In the years since I’ve lived in the Philippines a number of people have asked me if I gave up my American Citizenship. They couldn’t understand how I could live in a foreign country if I was an American Citizen. Well, the truth is that you can live in almost any country in the World and retain your American (or other country’s) Citizenship. Being an American Citizen does not require you to live in the United States. To my knowledge, the only places where you cannot legally live as a US Citizen would be Cuba, Libya and North Korea. I could be wrong on that… I think that Libya may have been removed from the list. In any event, it doesn’t matter, because the fact is that you can live almost anywhere in the world regardless of what country’s Citizenship you hold.
I saw a newspaper article on the net today saying that many American Citizens are now renouncing their US Citizenship due to tax reasons. You see, the United States is one of the only countries in the world that taxes it’s citizens even if they don’t live there! On top of that, earlier this year, legislation was passed that significantly increased the taxes that ex-pat Americans must pay. Because of this (among other reasons) the number of Americans who are giving up their US Citizenship seems to be climbing right now.
In the past, when I have been asked if I gave up my US Citizenship in order to live here, my most common answer has been “of course not, I would never give up my US Citizenship!” Upon reading the article, I toyed with the idea a bit, but only for a few minutes. Honestly, I can’t imagine giving up my US Citizenship. The fact is that even under the new US Tax laws, you can still earn in excess of $80,000 abroad before you have to pay taxes. For most US ex-pats living in the Philippines, they don’t earn more that that number. Of course, there are some who do, but I am talking about most. To have an income of $80,000+ in the Philippines would offer a pretty royal lifestyle. Having to pay a bit in taxes, in my opinion should not turn most Americans away. After all, there are benefits that come with US Citizenship. Being able to go visit the United States is one. Although I have not gone back to the States since moving here, I want the option to be available. I also want my kids to be US Citizens so that they can choose where to live, like I did.
What do you think? Would you renounce your US Citizenship?
The U.S. has a lot of problems and will have many more problems with the coronation of Nancy Pelosi next month. Taxes will go up, the economy will slow down as it always does when the looney left takes over.
But the majority of the people have spoken and they would prefer to forget that there are a lot of people on this planet that would like to see America fall. They would prefer to see more sex in government again.
With all the problems this country has I haven't seen any other country that would make me want to give up my citizenship here.
Hi Dan – I am like you… there is a lot going on with the US Government that I don't care for. But… I won't be renouncing my citizenship!
If you renounce you US citizenship to get out of paying taxes you loose both ways!
The IRS a long time ago had a US law written that states you can not get out of paying taxes by renouncing your citizenship. You will still owe taxes to the IRS even if you are no longer a US citizen. The red flag is set at the IRS when you try to stop being a citizen. The state department has a habit of reporting people that try that to the IRS.
The IRS then can go back 10 years with audits and ten years in the future. Any mistake in any year than from that date they can do another 10 years of audits. So after you try to renounce your US citizenship the IRS auditors learn how to audit from your books both past and future.
Now the other bit of good news the courts have ruled that it is next to impossible for any born USA citizen to give up their citizenship. The courts beleive that you really did not mean it so you have a whole bunch of hoops to jump thru and even than if the courts think you really did not mean to they will rule not in your favor. A lot of people have tried and a lot of people are still US citizens. The courts look at it from the angle that no one in their right mind would want to give up their birth right as a US citizen. The next step is you have to prove that you at the time of renouncement were in your right mind.
Have fun if you choose this way of trying to get out of paying taxes. Just do not have any income over $70,000 to $80,000 from interests outside of the US. Other than that have a none taxable retirement income with no other income and you will not have to pay taxes.
You still must each year file with the IRS a 1040 rather you like it or not. They look for expats that do not file and it is a long flight to Guam or the main land for an audit. Have not been there but have seen some off on their flight to Guam. They were lucky that they got their audit place moved to Guam.
That is about it for now so have fun trying to not be a US citizen.
