Survey of Americans Abroad

by Peter Dahlen on December 3, 2011 in Americans Abroad with No comments

Americans abroad are a diverse group of people and Amanda Klekowski von Koppenfels, an American who works as a Lecturer in Migration and Politics at the University of Kent, Brussels, wants to tell their story. As part of her research work at the university, she is conducting a survey on Americans abroad.

The purpose of the project is to learn more about who Americans living overseas are and answer questions such as: How long have people lived overseas, and why did they move? And why, in some cases, did they stay? What jobs do Americans overseas have? Where do they plan to retire? The survey also looks at what links Americans have with the U.S., and how they have settled in to the countries they live in.

Please participate if:

  • you are a US citizen
  • you are currently living outside of the United States (you do not need to have ever lived in the US),
  • you are at least 18 years old and
  • you have either lived outside of the US for at least 12 months or are planning to remain outside of the US for a total of at least 12 months

    • The survey is completely anonymous and takes 20-30 minutes to finish. What is more, you can ask to be notified of results and related publications. Please share the link to the survey with other Americans abroad: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Americans_overseas

    Happy Thanksgiving!

    by Peter Dahlen on November 24, 2011 in Americans Abroad, General Interest with 2 Comments

    Celebrating Thanksgiving abroad helps me focus my attention on gratitude.

    As an American abroad I often celebrate Thanksgiving in a vacuum while the rest of the society around me races along. Still, as we plan gatherings of Americans and source turkey, stuffing, cranberries and the other necessary fixings for our favorite Thanksgiving dishes, I notice that I have more time to simply be thankful. And that is what it’s all about.

    Happy Thanksgiving, wherever you are!

    Americans in Canada feel compelled to divorce from the U.S.

    by Peter Dahlen on November 18, 2011 in Americans Abroad, General Interest, Washington with 1 Comment

    This Globe and Mail story of a mass citizenship renunciation recently came to my attention and it serves as a stark illustration of the reality of the sharp spike in renunciations over the past few years. According to the Globe and Mail, “Last year, 1,534 Americans renounced their U.S. citizenship – more than twice as many as in 2009 and a sevenfold increase from 2008.”

    We have held large ceremonies to confer citizenship for generations and these have been joyous occasions, but now, sadly, on at least this occasion, Americans have gathered for a mass renunciation.

    The renunciations seem to stem from the burdens and penalties under the IRS’ Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts, the so-called FBAR.

    The IRS’ inflexible application (PDF) of FBAR penalties is a worldwide problem for Americans abroad and for Americans who may have lived abroad and still have assets overseas. There have been numerous press accounts of Americans all over who owed little or no U.S. taxes and who entered recent voluntary disclosure programs in good faith, but who have nevertheless been penalized for failing to files FBARs.

    Beyond the tragedy of so many of our fellow patriots feeling compelled to take such drastic measures to avoid indiscriminate and unjust prosecution by our own government, is the draining effect it will have on the power of soft diplomacy to advance American interests abroad. If our fellow citizens give up their citizenship because of abusive enforcement measures, how can we convince the rest of the world of our fundamental fairness and reliance on the rule of law and due process?

    The soft power of the American diaspora

    by Peter Dahlen on October 24, 2011 in Americans Abroad with No comments

    Earlier this month the Irish government hosted a gathering of Irish-American business leaders — the Global Irish Economic Forum — seeking to tap into the two year-old international network of Irish diaspora to help the country recover from its debt crisis. Deputy prime minister Eamon Gilmore told those gathered, “There is now a far greater appreciation of the fact that the global Irish, in all its diversity, constitute a vast source of soft power for this country.”

    A week later, in a speech to the Economic Club of New York, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton remarked that:

    Today, our foreign and economic relations remain indivisible. Only now, our great challenge is not deterring any single military foe, but advancing our global leadership at a time when power is more often measured and exercised in economic terms.

    With the Irish seeking to avail themselves of the talents and soft power of the Irish diaspora, what lessons can the US learn? Can we take advantage of the corresponding network among the 6 million Americans living overseas to exercise our soft power and help right the American economy?

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