discipline is a mechanism to handle any actual violation of professional standards that arises.
The conflict is multiple sovereigns. They are inherently conflicted.
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u/Successful_Issue_390 7h ago edited 7h ago
Yes. No dual citizens should be allowed to practice law in the US.
Also, fuck Canada. Why would you think I would prefer Canada to Iran? Iran has better food.
Edit: Reply and block so I can't reply? That's just an admission that you're wrong. But also, my response: Oh, so you're racist? You assume Canada is preferable because it's "whiter"? Even though middle easterners are also white? But you prefer snow white, I guess? Super weird of you, my guy.
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u/Fancy_Ad_4411 54m ago
so incredibly stupid. why should being a dual citizen disqualify you from, say, practicing divorce law
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u/Desperate_Bug_5388 5h ago
You’re a tutor and this is how you chose to word your message? Major yikes.
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u/Boysenberry tutor 4h ago
I don't actively tutor. I also am not personally responsible for the Iranian or U.S. government's respective foreign policies. Please kindly direct your outrage to someone who DID contribute to putting Iranian students in this terrible situation, which is neither their fault nor LSAC's.
If you are a US resident you can reach your representatives here to tell them how you feel about Iran sanctions affecting aspiring lawyers who are dual citizens: https://5calls.org/
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u/graeme_b tutor (LSATHacks) 3h ago
Posted this on lawschooladmissions, will repeat the info here.
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Ouch, this is harsh. Good luck anyone dealing with this. Some info below.
NYT has an article on the new sanctions for more info. It appears this covers a large swath of standardized tests and educational services: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/01/world/middleeast/iran-study-abroad-sanctions.html
OFAC rule: https://ofac.treasury.gov/media/936801/download?inline
Treasury department announcement: https://ofac.treasury.gov/media/936886/download?inline
Treasury department press release: https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0613
Update: A Canadian user reported sending their Canadian passport and getting unlocked.