US Citizenship: pros and cons?
#1
US Citizenship: pros and cons?
(I assume this conversation has been done many times before, but the search function didn't turn up anything obvious.)
As I understand it I'm about 4 months out from being able to begin the process to establish my US citizenship.
I can see myself being happily employed for another year or so at which point my boss (who is amazing) will retire and then it could be a good time to explore new pastures. I quite fancy getting the US passport locked down, leaving me free to potentially bugger off to which ever country I want for my next career adventure, and then come back to the US in the future at some point. That said, I worked too bloody hard to get the green card to give it all up on a whim.
I only have a British passport currently. Not currently married to a USC (although there is pressure on that to change!)
I'm not too bothered about the hassle of having to continue to file a US tax return - my tax situation is relatively straightforward. My career is going well so I would expect any foreign position to tip above the apparent thresholds for US taxation although I'm not clear on the rules there at the time of writing.
Has anyone on the site decided not to claim their US citizenship, and if not, why not?
As I understand it I'm about 4 months out from being able to begin the process to establish my US citizenship.
I can see myself being happily employed for another year or so at which point my boss (who is amazing) will retire and then it could be a good time to explore new pastures. I quite fancy getting the US passport locked down, leaving me free to potentially bugger off to which ever country I want for my next career adventure, and then come back to the US in the future at some point. That said, I worked too bloody hard to get the green card to give it all up on a whim.
I only have a British passport currently. Not currently married to a USC (although there is pressure on that to change!)
I'm not too bothered about the hassle of having to continue to file a US tax return - my tax situation is relatively straightforward. My career is going well so I would expect any foreign position to tip above the apparent thresholds for US taxation although I'm not clear on the rules there at the time of writing.
Has anyone on the site decided not to claim their US citizenship, and if not, why not?
#2
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 10,006
Re: US Citizenship: pros and cons?
(I assume this conversation has been done many times before, but the search function didn't turn up anything obvious.)
As I understand it I'm about 4 months out from being able to begin the process to establish my US citizenship.
I can see myself being happily employed for another year or so at which point my boss (who is amazing) will retire and then it could be a good time to explore new pastures. I quite fancy getting the US passport locked down, leaving me free to potentially bugger off to which ever country I want for my next career adventure, and then come back to the US in the future at some point. That said, I worked too bloody hard to get the green card to give it all up on a whim.
I only have a British passport currently. Not currently married to a USC (although there is pressure on that to change!)
I'm not too bothered about the hassle of having to continue to file a US tax return - my tax situation is relatively straightforward. My career is going well so I would expect any foreign position to tip above the apparent thresholds for US taxation although I'm not clear on the rules there at the time of writing.
Has anyone on the site decided not to claim their US citizenship, and if not, why not?
As I understand it I'm about 4 months out from being able to begin the process to establish my US citizenship.
I can see myself being happily employed for another year or so at which point my boss (who is amazing) will retire and then it could be a good time to explore new pastures. I quite fancy getting the US passport locked down, leaving me free to potentially bugger off to which ever country I want for my next career adventure, and then come back to the US in the future at some point. That said, I worked too bloody hard to get the green card to give it all up on a whim.
I only have a British passport currently. Not currently married to a USC (although there is pressure on that to change!)
I'm not too bothered about the hassle of having to continue to file a US tax return - my tax situation is relatively straightforward. My career is going well so I would expect any foreign position to tip above the apparent thresholds for US taxation although I'm not clear on the rules there at the time of writing.
Has anyone on the site decided not to claim their US citizenship, and if not, why not?
#3
Return of bouncing girl!
Joined: Sep 2004
Location: The Fourth Reich
Posts: 4,931
Re: US Citizenship: pros and cons?
I have a friend who has lived in the US for almost 20 years and chose not to take citizenship, but I'm not entirely sure why. To my mind, the freedom to know that you could live for years elsewhere without giving up the right to live in the US is worth the minor inconveniences of jury duty and tax returns. Not to mention that I'm not a fan of taxation without representation
#4
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Clarksville, TN
Posts: 392
Re: US Citizenship: pros and cons?
It took me nearly 30 years to "join the club" I arrived in the US in '86, and I became a citizen in 2014. I should have done it sooner.
#5
Re: US Citizenship: pros and cons?
