---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: ACA NU3
<nusend3.aca@gmail.com>
Date: Sep 12, 2007 4:01 PM
Subject: ACA News
Update 162
To:
ACA NEWS UPDATE Issue 162, September 2007
An e-mail News Update from American Citizens
Abroad
Editor for this edition: Dorothy van Schooneveld
You can read the News Update on the ACA Website: www.aca.ch
IN THIS ISSUE:
* Two new members join House caucus
* Register now for early primary elections
* How permanent are "permanent" green cards?
* Tricare-for-Life? Share your experiences
* Jane Bruno: update on US taxation of Americans
overseas
* Case study: Catch-22 for an American abroad
* More on taxation: report property you steal
* GAO reports: subscription service
* ACA's busy fall season
* While you're surfing …
13 A LUCKY NUMBER FOR AMERICANS
ABROAD CAUCUS
The House Americans Abroad Caucus founded by Reps. Carolyn
Maloney (D-NY) and Joe Wilson (R-SC) has expanded this summer with the addition
of two new members, Julia Carson (D-IN) and Michael
Honda (D-CA).
Other members of the caucus, created to focus on issues
related to overseas citizens are (in alphabetical order): John Boozman (R-AZ),
Donna Christensen (D-VI), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Kay
Granger (R-TX), Alcee Hastings (D-FL), Sheila Jackson
Lee (D-TX), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Henry Waxman
(D-CA), Frank Wolf (R-VA).
Remember: your current representative in Congress by
representative is from the state district where you last resided before living
abroad. Do your part to ensure that your representative is aware that s/he has
overseas constituents who are following her/his actions, and would welcome
his/her joining the Caucus.
REGISTER NOW FOR EARLY PRIMARY ELECTIONS
Many states are moving up the dates of their primary
elections. Make sure you register to vote early, to be able to participate in
state primaries in 2008 (see www.overseasvotefoundation.org for full
information).
IMMIGRATION SERVICES PLANS REPLACEMENT OF OLDER PERMANENT
RESIDENT (GREEN) CARDS
USCIS (the US Citizenship and Immigration Services – which
includes the former INS) has filed notice in the Federal Register of an
intention to recall green cards with no expiration date (those 17 to 30 years
old). Holders of such cards would be obliged to apply for the newer form of the
card, valid for ten years and with biometric data, within 120 days of the
regulations' coming into force and at a cost of $370. USCIS estimates this would
affect 750,000 green cards.
ACA is concerned that this may have a negative impact on
businesspeople who travel frequently to the US, as well as on Americans residing
abroad with non-citizen family members. For the full press release on the
subject from ACA see:
http://fe6.news.re3.yahoo.com/s/prweb/20070905/bs_prweb/prweb550618
Comments on this proposed rule change are accepted until 21
September. For the proposal as in the Federal Register see: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/E7-16311.htm.
USCIS questions and answers concerning the rule are at: http://www.uscis.gov/files/pressrelease/I551ReplacementQA082207.pdf
ACA MEMBER SEEKS INFO ON TRICARE-FOR-LIFE
Tricare-For-Life information wanted. A retired USAF couple
who are considering moving to Germany would like to exchange emails with someone
who has experience with Tricare-For-Life system overseas and especially Germany.
Please email kingtoth@iol.ie.
Background: In general, active duty and retired service
members of the uniformed services, and their families, are eligible for TRICARE
medical coverage while living overseas. For more info see: www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/home/overview/Plans/ForLife?CFID=15089365&CFTOKEN=49268412
JANE BRUNO'S OVERVIEW OF US TAX REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS
Joining previous articles by tax attorney Jane Bruno is her
recent "Update on US Taxation of Americans Overseas in 2007" (www.aca.ch/cadtopiy.htm). A specialist equally fluent in
"layman-ese", Ms Bruno offers a brief overview of the current state of US tax
law as relevant to Americans abroad. Did you know, for example, that newly
issued US passports, on the last page, state: "All U.S. citizens working and
residing abroad are required to file and report on their worldwide income."? How
nice to have such a reminder among your most preciously-guarded
papers!
CATCH-22, 23, 24 OF AN OVERSEAS AMERICAN
Not to be missed if you are a believer that truth can be
stranger than fiction is ACA's press release based on the true-life situation of
"Joe", an American abroad who is in the midst of an obstacle race in an attempt
to accept a prestigious position with an American university. Look at www.aca.ch/catch22.pdf
and laugh (or cry) along with us at the awesome bureaucratic challenges he
faces. Will Joe arrive at the finish line in time? Stay tuned.
YOU'VE STOLEN PROPERTY? REPORT IT ON YOUR TAXES!
A quick-witted reader has brought to our attention a
reporting requirement many of us have probably overlooked:
"Stolen property.
If you steal property, you must report its fair market value in your
income in the year you steal it unless in the same year, you return it to its
rightful owner." IRS Publication 17, page 88 -- www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf
(A tip of the hat to Paul Torgerson for this
morsel.)
