Renunciation and Relinquishment of United States Citizenship: Discussion thread (Ask your questions) Part Two
Ask your questions about Renunciation and Relinquishment of United States Citizenship and Certificates of Loss of Nationality.
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NB: This discussion is a continuation of an older discussion that became too large for our software to handle well. See Renunciation and Relinquishment of United States Citizenship: Discussion thread (Ask your questions) Part One
Congrats! I suspect the vice consul knows exactly whats happening and is growing weary.
@DoD
Weary indeed!
@OhDear
Congratulations! I also renounced in Vancouver. Hard to believe it was over 2 years ago.
“You don’t feel American” – well said by the weary caseworker. The Consul was more questioning when I renounced asking if I wished to elaborate reasons for renunciation. I said “no not really, it’s simply that I live here (in Canada) now”. She left it at that and told me my CLN would be in the mail.
Bottom line is a simpler and more peaceful life comes with exiting US and US tax nightmare. Enjoy your self liberation!
I don’t understand. Is it peace that brings people here? I thought peace includes moving on and putting unpleasant things behind us. Please explain, because I too must one day renounce my US citizenship but don’t want to just exchange one angst for another. I want closure.
@OhDear, Congratulations! Glad to hear it went smoothly. They usually do, but you can never guarantee you won’t run into some over officious staff member who’s having a bad day.
@Bubblebustin, I guess peace it is for some people. For me it was more just closure, since I was cutting the American part of my life out. Unlike many others here I wasn’t really tied up in all the tax filing problems/issues, but I can see how leaving all that behind could bring people more peace of mind. Personally for me I didn’t really feel much of anything. I felt a little odd when I talked out of the embassy after renouncing, but that soon passed and that was really all I felt. I’d been away from the US for so many years that the “loss” of citizenship wasn’t that great.
@Bubblebustin
For me, renunciation brought closure as well. An end to anxiety about tax matters, although I didn’t owe anything. It’s the threat of those penalties for not filing FBARs which seemed particularly absurd. Renunciation means the final closure in my relationship to the USA and IRS. Glad to here you plan on one day renouncing and moving on. If peace comes with that it’s a bonus.
Oh Dear,
Congrats on getting your freedom back. I hope that you get your CLN as quickly as my brother. His came in 2 weeks.
Cheers.
Thank you PatCanadian, but no peace will ever come of it because although there will be some relief, justice has been failed.
All these renunciations are a big waste of perfectly good citizens. Necessary for those renouncing, but not necessary for the US. Being forced to do something can never bring closure – that is unless we reinvent ourselves or call it something other than ‘being forced’ as to not make ourselves victims (which we are).
Thank you Medea.
I guess I’m still just too pissed off to make a rational decision.
@Bb “Is it peace that brings people here [to Brock]?
More a place of community (however tenuous) with those suffering/resisting/fighting a most profound injustice and betrayal.
Countless people leave as part of their personal closure. And good for them. Meanwhile, the injustice and betrayal continues unabated. I sincerely hope you do find closure, but Brock could ill afford to lose you.
@Bubblebustin and all
“All these renunciations are a big waste of perfectly good citizens.”
Their loss (USA) not mine. I’m fine with being a good citizen of Canada and having the freedom to visit my relatives down there (at least for now).
But also agree with Shovel that “the injustice and betrayal continues unabated.” Unfortunately, I don’t think we can change all the crap which continues south of the border. For me, time to move on. I continue to support Canadian lawsuit.
Thank you all! I’ll keep you posted re: receipt of the CLN certificate.
That’s very kind of you to say, Shovel. I wish I didn’t have the curse of identifying with being American (which in my mind doesn’t make me any less Canadian) It would be so much easier.
Sometimes I miss the smell of the bushes in Virginia in the summertime. But I wont go there anymore.
I was never tied up in tax issues as I always filed and almost always never owed. So I could have continued being a USC albeit with the work/cost of filling in the forms, the worry of changes to the rules, and limitations on financial activity at home. The two main drivers for renouncing now rather than later or never were:
a) With age and increasing awareness of mortality, I didn’t think it would be fair to my non-USC family for me to leave them to deal with with US estate tax, gift tax, capital gains tax on my house, and similar stuff
b) if I waited a few more years before renouncing, continuing property appreciation and exchange rate fluctuations might have increased my total net worth beyond the magic US$2000000 mark where the US would demand immediate tax on assets that had appreciated and were still held. (It makes it easier for me to feel good about not having bought that $60000 house on the west side of Vancouver, now worth $3+ million.)
Your mileage will vary.
I was born in USA but have lived in Canada since I was 3. I’d like to renounce/relinquish my American citizenship. Is there one that is free? I’ve been told it costs almost 3000USD!!! thanks!!
@Melanie, welcome to IBS. Sorry, but the answer is no. Whether you renounce or can relinquish in some way you still have to pay the $2,350 fee.
It irks me that this whole scam is over a citizenship that no one consented to.
USA money/power/data grab– pure & simple. Not because it’s right, but because they’re a bully. Does anyone think this would be happening if they were a tiny, island nation, say? Not on your life. Grrrr..!!
Sorry Melanie. You’re going to have to do a bunch of paperwork & hand over a LOT of money to a predatory foreign country.
@Melanie
Welcome. I agree with Jane. USA certainly is a predatory foreign nation. Unfortunately, only way to finalize getting freedom is to pay exorbitant fee for renunciation or relinquishment. Or as some choose, just stay under the radar. Depends on what you can live with. I think eventually it all will all come back and bite them as there is so much US debt and so much turmoil there now.
Hi Melanie, and welcome.
The info you’ve been given is to obtain a Certificate of Loss of Nationalty.
Can you tell us a little more about yourself and your circumstances, because you may have performed a relinquishing act and if you need to prove you’re not a US person for the bank a reasonable explanation may suffice.
Hi Melanie.. Whatever you do, don’t rush. Are you really American? Are you Canadian as well? If so, when?
Do you really really really need to bother? We are here to help. There will be lots of advice, some conflicting but it often boils down to doing as little as possible.
I renounced along with my daughter late July in Melbourne. And just received my CLN. Very fast turn around. Everything was very straightforward and as others have described. All routine. The worst part for me was paying the money for both of us. Such hard earned money for something that is a right and should be minimal cost so the poor can access. I could have done so much with that 6000 dollars to make mine and my childrens’ lives better. Anyway – one very interesting moment in the whole process – after clearing the first tier of security, one of the staff was assigning us a number and giving us lanyards when he said to me, “look at all these people in this waiting room giving up everything they have to get what you are about to give up’. I was shocked and at first offended and bit my lip from saying ‘what the @$@@@ do you know about my life’ when he then said,’and I think you’re making a VERY wise decision’. Then smiled at me. It was as if the clock stopped for a moment. A little blessing. A little confirmation. Someone on the inside saying ( with some risk to themselves) that they understand. I don’t personally feel any different… but I think when that last tax return is done, I will
@KazAus, congratulations to you both.
Bit strange for a staff member to make such a comment. Were they American or just local?
Not sure the answer to that.
Happened to be dining this evening at a restaurant in Zurich Switzerland and met an American couple sitting at the table next to me and my wife. The topic soon switched from the good meal to FATCA, Swiss compliance with the FATCA law, lawsuits, and the harm the couple have been suffering. They will never return to U.S., will take on Swiss citizenship, and will abandon U.S. tax-citizenship.