I agree with you Bill. I did see the article in both the New York Times and also in the International Herald Tribune, though.
Hello Bob, I wondered about this very subject, I a loathed to give up my British Citizenship, having that British passport through descent is a safety net, I would like permanent residency in the philippines, but our government does not tax you provided you spend only 90 days or less in the country.
If you spend over that, you are liable to pay tax on any earned income or income from foreign property income etc, I think most U.S. Citizens would have to think twice about giving up the right to be a U.S. Citizen.
Hi Peter – yes, I agree, renouncing your citizenship is not the way to go for me. There are too many advantages to being a citizen of a western country, and no advantages that I can see of being a citizen of the Philippines.
Hi quick question. My family land is owm by my two sister under their maiden name. Question: Can their husband claims rigths to the land when the marriage desolved?
Hi Jean – I am sorry, but you really didn't give me a lot of information to go on! What is the citizenship of your sisters? What is the citizenship of the husbands? Where do they live? Is it a community property state or country where they live? How will the marriage be dissolved? Divorce? Annulment? I am not sure I know the answer, but I certainly can not answer it based on the amount of information that you provided.
I would have no problem giving up my citizenship if I found a country accepting of immigrants rather than just expats. The Philippines and many other countries want expats that spend money, they are not to anxious to find immigrants, those that bring skills and expertise and expect citizenship, rights, and hope in return.
Hi Uncle Che – I am not sure where your citizenship is, but personally, I don't see any advantage to having Philippine Citizenship compared to my American Citizenship.
I hope one day the whole world (Earth) will become one Union where a citizen of any country will be able to freely move and live in any place in the world without any significant immigration problems and will be able to own land and property anywhere in the world. I'm a citizen of a EU country and also resident (undecided whether to apply for US citizenship yet) of USA. I'm interested to know wht percentage of Filipina women are simply looking for a greencard and what percentage are seriously looking for a western husband? In the US I've met several Filipinas, but all of them were US citizen and divorced their American husbands already. US Filipinas who came here 5-8-10 yeears ago they are picky and to much "liberated" same as horrible horrible American women.
You can give up your citizenship..
Renunciation is the process of giving up your U.S. citizenship. To renounce your U.S. citizenship you must be in a foreign nation and fill out the proper forms in front of a U.S. diplomat, usually at a U.S. embassy. This process relieves you of all the protections and duties of a U.S. citizen. This process is permanent.
Renouncing your citizenship does not get rid of any debts or obligations that you made while living in the U.S. as a citizen.
Hi Frank – the procedure that you list is 100% correct. However, giving up your US Citizenship is not as easy as just following that procedure. In many cases such applications are denied by the US government.
Now, now John, let's not paint all American women (and divorced Filipina wives) with the same black brush. Do you want us to start making similar broad, sweeping statements about men who look for wives on the internet? I don't think so. Please think before you type.
AmericanLola – I just want to clarify… this is an older post that I am re-running. The commenter "John" is not the same John who is a writer on this blog now. The John that posted that comment, I do not believe is currently participating in the blog at all. 😆
Oh good. Well, however long ago it was, he was way out of line with that sort of comment, in my American womanly opinion. Ahem! 🙂
Thanks for clarifying that, Bob!
Hi bob intresting subject citizensip. By birth i am british but lived most of my youger days in Rhodesia. After along hard war the country became Zimbabwe mad bob (mugabe)stripped the white community of their citizenshipand passports. After 5 years here. in south africa ibecame a south african citizen. Now ihold abritish and south african citizenship . My father is irish so icould claim irish citizenship .But you should see my 6 year old son born in south africahe is asouth african british and filipino citizen and holds all passports .Ihave to re mortgagethe house when it comes to passport renewel time.
