People dropping US Citizenship

[NERVUN]

As someone who despises the US, I'd give up my citizenship, were I able to leave the country. But it really isn't that easy, only the rich can afford to do so.

I'm not rich... Wish I was, but I'm not and I left the US.

Of course, I haven't given up my citizenship because I don't want to, but I have immigrated.

[Central congo]

i think its both

[NERVUN]

You are aware that marriage to a US citizen doesn't actually GIVE you an insta-ticket, right?

You mean your wife won't be voting for the POTUS come November?

Naw, but it's possible she might be voting for the Diet in September, if Noda actually does dissolve the damn thing.

Seriously though, while being married to an American takes you out of the lottery system, you still have to 1. have your spouse pay for the privilege of sponsoring you. 2. Pay for the immigrant visa. 3. Pass the background check and interview at a US Embassy or consulate general. Any time during which Homeland Security can reject your application.

[Aleckandor]

I'm fine if they dropped it for economic reasons. But I find it appalling that they'd leave just because they hate this nation of ours (I wouldn't stoop to call them 'traitors', though; they're more like 'defectors' or 'lost ones').

[Nightkill the Emperor]

I don't have it to begin with.

[The Black Forrest]

*shrugs*

Let them.

As long as they leave and are treated as foreign from that point on......

[Trollgaard]

If they're staying in the US: Probably economic reasons.
If they're leaving the US: Probably just cutting ties with a country they dislike.

If I were a US citizen, I'd instantly give up my US citizenship once I left the country for Canada. No reason to hold on to a citizenship you don't need.

Except it being your homeland and all that jazz. But hey, if people want to leave that's fine. Perhaps the best choice for those dropping citizenship. As I recall its a very small number of people that drop US citizenship every year, which is more than made up for by hard working immigrants from all around the world.

[The Black Forrest]

If they're staying in the US: Probably economic reasons.
If they're leaving the US: Probably just cutting ties with a country they dislike.

If I were a US citizen, I'd instantly give up my US citizenship once I left the country for Canada. No reason to hold on to a citizenship you don't need.

Except it being your homeland and all that jazz. But hey, if people want to leave that's fine. Perhaps the best choice for those dropping citizenship. As I recall its a very small number of people that drop US citizenship every year, which is more than made up for by hard working immigrants from all around the world.

Indeed. 200 people out of 300 million?

[North California]

People want to get out of country. Considering the IRS has a history of harassing people, I wouldn't be surprised.

[The Black Forrest]

People want to get out of country. Considering the IRS has a history of harassing people, I wouldn't be surprised.

Actually the IRS is not a vicious as they once were.

Heard a few financial hardship stories and they said the IRS was actually easier to work with then the credit card companies.......

[Farnhamia]

People want to get out of country. Considering the IRS has a history of harassing people, I wouldn't be surprised.

Actually the IRS is not a vicious as they once were.

Heard a few financial hardship stories and they said the IRS was actually easier to work with then the credit card companies.......

That goes back to Poppy Bush, doesn't it? A kinder, gentler IRS?

[The Black Forrest]

Actually the IRS is not a vicious as they once were.

Heard a few financial hardship stories and they said the IRS was actually easier to work with then the credit card companies.......

That goes back to Poppy Bush, doesn't it? A kinder, gentler IRS?

I believe so. Times where hard and getting aggressive on people out of work doesn't accomplish much.

Todays, repubs probably want that changed after all; all the money is really in the middle class

[Indig0]

maybe people drop their US citizenship as a way of showing that they disapprove of the way the government runs things.

[No Water No Moon]

Most likely reason is to avoid taxes, the same reason so many wealthy Americans have their fortunes offshore, etc. If the person has a lot of money, this is almost certainly the reason they are doing it, no matter what other excuse they give.

There are possibly a few who are - for example - going to live in the Middle East, where being a US citizen might be a handicap... but then, just being 'American' (with or without citizenship) would probably mark them as a target, so it seems like an unconvincing reason.

It's very unlikely that any of the other reasons people are throwing around are realistic for almost anyone. It's not because 'America is going to collapse' and it's not because 'America has a horrible human rights record'.

Given that the UK didn't recognize dual citizenship for quite some time, this is a rather silly statement coming from you.

I fail to see how that even vaguely connects. Regardless of where I'm from, regardless of whether the UK has historically recognized dual-citizenship - the most likely reason for Americans (especially wealthy) Americans to renounce citizenship is likely to be financial. That's an artifact of the way America taxes resident and non-resident citizens - nothing to do with any other country and it's own citizenship rules.

[Lastraut]

I'm fine if they dropped it for economic reasons. But I find it appalling that they'd leave just because they hate this nation of ours (I wouldn't stoop to call them 'traitors', though; they're more like 'defectors' or 'lost ones').

Suppose you can't please everyone.

[Nazi Flower Power]

I mean without a citizenship, you can be tossed in Guantanamo Bay and be tortured and killed with no trial or anything of the sorts. You have no right to free-speech or any of the rights guaranteed to you as a US Citizen.

