Would you visit USA in the current climate?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123823950#Comment_123823950

Yeah, i agree. That's why the only good reason to go there is the scenic driving routes.

The last few scenic trips I did there were during a recession and you could pick up motels really cheap as you went 40-60$ a night, offer cash and the franchisee might give you a better rate. We ate where the Mexicans ate so it was a lot cheaper and healthier too. Having some espanol can be very helpful.

I used to love the USA, I've spent a year of my life there, waiting tables in my summers at college.

I used to have a green card too, which I gave up.

I'd be slow to go back to the US now tbh, it's not the country it was imho. The people are too partial to violence, the yanks are obnoxious, their politics is divisive, they are an angry & divided people now, who tbh aren't a lot of fun to be around these times...

I'll go back to the US someday, but there are so many better countries to go to imho, I'd just prefer to spend my tourist $ elsewhere for now...

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123824149#Comment_123824149

The people are too partial to violence, the yanks are obnoxious, their politics is divisive, they are an angry & divided people now, who tbh aren't a lot of fun to be around these times

Have been a good bit over the last 15 years. Was there last year for a long holiday inc a road trip for example- Cape Cod, DC, all through Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, Louisiana and literally experienced the opposite of above.

Just normal nice interesting people going about their lives. Couldn't have been more friendly, welcoming and fun.

Social media has really done a number on people.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123824175#Comment_123824175

a common refrain from us tourists to Ireland is we're all friendly but some posters here swear it's a dystopian dictatorship.

I would agree though if a US driving holiday is an itch that needs a scratch now is probably good before prices there erase the exchange rate advantage.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123824175#Comment_123824175

Good for you if that was your experience.

FYI, I haven't derived my impressions from social media.

The last time I visited the US was for a short trip in 2017. The customs officer accosted me in the airport when I arrived, like he was looking for an excuse to send me back, and I just got a general feeling of grave discontent among the ordinary people you'd meet in diners, bars , etc, daily, which has been confirmed by their political choices since.

The US just does not do it for me these days cos of their politics, discontent among ordinary Americans and their propensity for violence.

(Social media has nothing to do with this...)

J Mysterio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123824149#Comment_123824149

While I agree with your sentiment, is a green card not for life? Why would you give it up?

Glaceon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123824330#Comment_123824330

One reason I can think of is that you're still liable to file US tax returns as long as you have one, even if living abroad. I'm married to an American so would be eligible for one, but I won't take it up for that reason.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123824330#Comment_123824330

You have to file an annual tax return to retain it apparently. I hadn't done this for years, as I lived & worked in Ireland, so when I presented it at immigration security in Dublin Airport many years later on my to the US for a short trip, I was given a stark choice , either attend a court hearing in the US in several weeks to try to explain why i hadn't submitted my tax returns for several years, or relinquish my green card on the spot. I chose the latter.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123824323#Comment_123824323

Fair enough. Again though, if you haven't been since 2017, where are you getting your opinions/info from?

J Mysterio

Wow, I had no idea about the tax returns element. Thanks for the information.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123824338#Comment_123824338

I can imagine the age of social media has possibly flipped things for US denizens looking at how much cheaper things like healthcare and education can be in EU.

When I first went there in the 80s it really felt like the place to be. I left Ireland of the moving statues, no divorce or abortion, heavily restricted birth control and criminalized homosexuality.

Now it feels like the USA is regressing to where I left back then.

[Deleted User]

You do need to file annual tax returns to keep the green card, that's because to keep the green card you have to actually live in America.

If you have a green card you can't be absent for more than 6 months without first getting a thing called a re-entry permit, which will allow you to be absent for up to two years.

The green card is a resident visa, therefore you have to be resident in the US to keep it.

It's not for life, it's renewable ever 10 years (I believe) but you can apply for US citizenship after having one for 5 years.

I gave up mine to, not because I had any ideological reason, just the lady I meet there who ended up becoming my wife was going home so I went home as well, about a year before I could have applied for citizenship.

If you are a citizen you have to file annual taxes, but you don't lose anything if living in Ireland because Ireland and the US have an agreement on dual taxation or something.

[Deleted User]

They were correct.

You can't enter the US on a green card that you haven't used for years unless you can prove you have in some way been maintaining your US residency.

