> My concern is that if I was a US citizen, the bank might close my account for the reasons cited in the article. So now I won't be able to get citizenship (and e.g. vote, get a US passport) until my loans are completely paid off and I can close the account.
So when you're a US citizen, they will close your bank account, and you will not be able to become a US citizen anymore? I don't quite follow.
- I can remain in the US indefinitely, I only have to pay $500 to renew my green card every 10 years, inform them if I am abroad for over 6 months, and not commit any serious crimes.
- I can apply for US citizenship in 2-4 years. US citizenship grants me some rights and takes away from restrictions.
- If I apply/gain for US Citizenship my bank abroad might close my account due to the US government rules (see the article).
- So instead I won't apply, will remain on a green card, and will wait until the account can be closed in 7-10 years time.
- Once the account is closed I can apply for US Citizenship if I wish.
OK, I get that you have the risk of your bank account being closed due to citizenship (which I imagine, is something that can only happen after the fact?) but I just don't see what the possibility of closing of your foreign bank account has to do with obtaining your citizenship.
Not trying to be pedantic, just genuinely curious (I'm a GC holder myself): Why should the USCIS care about your foreign bank account?
He's saying he can't get citizenship in the sense that he can't risk having his foreign bank account closed--not that he is prevented from doing so by the US government.
It has nothing to do with it. But up until now the majority of accounts negatively impacted by these rules have been owned by US Citizens, US Permanent Residence have slipped under the radar so far partly because our accounts are owned by a local national (in our respective home countries) from the perspective of the bank and partly because they just haven't done it yet.
If you change status from a permanent resident to a citizen it won't magically cause your bank account to close, but you might now be on their "list" and the US government can move easily bully a bank into closing the account of one of "their" nationals. It has nothing to do with the USCIS, and everything to do with the IRS.
So when you're a US citizen, they will close your bank account, and you will not be able to become a US citizen anymore? I don't quite follow.