Quick Takes: News You Can Use

Here's just a few short clips from recent news.  I think you might make good use of them.

Chile appears set to join those countries on the US Visa Waiver Program effective in 2014.  This allows visa-free entry to US for up to 90 days - just register online through ESTA.  This could be helpful to those considering Chilean citizenship, now that Chile has streamlined some new routes to immigration and possible citizenship.  For American citizens looking to Chilean citizenship with an eye to possible renunciation of their US citizenship, it means visa-free entry for those quick visits back to the US to visit friends and family, or wrap up business interests.  Chile seems more and more appealing as a place to live, work, launch a business, explore as a PT through South America, even immigrate.  Land of 21st Century opportunities.

Complaints about TSA employees' unethical conduct and worse are up 26%.  More and more travelers are seeking routings which avoid the US.  For example, one American man with lots of international business interests hops from Mexico City to Vancouver when heading from Latin America to Asia.  He heads from Latin America to Europe through Brazil to Portugal and onward.  He claims it's worth a bit of extra expense to avoid transiting any US airport - even though he's a US citizen.  Consider planning your travels to avoid transiting the US, too.  What woman wants to be groped in public?

Still need help securing your personal info against PRISM and other malfeasance, invasions of privacy, risks to your safety and security?  Check out this "Black Paper" on digital privacy by Simon Black, privacy maven, inveterate PT, international business expert.  Loaded with excellent tips to protect yourself, your identity, your communications, especially while traveling. 

May your road rise to meet you, fellow Road Warrioress!
Ann

More Americans Are Expatriating

More Americans than ever are giving up their US citizenship.  In the last quarter of 2009, 502 Americans officially renounced their US citizenship.

The US State Department estimates about 5-1/2 million Americans live overseas.  So that's a miniscule percentage of Americans abroad who actually renounced citizenship.  Given the delays in obtaining appointments to renounce, and the numbers awaiting citizenship elsewhere (a prerequisite to renunciation), those numbers are set to increase even more dramatically.

How to renounce US citizenship?  In a nutshell, first obtain citizenship & passport elsewhere, and establish foreign residence in that country of new citizenship or a third country.  Make an appointment at the nearest US consulate to your new home.  Fill out forms.  Take the oath of renunciation.  Wait for your certification of renunciation.  This last is the most crucial because until you get that, you are still a taxpayer in the eyes of the IRS!

As long as the US remains the only major country in the world to tax citizens and "US persons" on worldwide income even when they live (and pay taxes!) in another country, the only way out from under onerous IRS tax regulations is expatriation.  And the US will remain uncompetitive on world markets as long as US persons and businesses are taxed to death.