Not Applying For Citizenship - anyone else doing this?

[M613 6]

Hey everyone!

I got my 10 year GC last Fall and, based on my US husband and I's longterm goals, we will be going to Canada permanently within 2-4 years. That said, not sure if this is the correct discussion group (you'd think I'd know after 5 years on here.. ha), but I wanted to see if anyone else is just riding the 10 year GC wave as well?

Just wanted to check in/say hi

[PallasAthena 101]

If you leave the US for more than a year, you lose the green card regardless of the green card being good for 10 years. It's considered abandoned.

If you want to be able to work and travel freely, why not apply for citizenship so you're free to live / work in both places?

[Udella&Wiz 325]

I think there's nothing wrong with it - you've done what you need to do to be here legally in the US and if you chose to stay and get citizenship or not - who cares?

Have you considered getting it anyway so you're dual? Then you'll both have freedome top return at will to either country.

Hey everyone!

I got my 10 year GC last Fall and, based on my US husband and I's longterm goals, we will be going to Canada permanently within 2-4 years. That said, not sure if this is the correct discussion group (you'd think I'd know after 5 years on here.. ha), but I wanted to see if anyone else is just riding the 10 year GC wave as well?

Just wanted to check in/say hi

[M613 6]

When we leave, we will be leaving for good/never living in the US permanently---we will only be living in Canada (and doing the reverse, i.e. getting my American husband his Canadian GC and yes, citizenship). So with no interest and/or plans to ever live in the US permanently, we thought it best to not go for citizenship.

I am keeping my US GC until I leave here for good (and yep, abandoning it when I move!)

[Darth Vader Ku 16]

When we leave, we will be leaving for good/never living in the US permanently---we will only be living in Canada (and doing the reverse, i.e. getting my American husband his Canadian GC and yes, citizenship). So with no interest and/or plans to ever live in the US permanently, we thought it best to not go for citizenship.

I am keeping my US GC until I leave here for good (and yep, abandoning it when I move!)

Ok, so why would you think anyone else would be doing this? That's the point of your thread, right? A bit odd to ask for companionship on your bid to abandon your residency in a forum where people are banding together to seek advice on citizenship.

On a side note (and none of my business, of course), permit me to say that your strategy is a little short-sighted. A couple with dual citizenship from Canada and the United States will not only open up their travel and employment opportunities more broadly than any one citizenship alone, but will confer unique immigration advantages on any children they may have together. Saying Never in this rapidly-changing society where labour mobility is stronger now than it ever was is rather unwise considering that all that is needed from you to take this opportunity are six hundred and eighty dollars, and a few months of your time.

Good luck in Canada! Great country.

Edited April 1, 2014 by Darth Vader Ku

[deidre 13]

I wont be doing that.. im def going for citizenship. ..coz at the end of the day im not just thinking of myself but my [future] children... id love to have them the opportunity to live in either the US or Australia (where im from) without having to go thru the immigration process like I did, which is time consuming and expensive.

[M613 6]

Ok, so why would you think anyone else would be doing this? That's the point of your thread, right? A bit odd to ask for companionship on your bid to abandon your residency in a forum where people are banding together to seek advice on citizenship.

On a side note (and none of my business, of course), permit me to say that your strategy is a little short-sighted. A couple with dual citizenship from Canada and the United States will not only open up their travel and employment opportunities more broadly than any one citizenship alone, but will confer unique immigration advantages on any children they may have together. Saying Never in this rapidly-changing society where labour mobility is stronger now than it ever was is rather unwise considering that all that is needed from you to take this opportunity are six hundred and eighty dollars, and a few months of your time.

Good luck in Canada! Great country.

eep-I will address this in the order with which you, ah, responded.

1- You never know-a million things happen to a million people... I've been on here for 5+ years and have found both companionship and understanding in the quirkiest of situations. So my question is: why not ask it? I enjoy the comraderie and information on here: you never know if someone is in the same situation, now or later...

