YWN Coffee Room » Travel

Dual Citizenship

(28 posts)
  • Started 10 months ago by Obaminator
  • Latest reply from tracht gut

Tags:

No tags yet.

  1. Obaminator
    Member

    Are there any benefits or risks in having or obtaining dual citizenship from another country?

    Posted 10 months ago #
  2. am yisrael chai
    We await your rejoining us!

    depends which country :)

    Posted 10 months ago #
  3. Obaminator
    Member

    Hungary

    Posted 9 months ago #
  4. dd
    Member

    Hungary is EU. That means that you can travel/live/work anywhere in the EU without any restrictions. No downside.

    Posted 9 months ago #
  5. sm77
    Member

    The benefit of Dual citizenship, is that you can renounce your
    US citizenship, any you can work in Europe, and not be double
    taxed by the IRS. (US is the only country in the world that taxes
    foreign earned income).

    Posted 9 months ago #
  6. charliehall
    Member

    A negative of dual citizenship is that you can be subject to obligations such as military service and jury duty in either country.

    Posted 9 months ago #
  7. charliehall
    Member

    "US is the only country in the world that taxes
    foreign earned income"

    True, but most of us don't make enough money to be taxed by the US.

    Posted 9 months ago #
  8. Chein
    Sheker HaChein V'Hevel HaJoseph

    A negative of dual citizenship is that you can be subject to obligations such as military service and jury duty in either country.

    You may actually be a dual citizen already without you having done anything or even knowing about it. Many countries automatically consider the children of citizens to automatically be a citizen at birth, regardless where they are born. So if your great-grandfather was (say) a Hungarian citizen but moved to the U.S. in the 1920's, and your grandfather, father and yourself were all born in the U.S. (and never even visited Hungary), you, your father and grandfather would still all be citizens of Hungary.

    What, if any, obligations that technically entails you to as a Hungarian citizen (i.e. military) I don't know. But I don't believe they have a military draft currently in any event. (Although, like anything, that may change in the future.)

    Posted 9 months ago #
  9. charliehall
    Member

    From the Wikipedia article on Hungarian nationality law:

    "The existing Hungarian nationality law dates from 1993. Prior to this date, rules for acquisition and loss of Hungarian citizenship may have been different. With the new Hungarian nationality law, by January 2011, every person who was a Hungarian citizen or is a descendant of a people who was a Hungarian citizen before 1920, and speaks Hungarian may apply to become a Hungarian citizen even if he or she does not live in Hungary."

    "The 2011 Hungarian Citizenship law allows all ethnic Hungarians to apply for simplified naturalisation if they are able to prove knowledge of the Hungarian Language and provide evidence that he or she does indeed have Hungarian ancestry."

    Posted 9 months ago #
  10. Chein
    Sheker HaChein V'Hevel HaJoseph

    That new law it is referring to applies to non-citizens wishing to naturalize as a Hungarian citizen. In 2011 they liberalized it to allow anyone who descends from pre-1920 areas that used to be in Hungary (i.e. "ethinic Hungarians") even if they do not live in the modern borders of Hungary to apply for citizenship.

    Nevertheless, my previous comment on those who descend from someone who was a Hungarian citizen any time from 1920 on (when its modern day borders came into existence after the first world war) are citizens automatically (and therefore need not naturalize) still stands.

    Many other countries (especially in Europe) have similar "jus sanguinis" citizenship laws.

    Posted 9 months ago #
  11. charliehall
    Member

    "Nevertheless, my previous comment on those who descend from someone who was a Hungarian citizen any time from 1920 on (when its modern day borders came into existence after the first world war) are citizens automatically (and therefore need not naturalize) still stands."

    I wasn't arguing.

    'Many other countries (especially in Europe) have similar "jus sanguinis" citizenship laws.'

    In fact most of the Eastern Hemisphere has "jus sanguinis". However, "jus soli" -- citizenship by virtue of being born in the country -- is the rule in almost every Western Hemisphere country.
    The US has both -- jus soli is in the US Constitution, and jus sanguinis is established by Act of Congress. Canada and Mexico have almost identical laws. (Jus sanguinis is why Barack Obama would have been a US Citizen by birth even had he been born in Kenya.)

