Htown Harry
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
- Joined
- May 13, 2007
- Messages
- 1,525
Oh, the irony. Sojourning has gone traveling.
I had never lived abroad and have been happily retired and living in Peru for over 10 years. I was having coffee this afternoon with several ER types who are planning to live here either most of the year or full time, One the Deputy Attorney General for a very large state and neither gentleman has lived overseas, but after travelling here dozens of times over many years, foresee no problems with the transition. In my limited experience it is single guys or divorcee's that easily make the transition, as well as some guy's that leave the spouse and kid's back home.
I think she is referring to an FBI criminal record clearance. Getting a criminal record clearance from your home country is pretty standard and required for most residency visas abroad, in my experience.I was reading some posts on the Expat Exchange site on Ireland and ran across this story by MarianneB about being kicked out of Ireland after 8 months of trying to get permission to remain. Here is the link and her story is about half way done the thread.
Ireland Expat Forum ~ cost of living
It seems she did not meet the financial requirements, but could not get more information on what they were.
Also, what seems strange to me is the requirement for FBI background investigation.
I have been retired almost 8 years now. I moved abroad in early retirement and I would have to say that I was well clued in in many areas and clueless in many others. I went into it knowing that it might not be for me. And it took me time to get the experience to understand what i really wanted (and I mean several years). I still mentally wince at some of my past experiences. Now I consider myself a seasoned pro, but I think we all overestimate what we really know. But at least now I know what *I* want from a living abroad experience.Well, that was interesting! (Dusts self off). Thank you to the mods for taking charge of the situation.
Now back to regular business:
What do members think about the idea of relocating abroad in retirement if you have never lived abroad before?
I read about people who do this and wonder whether they have any idea what they are undertaking. Visas, permits, customs, language, alienation, unexpected glitches and missing home are just the beginning.
I moved countries several times as a young person in search of a career dream and have no regrets, but when I look back at all the challenges I faced (alone) I am not sure I could motivate myself to do it again at this point in my life.
I moved abroad in early retirement and I would have to say that I was well clued in in many areas and clueless in many others. I went into it knowing that it might not be for me. And it took me time to get the experience to understand what i really wanted (and I mean several years). I still mentally wince at some of my past experiences. Now I consider myself a seasoned pro, but I think we all overestimate what we really know. But at least now I know what *I* want from a living abroad experience.
But you have to have a backup plan for going abroad.
This is probably the single best piece of advice for anyone considering an expat retirement.Most importantly, I planned my retirement so that if going abroad did not work out, I would be fine financially back in the USA or maintaining a USA home base with lots of travel. Since I ended up not needing or wanting a USA home base, my actual retirement budget has been under what I planned. But you have to have a backup plan for going abroad.
I was reading some posts on the Expat Exchange site on Ireland and ran across this story by MarianneB about being kicked out of Ireland after 8 months of trying to get permission to remain.
To me it looked like she was applying for residency. The permission to remain is just an extension of your initial 90 days. You said earlier you go to the police and they extend it for 12 months. I couldn't find that, in fact it seems you need to have a "stated purpose" and the duration of the extension is "for the duration of the stated purpose":
Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service Permission to Remain for Non-E.E.A. Nationals
There's a reference for "up to 12 months" for those with work permits, but for a retiree planning to use that as a home base for travel, what would be your stated purpose? Tourism? How long would they grant in order to accomplish that, just whatever you ask for?
We've done both and loved it.
In 2013 we went to England in April for a wedding in the NE, then set off on our own. Stayed in a farmhouse doing B&B in Northumberland just off the Roman wall for a few days then rented an apartment in Yorkshire for a week and climbed the 3 peaks. Then to Ireland for 2 rented houses, staying 2 weeks in Donegal, and 2 weeks in Connemara. Then to Cornwall to a rented apartment for 2 weeks, then France for 2 different weeks in rented houses, then back to England for a week in a rented cottage on a farm on top of the cliffs near Dover. We finished the vacation with a 2 week cruise out of Edinburgh to Iceland and Norway.
Among the things we did last year was a 2 week rental of an apartment near Melbourne, a week in a B&B near Sydney and a month long rental of a condo near to Hobart, Tasmania. (no car needed in any of those places because of great public transportation).
I heard recently about a friend I knew well some time ago but have lost touch with in recent year. He has just turned 60, he has a British passport but grew up in Hong Kong and apart from time spent at university in the UK has spent his whole life in Asia. He has never married and has no children. He is about to finish up his current contract job, he does not have a lot of money and so his plan is to return to the UK to live where he will be eligible for free medical and pension. While the free medical and pension are important, I am sure he will go crazy very quickly and not be able to adjust.
It is sad and I think he would be better of staying where he is (or move to Thailand or Philippines) even if he dies before he is 70.
How did you find these short-term rentals?
Quite frankly theOAP, the more I read about the paranoia of Americans here, with the IRS and worldwide income, the happier I am that I am not an American. I'm just about at the point that I would advise anyone who is and plans to retire overseas, that they do everything they can to get another passport and renounce US citizenship. It ain't good for much other than living in the USA. Given that someone has chosen to retire and live in another country and assuming they 'stick', I'd say after a few years, dump the US citizenship and move on with life. Move all money, all investments out of the US. Leave only a government pension for them to tax you on as a foreign national. Stand up and show them that US retirees are not all wimps who think the IRS is omnipotent and omniscient.
This is not a good option for people with high net worth (lot of folks here) because you will be slapped with giant "exit tax" and once non US Citizen living abroad your SS will will be taxed at flat 30%.
I have Dual EU and US citizenship so this option is available for me but it is not financially viable.
If IRS considers you to be a foreign person for tax purposes (or nonresident alien), SSA is required to withhold a 30 percent flat income tax from 85 percent of your Social Security retirement, survivors, and disability benefits. This results in a withholding of 25.5 percent of your monthly benefit. You may be exempt from this tax (or subject to a lower rate) by treaty. To learn more about nonresident alien tax, you can review U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens (IRS Publication 519) or visit IRS�s website.