How long can i leave the country for?

[freetv 7]

So it is two years... always learn something new. What Brother Hesekiel said makes sense, if you aren't ready to fully commit it is better to not do it at all. Good luck

[cca 13]

Seriously? You're saying that unless I want to commit MURDER for the US then I'm not ready to be a USC? It's totally not about that. I am willing to commit to life here, following the laws of the land etc etc... THAT is what it's about... not murder :S

Well I do get what he is saying. Upon oath you are commiting to the country and, in the USA's eyes, becoming just a us citizen as they dont recognize dual citizenship. You are right in the fact that by becoming a citizen you are wanting to abide and live by the laws of the land but you also have to think about the fact that they might go to war. It is a very small chance, if at all, that they go to war with your home country. The US would expect you to pick them. Who would you choose. Or what if the usa went to war with a country but your home country didnt approve of this war at all, who would you side with?

Again, I know that these situations are very unlikely to occur but they CAN happen. Becoming a citizen and swearing an oath to the country is pledging alligance. You have to be prepared that it may happened. This is why I dont take citizenship very lightly at all and my loyalties lie with my home country, which they should as I am a citizen.

Hopefully for you it will just be a matter of abiding by the 'laws of the land' but I hope thats not all you think about when you swear on oath for citizenship.

BUT lets not get side tracked. I was merely asking about re-entry. There is many reasons and circumstances behind somebody (and that doesnt mean bad things) but things that cant be communicated over a forum. Its not black and white and so people shouldnt judge as to why or why not somebody is doing something.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I just think its a huge huge step and one that cant be taken lightly. Once done, you can't take it back or change it so its a huge commitment and you need to be sure of it, Just like on any huge commitment (marriage/kids etc) Because of this, I need to make sure I do it for the right reasons and not because it might be easier travelling back and forth countries. That isnt what its about. If thats all the reasons for somebody choosing citizenship then thats wrong. Im a very stong believer in 'itll work out' and so if I choose not to become a citizen, as long as I take the right precautions and Im careful and work hard at getting something achieved, I know itll be OK. Thats why I was enquiring about the 're-entry permit' because I wanted to make sure. I want to establish all my options.

I dont have kids so I dont have to think about that.

We are both teachers and are thinking of buying a condo and when we leave, renting it out. That way we will have an asset and therefore a 'tie' to America. This isnt to satisy immigration because this will prove to be beneifical to us as well but it helps!

I totally get what you're saying. However I just wanted to mention it IS possible to give up USC. I understand that's not what you're saying but just in case you didn't know (or anyone else reading didn't), it's possible.

[Boiler 45,511]

So assuming you go for the re entry permit, what will you be doing to maintain residency?

[aaron2020 11,651]

So assuming you go for the re entry permit, what will you be doing to maintain residency?

File US tax returns. That's goes pretty far in showing that she did not intend to abandon her green card status. It's the "I wouldn't have file US tax returns if I did not intend to return. Why the heck would I file if I intend to abandon my green card status? It's not likely that a person who intends to leave the US permanently would continue to file US tax returns."

If a person does not have family or real estate in the US, there is not much else to leave behind when he/she temporarily leaves the US to prove ties to the US.

[Boiler 45,511]

If only it was that easy.

[Mike B. 231]

Just for the record, there is no obligation that you be ready, willing, and able to commit murder upon the order of the United States government in order to be naturalized. I think that it is important to state this so as to not scare people.

When you seek to be naturalized, you are asked if you'd be willing to bear arms for the US, but that's a lot different than poisoning a well, and even that question is *largely* symbolic given that 1) we no longer have the draft in this country 2) even if we did reinstate the draft in this country, we've never drafted women, although they are still asked about bearing arms, so 50% of the people we ask are effectively excluded anyway 3) even if something crazy went down and the draft was reinstated and we started drafting women most of us would probably be told old to be drafted by the time of that happening 4) if things looked to be getting to that point where we would be drafting people of your age you could always just renounce your citizenship and leave and 5) in this insane hypothetical world we are talking about it's just as possible that we'd draft LPRs anyway.

