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| Angelika/Mike Schilli |
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Michael If you ask ten Americans if Greencard holders pay taxes, I'll bet you that seven will answer "no", because they're completely retarded. I'm not sure why it's not common knowledge that everyone living in the US for more than six months must pay taxes here, just like ordinary Americans, and not only on their US income, but on their world wide earnings! Now, if taxes are the same, what's the difference between Greencard holders and citizens?
After all, a Greencard holder can stay in the country indefinitely and may work in any job with any employer -- except those that require special security clearance and citizenship, e.g. with the department of defence. After ten years, a Greencard will expire, but it can simply be renewed to the tone of a $450 processing fee.
A real bad downside of being a Greencard holder as opposed to being a citizen is that the card actually becomes invalid once the holder stays abroad for more than a year without getting special permission from the immigration department, which might extend the permissable stay abroad to at most two years. Naturalized citizens, in comparison, can come and go as they please.
Another disadvantage for Greencard holders compared to citizens are different tax exemptions as a heir of financial assets or real estate. Admittedly, this only affects wealthy families, as heirs with citizenship only have to pay the so-called estate tax if the total value exceeds roughly five and a half million dollars ($5,450,000 to be exact). Marrieds couples can even double that amount if they pass on their wealth to another citizen. If one passing citizen passes assets on to their spouse, the tax-free amount is even unlimited. But watch out, if the spouse is a Greencard holder without citizenship, they'll totally pay estate tax on amounts exceeding $5.45M! Gifting during lifetime is subject to even stricter rules. A Greencard holder can "only" receive amounts up to $148,000 per year tax free (as of 2016), and will pay taxes on anything exceeding this amount. Long story short: If a married couple has more than five Million Dollars lying around, they should definitely become citizens, otherwise death will cost more than their lives!
On top of that, Greencard holders cannot vote or sit on jury duty. If a request comes in by mail, citizens are required to spring into action and are heading towards the justice building, while Greencard holders may remain seated on the couch, while sending back the letter with the appropriate box checked (Rundbrief 09/2002).
Greencard holders are obligated, however, to join the United States army in times of war. Personally, I've been known as a jarhead since my army days, and I would no doubt instill great fear into the enemy, even nowadays, at my advanced age. After seven years, Greencard holders are required to submit income tax declarations for ten years to the United States IRS, even if they decide to go back to their home country or move somewhere else at some point. This is even true for citizens, by the way: Regardless of which country they decide to relocate to, the United States IRS requires yearly income tax declarations, listing meticulously what was earned and where taxes were paid. Indefinitely.
Then there are legal situations where a US citizen enjoys better protection than a Greencard holder, for example when a married couple uses a surrogate mother to have a child. In Germany, this practice is illegal, in the United States, it is legal, so obtaining US citizenship provides the required legal framework. Or take the case where a same sex couple wants to adopt a child. This doesn't work yet in Germany, but it is common place in the United States. As soon as the couple obtains US citizenship, however, German bureaucrats will change their minds and accept the adoption.
If German citizens decide to become US citizens, for what reasons whatsoever, they should file a request to keep their German citizenship before applying. Why? As soon as German officials find out that one of their own citizens has obtained a foreign citizenship, they'll abruptly cut their ties with them by relentlessly stripping them off their German passport. But if the applicant filed to keep their German citizenship beforehand, the German consulate might agree that taking away the German passport would be an undue burden on the applicant, e.g. because they still have strong ties to their home country or apply for the foreign citizenship because their job requires it, and therefore have no choice. Assuming the German consulate says "ja" to keep, and Uncle Sam says "yes" to obtain the new citizenship, the newborn American will carry two passports from then on, using the appropriate one to enter either country.
There's one more catch, though: As soon as a German citizen obtains US citizenship, regardless of whether they were permitted to keep their German passport or not, the German consulate will no longer help out these hybrid Germans when they get in trouble in the US. Regular German citizens can always count on calling the consulate, day or night, if they need help, but the consul refuses to help US citizens. And according to rumors (some of which I might have started circulating myself), he will instead return a post card with a humorous motive and the imprint "Good luck with that, buddy."
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