In the early 1970s Americans living abroad were faced with numerous obstacles to the full exercise of their rights as citizens, including the almost impossibility of voting in U.S. elections, the inability to pass on U.S. citizenship to their children born abroad, and the loss of U.S. citizenship upon the acquisition of another nationality. In 1973, a small group of American women founded the Association of Americans Resident Overseas (AARO). As a result of AARO’s efforts and those of others, these problems have been partially alleviated.
AARO, headquartered in Paris, France, has become a global, nonpartisan, nonprofit volunteer association with members in over 40 countries on 6 continents, educating Americans abroad in the areas of citizenship, taxation, banking, financial reporting, voting, Social Security and Medicare.
AARO’s mission is to educate and inform overseas Americans of their rights and responsibilities as American citizens, and educate and inform the U.S. federal and state governments about the issues affecting Americans overseas and the inequities regarding their rights.
AARO’s motto is “Americans Helping Americans Abroad.”
AARO informs Americans overseas of the issues affecting them and of their rights and responsibilities as American citizens, and raises awareness about the issues faced by Americans living abroad via the following key actions:
Publications: Researching, writing and publishing articles and practical information relevant to Americans abroad in taxation, banking, financial reporting, citizenship, Social Security, Medicare and voting.
Newsletter: Issuing a bi-weekly electronic newsletter to keep overseas Americans informed of policy updates, current events, topics of interest and relevant articles.
Seminars: Conducting educational seminars on a regular basis to keep overseas Americans informed of current and proposed laws and policy updates in tax, banking, financial reporting, Social Security, investments, estate planning, etc.
Website: Maintaining an informative website that is a resource of practical and legal information to Americans abroad.
Health Plan: Providing a medical insurance plan for members that meets the needs of Americans living abroad who have no local medical insurance in their country of residence or who wish to supplement their local plan.
U.S. Bank Accounts: Gaining membership in State Department Federal Credit Union, which permits AARO members to have the right to hold U.S.-based bank accounts there using their foreign addresses.
Individual assistance: Featuring an “Ask an AARO Expat” feature on its website whereby Americans can request information on various topics.
Social media: Administering various social media platforms whereby Americans abroad engage with each other on their issues.
Collaborations: Collaborating with and/or having membership in other organizations with similar purposes.
U.S. donors can fund the educational aspect of AARO’s mission, namely (i) informing its members of the issues affecting them and of their rights and responsibilities as American citizens and (ii) raising awareness about the issues faced by Americans living abroad.
AARO’s educational activities include research, writing and publication of articles and practical information relevant to Americans abroad in taxation, banking, financial reporting, citizenship, Social Security, Medicare and voting; continual updates of AARO’s informative website as a resource of information; issuance of a bi-weekly newsletter; regular educational seminars to keep members informed of current laws, proposed laws and policy updates in tax, banking, financial reporting, Social Security, investments, estate planning, etc.; and maintenance of an “Ask an AARO Expat” feature whereby Americans receive advice on these topics.
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