Is it possible to live in another country but still be an US citizen?

Question

After I graduate college(im still in HS). I want to move to Japan or England and just live there for awhile.(around 3yrs). If I did live in a foreign country for that long can I still be considered an American citizen?

Answer 1

I have lived in Australia for 37yrs and im still a British citizen.

Answer 2

Yes. You would be called an "Expatriate". You can stay as long as your host government tolerates you; they will have rules for you. Some countries ask for things like a return ticket, a local host or sponsor to make sure you have a place to live, and so on. Nepal requires you to spend at least $200 per day while in the country, other countries might have similar rules. You will remain an American citizen so long as you never renounce your citizenship. You could even have dual citizenship (American/UK or American/Japanese), but the taxes you pay might start getting excessive if you do that.
You should contact the UK and Japanese Consulates (google search them) nearest to you for more detailed and accurate information.
Make sure that you understand exchange rates; you can get confused paying 4000 yen for breakfast or 150 Pounds Sterling for a month in a flat.
Also, understand slang..."Can I bum a fag?" means something way different in England ("May I have a cigarette?") than in the US.
*Please note that the three stars above are evidently Yahoo's way of protecting people from an English word that means "a bundle of flammable material" and was originally applied to cut firewood; it was later applied to homosexual males because they were being burned in England just like "witches" were*

Answer 3

Yes! You are still considered an American citizen! When u go to a foreign country and plan to stay for months or years at a time you typically get a visa(at least that's the case for Japan) and that's basically saying that you are an, in this case, an american citizen living and/or studying abroad.I'm not really sure how it is with london but you can google the country you want to visit and go to their government/ official website and find more information :)

Answer 4

The ONLY way to not be considered an American citizen would be to go thorough the process to renounce your citizenship. Other than that, no matter HOW long you live in another country you are still considerd a US citizen and subject to ALL US laws.

Answer 5

If you are a US citizen, you can live elsewhere for as long as you like.

It is difficult, but not impossible to lose your US citizenship.

U.S. citizens are subject to loss of citizenship if they perform certain acts voluntarily and with the intention to relinquish U.S. citizenship. These acts include: Obtaining naturalization in a foreign state; Taking an oath, affirmation or other formal declaration to a foreign state or its political subdivisions; Entering or serving in the armed forces of a foreign state engaged in hostilities against the U.S. or serving as a commissioned or non-commissioned officer in the armed forces of a foreign state; Accepting employment with a foreign government if (a) one has the nationality of that foreign state or (b) a declaration of allegiance is required in accepting the position; Formally renouncing U.S. citizenship before a U.S. consular officer outside the United States; Formally renouncing U.S. citizenship within the U.S. (but only "in time of war"); Conviction for an act of treason

Answer 6

You can do it for as long as you want. You just get visas or apply for residency.

You'd only lose your American Citizenship if you renounced it or joined an army that was at war with America I believe. It's not that easy to lose without your knowledge.

Answer 7

He would have to be a legal permanent resident who resides INSIDE the US for at least 3 yrs before he can apply for citizenship. No US citizenship = No US passport. Donna

Answer 8

You are a US citizen for life unless you renounce your citizenship. You still have to have a valid, up-to-date passport to get back into the US however.

Answer 9

Sure. People do that all the time.

You would be a legal resident alien while in the other country, and still retain your US citizenship here.

Answer 10

I think the official gov't term for this is American Abroad (AA). The USCIS probably has info about this at http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis, and the Japanese website http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html can provide you with information on acquiring Visas for travel.