Why Expatriate?

[eta2020]

An acquaintance who split his time between Costa Rica and the US just renounced his US citizenship and moved full time to Costa Rica.

Although he had a lot of reasons, what pushed him over the edge was: "I can get almost the same health insurance for about $80 a month and not be forced by law to pay $1400 a month here."

Which leads to a question: If you're a US citizen living abroad, are you required to comply with the ACA?

If you become resident somewhere else you don't need to worry about ACA. Of course you will have to worry about paying taxes in your new country of residence and you can not visit USA for more than 30 days a year.

 

[MichaelB]

Expat, immigrant, pioneer

Since people began living in organized society some have enjoyed putting down roots and settling in while others move on in search of something else. The motives and reasons are as numerous as the people themselves.

I suspect that neither understands their own reasons for living this way, much less the motives of those that choose otherwise.

 

[Aus_E_Expat]

The USA is the best country in the world, bar none. No one is clamoring to get into other countries. Here, they come by the droves.

Senator, I agree the US is one of the best countries in the world but no objective standard rates it as the best. It definitely makes it into the top 10 or 20 in the world and I always enjoy visiting it.

And there are people clamoring to get into other countries - legally and illegally.

If the US had less violence, more free health care, free university education and less inequality, then it would be a great country

 

[aja8888]

People also fall for "the grass is greener on the other side" syndrome too.

 

[Nemo2]

free health care, free university education

'Free' stuff is expensive.

 

[REWahoo]

No more contest entries, please. We already have a winner:

 

[theOAP]

Since people began living in organized society some have enjoyed putting down roots and settling in while others move on in search of something else. The motives and reasons are as numerous as the people themselves.

I suspect that neither understands their own reasons for living this way, much less the motives of those that choose otherwise.

+1

 

[Hamlet]

I could see weather being a motivator for some. It seems like the places with pleasant climates in the USA are usually high cost of living areas.

Since my wife's family is here in Minnesota, I am destined to die in the frozen wasteland.

 

[Meadbh]

Why does anyone ever move abroad? There are many reasons. I have lived in three countries (including 3 years in the US) and my reasons for moving were opportunity, adventure and the desire to live in a tolerant culture. I made my international moves in my 20s and 30s but it would be far more difficult to contemplate doing the same for the first time in middle or late life when one's habits are more ingrained. I agree with those who said that acquiring permanent residency is important. For me, acquiring citizenship was key to belonging in a new country. Some people have suggested that I return to my home country now that I am ER. They fail to appreciate the difference between migrant workers and immigrants. I am a dual citizen and I could go back, but I might not like it. For now I have decided to stay put and visit.

 

[theOAP]

The USA is the best country in the world, bar none. No one is clamoring to get into other countries. Here, they come by the droves.

Oh my, (sigh).

We applaud your pride in your country, and every citizen should strive to support and maintain a country they can have pride in.

I think the citizens of Australia, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, Italy (especially Italy these days), etc., may find your comment of 'no one is clamoring to get into other countries' highly amusing and typically American. Is there no world news in the US these days?

Your comment reminds us expats of one of the minor irritations of being a US expat abroad. We're the ones who get it in the ear hole when some prevailing American attitudes are exposed in public.

I had quite an enjoyable lunch last Thursday with close friends; except when I had to spend 1/2 hour explaining why, when one had just opened a new bank account, there was a section on the application form dedicated to the question "Are you now, or have you ever been, a (member of the) US Person (party)?

"Why the bloody hell do I have to answer a question like that in this country?"

Their conclusion: they find America (the company) bonkers, which they find curious since they quite liked most of the Americans (the people) they have met.

 

[Letj]

28 year career expatriate and can honestly say I've traveled the world and enjoyed a rich variety of lifestyles and cultures.

That being said - I have zero intentions of retiring outside the USA.

Reasons -

Overseas life is all starting to wear on me, I want to be where people talk like me and think like me.

I want to retire where life is convenient and not an uphill struggle - like most of the overseas locations I have been posted.

Spent the last five years preparing a retirement retreat in the Northwest - a secure and well stocked nest in preparation for a future that may be quite different than today.

DW needs access to specialist medical facilities. May or may not be available outside the US where the general standard of health care is excellent.

Have no need to seek out a lower cost country as resources are sufficient to fund retirement.

I can always travel out to Thailand or the Alps or the Maldives as desired and for as long as desired. No need to permanently relocate.

+1 on the comment that you are taxed on global income regardless. A not so nice feature of carrying a blue passport.