Bob there is no way I would ever renounce my citizenship to the U.S… Regardless of where I live I am an American and I always will be. You just read the patriotic part of my reasoning The majority of my retirement income is derived solely from the U.S. Government. My retired pay from my days in the Marine Corps stops if I renounce my citizenship so it would not be practical to do so. In regard to taxes my retirement income is earned in the U.S. so I am taxed on it. My income at retirement will not be so large that my tax bill will be that much of an issue. Ron
Bob – As retired Navy, I agree with Ron LaFleur patriotically and financially. 😉
As a tax accountant, I'll insert that tax treaties between the USA and other countries come into play regarding income taxes based on foreign-sourced (non-USA) income. Currently, if the country where the income is earned taxes that income, and that country has a sufficient tax treaty with the USA, the USA will, in a majority of cases, give the taxpayer credit for foreign taxes paid. Of course, the tax codes seem to always be in a state of flux, so I had to adequately pad my statement–there are no general rules of thumb in this area!
As to the IRS looking back 10 years and forward 10 years, that's a little confusing, too. For most cases, the IRS can look back 3 years (the statute of limitations). If certain criteria are met, that can be increased to 6 years, 7 years, or whatever is specified for that particular criteria met. There is no statute of limitations for fraud, so they can go back as far as they want in that regard. As to the looking forward, that is a law case waiting to happen as it deals with suspected future events that may or may not happen, and those future years must be "brought to the present" before anything can be accomplished.
You might have guessed there is an element of "job security" in my chosen careers. I had to choose another career field after my first retirement. With death and taxes being the only sure things in life, and not wanting to be a mortician, you can see why I took the path I travel! 🙂 Having the permanent occupation of "retirement" is the ultimate job security goal here! 😆
Hi, I'm Bill K. (not the one of December 30, 2006) Most people living and
working in America simply and ignorantly assume that they are
"U.S. citizens" when in reality they are Citizens of the United States of
America. There IS a difference. If you are born in and now live in one
of the states of the union, you are an American Citizen. You become a
"U.S. citizen" when you sign "Under Penalty of Perjury" on a "U.S. Form
1040" that your "income" is derived from a "Revenue Taxable Source",
(ie; Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives, Controlled Substances and
certain Foreign Earned Income) In reality, a "U.S. citizen" is one who lives
and works in a U.S. Territory or Insular Posession. (Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin
Islands, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas, etc.) So, when you
sign that "U.S. Form 1040", you are ignorantly committing perjury by
stating that your "income" came from that sugar cane plantation in
the Carribean. Is the light starting to shine now? Before you get too
angry and start calling me names and saying I'm full of it, do your
homework – I did! Further clue – the logo on the "U.S. Form 1040"
is in reality the logo for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
of Puerto Rico! Don't take my word – check it out!
So to read your post a person that does not file income taxes in the U.S. on a 1040 form is not a citizen of the U.S.? Children under the age of legal capacity to work come to mind. I have read your post about five times and I am sure there is a message in there somewhere-I just don't get it. You become a U.S. citizen when born to a parent(s) that are U.S. Citizens, are born in the Unites States or one of its territories or are naturalized. Someone please help me here. Ron
Tax protestor stuff that tax courts rule as frivolous. 😆
Hi Frank – Maybe you need a whole closet just to store all of those passports! 🙂
Hi Ron – As an American citizen, no matter where your retirement income is earned, you have to pay tax on it. If you earn it in the Philippines, USA, or on the moon, the US Government taxes Americans on citizen from anywhere. That being said, though… if you are an ex-pat and live outside the country, your first $80,000 or so is tax free. Keep in mind, though, this won't work if you go back and forth between two countries. You must remain outside the USA.
Hi Paul – You could actually live here in the Philippines and have a great business of doing tax returns for US Citizens living here. I know for a fact that there is great demand for such service.
Hi Bill K. – Honestly, there are so many of those tax schemes and such, I don't believe in all of that. YMMV, but it's just not up my alley. Sorry.
Hi Ron LaFleur – Ditto!
