Emigration

The dictionary defines emigration as the act of leaving one country or region to settle in another. We are very familiar with the trend of people emigrating to the US. But now emigrating from the US is also becoming a well known act.

There are several reasons why people want to consider emigration. Family ties, economic considerations, foreign businesses, religion, marriage, tax evasion are some of the more common reasons for people leaving the United States. While to a huge part of the world population the United States is still a dream destination, many US citizens have started to grow disenchanted with their country.

People most frequently confuse emigration with renunciation of citizenship. A person emigrating the US need not necessarily give up US citizenship. Emigrating to another country could be temporary. For example, a person who has left the United States for business purposes may return to the country after having established and stabilized the business overseas. An American woman married to a foreigner and living abroad may return to the United States in case her marriage ended due to some reason.

Renunciation of citizenship means giving up US citizenship, dissociating with the nation, breaking ties with the country. Section 349(a)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) (8 U.S.C. 1481(a)(5)) allows a US citizen to renounce his or her US citizenship voluntarily. A person may not renounce his or her citizenship while in the United States. The renunciation has to be made at a US consular office abroad. The person should sign an oath of renunciation in front of a consular officer at a US embassy or consulate.

Several people break all ties with the United States and become citizens of other countries. Others emigrate looking for better lives or for personal reasons. Emigration is becoming more common amongst people who are disenchanted with the political climate in the country. Another reason is for tax evasion.

People leaving the country thinking they can evade taxes need to think twice. An American living abroad is still obliged to pay US taxes. The IRS tracks Americans and ex-Americans living abroad who have defaulted on taxes.

Emigration may sound like an easy act to accomplish. But the Department of State may make it more difficult than you think it could be. Basically, the DoS wants to ensure that you do not go stateless. So they would like to see you holding the citizenship of another country before you can renounce your American citizenship.