Comments on: How to get an EU citizenship http://claritaslux.com/blog/eu-citizenship/ Learning, languages, EU, citizenship Sat, 11 Feb 2012 12:11:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mark Biernat http://claritaslux.com/blog/eu-citizenship/comment-page-6/#comment-64572 Mark Biernat Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:45:51 +0000 http://www.claritaslux.com/blog/2007/09/10/eu-citizenship/#comment-64572 Well the US is one of the few countries that require US citizens living abroad or doing anything abroad to report everything to the IRS. I mean I lived in the EU for years but I am still reporting the pittance I make teaching students English and paying Polish taxes too. I have to report everything. A US passport is good if you want to live in the USA. I moved to sunny Florida on an Island and I enjoy the quality of life here. But you are right, it is not the 1950s and the magic blue passport ment you are Brahmins in this world. I look around at my local Walmart and I do not know if these Americans are really that great off. Well the US is one of the few countries that require US citizens living abroad or doing anything abroad to report everything to the IRS. I mean I lived in the EU for years but I am still reporting the pittance I make teaching students English and paying Polish taxes too. I have to report everything. A US passport is good if you want to live in the USA. I moved to sunny Florida on an Island and I enjoy the quality of life here. But you are right, it is not the 1950s and the magic blue passport ment you are Brahmins in this world. I look around at my local Walmart and I do not know if these Americans are really that great off.

]]> By: geeez http://claritaslux.com/blog/eu-citizenship/comment-page-6/#comment-64564 geeez Sat, 28 Jan 2012 11:38:28 +0000 http://www.claritaslux.com/blog/2007/09/10/eu-citizenship/#comment-64564 Mark, I think Canadian citizenship is better than US citizenship these days. Unfortunately, the US wants to apply their rules extraterritorialy, making life somewhat "restrictive" for US citizens abroad. I'm talking about the FACTA and the overall treatment of American-owned businesses abroad. Even if an American is a 10% partner in a business, they have to send financial information to the US, yet the company does no business with America and the business partners aren't Americans. That's overreach to me. Additionally, I can tell you that travelling in South America as a US Citizen is more expensive, than say someone with a EU passport due to "reciprocity fees". The US charges them, so they will charge US Citizens. I think the US passport was great 30-40 years ago because you were free to travel just about anywhere. Fast-forward to today, and many people from many different countries can do that. With some countries, you just need to get a visa. I think that will never change because these countries make a lot of revenue from issuing visas, especially the US. Here's what I'm talking about - the visa requirements for US and Canadian citizens is almost identical: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_requirements_for_Canadian_citizens en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_requirements_for_United_States_citizens en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_requirements_for_Brazilian_citizens Mark, I think Canadian citizenship is better than US citizenship these days. Unfortunately, the US wants to apply their rules extraterritorialy, making life somewhat “restrictive” for US citizens abroad. I’m talking about the FACTA and the overall treatment of American-owned businesses abroad. Even if an American is a 10% partner in a business, they have to send financial information to the US, yet the company does no business with America and the business partners aren’t Americans. That’s overreach to me.

Additionally, I can tell you that travelling in South America as a US Citizen is more expensive, than say someone with a EU passport due to “reciprocity fees”. The US charges them, so they will charge US Citizens.

I think the US passport was great 30-40 years ago because you were free to travel just about anywhere. Fast-forward to today, and many people from many different countries can do that. With some countries, you just need to get a visa. I think that will never change because these countries make a lot of revenue from issuing visas, especially the US.

Here’s what I’m talking about – the visa requirements for US and Canadian citizens is almost identical:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_requirements_for_Canadian_citizens
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_requirements_for_United_States_citizens
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_requirements_for_Brazilian_citizens

]]> By: Mark Biernat http://claritaslux.com/blog/eu-citizenship/comment-page-6/#comment-64557 Mark Biernat Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:25:53 +0000 http://www.claritaslux.com/blog/2007/09/10/eu-citizenship/#comment-64557 When in Rome do as the Romans. In Poland for example we have the same convention of putting an 'a' at the end of a female name. But many names do not require this. Like my wife's name is Kasia Biernat not Kasia Biernata. The PM of Poland's name was Miller. His wife was not Millera. Our daughter's name is Łucja but on her US passport it is Lucja and we call her Lucy in the Usa and Łucja in Poland. When living in an English country it is OK to be flexible and the embassy is OK with it too. Legally she is Lucja here in the USA. Do the best you can but you do not have to follow Slavic naming conventions in the English speaking world. When in Rome do as the Romans. In Poland for example we have the same convention of putting an ‘a’ at the end of a female name. But many names do not require this. Like my wife’s name is Kasia Biernat not Kasia Biernata. The PM of Poland’s name was Miller. His wife was not Millera. Our daughter’s name is Łucja but on her US passport it is Lucja and we call her Lucy in the Usa and Łucja in Poland. When living in an English country it is OK to be flexible and the embassy is OK with it too. Legally she is Lucja here in the USA.

Do the best you can but you do not have to follow Slavic naming conventions in the English speaking world.

]]> By: Cath zigalova http://claritaslux.com/blog/eu-citizenship/comment-page-6/#comment-64550 Cath zigalova Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:09:29 +0000 http://www.claritaslux.com/blog/2007/09/10/eu-citizenship/#comment-64550 Dear Mark I had to questions,I hope you can help me answer I'm uk born and I married my husband who is a EU Lativan Citizen but was born in ukrian. In other words he is Russian/ukrianian. In have Been having trouble with trying to Change my name to his. Which is a typical Russian name. Ending in "ov" the problem is for me it would be "olva" but I have been having trouble trying to convince the emberssy that the "a" on the end is what is needed. Other wise it would be a male surname. I have got lativan documents to translates the "suffix in slavic surnnames" also a English translation. Could you tell me why it is so hard to change my name upon marriage. 2) my husband has been to a English university and graduated with a teaching degree . To teach English in schools. He now can't find/refuses job calls. They keep saying it's because he is not British citizen. Even though he holds a EU passport and has been in the UK for 5+ years and married to me for one! What can he do! He seems like he wasted his university in England only to be told he cannot get a job in england!? Dear Mark I had to questions,I hope you can help me answer I’m uk born and I married my husband who is a EU Lativan Citizen but was born in ukrian. In other words he is Russian/ukrianian.

