I hear stuff equivalent to “Westerners moving to another country for a better opportunity” but overlook one detail: their citizenship is still from the USA / UK / AUS / NZ (so there’s jury duty, right to vote, taxation, etc to take into account) in which those things still linger around even if you are not physically there, since it’s heavily tied to what passport one carries.
I mean it like this, if one is held back by jury duty in USA / UK / AUS / NZ that makes it somewhat annoying to move abroad as it remains volatile whether you’ll be summoned even in absentia or while preparing to move abroad, even if you explained and provided them proof that you are living abroad indefinitely: would that alone grant you a permanent excusal?
Some countries even have mandatory voting during elections (i.e. Australia), again that can be a set back for some. Civic duties such as being summoned by the court on being a potential juror or voting hold you behind when wanting to move abroad, as they can happen at any given moment. Renouncing citizenship of a “Anglo” nation rescinds all that.
Taxes are something EVERY nation has, there’s no escape on that. However, for example the US is one of those countries that collects taxes based on citizenship: the solution for that is an American renouncing their passport ONLY if they are a naturalized citizen of the country they’ve moved to (which a US government official has to finalize & approve).
Depending on the country they have moved to: some countries have tough requirements for naturalization (as each nation has their own nationality laws) like Japan doesn’t recognize dual citizenship (now requires 10 years permanent residency before elligibility) while some countries allow dual citizenship (i.e. Germany) with lenient requirements for elligibility.
Renouncing citizenship from your home country isn’t a cake walk since it has multiple legal requirements and bureaucracy holds you back before being a naturalized citizen of the country you’ve moved abroad to. Like this, if you renounced your US / UK / AUS / NZ passport: that rescinds your ability to vote and no longer have to stress about jury duty.
No, unless it’s a requirement. Also, keep in mind, think of your children. I have an American friend who’s mother was a British citizen, and renounced it after becoming an American out of “patriotism” or “loyalty” to her new country. Now my friend who studied in the UK would have really liked to have stayed here, given, you know, but can’t.
Either you’re not realizing that you’re answering your own question here (i.e. it depends on many factors so there is no universal answer) or you are sloppy slop slop.
totally a bot
2 reasons.
- Only if you are requires to do so by the your new country.
- You are at odds with your birth country and no longer want to be associated with it.
there’s jury duty
In California and probably other states too, there’s a requirement to actually reside within the county in order to be called for jury duty. College students that live on-campus away from their home county might receive a jury summons, but it’s an automatic excusal if they write back and affirm that they’re not domiciled in that county at the time of the summons. Of course, students are eligible to be selected for jury duty in the county where the university is, but since most in-state students don’t change their driver license or state ID card address, that county usually doesn’t have the info to summon them anyway.
right to vote
In the USA and basically most other Western countries, I’m told, overseas citizens are eligible to vote. It is a defining quality of being a citizen, after all. An overseas American citizen would be registered to vote in the county of their last American address. This is basically a mail-in ballot with all federal offices, and depending on the US State, some state offices too.
What exactly do you see as a tether, apart from the unique American position on taxation by citizenship?
In the UK you are only brought to jury duty if you’re on the electoral register. To be on the register, you need to be residing there.
Australians abroad can vote by mail or at their nearest consulate. No need to renounce your citizenship.
Yeah, unless you’ve been abroad for more than a few years without voting. Then your electoral enrolment gets cancelled. It can only be reinstated by returning and living in Australia for at least six (or is it 3) months.
If you’re staying out of the US and paying taxes in a country the US has an agreement with, the Foriegn Earned Income Exclusion applies to the first 132K.
Why would another country let you in the first place?
Often because you have enough money or a valuable skill
