Calling former exchange officers with the USAF/USN

[Dave Fry]

Good Evening
Nothing to do with aviation I'm afraid but something that could affect a number of us. The IRS are interested in our offspring born in the USA. A new vigour in pursuing tax avoidance has roped in 'Accidental Americans' who may have only lived there for a few months after birth before returning home to the UK. ( google Boris Johnson and the IRS and see what effect it had on him ) My daughter discovered it when applying for a new bank account and was asked if she was a US citizen. The bank must inform the IRS if you answer yes. It would appear that they( the individual) are required to submit tax returns to the IRS. I am wading through pages of IRS stuff and on-line resources for the correct gen. but I thought I'd ask here in case any one affected has any experience to share. With comedic timing, the price of renouncing your citizenship has gone up from a few hundred bucks to a few thousand.....
My e-mail is [email protected]
Cheers
Dave

[Al R]

Dave,

Many investment and insurance companies now won't do business if that box is ticked. I know a few people who have renounced it. One was expecting a sombre ceremony, some kind of event where he gets called into a side room for a deal to struck at the final moment. Alas, no. He queued for an hour, went to a table and paid his money. He was then escorted directly out of the Embassy and left without a word at the door in what he described as almost pique, as he was "no longer a citizen".

Why expat Americans are giving up their passports - BBC News (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/35383435)

[Rotax]

Dave,


I can't imagine there's anything to worry about. That's what we have the Armed Forces Covenant for. I'm sure there's an MP somewhere working hard to ensure that military families aren't unfairly disadvantaged by nature of their postings.

[Sandy Parts]

Rotax - that MP may take some time to reply - he is a bit busy dealing with questions from those in the 40% tax bracket being disadvantaged financially by postings to Scotland ;)

[D-IFF_ident]

Haven't US Citizens always had to register with the IRS and pay Federal Tax, no matter where they live in the world, after they turn 21 years old?

My tri-national offspring has ten years until this becomes an issue, but we've always known it will be the case.

[Avtur]

He was then escorted directly out of the Embassy and left without a word at the door in what he described as almost pique, as he was "no longer a citizen".


I always found it odd that most of the US airport international departure lounges that I have travelled through are devoid of facilities and shops, whereas the domestic departure lounges in the same airport are bustling with lovely shops, restaurants and watering holes. Its almost as if you are being punished for leaving the USA.

[Pontius Navigator]

I understood that nationality was based upon the country in which you were born. The child of a Portuguese couple living and working in the Channel Isles and born there is therefore British. Similarly, like the OP, the child is a US citizen But

I further understood that the child of a Service family born abroad has the nationality of the father's normal domicile. On that basis my mother born in India was Irish but then had difficulty getting a British passport as Ireland was now outwith the UK. Further my granddaughter born in Cyprus is also British.

In the US case it may depend on the Status of Forces agreement, for instance what of children born in UK to US personnel?

[thunderbird7]

Rotax - that MP may take some time to reply - he is a bit busy dealing with questions from those in the 40% tax bracket being disadvantaged financially by postings to Scotland

Bit like when I wrote to my MP about having to pay poll tax 1 year early, living in the mess at ISK while my compadres posted to SMG had no such financial penalty..... That was quite a few pints of 80' that i had to forego as a result. Luckily ;)

[MightyGem]

I understood that nationality was based upon the country in which you were born.
True, see below.
I further understood that the child of a Service family born abroad has the nationality of the father's normal domicile.
As long as the birth is registered with the British Embassy That's what we had to do when serving in Germany.

[Yamagata ken]

I understood that nationality was based upon the country in which you were born.The answer is ''not necessarily''. I was born in Australia to British parents in 1952 and therefore am Australian by right. That rule changed in the 1960s to prevent pregnant laydeez using it as an immigration backdoor and travelling to Oz to give birth.

Conversely, my parents failed to register my birth with the UK authorities. Without a UK birth certificate or naturalisation papers I now have endless trouble renewing my British passport. I've held British passports since about 1966, but the last time I renewed it I had to supply copies of my parents' birth certificates (b1907 and 1917) and marriage certificate (m1937). Troublesome when you live in Japan.

[Pontius Navigator]

Ken, it would appear that some countries may use the father's normal domicile then regardless of whether serving or not. What was the status of your parents in 1952 - military or not?

[Yamagata ken]

PN. Civilian farmers, father ex-Royal Artillery for the duration. Had he still been in, I'm sure I'd have been registered correctly. It was a full days drive from the farm to Perth and they had cows to milk. It wouldn't have seemed worth the effort, and they had no way to anticipate the rule changes to come.

[Geordie_Expat]

True, see below.

As long as the birth is registered with the British Embassy That's what we had to do when serving in Germany.

In Cyprus, no problem if the child was born in the military hospital (Akrotiri in my son's case). Otherwise same applies as above.

[West Coast]

The answer is ''not necessarily''. I was born in Australia to British parents in 1952 and therefore am Australian by right. That rule changed in the 1960s to prevent pregnant laydeez using it as an immigration backdoor and travelling to Oz to give birth.

The Aussies were smart enough to do something we've not. There's even a term for them now, "anchor babies", babies born in the US even when at times (often) the parents are here illegally.

[MightyGem]

In Cyprus, no problem if the child was born in the military hospital
Hmm...my son was born in BMH Rinteln, but we still had to register the birth with the Embassy within 6 weeks.

[k3k3]

My son was born in RAFH Wegberg in 1983 and we got a proper long UK birth certificate from the Big House on JHQ.

[ian16th]

In Cyprus, no problem if the child was born in the military hospital (Akrotiri in my son's case). Otherwise same applies as above. Akrotiri is a unique case. The Hospital is in the Sovereign Base Area, it is not in the Republic of Cyprus.
People born there have trouble today getting USA visa's. Because UK passport says place of birth Cyprus.

Two exceptional cases that I am aware of.

I was stationed with the RAF Liaison Party at Istres, France. When wives gave birth in local civvy hospital, husband drove rapidly to Marseilles and the British Consulate to do necessary paperwork, within 48 hours of birth.

A friend of mine; his father was Irish, in 1922 he took the option to stay British.
He traveled a lot, and had a son born in Argentina. This son became my friend.
Son joins RAF as a Boy Entrant, while serving he gets married, wife has 2 children, one born in Malta one in Germany.

In later civilian life, my friend decides to emigrate to Australia!

Oz authorities demand to see copy of document signed by now deceased father in 1922!

Somerset House produced it!!!

[Yamagata ken]

@ian16th. This is the stuff of bureaucratic nightmares. Born inside the system, no problems. Foreigner moving to (e.g.) the UK, become naturalised, get the certificate, no problem. Maybe next time I'm in the UK I should take "naturalisation". I've no idea if this is a pissibolity or not. Anyone know?

[1771 DELETE]

I live in the US now,have become a citizen and yes, no matter where i live, i am required to fill out a tax return every year. If you have ever seen a US tax return you will know how complicated and time consuming this is compared to a British return.
Now if you are on exchange in the US, it is true that one of the constitution amendments allows all children born in the US to become citizens but as a serviceman you don't have to take up that option. I recently had a friend showing his two US passports for his two babies that he had applied without even being aware of the consequences , very foolish in deed.
It also cost about $2500 t.
o relinquish your citizenship, its not just a case of cutting up your passport and returning it