Worth It to Give Child US Citizenship?

[TiT]

1 minute ago, Marc26 said:

Why do you need a US passport for that?

And have you seen the cost of University in the US?

Much cheaper options in other countries that would afford your child the same opportunities 

I went through the University 'system' in the US with a full-ride scholarship that I applied for myself, it was a great experience that has allotted me countless opportunities in my professional career.  There are so many grants and scholarships available that if you are a good student with extracurriculars, you should have no issues having it mostly paid for.

Look, I realize many here are disillusioned with their Western home countries (for many very valid reasons) and that is why they left to Thailand.  However, I would argue that the best thing that you can do for your kids is to provide them with more options in a world that is very quickly changing.

Having the ability to come-and-go from the US and other countries that recognize the US passport is very powerful.  Otherwise, the child in question would be bound to a lifetime of Visa applications as the Thai passport is only good around the ASEAN-bloc countries.

Let them choose, give them both options.  They can always renounce it later if they feel the same way.

[JamesE]

3 hours ago, Marc26 said:

Well as I stated above, more options isn't exactly better options

I would advise anyone to get a child a US passport 

I would then advise them to think about getting rid of that US passport in their 20's if they aren't going  to have a life in the US

It's nothing but an anchor financially with all the compliance and tax laws put on them.

And honestly, if you are financially stable as a family and have travelled as a family and the child has a good school history 

They won't have many issues obtaining visas and traveling globally 

The claim on citizenship - passport or no - is what creates the anchor. Get the citizenship, avoid the SSN and passport until the kid can decide on her own. Right now, the little blue book is an asset. In ten years time, who knows?

[Marc26]

2 hours ago, TiT said:

I went through the University 'system' in the US with a full-ride scholarship that I applied for myself, it was a great experience that has allotted me countless opportunities in my professional career.  There are so many grants and scholarships available that if you are a good student with extracurriculars, you should have no issues having it mostly paid for.

Look, I realize many here are disillusioned with their Western home countries (for many very valid reasons) and that is why they left to Thailand.  However, I would argue that the best thing that you can do for your kids is to provide them with more options in a world that is very quickly changing.

Having the ability to come-and-go from the US and other countries that recognize the US passport is very powerful.  Otherwise, the child in question would be bound to a lifetime of Visa applications as the Thai passport is only good around the ASEAN-bloc countries.

Let them choose, give them both options.  They can always renounce it later if they feel the same way.

I haven't lived in my home country in 19 years 

Not counting covid, the longest time I've been away from the US has been 6 months

Even when I lived in Thailand

So I'm not against my home country 

 

And I said I think you should get your child a US passport with the idea of possibly renouncing it in their 20's/early 30's if they don't plan to live in the US 

 

You would be surprised at how many don't understand how onerous having a US passport is if you live outside the US

I'd say criminal, almost 

 

The financial ramifications can cost you 100's of thosludands of dollars, if not millions 

 

One example, pretty ridiculous 

If I sell my house in Canada I don't have to pay capital gains in Canada, I then owe capital gains in the US

There are funds that won't even take my wife as an account, a Thai national, because she is married to a US citizen and it's too much compliance 

 

And the most ridiculous, if your kid doesn't renounce their passport early enough, the US will charge them a % of their assets just to get rid of your passport/citizenship

 

So parents should be aware of all of that

It's no harm when they are kids, but have to put serious thought into it for later years 

 

 

Also, I don't know how much aid/scholarship money would be available to an international student

But I'm not well versed in that aspect 

[WaccineChinawatiiRaporn]

On 7/4/2021 at 11:16 AM, 9S_ said:

Is it worth it, in the long run, to give your child US citizenship? So they’ll be both citizens of Thailand and the US

Personally I’m not allowed to invest in non-US based entities without having to deal with the IRS. My fear is the my child when she grows up will face the same issues. Also she’ll have to file every year and do the FBAR. 
 

Any benefits at all?

Yes. Dumb question.

[Marc26]

1 hour ago, JamesE said:

The claim on citizenship - passport or no - is what creates the anchor. Get the citizenship, avoid the SSN and passport until the kid can decide on her own. Right now, the little blue book is an asset. In ten years time, who knows?

As I have said, no harm at all getting the kid one

It's just shocking that people don't understand all it entails

 

I know many adults born outside the US whose parent was a US citizen and they thought would be good to be dual citizens and didn't know their tax and reporting liabilities 

[Marc26]

2 minutes ago, WaccineChinawatiiRaporn said:

Yes. Dumb question.

