Free Republic

Does an American living outside the US need to pay the penalty of obamacare? Many take 6 to 12 month (or longer trips traveling the world, living off of their savings. Others live overseas and live a life which is simpler and as such, have less money coming in. What does a person living a good life in central American with a small store or restaurant do? If they make a few thousand in profit, that is fine living in many places. Obamacare fines would eat those profits up in no time. Additionally, what is the point of buying into...

On a blazing summer afternoon in Moscow, Stefania, an Italian professional in her early 30s, manages to look picture-perfect. In a belted tangerine dress, with an impeccable manicure and glossy hair, she fits right in to a local culture that celebrates ultra-feminine style. “You have to dress bright, like a traffic light – high heels, short skirts, hair, nails – to attract men’s attention,” she explained. “Dating in Moscow is a war, and your looks are your only weapons.” Yet even as she turns heads in the street, Stefania admits that her love life is a struggle. “Dating Russian men...

Attack me if you will. Yes, yes - check my profile - I am indeed presently living abroad for work but I have always been a flag-waving American. At the moment some members of this august forum - which I have adored for many years, long before I was "golux" - believe Sarah can beat Hillary... Believe America will come to its senses on homosexual everything... Believe there will be some "push back," believe that for the first time in history (well, sine Appomatox) the Federal government will stop expending exponentially... Believe that Career Congresscritters will once again deign to...

The deadline for Americans living in Canada to file a tax return with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service is less than a week away, but not everyone is scrambling to get their paperwork in order. “I’m not filing U.S. taxes,” says a Calgary resident we’ll call Joe. “As an accidental American, I’m outraged that a foreign government is going after me for the fact my Canadian parents had me in the U.S. and only stayed there for a few short months.”

What Gerard Depardieu is to France, Tina Turner may be to the United States. The "Private Dancer" singer is giving up her US passport, in favor of a Swiss one. "I'm very happy in Switzerland and I feel at home here. ... I cannot imagine a better place to live," Turner told the German newspaper Blick. Turner has lived in the Zurich suburb of Kuesnacht since the mid-1990s. The local Zuerichsee-Zeitung newspaper said on its website the local council announced its decision to grant the 73-year-old Turner citizenship in an official notice published in Friday's edition. The decision still requires...

Is it any wonder that many small and medium sized businesses are moving out of California? In the recent elections, California Voters Sock It To The Rich. As the Wall Street Journal noted, some are promising businesses a better life elsewhere. Being courted must be refreshing but it is important for a company and its owners to have reasonable expectations and to budget for drilling down into California’s rules. After all, leaving is not always easy. A California resident is anyone in the state for other than a temporary or transitory purpose. See FTB Publication 1031. Plus, it includes anyone...

Anyone know anything about retiring in Costa Rica?

Just curious especially to hear from anyone else who’s planning to do this, about the best countries overseas to retire and work in. My wife and I have done pretty well with our import/export business, worked hard and saved up, and are starting to make retirement plans. We’re not much enthused about giving out our hard-earned and saved money, to support the spendthrift socialist incompetence and excesses of Obama and his successors. So we’re looking to retire abroad, and if possible to even continue some of the business overseas in a lower key, part time context. Our trading is mostly...

Now that the election has been completed, I know that I need to relocate. I am recently retired and I will sell my townhouse and move from Northern VA. But I haven’t yet narrowed the field of possible locations very much. GF and I have been entertaining the idea of purchasing a piece of rural property and constructing our own house. But we really want to be among conservative-minded folks. We have been actively reading this site for a long time and always appreciate the opinions of those involved. I would like to have as many opinions and suggestions about...

I'd consider other Red areas too.

I desire to explore options for relocation away from the US. Countries to live in. Transferring funds. What are some expat Freepers experiences and tips and tricks? Thank You.

