If you're planning to visit one of the 11 most popular national parks in the U.S. - two of which are in California - staff might ask a question that could be disquieting: Are you an American citizen? A spokesperson for the Department of the Interior said that the question is being posed only to confirm whether the visitor will have to pay a nonresident fee - which is hefty.
The notice said he needed to provide proof of citizenship such as a copy of a U.S. passport, birth certificate or naturalization certificate within 30 days. Otherwise, his registration would be canceled, though it said he could be immediately reinstated if he showed that documentation at a later date. Nel, who was born in South Africa, became a U.S. citizen as a teenager, more than a decade ago.