Finance committee That's not my site. I'm at citizenshipsolutions.ca.
May 14th, 2014Committee meeting
John Richardson
Finance committee Sorry, which organization are you talking about?
May 14th, 2014Committee meeting
John Richardson
Finance committee I am at citizenshipsolutions.ca.
May 14th, 2014Committee meeting
John Richardson
Finance committee I am a lawyer who helps American citizens deal with citizenship.
May 14th, 2014Committee meeting
John Richardson
Finance committee Obviously, the ones I talk to, because they call me in a professional capacity, clearly are unhappy with the problems of U.S. citizenship—and the word would be “relinquish”—and want to relinquish it. Certainly, I think it's more a question of education. When people learn about th
May 14th, 2014Committee meeting
John Richardson
Finance committee Absolutely they are seen that way, because the U.S. is starting with a definition of citizenship status meaning having been born in the country. But being born in the country has absolutely no meaningful relationship to citizenship as it is understood. Some of these people—I'm no
May 14th, 2014Committee meeting
John Richardson
Finance committee The whole focus of this process has been the protection of the banks. Mr. Brison asked a question. He first asked if any of these people even know how many people might have been affected by this, and there was no satisfactory answer given. He's suggesting a million. That's a num
May 14th, 2014Committee meeting
John Richardson
Finance committee Oh my God, to abandon U.S. citizenship voluntarily is called a “relinquishment” under U.S. law, specifically, section 349 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The practical effect of it, since 2008, has been that a large number of people who are deemed U.S. citizens will actua
May 14th, 2014Committee meeting
John Richardson
Finance committee He's completely wrong. The obligation is satisfied upon entering into the IGA. That has been done. The agreement states very specifically that it doesn't take effect until Canada gives notification.
May 14th, 2014Committee meeting
John Richardson
Finance committee Well, I think it has had absolutely no study. It's quite apparent that very few people even understand what it is, and clearly it needs to be taken out of the omnibus bill, not hidden, and given the light of day, precisely so people can understand it and then have a reasonable de
May 14th, 2014Committee meeting
John Richardson
Finance committee Thanks very much for the chance to appear today. I did take the time to watch yesterday's session, which was actually enormously helpful to me, as I'm sure it was to you. I have a couple of thoughts, though, that are my own but directly link to that. The signing of the FATCA IGA
May 14th, 2014Committee meeting
John Richardson