Maybe retireing in the Philippines, I have some questions

[the good knight 2]

Here's a question for the board please, having casual conversations with family and friends over the holidays I mentioned maybe my wife (who is filipina)and I may retire in the Philippines, (I'm way to young to retire right now) and I was surprised to hear it's not that easy, some say I would have to come back to the United States every 6 months to keep my U.S. Citizenship, some said no I wouldn't, some said I could get dual citizenship, there we're 10 filipina's at the party and I got ten different answers. Does anybody know the true LEGAL answer on how I could keep my U.S. citizenship and legally live in the Philippines, without major expenses like flying somewhere out of country every 6 months that could get expensive. Hope I explained myself well.

Thanks for your help...

[Scott and Mhay 57]

It is pretty hard to lose your citizenship from what I have read. Of course I only did a short search online. I am sure people have better websites to reference it, but here is one:

http://www.ehow.com/how_5663456_lose-citizenship-u_s_.html

From what I have read you have to denounce your US citizenship to lose it. Unless you get a permenant resident (ACR)in the PI, I believe you would have to leave every 16 months anyway.

I know you wanted the no kidding legal answer, but this should get the discussion started.

[Jon and Krissy 452]

Here's a question for the board please, having casual conversations with family and friends over the holidays I mentioned maybe my wife (who is filipina)and I may retire in the Philippines, (I'm way to young to retire right now) and I was surprised to hear it's not that easy, some say I would have to come back to the United States every 6 months to keep my U.S. Citizenship, some said no I wouldn't, some said I could get dual citizenship, there we're 10 filipina's at the party and I got ten different answers. Does anybody know the true LEGAL answer on how I could keep my U.S. citizenship and legally live in the Philippines, without major expenses like flying somewhere out of country every 6 months that could get expensive. Hope I explained myself well.

Thanks for your help...

You CANNOT lose your U.S. citizenship no matter how long you stay outside the U.S.! If you are a legal permanent resident, i.e., greencard holder and thus NOT a citizen, if you are absent for longer than six months, questions may arise as to whether you have abandoned your U.S. residency. This does not in any way, shape, or form apply to U.S. Citizens, born or naturalized.

Disclaimer: This is not legal advice, but my personal opinion. While I am a law school graduate, I am not a licensed attorney and thus not qualified to give legal advice.

[YodaPagoda 0]

You CANNOT lose your U.S. citizenship no matter how long you stay outside the U.S.! If you are a legal permanent resident, i.e., greencard holder and thus NOT a citizen, if you are absent for longer than six months, questions may arise as to whether you have abandoned your U.S. residency. This does not in any way, shape, or form apply to U.S. Citizens, born or naturalized.

Disclaimer: This is not legal advice, but my personal opinion. While I am a law school graduate, I am not a licensed attorney and thus not qualified to give legal advice.

This is absolutely true...I've resided outside the US for 3 out of the past 4 years, and so far as I know, as long as you renew your passport every 10 years you'll be OK.

To the OP, the requirements aren't all that strict, but keep in mind, to have the 'retiree' status you would need to have about $50-70K in an account, and that's probably to ensure you buy a house to live in. There is a great website from the Philippine Bureau of Immigration, I'd recommend looking at it!

[jimmynug 13]

Looks like you already got your answer on the U S citizenship question. As for leaving, I believe that it is once a year that you have to leave the Philippines for one day. Doesn't matter where you go. Can be by boat or plane. Just get the cheapest ticket anywhere out of the Philippines. The rest of the time, just keep getting visa extensions. For more info, you will probably get the best advice from some of the expat forums of u s citizens actually living there. It is not that hard at all.

[Scott and Mhay 57]

check this site out:

http://www.us-expatriate-handbook.com/chpt6.htm

US CITIZENSHIP AND RESIDENCE ABROAD

US citizens who take up residence abroad, or who are contemplating doing

so, frequently ask whether this will have any effect on their

citizenship. Residence abroad, in and of itself, has no effect on US

citizenship. However, a person who becomes a US citizen through

naturalization and then takes up a permanent residence abroad within one

year thereafter is subject to possible revocation of naturalization on

the grounds that he did not intend to reside permanently in the United

States when the petition for naturalization was filed. Each particular

case is judged on its own merits. Clearly, some persons may have

intended to reside in the United States but due to unexpected

circumstances had to take up residence abroad. Revocation of

naturalization is the responsibility of the court where the

naturalization occurred. The initial steps leading to revocation are

taken by the Departments of State and Justice. Contact the nearest US

embassy or consulate if you have any questions about citizenship.

