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Why expat Americans are giving up their passports

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Re: Why expat Americans are giving up their passports

#371

Post by DKnoll »

toomuchtodo wrote: post #348
rahimnathwani wrote: post #341

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"If you don't intend to return to the USA there are no benefits to US citizenship, only downsides." Seriously? US citizenship means you can travel with a US passport, which allows visa-free travel to many, many countries: https://www.passportindex.org/byRank.php

TIL that both UK and US passports are the most powerful passports in the world.

Only in terms of the countries you can travel to without a visa. Go just about anywhere with a Canadian passport and they'll wave you past, almost like they're annoyed you think you might be considered a security risk.

I got a 6 month visa in the UK while laid over at Heathrow in under 10 minutes. Under "Reason for your stay in the UK" I wrote "a cigarette."

Re: Why expat Americans are giving up their passports

#372

Post by knowaveragejoe »

zipwitch wrote: post #286
gotchange wrote: post #214

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When the most recent war broke out in Yemen, the Indian govt managed to evacuate its citizens from Yemen using their navy and if you take into account the size of the Indian diaspora in the Arabian Peninsula including Yemen, it wasn't an easy feat and I can't imagine that the USG wouldn't be capable of carrying out a similar evacuation plan or doing what it could to get their citizens out of harm's way abroad.

Capable? Maybe. Willing to exert itself on behalf of US citizens in danger? Nope. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/01/american-civili... The US evacuated government staff and contractors, but abandoned anyone else.

They weren't "abandoned". They were told very earnestly to leave, but they wanted to stay and work on mostly oil fields and continue to make admittedly large sums of money. In general the state department has been warning people about traveling to Yemen for over a decade, and likewise has been issuing travel advisories and other updates to the people living there. Far from "abandoned".

Re: Why expat Americans are giving up their passports

#373

Post by knowaveragejoe »

kaitai wrote: post #270
gotchange wrote: post #214

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When the most recent war broke out in Yemen, the Indian govt managed to evacuate its citizens from Yemen using their navy and if you take into account the size of the Indian diaspora in the Arabian Peninsula including Yemen, it wasn't an easy feat and I can't imagine that the USG wouldn't be capable of carrying out a similar evacuation plan or doing what it could to get their citizens out of harm's way abroad.

The US government, by contrast, didn't really help out any US citizens in Yemen.

Do you think the government is going to come and forcibly remove them from the country if they don't want to leave? The state department has warned people against going to the country for over a decade, and likewise has issued advisories to all of the expats living there the entire time they're there. Anyone with any sense got out of the country a while ago. The vast majority of those left are foolhardy individuals who didn't think it would get as bad as it is.

Re: Why expat Americans are giving up their passports

#374

Post by toddh »

timthelion wrote: post #24

I am an American living in Prague and will be among those to give up their citizenship. The new FBAR requirements and the recently pushed through changes that require foreign banks to report are really a huge burden. It is a significant legal risk to be an American overseas. The fines are insane for failiure to report, even if you owe no taxes! You can easilly land yourself with a $20 000 - $80 000 fine for having a…

The FBAR requirement is not new. It's been around for decades. FBAR is part of the Bank Secrecy Act form 1970. The problem is the $10K threshold is not indexed for inflation.

The reason the fines are so high is to catch criminals & tax evaders.

If you have a couple of hundred in the bank you don't have a filing requirement anyway.

Re: Why expat Americans are giving up their passports

#375

Post by timthelion »

c4n4rd wrote: post #180
dalke wrote: post #164

Earlier quoted context omitted.

https://www.justlanded.com/english/Czech-Republic/Czech-Repu... gives an idea of what's needed to become a Czech citizen. It's different for different countries in the EU.

Besides Prague being a beautiful place, what else made you decide to live there? I am thinking about living in Europe too.. but it has been difficult to decide. Thanks and cheers.

My grandmother is from Prague. I didn't actually "decide" to move here. My mother offered me a house that she was to inherit in return for comming to take care of an eldery aunt. It was a deal that I couldn't refuse...

Re: Why expat Americans are giving up their passports

#376

Post by timthelion »

jakub_h wrote: post #322
timthelion wrote: post #166

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am able to apply for Czech citizenship as I have been in the country for more than 5 years. I now have to pass some language exams and interviews. I hope that the fact that my grandmother is Czech will help.

Will help with the language, or with the bureacracy? I'd be surprised about the latter, but I'd also be surprised if they gave much trouble to an educated productive individual. Hodně štěstí!

With the bureaucracy... I need to show that I have familly, work, and social ties to the country:

http://www.mvcr.cz/clanek/udeleni-statniho-obcanstvi-ceske-r...

A large part of the process is a motivational interview.

Re: Why expat Americans are giving up their passports

#377

Post by dang »

1stop wrote: post #77
cpursley wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The guy gives crazy amounts to philanthropic causes instead. This. As a someone who leans libertarian, folks give me the "you must be greedy" look when I mention that I have an issue with income taxation. Not at all - like your friend, I'm rather selective about where I donate my money - to causes that matter to me. I'm a generous person and consider the coercion of the state to be neither altruistic nor efficient.

So you took advantage of a system paid for by others and then decided you wouldn't contribute back. That's fine, but also pretty much the definition of greedy/selfish. Regardless what your "hardship" story maybe, it would have been harder if everyone acted the way you do now.

That crosses into personal attack, which is not allowed on HN.

Re: Why expat Americans are giving up their passports

#378

Post by letitleak »

I wasn't familiar with Charles Rangel until I read this article..

For anyone who suspects the US is engaged in a "Buy American" (or else) campaign to sell domestic evasion/financial services, the man who apparently wants to be identified as behind FATCA seems to be the poster child of evasion the patriotic way:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Rangel#Unreported_asse...

The World’s Favorite New Tax Haven Is the United States (bloomberg.com) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10978847

Re: Why expat Americans are giving up their passports

#379

Post by joesmo »

dalke wrote: post #9

American citizens have to pay $2,350 to renounce citizenship? What kind of paperwork costs that much? (Or, why not just add more paperwork and charge $100K?) http://www.greenbacktaxservices.com/blog/renouncing-us-citiz... > 1. Consular officers must confirm that the potential renunciant fully understands the consequences of renunciation, including losing the right to reside in the United States without documentation…

They'll charge you $100k if you have it. See the exit tax which for certain people will dwarf the $2k fine (because that's the only thing it is): https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/International-Taxpayers/Expa...

Re: Why expat Americans are giving up their passports

#380

Post by __P »

cpursley wrote: post #96
1stop wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So you took advantage of a system paid for by others and then decided you wouldn't contribute back. That's fine, but also pretty much the definition of greedy/selfish. Regardless what your "hardship" story maybe, it would have been harder if everyone acted the way you do now.

What? I haven't taken advantage of anyone. I file and pay my taxes like everyone else. It's just that dropping bombs on impoverished people and bailing out corporations do not align with my personal values. How does this make me greedy?

But you are cherry picking outcomes. Does a police force, an army, a functioning society align with your personal values?

I agree government make mistakes, but that isn't an argument for getting rid of government, that's an argument for getting rid of mistakes.

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