fatbrit wrote:
> > I know someone who is a permanent resident, has been married to a US
> > citizen for over 20 years and has never applied to become a
> > naturalized
> > US citizen. What I am wondering is what are your opinions out there on
> > becoming a US citizen?
> >
> > This person is living in the US for love, not for money, or politics,
> > or nationality. To me, it seems a very grave decision to become a US
> > citizen. This person harbors no ill-feelings to the US and is grateful
> > for their life in the US, but still loves her homeland and is very
> > proud of her nationality. She is reluctant to become a US citizen
> > because it would feel like a betrayal of her heritage and her
> > homeland;
> > although, she is very supportive of the US and it's role in the world.
> >
> > As one might glean from my previous post on estate taxes, the only
> > reason for becoming a US citizen for her might be solely to protect
> > her
> > rights to what her and her spouse have worked so hard to attain. She
> > is
> > active in the community, a volunteer and does much to give back to the
> > community through hard work, giving of herself, her time and generous
> > contributions to help those less fortunate. She is the person that I
> > most admire in the world and I care deeply about looking out for her
> > future. Taking that step to become a US citizen is an emotional
> > decision, but seems the only way to protect her future should her US
> > spouse die before she does.
> >
> > Does anyone else out there struggle with the emotional component of
> > becoming a US citizen? Any words of advice in helping someone to cope
> > with "taking the oath?"
> >
> > -elgoog
>
> Reasonably simple, I think. If you have some attachment to the US and
> intend to hang out here occasionally, you should naturalize assuming
> your home country doesn't make a big deal of it. I can't see the
> emotional aspect for it, I'm afraid. Or, at least, the practicality of
> doing it overrides these.
>
> Reasons for:
> * You get the immigration bureaucrats off your back for ever. And this
> will save you money, time, and Ibuprofen.
> * It's bloody difficult to deport you as a naturalized citizen (but
> somewhat easier if you're only a GC holder).
> * You can go abroad and stay abroad as long as you like.
> * You can work for 'citizen only" jobs.
>
> Reasons against:
> * Taxation on global income. But you've got this anyway if you've got a
> GC, and even more issues are tied up with it in that case.
> * Not the most popular world nationality. But you can always hide the US
> passport under your real one when abroad, or quickly eat it if you are
> on a hijacked plane.
> * You've no excuse to escape jury duty, anymore.
>
> --
> Posted via http://britishexpats.com
I like your pragmatism. Thanks.
-elgoog
|