Hi Bob – Thought about keeping my CPA licenses (OH & CA) up to date through my retirement and starting up such a business in the Phils. Then I came to my senses and asked myself, "Just what is driving you to retirement?" 😆
Hi Paul – You could work just one or two months per year, during tax time! 😆
Hi bob not sure what a closet is could iuse a wardrobe instead.:lol:
Hi Frank – For us, the "wardrobe" is the clothes themselves, not the thing that they are stored in! 😆
….ask me if Hillary gets elected…..
Hi brian – Oh boy…. I don't even want to know!
I may not be the target reader here, since I'm a pinoy living in the States. but i'll chime in.
I will never give up my filipino citizenship. It's my identity and i take great pride in it.
I hesitated applying for US citizenship for 10+ years and was going back and forth on it. It did help that my mother's side of the family is of American descent.
I must admit that the 100% application rate increase last week finally compelled me to apply. Don't get me wrong, I don't take the application for granted and wasn't feeling too good about swearing in because of my distaste of the US current administration — Now now, put the knives down. I'm not trying to make a political point here. I know my views may be in the minority here but I'm just being honest and explaining my personal reasoning. Still, I may be more American than I suspect. My justification for holding off and sticking to a certain principle sounds quite American to me.
I'm just glad that the Philippines now recognizes dual citizenship. It would have been a much harder decision if I had to drop my Filipino identity. Many of my countrymen would drop theirs in a second and that motivates me even more to hold on to mine.
Hi Macky – you make some nice points about citizenship there. I agree with you that the new dual citizenship laws in the Philippines are very attractive!
hi bob, i need your help. i'm a filipino in blood. i was born and raised in the philippines. my family and i came to the u.s. in 2000, and now i'm a u.s. citizen. i'm 19 yrs old and currently in college. my plan is to live and work in the philippines after college, even though my parents are against me. back then and there in the philippines, we're not really poor. in fact we're upper middle class. we just came here in the u.s. just to try living here.
i've lived more than six yrs in america but i still don't like it here. on july of this yr i returned stayed in the philippines for a short time of two weeks. it's my first return after more than six yrs in the u.s. no offense, but my life made more sense in those two weeks :???:than in the past six yrs in the u.s. i just felt at home. i was happy. here i am, back again in america and asking for ur help. how can i exactly live and work in the philippines permanently after college? is dual citizenship the best option? like u, i don't want to lose my u.s. citizenship. what about the double taxes? can u explain it to me?
my parents won't help me since they're against me. i have a lot of friends and relatives there in the philippines, but what can they do? i understand that most ppl come here in the u.s. to have a better state of living. however, we're all different. after all, money can't buy me luv or happiness. i'd rather live in the philippines w/ all its problems. thanks to ur help. by the way, i'm still fluent in the filipino language, not that it matters.:???:
Hi Jonas – No offense taken. I understand that you miss your home country, and I can feel that through what you write. Yes, I do feel that dual citizenship is the way to go for you. It should be fairly easy for you to get. Just contact the Philippine consulate closest to where you live and ask for whatever forms are necessary. They should be able to take care of you on that. By getting your dual citizenship in the Philippines, you will not lose your US citizenship, no worries there.
If you work in the Philippines, you will have to pay taxes in the Philippines and the USA, but it won't be double. When you file your US taxes you will be able to take a credit for the taxes that you paid here, and may not even owe any US taxes in that case.
Good luck with everything, Jonas!