In have Been having trouble with trying to Change my name to his. Which is a typical Russian name. Ending in “ov” the problem is for me it would be “olva” but I have been having trouble trying to convince the emberssy that the “a” on the end is what is needed. Other wise it would be a male surname. I have got lativan documents to translates the “suffix in slavic surnnames” also a English translation.

Could you tell me why it is so hard to change my name upon marriage.

2) my husband has been to a English university and graduated with a teaching degree . To teach English in schools. He now can’t find/refuses job calls. They keep saying it’s because he is not British citizen. Even though he holds a EU passport and has been in the UK for 5+ years and married to me for one!

What can he do! He seems like he wasted his university in England only to be told he cannot get a job in england!?

]]> By: Mark Biernat http://claritaslux.com/blog/eu-citizenship/comment-page-6/#comment-64520 Mark Biernat Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:22:45 +0000 http://www.claritaslux.com/blog/2007/09/10/eu-citizenship/#comment-64520 No, not through him as European citizenship is achieved through blood or marriage and I assume he got this via marriage? However, you can certainly apply for a visa that could lead to citizenship, but you would have to live in Spain for a while and do a lot of paperwork. No, not through him as European citizenship is achieved through blood or marriage and I assume he got this via marriage? However, you can certainly apply for a visa that could lead to citizenship, but you would have to live in Spain for a while and do a lot of paperwork.

]]> By: Victoria http://claritaslux.com/blog/eu-citizenship/comment-page-6/#comment-64518 Victoria Fri, 20 Jan 2012 02:49:36 +0000 http://www.claritaslux.com/blog/2007/09/10/eu-citizenship/#comment-64518 Hey Mark If I have a brother in Spain with a European Citizenship is their any way I could get a European Citizenship through him rather than a parent? Hey Mark
If I have a brother in Spain with a European Citizenship is their any way I could get a European Citizenship through him rather than a parent?

]]> By: Mark Biernat http://claritaslux.com/blog/eu-citizenship/comment-page-6/#comment-64517 Mark Biernat Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:52:59 +0000 http://www.claritaslux.com/blog/2007/09/10/eu-citizenship/#comment-64517 I think Canadian citizenship is on par with US citizenship. Ok, Canada is cold and the USA rocks in terms of variety of things to do, but Canada has a high standard of living and this will not change, because of the shale oil and free markets. Canada is peaceful and has many social benefits. I think EU, USA and Canadian are all very close along with Australian and New Zealand. I would say USA, the Canadian and then an EU citizenship close behind it. I think Canadian citizenship is on par with US citizenship. Ok, Canada is cold and the USA rocks in terms of variety of things to do, but Canada has a high standard of living and this will not change, because of the shale oil and free markets. Canada is peaceful and has many social benefits. I think EU, USA and Canadian are all very close along with Australian and New Zealand. I would say USA, the Canadian and then an EU citizenship close behind it.

]]> By: warlord http://claritaslux.com/blog/eu-citizenship/comment-page-6/#comment-64513 warlord Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:27:51 +0000 http://www.claritaslux.com/blog/2007/09/10/eu-citizenship/#comment-64513 Hi Mark, nice work you're doing on here. I'm an a dual national of America and Britain, I'd like to ask how you rate Canadian citizenship? Is it well sought after and what are the benefits in your honest opinion? Kind Regards Leroy Hi Mark, nice work you’re doing on here. I’m an a dual national of America and Britain, I’d like to ask how you rate Canadian citizenship? Is it well sought after and what are the benefits in your honest opinion?

Kind Regards
Leroy

]]> By: Aidan Rasmussen http://claritaslux.com/blog/eu-citizenship/comment-page-6/#comment-64508 Aidan Rasmussen Wed, 18 Jan 2012 07:10:45 +0000 http://www.claritaslux.com/blog/2007/09/10/eu-citizenship/#comment-64508 Hi there, My wife and I want to live and work in Spain. We are both New Zealanders but she has a British passport. She is pregnant and we will probably have the child in New Zealand. I want to know what is the likelihood of the three of us being able to live in Spain and what we need to do to make it happen. I have two years left on a British spouse visa. Thank you, Aidan. Hi there,

My wife and I want to live and work in Spain. We are both New Zealanders but she has a British passport. She is pregnant and we will probably have the child in New Zealand. I want to know what is the likelihood of the three of us being able to live in Spain and what we need to do to make it happen. I have two years left on a British spouse visa.

Thank you,
Aidan.

]]> By: Mark Biernat http://claritaslux.com/blog/eu-citizenship/comment-page-6/#comment-64497 Mark Biernat Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:25:16 +0000 http://www.claritaslux.com/blog/2007/09/10/eu-citizenship/#comment-64497 I wish I could say yes, but marriage is a civil thing, and you would have to get proper documents and residence somewhere legally to marry, if you try he would most likely be deported. I would try in Tunisia. My friend married a Tunsian and he was able to enter the EU legally under a marriage visa latter. I wish I could say yes, but marriage is a civil thing, and you would have to get proper documents and residence somewhere legally to marry, if you try he would most likely be deported. I would try in Tunisia. My friend married a Tunsian and he was able to enter the EU legally under a marriage visa latter.

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