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Shoutout to that consulate clerk in Berlin who set me straight
I was dead set on giving up my US passport for years. I thought it was just hassle and taxes for no reason. Then I had to renew my German passport at the consulate in Berlin last month. The clerk asked why I was so annoyed and I told her I was thinking of dropping the US one. She just looked at me and said "you know you can't get a visa to work in America once you renounce, right?" I had no idea it was that permanent. She showed me a list of fees and restrictions online right there on her screen. That one fact convinced me to keep both passports even if it means extra paperwork.
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the_fiona1mo ago
I used to roll my eyes at people who stressed about keeping their US passport but now I get it - that visa restriction thing is way too risky to mess with.
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beth2761mo ago
Oh man, the 90 day rule is what got me paranoid honestly. I messed up a visa once by leaving the country for a weekend trip without checking the dates first. The real trick is to set a calendar reminder every 6 months to check your renewal status, even if you think you're fine. And keep digital copies of everything in a folder on your phone and in the cloud. That way if you lose your passport or something you can prove your citizenship fast.
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