Amazing as it is, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to speak on the BBC World Service!
The topic is introduced at 0:18 and then starts at 36:35
Today 12:06 GMT BBC World Service
To the left is a picture of me, a liberal progressive, in my flat when I lived in the US.
Excellent interview, well-handled on your end and on the interviewer’s end. It’s too bad they didn’t interview more than one person, but I’m sure the producer imposed some time limits.
Well done.
Great interview… Didn’t listen to all of it. Did you find a bank that would take you as a Yank?
Congratulations on getting your story reported on by the BBC. The interviewer wanted you to embellish on the loss and regret side of the story, whereas I would have liked it if you could have been able to talk more about the restrictions US citizenship had placed on you, for example that “you are no longer a risk” aspect of renunciation you touched on.
These opportunities to put a face on the issues facing US persons abroad are invaluable. Thank you.
BBC site is impossible to navigate. -couldn’t find your segment
@KalC, click on the link and then click on the picture of the man where it says: “Listen now 55 mins”. That will launch the video. Then, point the mouse over the picture with the microphone. That will cause the timer to appear with a white bar to the right of it. Holding the mouse down on the white bar, one can then fastward to the desired seconds.
Bravo, SwissPinoy!! Thanks for being interviewed.
Another Bravo!
I feel that as time has progressed those affected by CBT and FATCA are increasingly finding their voice and refining their thoughts on these matters.
It’s great to hear your voice. I hope many other voices will be heard in the not too distant future.
Interesting. It was quite mellow. Undramatic. Not sure which side instigated such neutralness.
Great interview. You were far more polite than what Uncle Sam deserves. In any case, a great interview indeed.
Dear SwissPinoy-thank you thank you thank you thank you for this.l have already had one question from an IT programme manager colleague who knew I had renounced (I had a little “renunciation party ” at work……so I was able to explain FATCA/CBT/.FBAR/OVDI to him in 2 mins because of you. his jaw was hanging open and all he could say was “that is crazy. That is ridiculous. Isee why you renounced”.
Powerful stuff. MEGAKUDOS to you for your bravery. and coming out of the shadows to light “candle in the wind” for all of us. Strength and honour.
Will listen. Can’t help but react to your picture. You hippy you! LOL!
Thank you Daniel! I found the interview very touching. The way you explained the process one goes through in weighing the options and finally having to resolve that the only way to be able to live and protect your family is to renounce was so helpful.
How well you explained the situation – so relevant and thought provoking.
Good interview. Has anyone considered walking into a bank with a fake CLN and see what happens?
Download from – http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=5&cad=rja&ved=0CEgQFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nostate.com%2Fwordpress%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F81609.pdf&ei=gO5JUpn_LqjF7Aaaq4CICQ&usg=AFQjCNG1Untm3H7taILhn8s7gmfWpmGc-Q
Perhaps have a seal made up to emboss the US seal (shouldn’t be too hard) and straighten out place of birth, and citizenship on the database and FATCA software will probably overlook your record.
In my opinion data integrity is going to be an enormous challenge. As long as you’re squeaky clean on the local taxes, why would the bank really care?
Yes not strictly legal, but whose laws are really being broken? Local laws or US laws?
One you have your account set up it could go on for years undetected.
@Don, I am concerned that even former US citizens could still face unwanted IRS scrutiny if their local bank/investment accounts continue to be erroneously reported by one’s resident tax authority. I suppose it would be reasonably straightforward to straighten out though, especially if one’s name has already been published on the Federal Register.
From deep down deep inside where I really live … I thank you, SwissPinoy. The trials and tribulations of FATCAed U.S. persons everywhere need to be written about and listened to. You helped.
Good job! Very well done!! Thank you!!
Really excellent, Swiss Pinoy! In speaking of your experience, you got across, in a very logical and compelling way, the true story of why people are renouncing and what it’s like to do so. It came across how these US policies are impacting the lives of “everyday people.” Great to have that out there!
@Joe Smith, some of the latest news writes that Yanks can’t find a bank that will accept them. Since I renounced, the situation has only gotten worse. Banks are being condemned by the US for accepting US Clients, and then condemned for rejecting US clients. I really don’t understand what the US is thinking.
http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/wirtschaft/unternehmen-und-konjunktur/USBuerger-finden-in-der-Schweiz-keine-Bank-mehr/story/23754996
@All, thanks for the support. I’m really the worst speaker. In highschool, I got an ‘F’ in speech because I couldn’t figure out how to get a sound out of my throat when standing up in front of the class. Thus, I’ve avoided public speaking as much as possible. I didn’t have much time to prepare for this. I spent the day before in a museum and then had to cook and clean for the family. Afterwards, I contacted a FATCA leader in Asia about a stalking issue. The next day, I went to work and then got called by BBC at lunchtime. I made some notes, but then didn’t look at them and posted the latest news on a FATCA delay to IBS to distract me so that I hopefully wouldn’t get nervous. The answers that I gave were really driven by the questions asked. In some cases, I couldn’t think of anything else to say since nothing else applied to the question more accurately and I didn’t want to delay my response too long thinking of a more complicated answer. What amazes me the most about the whole thing is how much my English has changed. I think that my accent is the result of playing with British English just for the fun of it (karaoke), and since such is similar to the English that I usually hear, it kind of sticks in.
@Tricia, I’m no longer the hippy that I used to be. My spouse prohibited me from wearing pretty pants and I haven’t gotten any support to reject the hair cut. I also drive an old and used luxury car instead of riding a bicycle around McDonalds while shouting in a microphone about car culture and fatty foods, like how I used to do so. I even have a beer belly! Yet, inside, I’m still the same old crazy left-wing nut that I’ve always been, hiding in the closet. 🙂
Nice!
Great interview Swisspinoy! Nice picture! And good for you for not letting your fear of public speaking get in the way!
@SwissPinoy, thanks for your willingness to speak openly. You didn’t sound scared at all, and you spoke well. I am surprised that she called you a “banker” though I suppose you work at a bank–but is everyone who works at a bank a “banker”? Finally, I have to say I found your accent in the interview quite remarkable and undetectable. It did not seem to be influenced by Schweizerdeutsch much. Thanks for the explanation.
@Petros, my new title as “banker” is one of two or three minor technicalities that has caused a few laughs. I may have said “yes” once when I didn’t quite understand the question possibly due to a decline in voip quality caused by NSA monitoring, or maybe it was an FBI response to some FATCA stalking activity that’s been going on the last few days. In any case, I like it.
@SwissPinoy,
Ha Ha, hiding no longer, we’ve seen the photo!
PS We won’t rat on you to your spouse.
Hope things are all ok with the upcoming arrival.