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To become a US citizen or not?
Hi all,
First time poster here. I'm currently a Green Card holder and will soon be eligible for US citizenship. I currently see the following pros and cons: Pros
Thanks in advance |
Re: To become a US citizen or not?
For me, not being able to be kicked out and the ability to vote were what clinched it for me.
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Re: To become a US citizen or not?
Con 1 is a non-starter. Holding dual citizenship doesn’t make you any less British/English. Both LPRs and citizens are liable for tax declarations regardless of their country of residence. Obviously it is easier to abandon your LPR than it is your citizenship but you won’t actually pay any tax to the US unless you live in a low/zero tax country. On the pro side voting and being able to come and go as you please indefinitely is a big bonus as is the ability to pass on US citizenship to children born anywhere in the world. Personally I wouldn’t have any hesitation in naturalising if given the opportunity.
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Re: To become a US citizen or not?
Do you identify as a Democrat or a Republican? If the former, please remain as an LPR.
Thank you. Respectfully yours, America. |
Re: To become a US citizen or not?
If you are not already, for US estate tax purposes a US citizen is a UK domiciliary. Taking on US citizenship may help shed a UK domicile for UK IHT purposes.
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Re: To become a US citizen or not?
Originally Posted by Cook_County
(Post 12505252)
If you are not already, for US estate tax purposes a US citizen is a UK domiciliary. Taking on US citizenship may help shed a UK domicile for UK IHT purposes.
There is a weird US tax rule that an LPR does not benefit from the same estate tax exemptions as a US citizen (the rule intended to stop you from giving your estate to a mail order bride to avoid estate tax but also screws up people who were too lazy to naturalize), but for 99.9% of people this only matters if you live in a State (aka New Jersey) that has adopted the US estate tax rules into State law as the Federal estate tax limit is gigantic. |
Re: To become a US citizen or not?
Being one of a relatively few people becoming eligible for us citizenship , I would, and did consider it a lucky privilege, and snap it up. I waited until green card was almost up for renewal, to get my moneysworth! 8 years or so. I am sure the price will only increase as time goes by.
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Re: To become a US citizen or not?
Originally Posted by dwally89
(Post 12505189)
Thanks in advance To which my response is, wait until you get convicted for something, like running someone over and get put into removal proceedings. If you live in country X become a citizen of country X. Otherwise you're always going to be a round peg in a square hole. You might like being a round peg in a square hole - until someone shows up with a hammer. How anyone can look at the abuses going on with the immigrant population in the US at the moment and not naturalize if they're eligible is beyond my comprehension. As far as taxes go, have a read of IRS publication 54: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p54.pdf Yes it can be a pain, but it's more of a pain to be an LPR because by definition you are claiming to reside in the US, that's what "permanent resident" means, at least if you're a US citizen you can be a tax resident elsewhere. |
Re: To become a US citizen or not?
Yes, as a Green card holder you should be declaring world wide income anyway (its the law!), and filing US taxes even if your income is overseas. Keep in mind that the taxes are equalized and you only pay the difference, if any. You are not double taxed. So Con #2 is not really a Con moving forward. Con #1 is stupid. You can continue to be as English as you like wherever you are. Go get your USC, you'll be happier for it
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Re: To become a US citizen or not?
Originally Posted by BigK
(Post 12505286)
Con #1 is stupid. You can continue to be as English as you like wherever you are. Go get your USC, you'll be happier for it
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Re: To become a US citizen or not?
Re english stongly. You would become enhanced eglish, as opposed to diluted english.😁
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Re: To become a US citizen or not?
We all have our reasons why we do or don't want to naturalize. Voting and jury service are two of my reasons for doing it next year. The biggest one for me is the guarantee that my husband and I will always be able to be together. I think couples and families with mixed nationalities should definitely strive to share one common nationality so that when the proverbial hits the fan there is at least one place in the world where they can't kick you out. My husband gas a felony and a lifetime ban from the U.K. so it's crucial for us that I can stay here forever (or until a more sensible government in the U.K. revises immigration laws and allows spouse of UKCs with felonies from over 20 years ago to enter the U.K.). In my case I will lose my German citizenship for good. At least we get to keep British citizenship during this process. But losing my German citizenship is a price I am prepared to pay to stay with my husband. I won't feel any less German, though. It's not like I'm going to forget the language overnight, stop speaking German with my family or stop supporting Germany in the World Cup. |
Re: To become a US citizen or not?
Originally Posted by Twinkle0927
(Post 12505492)
We all have our reasons why we do or don't want to naturalize. Voting and jury service are two of my reasons for doing it next year. The biggest one for me is the guarantee that my husband and I will always be able to be together. I think couples and families with mixed nationalities should definitely strive to share one common nationality so that when the proverbial hits the fan there is at least one place in the world where they can't kick you out. My husband gas a felony and a lifetime ban from the U.K. so it's crucial for us that I can stay here forever (or until a more sensible government in the U.K. revises immigration laws and allows spouse of UKCs with felonies from over 20 years ago to enter the U.K.). In my case I will lose my German citizenship for good. At least we get to keep British citizenship during this process. But losing my German citizenship is a price I am prepared to pay to stay with my husband. I won't feel any less German, though. It's not like I'm going to forget the language overnight, stop speaking German with my family or stop supporting Germany in the World Cup. If you apply to retain your German citizenship before you naturalise then you can hold both. |
Re: To become a US citizen or not?
Some very good replies here. As a Green Card holder, you have no guaranteed right to enter or remain in the US. Only US Citizens have that.
I am a bit concerned about your comment that you have "heard" Green Card holders have to pay tax. They do, and you are a Green Card holder. Have you not been paying tax? |
Re: To become a US citizen or not?
Originally Posted by carcajou
(Post 12505529)
Some very good replies here. As a Green Card holder, you have no guaranteed right to enter or remain in the US. Only US Citizens have that.
I am a bit concerned about your comment that you have "heard" Green Card holders have to pay tax. They do, and you are a Green Card holder. Have you not been paying tax? Quote I have heard that US citizens need to declare (and possibly pay) tax to America, regardless of where they live in the world. I have also heard that Green Card holders need to do this. Unquote |
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