I was born in a city which is now under control of a different country. What is my "country of birth" on US visa/ESTA applications?

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It's worth pointing out the guidelines the USA itself applies to U.S. passport holders:

(My emphasis)

7 FAM 1330 APPENDIX D BIRTH OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES - CURRENT SOVEREIGNTY RULE

(CT:CON-254; 04-29-2008)

a. It is the Department of State policy that place of birth in a U.S. passport should reflect the current sovereignty as determined by the Office of the Geographer (INR/GGI) and the regional geographic bureau.

b. As a general rule, the country that currently has sovereignty over the actual place of birth is listed as the place of birth, regardless of when the birth occurred. Passport authorizing officers must use the country of birth as it is now known for a place of birth listing, unless otherwise specified in this appendix.

c. For a location whose sovereignty is in dispute, is not yet resolved, or is not recognized by the United States, this appendix provides specific guidance.

Source: 7 FAM 1300 APPENDIX D

I'm not sure whether France has a similar guideline, but if they don't, going with the above (meaning: Algeria, not France) may be your safest bet. This would also be in line with Spehro's answer.

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Algeria. A review of the (electronic) DS-160 form reveals the following:

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When filling out a visa application, it is important to accurately provide the place of birth, which in this case would be the current country name, Algeria.

Honesty and straightforwardness are crucial when applying for a visa. Any attempt to deceive the system will likely have negative consequences.

It's important to note that place refers to the city, town, or village of birth, not the country itself. Interpreting place more leniently, such as writing Planet Earth, is not advisable and could cause issues at Immigration Control.

About me

Hello,My name is Aparna Patel,I’m a Travel Blogger and Photographer who travel the world full-time with my hubby.I like to share my travel experience.

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