Dumb answer  by you, without them knowing all the ramifications 

 

It's not a dumb question at all 

Edited September 25, 2021 by Marc26

[HolyCowCm]

My son and daughter who one is adult teenager and the other just out of being a teen both have their US citizenship and Blue Passports. They maybe will never file taxes for in the USA and will never live there as well, but then again maybe they might as would just be liable for Federal taxes and SS which if SS lasts it would be a great asset for them in their retirement old age. (For Expats the cap for taxation starts at making over $107k, so all else is non taxable except SS which is about 12.4% and Medicare maybe an extra 3%.) Or maybe not, but that road can be crossed later. It is definitely a benefit for them to have that backing passport. It also gives them a genuine character building sense of satisfaction knowing that they are also an American like their dad and so they have the best of both worlds. Yes they love the feeling of also being an American and leaves no room of ever having an identity crisis. Very important. 
 

They have been to the USA many times and love showing their USA passports. They also love using the fast line with their thai passports getting back in here. And that ticks me off because I don’t have one. And so they have to wait for dear old dad to get through the line mass. Yeah before Covid. 
 

So why would anyone deny their kids a USA identity? You shouldn’t. I wish my mom would have done it for me from the country she was from down under. 

[HolyCowCm]

1 hour ago, JamesE said:

The claim on citizenship - passport or no - is what creates the anchor. Get the citizenship, avoid the SSN and passport until the kid can decide on her own. Right now, the little blue book is an asset. In ten years time, who knows?

They come with SS numbers. 

[WaccineChinawatiiRaporn]

There's only tax ramifications. You get the benefit of the passport & US citizenship, which people are literally (I hate that word, but it does apply here) are trying to get for the past 100 years.

This is an easy to answer question in about 2 seconds. Stop arguing with me Schmendrick

[HolyCowCm]

9 minutes ago, Marc26 said:

Dumb answer  by you, without them knowing all the ramifications 

It's not a dumb question at all 

Only if you turn on the radar. Easy for them to fly undetected under their thai citizenship. 

[JamesE]

5 minutes ago, HolyCowCm said:

They come with SS numbers. 

Uh, no. http://isaacbrocksociety.ca/2015/05/19/u-s-passport-applicants-without-social-security-numbers/

[HolyCowCm]

8 minutes ago, JamesE said:

Uh, no. http://isaacbrocksociety.ca/2015/05/19/u-s-passport-applicants-without-social-security-numbers/

Interesting. Mine are still totally under the radar and I have never ever added them in any tax filing as dependents. So in a sense they are ghosts . Anyway we are only talking Fed taxes and that is divided in equation for what you make here. When that road is needing to be crossed then I will help them then for what way is best.  

[Marc26]

50 minutes ago, WaccineChinawatiiRaporn said:

There's only tax ramifications. You get the benefit of the passport & US citizenship, which people are literally (I hate that word, but it does apply here) are trying to get for the past 100 years.

This is an easy to answer question in about 2 seconds. Stop arguing with me Schmendrick

"Only tax ramifications "????

 

So 100's of thousands, if not millions of dollars isn't enough ramifications?

 

[Marc26]

1 hour ago, HolyCowCm said:

My son and daughter who one is adult teenager and the other just out of being a teen both have their US citizenship and Blue Passports. They maybe will never file taxes for in the USA and will never live there as well, but then again maybe they might as would just be liable for Federal taxes and SS which if SS lasts it would be a great asset for them in their retirement old age. (For Expats the cap for taxation starts at making over $107k, so all else is non taxable except SS which is about 12.4% and Medicare maybe an extra 3%.) Or maybe not, but that road can be crossed later. It is definitely a benefit for them to have that backing passport. It also gives them a genuine character building sense of satisfaction knowing that they are also an American like their dad and so they have the best of both worlds. Yes they love the feeling of also being an American and leaves no room of ever having an identity crisis. Very important. 
 

They have been to the USA many times and love showing their USA passports. They also love using the fast line with their thai passports getting back in here. And that ticks me off because I don’t have one. And so they have to wait for dear old dad to get through the line mass. Yeah before Covid. 
 

So why would anyone deny their kids a USA identity? You shouldn’t. I wish my mom would have done it for me from the country she was from down under. 

I think anyone should want their children to identify with their country.

I necessarily don't think you need a passport to do 

 

My kids would never live in Boston,  but how I am, they will definitely identify with Boston 

 

My wife has only lived in Thailand and Vancouver, but I can tell you she loves Boston as much as the other 2 places(well maybe not as much as Thailand 555)

 

Our house in Vancouver is a Boston and Thai house, without a doubt 

 

No passport needed. But I understand your pride in that also.....

