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gaijinalways
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 2279
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 Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2011 4:53 am Post subject: |
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I definitely would keep your driver's license if you can. I'm lucky in Connecticut, I've renewed it 3 times abroad. I still have a credit union account there also, though no checking account anymore. Unfortunately, it's not great for transferring funds (an intermediary bank would be involved), but recently my wife has put money in Post office CDs here which collect some interest, but are less liquid.
I still file taxes every year, and as yet am unsure if I will retire here in Japan or back in the US somewhere. But that possibility of returning to the US is always there  .
As to state taxes, if you don't owe any federal, you shouldn't be liable for state. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2011 1:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Ok , so I'll be keeping my license, two credit cards, savings and checking. Was going to get rid of checking, but found out that I could pay credit card billls online. Which kind of isn't worth it, becaue I just use it for a flight once a year or every two years. BUt it's easier than having my mom write a check. I'm still not too keenon the whole online banking thingy. |
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gaijinalways
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 2279
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| Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 12:15 am Post subject: |
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| I hear you. I worry about it, even though we have one account that we receive statements on that way, though we didn't set up Internet access for withdrawals and deposits. I still get problems with my PayPal account now and then, other people trying to access it. |
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cmp45
Joined: 17 Aug 2004
Posts: 1475
Location: KSA
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| Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2011 2:27 am Post subject: |
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| naturegirl321 wrote: |
| Ok , so I'll be keeping my license, two credit cards, savings and checking. Was going to get rid of checking, but found out that I could pay credit card billls online. Which kind of isn't worth it, becaue I just use it for a flight once a year or every two years. BUt it's easier than having my mom write a check. I'm still not too keenon the whole online banking thingy. |
I wasn't either at first, but once you get it set up (It's not so difficult.), it sure beats having to travel to the bank, and stand in line. It has always worked for me and the money was always transfered within two banking days. It is also secure. It save me alot of hassle here in KSA. This is one instance, I would say technology really has saved me time! |
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Kiwi303
Joined: 20 Nov 2010
Posts: 165
Location: Chong Qing Jiao Tong Da Xue, Xue Fu Da Dao, Nan An Qu, Chong Qing Shi, P. R China
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| Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2011 4:00 am Post subject: |
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| naturegirl321 wrote: |
| I'm still not too keenon the whole online banking thingy. |
Meh... 95% of my banking is done online these days. I only need in-person stuff to get my savings out of the credit union when I have a large budgeted purchase to make.
What banks do you use? |
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BocaNY
Joined: 24 Mar 2009
Posts: 131
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| Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 1:58 am Post subject: |
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I do most of my banking online but I make sure it's done on my computer and no public ones.
It's good to have at least a checking account from your home country. If your ever in a bend and need money a family member can directly deposit the money for you and you have access it to right there and then. That's what i did when i needed money, my mom would just deposit it into my account. |
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godmachine12
Joined: 06 Feb 2009
Posts: 62
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| Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 8:18 am Post subject: |
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| gaijinalways wrote: |
I definitely would keep your driver's license if you can. I'm lucky in Connecticut, I've renewed it 3 times abroad. I still have a credit union account there also, though no checking account anymore. Unfortunately, it's not great for transferring funds (an intermediary bank would be involved), but recently my wife has put money in Post office CDs here which collect some interest, but are less liquid.
As to state taxes, if you don't owe any federal, you shouldn't be liable for state. |
Yeah, it's quite easy to renew your licence. I'd keep it up as I've used my US licence many times in many places and never had any problems. I just say it's international, for cars and bikes and that's that. I keep a credit union account in the states as well as they don't charge maintenance fees, foreign withdrawal fees or currency conversion fees�it's brilliant! Any ATM that takes a VISA and I'm set.
As far as taxes go, you are legally required to file even if you don't earn a single cent in the US. However, unless you make somewhere in the neighborhood of ~80K dollars, you won't owe any taxes. You simply file the form and it's done. It's no problem. |
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the4th2001
Joined: 04 Oct 2010
Posts: 130
Location: Tokyo
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| Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 11:15 am Post subject: |
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| godmachine12 wrote: |
| Yeah, it's quite easy to renew your licence. |
Before assuming that DL renewal is easy to do, you should confirm with your State. Oregon, for example, doesn't allow people to renew from abroad anymore. Oregonians are required to visit the DMV and renew in person within one year after their license expires. If they fail to do so, they have to apply for a new DL , tests and all. |
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basiltherat
Joined: 04 Oct 2003
Posts: 952
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| Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 1:25 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm still not too keenon the whole online banking thingy. |
If it's a worry over security, I am unsure how widespread it is amongst the banking community but my bank provides a cash card card reader whereby only a number created by inserting the card into the reader will allow me to transfer money to another person's account using online facility; an added security measure. They also advise downloading Rapport. Mind you, this software gets a pretty bad rap on the web.
