Re:Linus Torvalds became US citizen
by nkassis on Tuesday September 14, 2010 @09:37AM
(#1690463)
That's interesting. I've heard that dual citizenship wasn't exactly liked by the US government. I was under the impression that US citizens that move to other countries had to renounce their US citizenship before becoming citizen of the other country.
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That might be so, but you're definitely not required to drop your citizenship elsewhere if you become a citizen here: the US just wants to be your 'number one' squeeze, as it were.
Also, the US really hates it when you change your nationality for tax purposes. That is, when you change it AWAY from the US for tax purposes.
Re:Linus Torvalds became US citizen
by statictype on Tuesday September 14, 2010 @11:06AM
(#1690811)
Not true. You can hold US Citizenship and gain citizenship of other countries as well. The question is whether the other country will allow you to keep your US citizenship or not.
For example, I believe Singapore requires you to renounce any other citizenship you have if you are eligible to become a Singaporean.
http://www.richw.org/dualcit/faq.html#noway
Struck down by the courts a very long time ago.
Re:Linus Torvalds became US citizen
by kevindication on Tuesday September 14, 2010 @10:00AM
(#1690558)
Right, you can still do it but there can be some awkward consequences.
This is highly unlikely, but for instance if you're eligible for a draft, and both countries draft you, one of them is not going to be happy with your response.
There are probably some more likely scenarios where your obligations to one of your nations are in conflict with the other.
It also has security clearance implications. Also if he moves back to Finland but remains a US citizen won't the IRS still be able to go after him for tax?
Re:Linus Torvalds became US citizen
by tokenadult on Tuesday September 14, 2010 @10:18AM
(#1690625)
Yes, United States citizens are liable for taxation on their worldwide income (unless there is a tax treaty between the United States and the other country in question).
Only over some threshold (iirc, though it has been some time, around 80k USD equivalent). So maybe yes for someone with a comparatively high income, but not so much a worry for a reasonably large segment of the population. Naturally if this happens to apply to anyone reading I would urge consulting a professional for current advice. ;)
The US has tax treaties with most developed countries, including Finland.
You still need to file tax returns, even if you are under the limit to prove that you owe no tax.
Re:Linus Torvalds became US citizen
by tokenadult on Tuesday September 14, 2010 @10:17AM
(#1690622)
Read that more carefully: "The Supreme Court chose to leave in place the requirement that new citizens must renounce their old citizenship during US naturalization." Presumably, Linus was naturalized, rather than having a claim to United States citizenship from birth.
I did read it more carefully. The next sentence says essentially says that that has no effect (in the vast majority of cases), because other countries don't recognize it as renouncing citizenship. It's essentially ceremonial.
Be that as it may, dual citizenship is definitely allowed, and not at all uncommon in the U.S., especially among European immigrants from what I've seen.
Re:Linus Torvalds became US citizen
by billmcneale on Tuesday September 14, 2010 @10:17PM
(#1693066)
> I've heard that dual citizenship wasn't exactly liked by the US government. I was under the impression that US citizens that move to other countries had to renounce their US citizenship before becoming citizen of the other country.
Definitely not true, or at least not mandated by the US (the other country might require it, though).