Question for all the Americans here:

The thread about the young couple traveling to CH to start a farm, with their rant about all that is wrong with the US, (and some subsequent replies) has me wondering: Travelers looking to meet up and share with ex-pats!

Even with all the political and economic turmoil in our homeland, who here would actually be willing to (or maybe already has) give up their American citizenship to become a Swiss citizen?

What do you believe the advantages/disadvantages would be/are in doing this?

It is not necessary to give up ones US citizenship to become a Swiss citizen.

However, after a number of years as a dual, I decided I saw no point in retaining it, especially as my US passport had expired, and I almost never used it anyway (twice in ten years, just to go to the US).

Actually, I would have given it up sooner, but couldn't be bothered to go all the way to Bern to do so (and take a day off work).

It was the only thing the US Embassy ever did for free for me.

Tom

I do consider myself very fortunate to be living here in CH -- especially because of the economic stability and lack of crime here compared to the US, but...

I would definitely not give up my US citizenship because I would want to move back there to be with my family if ("god forbid") something were to happen to my Swiss husband or my marriage ended.

Quite curious what others will say here...

I'm conflicted. I'd like to say I would drive to Bern to renounce it the day after my Swiss citizenship is conferred. And we'll always have visa waiver for those trips to visit family. But "what if" nags me in the back of my mind. "What if" I have to go back to live? But the whole tax thing is seriously a disincentive.

I can see if you are younger, there are more "what ifs", and I agree.

Once you're older (OK, I'm 52, been here 25 years) and settled in, and your family is HERE, there are no real "what ifs".

Tom

I'd give it serious consideration. We don't plan to live in the US again. I don't think Switzerland is Nirvana, but i have very little desire to return to the US. I can't become a Swiss citizen for at least 7 years tho, so who knows.

Umm, you CAN'T!

When I did it, the waiting time to make an appointment was 3 months, now it is 18 (at least in CH)!

Tom

Aside from your personal experience and knowledge, can you link this info from somewhere? As far as I could find on the US government website, it only gives vauge info, and simply says:

However, a person who acquires a foreign citizenship by applying for it may lose U.S. citizenship. In order to lose U.S. citizenship, the law requires that the person must apply for the foreign citizenship voluntarily, by free choice, and with the intention to give up U.S. citizenship.

That is, opposed to being offered a citizenship. The website http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_p.../cis_1753.html only gives one blanket statement covering dual nationality for all countries, so if you have more detailed info, that would be great for others looking into this possibility.

I would never do it. For me the good in the US outweighs the bad. I like the convenience the US offers in terms of everyday life.I can choose to home school my children, send them to private/public school, with me having a say so in where they go.

I can choose to go shopping when I want, and have choices in terms of price and variety. Use any old garbage bag, and the list goes on. So no.

Well, I asked about that, and was told (by the US embassy in BERN) that since I had used my US passport AFTER getting my Swiss citizenship (to enter the US), this didn't apply, so I would have to formally renounce it (i.e., I didn't lose it despite that I voluntarily, by free-choice, applied for Swiss citizenship).

Trust me, I wouldn't have made the trip to Bern if I didn't have to!

Call the embassy, the people there are really nice to deal with, and will answer your questions!

Tom

I also go shopping when I want, have better choices of the things I want (how many varieties of Swiss, French, and Italian cheeses are available in the US, and at what price?), and can use any old garbage bag I choose!

So why do you live here?

Tom

Thanks for the info, Tom. I'm not sure I would go so far as ever applying for citizenship here in Switzerland, though. Like others, I hold on to that "what if." All of my family is in the US. My husband as well is not Swiss, so he also has no familial ties here. We are fairly young, and it's hard to know what the future may hold for us. Plus, I'm not sure I like the idea of having children here, at least not long term.

Oh yeah, and totally the garbage bag thing

Not everyone live their lives for the choices of cheese they can find you know, in fact I don't like cheese. But reasons why I live here are irrelevant to whether or not I'd give up my US citizenship.