Consulate Report Directory (Brockers Describe their Consulate Meetings) and CLN Delivery Time Chart Part 2
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Wonder what really happens at the consulates? Find out in the Isaac Brock Society’s Consulate Report Directory, currently 279 pages of first-hand accounts of renunciation/relinquishment appointments, arranged by consulate location, along with further information and links to the required Dept of State forms and the Dept of State manuals used by the consulates in processing CLN applications, with an appendix containing a timeline chart (booking-meeting-CLN) as reported by consulate location.
The Directory is updated as consulate visit stories are posted on the website.
You can post here or elsewhere on the site (we’ll keep an eye out for them). Some comments may be excerpted or condensed slightly in the consulate reports. The original posts and comments remain on their threads are not edited.
Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences…and keep ’em coming! It’s a new experience for everyone and your information is really helpful.
To change or delete your report in the Directory, you can post the change as a comment on this thread or e-mail Pacifica@isaacbrocksociety.ca
Click here for the Consulate Report Directory
Notes:
Consulates are listed alphabetically by country and the Directory’s table of contents links to each section (they don’t look like links, but they are.)
This thread is a continuation of Consulate Report Directory Part 1, which contains earlier discussion on this topic, 929 comments from its inception in March 2012 through February 2013.
To Book an Appointment and/or Request Information from your Local Consulate:
This post by Eric, Almost No US Citizenship Renunciation Appointments Left During 2016 in Dublin, contains a chart of links to the consulates’ website pages on renunciation/relinquishment, for info on booking appointments and/or requesting information at your location. (The title highlights Dublin, but the charts, article and discussion cover consulates around the world.)
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Definitely no shame in that, readytogo! Congrats on what I feel confident will be as clean a break as possible with this country.
readytogo. Fair enough. You have clearly thought it through. Good luck.
Congratulations, ReadyToGo! I’m glad everything went smoothly at the Calgary consulate.
I agree with Bubblebustin and Duke. Each person and their circumstances are a bit (or a lot) different. So, regarding tax or any aspect of this matter, I think that as long as a person is aware of and thought over their possible options, as you have, they’re making the right decision.
Thanks for sharing your consulate experience!
@New-Canadian-in-Japan,
Were you really denied Japanese citizenship based on 2 speeding tickets?
WHY THE DELAY?
I was looking through our important papers yesterday, and finally looked carefully at our CLNs. I received mine at the end of Dec.; my husband got his in early January. We applied for them at the end of March at the Calgary consulate based on our relinquishment in 1974. When the CLNs finally came we were so relieved that our 9 and 9.5 months of waiting were over, we didn’t examine them carefully. Yesterday I did, and noticed that in each of our documents, the date in the upper right corner, the date approved by the State Department was four months and one day after our appointment in Calgary! Yet mine was mailed from Calgary in late December, and my husband’s in early January, 5 and 5.5 months after the State Dept. approval. WHY?
@ Queenston
Indeed … WHY? My husband’s relinquishment appointment was the beginning of February in Calgary. His CLN was approved on June 16, mailed from Calgary on June 19 and arrived at our PO box on June 20. I cannot fathom why you and your husband had to wait 5 months. Why would the consulate delay the relay?
I am pleased to report receipt of a CLN based on city employment. While I was highlighting the oath of allegiance and policy nature of my position, ultimately it was solely the city employment which was cited as the expatriating act.
Hopefully this will encourage others in the same position to be persistent in requesting relinquishment, not renunciation.
I wrote this in October:
I lived in the US for the first 4 months of my life. I have never had a passport, a social security number or vacationed there for more than 3 weeks. Nor have I worked there. I spent 10 years working for a city in Canada, where i was required to take an oath of allegiance, of which I have a copy.
I had my meeting at the US consulate in September for relinquishment. The first fellow I spoke with advised me that he did not feel my oath and employment were sufficient to have relinquished citizenship. He said that since I already had Canadian citizenship when I took the oath, the oath was meaningless, and that since I was not required to acquire Canadian citizenship for my employment, my employment with the government (in policy work) was not an act of relinquishment.
He then offered at least 3 times for me to renounce my citizenship, enticing me with today’s low rate of $450, which would be increasing to $2300 in only 10 days. This was my last chance for highly recommended bargain renunciation. However, I insisted on proceeding with the relinquishment paperwork . He advised that he is not the adjudicator and that someone else would make the final decision.
The following hour+ was spent in the waiting room. Finally, I was called to speak to the person with whom I supposed some authority rested. She proceeded to sign and fill out the relinquishment paperwork and asked me a few questions. She advised that a decision would be made in Washington as to the validity of the request. When asked, she admitted she would make a recommendation. When asked what that would be, she said she did not know, that she was new to the department and that she would need to “consult her department” in order to make a decision. She said my case was a gray area, that she would likely not recommend the processing of a CLN, but that she did not know. She then continued to proceed to tell me that I would receive the CLN in the envelope provided, or they would contact me sooner. When I asked how they would contact me if they did not intend to give me a CLN, she did not know and had to go ask someone else in the office. She seemed to be consulting the first fellow I spoke with. Her job knowledge was clearly limited. She was very pleasant though. She also offered for me to simply renounce today at the next window.
