400% Fee Hike for Renunciation of U. S. Citizenship in Effect on Sept. 12, 2014

ח' לחודש השישי תשע"ד

Just last week, I reported on the proposal to raise the fee for renunciation of U. S. citizenship.

Well, now it has actually happened, and it happened pretty darn quickly, after any initial murmurs of its possibility if you ask me.

U. S. Passports and International Travel

U. S. Department of State - Bureau of Consular Affairs

2014 Fee Changes

On August 28, 2014, the Bureau of Consular Affairs announced a number of changes to the fees for U.S. consular services effective September 12, 2014.

Many consular services are provided on a fee-for-service basis. These services are reviewed annually to more accurately reflect the costs of providing these services...

Q: What are the new fees for administrative service fees, such as renunciation of citizenship?

Citizens’ and Administrative Processing Services

Type of Service	Previous Fee	New Fee
Administrative Processing of Formal Renunciation of U.S. Citizenship	$450	$2,350
Charge for Consular Time (for fee services performed outside of normal business hours or away from the office)	$231	$135

Q: When do the new processing fees go into effect? 

• The new fees will take effect on September 12, 2014, 15 days after the day the interim final rule was published in the Federal Register. 

Q: What if I already paid my fee for an appointment after September 12?

• Applicants will be charged the fee in effect on the day of payment. Fees for American Citizens Services are paid directly to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate on the date the service is delivered.
• Fees cannot be paid in advance. (cont.)

This means that your second "required" meeting at the embassy or consulate must be before September 12. How convenient that next week contains one less day available for renunciations, as U. S. government offices will be closed for Labor Day.

The Jewish Libertarian pointed me to this video of Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) making, as some would say, some provocative remarks. Apparently, he has even been ridiculed for them.

What do you think of Rep. Paul's comments on the international borders of the U. S.?

Don't for get to notice the date, September 7, 2011. Were his comments prophetic? Or did he simply employ his special talent for connecting the dots?



Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has brought up the issue of a higher "exit fee" for those renouncing citizenship, to save on taxes. Gee. I wonder how such intention would be determined. When I renounced, I was asked to state my reasons for doing so. Do you really think that anyone renouncing U. S. citizenship for tax purposes would actually be stupid enough to state as such? Would there then be a committee established to determine our intentions for us?

I have already been hearing from friends that because of the 400% increase in fee, that renunciation is no longer an option for them. So, the deterrent element of the fee hike already seems to be having its effect.

With this hike in fee for renunciation of citizenship, it seems to me that the prison just got a lot harder to break out of.