Citizenship

[Slightly Bonkers 0]

Anyone not planning on taking citizenship when it comes around?

Why/Why not?

[Jon&Lindsey 0]

I definitely will apply for citizenship. We are not considering going back to the UK permanently, and if I am living here long term I want to feel like I am really part of the country and be able to vote, and possibly take a citizens-only job. We would also like to be able to spend 3+ months per year in Europe (eventually, haven't really planned how it would work yet), so it would be nice not to have to worry about trips out and maintaining the GC, just be able to totally come and go. It would also be great to be done forever with USCIS, but that's not the main reason. However, if I was from a country which did not allow dual citizenship, I would probably just keep the GC.

[milimelo 4,479]

Will do. To get USCIS off my back.

[trinket 30]

I don't want to take citizenship. Reason is very simple, India doesn't allow dual citizenship.

Right now I have 10 year GC, I am not sure whats going to happen with rules in another 10 years, but if in another 10 years time India does change its rule and allows DUAL CITIZENSHIP then I might apply for US citizenship.

Edited February 20, 2009 by trinket

[christera22 8]

My husband is not really happy here and here only because of me . Same as Trinket he is from India and will nto take citizenship here because of 2 reasons:

i)India doesnt allow dual citizenship

ii) If he gives away indian citizenship then when he wants to stay in india he has to buy some card and then based on his stay there he can win back his citizenship. That to him is like donating own house and then buying it back. Buying own by birth citizenship is too humiliating for him.

may be he will take citizenship if India starts dual citizenship.

Edited February 20, 2009 by christera22

[Laura+Tom 2]

I will because the UK allows dual citizenship and I would like to work in government like I do here.

[Dr. Obvious 49]

My husband would like to, but to keep his German citizenship, he has to ask for permission to do so from the German government. Otherwise, German citizenship is automatically lost when taking up another citizenship.

[HighwayStar 0]

I definitely will, and even if I lost my Italian citizenship, I wouldn't care too much. I am not planning to go back there unless something catastrophic happens here - I would not be able to find another job, and I disagree with most of what is going on there anyway. However, Italy allows dual citizenship, so the problem won't arise.

[kaffy 2]

Yes, I want to be able to come and go without any restrictions since being the nomads that we are, it's likely we may live overseas again in the future.

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

I'll apply, because I have USC kids and because I want to be able to vote here. But if I'd loose my other citizenships, I wouldn't. Part of me still hopes to go home (Ireland) some day.

[Lansbury 19]

Yes I am considering not taking citizenship.

I receive a UK government service pension which because of the Tax Convention between UK/US doesn't have to be declared on a US tax return. As it is not on the F1040 it doesn't get State income tax taken from it either.

If I take US citizenship it then has to be declared on the IRS tax return and tax paid in the UK offset against US tax. However once it is done that way it also then becomes shown for State income tax. So as well as paying State income tax I could end up having to pay some Federal tax in the US. In all it might cost me several hundred dollars a month in extra tax to take citizenship.

When the accountant has finished this years tax return we are going to run the figures again as if I was a citizen and see what the difference is.

[Laura+Tom 2]

Yes I am considering not taking citizenship.

I receive a UK government service pension which because of the Tax Convention between UK/US doesn't have to be declared on a US tax return. As it is not on the F1040 it doesn't get State income tax taken from it either.

If I take US citizenship it then has to be declared on the IRS tax return and tax paid in the UK offset against US tax. However once it is done that way it also then becomes shown for State income tax. So as well as paying State income tax I could end up having to pay some Federal tax in the US. In all it might cost me several hundred dollars a month in extra tax to take citizenship.

When the accountant has finished this years tax return we are going to run the figures again as if I was a citizen and see what the difference is.

I never knew that. I have a government civil service pension.

[Lili 3]

Yes, as in about five years, hubby and I will be moving to France. I want to be able to come freely with him to visit his family, that and be done with USCIS.

[bora bora 1]

My husband said maybe, though I don't think he wants to bother with the test. hahaha

My best friend who is a naturalized citizen, and studying immigration law, said that he must - but in the end it's up to him (and me). I'd like him to have it because it's easier to travel back and forth to Brazil and I want to go back to live.

We'll see.

Does anyone know, can you apply for citizenship abroad? I believe so.

Edited February 21, 2009 by bora bora

[Lansbury 19]

Yes I am considering not taking citizenship.

I receive a UK government service pension which because of the Tax Convention between UK/US doesn't have to be declared on a US tax return. As it is not on the F1040 it doesn't get State income tax taken from it either.

If I take US citizenship it then has to be declared on the IRS tax return and tax paid in the UK offset against US tax. However once it is done that way it also then becomes shown for State income tax. So as well as paying State income tax I could end up having to pay some Federal tax in the US. In all it might cost me several hundred dollars a month in extra tax to take citizenship.

When the accountant has finished this years tax return we are going to run the figures again as if I was a citizen and see what the difference is.

I never knew that. I have a government civil service pension.

We were surprised when our accountant did it that way and questioned it, and sure enough he is right.