The Cross Border Living Blog

Dual Citizenship Debate - Your Action is Requested

The New York Times' Room for Debate is tackling the subject of dual citizenship. The question being debated is "Can Dual Citizens Be Good Americans?". Apparently Representative Michelle Bachmann had obtained Swiss citizenship through her husband who is the son of Swiss immigrants to the United States registered with the Swiss consulate. Due to the political heat she took for her "dual allegiance", she renounced the Swiss citizenship.

I congratulate the New York Times for hosting this topic and Peter Spiro, a law professor at Temple University, for suggesting the topic.

A dual citizens, particularly those born abroad, to American parents need to contribute to this important debate. Visit this link to read the various posts and add your thoughful comments. This is a huge opportunity to educate the world on this important topic. http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/05/14/can-dual-citizens-be-good-americans

 

 

Dual Nationality - An Effect of Globalization Not Widely Accepted

"The golden age of mutliple nationality may be dawning. But it is not here yet." This is the final sentence of the January 7, 2012 article, "Dutchmen Grounded. Multiple citizenship is on the rise. But some states continue to deter it.", in The Economist.

The article uses a new law proposed by the Dutch government to "limit dual nationality among immigrants" and "to make it easier for the authorities to strip members of the 850,000-plus Dutch diaspora of their nationality, should they secure a second citizenship abroad", to educate the reader on some historical facts as well as current trends, citing policies of several countries.

The fact, as supported by this blog, is "increased migration and rising numbers of cross-border marriages mean that ever more children are born to multinational families." I encourage readers of this blog to check out the full article.

Petition Created to Repeal FATCA

In its November 25, 2011 newsletter, the Association of Americans Resident Overseas provided a link to a petitition that Americans are being asked to sign. The petition reads:

"IRS efforts to chase tax cheats are netting another group entirely. Americans, 

green card holders, and dual citizens living abroad, face the threat of prohibitive 

fines for simply failing to file with the IRS, when many are unaware they were 

required to do so. This aggressive cash grab can devastate the lives of law-abiding 

citizens who already pay high taxes in their country of residence.

 

The fines for not reporting are as high as 50% of any unannounced holdings, 

year over year. This can add up to more than 100% of assets, even if no tax

is owed! Retirement funds and education funds for families who may never have 

even lived in the US would be wiped out. This is disproportionate and harsh punishment, 

and anti‐constitutional under the 8th Amendment of the Constitution. 

FATCA asks foreign financial institutions to act as collectors for the IRS, sometimes

breaking local privacy laws, and setting up prohibitive barriers to international investment 

and legitimate trade.

This is a terrible plan on so many levels. Repeal it now!"

To add your name to the petition visit the following link:

http://www.signon.org/sign/repeal-fatca?source=c.em.cp&r_by=188650

At the date of this post, there are 620 signatures and the goal is 750.