Anyone know if this card-reader nonsense is pretty much standard ?
Best
Basil |
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Prof.Gringo
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!
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| Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 4:27 pm Post subject: |
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I always renew my Class A CDL (for big rigs). I've had it since 2001.
But I would never cut my ties to the US. I go back and work every year and I am looking at a pension when I am 55. Sure beats EFL.
It is always best to keep all your doors open and keep current all documents and certs that are work related. |
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fladude
Joined: 02 Feb 2009
Posts: 432
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| Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 4:57 pm Post subject: |
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Its not going to be possible to renew your license from overseas anymore. The Federal REAL ID law went into effect last year. I had a lot of trouble renewing my license IN PERSON. I had to provide 2 forms of ID, voter registration card and had to verify that I had a mailing address in the state.
Speaking purely for myself, I haven't vested enough Social Security to worry about. By the time I'm 67 or whatever age retirement will be then (probably 70 - 72) I doubt that the money I have earned in SS will be worth anything.
I guess what I'm saying is that I'm not sure there is any real reason to maintain US ties as it is becoming hard to do so (unless you are like Proff. Gringo and have some kind of pension coming to you). Its just not worth it. And while US banking accounts are nice and inexpensive, there are drawbacks to being in the US system. |
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Prof.Gringo
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!
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| Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 6:05 pm Post subject: |
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| fladude wrote: |
Its not going to be possible to renew your license from overseas anymore. The Federal REAL ID law went into effect last year. I had a lot of trouble renewing my license IN PERSON. I had to provide 2 forms of ID, voter registration card and had to verify that I had a mailing address in the state.
Speaking purely for myself, I haven't vested enough Social Security to worry about. By the time I'm 67 or whatever age retirement will be then (probably 70 - 72) I doubt that the money I have earned in SS will be worth anything.
I guess what I'm saying is that I'm not sure there is any real reason to maintain US ties as it is becoming hard to do so (unless you are like Proff. Gringo and have some kind of pension coming to you). Its just not worth it. And while US banking accounts are nice and inexpensive, there are drawbacks to being in the US system. |
I just renewed my CDL though the mail for another 4 years... Maybe each state is doing it on a diff time frame. |
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fladude
Joined: 02 Feb 2009
Posts: 432
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| Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 6:10 pm Post subject: |
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| Prof.Gringo wrote: |
I just renewed my CDL though the mail for another 4 years... Maybe each state is doing it on a diff time frame. |
Maybe so. I know that Florida has gone to Real ID and its a REAL pain to renew your DL. My tax collector told me that it was a Federal requirement so I assume that everyone will be doing it eventually. It is a little surprising that Fla. would go to this early on since there is really no reason to want to be a resident of Florida unless you live and work there (as opposed to other states which actually offer something to their citizens). |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 2:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Kiwi303 wrote: |
| naturegirl321 wrote: |
| I'm still not too keenon the whole online banking thingy. |
Meh... 95% of my banking is done online these days. I only need in-person stuff to get my savings out of the credit union when I have a large budgeted purchase to make.
What banks do you use? |
 NOt saying what banks I use, but, a friend of mine is the DIrector of Scotiabank, did online banking in his home, a couple days later, his wife calls and says there-s no money in the account. The entire account had been wiped out. Luckily there was only one month's salary since they would send the rest back home
NOw he only does online banking WITHIN Scotiabank where there are lots and lots of firewalls. |
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Kiwi303
Joined: 20 Nov 2010
Posts: 165
Location: Chong Qing Jiao Tong Da Xue, Xue Fu Da Dao, Nan An Qu, Chong Qing Shi, P. R China
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| Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 8:36 pm Post subject: |
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Once burned twice shy? 
Everything is risky... I could die from being hit by a lighting strike tomorrow... that doesn't mean I hide under a portable lightening conductor rod every time I leave the house, it just means I have life insurance.
If you take adequate security provisions like changing your password every now and again, never using the same password as your facebook or email for your bank password, have a decent AV to keep hackers under control, then the bank terms and conditions should have a clause to return your money to you again.
Risk Management isn't just something for obsessive compulsive control freaks in the Health and Safety department  |
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