I'm back. Hahaha I love Americanlola's reply to John. I'm with you on that. In Pinays' side, I for one didn't come here in US to get divorce once have a hold of a green card. I came here because I want a husband, period. I bet a lot of us here are still with their only husband. I bet too, there are a lot of us that married an American husband because they want a husband not the green card. I for one didn't think of marrying until I met my husband and I'm 31 yrs. old. There are a lot of different reason why marriage fall apart. Could be their age gap and so on…
I'm a little hesitant to post this because it might stir up a hornets nest. But I have been pondering some questions for a long time about who retires or moves to the RP. I want to be sure I'm not getting a false impression about the majority of Americans moving to or retiring to the Phils because of human nature and the nature of the internet. The internet is kind of biased toward folks that like to share thoughts or even simply make lots of absolute declarations, etc. But I know people who would rather lurk on lists like this and others I belong to and just read what others have to say and remain private and more introspective as they make decisions about moving to any country, including the Philippines. I often wonder how many Americans of this latter "invisible" type are living in the RP and are unknown to those on this or other blogs because they are the quiet self reliant types who just “do it” and make their way in the new place (I'm thinking of someone I know who is like this…she wouldn't have much need for a list like this except to read the articles posted by selected authors).
So here is what I mostly notice. Many of the men moving to the RP (or even just looking for a wife in the RP) are conservative, and some are quite far to the right politically. Understandably, many are ex-military and have spent some time in the RP, probably enjoyed their stay, and perhaps married while they were on duty in the Philippines. Statistically, ex-military folks will often be politically right of center and make up a large portion of western men moving to the Phils. I may be overly general in my assumptions, but I'm just trying to wrap my brain around the evidence I see and hear, not make a judgment. Of course I'm leaving out those who make the move primarily for financial reasons. I'm also leaving out missionaries who've made permanent life in the RP (and the spectrum of motives among "missionaries" is probably as diverse as political views).
There is only one observation I have a difficult time comprehending. I read many statements about US patriotism and even joking about giving up their citizenship if Hillary wins the next election. My brother-in-law's father is threatening to move to Canada if she wins. That would be interesting, perhaps he can rent a house vacated by the liberal Americans returning to America since moving to Canada after Bush got elected for his second term (Canada and New Zealand had HUGE increases in immigration requests after that election). Why would such politically conservative and patriotic people choose to leave the "greatest country on Earth"? I mean, if everyplace else is inferior, why would you leave America? Please don't read any innuendo or undertones in my question. I am truly having an impossible time understanding why very right wing people are leaving America to live in a developing country (and then complain about it). When left-leaning folks started leaving for Canada after Bush's second term victory, folks on the right said "Great…good riddance – don't let the door hit you on the way out."
I find it all confusing or somehow inconsistent. The only reasons I can come up with that can trump the inconsistency of leaving the greatest country on Earth are the following very basic drives:
1. The RP is 80%+ Christian and about half the women still hold very conservative values (particularly in the rural parts) making it ideal wife searching grounds for very conservative American men who have trouble finding more submissive wives in the USA or Europe.
2. Financial pressure (because it's too expensive to retire in the greatest country on Earth)
3. To get a date (myself included….and it's a long way to go for a date…but it was worth it).
Jon
Jon – the "greatest place on earth" is the place one says is the greatest. It's all very subjective. The USA may have many advantages over other countries, but it may not be where a US citizen (or anyone else) wants to reside.
In my case, I am a twice-retired, and working on my third. The first career was in the US Navy. I met and married my Pinay wife in London, UK while stationed there, and was never stationed in the Phils. (Guam was as close as I could get). I came from a rather conservative background, though I was quite liberal as a youth. When my liberalism moved right, I enlisted in the Navy during an unpopular war (Vietnam).
As for my wife (and my ideal life-partner), love developed as we discovered just how parallel our lives were. I wasn't looking for a "submissive" wife, didn't expect one when I married, and didn't get one either! 🙂 (Thank God!) She is a God-send: truly the median between a "Yes, dear" type and a "You'd better . . . " type. We've gotten through over 30 years of laughs and tears. She would have never married me if she even thought I was searching for a submissive wife, a "mail-order bride," or someone other than the loving human being she is.
I'm retiring in the Phils because it's life's next adventure, family and friends abound, nature and the environment is beautiful, and my rose-colored glasses are stamped, "Made in the Philippines"! 😀 My fixed retirement income(s) will go much further – I plan on using it in the community, not hoarding it for myself, as we've decided on a simpler, provincial lifestyle for ourselves.
