What about my citizenship?
One question that I get from people all the time has to do with Citizenship. The question usually comes from Americans, and that is what I will address in this article, because since I am an American, I really don’t have much knowledge about Citizenship issues for Countries other than the USA and the Philippines.
The question that I hear all the times goes like this:
Questioner: OK, so you live in the Philippines? What do you do about your US Citizenship?
Me: What do you mean, I don’t understand what you are talking about.
Questioner: I mean, when was the last time you went back to the USA?
Me: It’s been about 9 years since I’ve been there, why?
Questioner: So, you aren’t a US Citizen any longer!
Me: Of course I am a US Citizen, why would you say that?
Questioner: There is no way that the USA will let you remain a Citizen if you don’t go there regularly!
No, I am sorry. Anybody who says this is absolutely incorrect. The fact is that even if you want to get rid of your US Citizenship, it is very difficult to do so! Yes, this is true. If you leave the USA, and never return, you will be a US Citizen for the rest of your life.
Under the US Immigration and Nationality Act, the citizen who wishes to relieve himself of US Citizenship must be in a foreign country, and go visit the US Embassy or Consulate. He/she must then appear before a US Ambassador or Consular Officer. The person will be interviewed (and dissuaded), and then must sign an oath of renunciation. This act alone still does not relieve you of your citizenship. A records search will take place, and if you have anything pending against you, if you have unpaid taxes, etc., you will not be allowed to renounce. You must clear up any pending matters in the USA before you will even be allowed to renounce your citizenship.
During the interview with the consular official, you will be asked a lot of questions. If any of your answers indicate that you have any desire at all to retain any privilege of US Citizenship, your renunciation will be denied. If you indicate that you ever think you might re-enter the USA, and stay there for any length of time, this can (and will) be interpreted as a sign that you desire to retain a privilege of US Citizenship, and thus your wish to renounce will be denied.
The fact of the matter is that the United States will work very hard to deny your desire to renounce your citizenship. Why? Because they want you to remain a taxpayer. If you are no longer a citizen, you will no longer be contributing your money to the operation of the US Government. If you live abroad, but keep your citizenship, you must continue to pay taxes, and the US Government wants you to do that!
So, in short, the answer to the question that I get many times every month is that I am indeed still a US Citizen, and I probably always will be. Right now, I see no circumstances under which I would renounce my citizenship. Now, I have considered obtaining Dual Citizenship, US and Philippine Citizenship, but I am still not certain that I would do so.
So, don’t worry, if you decide to become a resident of any country in the world, including the Philippines, you can, and will retain your US Citizenship, unless you work very hard to get rid of it!
Roy,
Click link below as it will show you pictures of facility in question although these pictures do not show the full magnitude of the poor facility which I speak as they do not show the pharmacy bare of all medications, the rats running in hallway and etc.
Also, Bear in mind this link is not controlled by a American bashing your nation but rather two Filipino Doctors who are based in America and have a legal non-profit that tries to help fascilities such as one in picture below.
Pay particulair attention to pages 15 and 18 in link below as they show hospital, the link controls other stuff as well but pages 15 and 18 are the ones on topic here.
http://www.butuanon.org/yabb/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.cgi?num=1180011016/210
Happy Looking,
Justin
Hello Bob,
Thanks for that information. Instead though I just gave my good friend Roy the link to pictures placed in a forum by two of his country men who practice medicine in America yet posted the pictures to open the eyes of people such as Roy to the true condition of many of the glorious medical facilities within the Philippines.
The facility in pictures is actually worse in person than in pics but in no way can Roy honestly tell me the pictures on page 15 and 18 of above link display a truly decent medical facility as the conditions are disgusting.
Justin
Justin,
You still did not name the hospital. I want you Justin to name the hospital, right here.
So that’s what you do touring MIndanao hospitals just to be grossed out. Get a life. Better yet, go to other wealthy nations and rave how nice their hospitals are.
