Maybe retireing in the Philippines, I have some questions

[Atencio 43]

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

I am not seeing where your link contradicts what Scott and Mhay said in the quote you added

Edited January 11, 2011 by Atencio

[Scott and Mhay 57]

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

It says you can fully renounce your citizenship, but who would be dumb enough to? Not me...yeah you have to pay taxes, but the only thing I feel that they can try and collect on is anything your receive a w-2 for. besides, they dont care if you dont owe money to the government. I'm not saying that they wont come after you for taxes, because they still might. Basically it says that you cant renounce the citizenship just to not pay taxes and still claim travel benefits of being a US citizen.

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.

Yes i read it was 16 months. I think when I decide to retire and we decide to the PI, I will just do the trip every year or so and be good to go. Travel to other countries in the area is pretty cheap anyway. You cant lose your citizenship just because you live outside the US for extended periods of time. the people that would be in jeopardy would be the newly naturalized individuals...not citizenship by birth.

[Beth & Chard 8]

I am not seeing where your link contradicts what Scott and Mhay said in the quote you added

Atencio, you are exactly correct, in process and procedure it does not contradict the option to renounce citizenship. But if you read it completely you will see that it clearly states that if a person were to renounce citizenship they can not renounce the two major obligations of citizenship. Those being the obligation to do military service if called upon to do so and the obligation to pay taxes to the US Government. So unless a person has dual citizenship, unlikely for a natural born US citizen and difficult to get, meaning it takes years, the person would be otherwise without a country. The courts will always rule against this, because they do not allow a person to be without a country, meaning a person must be a citizen of some country.

In the case sighted on that link, the individual was from Puerto Rico, a commonwealth of the United States. Puerto Rico is not a country. Therefore the individual would be without a country and would not have a passport to travel. By renouncing his US citizenship, he would be without a passport and without the legal means to travel any where. And no matter what he would stl have to pay taxes, so what is the point to doing so.

If I were to choose to live in the Philippines as I am now, on tourist Visa extensions and choose to renounce my US citizenship, without having citizenship in the Philippines, which incase you have not researched it is not that easy to do, unless you are retired and then you need a pretty big chunk of cash, My tourist visa would be revoked as I am no longer a US citizen and without a visa would not be allowed to stay in the Philippines and without a passport I could not travel any where else.

So while yes there is a legal description and process in place in reality it is not allowed and impossible to do.

Edited January 11, 2011 by Beth & Chard

[Scott and Mhay 57]

I can see where the US says you cant get out of military obligation...if that was the case, many would have renounced their citizenship during drafts. the paying taxes thing, I dont understand how they could enforce that if you never went back the the US (besides it says MAY enforce...I wouldnt want to find out though). I think the tax thing was stated due to some people owing a lot of taxes...so it wouldnt cancel the debt by renouncing your citizenship. Dont know if that was the true intent as I havent researched it and have no intention of ever do that.

But the OP wasnt wondering about renouncing their citizenship, just if he could lose it because of lack of residency in the US. The talk he was hearing about was from information based on newly naturalized immigrants. you gave good info though none the less.

[rlogan 2,036]

Someone has mentioned it is automatically a year when you come in with your spouse, but you can also get extensions by going to an immigration office. Not sure how far you can stretch it out.

If you aren't keen on investing there, you can do it that way. You'll fly out of the country now and then to start the clock over. Bring the money over when you want to lay permanent roots.

[agni2011 0]

This response deals only with the aspect of your questions that deals with having to travel outside the Philippines regularly or not. I have lived in the Philippines for almost 3 years now. I came here on a visitors visa and was required to renew/extend it every 2 months at the BI...for a small fee of about $100. I was only allowed to extend up to two years at which time I was faced with a decision...fly out of the country and return...or apply for a residence visa. I chose the residence visa. Since I am married to a Filipina, I was able to apply for a change of status..from visitors visa to residence status. After receiving your residence status, you are under a one year probationary period. After the one year is up, you have to reapply for residency again. After the approval, you can live here without EVER having to leave the country and return. The only requirement is that you have to renew your residency every 5 years. Hope this helps.

[jrmejia 31]

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.

[Richard90027 1]

Here is a great forum to get all your answers directly from the Expats that live there.

http://www.livingincebuforums.com