[HolyCowCm]

4 minutes ago, Marc26 said:

I think anyone should want their children to identify with their country.

I necessarily don't think you need a passport to do 

My kids would never live in Boston,  but how I am, they will definitely identify with Boston 

My wife has only lived in Thailand and Vancouver, but I can tell you she loves Boston as much as the other 2 places(well maybe not as much as Thailand 555)

Our house in Vancouver is a Boston and Thai house, without a doubt 

No passport needed. But I understand your pride in that also.....

Yeah, and them just holding that passport when in the USA identifying as an American holds its double weight in gold or plainly when being here at home in Thailand with me, watching Hollywood movies, basketball games etc.

Priceless having for them having a real feel and not of having to look through the looking glass saying I am dad’s kid and so have American blood. That doesn’t work so well especially if they are all the way over here in a different world. Yeah, we also have things of the US in our home here so it has a feel. Ca Area SF. Thing for your kids is it is rather pretty easy for Canadians to travel to the USA and really not so different of being Canadian to American as is so close and many things like the same. So that being said it is really closer to home than say a Thai American kid which is impossible without a US passport or visa in their Thai passport. And a huge travel time.
 

But they will need to play things safe as that old SS thing if hit into the radar could be a headache if not managed correctly. 
FYI. My thai bank just recently had me update and sign an SS page for the you know who because I have a new passport and I needed a bank letter for immigration. I was shocked and a little pizzed off to say the least. New rules now and they are definitely looking a bit harder in on us US citizens. That is damn for sure. 

[GMoney2312]

11 hours ago, Marc26 said:

They won't have many issues obtaining visas and traveling globally 

You are so correct.

[Marc26]

6 hours ago, HolyCowCm said:

Yeah, and them just holding that passport when in the USA identifying as an American holds its double weight in gold or plainly when being here at home in Thailand with me, watching Hollywood movies, basketball games etc.

Priceless having for them having a real feel and not of having to look through the looking glass saying I am dad’s kid and so have American blood. That doesn’t work so well especially if they are all the way over here in a different world. Yeah, we also have things of the US in our home here so it has a feel. Ca Area SF. Thing for your kids is it is rather pretty easy for Canadians to travel to the USA and really not so different of being Canadian to American as is so close and many things like the same. So that being said it is really closer to home than say a Thai American kid which is impossible without a US passport or visa in their Thai passport. And a huge travel time.
 

But they will need to play things safe as that old SS thing if hit into the radar could be a headache if not managed correctly. 
FYI. My thai bank just recently had me update and sign an SS page for the you know who because I have a new passport and I needed a bank letter for immigration. I was shocked and a little pizzed off to say the least. New rules now and they are definitely looking a bit harder in on us US citizens. That is damn for sure. 

Yeah I could see having the actual passport that says you are American would mean more, for sure

 

As for "identifying"

When my stepson was younger and didn't really know as much

My wife and I were in the US and he was back in Thailand 

He sent my wife a pic of New York Yankees sneakers and asked her to buy them for her

 

She told him "I can not buy anything Yankees, Paul will kill me"  5555

 

He now wears his Boston Red Sox everywhere   

[9S_]

9 hours ago, Marc26 said:

I sell my house in Canada I don't have to pay capital gains in Canada, I then owe capital gains in the US

Most of us are locked out of any tax-advantaged retirement accounts. We’re barred from 401k or IRAs and we’re barred from investing in foreign countries. 

[Marc26]

1 hour ago, 9S_ said:

Most of us are locked out of any tax-advantaged retirement accounts. We’re barred from 401k or IRAs and we’re barred from investing in foreign countries. 

Sorry I don't understand this???

[HolyCowCm]

6 hours ago, Marc26 said:

Yeah I could see having the actual passport that says you are American would mean more, for sure

As for "identifying"

When my stepson was younger and didn't really know as much

My wife and I were in the US and he was back in Thailand 

He sent my wife a pic of New York Yankees sneakers and asked her to buy them for her

She told him "I can not buy anything Yankees, Paul will kill me"  5555

He now wears his Boston Red Sox everywhere   

I think the bigger deal might be with real birthed kids opposed to stepchildren. I also have a step daughter that I raised nd is my daughter by all means, but it doesn't seem mean anything to her or thinking about it, and she has been to the states and stayed with my family before. But if she wanted to do a citizenship, that would be fine with me, but I don't think so. For the direct kids it certainly does mean something, and on another note I would not hesitate one little bit to put my son and daughter on a plane to the USA for safety if this country had am external or internal war break out, as my son could be called to serve as he did the military thing in school and is bound to being like a reserve.. Not going to happen but just saying. Hahahaha. Too funny on the Yankees Red Sox feud rivalry. 2 teams I really don't like, and Yankees and Dodgers are it, but especially the Dodgers. The Yankees I can barely stomach. Basketball is our main love, so as you can guess it is an anti for the Lakers for me.