Sorry Bob. If Justin had been fortright all along and identified the name of the hospital from the very start, this argument would not have lasted this long.
Instead he chose to just provide the link, & tell me that those pics were provided by two unamed Fil doctors working in the US.
Did he really think that that would be enough to establish credibility on his sources w/c would further corroborate his claims? Very smart person.
A final word Justin. There’s more abject poverty you can encounter there in Minadanao if you stay there more. What are you gonna do–continue make a stink out of it? Yes, you do that…that might help alleviate the poverty level of my countrymen. Because as it is, they should be kissing your bleeping bleep for everyday pointing out to them how bad it is for them.
My bad Justin. I’m sorry….so you did name the hospital in your previous post. Butuan. Ok, I give it to you that what you claim could be true. That my total disbelief over that is unwarranted.
My advice to you though is stay away from those hospitals. Unless you have a genuine desire to bring civilazation there. By all means, help my countrymen by reporting it to your embassy or anybody just to get your message across.
But if yYou & your wife have no use for it, then as far as you are concerned over it, those places do not exist. Unless you are galvanizing people here to improve it. Otherwise, choose your places to know & to go to. Do not go to poverty stricken places because what you will find there are ..guess what…poverty and everything attendant to it..like rats…all the ugly stuff.
Roy,
I hate to say this but truthfully the condition of a provincial hospital is of no true importance to the United States embassy. I mean sure they may at times give donations or etc but it is truly a issue best reported to a Philippine entity since it is a domestic problem. The problem is who will you report it to with the politician who runs it herself steals the funds from it to finance the furtherment of political career.
Oh, BTW, I have no reason to lie to you but if you want to know the two Filipino doctors spoken of who actively engage in helping such places are readily named right in the link to forum I gave you together with the photographs of the decrepit medical facility being spoken of.
Furthermore before asking I be more forthright think before typing as truly the names of the facilities in question are irrelevant to this conversation as the point was that such facilities indeed exist in your beloved country.
Also, Great outlook on poverty you have. Shut your eyes and ignore its existence. What a Noble attribute from a person who self professes to love his homeland yet chooses to remain ignorant of the realities it contains. Talk about rose colored glasses. Your kababayan are truly lucky to have you in their corner.
Sorry but you have thoroughly enraged me by running your talking out your rear while calling me a liar as well as either a troll or a sock puppet.
Justin
Roy ,
Could be true, Good grief you have pics lolol. Please tell me you see that decrepit hospital in pics as being a fine facility which you wish to be representative of your beloved nation.
BTW, Quit asking us to fix your problems and fix them yourself as they are your problems since your profess to adore your nation are is that adoration simply pseudo adoration which exist up to talking only.
Justin
Roy,
Where in Philippines are you from? If your from imperial Manila it explains allot as your place is decent, the provinces are not. In Butuan all the medical facilities are disgusting, the best was Butuan doctors but even it is truly a sorry place to extent that anyone with decent money went to Cebu or Manila for serious problems. Example is when my wife’s cousin got shot twice in head while enrolling in school, they had him airlifted to Cebu via helicopter and spent around 3 million keeping him alive, in province he would have died, thats reality,
Justin
Justin,
Do us a favor, GROW UP! (attitude wise of course!) Then post as many comments as you want. Then this website would be a much better experience for us readers of this website.
This article is about Citizenship (Bob’s, in particular). Your rant about the negative things about the Philippines will not help alleviate those things you mentioned (like dirty hospitals, etc.). I have yet to feel in your comments if you’re really coming from concern for the poor people of the philippines but right now I just see black smoke spewing from your fingers as you type your comments.
Hello Bob,
Sorry but it is my opinion that when someone continues questioning my morals I have the obligation to defend myself from such attacks.
Anyway, I apologize for my off topic posting on this thread but by all means people rather American nor Pinoy should be allowed to criticize people such as Steven, Pete and Myself either unless we be given fair opportunity to defend ourselves.
