Living and Working Abroad?

[Jmetz]

I have long fancied living in other countries and seeing other parts of the world. The urge to do this is getting stronger all the time. I'd like to hear information from those that have done it. Costs, issues, processes, programs for working abroad, etc. I have even had thoughts of doing the peace corp thing just to get out there.

[Penadam]

Work abroad for enough of the year and all your income is (USA) tax free.

[sprtbkbabe]

Josh - I'm selling everything I own and moving to Misano, IT where I can work in a gelato shop, you coming with?

[Jmetz]

A partner, even better. In.

[madvlad]

Haha you foreigners lol... I'm probably moving to Colombia soon, let's roll!

[asp_125]

Well, the language and cultural differences are pretty easy to adopt once you learn with the locals. They have a way of saying "huh?" instead of "eh?". Their beer is pretty weak, they call running shoes "sneakers" and they call Smarties "M&Ms". They have no idea what Poutine and curling is, though.

:canuck:





Srsly, if you just want to sample the foreign life, the best way is to work with a multinational company, IMO. That way there is some ability to work on foreign projects without having to move or immigrate. Go one place for a year or two, when that project wraps up go somewhere else .. a nomadic existance for sure, but you get to travel on company dollars. I knew an engineering couple who did that all over the world for 10 years.

Some companies have offices in foreign cities. Then again you might be sent to locations in remote Mongolia or the jungles of Java.

Certain industries: engineering, IT, medical, have skills that may be in short supply in other countries. I know in Australia engineers are raking in big bucks due to shortages.

[salsashark]

I know in Australia engineers are raking in big bucks due to shortages.

my end game...

[asp_125]

... or you could be stuck on an ice shelf with penguins as your company. :D

[salsashark]

... or you could be stuck on an ice shelf with penguins as your company. :D

...and Randall sitting in the corner staring at you with those "hungry eyes"

http://www.adweek.com/files/imagecache/node-detail/news_article/hungry-eyes.jpg

[asp_125]

my end game...

Getting in is tough, typically the ones selected for foreign assignments are mid level to senior positions. A good FE (field engineer) is worth the big bucks when millions are on the line.

[grim]

... or you could be stuck on an ice shelf with penguins as your company. :D

Yea but he gets to play on snowmobiles and other machines that allow you to do donuts at high speeds without the fear of hitting anything.

[ChangBang]

You could also go over to teach english. I was offered a job to teach english in Korea, but turned it down. If you are decent at SAT/GMAT/etc, you can teach those and make quite a bit of money.

[RajunCajun]

I'm looking to do the same, especially in Europe. I'd like to find a project management job in the near future.

[mauser72]

You could also go over to teach english. I was offered a job to teach english in Korea, but turned it down. If you are decent at SAT/GMAT/etc, you can teach those and make quite a bit of money.

My sister did this in vietnam for a year she loved it and was paid well above what the cost of living is there and she didnt speak a word of vietnamese

[Jmetz]

Thank you all so far. Might look into the teaching thing. Not looking to make a ton of money, more about immersing myself in different cultures and experiences.

[salsashark]

Isn't that what Walmart's for?

[Jmetz]

I don't go to Walmart.

[salsashark]

I thought you wanted to experience different cultures?! Step out of your shelter :lol:

[Jmetz]

I'm hoping to expand my horizons beyond the http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/ :lol:

[modette99]

I have long fancied living in other countries and seeing other parts of the world. The urge to do this is getting stronger all the time. I'd like to hear information from those that have done it. Costs, issues, processes, programs for working abroad, etc. I have even had thoughts of doing the peace corp thing just to get out there.

What do you do for a living?

Telecommunications I can refer you

[modette99]

Seriously The State Department is always hiring. Best if your single to start, its hard on people to make the switch to living overseas and possible a shitty posting for 2 years. I would say better then Peace Corps although I know a guy that just went back in and went to Fiji...but he likes that sort of thing (pay is next to nothing).

Be a Diplomatic Carrier for example. No experience really needed pays okay not going to get rich but you travel a lot and when you live overseas free housing and other benefits...plus the ability to retire with a pension.

[Airreed]

I leave tommorow for Italy/Slovenia/Austria for work....assuming Lufsthansa Airlines pulls their head out of their ass and don't strike.

Part of my trip is military training, but the other part is to "grease the skids" to get an upcoming job at the Slovenia Embassy as a Bilateral Affairs Officer...and the final part of the trip is massive sight seeing!

[modette99]

I leave tommorow for Italy/Slovenia/Austria for work....assuming Lufsthansa Airlines pulls their head out of their ass and don't strike.

Part of my trip is military training, but the other part is to "grease the skids" to get an upcoming job at the Slovenia Embassy as a Bilateral Affairs Officer...and the final part of the trip is massive sight seeing!

I assume Vienna for Austria? Check out the 19th district (Krottenbachstraße) and to:
Wolff Heuriger-Weingut
Rathstraße 50
1190 Vienna, Austria

Really any of the places to eat there are known for good food. Most of them have their own wines (dirt cheap too for the wine).

