New relinquishment fee

Let's not get into a frenzy of "America bashing". The tax system is terrible, but as someone who actively took US citizenship, sometimes I feel compelled to argue the merits of the USA.

It wasn't my intention to bash America. In fact I'm often an America defender, there's no denying that the USA leads the world in many fields and for many people it is an ideal country to make a living. You don't get to be the most culturally influential country in the world with the most top Universities if you are absolutely terrible at everything, America has LOTS going for it.

Having said that, I'm super happy my kids are not American. If they end up there in the future and like you they take up citizenship I would like it to be their choice and not something imposed on them when the tax situation is so unfavorable for Americans abroad.

I remember Grimnor Square in the early 80's. The taxi would drop you on the street in front and you could walk up the main steps and straight onto the main floor. Times have certainly changed.

And changing...apparently the new Embassy in Battersea is going to be bang next door to the world's first "sky pool" - a plate glass swimming pool suspended 10 stories up between two grossly overpriced luxury apartment buildings.   

The Guardian says:

Having an aerial aquarium of oligarchs next door will surely only add to the temptation for any ... [persons of evil intent].  Not that the owners will ever be around to use it: it’s likely to turn a similar shade to the sludgy green tiles of the buildings that support it, making it the world’s first slimy pond in the sky.

http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/architecture-design-blog/2015/aug/20/london-sky-pool-trend-swimming-oligarch

They've finally publicly posted the comments (eight as of this post, eta: seven that have been "approved").

They've finally publicly posted the comments (eight as of this post, eta: seven that have been "approved").

Good comment, Kelly85, well and rationally argued.

Link please?

I don't know if Wednesday is Renunciation Day or if two a day is now par for the course.  I did get the impression the consular staff are somewhat dismayed, both by the increase in citizens coming in to renounce, and by the shocking price they're having to charge for what's supposed to be a citizen's right.  But that's only my impression, and could well be wrong.

This was in Amsterdam.

Hi iota,

Resurrecting an old thread, but when I saw the following, I thought of your experience in Amsterdam. You may have already seen this. It concerned someone going to the Amsterdam consulate, and the conduct of the staff there.

I understand you were resolute in your actions and had no qualms about what you were doing, but this person, equally resolute, couldn't quite keep their emotions under control.

http://rachelheller.org/renunciation-day/

Also of interest is the comment from Ruth in the comments section.

"I do feel enormous empathy for the process you had to go through in order to make that final decision. State department officers were exceedingly kind to me in Toronto as well, and I too became emotional. One of my friends was so distraught at her appointment the officer actually said to her “That’s okay, you’ll always be American to me” There’s something very, very wrong here."
 

Hi TheOAP -

Yes, I read Rachel Heller's account with interest.  I think it's not surprising that she and I had very different feelings about renouncing.  She describes her continuing attachment to the US, and to her identity as an American.  Whereas I'm much more attached to Britain, having lived here for most of my adult life, and having all my closest associations here.

I do sympathise with the sadness felt by US citizens like Rachel who grieve over their loss of citizenship.  It's an own goal for the US, to have created a situation in which so many devoted Americans (who would otherwise be America's best overseas advocates) feel they can no longer cope with the pointless, seemingly punitive, form-filling demands.  Fair enough for the U.S. to say to someone like me "Fill in these pointless tax forms if you want to remain a citizen" - America and I haven't been an item for fifty years.  But to treat devoted citizens like Rachel Heller the same way is not only unfair but surely unwise.  What goes around, comes around.