Those rights depend on where you are, not what citizenship you have. It's unconstitutional for people in the US to be killed or tortured without a trial, no matter what citizenship they have; and there are many other countries that also offer freedom of speech and the right to a trial.

[Farnhamia]

maybe people drop their US citizenship as a way of showing that they disapprove of the way the government runs things.

Which they're entitled to do. And you know what? If they run into trouble here in the future, they still get the same protections the Constitution affords citizens.

[New Rogernomics]

maybe people drop their US citizenship as a way of showing that they disapprove of the way the government runs things.

Which they're entitled to do. And you know what? If they run into trouble here in the future, they still get the same protections the Constitution affords citizens.

I want moar citizenships, planning to get Australian citizenship one day; then top it off with one from some random European nation that I haven't decided on yet.

[Farnhamia]

Which they're entitled to do. And you know what? If they run into trouble here in the future, they still get the same protections the Constitution affords citizens.

I want moar citizenships, planning to get Australian citizenship one day; then top it off with one from some random European nation that I haven't decided on yet.

Citizenships! Collect 'em all!

[NERVUN]

Given that the UK didn't recognize dual citizenship for quite some time, this is a rather silly statement coming from you.

I fail to see how that even vaguely connects. Regardless of where I'm from, regardless of whether the UK has historically recognized dual-citizenship - the most likely reason for Americans (especially wealthy) Americans to renounce citizenship is likely to be financial. That's an artifact of the way America taxes resident and non-resident citizens - nothing to do with any other country and it's own citizenship rules.

Really? Let's go down the path then, the UK did not recognize dual citizenship for quite some time, so you, who has immigrated to the US, decides to naturalize for oh... whatever reason (You know, family, jobs, wanting a voice and vote in the country you reside in so you're not just paying taxes), would have needed to drop British citizenship a few decades ago... But of course, such reasoning is "very unlikely" and not "realistic for almost anyone". And of course all American ex-pats are wealthy SOBs too.

Edit: So, yeah, it's not 'likely' that a person might get a job with a foreign government of such stature that they would be required to take that nation's citizenship and drop the other. It's not likely that they may feel closer ties with a new nation and wish to take citizenship (Which is just funny given that's what Americans expect immigrants into the US to DO) in order to vote, hold office, or what not, it's not likely that a person might have been American at birth due to an American parent, but having spent all their lives in another country have no wish to maintain US citizenship with some of the other strings that come attached to it (Like having to register for selective service), nope. Such things are not realistic, it's all about taxes.

[New Rogernomics]

I want moar citizenships, planning to get Australian citizenship one day; then top it off with one from some random European nation that I haven't decided on yet.

Citizenships! Collect 'em all!

Two down, several hundred more to go.

[NERVUN]

Oh, and for those who think that those rich folk are wandering off scott free, may I direct you to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expatriati ... ted_States

[Socialist Confederation of America (Ancient)]

I know that feel bros.

The moment I can afford to, I'm out of here, probably to Canada.

[Luziyca]

I fail to see how that even vaguely connects. Regardless of where I'm from, regardless of whether the UK has historically recognized dual-citizenship - the most likely reason for Americans (especially wealthy) Americans to renounce citizenship is likely to be financial. That's an artifact of the way America taxes resident and non-resident citizens - nothing to do with any other country and it's own citizenship rules.

Really? Let's go down the path then, the UK did not recognize dual citizenship for quite some time, so you, who has immigrated to the US, decides to naturalize for oh... whatever reason (You know, family, jobs, wanting a voice and vote in the country you reside in so you're not just paying taxes), would have needed to drop British citizenship a few decades ago... But of course, such reasoning is "very unlikely" and not "realistic for almost anyone". And of course all American ex-pats are wealthy SOBs too.

Edit: So, yeah, it's not 'likely' that a person might get a job with a foreign government of such stature that they would be required to take that nation's citizenship and drop the other. It's not likely that they may feel closer ties with a new nation and wish to take citizenship (Which is just funny given that's what Americans expect immigrants into the US to DO) in order to vote, hold office, or what not, it's not likely that a person might have been American at birth due to an American parent, but having spent all their lives in another country have no wish to maintain US citizenship with some of the other strings that come attached to it (Like having to register for selective service), nope. Such things are not realistic, it's all about taxes.

Well? When my father was born in Norwich, his parents were born in Canada, so therefore, my father has dual British-Canadian citizenship. As such, because of that policy, my father could in theory be eligible for both British and/or Canadian passports. So, if we move overseas, we are more likely to move to the UK, than naught. Oh, and he was born in 1970. Whether policies are different for residents of commonwealth countries, I do not know.

[Nazi Flower Power]

As someone who despises the US, I'd give up my citizenship, were I able to leave the country. But it really isn't that easy, only the rich can afford to do so.

It's only hard to leave the country if you are trying to move to another developed country.

Getting resident status in China is quite easy if you are willing to put up with Chinese school administrators and live in a minor city. I never looked into getting citizenship, so I don't know how difficult that is. I imagine it's not that easy, but you can avoid US taxes just by having legal residence.