Compare that to this table:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_%28document%29#Visa_polici...
States that get the most give the least.
Passport Index – How much power does your passport have?
31–40 of 116 posts
Re: Passport Index – How much power does your passport have?
#32There are some important considerations here that haven't been taken into account. For example, the United States is the only major country in the world that taxes non-resident citizens on their worldwide income, which makes it one of the most inconvenient passports to hold. Additionally, holding an EU passport allows one to work, study, etc. in any EU country, rather than simply visit it.
Once you factor in the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and Foreign Tax Credit, it is the filing requirement that is onerous, not the taxation.
The first $100,000 of income can be excluded. On income above that, the US demands the difference if the taxes in the foreign country are less than US taxes. I think you acknowledge all this quite well when you call it inconvenient, but I think people don't need to be horribly outraged about it (I think the policy likely does close a path of tax avoidance that would be well used, but I'm pretty ambivalent about whether it is reasonable).
Re: Passport Index – How much power does your passport have?
#33does it take it into consideration that the US and Israeli passport make you active targets in certain parts of the world?
No. But thanks for asking, always happy to help!
Other things not taken into account:
* Passport weight index (how hefty is your passport? is it any good as a baton? Page count and binding are important here)
* Passport prettiness index (how dull or interesting are the blank pages in your passport)?
* Passport value index (what's the black market price for each country's passport?)
* etc etc
1/10 site woefully incomplete.
Re: Passport Index – How much power does your passport have?
#34Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yes. Many things in the world exist because the majority thinks it's a good idea. Doesn't mean it is. 200 years ago the majority thought slavery was ok. I'm still yet to see anyone who'd convince me why is it that I need to get a permission from a bureaucrat just to see my friend, when my friend doesn't approve of that policy and never voted for anything like that to be instituted. Me not visiting my friend more ofte…
laws exist to cover for the majority of use cases, not individual, well reasoned exceptions. start with hammurabi and read on, the worl of bureaucracy has a lot more background and sense than you imagine.
I do not approve of collectivism, not even in law and order. When you say "laws exist" who are you to decide why they exist? I for one think they exist (in the current, monopolized form) to control the general population while elites are practically exempt. Prove me wrong and please use logic and evidence, not some theory that justifies bureaucracy.
Re: Passport Index – How much power does your passport have?
#35Earlier quoted context omitted.
visa restrictions into the US and EU exist to protect their own population, as voted and decided upon by their democratic systems. the world is a bit more complicated than your comment implies.
Yes. Many things in the world exist because the majority thinks it's a good idea. Doesn't mean it is. 200 years ago the majority thought slavery was ok. I'm still yet to see anyone who'd convince me why is it that I need to get a permission from a bureaucrat just to see my friend, when my friend doesn't approve of that policy and never voted for anything like that to be instituted. Me not visiting my friend more ofte…
it comes down to trust. if i were to guess you lock the door to your house. why would you do something which limits the movement of people who want to be in your house. but at the same time you do not have problem giving access to your house to specific people (people you trust). it is same with countries just more complicated as now you are dealing with bunch of people rather than an individual.
visa free travel exists before countries agreed to trust each other for whatever the reason may be (economic/social/etc.). other countries can workout ways for travel but they do not think of it as a priority.
Re: Passport Index – How much power does your passport have?
#36Unsurprisingly, the Swiss passport is the one with the most interesting and visually pleasing design.
I thought the same thing, didn't even have to click on it to know that was swiss. The Vatican passport is pretty nice too, with only the gold emblem on black.
I like the Vatican passport design too. I wonder if the inside is written in Latin?
Re: Passport Index – How much power does your passport have?
#37It is an absolute disgrace that people are limited in their ability to travel where they want to simply because they happened to be born in a certain place. If you look at that and don't see how this is basically a prison system, you are just endlessly ignorant.
visa restrictions into the US and EU exist to protect their own population, as voted and decided upon by their democratic systems. the world is a bit more complicated than your comment implies.
This is a clear example of tyrrany of the majority.
The majority of people might not want to move state, which is fine, but they prevent other people from exercising their right to freedom of movement.
But this ends up being bad for everyone - if we are agreed that competition is good, this prevents competition between sovereign states for labour and population.
As an individual, I am stuck with whatever citizenship I was born into - and I have practically no opportunity to revoke my citizenship or try to claim a different or better citizenship. This is absolutely a derogation of a basic human right. I see it as no different morally than, for example, a caste system.
Re: Passport Index – How much power does your passport have?
#38Unsurprisingly, the Swiss passport is the one with the most interesting and visually pleasing design.
Serious question: why is it unsurprising ?
Re: Passport Index – How much power does your passport have?
#39I think it is interesting that this is essentially an somewhat subtle ad for investment banking for high net worth individuals.
Re: Passport Index – How much power does your passport have?
#40There are some important considerations here that haven't been taken into account. For example, the United States is the only major country in the world that taxes non-resident citizens on their worldwide income, which makes it one of the most inconvenient passports to hold. Additionally, holding an EU passport allows one to work, study, etc. in any EU country, rather than simply visit it.
Once you factor in the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and Foreign Tax Credit, it is the filing requirement that is onerous, not the taxation. The first $100,000 of income can be excluded. On income above that, the US demands the difference if the taxes in the foreign country are less than US taxes. I think you acknowledge all this quite well when you call it inconvenient, but I think people don't need to be horribly…
but this also applies to those dual nationals who have no relsionship with the USA - I doubt that Boris Johnson found it fun to have to file another tax return when dealing with his late mothers estate.
BTW for non uk people Boris is going to be the next Leader of the Tory's and possibly PM within 5 years