←back to thread

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

183 points proberts | 1 comments | 17 Oct 24 16:01 UTC | HN request time: 0.203s | source

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.

Show context
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 #
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 #
1. 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.