So basically it is hypothetically possible that we could attack the UK and draft you into service or whatever, but the odds that you'd ever be put in that situation are basically 0% and even if you were put in that situation you still would not be obligated to poison a well in your hometown. In fact, under US and international law, you'd be legally obligated to resist any order to poison a well in your hometown, and the US government would have an obligation to try you in a military court if you did poison a well as a member of our armed forces.

There is no real downside to citizenship in your case. But do what you will.

[JoannaV 174]

My problem with US citizenship is the first part of the oath: " I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen". I would be lying if I said this. In fact it would appear anyone who said this but didn't head down to their Embassy and renounce their old citizenships would be lying. I know that no-one seems to have a problem with this, and that the US itself does not care if I don't do this, nor even expect me to do it. But I don't like the idea of making such a solemn oath if it means nothing.

On the other hand...I will probably retire and die in the US. So I can see myself overcoming my objections and obtaining citizenship one day. It would certainly make life easier.

Either way, do take a while to really think through this whole issue yet again before you return to the UK. Your feelings may not change at all, and that would be entirely understandable. However, if you can imagine dying as a US resident then I think it might be worth at least giving it some serious thought. I know people who wait 30+ years before applying for US citizenship. There's no reason to do it if you don't feel ready, and it could take decades for you to feel ready...but it would be convenient, and so is worth thinking about seriously, even if after a lot of tortured thoughts you choose not to do it.

[Boiler 45,511]

So when did you pledge allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty?

Sticks and Stones comes to mind.

[Gigli2008 70]

Very interesting conversation here. I am also wondering what the laws are in the UK, if a duo citizen of UK and US applied for UK equivalent of federal jobs, or wanted to be a parliament minister (not sure if that is what they are called) or even become prime minister. Doesn't having another country's citizenship ( or ex-citizen of another country) affect elibility for certain offices in the UK? Just a thought.

[Mike B. 231]

Very interesting conversation here. I am also wondering what the laws are in the UK, if a duo citizen of UK and US applied for UK equivalent of federal jobs, or wanted to be a parliament minister (not sure if that is what they are called) or even become prime minister. Doesn't having another country's citizenship ( or ex-citizen of another country) affect elibility for certain offices in the UK? Just a thought.

This very question was raised in the recent Peruvian election, where one of the candidates for the presidency was a naturalized US citizen. While he obviously was not legally disqualified from office, yes, his opponents did indeed mention that in order to get his US citizenship he must have renounced his fidelity to Peru. He basically ended the argument by signing some statement talking about how much he loved Peru. Actually he never had that much traction to begin with so it wasn't that big of a deal. But yes, if you plan on becoming the president or prime minister of your country, or want to run for congress or parliament, then it is certainly possible that your US citizenship could become a political liability. Your mileage my vary.

[Boiler 45,511]

Winston Churchill's mother was American.

I do not know what the laws were then but nowadays he would have been one as well.

[cca 13]

you still would not be obligated to poison a well in your hometown. In fact, under US and international law, you'd be legally obligated to resist any order to poison a well in your hometown, and the US government would have an obligation to try you in a military court if you did poison a well as a member of our armed forces.

There is no real downside to citizenship in your case. But do what you will.

I think the comment that somebody made about 'poisoning the hometown well' was figurative speech. I dont think this was meant in a literall way of any sort.

Thanks for the other comments though

[cca 13]

So when did you pledge allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty?

Sticks and Stones comes to mind.

Im imagining that if born in a country (such as the UK) where there was a Queen/Soveriegn, it is assumed that you hold loyalty to that country/person. My passport reads that I am under the protection of her Majesty. I did not pledge allegiance to a foreign prince etc because it is assumed that you hold loyalty to the country you were born in and grew up in.

The USA asking this when you get your citizenship is basically asking you to transition this loyalty to the states rather than the home country because they know this.