In the four stages of life, as held in some eastern cultures or religions, I find myself in stage three – the seeker. I need more than temporal, material desires, and need to expand the "whole me" in a search for true wisdom.
As you see, purely subjective. Life in the Phils. is not for everyone, and I don't bang the drum or advertise for followers. It all depends on where one's rose-color glasses are made! 😆
Hi Mahdy – thanks for sharing your thoughs!
Hi Jon – Oh, believe me, there are people from every part of the political spectrum living here, not just conservatives. I know plenty of very liberal people who choose to live here as well. I would say that politics plays a very small role in people's desire to live here.
Hi Paul – I think that a sense of adventure and financial motivations are the strongest lures to the Philippines for the ex-pats living here.
Hi Macky,
I share your sentiments. I had no intention of applying for US citizenship in the 20+ years that I've been living in the States. The events of 9/11 made me do a reevaluation. Living in NYC, and being married to an American, I felt that I needed to do more for the country that gave me the opportunity to be what I wanted to be. It was a difficult decision to make because I love the Philippines. It is where I was born and where I intend to be buried. The Philippine dual citizenship bill made it easier for me to make my decision. My oath-taking was very emotional for me. I took solace in the fact that I haven't really given up my Philippine citizenship, because I can have both. It's a funny feeling, though, I still have to get used to being "dual".
Hi Tina,
Congratulations then. I guess I am not the only one with mixed feelings about it. If I am fortunate enough to receive my US citizenship, I will also opt for dual.
Between you and me though (and the gazillion readers here, I guess), once I receive dual citizenship, I would still consider myself a Filipino citizen first.
Hi Macky,
I come from a family of proud Filipino nationalists. I know that, although, they didn't say it to my face, they weren't too thrilled that I opted to do what I did. They respected my decision. My youngest niece, who was 10 at the time, gave me a hard time. Being the closest to me, she told me, point-blank, that she'll remain a Filipino forever and that she felt that I was no longer one of them. This made me feel really bad.
This made me think real hard. And you know what, between you and me, it doesn't matter what passport you carry, what matters is what's in the heart. That, I know, hasn't changed!
Whew! This is one of Bob's emotionally-charged posts, I would say!
Paul,
I really enjoyed your reply and find that your motives for living in the Philippines are much like my own. I identified with a nice article Bob wrote a few weeks ago on the adventurer types who make a good life in the Phils. I've done a bit of traveling, worked as a natural history tour leader in Ecuador, and did some field work (flood hydrology) in remote parts of the Colorado Rockies. We could retire quite comfortably in the Philippines, but we actually look forward to a simpler lifestyle than we have now.
Actually, I really didn't seek a date or a wife in Philippines. I met Mahdy online on Yahoo personals just a week before Yahoo! Personals started charging fees (if there were fees I never would have met her!! I had no interest in a pay service.). I was was looking for friends and dating in San Diego! A friend of Mahdy's signed her up, and wrote her profile, using a San Diego zip code so this is how she came up in my local search!! Well, the picture of her sitting at her teacher desk next wo a window with no glass, only screen, and plenty of tropical vegetation beyond that could never grow in San Diego tipped me off. I said "You're not really in San Diego, are you?" But, within minutes we found out we were both teachers and that pretty much was the spark that become our eternal flame. My school was renovating and adopting new textbooks. So I boxed up hundreds science books, teachers editions, dictionaries, etc. and shipped them by LBC in the biggest boxes they had. My students brought in the reference books and many children's books to help the younger kids learn English at Mahdy's sisters' schools (Mahdy comes from a family of teachers).