ACQUISITION AND LOSS OF CITIZENSHIP

US citizenship may be acquired by birth in the United States or by birth

abroad to a parent or parents who are US citizens. However, there are

certain residency or physical presence requirements that US citizens may

need to fulfill before the child's birth in order to transmit

citizenship to their child born abroad. A child born abroad in wedlock

to one citizen parent and one alien parent acquires US citizenship only

if the citizen parent was physically present in the United States for

five years prior to the child's birth, at least two years of which were

after the age of 14. Living abroad in military service or US Government

employment, or as an unmarried dependent in the household of someone so

employed, can be considered as presence in the United States. A child

born out of wedlock to a US citizen mother acquires citizenship if the

mother was physically present in the United States for one year. A

child born out of wedlock to a US citizen father must establish a legal

relationship to the father before age 18 or be legitimated before

reaching age 21, depending on the date of birth, if he is to acquire US

citizenship through the father. For further information on these legal

requirements, consult the nearest foreign service post.

Loss of citizenship can occur only as the result of a citizen's

voluntarily performing an act of expatriation as set forth in the

Immigration and Nationality Act with the intent to relinquish

citizenship. These include naturalization in a foreign state and taking

an oath or making an affirmation of allegiance to a foreign state.

[vonxeric 0]

Here's a question for the board please, having casual conversations with family and friends over the holidays I mentioned maybe my wife (who is filipina)and I may retire in the Philippines, (I'm way to young to retire right now) and I was surprised to hear it's not that easy, some say I would have to come back to the United States every 6 months to keep my U.S. Citizenship, some said no I wouldn't, some said I could get dual citizenship, there we're 10 filipina's at the party and I got ten different answers. Does anybody know the true LEGAL answer on how I could keep my U.S. citizenship and legally live in the Philippines, without major expenses like flying somewhere out of country every 6 months that could get expensive. Hope I explained myself well.

Thanks for your help...

Here is a link to the Philippine Consulate in S.F. that has info on different types of immigrant visas to the Philippines.

http://www.philippinessanfrancisco.org/

[TripleG 3]

If you enter the country with your wife, then you can get a Balikbayan stamp in your passport. That stamp gets you 1 year hassle free. You can keep doing this over and over as far as I know. (NOT CERTAIN) Fly to Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and then return, the downside is your wife would have to be with you upon entering each time and that could get expensive. Just a thought.

Wyatt

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

I would have never thought that people would discuss on this board whether or not Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny are real, but even stipulating that a US citizen would lose their citizenship if he or she did not return to the US every 6 months is exactly that: completely insane, ridiculous . . . so far out there as Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi.

[B_J 2,752]

I am in no way an expert on this. But I think you want the Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV) I've seen the deposit listed as 10K USD and also as 20K USD. But either way, it's still pretty easy.

You want to look at the Philippine Retirement Authority.

link

[Filipinawife0210 15]

IMHO, the easiest way is to use the Balibayan Status as stated above. Take a 2 day trip to Malaysia once a year, and be done with it. Not that expensive at all. You can find flights thru China Airlines for 3200PhP or so r/t per person.

[Beth & Chard 8]

Here's a question for the board please, having casual conversations with family and friends over the holidays I mentioned maybe my wife (who is filipina)and I may retire in the Philippines, (I'm way to young to retire right now) and I was surprised to hear it's not that easy, some say I would have to come back to the United States every 6 months to keep my U.S. Citizenship, some said no I wouldn't, some said I could get dual citizenship, there we're 10 filipina's at the party and I got ten different answers. Does anybody know the true LEGAL answer on how I could keep my U.S. citizenship and legally live in the Philippines, without major expenses like flying somewhere out of country every 6 months that could get expensive. Hope I explained myself well.

Thanks for your help...

You can not lose your US citizenship no matter what, You can not denounce your US citizenship, the reason, you will always be obligated to pay US taxes (depending on earnings of course) and you will always be obligated to military service.Just try to get rid of your citizenship and those government obligations, you can not. LOL

[Scott and Mhay 57]

you can formally denounce your citizenship, but then you would need a visa to come the US. I agree your best bet would be to take a short trip every year.

[Beth & Chard 8]

you can formally denounce your citizenship, but then you would need a visa to come the US. I agree your best bet would be to take a short trip every year.

Well, let me know when you do. I would like to see the letter from the US Government saying your citizenship is revoked.

Renunciation of natural born citizenship is a myth.

Read this:

http://travel.state.gov/law/citizenship/citizenship_776.html

[Beth & Chard 8]

Here's a question for the board please, having casual conversations with family and friends over the holidays I mentioned maybe my wife (who is filipina)and I may retire in the Philippines, (I'm way to young to retire right now) and I was surprised to hear it's not that easy, some say I would have to come back to the United States every 6 months to keep my U.S. Citizenship, some said no I wouldn't, some said I could get dual citizenship, there we're 10 filipina's at the party and I got ten different answers. Does anybody know the true LEGAL answer on how I could keep my U.S. citizenship and legally live in the Philippines, without major expenses like flying somewhere out of country every 6 months that could get expensive. Hope I explained myself well.

Thanks for your help...

I've been living the Phils for a little over 3 years on extended tourist visa's. That's what many expat's do here.

The Phils Gov't did extend the period of time you can extend for without having to leave from 1 year to now 16 -18 months (Not sure exactly)

Since i usually go back to the states once a year anyway.

I've never been under the impression that my status as a US citizen was ever in jeopardy.