Citizenship

[Badgerella 5]

Croatia allows dual citizenship, so I don't see a reason why I wouldn't take it.

One of the main reasons is the ability to get into and leave the US as I please.

[Marilyn. 340]

I have been eligible to apply for citizenship for awhile now but I haven't done it yet... one of the main reasons is because of the cost but I am also in no rush to become a citizen.. I will most likely apply for citizenship sometime in the future..

[Reba 2]

I do not plan to apply for citizenship. Mainly because of the oath, if I said it, it would be a lie, and I would prefer not to have to choke it out.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I do not plan to apply for citizenship. Mainly because of the oath, if I said it, it would be a lie, and I would prefer not to have to choke it out.

So...

Just keep renewing your Canuck passport, use it for travel to Canada (or if you feel inclination to go to Iran or Cuba) and US passport to re-enter US; a time-honoured system.

[M.O 6]

I will apply for citizenship later...not after 3 years(like we suppose to) but maybe 5 or more...i will have plenty of time to decide while being on the 10 years GC when the time comes.

The main reason is that i will be "forced" (not for real)to apply is to be able to travel without any problems home and not to worry everytime or just for stopping the hassle of renewing my GC over and over...

I like being my home Country's citizen,and i wouldnt mind being an US citizen either.

[Reba 2]

Just keep renewing your Canuck passport, use it for travel to Canada (or if you feel inclination to go to Iran or Cuba) and US passport to re-enter US; a time-honoured system.

Seriously, I won't say the oath if I don't believe it

[Eli the Barrowboy 16]

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

You can correct me on this, but I'm led to believe that if you work for your dual citizen country's Government (UK in your case) then you loose your US Citizenship as a result. And that may also work the other way too.

[Peikko 1,575]

The only way you can lose our UK citizenship is if you make a declaration in front of some embassy official or the like. The US can demand you swear allegiance to them, and only them, but that still doesn't mean your UK citizenship is void. Well, that's my understanding.

I am going to apply, not long now

[Eli the Barrowboy 16]

You'd know I was bored today ... I guess Potentially and Intention are the keywords here ...

POTENTIALLY EXPATRIATING ACTS

Section 349 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1481), as amended, states that U.S. citizens are subject to loss of citizenship if they perform certain specified acts voluntarily and with the intention to relinquish U.S. citizenship. Briefly stated, these acts include:

4. accepting employment with a foreign government if (a) one has the nationality of that foreign state or (B) an oath or declaration of allegiance is required in accepting the position (Sec. 349 (a) (4) INA);

And Yes, I'll be going for Citizenship when the times comes ... still have an AOS interview to get through on St Patrick's Day though.

R

[morktuum 0]

i'll have to apply for my citizenship. for the career i'm turning to wich is police. in the meanwhile, i'm about to sign in the army

[Chocolot 0]

You are right, from what I have been told you cannot lose your British or USA Citizenship unless you have "intention". Each country works on the assumption that you are a citizen of the country you have a passport for. This is why countries expect you to enter and leave the country with the passport of THAT country if you are a citizen. I imagine certain Government jobs would require security clearance and this may make a difference but under normal circumstances you have to make an oath in front of an official of the Govt to formally renounce a citizenship, it doesnt happen accidentally. Of course not all countries are willing to "turn a blind eye" and some dont allow dual under any circumstances.

You'd know I was bored today ... I guess Potentially and Intention are the keywords here ...

POTENTIALLY EXPATRIATING ACTS

Section 349 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1481), as amended, states that U.S. citizens are subject to loss of citizenship if they perform certain specified acts voluntarily and with the intention to relinquish U.S. citizenship. Briefly stated, these acts include:

4. accepting employment with a foreign government if (a) one has the nationality of that foreign state or ( B) an oath or declaration of allegiance is required in accepting the position (Sec. 349 (a) (4) INA);

And Yes, I'll be going for Citizenship when the times comes ... still have an AOS interview to get through on St Patrick's Day though.

R

[Lansbury 19]

You'd know I was bored today ... I guess Potentially and Intention are the keywords here ...

POTENTIALLY EXPATRIATING ACTS

Section 349 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1481), as amended, states that U.S. citizens are subject to loss of citizenship if they perform certain specified acts voluntarily and with the intention to relinquish U.S. citizenship. Briefly stated, these acts include:

4. accepting employment with a foreign government if (a) one has the nationality of that foreign state or (B) an oath or declaration of allegiance is required in accepting the position (Sec. 349 (a) (4) INA);

And Yes, I'll be going for Citizenship when the times comes ... still have an AOS interview to get through on St Patrick's Day though.

R

with the intention to relinquish U.S. citizenship are the important words.

No problem with working as above if you do not intend to relinquish your US citizenship.

[*julez* 124]

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 know this is straying off topic, but since you mentioned taxes Lansbury, does this mean that my UK husband's private pension must be declared here? We having been trying to figure this out, but are coming to terms with the idea that we're going to have to go to a proper tax accountant.

Back to topic: Yes, he is planning on naturalizing because he wants to vote. Plus, since he doesn't have to give up his Britsh citizenship, its not a bad thing for him.

[Lansbury 19]

I know this is straying off topic, but since you mentioned taxes Lansbury, does this mean that my UK husband's private pension must be declared here? We having been trying to figure this out, but are coming to terms with the idea that we're going to have to go to a proper tax accountant.

Yes it does, only salaries or pensions you receive from working for the UK government do not, as long as he isn't a US citizen as well.

He should declare it on the tax form but he can claim a credit against tax he pays in the UK. To claim a foreign tax credit I think you need to file form 1116 with your return. You can see a copy online and I found that form a nightmare to fill out.

This year I did work ours out on a copy of Turbo Tax which I was given with a view to seeing if paying an accountant was really worthwhile. We had our normal accountant do the proper return for us and he made our taxes $1196 less then Turbo Tax worked them out to be. Worth the $245 he charged to do them. If you haven't done a tax return since your husband got here and you have a foreign income of some sort to me it is well worth getting a CPA to do at least the first one so you can see what is involved, especially with the form 1116.

[*julez* 124]

I know this is straying off topic, but since you mentioned taxes Lansbury, does this mean that my UK husband's private pension must be declared here? We having been trying to figure this out, but are coming to terms with the idea that we're going to have to go to a proper tax accountant.

Yes it does, only salaries or pensions you receive from working for the UK government do not, as long as he isn't a US citizen as well.

He should declare it on the tax form but he can claim a credit against tax he pays in the UK. To claim a foreign tax credit I think you need to file form 1116 with your return. You can see a copy online and I found that form a nightmare to fill out.

This year I did work ours out on a copy of Turbo Tax which I was given with a view to seeing if paying an accountant was really worthwhile. We had our normal accountant do the proper return for us and he made our taxes $1196 less then Turbo Tax worked them out to be. Worth the $245 he charged to do them. If you haven't done a tax return since your husband got here and you have a foreign income of some sort to me it is well worth getting a CPA to do at least the first one so you can see what is involved, especially with the form 1116.

Sorry for the long delay in thanking you for this info Lansbury. We're seeing the tax accountant on Thursday since I couldn't figure out how to claim this on Turbo Tax. The Form 1116 was a nightmare. plus we couldn't determine where to declare the income. I was tearing my hair out.

My husband seems to think that he has to have the income taxed here rather than in the UK.

I don't feel like guessing anymore, so we'll shell out the money and see what happens.