[Marc26]

6 hours ago, HolyCowCm said:

I think the bigger deal might be with real birthed kids opposed to stepchildren. I also have a step daughter that I raised nd is my daughter by all means, but it doesn't seem mean anything to her or thinking about it, and she has been to the states and stayed with my family before. But if she wanted to do a citizenship, that would be fine with me, but I don't think so. For the direct kids it certainly does mean something, and on another note I would not hesitate one little bit to put my son and daughter on a plane to the USA for safety if this country had am external or internal war break out, as my son could be called to serve as he did the military thing in school and is bound to being like a reserve.. Not going to happen but just saying. Hahahaha. Too funny on the Yankees Red Sox feud rivalry. 2 teams I really don't like, and Yankees and Dodgers are it, but especially the Dodgers. The Yankees I can barely stomach. Basketball is our main love, so as you can guess it is an anti for the Lakers for me.

Great point about safety issues 

As I have been saying, people don't even need to really worry about what to do with their US passport until they start really gaining assets, so your kids have some ways to go with no worries and all the benefits 

 

I despise the Lakers

And love basketball, well all sports

But basketball is probably my favorite sport to go watch live 

[HolyCowCm]

6 minutes ago, Marc26 said:

Great point about safety issues 

As I have been saying, people don't even need to really worry about what to do with their US passport until they start really gaining assets, so your kids have some ways to go with no worries and all the benefits 

I despise the Lakers

And love basketball, well all sports

But basketball is probably my favorite sport to go watch live 

They have seen some live basketball games and is just total fun to do. And I will do it with them again when able to go after this Covid BS, but I also want them to see a hockey game and a football game. Baseball they saw a Giants vs Dodgers game a few years back. Anyway for them having the real I am an American feeling makes these games feel all the much more fun. About the worry, I don’t really think it is that big of a deal. And we do follow basketball very close. Technology is a good thing when comes to that. 

[Marc26]

16 minutes ago, HolyCowCm said:

They have seen some live basketball games and is just total fun to do. And I will do it with them again when able to go after this Covid BS, but I also want them to see a hockey game and a football game. Baseball they saw a Giants vs Dodgers game a few years back. Anyway for them having the real I am an American feeling makes these games feel all the much more fun. About the worry, I don’t really think it is that big of a deal. And we do follow basketball very close. Technology is a good thing when comes to that. 

My wife and games she's been to

 

Hockey of course, we live in Canada! She actually likes going because easy to follow...

 

Basketball, she played in school so likes it

 

She'd commit suicide before she'd agree to go to a football game  555

 

Baseball......this was a bit of event/drama 

Took her to Seattle to go to Red Sox/Seattle game 

If she's watching a game, she wants to understand it 

And baseball has a lot of rules and she got frustrated and quite frankly, was being a bitch

So was disappointed 

But she suggested we go the next day

A sunny Saturday and she it dawned on her baseball is just to hang out, drink beers and have fun and she enjoyed that 

 

I'm sure your kids would be thrilled at any games you take them to   

[Marc26]

21 minutes ago, HolyCowCm said:

They have seen some live basketball games and is just total fun to do. And I will do it with them again when able to go after this Covid BS, but I also want them to see a hockey game and a football game. Baseball they saw a Giants vs Dodgers game a few years back. Anyway for them having the real I am an American feeling makes these games feel all the much more fun. About the worry, I don’t really think it is that big of a deal. And we do follow basketball very close. Technology is a good thing when comes to that. 

A big thing for me, my stepson like Barcelona 

So when this covid stuff is all over, I'd like to go to Spain and take him to a match 

 

 

[HolyCowCm]

2 minutes ago, Marc26 said:

A big thing for me, my stepson like Barcelona 

So when this covid stuff is all over, I'd like to go to Spain and take them to a match 

Soccer not so much for my son, but he does follow a bit as is Thailand, and for my daughter absolutely not. But their US passports also do open up travel to other countries very easily for them, so that is another benefit for them. BTW, did you read about the Biden push to have the i r s able to monitor any account that has more than $600 in it? Transactions and deposits are informed as well. The screws are being turned on everyone who is a citizen.