Roy has called me a truthfulness on the issue, called me a sock puppet and even questioned my intelligence. To me this is a direct attack and it is only fair that he also be asked to drop topic as well, besides seems to me I have more than provided enough evidence to prove my point.
That stated I will no longer post on this as you have asked but I shall not apologize for defended my position when attacked by a cowardly keyboard commando who spews unfounded accusations even after evidence has been served to him on a silver platter.
I do though apologize for off topic comments. My sincere apology in that regards.
Justin
anonymous,
You seem real grown up posting under the nic anonymous, coward is term I think. Didn’t your momma ever teach you that you shouldn’t write anything you’ll not put your name to. Bet your momma doesn’t even know your up so late does she? Grown up bloke you are LOLOL.
Justin Arledge
Bob,
May I ask why they can insult and criticise me at whim yet it only I who gets told to behave? You own this site and by all means you can do as you please for that reason but would truly be only fair to apply rules to all involved equally rather than to allow one member to be publicly bashed while placed under gag order which gives them no opportunity to defend themselves.
Justin
Hello Bob,
Understood and seems fair enough.
From this point on I will no longer post on this topic even if Roy or “Mr. Anonymous” chooses to address a post to me. I only ask that if people make disparaging comments towards others they be warned against doing such regardless of the nic, race or skin color.
Again my apologies for off topic posting on this thread and this will be last post.
Sincerely,
Justin
Hi Tom Ramberg – Yep, you are right. There are many advantages in my mind to gaining dual citizenship. There is one major disadvantage, though. I would then have to pay Philippine taxes. Right now, I am not liable to pay taxes to the Philippines, but if I were to become a citizen, then I would be liable.
Hi Beth – Actually, the truth is that I do not earn any of my income in the Philippines. 100% of my income is sourced from abroad. The truth is, though, as far as US Taxes are concerned, this is of no matter. No matter where you earn your money in the entire world, you must pay US Taxes, if you are a US Citizen. Most countries are not like this, but the US is.
Hi Steven – There are advantages to having Philippine Citizenship. Property ownership, as you say, is the major one. Yes, avoiding deportation is also a big one – they can’t deport you if you are a citizen, after all. Based on what you have said on this site in the past, another difference between us is that I love the Philippines. I would be proud to be a Philippine Citizen, as I am proud to be an American. I love the Philippines, and thus becoming a Citizen is something that I would like to do.
Hi John Miele – Right you are!
Hi Phil –
Hi Beth – Happy to help.
Hi James – Yes, I knew about that, and I have no problem with it. Who knows where my kids will be living when they decide to have kids themselves. They might be back in the States.
Steven – I am proud of my American citizenship. I could be proud of both of my countries if I were to gain Philippine Citizenship as well, though.
You have no idea about my businesses, Steven. I have businesses that have nothing to do with the Philippines.
Hi John in Austria – You and I are in the same boat! I have renew my passport this year too, as does Feyma.
Hi dans – In order for foreigners to own 100% of the property, it will require a Constitutional Change. The Philippine public is adamantly against any kind of Charter Change. If it happens in my lifetime, I will be surprised.
Hi dans – Thanks for the link. It will shock me if this happens in the next 50 years.
Hi dans – Don’t take me wrong, I never said that it can’t happen, or that it is not sincere. I just said that in my opinion it will not happen in the next 50 years. That’s just my opinion. One thing that is for sure… I am the world’s leading expert on my own opinion!
Hi Allan Kelly – you are absolutely correct. As a matter of fact, Feyma and I are going through the same process right now too.
Hi Pete – I’ve been clear. Last year, I decided to apply for citizenship. Since then, though, I have reconsidered due to the fact that I would be liable for Philippine taxes on my income. Right now, I am still unsure. In many ways I want to do it still.
