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