Become an American Citizen

 

Become an American Citizen

Living and Working in the USA

Go, live, work in the USA

Small formalities and solutions

How to keep your green card?

Become an American Citizen

Immigration and Marriage

Precaution at the border

 

 

Think carefully before taking nationality

Especially when it comes to taxes.

 

How do you become one?

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You must first have the green card.

Then you have to wait 5 years to obtain citizenship.

If you got it by marriage, 3 years will be enough.

 

The benefits of becoming an American

If you are French, you do not lose French nationality because France admits that its nationals have another nationality. It may be useful, you never know, to have two passports.

 

Being an American, of course, you can vote and access certain government jobs.

 

It can also make it easier for your children or spouse to obtain a green card, if they wish.

 

If you want to change your name, it becomes possible by adopting American nationality and it is completely legal (but this new name is not recognized by France).

Being an American you are not subject to the "TAMRA" inheritance law and this is very important.

 

Indeed, if you are American, you inherit, unless otherwise provided by the deceased, all of your spouse's property without paying any tax.

 

If you are not an "American Citizen" you will pay very heavy inheritance taxes (they can go up to 55%).

 

If you are a US Resident or US Resident, you will need to declare estates for any property you inherit anywhere in the world.

 

This does not necessarily mean that you will have to pay additional taxes. But if you are only a resident, you will not be entitled to the "Marital Deduction" in the event of the death of your spouse (see our article on inheritance).

 

With the anti-immigrant tidal wave, Congress passed a new law in 1996 to remove virtually all welfare benefits from anyone who is not American. Since then, it has not improved!

 

So if you remain a Permanent Resident and if you get into trouble, you will not be entitled to SSI (Supplemental Security Income), to "food stamps" ...

 

If you want to live outside the U.S. or simply be more than 180 cumulative days per year outside the U.S. and retain the right to reside and work in the U.S. you must be a "citizen".

 

With the green card only, if you are no longer a resident, you lose all your rights if you do not take certain precautions. See our article on keeping your green card

Finally, last point, never have to deal with the I.N.S. is in itself, it seems to us, a good deal!

 

The disadvantages of being American

It's final (or almost).

 

US law requires you to pay taxes on anything you earn in the world.

 

With countries, like France, which have a tax treaty with the US you won't pay tax twice but if the US taxes you more than France (yes, it is possible), you will have to pay the difference to the US

 

For example certain income in France, such as life insurance, may be tax exempt and is not in the U.S.

 

A small note: as a resident you obey the same law.

 

With a green card, if you decide to live somewhere else, you have to return it and the US in this case ignores you.

 

You are no longer accountable to them.

 

However, a new tax law of 96, requires you to be accountable to the United States if you have had more than $ 100,000 in taxes in the 2 years before your departure. Please note that the amount is constantly increasing. Take advice from your tax professional.

 

For us French, there is no downside to losing French nationality since France admits dual nationality. But if you are not French, you may lose your original nationality.

 

Check with your consulate.

 

Become a citizen of the United States

It is necessary that you have had your Green Card for 5 years or 3 years if you obtained it by marriage to a US citizen.

 

You can submit your file 90 days before the end of this period.

 

You must have physically resided in the U.S. for at least half of that time.

 

It is also necessary that your status of "resident" has been maintained throughout this period, either 5 years or 3 years.

 

You can't be away from the US for more than a year. But in practice, after 6 months of absence, the border officers may question you at length and after 9 hours on the plane (or more), it is hardly pleasant.

 

If you are away for more than 6 months and less than a year, you will have to prove that you have not given up your "resident" status.

 

For example, for the first 3 years, you were physically present for 25 months. Then the 4th year,