Posted on 06/23/2017 2:47:12 AM PDT by Chickensoup
If any US citizen becomes, say, a British Subject, do they lose any US benefits? Social Security? Medicare? Since the other country does not notify the US, the individual can maintain two passports, and does continue to own property in both countries.
Is there any downside to taking on another citizenship?
As long as we keep USA citizenship too, we pay double taxes... :/
Right,exactly (see post 31).
thanks for clarity
Yes, our State Department “recognizes “ that some US citizens have dual nationalities but it has no legal status with them. The major problem for US citizens holding citizenship in another country arises if/when they travel abroad with a non-US passport. A former co-worker of mine had dual US-Italian citizenship. He got into a minor legal scrape while visiting Italy on his Italian passport. The US consulate wouldn’t help him because he had not entered the country on a US passport. Another problem is if a dual national leaves the US on, say, an Italian passport and tries to re-enter on a US passport. That does not make the US authorities happy, to say the least. My friend’s advice, learned by him the hard way, is always travel to and from the US with your US passport, regardless of your dual citizenship.
There are at least two scenarios.
Israel, Mexico and other countries have dual citizenship. My daughter, born and raised in the US and having spent no more than 40 days in Mexico over 35 years is a dual citizen of both Mexico and the US.
She has full rights to both citizenships. There are dual citizens who vote in both countries elections. The same is true of Israel and apparently Poland as I’ve known many who claim to be both Polish and US citizens and enjoy the benefits and privileges of both, including voting and social security.
Ted Cruz was apparently a citizen of both the US and Canada and enjoyed all the privileges and benefits of both citizenships ... until he decided to run for president and renounced his Canadian citizenship ... a little to late in that renouncement for some FReepers.
I believe as long as you are technically a US citizen then each year if your uncommons over something like $80,000 US dollars in that year then you do you would owe taxes.
and there is still a yearly income reporting requirement though each year that you are outside of the USA you will qualify for something like a 6 week or 3-month extension for your 1040, or whatever.
The really big deterrent to overseas living ever since Obama is that the vast majority of banks don’t want to open accounts for people with a US passport:
the US government imposes extremely onerous reporting requirements on them. For them such reporting is a nightmare and if they don’t do it the US Government Can impose extremely stiff penalties upon them, penalties that are hair-raising.
so a lot of banks simply will not open accounts for Americans.
It used to be completely the opposite, the time erican clients were actively courted, but now we are the leper/AIDS victims of the banking world.
A U.S. national may acquire foreign nationality by marriage, or a person naturalized as a U.S. national may not lose the nationality of the country of birth. U.S. law does not mention dual nationality or require a person to choose one nationality or another. Also, a person who is automatically granted another nationality does not risk losing U.S. nationality. However, a person who acquires a foreign nationality by applying for it may lose U.S. nationality. In order to lose U.S. nationality, the law requires that the person must apply for the foreign nationality voluntarily, by free choice, and with the intention to give up U.S. nationality.
Intent can be shown by the person's statements or conduct. The U.S. Government recognizes that dual nationality exists but does not encourage it as a matter of policy because of the problems it may cause. Claims of other countries on dual national U.S. nationals may conflict with U.S. law, and dual nationality may limit U.S. Government efforts to assist nationals abroad. The country where a dual national is located generally has a stronger claim to that person's allegiance.
However, dual nationals owe allegiance to both the United States and the foreign country. They are required to obey the laws of both countries. Either country has the right to enforce its laws, particularly if the person later travels there. Most U.S. nationals, including dual nationals, must use a U.S. passport to enter and leave the United States. Dual nationals may also be required by the foreign country to use its passport to enter and leave that country. Use of the foreign passport does not endanger U.S. nationality. Most countries permit a person to renounce or otherwise lose nationality.
“re taxes. Every US Citizen or green card holder must declare all their income to IRS regardless of source.”
True. My son and his wife are thinking of an early retirement to France. They know that if they earn money in France, taking a small job, they must pay French taxes on the earnings, and pay double taxes by reporting it to the U.S. and paying taxes on that amount here.
“The US recognizes dual nationality.”
Hey, they even elected a “President” (Obummer...twice) with dual nationality! But mainly dual nationality is something you can’t avoid sometimes. I was born in Scotland, came here as a child and receive my U.S. citizenship as a young woman (just under 18) when my parents were naturalized in 1957. It has since changed, but in 1957 British law as such you could never renounce your British citizenship (it has since changed). Therefore, legally, I am a dual national.
It’s insane - Trump has hinted he’ll correct
You will forfeit any armed forces pension immediately.
That could have been the root cause of my classmate's problem. I don't know at what age his parent's emigrated from Italy.
Curious law!
Interestingly enough, my brother discovered that under Spanish law (our grandfather emigrated from Santander, Spain), as his descendants we could apply for Spanish citizenship and be quickly accepted. This would give us the right to purchase land.
I’m not interested but he may consider it.
>> I do remember when there was no such thing as dual citizenship <<
But then Israel came along and things changed.
>> they must pay French taxes on the earnings, and pay double taxes by reporting it to the U.S. and paying taxes on that amount here <<
Not correct. They need a new tax advisor.
You sure about the Officer part? The USAF Captain that delivered my daughter was a Korean national.
Ya chachacha...
Walter Duranty
This man lied, in the New York Times, about the state of affairs in the Soviet Union for years.
If you renounce your U.S. citizenship you are no longer eligible for most benefits, including Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps & so on. About the only thing you retain is Social Security. That you get to keep. Not sure if you lose veteran’s bennies if you renounce.
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