To become a US citizen or not?
May 26th 2018, 3:37 pm
#16
Banned
Joined: Aug 2016
Location: Cascade Mountains, WA
Posts: 1,089
Re: To become a US citizen or not?
A lifetime ban from the UK is pretty difficult to achieve unless you earn the ire of the Home Secretary for political reasons. I’d be interested to know the circumstances if you are willing to share.
If you apply to retain your German citizenship before you naturalise then you can hold both.
If you apply to retain your German citizenship before you naturalise then you can hold both.
He was refused under section 9 paragraph 320(2) and this cannot be overcome unless you can successfully make a CHR case that the denial is a breach of human rights. We did attempt this as we believe we have the human right to live together as a married couple in my country of birth. However, this was thrown out before it was started as we were told this would only be the case if there was anything stopping me from moving here. I was fully eligible for an immigrant visa here so no chance for the U.K. for us. I can assure you if there was any way around it we would have found it.
In order to main German citizenship one must demonstrate substantial ties to Germany. I currently have one on the list - a small workplace pension from the 1990s that I paid into for 3 years. I have no property, no bank account, no direct family members, no investments and cannot spend 6 months of the year there. So, I will not be eligible to maintain citizenship.
May 26th 2018, 7:25 pm
#17
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Location: Lauren's Co. SC by way of Palmetto, Florida
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Re: To become a US citizen or not?
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.
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.
I am of an age where I expect to spend the rest of my days as a US resident, even if I don't there are times when it might be handy having access to an embassy that isn't British (not that I can think of any right now) and if I do then it makes sense to enjoy the same privileges afforded to the natives. I will be no less British in either my eyes or those of the average natural born USC's..
May 27th 2018, 9:03 am
#18
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May 27th 2018, 3:28 pm
#19
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,903
Re: To become a US citizen or not?
How about not bringing politics into a thread where they're not needed or even welcomed?
May 27th 2018, 3:32 pm
#20
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,017
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.
May 27th 2018, 3:39 pm
#22
Concierge
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,383
Re: To become a US citizen or not?
May 27th 2018, 10:09 pm
#23
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,865
Re: To become a US citizen or not?
The way I look at it, if you have a nexus with the US - spouse, children etc - it's preferable to go the citizenship route. Otoh, if you believe that there is a strong possibility that you will leave the US permanently at some point, I wouldn't do it. There are plenty of situations where being a US citizen abroad can cause you to have to pay tax to the US. And thats before considering all the banking problems that US citizens are now running into abroad thanks to FATCA. Of course, you could renounce your citizenship, but that's more tricky - and expensive - than abandoning a green card. I have US citizenship but I am very sure I would renounce if I were ever to move back to the UK permanently.
May 28th 2018, 12:32 am
#24
Joined: Feb 2012
Location: Not in Paris
Posts: 18,192
Re: To become a US citizen or not?
He was refused under section 9 paragraph 320(2) and this cannot be overcome unless you can successfully make a CHR case that the denial is a breach of human rights. We did attempt this as we believe we have the human right to live together as a married couple in my country of birth. However, this was thrown out before it was started as we were told this would only be the case if there was anything stopping me from moving here. I was fully eligible for an immigrant visa here so no chance for the U.K. for us. I can assure you if there was any way around it we would have found it.
So he was sentenced to at least four years imprisonment. The way around it would be renounce your British citizenship and use your EEA freedom of movement rights to enable both of you to move to the UK. The nuclear option, especially given Brexit, but a solution nonetheless. The Surinder Singh route would also work, providing you didn't chose Germany, which would mean not having to give up your British citizenship.
In order to main German citizenship one must demonstrate substantial ties to Germany. I currently have one on the list - a small workplace pension from the 1990s that I paid into for 3 years. I have no property, no bank account, no direct family members, no investments and cannot spend 6 months of the year there. So, I will not be eligible to maintain citizenship.
May 28th 2018, 12:34 am
#25
Joined: Feb 2012
Location: Not in Paris
Posts: 18,192
Re: To become a US citizen or not?
Last edited by BritInParis; May 28th 2018 at 12:37 am.
May 28th 2018, 12:47 am
#26
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,017
Re: To become a US citizen or not?
There are also Provincial income taxes. Likewise...State income taxes in the US. Don’t forget about the accountants’ fees for sorting out the complicated taxes.
May 28th 2018, 1:32 am
#27
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Joined: Sep 2010
Location: Sleepy Hollow, New York
Posts: 2,536
Re: To become a US citizen or not?
Nice way of summarizing why I have already put aside enough monies to submit an N400 at the earliest possible date, 65 days and counting, the hammer analogy should be more than enough incentive for anyone who can't imagine a good enough reason to naturalize...
I am of an age where I expect to spend the rest of my days as a US resident, even if I don't there are times when it might be handy having access to an embassy that isn't British (not that I can think of any right now) and if I do then it makes sense to enjoy the same privileges afforded to the natives. I will be no less British in either my eyes or those of the average natural born USC's..
I am of an age where I expect to spend the rest of my days as a US resident, even if I don't there are times when it might be handy having access to an embassy that isn't British (not that I can think of any right now) and if I do then it makes sense to enjoy the same privileges afforded to the natives. I will be no less British in either my eyes or those of the average natural born USC's..
May 28th 2018, 10:04 am
#28
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Joined: Apr 2011
Location: The Shire
Posts: 1,117
Re: To become a US citizen or not?
I agree with Giantaxe, a US nexus may be a reason to obtain USC but if one has any intention of relocating outside the US in the future, obtaining USC will require thorough consideration.
It's misleading, and downright disingenuous, to suggest anyone relocating outside the US in the future will not have a US tax problem. They may not have a problem, but again, that is not a certainty. The new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has caused unforeseen severe problems for a group of dual USCs living abroad (in this particular video it's Canada):
A further explanation of the above video:
Trump tax reform resulting in massive bills for thousands of Canadian residents CBC News
The effects have also been felt in the UK (See reply #1):
https://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=93372.0
It's misleading, and downright disingenuous, to suggest anyone relocating outside the US in the future will not have a US tax problem. They may not have a problem, but again, that is not a certainty. The new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has caused unforeseen severe problems for a group of dual USCs living abroad (in this particular video it's Canada):
A further explanation of the above video:
Trump tax reform resulting in massive bills for thousands of Canadian residents CBC News
The effects have also been felt in the UK (See reply #1):
https://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=93372.0
Last edited by theOAP; May 28th 2018 at 10:10 am.
May 28th 2018, 1:54 pm
#29
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Joined: Apr 2014
Location: Lauren's Co. SC by way of Palmetto, Florida
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Re: To become a US citizen or not?
Being able to seek US consular assistance abroad rather than British is a definite “pro” to me. The FCO’s uselessness in that regard is well known, and the State Department has a fairly good reputation for at least trying to help distressed Americans abroad. We’re about to visit Tunisia and I am for sure going to enter there on my American passport, not my British.
May 29th 2018, 3:26 pm
#30
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2010
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Posts: 288
Re: To become a US citizen or not?
"Do you identify as Democrat or Republican? If the latter take a LONG hard look in the mirror, stop bashing yourself with that brick and once a normal person, become a citizen and vote with the former. Thanks, America."
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Last edited by Hawkini; May 29th 2018 at 3:30 pm.