Hi Dave Starr – And, sir, you have taught me something new today. I never even knew that there was a brown “official” passport. that’s news to me. Doesn’t surprise me, though, on reflection.
Justin – no country can go from poor to rich in a single bound. However, the Philippines is indeed improving, as Dave says.
Hi Dave – There are certainly a lot of rules. I think I don’t need to worry about them much, though!
Hi Justin – I am not sure what is going on… maybe you are having a bad day today. Your attitude today is not so good, though. Believe me, I am choosing my words carefully, as I wanted to use much more direct language.
Hi Justin – Thing is that nobody ever said that everything is great in the Philippines. We said that it is getting better, it is improving. As I said earlier, no country could go from poor to rich overnight, things are getting better though. Things take time, nothing happens overnight.
Hi Justin – All of us say things that we live to regret saying. I’ve done it many times myself.
Hi Justin – Fact is, nobody but you was ever talking about marriage brokering. A question was asked if the Filipinos were struggling because of the economic crisis. Dave and I both answered that things were not bad here in relation to the crisis. You are the only person who said anything about marriage brokering. That topic never even entered my mind.
Justin – This article is about US Citizenship. The article has drifted all over the place. Today, I have gotten a lot of private e-mails from people who are rightly upset with the course of discussion on this thread. Please, let’s just drop the subject. Comments about citizenship issues are OK. Comments on this article about other topics need to be dropped right now. If you want to start up an off-topic thread, please do it in the LiP Forum.
Hi Allan Kelly – No problem.
Hi Justin – I think it would be best if you drop this topic. You seem to be pretty hostile to others.
Hi Justin – No, you cannot post a photo in the comments. We have a Photo Gallery, you are free to set up your own album there and post photos all you like!
Justin – I already asked you to drop the subject. You have said enough. I asked you to drop this previously, and now I am telling you to drop the subject. Do not post on this again. I don’t know why you get so angry about things, but this is already enough.
Hello anonymous – I don’t generally allow anonymous comments here. Next time you will need to use a name, and stick with that name for future comments. Thank you.
Justin – I told you to drop the discussion, not to pick it up with somebody else again. I am sorry that you chose not to listen to me, as now I will have to take steps to make sure that such discussions do not get out of hand again.
Justin – “anonymous” made one single post, and I already admonished him to not post as anonymous again. Your intervention was not needed, and you had already been told to drop it.
As for Roy, he made only a few remarks. You went on and on and on with one comment after another without even waiting for him to respond. If you go back and look, you made your point after one comment, and did not need to post again and again with continued negative comments. If Roy or anonymous had repeatedly commented over and over again, I would have warned them too. Even after I warned you to stop, you did not listen to me, and continued.
It is that simple. You have a pattern of doing this on the site, Justin. It makes management of the site a big job for me when people act like this, and I don’t care to spend my whole day managing you when you get angry, so I have taken other steps.
hello Bob, i am a US citizen but i’ve been living in the philippines for almost 20 years, and now i am looking for my first job, and i am clueless about some things like, am i gonna be employed here,with my birthcertificate as an american citizen and without a record here?, and how about my SSS?, am i alowed to vote here?, please tell me, im really clueless and i think im going to blow my mind, i really want to know…. please help me….
Hi Bihye – Firstly, are you here legally for 20 years? I mean, do you have some kind of visa that has allowed you to stay that time? Of course, you cannot vote here – you are not a citizen. SSS, Job… it all depends on your legal status. If you are here illegally without a visa, then you need to get it all straightened out.
hi again Bob, yes i have a visa, and my we’ve been renewing it…, so that means i can get a job?, and is there other things that i need to know, other than that?
Hi Bihye – There are many different kinds of visas, some allow you to work and others don’t. If you have been here that long, you must have some kind of residence visa, which would generally allow you work.
hi, again BOB, ow, thank you so much for the info’s, keep on helping, azza! azza! fighting!!
Hi Bihye – I’m glad that the info helped you out. Good luck with the working!