AMERICAN CITIZENS ABROAD (ACA)
A non-profit association dedicated
to serving
and defending the interests
of US citizens world-wide.
News from ACA--September
1997--issue 25
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- Legislative update--in case you missed the
good news:
- 1. Easier immediate naturalization.
A technical drafting error was finally corrected with the
enactment of PL 105-38,
signed by President Clinton on 8 August 1997. This law
retroactively
wipes a discrepancy off the books and returns
to a single five-year/two-year residency requirement
for parents
and grand-parents of all children under age 18 applying for
immediate naturalization under §322. (We are indebted
to Senator Spencer Abraham (R-Mich) and Congressmen Bill
McCollum (R-Fla) and Howard Berman (D-Cal) for getting this
legislation passed.)
- 2. No fingerprints needed either.
The INS no longer requires children aged 14 to 17 to submit
fingerprints or be subject to FBI background checks
when applying
for immediate naturalization under §322.
- 3. The 911 exclusion.
A change in §911 will
increase the $70,000 foreign income
exclusion. This will move to $72,000 in 1998; $74,000 in 1999;
$76,000 in 2000
$78,000 in 2001; reaching $80,000 in 2002 where it will stay
until 2008. After that it will be readjusted for inflation.
- 4. Reduced Foreign
tax credit paperwork.
If you have less than $300 ($600 for married persons)
of creditable foreign taxes
you won't have to fill out form 1116 anymore in order
to claim your credit.
- The nominating date is fast
approaching for this year's Eugene Abrams
Award.
- Candidates for this award should be American citizens
aged 60 or over,
residing outside the US for at least the past two years
and who have made
outstanding contributions to the welfare of the
community,
region or country in which they live through voluntary
unpaid service. If you would like to
nominate somebody, please contact ACA as soon as possible,
preferably before 1 September 1997.
Winner(s) will be announced 10 October 1997.
- ACA to participate in worldwide Action Without
Borders.
- Join thousands of people by participating in a
global week of voluntary action planned for 18 to 25
October 1997. AWB
is a global network of individuals and
organizations sharing ideas, information and resources to help
build a world where all people can live free, dignified and
productive lives.
- Would you welcome the latest additions to
ACA's Country Contacts...
- Our person in Ireland is Ann King and her
husband, retired government employees. In Berlin
Germany we have Dr. Edwin Scott-Asemota, a specialist
in flight and travel medicine, also chairperson of Help Point.
And in Lesotho it's Jack and Carole Urner
who are hoping to get Medicare coverage extended abroad.
- News Update index now online.
- Looking for background info that you remember seeing
in a previous ACA News Update? Check our News Update index.
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1997-August-28 / kmj
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