Duel Citizenship

[bxman 13]

Hello all

My wife just got her letter approving her GC and to look for it in about 3 weeks

I know I'm looking ahead here but could anyone share the advantages and disadvantages of duel citizenship

I read many people are denouncing thier American citizenship so any comments on what is gained and what's lost is appreciated?

Thanks

Don

Edited December 4, 2013 by bxman

[Hank_ 9,174]

Hello all

My wife just got her letter approving her GC and to look for it in about 3 weeks

I know I'm looking ahead here but could anyone share the advantages and disadvantages of duel citizenship

I read many people are denouncing thier American citizenship so any comments on what is gained and what's lost is appreciated?

Thanks

Don

I read an article about some Americans denouncing there U.S. citizenship... but that was for tax reasons, seems it is going on in France too.

As for your wife and dual citizenship, if she decided to get her citizenship in 3 years then reaffirm her oath to the Philippines to have dual citizenship that simply gives her advantages in the Philippines from voting to owning more property and so forth.

I had a link to a government website, but it got hacked and last time I checked the government had it back but it was rather vacant of info.

[bxman 13]

Thanks Hank

I wasn't sure if she would loose any Filipino rights

And with this new Obama Care And the IRS being the big stick I am not so sure what path to take

One more question if you don't mind

Now that she has her conditional GC If we decided to visit the Philippines how long can she stay without falling into an abandonment status?

How long AFTER ROC can she (we) reside in the Philippines?

Thanks Hank

Don

[Hank_ 9,174]

I think even with the conditional green card you could be gone most of a year but that would totally screw the pooch for meeting her residency requirements when it came time for naturalization (citizenship). There is a 6 month limitation in regards to naturalization.

After ROC and your wife has her permanent green card there is still the same issue if outside the USA for a year or more, they could consider the card abandoned and revoke it. Your wife is eligible for U.S. citizenship one year after getting her 10 permanent green card.

If you want it so you two can reside in the Philippines without issues here in the USA the simplest route would be for your wife to get her U.S. citizenship, then she can be gone as long as she wants without an issue... even.

http://www.uscis.gov/policymanual/HTML/PolicyManual-Volume12-PartD-Chapter3.html

[bxman 13]

Guess I was hoping there was some way we could live there in Philippines without her becoming an American citizen

But with the 10 yr GC it would be safe to stay say 10 or 11 months?

[Hank_ 9,174]

Guess I was hoping there was some way we could live there in Philippines without her becoming an American citizen

But with the 10 yr GC it would be safe to stay say 10 or 11 months?

http://www.uscis.gov/green-card/after-green-card-granted/maintaining-permanent-residence

Abandoning Permanent Resident Status

You may be found to have abandoned your permanent resident status if you:

• Move to another country intending to live there permanently
• Remain outside of the United States for more than 1 year without obtaining a reentry permit or returning resident visa. However, in determining whether your status has been abandoned, any length of absence from the United States may be considered, even if less than 1 year
• Remain outside of the United States for more than 2 years after issuance of a reentry permit without obtaining a returning resident visa. However, in determining whether your status has been abandoned any length of absence from the United States may be considered, even if less than 1 year
• Fail to file income tax returns while living outside of the United States for any period
• Declare yourself a “nonimmigrant” on your tax returns

[bxman 13]

That pretty much clears things up Hank

Thanks so much

Hope you have a GREAT holiday

Don

[Bugs 455]

We plan on living in the Philippines after I retire from my job here in the U.S. 20 years from now - at least for now that is the plan. So we will get her dual citizenship after she becomes a U.S. citizen, so she will be able to keep her rights there.

[Greenbaum 12,260]

Here are the "excuses for not wanting US citizenship":

1. "She doesn't want U.S. citizenship..." from the husband, when the wife never gave it a second thought.

2. "She doesn't want to lose her Philippines citizenship." To reacquire Philippines citizenship for a fee of $50 and one trip to the Philippines Consulate or Outreach location is all that needs to be done.

3. "We want to retire in the Philippines..." This usually means the American husband has fantasies of taking his $1,400 SS pension and living like a king in Baguio. Often the wife is hovering in the background, quietly muttering..."Over my dead body..." Having dual citizenship will allow them to retire in the PI, and the U.S. citizen wife can then return to the U.S. when her American hubby gets tired of fighting with Filipino relatives and neighbors.

4. " She is too patriotic to become a U.S. citizen" When I hear this, I want to ask why she came to the U.S. and enjoyed all the benefits of U.S. citizenship without being able to vote or have the blue U.S. passport that would allow her to travel around the world without the hassle of using her green PI passport and having to apply for visas in most Western countries.

5. "We can't afford the $680 fee to apply for naturalization..." This is a good reason. To this you can reply that the fee will go up to $780 next year, so better apply now.

Once she attains US Citizenship what's next?

When a Filipino wishes to reacquire their Philippine citizenship they merely pay the money ($50) and swear an oath at the Philippine Embassy or Consulate that services their location. These Consulates also have outreaches which may be closer. If they have a Philippine passport that has not yet expired, they can use it. Otherwise they will have to renew their passport which will also require a personal appearance. Philippine Bureau of Immigration suggests that they show both their US and Philippine passports upon entry. This is voluntary. They may travel with their US passports only, but it would be a little less convenient to have to abide to the restrictions places upon Former Filipinos upon entry.

Hope this helps.

[Bugs 455]

Here are the "excuses for not wanting US citizenship":

1. "She doesn't want U.S. citizenship..." from the husband, when the wife never gave it a second thought.

2. "She doesn't want to lose her Philippines citizenship." To reacquire Philippines citizenship for a fee of $50 and one trip to the Philippines Consulate or Outreach location is all that needs to be done.

3. "We want to retire in the Philippines..." This usually means the American husband has fantasies of taking his $1,400 SS pension and living like a king in Baguio. Often the wife is hovering in the background, quietly muttering..."Over my dead body..." Having dual citizenship will allow them to retire in the PI, and the U.S. citizen wife can then return to the U.S. when her American hubby gets tired of fighting with Filipino relatives and neighbors.

4. " She is too patriotic to become a U.S. citizen" When I hear this, I want to ask why she came to the U.S. and enjoyed all the benefits of U.S. citizenship without being able to vote or have the blue U.S. passport that would allow her to travel around the world without the hassle of using her green PI passport and having to apply for visas in most Western countries.

5. "We can't afford the $680 fee to apply for naturalization..." This is a good reason. To this you can reply that the fee will go up to $780 next year, so better apply now.

Once she attains US Citizenship what's next?

When a Filipino wishes to reacquire their Philippine citizenship they merely pay the money ($50) and swear an oath at the Philippine Embassy or Consulate that services their location. These Consulates also have outreaches which may be closer. If they have a Philippine passport that has not yet expired, they can use it. Otherwise they will have to renew their passport which will also require a personal appearance. Philippine Bureau of Immigration suggests that they show both their US and Philippine passports upon entry. This is voluntary. They may travel with their US passports only, but it would be a little less convenient to have to abide to the restrictions places upon Former Filipinos upon entry.

Hope this helps.

My fiance must be different then, because it is SHE that wants us to retire in the Philippines. We struck a deal in which we will stay here in the US until I retire, then live in the Philippines.

At least that's the plan. She may very well change her mind on that down the road, after living here in the US for a while. A friend told me that all it would take is for her to revisit the Philippines 3 years after moving here to the US to decide she likes it in the US better lol. So we will see. I'm fine with a move to the Philippines myself.

Either way, I agree that dual citizenship is the way to go for her.