Maintaining US Citizenship

[Hud3]

The discussion of tax laws is interesting, but way off topic. The original poster asked the following question...

What do we need to maintain our U.S. citizenship? Is a residence required or can we just throw all our stuff in storage and hit the water?

[Hiracer]

Originally Posted by Hud3

The discussion of tax laws is interesting, but way off topic.

Well, yes, but . . . . The original question was too easy to answer and I am the king of off topic posts. Sorry.

Still, if somebody is going to do a year or two sabbatical and living off of capital (which is maybe why they asked the citizenship question in the first place), they may not be obligated to file an income tax return for lack of income yet they would be well advised to anyhow, which is why I wanted to clarify. Not only do you keep your citizenship without any effort, you also continue to suffer all the burdens and risks that come with a U.S. citizenship.

[sck5]

you absolutely cannot lose your citizenship by violating tax laws. Yes, you should obey the tax laws or the IRS will make your life very miserable (and expensive). But just because you get in trouble with the IRS does NOT mean you are no longer a citizen. You are a citizen forever unless you renounce it (or swear allegiance to a foreign government which is taken to be a renunciation)

[wannago]

You can't loose citizenship, as many other posters have clearly pointed out.

But if you are a permanent resident (green card) and not a citizen then yes, you can loose you're permanent resident status by not being preset in the US for some period of time.

[Rayallyn]

Well, I thought about this topic/topics and have determined that in the scheme of things that with coming new world order cruising sailers will become like the novel "Man Without a Country"
You will have to request citizenship and be put in a pool just like insurance. Those with plenty of money will get the 1st world countries and the rest will have to settle for 3rd world countries but have to heavy cruising fees in the 1st world countries or stay in the 3rd world's cruising waters.

[s/v Jedi]

Many things are mixed up in this thread.... I am no expert either, but this is what I know (and I come back on topic in the end, don't worry):

- You have a country of birth. Basically, you can always go back there or other nations can send you back there if they have seen enough of you... This is why they (THEY) always want to know your country (even city sometimes) of birth.

- You have citizenship. Standard issue is citizen of the nation you are born in but you can subscribe to more of these clubs, getting a passport of each one. They don't like that but there's not much they can do besides empty threats. Their problem is that they would end up fighting each other instead of getting your wallet.

- You have domicile. This is where you live, have an address etc. When you emigrate you leave and when you immigrate, you come. The funny thing is that they can't handle people that emigrate but never immigrate elsewhere. This is good to remember: they can't handle this, there's no forms that apply. There's many words describing your status when you do this, Gypsy being just one.

We emigrated from Holland and never immigrated anywhere. We're "lost", they don't know what to do about it. But law in Holland says that when you emigrate and have no income from work, you don't pay tax. When you immigrate, that country would be interested in your tax contributions. Some are not, the tax havens, but life is expensive in Monaco and that apartment is just out of reach so never immigrating makes sense. That is, if you are not an US citizen, in which case you are ...

The domicile thing can be taken away from you when you don't spend enough time in their club, don't own a good enough house or whatever they can come up with. Basically, they want your wallet and if you're not spending, they are not interested anymore.

For cruisers, there are many "clubs" that have good deals for "pensionado's". You can get their brochures and select the one you really like. Some have cheap "green card" schemes, others throw in some passports etc. They love to get some of that hard earned pension! Panama is in favor at the moment. Venezuela has some trouble lately, it won't be long before they give away passports (down to $500 now I heard). Curacao also lowered the contribution fee's I heard (must buy house etc. but only 5% tax)

You must understand that it's all about money and that you're always okay when you like the nation you're born in or have it's membership card (passport). The tricky thing is when you want to hold on to that "green card" like domicile scheme because they make the rules for that, can change them and actualle enforce them.

cheers,
Nick.

[pd_dc]

Hello Everyone!
I want to add/expand on the original question:

Does anyone know if it is possible to leave USA for a few years immediately after being naturalized? If not, what is the minimum time one must remain in the country following the naturalization? Any help is greatly appreciated.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, pd_dc.

We are (especially I ) a VERY knowledgeable group; but your query might best be addressed to the USCIS:

➥ USCIS Home Page

➥ USCIS - Citizenship

[pd_dc]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, pd_dc.

We are (especially I ) a VERY knowledgeable group; but your query might best be addressed to the USCIS:

➥ USCIS Home Page

➥ USCIS - Citizenship

Thank you so much for such "helpful" and "sincere" reply. Please make sure that everyone who contributed to this post (since they're all talking of citizenship issue) read this "great" and so far from sarcastic reply. Please be so kind and read the thread one more time and then tell me if I am way off with my question.

[GordMay]

pd_dc:
Please accept my apologies, for any unintended insult.
I’m sorry, if you felt that my suggestion was insincere or sarcastic. It certainly wasn’t intended that way.

I thought the links I provided were exactly on point; and that they might be helpful.

Having re-read the entire thread, I realize that some excellent general advice has been offered.

In fact, this is exactly the kind of thread I might be tempted to offer my own advice, generally based upon a very little knowledge and a little more research. When doing so, I often support my opinions with references to acknowledged experts, and/or links to “official” sources.

My previous post omitted my opinions, and may have appeared rather brusque, merely linking to better sources of accurate information, than I.

[pd_dc]

Originally Posted by GordMay

pd_dc:
Please accept my apologies, for any unintended insult.
I’m sorry, if you felt that my suggestion was insincere or sarcastic. It certainly wasn’t intended that way.

Apologies accepted and in turn I ask for you to accept my apologies for being so quick to put my ugly reply. Im glad we were able to talk it out :-)

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by pd_dc

Hello Everyone!
I want to add/expand on the original question:

Does anyone know if it is possible to leave USA for a few years immediately after being naturalized? If not, what is the minimum time one must remain in the country following the naturalization? Any help is greatly appreciated.

My wife and I were living overseas when she obtained citizenship through naturalization. We left the US 5 days after the swearing in as we had to wait for her new US passport.

Once you are a citizen you are a citizen.

[sck5]

I know various naturalized Americans. There ARE rules about being here while the process of naturalization is going on. Once you are in the club though, you are just like everyone else and can come and go as you please. But the IRS will still find you.

[pd_dc]

Thanks so much for the replies. Yes, we plan to keep our IRS duties spotless as we will be coming back in a few years. We just wanna live in the big wide world for a little bit, but USA is and will be our home.

[Chief Engineer]

Until you become a resident of another state...you will still be liable for taxes....

At least that is the way it is in The Peoples Undemocratic Repubic of Maryland.
Motto " If there is any joy in it...we tax it"