2- Your side note is completely understandable-I can appreciate where you were going with it. I have absolutely no plans to have children; if I did, the US would be out of the question for many reasons. Regarding employment, my education and experience has taken me across many borders in the past-again, the US isn't an option. I have zero concerns re: my employability without US citizenship. I may be in the minority here, but barring visits to my US husband's family and our mutual American friends, there is zero lure for anything longterm. It's a mutual and very well thought out longterm decision on both of our parts....

Canada's not for a few years yet, but thanks-it is marvelous

[warlord 72]

Yep it's not that unusual. There are quite a lot of people who got their GC and decided they want to move back to their former countries and abandon the GC. Some got married and that dissolved and wanted to be closer to family, others realized that they just didn't fit in to the "American Way" the way they originally thought, and others just miss their homelands. I'm sure there a ton more reasons as well that people do it.

Being an American Citizen isn't for everyone, and even just being a permanent resident doesn't mean this is the promise land for many. So it doesn't surprise me at all and in fact there are quite a few people that have done this or are about to do this in the near future.

Good thing is M613 knows what will happen with the GC and status. So they are fully aware of what they want to do and have made their decision (rather than a lot of people I have seen on here that actually have no clue about leaving the US and them abandoning their status)...

[Darth Vader Ku 16]

eep-I will address this in the order with which you, ah, responded.

1- You never know-a million things happen to a million people... I've been on here for 5+ years and have found both companionship and understanding in the quirkiest of situations. So my question is: why not ask it? I enjoy the comraderie and information on here: you never know if someone is in the same situation, now or later...

2- Your side note is completely understandable-I can appreciate where you were going with it. I have absolutely no plans to have children; if I did, the US would be out of the question for many reasons. Regarding employment, my education and experience has taken me across many borders in the past-again, the US isn't an option. I have zero concerns re: my employability without US citizenship. I may be in the minority here, but barring visits to my US husband's family and our mutual American friends, there is zero lure for anything longterm. It's a mutual and very well thought out longterm decision on both of our parts....

Canada's not for a few years yet, but thanks-it is marvelous

Fair enough! I hesitated while I was mentioning the children-factor because that's absolutely none of my business, but you've clearly thought it through and I wish you all the very best. I suppose I was a bit snotty in questioning why you would post here; I apologise, you're right: one does find all sorts of unexpected (and sometimes, pleasant!) surprises in the unlikeliest of circumstances.

[NickD 202]

Ha, I know of many Canadians in the automotive field that wished they lived in the US, our prices here are a lot cheaper. But also know of many Americans that would like to live in Canada because of the far cheaper health insurance rates.

You are in the position to enjoy both, so why not take advantage of it?

Was hoping Obama would cancel that executive order put in by Bush that really separated our extremely long two country relationship. Not bad for me to travel up to Canada, but miserable coming back.

US is also a very big place, and some places are not very nice to live in, others are great, another factor. Now if you are talking about Vancouver, that is nice.

[Darth Vader Ku 16]

Ha, I know of many Canadians in the automotive field that wished they lived in the US, our prices here are a lot cheaper. But also know of many Americans that would like to live in Canada because of the far cheaper health insurance rates.

You are in the position to enjoy both, so why not take advantage of it?

Was hoping Obama would cancel that executive order put in by Bush that really separated our extremely long two country relationship. Not bad for me to travel up to Canada, but miserable coming back.

US is also a very big place, and some places are not very nice to live in, others are great, another factor. Now if you are talking about Vancouver, that is nice.

Wow, a response from you that does not include false, misleading or hystercial anti-tax propaganda! Nice!

[Glyn and Kathy 288]

I will only say this...does hubby have family here?? Parents?? Siblings?? Someone who he may feel he needs to be with if and when they are older and ill? Would he be ok with not being close by and living near his parents if say one of them became seriously ill and needed full time care?? Just putting it out there, because that is what happened to us. I understand you plan on never living here again....but even the best of plans go out the window sometimes.

[Angel012110 19]

Well good Luck to You! You Will Probably Lose The Green Card but why not just do the citizenship? It is less than a 6 month process and what if you think differently in 10 years? what if situations change and you want to come back? You may think one way now but remember RARELY things go as planned, Just make sure you don't regret it later.