Eligibility

[bjarvis]

My fifth anniversary of obtaining permanent residency in the US occurred this past Tuesday. Technically, I could now apply for US citizenship.

I'm still uncertain about whether or not to proceed but I'm feeling less opposed to the idea now that gov't checks & balances seem to be gradually returning to what they should be.

My status is good for another five years so even presuming it will take 12-18 months for processing if I decide to proceed, I have lots of time to give this the serious thought and consideration it deserves.

Comments

[trawnapanda.livejournal.com]

while it is the ready target of jokes and humour, as one who has done the immigrant and different citizenship thang, it is a serious decision.

might I recommend perusing our mutual friend Chris Hansen's website? he has a significant section devoted to dual citizenship, US/something else

[apparentparadox]

The US taxes citizens regardless of where they are living when they make their money. Thus, if you decided to move back to Canada, you'd still have to file US tax returns until you die. Granted, you get to "write off" any money you pay to Canada, so you probably won't have to send the US a check, but you'll have to file a tax return every year. If you renounce US citizenship, then you're forever barred from entering the US again. This guy has lots of info on his website.

[urbear]

For what it's worth, the processing time will probably be less than you'd expect. I submitted my paperwork in late November, was fingerprinted in January, and interviewed a couple of weeks ago; the ceremony is scheduled for June 6. Your mileage may vary, of course.

[moofedct.livejournal.com]

On one hand, it's always good to have options; on the other hand, are your ties serious enough here that you'd want to be a citizen?

[moofedct.livejournal.com]

Don't forget about Puerto Rico. They're considered US Citizens but don't pay income tax or have to file returns.

I know, it's not like most people live there, I'm just saying is all.

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

Well, Canada does have an import limit on husbands... :-)

[apparentparadox]

Wow! I didn't know that. I wonder what happens if someone from one of the 50 states moves there -- do they suddenly get to avoid US taxes?

[madknits.livejournal.com]

Sigh. Ain't it the truth?

Puerto Rico

[moofedct.livejournal.com]

You may find this URL interesting: http://welcome.topuertorico.org/government.shtml

Don't forget about Jarvis Island!

[moofedct.livejournal.com]

How many do YOU have?

[chrishansenhome.livejournal.com]

Well, as I've been pondering renouncing my US citizenship, I just had a merry thought: perhaps bjarvis and I could trade: I'll take his Canadian citizenship, and he can have my US citizenship. I know that I'd get the better deal of the two, but as I have no use for it anymore, and hate filing tax returns, he's welcome to it.

I on the other hand would get Toronto, Nova Scotia (where my sainted grandmother was born), Vancouver, and lots of other nice things. If I could eat maple syrup, I'd get that too.

[chrishansenhome.livejournal.com]

Fortunately, that's not true. If you are overseas, and renounce your citizenship, but do not follow the tax rules around renunciation (which are now pretty dire: you have to treat all your assets as if you sold them at the point of renunciation and then pay capital gains tax on them if over US$600K or something like that), then you may be barred from the US or, worse, arrested and tried for tax evasion if you turn up.

However, if you follow the rules you are perfectly entitled to re-enter the US as often as you want. I suspect that as I have "Massachusetts" as place of birth on my British passport I would probably get a bit of stick from the Immigration person, but carrying your certificate of renunciation with you when entering the US would help with that.

Most people who renounce do so because they're dual citizens, living outside the US, with no intention of ever returning to live (or who are accidental US citizens and, when they found out about it, renounced their US citizenship to avoid tax consequences). That's me in a nutshell. With the NHS, the opportunity of living and working anywhere in the EU, and the privilege of being civilly partnered with HWMBO, I'd be crazy to move back to the US. I don't have any assets worth bothering with, so when and if I do renounce my citizenship I'll be OK.

The web site you mention seems to be a shill for a group of lawyers skilled in helping people evade taxes through multiple citizenships. This is a big business internationally, but I wouldn't rely on them for impartial advice about emigrating/renouncing citizenship.

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

Nah, I couldn't give up my Canadian citizenship. It's too large a chunk of my personal identity, and I want to preserve the option of returning to Canada, even if I have no plans to do so in the near future.

My grandmother was born in Detroit and has dual citizenship so I'm somewhat familiar with the taxation filings and occasional bits of paperwork... it's a minor annoyance but seems no worse than the regular annual tax filing in whichever country I happen to be living at the time.

Re: Puerto Rico

[apparentparadox]

Cool. Thanks for the info.

[abqdan.livejournal.com]

Well, I took the plunge back in 2003 having lived in the US since 95. I figured if I was going to live in a country, I needed to be part of the electorate.

I'm sure the laws are different for Canada, but for Britain, it turned out I can't actually give up my British citizenship; however, the US does not recognize dual nationality for a British subject who becomes naturalized. The result is that I am American in America and British in Britain! Since I swore an oath not to have allegiance to any country other than America, I only travel on my American passport, though theoretically I could use a British one (I let my British passport expire last year).

It is a difficult decision; I hope you figure out the right thing for you.

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

Just the two. If one keeps snoring, I may start taking applicants to replace him. :-)

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

My maternal grandmother does much the same: she has dual citizenship (US & Canada) so she travels to Europe on her Canadian passport, to the US on her US passport.

It is possible to renounce Canadian citizenship, but it is difficult requiring an official swearing and signing an affidavit before a gov't official and such hoops. I could easily retain dual citizenship but would essentially be American while in the US.

Fortunately, there is no need to rush into a decision.

[moofedct.livejournal.com]

I did not know you had two husbands! Sometimes you DO learn something new every day.