How Can You Retire in the Philippines Like a King on US$1,000 per month? What is Living Like A King to me? What a king is to one man is like a pauper to another. I feel like I am living like a king here in the Philippines and have been since I came here because of the kindness of the people. And my small income seem like a kingly fortune too. In the States at fifty years old I was treated like an old man and I guess I was. I felt like one. No one smiled at me,...

01/26/12 If you had $20,000 a month to retire on — you could live lavishly pretty much anywhere on the planet. But we’re interested in the places where you can live that lifestyle on one-tenth the budget…Places where you can have a maid clean for you…hire a gardener… wake up to a view…have great health care, eat well, enjoy the finer things in life — for less than $2,000 a month. You may be surprised how many there are…Months ago, our far-flung editors and in-country advisers began collecting all the data and details that inform our annual Retirement Index.To...

A growing number of Americans is thinking about turning expat, according to a survey by America Wave and Zogby International. The share of Americans planning to relocate increased to 2.5 percent from 0.8 percent in 2009. If this number describes the entire population, that means around 6 million Americans are planning on leaving the country. America Wave's Bob Adams (a Business Insider contributor) found that single people, political conservatives and men were more likely to be in this group.

RIYADH: The US Embassy in Riyadh has issued a new alert warning American citizens traveling and residing abroad of possible anti-American violence following the killing of Osama Bin Laden, who was hunted as the mastermind behind the worst terrorist attack on the US soil. Other Western embassies have asked their staffers and their citizens to remain vigilant, but have not upgraded or renewed the security advisory. "Given the uncertainty and volatility of the current situation, US citizens in areas where recent events could cause anti-American violence are strongly urged to limit their travel outside of their homes and hotels and...

"When you move to a foreign country, it's like being reborn," said Sholtis, who once worked as associate director of media resources at Rockefeller University in New York. "Everything is new; it really stimulates your mind."[snip]Then again, good medical care in many popular retirement spots is so affordable, Medicare runs often aren't necessary, according to travel researchers and Americans living abroad.Eight hospitals in Mexico are accredited by the Joint Commission International, a not-for-profit group that helps set quality and safety standards at hospitals and other health facilities.Besides Mexico, AARP includes Panama, Costa Rica, Belize, Nicaragua, Portugal, Spain, southwestern France and...

The number of Americans living abroad has steadily grown over the past decade, as more people have become interested in living abroad, exploring another language and culture, or finding an overseas job. According to recent estimates by the U.S. State Department, there are 6.6 million Americans living overseas, a little more than the entire population of the state of Massachusetts. Faced with the numerous challenges of adapting to a new way of life in a foreign country, the best tool for expatriates is to be well informed about their host country and to know how to deal with the various...

Excessive taxation blamed - The National Center for Policy Analysis is reporting today that the number of U.S. expatriates turning in their U.S. Passports is rising dramatically. According to U.S. government records, 502 expatriates renounced their U.S. citizenship (or permanent residency) in the fourth quarter of 2009. This is more than double the number of expatriates renouncing U.S. citizenship in all of 2008.

WASHINGTON — Amid mounting frustration over taxation and banking problems, small but growing numbers of overseas Americans are taking the weighty step of renouncing their citizenship. “What we have seen is a substantial change in mentality among the overseas community in the past two years,” said Jackie Bugnion, director of American Citizens Abroad, an advocacy group based in Geneva. “Before, no one would dare mention to other Americans that they were even thinking of renouncing their U.S. nationality. Now, it is an openly discussed issue.”

The number of American citizens and green-card holders severing their ties with the U.S. soared in the latter part of 2009, amid looming U.S. tax increases and a more aggressive posture by the Internal Revenue Service towards Americans living overseas. According to public records, just over 500 people worldwide renounced U.S. citizenship or permanent residency in the fourth quarter of 2009, the most recent period for which data are available. That is more people than have cut ties with the U.S. during all of 2007, and more than double the total expatriations in 2008. An Ohio-born entrepreneur, now based in Switzerland, told Dow...