I've lived in the US for quite a few decades, but I'm still a German citizen. When asked why I don't take US citizenship, I give a three-part answer:
I don't believe you can owe allegiance to two different entities at the same time.
Between a German EU passport and a US Green Card, I can travel almost anywhere in the world.
I f I ever run into legal troubles, first call is to the wife, second goes to the embassy.
This is a personal decision but I think it's better to be pragmatic about it. If your country of origin permits dual citizenship I'd do the naturalization simply because it gives you more flexibility. It's a more secure status, no need to worry about renewing or spending longer periods abroad. And you get to vote of course.
Citizenships and passports are bureaucracy and they don't define who you are, that comes from your heart. I'd look at it as a practical matter.
Citizenships and passports are bureaucracy and they don’t define who you are, that comes from your heart. I’d look at it as a practical matter.
You sound like my wife before I gave in and we got a marriage license. I don't need a fucking shaman or some civil servant in a black weird dress to legitimize our relationship.
I felt/feel the same way. Still got married to my wife for legal reasons. Her mother is insane and if something happened to my wife, we don't want her getting power of attorney, nor do we even want her in the hospital if it can be avoided.
That’s fair, I did however need some shaman to give my wife healthcare. Thankfully anyone can be one these days
They're not legitimizing your relationship, they're granting accesss to legal rights.
They are saying you get X rights if you have Y status. Where Y is your legally recognized relationship with a person.
It is understood that if my wife can't make a medical decision and one has to be made I can repeat what her wishes would have been. Why is that? Because we are married? Why does being married matter? Because it is a relationship? Why does that differ from any other relationship? Because it is a legitimate one.
This whole process is the government or some religion saying this relationship between two people is a special exception from the rules governing regular relationships.
Other relationships are legitimate, they just aren't legally recognized by the government. You can make a contract that gives anyone rights to medical decision-making.
Cool. So there was never once in history laws that regulated say unmarried people living together? Remind me what was going on in Loving v. Virginia.
How about immigration? Do you think you are going to sponsor a person you aren't legally married with just because you two are in love?
You say cool but you don't seem chill to me
Can I ask why you live in the US when you could live in Europe?
It's a long story for another time.
Ok no worries. I just can't help but be curious about someone living there when they don't have to.
It's Friday. We've got time to kill.
Just so you know, you may get fucked financially if your wife dies (or vice versa). I would look into it.
Another thing to consider is that US citizens must pay taxes on all foreign income and investments even if they leave to live outside the US. This is why the US has made renouncing US citizenship expensive and complicated, like even after you renounce it you still have to pay US taxes for 10 more years despite losing the rest of your citizenship privileges immediately.
I've lived in the US for quite a few decades, but I'm still a German citizen. When asked why I don't take US citizenship, I give a three-part answer:
This is a personal decision but I think it's better to be pragmatic about it. If your country of origin permits dual citizenship I'd do the naturalization simply because it gives you more flexibility. It's a more secure status, no need to worry about renewing or spending longer periods abroad. And you get to vote of course.
Citizenships and passports are bureaucracy and they don't define who you are, that comes from your heart. I'd look at it as a practical matter.
My understanding is that Germany is looking to start permitting dual citizenship later this year.
You sound like my wife before I gave in and we got a marriage license. I don't need a fucking shaman or some civil servant in a black weird dress to legitimize our relationship.
I felt/feel the same way. Still got married to my wife for legal reasons. Her mother is insane and if something happened to my wife, we don't want her getting power of attorney, nor do we even want her in the hospital if it can be avoided.
That’s fair, I did however need some shaman to give my wife healthcare. Thankfully anyone can be one these days
They're not legitimizing your relationship, they're granting accesss to legal rights.
They are saying you get X rights if you have Y status. Where Y is your legally recognized relationship with a person.
It is understood that if my wife can't make a medical decision and one has to be made I can repeat what her wishes would have been. Why is that? Because we are married? Why does being married matter? Because it is a relationship? Why does that differ from any other relationship? Because it is a legitimate one.
This whole process is the government or some religion saying this relationship between two people is a special exception from the rules governing regular relationships.
Other relationships are legitimate, they just aren't legally recognized by the government. You can make a contract that gives anyone rights to medical decision-making.
Cool. So there was never once in history laws that regulated say unmarried people living together? Remind me what was going on in Loving v. Virginia.
How about immigration? Do you think you are going to sponsor a person you aren't legally married with just because you two are in love?
You say cool but you don't seem chill to me
Can I ask why you live in the US when you could live in Europe?
It's a long story for another time.
Ok no worries. I just can't help but be curious about someone living there when they don't have to.
It's Friday. We've got time to kill.
Just so you know, you may get fucked financially if your wife dies (or vice versa). I would look into it.
Another thing to consider is that US citizens must pay taxes on all foreign income and investments even if they leave to live outside the US. This is why the US has made renouncing US citizenship expensive and complicated, like even after you renounce it you still have to pay US taxes for 10 more years despite losing the rest of your citizenship privileges immediately.
FYI the citizenship law is changing later this month, you’ll be able to acquire US citizenship without losing your German one. https://www.rtpartner.de/immigration/doppelte-staatsbuergerschaft/
Is that a personal belief, or a legal one? Because the US does recognize dual citizenship. Germany does too, in certain conditions.
Citizenship is one thing, but allegiance is another.
So if you believe they're separate, I don't see how believing you can only have one allegiance affects your citizenship(s).