Is it worth it to be a US citizen now?

[Visitor User 253]

Is there a difference between a natural born US Citizen vs naturalized US Citizen? The passport will say the country you were born in right?

Edited February 17, 2019 by Visitor User

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

40 minutes ago, Visitor User said:

Is there a difference between a natural born US Citizen vs naturalized US Citizen? The passport will say the country you were born in right?

That is a good question that I'm curious to know the answer to. My British passport lists the town in America I was born in, but doesn't state that it is not in the UK.  🧐

 

[Hypnos 6,576]

Being a naturalised US citizen means you can never be President (or Vice-President, for that matter). There's not much difference other than that. 

 

You can even serve in the President's cabinet as one of his advisors. Madeline Albright served as Secretary of State a number of years ago under Bill Clinton, for example, and she was a naturalised citizen who was born in the Czech Republic. 

 

And as for is it even worth becoming a US citizen, some people, like me, are seeking employment that requires US citizenship. 

Edited February 17, 2019 by Hypnos

[Going through 5,671]

5 hours ago, Visitor User said:

Is there a difference between a natural born US Citizen vs naturalized US Citizen? The passport will say the country you were born in right?

The US passport will list your nationality as United States of America.  Underneath it will list your home country as Place of Birth.

Edited February 17, 2019 by Going through

[bigjailerman 318]

On 2/16/2019 at 3:43 AM, Dantrolene said:

I agree with you when it comes to travel benefits and easy to return...but the taxation part is the only thing that is bothering me. Why should i pay double taxes ?  I am not sure if being just a US resident will be treated the same as a citizen when it comes to paying taxes while working abroad. Any accurate data ? 

As far as I know, if another country taxes worldwide assets and income, it doesn't matter where you are a citizen from. UNLESS the country has a tax agreement in place. If anyone asks me, they're is no choice to even think about it, being  a US Citizen is the top of the mountain. 

When it comes to passport, it does list the country of birth but it doesn't make you any less of a US citizen. 👍

[NikLR 13,227]

52 minutes ago, bigjailerman said:

As far as I know, if another country taxes worldwide assets and income, it doesn't matter where you are a citizen from. UNLESS the country has a tax agreement in place. If anyone asks me, they're is no choice to even think about it, being  a US Citizen is the top of the mountain. 

When it comes to passport, it does list the country of birth but it doesn't make you any less of a US citizen. 👍

The US and one other country on earth taxes you on worldwide income, most countries tax you ONLY on resident income.  Period.  Granted the USA lets you vote from whatever country you're living in, but still it seems like the whole taxation without representation thing, the basis of the USA, kinda comes into play here for me.  Why you'd want to vote in a country you don't live in is beyond me, but someone people feel the need and as such, all LPR and USC are taxed on their worldwide income and pay taxes unless there is a tax agreement or they can claim a foreign tax exemption.

 

Also that's why it's an opinion.  i personally don't care to ever become a USC at this time.  But my Canadian passport is very strong.  Really it's the inability to vote that would be my deciding factor if I do but I have no plans at this time. 

Edited February 17, 2019 by NikLR

[bigjailerman 318]

13 minutes ago, NikLR said:

The US and one other country on earth taxes you on worldwide income, most countries tax you ONLY on resident income.  Period.  Granted the USA lets you vote from whatever country you're living in, but still it seems like the whole taxation without representation thing, the basis of the USA, kinda comes into play here for me.  Why you'd want to vote in a country you don't live in is beyond me, but someone people feel the need and as such, all LPR and USC are taxed on their worldwide income and pay taxes unless there is a tax agreement or they can claim a foreign tax exemption.

 

Also that's why it's an opinion.  i personally don't care to ever become a USC at this time.  But my Canadian passport is very strong.  Really it's the inability to vote that would be my deciding factor if I do but I have no plans at this time. 

What I don't understand is this, VJ members join up here to seek out information to immigrate into the United States. We are surrounded by guides, timeliness, forms, attorneys etc. if those who only to visit as tourists, and don't want to live here is perfectly fine, but if immigration is on your agenda, why not take the final step. Remember though that 183 days makes you a tax resident. Now Requiring people to pay a tax without giving the people an opportunity to decide whether or not the tax should be levied is taxation without representation in a nutshell but as you pointed out, is that you can vote from anywhere in the world, so taxation without representation becomes mute. 

I believe that the USA is the country that people clamor to get into and the benefits outweigh the negative. 

[NikLR 13,227]

The word you need is moot not mute.   And i already stated the pros outweigh the cons.  But again, it's a personal choice regardless.  