Not sure if you will have a vehicle: but this Castle is out of the way and a good hike...my father found a 15th Century medal cross necklace here metal detecting...LOL http://goo.gl/maps/mPTGV I have climbed up in the tower many times...pretty neat up there. Turn Photos on and you can see (I wish we had the Net back then...lol)

[Jmetz]

What do you do for a living?

Telecommunications I can refer you


Seriously The State Department is always hiring. Best if your single to start, its hard on people to make the switch to living overseas and possible a shitty posting for 2 years. I would say better then Peace Corps although I know a guy that just went back in and went to Fiji...but he likes that sort of thing (pay is next to nothing).

Be a Diplomatic Carrier for example. No experience really needed pays okay not going to get rich but you travel a lot and when you live overseas free housing and other benefits...plus the ability to retire with a pension.

I'm in banking. I've never hear of a Diplomatic Courier. It looks up my alley but difficult to get into as it appears to be highly popular.

[bluedogok]

Work abroad for enough of the year and all your income is (USA) tax free.
Kind of, there is a limit of $91,500 that can be claimed tax free and you have to live there for 330 days of a 12 month period to claim that exemption. Anything above that amount or below the time limit is subject to the same US taxes as if you were living here.

You can also be subject to income tax in the country that you are working in. My uncle worked in Japan for 7 years (1989-96), when he first moved there he had to leave the country for a couple of days every so often as part of his work visa but that also excluded him from paying Japanese/Tokyo income tax. A couple of years there they changed that to where he was required to pay Japanese income taxes but he negotiated with his company to pay those, all he was required to pay was his expat tax of his salary above $75,000 (the limit at that time). He had a sweet deal with the (US) company paying for his apartment (about $5,000 a month in Roppongi) and first class trips back to the US for him and a trip for his daughter to Japan yearly. If I would've had his deal I would've worked there in heartbeat, I was only there for three works working on a project.

GlobalTaxHelp.com - Expat Tax Basics (http://www.globaltaxhelp.com/tax-basics/expat-tax-basics)

[Sarge]

Ever considered the Military? Won't quite provide the autonomy of living abroad you might be looking forward to, but at the same time there's a lot of guaranteed stability and pay. I've been in about 5 years now and in that time have spent just over two years in the Middle East and some time in Europe. My wife is actually English (my son is now a dual-passport holder, even at age 2, which is great because even Canada is still technically part of the commonwealth of Great Britain and he's entitled to the free healthcare there.) Anyway, I've worked hand in hand with Iraqis, Kuwaitis, Brits, Australians, Canadians, Germans and a number of others to a lesser degree. I've actually recently been assigned to serve as an Army Career Counselor (new PC term for Recruiters) and I would be more than happy to answer any questions or discuss any opportunities the Army can offer you, in a very real and no-nonsense fashion. You can actually be guaranteed certain assignments in some situations (mostly dependant on your qualifications, and by guaranteed I mean IN CONTRACT). If you're interested in learning more just shoot me a PM and we can take it from there.

[Jmetz]

I'm too old and too fat for boot camp. :lol: Having had friends throughout the years that are/were in the military it's definitely not a horrible gig if you do it right.

[Jmetz]

Haha you foreigners lol... I'm probably moving to Colombia soon, let's roll!

Totally missed this. It'd be a good stop before hitting Venezuela, Brazil, Chile and Argentina.

[dirkterrell]

Kind of, there is a limit of $91,500 that can be claimed tax free and you have to live there for 330 days of a 12 month period to claim that exemption. Anything above that amount or below the time limit is subject to the same US taxes as if you were living here.

You can also be subject to income tax in the country that you are working in.

Yes, be sure that you get tax advice from a reputable source when that time of year rolls around. I spent a year in Canada split over two fiscal years (Sep to August) and got nothing but headaches with tax crap, even though I had supposedly professional tax preparation (H&R Block Commercial).

[madvlad]

Totally missed this. It'd be a good stop before hitting Venezuela, Brazil, Chile and Argentina.

I'll show you what real canyons and scenery look like!

[modette99]

I'm not sure on living there taxes.

For a US State Department employee (aka Diplomat). You have to pay your Federal taxes...state taxes all depends on where you claim residency. My parents always claimed FL, up till they had a house in TN...neither have state income tax ;-) (note you do not need a house in FL or any state to claim that as your resident).

[modette99]

If OP is serious, and Colombia is okay I'll see if my father will help you out in getting your resume pushed through the US Embassy there. Most places are always hiring...from secretaries to Embassy Security staff and no I do not mean the MSG's...Security Escort for example you watch locals like a hawk that need to come into the US Embassy....pretty much a babysitter. I did that in Vienna for a summer.

[Jmetz]

Modette, I most appreciate the offer as well as other information you have given me. You've given me a lot of things to look at and check out. I'm not locked down on Colombia, still early in exploring and researching options and locations. I don't know how long all the bureaucracy takes to get through but I would estimate I'm at least a year out.