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Wow, my experience could not be more different. I find life in the US to be stressful and hard even for the well off like us on this board. People outside the US seem relaxed, friendly, warm and welcoming. So much seems easier. With just a moderate amount of money you can live so well. While I do agree that the mentality especially in 3rd world countries can be narrow minded and the bureacracy daunting at times , I find that a certain level of open mindedness and acceptance is required to live and embrace a different culture.

 

[Senator]

If the US had less violence, more free health care, free university education and less inequality, then it would be a great country

Isn't that the way communist countries work?

A previous poster indicated we incarcerate too many people here, yet they complained about high crime. By definition, that indicates we do not incarcerate enough.

With freedom, comes responsibility. Some people cannot handle freedom, and are best left to rot in prison. I recent met a person that killed one person with a knife, and was convicted of attempted second degree murder on a second. 20 years of probation was received. The only jail time was while he was waiting on his Court date.

One way to reduce crime is to do away with the 4th amendment to the constitution. Get rid of any search warrant requirements, and if you are caught with evidence that links you to a crime, let the Jury see it. If you say something before your lawyer is present, it doesn’t change the fact you committed the crime.

There is a lot of income inequality in other countries too, but the wealth is held by people or families in power. Most people can never get to that point in other countries, but here in the USA anyone can be a millionaire.

 

[george76]

Oh my, (sigh).

I think the citizens of Australia, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, Italy (especially Italy these days), etc., may find your comment of 'no one is clamoring to get into other countries' highly amusing and typically American. Is there no world news in the US these days?

Wasn't one of the reasons that Breivik killed some 80 innocent people that he was angry about too much immigration into Norway? Irregardless, it seems like every country I visit have similar debates on immigration as we in the US do. They have more immigration than the locals are comfortable with.

 

[Senator]

I think the citizens of Australia, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, Italy

If it was not for the USA, all these countries would be speaking German today...

 

[Sarah in SC]

Yikes, isn't this thread about being an expat?
Good lord, man, get out and get some air or something.

 

[MichaelB]

No more contest entries, please. We already have a winner:

Though I've traveled the world far and nigh, ne'er encountered such a compelling sight as the free culture and entertainment available in my own back yard

 

[Meadbh]

The USA is the best country in the world, bar none.

Many citizens of other countries feel that way about their homelands too. And you and they are both correct, because their homelands are the best countries, bar none, for them.

 

[wingfooted]

Wingfooted - after 28 years living overseas, I hope you can find people who talk like you and think like you.



.

Talking about your expatriate adventures to folks that may not even have a passport - quickly turns off or bores your audience. No sense going there at all. You do run into folks occasionally that have traveled widely.

The ah yes moment in being a long term expatriate is that you come to understand that you really have no clue at all how some cultures think or come to a decision point. Originally, you may have thought you had some good idea based on the first few years, that you had successfully and fully integrated - how wrong that impression was.




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[Aus_E_Expat]

Ah Senator - its great to see you have such a strong faith in the USA and sense of patriotism.

This thread is about becoming or staying an expatriate.

My suggestion to you Senator is to take a 2 year break and travel the world - spend some time and see what it is really like. When you return to the USA you will be gald to be home but your mind will have been opened.

BTW - They still speak German in Germany.

 

[daylatedollarshort]

Isn't that the way communist countries work?

A previous poster indicated we incarcerate too many people here, yet they complained about high crime. By definition, that indicates we do not incarcerate enough.

With freedom, comes responsibility. Some people cannot handle freedom, and are best left to rot in prison. I recent met a person that killed one person with a knife, and was convicted of attempted second degree murder on a second. 20 years of probation was received. The only jail time was while he was waiting on his Court date.

One way to reduce crime is to do away with the 4th amendment to the constitution. Get rid of any search warrant requirements, and if you are caught with evidence that links you to a crime, let the Jury see it. If you say something before your lawyer is present, it doesn’t change the fact you committed the crime.

There is a lot of income inequality in other countries too, but the wealth is held by people or families in power. Most people can never get to that point in other countries, but here in the USA anyone can be a millionaire.

Gun deaths is not the same thing as crime. The U.S. has the most people in prison because of the "war" on drugs, harsher sentencing and mandatory minimum sentences.

From the New Yorker -

The Caging of America

"More than half of all black men without a high-school diploma go to prison at some time in their lives. Mass incarceration on a scale almost unexampled in human history is a fundamental fact of our country today—perhaps the fundamental fact, as slavery was the fundamental fact of 1850. In truth, there are more black men in the grip of the criminal-justice system—in prison, on probation, or on parole—than were in slavery then. "

Mass Incarceration and Criminal Justice in America : The New Yorker

From The Economist -

Never in the civilised world have so many been locked up for so little

Rough justice in America: Too many laws, too many prisoners | The Economist

 

[aja8888]

That's all folks!