REPORTS FROM GAO AVAILABLE ONLINE
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (prior to 2004
called the "General Accounting Office") executes audits and reviews of all
phases of government activity, issuing reports which are available to the
public. One can subscribe to GAO email updates of publications available on
their site on a regular basis and/or based on topics by going to: www.gao.gov/subscribe/index.php. Examples
of recent reviews that may be of interest to Americans overseas
include:
Higher Education: Challenges in Attracting International
Students
to the United States and Implications for Global
Competitiveness.
GAO-07-1047T, June 29, 2007 (14 pages).
http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-07-1047T
Elections: Action Plans Needed to Fully Address Challenges
in
Electronic Absentee Voting Initiatives for Military and
Overseas
Citizens. GAO-07-774, June 14, 2007 (50
pages).
http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-07-774
Talking Books for the Blind. GAO-07-871R, June 12, 2007
(11
pages).
http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-07-871R
Social Security Numbers: Federal Actions Could Further
Decrease
Availability in Public Records, though Other
Vulnerabilities
Remain. GAO-07-752, June 15, 2007 (44 pages).
http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-07-752
Social Security Numbers: Use is Widespread and Protection
Could
Be Improved. GAO-07-1023T, June 21, 2007 (14 pages).
http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-07-1023T
State Department: The July 2006 Evacuation of American
Citizens
from Lebanon. GAO-07-893R, June 7, 2007 (33 pages).
http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-07-893R
ACA: COME SEE US, COME JOIN US, COME WORK WITH
US!
-- SEE US THIS FALL AT (and buy "So Far Yet So
Near"):
* Leman Expo in Morges - Sunday
23 Sept 2007
* Expat Expo in Geneva - Sunday
7 October 2007
* International Women's Club
Bazaar, Geneva –
Saturday 10
November 2007
-- JOIN US AT:
** ACA Gala Dinner - Friday 12
October 2007 (sign up info
on ACA
website: (www.aca.ch)
** ACA Auction - Friday 11 April
2008, Geneva's
Ramada
Inn
-- WORK WITH US:
*** Volunteer Job
Opportunity
ACA is looking for a volunteer
to do the organization's
accounting in Geneva,
Switzerland. This is a good way to
help Americans Citizens Abroad
and to get to know the
people working actively to
promote the interests of
Americans overseas. It is a fun
group.
Time
commitment: approximately 1 - 2 hours/month.
Location: 5
rue Liotard, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland.
Job
requirements: experience in bookkeeping and accounting.
Simple and
straight-forward accounting program used.
Training: backup and support of the person currently doing the
accounts.
Please contact us
email:
info.aca@gmail.com or dial Swiss phone
number:
+41 22
3400233
*** Overseas Americans Week in
Washington DC –
April 2008
(contact info.aca@gmail.com for
further
details). ACA
is looking for early sign-up of interested participants from a broad range of
backgrounds and geographical locations. No expenses paid, but a tremendous
learning experience!
WHILE YOU'RE SURFING …
The State Department has an interesting publication aimed at
its personnel planning or living in retirement, but with information of wider
validity. The well-researched June issue of Career Transition Center (CTC)
concentrated on retiring abroad -- reasons for, solid consideration of factors
to consider, how to, etc.: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/86273.pdf.
Interestingly enough, it quotes an estimate of one million Americans retired
abroad.
Other recent issues of this newsletter spotlight
transitioning to new careers, starting an independent business, age
discrimination, resume writing. And don't pass up the July annual jokes
issue!
(thanks to reader Leila Heron for this lead)
*******************************************************
THE ACA NEWS UPDATE EDITING AND PUBLISHING TEAM:
*Editor-in-Chief: Dorothy van Schooneveld
*Senior and Web Editor: Karl Jauch, ACA Executive
Director
This News Update is, like ACA itself, of, by, and for
Americans abroad. ACA is staffed entirely through the efforts of volunteers,
with its primary income source being membership fees and donations from
concerned individuals.
JOIN US!
If you would like to become part of the dynamic
all-volunteer team that powers ACA, there is a constant need for additional
physical and/or electronic staff.
Contact ACA's Geneva office at:
American Citizens Abroad (ACA)
5 rue Liotard
CH-1202 Geneva, Switzerland
Phone and fax: +41 22 340 0233
E-mail: info.aca@gmail.com
website: www.aca.ch
While ACA makes every effort to be accurate in the
information it transmits, such information is not to be considered a substitute
for specific and qualified professional advice.
--
ACA
5 Rue Liotard
1202 Geneva, Switzerland
0041.22.340.02.33
info.aca@gmail.com
ACA
is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, nongovernmental association dedicated to serving
and defending the interests of individual US citizens living
worldwide. Our headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland but our
members come from all corners of the world. If you would like to
support ACA please visit our website, www.aca.ch, and join our efforts by becoming a
member.
PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL. All inquiries
should be sent to: info.aca@gmail.com