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    I'm Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA

    183 points proberts | 13 comments | 17 Oct 24 16:01 UTC | HN request time: 0.41s | source | bottom

    I'll be here for the few hours and then again at around 1 pm PST for another few hours. As usual, there are countless possible topics and I'll be guided by whatever you're concerned with. Please remember that I can't provide legal advice on specific cases for obvious liability reasons because I won't have access to all the facts. Please stick to a factual discussion in your questions and comments and I'll try to do the same in my answers. Thanks!

    Previous threads we've done: https://news.ycombinator.com/submitted?id=proberts.

    1. Abrecht ◴[17 Oct 24 22:01 UTC] No.41874268[source]▶
    I have a Greencard and would become eligible to apply for citizenship this month. I wonder what the opinions are here on the pros and cons of that. Generally, regarding most practical aspects of daily life, being permanent resident seems pretty much equivalent to that of an US citizen.

    Pros:

    - can vote

    - can get security clearance, potentially more income

    - even long periods abroad do not bear the risk of loosing privilege

    - can do jury duty

    Cons:

    - need to do jury duty

    - need to declare income to IRS regardless of residency

    - potentially be taxed by IRS

    Any other cons I'm not aware of? I heard that getting rid of the US citizenship (e.g. for tax reasons) will make it hard to get a visa ever again.

    replies(11): >>41874346 #>>41874386 #>>41874393 #>>41874464 #>>41874502 #>>41874535 #>>41875205 #>>41875278 #>>41875362 #>>41875389 #>>41876502 #
    2. colmmacc ◴[17 Oct 24 22:20 UTC] No.41874386[source]▶
    I became a US citizen because I wanted to be able to vote and be a full participant of my community, and it's easier to be in the same line as my wife and child at the airport.

    But even though I am not a criminal, it was also on my mind that if I were ever falsely convicted in some travesty of justice, I could also be deported, which would make it even worse.

    replies(1): >>41874889 #
    3. tehlike ◴[17 Oct 24 22:21 UTC] No.41874393[source]▶
    As long as you keep your greencard, you still need to declare your income worldwide.

    Depending on your home country, having US passport opens up a lot of other possibilities for travel too.

    replies(1): >>41874560 #
    4. douglee650 ◴[17 Oct 24 22:29 UTC] No.41874464[source]▶
    Major con: infinitely easier to deport
    5. junar ◴[17 Oct 24 22:35 UTC] No.41874502[source]▶
    I wouldn't frame the tax parts like that. Just by having a green card, you are generally subject to the same worldwide taxation as US citizens, with only subtle differences.

    Perhaps a bigger difference is that it's somewhat easier to abandon the green card than to renounce US citizenship.

    6. mikeweiss ◴[17 Oct 24 22:39 UTC] No.41874535[source]▶
    I think your forgetting one of the most important pros: an inalienable right to re-enter the country after going abroad.

    Also a pro is that while traveling you have the services of the U.S embassy to you, which could be a life saver depending on what other citizenship you hold and the circumstances.

    7. zahllos ◴[17 Oct 24 22:43 UTC] No.41874560[source]▶
    Furthermore if you have held* a green card for the last 8 (of 15 years) i.e. you hold permanent resident status you also become in-scope for the tax expatriation law that apply to US Citizens, and possible ongoing declaration requirements: https://www.expatriationattorneys.com/green-card-u-s-exit-ta...

    I've never been US-resident; the reason I know about this is talking to someone who relinquished theirs when I asked if they could keep it.

    *from the U.S. Government's point of view.

    8. ◴[17 Oct 24 23:33 UTC] No.41874889[source]▶
    9. maronato ◴[18 Oct 24 00:26 UTC] No.41875205[source]▶
    > As a green card holder, you generally are required to file a U.S. income tax return and report worldwide income no matter where you live.[1] You’ll probably get a tax discount if you’re still paying taxes in your original country, but you must file US returns regardless.

    If you haven’t been filing returns for the past 5 years, you should hire a CPA to get a professional opinion and possibly file late returns before applying for citizenship.

    [1] https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/freq...

    10. throwaway2037 ◴[18 Oct 24 00:38 UTC] No.41875278[source]▶
    What is your timeline to stay in the US? If 5 years or less, I would say avoid it, unless have a specific "pro" that you want. Also, if you have a spouse and children, they might be important factors in your decision.
    11. Taniwha ◴[18 Oct 24 00:52 UTC] No.41875362[source]▶
    pros: if you leave the US you can still claim your SS on retirement (some countries have a reciprocal agreement, most dont)
    12. ◴[18 Oct 24 00:56 UTC] No.41875389[source]▶
    13. tehlike ◴[18 Oct 24 05:04 UTC] No.41876502[source]▶
    Main pro: You are an American.