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Linus Torvalds became US citizen

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Re: Linus Torvalds became US citizen

#91

Post by mike-cardwell »

scrrr wrote: post #75
mike-cardwell wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't see that happening ever. Not unless the human condition changes significantly. I currently see it more likely that we will end up with more countries, not less countries. If countries "go away", what do you suggest they would be replaced by?

Things like the European Union. It's not always pretty but it works. Perhaps after that it will be planets (if you like Futurama), or religions, philosophies or even brands. :) Who knows.

The EU isn't a country though, and it will never be one; different cultures have different values and often don't want to live under the same set of laws. Personally, I think this is a good thing. If you're oppressed under one countries set of laws at least you always have the option of leaving.

Re: Linus Torvalds became US citizen

#92

Post by user24 »

jeffreyg wrote: post #65
philwelch wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Before you ask, you've been downvoted for failing to grasp irony.

glad to see the reddit crowd made it over

indeed. Sadly, above your comment is the start of a pun thread. The first I've seen on HN, and regrettably doubtfully the last.

Re: Linus Torvalds became US citizen

#93

Post by arethuza »

kiuyhjk wrote: post #74
avar wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm pretty sure it's 30. I have an Icelandic citizenship (Iceland is one of the 30 in the EEA), and I'm working freely in one of the 27 EU countries currently. All I had to do after I moves was to register with the local city authorities to indicate that I had moved there, and provide documentation proving that I had a job so that they knew they didn't have to put me on social security. One might also make the counte…

There are some differences, a US friend of mine did law in the UK which meant she could work anywhere from Finland to Greece. But when she passed the New York bar she couldn't work in New Jersey.

Not as a qualified lawyer she couldn't - even within the UK there are different legal systems that require you to qualify separately. There is a lot more to being a lawyer/solicitor than getting a law degree. (e.g. Here in Scotland it is a further post graduate qualification plus two years training in a law firm before you qualify).

Re: Linus Torvalds became US citizen

#94

Post by beaumartinez »

jimbokun wrote: post #60
mike-cardwell wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They only take the jobs you don't want. Like cleaning hotels and hacking kernels.

"Like cleaning hotels and hacking kernels." For the vast majority of Americans, the former is probably a more desirable profession than the latter.

That's the joke!

Re: Linus Torvalds became US citizen

#95

Post by ugh »

philwelch wrote: post #89
avar wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The US (mostly) all speaks the same language and has a much more similar set of laws and a largely homogeneous society. By comparison e.g. Spain and Germany and almost any two countries in the EU you care to name speak different languages, are very different culturally, and have different customs.

The US was a lot like that 200 years ago. Give the EU some time, they'll homogenize.

They had the last millennia to homogenize and it didn’t happen. The United States really are very much unlike Europe. That’s not to say it won’t happen but I don’t think it’s a foregone conclusion.

Re: Linus Torvalds became US citizen

#96

Post by pavlov »

tlrobinson wrote: post #90
ciupicri wrote: post #2

Now he'll never get rid of US taxes.

Probably better for him if he doesn't have to pay taxes to Finland, since they're much higher.

He doesn't pay taxes to Finland because he's not living in Finland.

(Only certain countries like the USA tax their non-resident citizens.)

Re: Linus Torvalds became US citizen

#97

Post by avar »

kiuyhjk wrote: post #81
avar wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The US (mostly) all speaks the same language and has a much more similar set of laws and a largely homogeneous society. By comparison e.g. Spain and Germany and almost any two countries in the EU you care to name speak different languages, are very different culturally, and have different customs.

Thats the big advantage - imagine having a choice of bread or cheese that actually tastes different! Apart from a few of the more 'third world' european countries (like France) if you speak english and work in high tech it's not a big problem to work in Scandanavia/Germany/Netherlands. The main difficulty is they drive on the wrong side of the road - but as consolation the coffee and women are much better.

> Apart from a few of the more 'third world' european countries (like France)

How is France a third world country in any sense of the word? Because they don't speak English as much?

> The main difficulty is they drive on the wrong side

That's only in the UK, not Scandanavia/Germany/Netherlands.

Re: Linus Torvalds became US citizen

#98

Post by goatforce5 »

solutionyogi wrote: post #88
goatforce5 wrote: post #21

I'll guess he originally came in on an EB2(C) visa, which is for people of exceptional ability in their field who the US will allow in, regardless of whether or not they have a specific job offer. This means that, until he became a citizen, he'd immigration status in the US would have been: "exceptional alien". That's not a status i'd give up easily. :)

This is absolutely incorrect . EB2 Visa (i.e. Employment Based Category 2 Visa) definitely needs employer sponsorship. Also, there is no EB2 (C) category. (C) -> Probably specifies that the particular visa category is 'Current'.

The first two categories require a job offer. The third is for people who are so freakin' awesome that their mere presence will make the US a better place.

"National Interest Waiver - Aliens seeking a national interest waiver are requesting that the Labor Certification be waived because it is in the interest of the United States. [...] Those seeking a national interest waiver may self-petition (they do not need an employer to sponsor them)"

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b...

So, it is employment based, but without any sponsorship required from a particular employer. You're self-certifying that you're really really really good at what you do, and what you can offer to the US will benefit the US as a whole.

They will, of course, want lots of evidence to support the above.

The upside to this route is that you're not tied to a particular employer.

Re: Linus Torvalds became US citizen

#99

Post by trevi »

sasvari wrote: post #73
kiuyhjk wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some countries don't allow dual citizenship. My German friends had to renounce their German citizenship when they became Americans (again for the green card). It made it very tricky tax-wise when their parents died and they suddenly became foreigners (to Germany) owning a lot of German assets.

as far as I know, it's possible to apply for keeping your German citizenship when gaining the one of another country. you have to justify it with family relations or something like that. at least it's possible, but I don't know about the trouble you have with that ...

Indeed. You also keep your German or Austrian citizenship if you did not apply for the other citizenship (e.g. if someone was born from German parents in Australia).

In general different countries have (very) different sets of rules, see e.g. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_citizenship

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