In finishing the paperwork, she needed to let me know the finality of my actions and advised that I would no longer enjoy the benefits of US Citizenship. She then laughed and volunteered the comment that I have never enjoyed any benefits of us citizenship.
So, I have no idea what this means. I insisted on following through with the relinquishment, they filled out the paperwork, then could not advise whether or not I could expect to receive a CLN, but where not positive. My guess is that they are advised to route as many people as possible through the renunciation process as possible.
Apparently, I will wait 3-6 months to find out if my CLN arrives.
I am finding this stressful. Since then, I changed financial institutions and have now had my investment accounts frozen because I am in the middle of this. I was flagged because I answered that I was born in the US. RBC chased me down and said I could not do anything with my account until I have a CLN.
Since my renunciation took place prior to Feb 6, 1995, I understand i had no duty to inform the state department of my actions. In this case, I feel i could approach RBC with my rationale for not being a US person and they should accept it.
Anyone else out there with similar circumstances? Looking for a bright light at the end of this long dark tunnel!
Well done. Now you could tell RBC to get stuffed.
@ KCam
That’s good news and it should bolster the resolve of others to go for relinquishment rather than renunciation whenever possible.
@KCam
Congratulations! Well done!
When I started reading your history just now I thought you were talking about Sep 2013, judging by how little they knew. I’m curious what consulate you went to if you’re comfortable sharing that.
I might be inclined to tell RBC to get stuffed, but you’ll have to show them your CLN regarless or they are obligated to report you to the CRA/IRS.
The IGA’s option for a “reasonable explantion” for not having a CLN is not well defined in the IGA or CRA Guidance. I’m not surprised when I hear of FIs who will not accept anything but a CLN. You have the CLN, and that _is_ the bright light at the end of the tunnel.
Congratulations, KCam. Another successful claim to relinquishment for Pacifica’s Consulate Report Directory. Your report will help others in similar situations and give them courage to do what you held out for. Bravo – we celebrate your success.
whatamI;
It was Vancouver.
@KCam
Thanks. I figured it wasn’t Calgary. I had my appointment 5 months before you, and they were up on all the laws at that time. BTW, I’m still waiting to hear…
whatamI:
It took 5+ months, and I had to provide additional information to prove my employment. The timing was within the 3-6 months they advised.
Whoa!!! Did I just read that KCam has had investment accounts frozen because of USness IN CANADA??? This is the first I hear of this. Is there something I’ve been missing all this time? Is this because there is some US content in this investment account? Please, anyone who knows, answer!
It is direct investing acct. Tfsa and rrsp. Questioned “Were you born in the US? when opening the acct. That triggered the request for w 9 Ben or cln. Frozen from transactions until one or the other provided. But I can withdraw.
Thanks KCal. I can at least sleep better knowing I can withdraw if I find myself (and more likely my wife) in this (ridiculous) situation. Did RBC demand proof of your place of birth, or did you volunteer this info?
KCam, congratulations! Well done on standing your ground.
An update to my renunciation process in Toronto, Canada.
Request for appointment submitted: May 2014
First and only meeting at consulate: August 2014
CLN received: February 2015
Freedom achieved.
@Mark Johnson, hoorah another one received. Congratulations Mark.
Mark Johnson,
*Freedom Achieved* — wonderful words. Thanks for reporting and congratulations!
@KCam
“Were you born in the US?” then frozen out until you produce a US government form– this is why my strategy is to lie when asked this question (“I was born in Montreal.”). I refuse to play their game.
Yes – born in the USA. Answered question honestly. Hindsight – honesty maybe not the best policy ?
Congratulations, KCam!
Great to hear you received your CLN! It must be particularly stressful waiting when use of your bank accounts are dependent on it.
Thanks for sharing your story! It will be beneficial and encouraging to others who have relinquished upon taking govt employment and are planning to get a CLN.
A real shame the Vancouver consul was not up to speed on s. (4). It’s really frustrating, actually — and adds to the stress of all this. Great that you stood your ground. And I hope your case has helped her gain knowledge of the applicability of s. (4) which would result in a smoother experience for future s. (4) applicants at Vancouver.
Thanks again for writing about your consulate experience. I’ll add it to the Directory and CLN Time Chart and also to the Reports by Persons who Relinquished [by] Government Employment.
Mark Johnson and KCam congrats. Mark, your appointment wait time, although still pretty long, was a little shorter than I would have expected for Toronto. I wonder if something has changed in that regard, and if the rest of the Canadian consulates are still backed-up?