Back in 2002 at Christmas time I arrived just a week after the boxes of books. Mahdy and I took all the books, by bus, to her remote high school in Laak (in the high country above Tagum, near Davao). The school had ancient and tattered textbooks with no illustrations and missing pages. Our books that were headed for a dumpster are now in very appreciative hands….Imagine, perhaps the finest high-school science textbooks in all of Mindinao will be found in a remote village 😀 Well, now Mahdy is a Special Education teacher at the same high school were I teach science. Mahdy would like to return to teaching in the Davao area and introduce what she has learned about learning disabilities and individualized/modified instruction. Her sisters report that Special Ed. is now offered a degree program at colleges and is catching on in schools. Unfortunately, almost all of those getting the sped degrees plan to teach in America (more brain drain).
Jon
Hi Jon – very interesting the way things worked out for you by coincidence, with the Yahoo service and all. Very lucky indeed, just like me!
Hi Tina – I can really feel your pain and anguish in your decision. I feel that your niece really spoke out of turn on this – of course she was just 10 and didn't fully understand. It really was not her business, though, it was a highly personal decision for you. By being naturalized in the USA, it did not mean that you were abandoning your roots, only planting some additional roots, and you cannot be blamed for that. With the dual citizenship act, you can retain one while adding an additional citizenship anyway.
Anyway, I do hope that you can look back and feel you made the right choice. Don't be swayed by what others think or say. Only you can decide what was right for you.
Hi Bob,
Thanks for your words of comfort. In a way, I was glad that my niece was honest enough to tell me how she felt because it showed her patriotism.
Personally, deep in my heart, I know I made the right decision. I didn't want to be an "outsider" in my own community, especially since 9/11, living with the daily threat of terrorism.
Hi Tina,
Good for you. In a way, it must be nice to have come from a family with a deep sense of pride in being Filipino. Like you said, there may be drawbacks from that (like a backlash, to your US citizenship). I come from the opposite field on this. I grew up with the impression that being Filipino was inferior to being American. So, when I became an adult, I realized this and had a reaction to it.
You're niece is still young and said something without the awareness and knowledge only an adult could have. I bet you 10 years from now, she will think differently about it. You are right, it is not in your passport that matters.
Hi Tina – I think your niece is kind of a "mini Tina" – she says what's on her mind! 😆
My husband and I made a deal that I can only do my Mindanao tour this year if(only if) I start working on my application for U.S. Citizenship.
I don't want to miss this chance, so I am working on it now.
I have been "eluding" U.S. citizenship application because I never believed that it will make me a better resident of this country if I were a citizen(but it is how I act according to the law).
Dual citizenship also made me agree with the deal-Nothing to lose.
And it made my husband really happy-He's connected with the Immigration.
Hi Kiarizona – Good luck to you! I hope all works out well.
😆 You're soooo right, Bob! I have 3 nieces who are strong-willed and very outspoken, their parents say they all took after me. 🙄 I wonder if this was supposed to be a compliment? 😕 Could you imagine 3 of me? 😆 Then, I thought, at least I know they'll be fine. I just feel sorry for the suitors! 😆
Hi Tina – Well, they could do a lot worse than emulating you! I can vouch for that! 😆
Bob,
I have read the comments here with much interest. I am about to marry a lady from Gingoog City. I fell in Love with her because of her values (simliar to mine), plus she is a very sweet lady and is not submissive. I have known her and her family for almost 3 yrs and I hope we will be together here shortly for we r waiting for her dates for her physical and interview now.
Once we r married it is my desire to give her time to explore the us with me and then in 4 to 5 yrs retire back to the Philippines. ( lived there for 3 yrs back in the early 70's). Not because I want to run out on the US but because I am at a point in life where I am looking for something different, not found in the US.
But like many others I do not wish to give my US passport up, for I am sure that my future wife and I will want to return to my home to visit wiht my kids and grandkids plus I love the US and what it stands for, but that does not mean I do not love other places on the planet. But I am interested in what my rights and obligations will be
Plus I love the new format
Luke
Hi Luke – don't worry, you can live here as long as you like and never have to relinquish any of your rights as a US citizen.