this post was submitted on 06 Jul 2023
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In the US, I’ve heard that countries like the USSR and North Korea prevent citizens from leaving. Is this propaganda or do AES countries tend to prevent more people leaving than others?

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This is not quite the same since it is not about freedom of movement but instead about economic control, but is an interesting comparison: the US charges its citizens income tax even when they are not resident in the US, and it is the only country that does this, IIRC.

If you leave the US and immigrate elsewhere, the only way to stop paying for the US's militaristic imperialism is to renounce your citizenship.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

you have to pay at least a $2530 fee to renounce US citizenship, if you somehow avoid all of the other hidden fees. and Allah help you if you mess up part of the application. cool country 👍

edit: i conclude it's probably easier to lose citizenship by committing treason or joining a foreign military than doing the state department's arcane (and expensive) rituals

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

I have not lived in the US for most of my adult life, and have been in the process of renouncing for a while now, as I need to to get my new citizenship.

I was interrupted by covid, because they just decided to not let anyone renounce during that time period, so I have started my application process over. You're lucky if you only get the couple thousand charge, because the chances are very high that they will find some tax that you didn't pay you suddenly owe now.

Honestly, paying income tax to the US for the rest of my life is probably the easier route. At least most people get it all returned.