| Author | Message | ||
     Ruben Rodriguez New member Username: Rubeninf Post Number: 1 Registered: 2-2008 |
Hello everyone. My name is Ruben and I've been reading this forum for about a year. I think it's great to have a place with so much information. I want to aske you all for a little input on my situation so let me give you the whole story. I was born in the USA and have lived here my whole life. My mother is American and my Father is Argentine. My parents divorced when I was 5 (I'm 36) and I never had anything else to do with my father. Through my own efforts, I've established a relationship with my family in Argentina. I have a grandmother, 2 aunts, and 4 cousins. I've traveled to Argentina to visit them on three occasions. They live in Parana, Entre Rios. I love it there and would love to spend more time there. This year I've obtained my fathers birth certificate, registered my birth at the consulate in Miami (Where I was born) and in April I have to go to the consulate and I will be taking the oath and getting my Argentine citizenship at which time they told me I will be applying for a passport and a DNI. I'm doing this because I think it's pretty cool to have dual citizenship...with the state of the world today it's nice to be able to pull out a passport that doesn't say USA on it. What I really want to know from you folks that live in Argentina or have business there is will I experience any benefits or negatives by being a citizen? How will my status as a citizen affect me concerning working in Argentina when I visit, buying property, health care, Anything that you can think of. I don't plan on leaving the US, but if I have an opportunity to do something in Argentina business wise...it could turn into something. Any info you guys have would be appreciated. Thanks!!! | ||
| WTMendoza.com Intermediate Member Username: Welcometomendoza Post Number: 143 Registered: 7-2007  |
Hi Ruben, Welcome and congratulations on your progress! Many people don't realize that both Argentina and the USA allow dual citizenship. In many cases, returning Argentines from the USA who have had kids born in USA , are "scared" of nationalizing their kids in Argentina because they think the kids will lose their USA citizenship. It is true that a young Argentine could be sucked into a military draft in Argentina, and if Argentina and the USA ever went to war, there could be issues, etc. Even with just your DNI you will be allowed to work here of course, and being a citizenship you can buy property in ZONA FRONTERA without any paperwork hassles or delay. I couldn’t agree with you more on having as many passports as possible. I have no issues or grudges with thr USA as a whole and love both Argentina and the USA, and Australia. You are so right that being prepared for the international future is excellent planning. I hope others comment on your post also as this is always seems to be the murkiest of subjects. Good luck and congratulations! | ||
| movingtoargentina.typepad.com Intermediate Member Username: Sapphos Post Number: 118 Registered: 2-2006 |
We also have the same situation but on the flip side. Our daughter was born in Argentina and holds Argentine and U.S. citizenship but has French citizenship as well. Essentially she can easily work or go to school on three continents + when she's older. I agree as well, in this day and age the ability to be able to go somewhere else if things really go bad is a great thing to have. Laura Ebook Moving to and Living in Buenos Aires, Argentina http://movingtoargentina.typepad.com | ||
| WTMendoza.com Intermediate Member Username: Welcometomendoza Post Number: 144 Registered: 7-2007 |
Wow Laura that is fantastic - so essentially she can work and live in the whole EU if she pleases, no? | ||
| Ruben Rodriguez New member Username: Rubeninf Post Number: 2 Registered: 2-2008 |
I could be mistaken, but doesn't France make you pick one citizenship? Before the EU, I had a friend who had dual US and French citizenship, but France made him pick one when he turned 18. That might have changed after the EU | ||
| Roberto Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 1508 Registered: 12-2004 |
Ruben, welcome! There is some information on dual nationality on this page, straight from the sources. Like the members above, I agree that having as many open doors as possible is a good idea. I also think you are on the right track regarding getting a EU passport. This should override the French problem, perhaps... The most straightforward benefit of having two passports is the ability to travel and have businesses in both countries. However, this comes with obligations and increased risks as you will have to take into account two very different sets of regulations tax-wise and in regards to "law" in general. Argentina follows "Civil Law" whereas the US follows "English Common Law". I mentioned it another thread, but for the sake of clarity I took the liberty of reprinting an article by an offshore boutique who specializes on this subject. More on English Common Law and Civil Law. | ||
| Arial Intermediate Member Username: Arial Post Number: 146 Registered: 10-2006  |
Ruben, the biggest challenge I see for the US citizen is double taxation. If you are a citizen of the US you are never free from paying tax to the US on your worldwide income, even if you never set foot back in the US again. The only way to get away from that is to give up your US citizenship and even then, if your assets are high enough that they suspect you are doing it to AVOID tax, it can be denied. An accountant in BsAs told me that it would cost me $700 a year to get him to do my taxes to comply with the laws of both countries. (In the US I do my own with one of those tax software programs!) Argentina has a world wide tax on all your assets wherever you hold them and you have that to deal with as well as US taxes. Argentines are good at hiding assets. They scoff at my concern and tell me "Dont worry about the taxes, nobody pays them." I don´t know how they manage that but that´s what they tell me. If you come here as an employee on wages, there is an $80,000 exemption with the US. If you are self-employed, it is more complicated. This is by no means complete but just to send a red flag warning that it can be something serious to consider. So I suggest you meet with an accountant unless you already know how all this would affect you in your circumstances. Í feel sure there are knowledgable ones here who will climb all over what I have written here. But I still think it an important consideration. Arial | ||
| Ruben Rodriguez New member Username: Rubeninf Post Number: 3 Registered: 2-2008 |
Thanks for the input. Some of what I've read has got me worried, or at least re-thinking this. I do not plan to move to Argentina anytime soon. I probably won't move there at all, but was going to get my citizenship just because it's there for my taking. My plan was to get my citizenship and just keep living my life as normal here in the US. But these posts have made me wonder: 1. If Argentina gives me citizenship will I have to pay income tax in Argentina even though I work and live in the US and have never lived in Argentina? 2. Does this put my US citizenship in jeopardy because I actively sought the Argentine citizenship? I had no say in my Dad being Argentine...and thustly me. Or is that for say someone that immigrates to Argentina and becomes naturalized? I just don't want to do this if it's something that will get me in trouble with the government or make me get taxed twice. I'm not rich by any means but who wants to be taxed twice?? | ||
| WTMendoza.com Intermediate Member Username: Welcometomendoza Post Number: 149 Registered: 7-2007 |
This does NOT put your USA citizenship in jeporady - you are good to go - you can double check with the State Department to hear it first hand. | ||
| Arial Intermediate Member Username: Arial Post Number: 152 Registered: 10-2006 |
Ruben, it is perfectly legal for a US citizen to hold dual citizenships. I know US citizens that hold more than two! As things stand right now, you would not face possibile double taxation unless you move to Argentina. But lots of us are doing it and just coping with it. There are ways. The problem is that if you are a US citizen your income anywhere in the world is subject to US taxes, even if you never set foot back in the US again. It doesn´t mean you WILL be double taxed, but it takes some management not to. If you never move to Argentina, it should never be an issue. In fact, the accountant told me that I would not come under certain Argentina tax requirements unless I am in the country more than 180 days in any one year, even as a resident. So there are some intricacies if you should ever move here. The $700 charge for doing my taxes, if and when I live in Argentina year round, is because it takes someone with knowledge to be able to do it. You get credit in the US, for example, for certain taxes paid in Argentina. Things like that. I hope I am not confusing the issue more. Only two countries in the world that I know of tax their citizens forever wherever they go in the world (unless they give up citizenship) and the US is one of them. Argentina is not. I agree with Roberto. I think you are very wise to get Argentina citizenship. |
