Chile vs the U.S.: The pitfalls of American citizenship by birth

US citizenship for a child born in America
The country of birth has a significant impact on a person's life. Though nothing is set in stone, and you can always achieve great success through hard work, our homeland may put obstacles on that course. We don't sign up for such obligations as military service or high taxes – we are born into them. But it is no accident! Sure, we have no control of where we are born, but our parents do. So if you are a soon-to-be mom or dad, please know that right now is your time to make a choice that will affect your child's life in the long-run. The decision is yours, you just have to make an informed one.
US citizenship by birth

What are the options?

Most of the future parents don't give a second thought to where their kids should be born. But this dynamic has changed over the last few years. More and more people opt for birth tourism - a popular practice of traveling to a foreign country to have a baby there. There are several countries in the world who grant citizenship to children born on their territory no matter where their parents are from.

U.S. passport for newborns is currently the most sought-after in the world. A lot of companies make big bucks on birth tourism to the USA, promising future moms a lifetime of benefits for their children. But is American passport for infants really that great or is Chilean actually better? Let us review both to help you avoid falling into the trap of false hopes and expectations.
Chile passport

The pros and cons of U.S. and Chile passport

  • Citizenship
Your child will get U.S citizenship by being born in the United States. How to get a Chilean passport? Indeed, both countries practice the right of soil. All children born in Chile instantly become rightful citizens! What is more, the procedure of getting a Chilean residency permit for the parents is much faster and easier than in the U.S.

  • Education
There is a popular misconception that U.S. citizenship for a child born in America goes along with the privilege of receiving free Ivy League education. In reality, it only includes state schools. Whereas in Chile, your kid will be entitled to free education in any state school or college, even if you do not reside in Chile permanently.

  • Social security
American passport for a newborn doesn't mean free medical care, only insurance does. However, medical insurances in the USA are very tricky and don't cover a lot of expenses. In Chile, the public medical care is free and and good-quality. You can even give birth there free of charge if you don't mind state hospitals.

  • Taxation
US citizenship by birth may seem like a great idea until you realize that when your child reaches 18, he or she would have to pay high U.S. taxes even if they don't live in the country. Chilean authorities, on the other hand, do not tax people who live abroad.

  • Security
Due to the aggressive international policy of their government, Americans face negative perception and even hostility from other countries. The number of terrorist attacks is growing. Lack of gun control results in violent attacks in schools, concerts, and even churches. On the contrary, Chile is the second safest in the Western Hemisphere after Canada (according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime). It is safer than the USA when it comes to homicides, and has very low criminal activity and reliable law enforcement system.

As you can see, Chile passport is much more appealing than the American one. If you are ready to make the leap, contact us right now to plan your amazing birth in Chile!
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