Filing tax returns is just one part of showing that you could be or have been trying to maintain residency.

pc7

US is hosting Rugby World Cup in 2031, I'm hoping to go and bring the kids, do the parks and all that, if it was on there next year not sure I'd go. More because friends who go yearly to NYC have said costs/tips have just gone through the roof.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123824625#Comment_123824625

Tbf, that's something the yanks might do very well. They tend to do big events like a soccer world cup, Superbowl, Olympics, RWC etc very, very well. So a RWC trip alongside a USA car trip maybe, might be a trip back to the US I'd consider also. But until then they can whistle for it, I'm going elsewhere, cos the US is a basket case for now imho.

Theboinkmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058403510/would-you-visit-usa-in-the-current-climate

Yes - just back from Boston for 2 nights and was brilliant. Not sure what a law abiding Irish person would have to fear…

Glaceon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123824525#Comment_123824525

That also applies to US citizens living abroad. My wife still needs to file her US taxes even though she lives here. They don't come after you for payment unless you're making something like $100k abroad. But you still need to declare what you're making.

There's only two countries in the world that do this - USA and Eritrea!

Illusory

If you'd rather not come to America you'd miss out on a great experience for the most part. We are friendly and accommodating to tourists and there is so much here to do. Maybe with the exception of big cities where they're rude to everyone.

Infini

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123824694#Comment_123824694

Honestly I'd probably visit again but not until that Orange Shítstain is gone for good and the damage is rolled back to a more sane degree. Till then I'll be taking my buisness to Canada.

Grayson

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123824338#Comment_123824338

I knew that US citizens abroad had to do this, but I didn't realise they did it to green card holders.

Arseboxing

You'd need your head examined to go to the USA with the current authoritarian political climate there.

Illusory

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123824751#Comment_123824751

Canada is nice but not much to do there. With 3 more years of Trump followed by 8 years of JD Vance it might be a long time to miss our on all America has to offer. Somehow I think you'll visit again even while Trump is in office.

[Deleted User]

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123824760#Comment_123824760

They don't.

If you have a green card and don't live in the US then you are basically surrendering the green card, because the main condition of having a green card is living in the US.

If for some reason you lived abroad for years and then tried to travel to the US using the green card, they would ask if you have filled tax returns, because filing tax returns is a indicator that you are maintaining your residence in the US.

The poster who said you have to file tax returns if living abroad and having as green card is talking through their hole.

Grayson

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123824694#Comment_123824694

I found city people to be lovely.

My main reason for not going would be the fear that as a foreigner I could be arrested and deported for not dotting an I on a form or having posted something anti trump online. The current US administration has made it clear that they don't care where you're from or why you're in the US, if they don't like you, you're out.

My sister was thinking of going to Orlando with the kids. But she's decided to wait till post Trump. When you're spending that much money and you're travelling with 3 kids, you don't want to take any risks, even if they're really small.

Plus there's plenty of countries who's government aren't trying to start trade wars with us.

Illusory

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123824838#Comment_123824838

It's the same thing when Americans visit abroad. If you want to let the internet trolls control your life, then so be it.

I found this youtube video interesting and accurate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rpp9nR9e3fU

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123824891#Comment_123824891

Seems to be a post lockdown thing.

Normally rational people now with a permanent scar of fear due to over use of social media. We've slepwalked into it.

You can see it on this thread. Law abiding normal people "afraid" to go to America for fear of being deported or detained or shot or caught up in some political rally or……. something. Quite sad to see its penetrated this deep into the Irish psyche.

I mean, go to the Costa Del Sol instead and hang out with criminals and try dodge pissed up Brits smacking each other about. Much more fun. Bring the kids.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123824984#Comment_123824984

I think it's more that a third of the US voting populace had zero problem voting for a convicted sex offender, whereas in our society a convicted sex offender was so caught up in his own bubble he taught he was electable.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123825057#Comment_123825057

Yep, about 22% of all the people who live there. Madness.

But again, people had no problem popping over to the UK when they had a fully fledged war criminal in charge. Or the US under Bush doing the same thing. Actually killing people. Hundreds of thousands of people. No problem then was there?!

Its really just social media and noise thats influencing people. Its fairly pathetic tbh. The people who are saying they wouldnt want to "support" Trump by giving tourist money to him and the like. The irony being these social media companies are American and pay tax (some tax anyway) that ends up in the US treasury.

Even using Boards.ie ensures money ends up in the US treasury.

Glaceon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123824808#Comment_123824808

I'll ignore the dickish retort and respond nicely…

While you are technically abandoning the green card while living abroad, as long as you haven't formally surrendered it, the IRS considers you a US tax resident and expects you to file annual returns on worldwide income, even if you live abroad.