I have a friend who has lived in the US for almost 20 years and chose not to take citizenship, but I'm not entirely sure why. To my mind, the freedom to know that you could live for years elsewhere without giving up the right to live in the US is worth the minor inconveniences of jury duty and tax returns. Not to mention that I'm not a fan of taxation without representation
#7
Return of bouncing girl!
Joined: Sep 2004
Location: The Fourth Reich
Posts: 4,931
Re: US Citizenship: pros and cons?
That's where my head is at too. Just trying to figure out if I'm missing something since I have met a few foreigners over the years who have chosen not to become citizens despite living here for decades. Not all of them British mind you, so their circumstances may be different with regards to dual nationality etc.
#8
Account Closed
Joined: Aug 2002
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 38,865
Re: US Citizenship: pros and cons?
There are several ways to lose your PR status... so remaining a PR is never guaranteed. However, if you naturalize - there's only two reasons why you'd ever lose US citizenship: 1) if you weren't eligible in the first place; and 2) if you commit treason against the US.
Becoming a USC has a couple of advantages: 1) you get to vote, and so can participate in the process rather than remain a bystander; and 2) you can serve on a jury - which, sadly, most people (including many who frequent these forums) see as a burden instead of a privilege... considering there are many countries in the world where people don't have the opportunity to participate in the judicial process.
Ian
Becoming a USC has a couple of advantages: 1) you get to vote, and so can participate in the process rather than remain a bystander; and 2) you can serve on a jury - which, sadly, most people (including many who frequent these forums) see as a burden instead of a privilege... considering there are many countries in the world where people don't have the opportunity to participate in the judicial process.
Ian
#9
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 559
Re: US Citizenship: pros and cons?
I naturalized as soon as I could. Apart from everything else that has been mentioned, if I were ever to come to the attention of law enforcement in the US for any reason, I'd rather do it as a citizen than as an LPR.
#10
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Clarksville, TN
Posts: 392
Re: US Citizenship: pros and cons?
I know this may sound a bit daft now, but I came to the US on a B2 visa, and got married. I stayed and adjusted status to Perm Res. i thought this would be an issue somehow, 30 years on. It wasn't. In fact, when I went for my naturalization interview the officer said to me "what took you so long?" Good question I wish I had done it sooner. I also had this weird thing about not being British anymore, even though dual citizenship was and is, an option for Brits.
#11
Re: US Citizenship: pros and cons?
One could put forward similar arguments for a potential Trump presidency. What if he starts rounding up foreigners? Extreme but who knows.
#12
Re: US Citizenship: pros and cons?
I'm not seeing any significant reasons not to do it so far. Good!
#13
Account Closed
Joined: Aug 2002
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 38,865
Re: US Citizenship: pros and cons?
#14
Re: US Citizenship: pros and cons?
I also waited over 25 years before naturalizing. I had permanent residency that didn't need to be renewed every ten years, and citizenship just wasn't on my radar. Then -- the more things change, the more they stay the same! -- there was a period with a lot of xenophobia in the air, and realizing that my life was well and truly here, I decided it was time to just get on with it. To show you how concerned I was (not!), in those pre-Internet days, my paperwork disappeared into the system and going on a year later I figured I'd better start checking what was going on.
#15
Re: US Citizenship: pros and cons?
Having been a citizen since 2009, I don't think there really are any significant reasons not to.
You have to file a US tax return but personally I was paying tax in the UK, and by becoming a citizen that tax was then paid in the US. If I have to pay tax I prefer to pay it where I live, not where I don't get any benefit. Ian mentioned jury duty - got called twice while a LPR and had to decline their kind invitation. Finally been called as a citizen for duty in two weeks time. Doing an annual tax return and jury duty once or twice every ten years is not a reason to not be a citizen.
Biggest reason to do it, is the peace of mind of knowing a citizen can come and go as they please.
You have to file a US tax return but personally I was paying tax in the UK, and by becoming a citizen that tax was then paid in the US. If I have to pay tax I prefer to pay it where I live, not where I don't get any benefit. Ian mentioned jury duty - got called twice while a LPR and had to decline their kind invitation. Finally been called as a citizen for duty in two weeks time. Doing an annual tax return and jury duty once or twice every ten years is not a reason to not be a citizen.
Biggest reason to do it, is the peace of mind of knowing a citizen can come and go as they please.