@Isaac Brock Society @Calgary411
Posting here thanks to the kind email from JC regarding my survey. It is a new survey which went live on 5 December 2014. I anticipate it remaining open until mid-January 2015. I am hoping to have a large number of responses in order to really put some nuance and depth – based on research data – into the discussions of citizenship renunciation. Most articles seem to be based on relatively few targeted interviews. I’m hoping to uncover more of the nuance in the situation. The survey is relatively short and asks for some basic demographic data, reasons for moving out of the US, what countries respondents live in now, and asks about citizenship renunciation intentions. I intend to publish academic articles from this, but can also share key findings, likely in February. You may be familiar with my recent book, Migrants or Expatriates? Americans in Europe. I’d be grateful if you could respond to the survey, and also share widely. I can be contacted at ak248@kent.ac.uk. Thank you!
Take the survey: The United States and You – A Survey for US Citizens and Former US Citizens
The United States and You – A Survey for US Citizens and Former US Citizens
There has been a great deal in the news recently about US citizens giving up their US passports, but these reports are largely based on anecdotal evidence and not on systematic research. This survey seeks to fill that gap, and explore, from a research perspective, what factors are playing a role in US overseas citizens’ thought processes on maintaining or renouncing US citizenship.
This survey explores that question, as well as asking a few questions more broadly about interactions with the US. The survey thus seeks to contribute to a deeper, research-based understanding of the interactions of Americans living abroad and the US, including renunciation.
The survey, which should take about 15 minutes, is completely anonymous – you will not be able to be identified. IP addresses are not being collected. You may skip or refuse to answer any question, and you may stop participating in the survey at any point. I take anonymity and the protection of data very seriously – and I appreciate your willingness to participate in this research!
If you have any questions, either now or later, you may contact me, Dr. Amanda Klekowski von Koppenfels, at ak248@kent.ac.uk . I am myself American, and teach and research at the University of Kent, Brussels (www.kent.ac.uk/brussels) and it is in the context of my employment there that I am coordinating this study.
Thank you so much for your participation!
From OAP, who has just completed this latest survey.
I completed the von Koppenfels survey last night and was very impressed. I’ve started many surveys, completed them 1/2 way through, and stopped because it became apparent there was an ‘agenda’; the survey was superficial; or the survey didn’t really want to know the real issues. That’s not the case with this survey.
As explained in her post above, the survey really does offer the opportunity to delve into the nuances. It’s a much more scholarly approach and gives one the chance to go much deeper into an individuals relationship with America, and if the relationship has broken down, a chance to define the detail (both practical and emotional) as to why that has happened. Don’t look to be ‘led’ by the survey. There aren’t the obvious “it’s because of the tax reporting or FATCA stupid” type questions.
It doesn’t take long, but don’t do it in a rush. Through its opportunities to define your issues, it should be far more incisive than the Democrats Abroad survey could ever be. With the right analysis, (and judging from the composition of the survey, I have faith it will be) a much more in depth and informative result will be reached. It could go well beyond the ‘sound bites’ we employ to try to make others understand the issues, and journey into the real crisis some of us face. I look forward to the summary.
I, too, will take the time for this important survey today. Hope many other Brockers join me.
Thanks for all of your work, Dr. Klekowski von Koppenfels!
It is a good survey in that it allows you to elaborate as much and as little as you want on certain subjects. Thank you for the opportunity to participate in another of your surveys, Dr. Klekowski von Koppenfels.
Good survey. Gives data and also gives opportunities for word inputs.
The last page gives the email address for them at
ak248@kent.ac.uk
Recommend that as many as possible fill this out.
Anxious to see results upon it.
Good survey, though she only recognizes renunciation as the path to losing US citizenship. Nothing about relinquishment. I explained this in one of the text boxes.
I put in my 2 cents!
The survey doesn’t really apply to a green carder whose card disappeared into a black hole so I won’t be doing it BUT I think I have my husband talked into doing it. He’s always pleased to make a statement that he is NOT American anymore. Dr. KvK did a great job on her previous survey so this one I expect will be every bit as good.
Good survey, good questions. And a good opportunity to vent the frustrations of all this.
@calgary411, thanks for alerting us to this survey. I filled it out as well. I also thank the professor for allowing us the space to voice our concerns. I would love to hear her conclusions.
Sally, I’m sure Dr. Klekowski von Koppenfels will give a summary. I’ll look forward to seeing that too. Here is that of her prior survey: https://americansabroad.org/files/8613/5972/6757/acapiecejan2013.pdf.
ahhhh, I remember that survey—-it was a good one about why expats become expats. I keep losing track of it! Glad you linked back to it Calgary!!!
I just filled it out too. Definitely well worth doing. I kind of spilled my guts so it took a bit longer than it might have done! Anyway, I encourage everyone to do the same.
@ MuzzledNoMore I did the same and found it took longer as well but well worth doing. Some of my comments were so long I resorted to using Word and using paste to insert them. I passed the link to the survey on as well. I don’t think the survey was written for people that have had this citizenship forced on them, unwanted. The results should be interesting.
It’s good to see someone doing this. I did the survey. She asked some good questions and left room for individualized replies. It will be interesting to see the results. Thank God for anonymity.