I wouldn't be able to live here and work without a green card. I choose to live with my husband.  He makes 3 times my income plus has benefits from the military.  His job requires him to travel less than the equivalent in my country.  So living in the USA makes more financial and relationship sense.  That doesn't mean I need to become a citizen. 

[bigjailerman 318]

Yes it is moot, my auto correct does some amazing things, apologies. 

Yes it is a personal choice, no question, but once it is stated publicly, it invites other opinions as well. So then my question is, if you live here, in the US with your husband, and you presumably live here more than 183 days in any 365 days, doesn't that make you a tax resident regardless of citizenship? When I lived in Colombia with my then fiance (now she lives here with me and our children) that was my "dilemma " but having paid my US tax obligation it negated any possible Colombian tax. 

 

 

[accumbyte 149]

10 hours ago, Visitor User said:

The passport will say the country you were born in right?

Yes, just the country. And for a natural born citizen born in Los Angeles, for example, it says "CALIFORNIA, U.S.A." On both US passport books and US passport cards, I have never seen the actual city listed, just the state of birth.

[accumbyte 149]

4 hours ago, NikLR said:

The US and one other country on earth taxes you on worldwide income

Yup, here is a short opinion blog about it: https://internationalman.com/articles/this-appalling-practice-is-only-used-in-two-nations-and-the-us-is-one-of-th/

[NikLR 13,227]

3 hours ago, bigjailerman said:

Yes it is moot, my auto correct does some amazing things, apologies. 

Yes it is a personal choice, no question, but once it is stated publicly, it invites other opinions as well. So then my question is, if you live here, in the US with your husband, and you presumably live here more than 183 days in any 365 days, doesn't that make you a tax resident regardless of citizenship? When I lived in Colombia with my then fiance (now she lives here with me and our children) that was my "dilemma " but having paid my US tax obligation it negated any possible Colombian tax. 

 

 

Of course I'm a tax resident.  That's not the issue, obviously I file taxes in a place where I live and work.  I agree with paying taxes in the country in which you live and work.  Your tax dollars goes towards infrastructure, schools, etc..   In fact every time you fly, you help pay my bills.  Just sayin. 

 

BUT, For an example,  let's say my husband and I retire in Canada.  If my husband makes any income, above the IRS threshold to file, he'd have to file a tax return in the USA.  Why?  We don't live there and the income wasn't made in that country.  That doesn't mean we'd pay tax on that income to the USA BUT if we made over a certain threshold, we'd have to pay double taxation!   As a USC my husband is required by law to file a tax return to the IRS even if he doesn't spend a single day in the USA. 

 

Basically anyone doing well for themselves, outside the USA, can be double taxed on their income if they are an LPR or USC as well.  

 

I don't earn any money in Canada, my home country.  I don't have any retirement plans there anymore.  I don't have property or income from there in any way.  I don't file a tax return in Canada because I don't live there. This is how most countries work.  You don't earn money there, you don't file a tax return. 

Edited February 17, 2019 by NikLR

[NikLR 13,227]

Some people are from countries who do not have strong passports.  I fully agree that for them, becoming a USC is probably a huge benefit. They can travel without visas to many more countries and benefit from chain immigration. 

For me, not a big deal.  

Edited February 17, 2019 by NikLR

[bigjailerman 318]

2 hours ago, NikLR said:

Of course I'm a tax resident.  That's not the issue, obviously I file taxes in a place where I live and work.  I agree with paying taxes in the country in which you live and work.  Your tax dollars goes towards infrastructure, schools, etc..   In fact every time you fly, you help pay my bills.  Just sayin. 

 

BUT, For an example,  let's say my husband and I retire in Canada.  If my husband makes any income, above the IRS threshold to file, he'd have to file a tax return in the USA.  Why?  We don't live there and the income wasn't made in that country.  That doesn't mean we'd pay tax on that income to the USA BUT if we made over a certain threshold, we'd have to pay double taxation!   As a USC my husband is required by law to file a tax return to the IRS even if he doesn't spend a single day in the USA. 

 

Basically anyone doing well for themselves, outside the USA, can be double taxed on their income if they are an LPR or USC as well.  

 

I don't earn any money in Canada, my home country.  I don't have any retirement plans there anymore.  I don't have property or income from there in any way.  I don't file a tax return in Canada because I don't live there. This is how most countries work.  You don't earn money there, you don't file a tax return. 

The US doesn't have a tax treaty in place with Canada to avoid double taxation? I thought that's been in place for a while. 

[Dantrolene 15]

Is tax treaty mean foreign country has to inform the US that the person works and earns money overseas and therefore has to pay taxes.  What if the foreign country doesn't have such a tax treaty,  what would be the case? The US wouldn't know right?