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!