    Posted 9 months ago #
  12. ZachKessin
    Member

    I a citizen of 3 countries, (USA, UK, Israel). It has some benefits. Mostly that I can choose to live in a wide number of places. In theory it does have some level of obligation as well but not so onerous.

    If you think you could be eligible for Hungarian citizenship call their embassy in your country, that is what it is there for!

    Posted 9 months ago #
  13. bpmum
    Member

    you are not allowed to enter the usa on 2 passports fyi! my european expired i just never renewed but i have citizenship wether its benificial or not im not sure but check out the laws about having 2 different passports at one point it was not allowed

    Posted 9 months ago #
  14. sm77
    Member

    Most of us don't make enough money to be taxed by the US?
    Good percentage of people in Europe are making over $90,000/year,
    especially now with the very low dollar. e.g. Who in Switzerland
    makes less then 72,000 CHF a year?

    Posted 9 months ago #
  15. adorable
    Thin people are beautiful but fat people are adorable...Jackie Gleason

    Im an american and canadian- just causes me issues when i go to canada

    Posted 9 months ago #
  16. charliehall
    Member

    "Good percentage of people in Europe are making over $90,000/year,
    especially now with the very low dollar. e.g. Who in Switzerland
    makes less then 72,000 CHF a year?"

    In that case, you can take the foreign tax credit or the foreign tax deduction.

    Posted 9 months ago #
  17. sm77
    Member

    Foreign tax credit doesn't help much, e.g. for a person living in
    Switzerland. Average position pays over 120,000 CHF/year, and income
    tax here is only about 10-15% depending on where you reside.

    Posted 9 months ago #
  18. kako
    Member

    The US has no problem with people having 2 passports but they ask you to use your US passport when leaving/arriving the US. The other country might have a similar requirement, so if you go from the US to the other country and back, you have to travel with both passports and show each country it's passport.

    Posted 9 months ago #
  19. Ms. Critique who may always know the answers correctly
    Member

    It is of benefit to all us Yidden to have dual citizenship. During WW11, many who had dual passports were able to escape from the inferno.

    Posted 9 months ago #
  20. shlishi
    The CR Bronze Medal Winner!

    How can an American (living in the U.S.) obtain a second citizenship?

    Posted 9 months ago #
  21. charliehall
    Member

    "Average position pays over 120,000 CHF/year, and income
    tax here is only about 10-15% depending on where you reside."

    So you just pay US income tax. What is the problem?

    (And so much for the canard that taxes in Europe are astronomical.)

    Posted 9 months ago #
  22. Chein
    Sheker HaChein V'Hevel HaJoseph

    Why would he be exempt from Swiss taxes?

    Also, I doubt Switzerland is a good representation of taxes generally in Europe.

    Posted 9 months ago #
  23. sm77
    Member

    Switzerland is not part of the European Union. Majority of the
    EU countries, do have larger taxes, but the gov't covers numerous social benefits for all residents, e.g. universal medical coverage, childcare, unemployment insurance, and free university education.

    In the US, the cost of medical insurance is astronomical,
    and it does not cover pre-existing conditions. In Europe, for people that work, the quality of life is better, e.g. all companies must give at least 5 weeks vacation, and working overtime and on Sunday is strictly regulated.

    Posted 9 months ago #
  24. tracht gut
    cool as a cucumber

    Adorable- me as well.. but never have any problems..

    Posted 9 months ago #
  25. ZachKessin
    Member

    How can an American (living in the U.S.) obtain a second citizenship?

    There are a few ways
    1) Be defended from someone who is from a country where you can get citizenship
    2) Move to a different country and become a citizen (rules will vary by country)
    3) Make Aliyah to Israel.

    Posted 9 months ago #
  26. Chein
    Sheker HaChein V'Hevel HaJoseph

    tracht & adorable: How are you Canadian citizens? Were you born there or did you get it through your parents?

    Posted 9 months ago #
  27. Chein
    Sheker HaChein V'Hevel HaJoseph

    Be defended from someone who is from a country where you can get citizenship

    What does that mean?

    Posted 9 months ago #
  28. tracht gut
    cool as a cucumber

    Born in canada and my dad is from the usa so it was very easy for me to become an american..

    Posted 9 months ago #

RSS feed for this topic

Reply

You must log in to post.