I did the survey and passed it on to the American Chamber of Commerce in my country of residence for its members as well
Since I am 100% Canadian, I can’t take part in this; or I’d be on the list to be transported to Guantanamo Bay…to sit as an unwilling participant in the middle of the prayer circle pointed towards Mecca. I’ve got a spleen full of vitriol aimed right at the White House.
Thanks, everyone, for your kind comments and for responding to the survey! I will absolutely post results – and will do so here – most likely in early February. And thank you for your comments – on former Green Card holders, relinquishment vs renunciation, etc. Thank you so much for participating – some of you for the second time in my research! I really appreciate it. (And again, anonymity will be maintained.) Best regards!
@Amanda Klekowski von Koppenfels
Just wanted to say thanks as well for pursuing this. I did your survey a few days ago; it was a pleasure. I hope you will also give some attention in your publications to the discrimination of non- “US persons” whose sole “flaw” is that they happen to have been born in the USA. I’m starting to see this happen at various banks and am concerned that this will become a larger trend.
Is there some way for spouses (who aren’t US citizens themselves) of US citizens affected by FATCA to get their viewpoint out on how the US and it’s extra-territorial taxation policies have affected them? It’s not just the American expats themselves that are being affected; it’s their entire families. I, for one, as an expat’s spouse, am enraged by the IRS’s view that they need to see MY earnings just because I’m married to an American expat.
@The_Animal
That’s an excellent point.
Although the survey is designed to be for US citizens and former citizens, I’d urge any spouses of US citizens/former US citizens (and any Green Card holders/ former Green Card holders as well, for that matter) to email me at ak248@kent.ac.uk and give me your thoughts on how US government policy may have affected you – whether positively or negatively.
I’ll incorporate those comments into my research – not using your name, if you share that with me, or any identifying information, of course.
I’ll see what I can do within the next few days.
@Amanda
Would it be possible to include what you’ve told the Animal on your survey’s opening page, that you would like to hear from the families and associates of US citizens?
@Bubblebustin
Thanks for the suggestion. Done!
@ Amanda,
I put a link to your survey under “Current Surveys You Can Take – Let Them Know What You Think” in the sidebar under “Take Action.” After the new year, I’ll highlight this survey with the deadline date.
This is a great survey. Thanks very much!
Amanda, the problematic part of the survey for me was the question, asked a couple of times, about whether I was a US citizen. Well, the truth is, it depends on who you ask. I say “No”, but I’m afraid that the US doesn’t agree with me. I don’t know if it is possible to ask the question two ways, “Do you consider yourself to be a US citizen?” and “Does the US consider you to be a US citizen?”, but it would certainly allow you to explore the circumstance whereby the US tries, against all logic or reason, to maintain control over ones citizenship. I’m thinking here especially of accidental Americans ( border babies), long term emigrants, and lapsed green card holders. In any event, thanks for organizing the survey, and I look forward to the findings.
My husband (formerly American) did the survey but I still have to decline because there is no definitive pigeon hole for US purposes which applies to my particular situation and it will remain that way until the day I die. In my mind, my heart and every fiber of my being, I am Canadian and that’s it. The USA can deem me to be anything it pleases but I’m not on U.S. soil and I never will be (unless forcibly removed from my homeland, Canada). Believe me, my heels are very firmly dug into Canadian soil. I’m so angry at the USA’s overreach and injustice that I dare not try to express my true thoughts, here or anywhere — probably couldn’t find the words anyway.
@The_Animal @Amanda @Ann Frank @Allison Christians
The US CBT and FATCA policies are definitely anti-family especially in case of non US spouse and family members with all intent to live their lives outside of the US.
The type of example of this: two persons living in Belgium, 1 a Canadian, 1 a US Person. Both have to file and pay tax to Belgium. The difference is that the US person has to file and pay tax (mitigated by tax treaty) to the US on Belgian source income and assets, the Canadian person does not have to file and pay tax to Canada on Belgian Source income and assets.
From this example we may see that the US person is at a disadvantage internationally (most homelanders may not fathom all the compliance and roadblocks put up by the USG for US persons overseas, and try to picture it in terms of what they have to do for Uncle Sam while living in the US). US persons are really at a disadvantage when all the US compliance, expense for compliance, knocking out the best tax breaks in Belgium, treating many investment and pension vehicles as PFIC with US penalties that come with this is all taken into consideration.
Getting back to the position of @The_Animal. There are severe anti-Family aspects of the US government regulations that pretend that US persons living overseas actually live in the US. First there is the limitation on building family financial security by penalizing investment options open to all other residents of your country. Then there are cases where the tax systems do not match up and double tax is required say on sale of first family home in the UK (where if not a UK person then there is no tax on this). Then there are potential aspects where estate tax comes into play. Say you die unexpectedly early, then there may be Uncle Sam coming in and taking a significant portion of home, pension, assets that would have gone to the surviving spouse (made worse if the spouse is not a US citizen) and family.
These anti-family aspects of USG policy I would very much like to have Isaac Brock Community legal heavies of @Anne Frank and @ Allison Christians weigh in on where these policies violate the sanctity of the family financial unit.
FATCA and CBT are anti-family http://tiny.cc/ANTIFAMILY