Job Discussion Forums

[kykysha]

I am currently a US citizen and am thinking of becoming an expat. I researched as much about it on the internet as I could. But there are a few things I was unable to find, and am hoping someone here can answer a few questions for me?

First, how exactly do you *become* an expat? That is the one thing I could find no mention of anywhere.

Second, what are the benefits of being an expat? I.E are you faced with less travel restrictions, like visas and such? Are you allowed much more freedom in travel, and what if you find a place you like and decide to put down roots?

My main interest lies in Odessa, Ukraine, which is my main reason for posting in this forum. But from there I would like to travel other places as well.

Thanks for any help you may have to offer.

[PeterBar]

You become an expat by leaving your home country and living/working in another country. I think you are maybe confusing the word 'expat' with the idea of becoming a permanent resident.

You can travel whenever and wherever you want in the world as long as you can pay the fares and obtain any necessary visas.

You can actually choose where you want to live as long as you register with the authorities.

[BrianPBG]

Like Peter stated, to "become" an expat, it would require simply a passport, and a visa to travel to Ukraine. But, having a few thousand $'s, and an opportunity doesn't hurt.

Mind you, most expats are there because of circumstances that led one way or another to finding a job in which ever country they ended up in. Some popular jobs include engineering, IT jobs, and teaching English.

Benefits, financially at least, would include an $80,000 tax exemption from US taxes. In the case of Ukraine, a $100,000 exemption and instead, has you pay a monthly tax rate; roughly $50. If you meet a crazy broad, you can always move to another country, and in Odessa there are a lot of em.

However, it seems, like Peter eluded, that maybe you believe an expat is someone who gives up his primary citizenship, and is seeking permanent citizenship somewhere else. That is a whole different topic.

[kykysha]

Well, you are right in that I am wanting to give up my citizenship, but not necisarilly (I really can spell, honest) looking for citizenship anywhere else.

What is the difference, between an expat and an immigrant? I know that as an immigrant I would have to file for immigration status. But as an expat? Just go to another country and say 'Oy! I don't want to be american anymore, think I'll stay here awhile'

And thanks much for your informative replies!

[PeterBar]

To give up your American citizenship without becoming a citizen of another country would make you "Stateless"

I suggest that you really do not want to find yourself in that situation.

Maybe it would be a good idea if you look in a dictionary for the meanings of these words, and then consider the implications.

An immigrant is someone who leaves his own country and goes to live permanently in another country - just like all those people who left Germany, England, Ireland Russia and many other countries in order to cross the Atlantic to settle in N.America.

[expatella_girl]

Methinks kykysha is an extremely young and naive tadpole.

[kykysha]

I see, sorry to have bothered you. I'll go elsewhere with my naive questions.

[maruss]

With millions of people worldwide desperate to obtain citizenship of western countries,it does seem very odd, not to say unwise for someone to want to give theirs up, especially to go and live in somewhere like Ukraine or Eastern Europe!By all means go abroad and emigrate if you are fed-up where you are-I left the U.K. in 1979-but I cannot see any reason to give up your nationality?-and that definitely applies to anyone going to Russia!

[maruss]

I have a good friend who was originally born in Odessa and defected to the U.S.A. when he had the chance back in the Soviet era!He has now retired there but still keeps his U.S. passport and told me he values it like he values his life!He also, at 66 , married a 28 year old woman from there last year and keeps asking me to visit him, preferably without my wife as he promises I will not be lonely in Odessa!

[Deicide]

[rusmeister]

I thought it was pretty obvious that kykysha (kukusha?) simply didn't understand the meaning of the term "ex-pat". No sense jumping on her (him?) about it.

Deicide is largely right in that we choose a life that is different from that of our friends and family back home, and we feel (in lesser or greater degrees) a sense of separation from that home and that life. The only thing I would disagree with is your signature, D.

I feel like the hobbits felt on returning to the Shire at the end of the Lord of the Rings (book, not movie). I've grown and changed. They haven't. I understand them. They no longer understand me. Being an expat tends to broaden your view of the world considerably.

[kykysha]

well, I did take it to personally, was in a bad mood sorry

Basically, what I was trying to figure out is what exactly *is* an expat.
When I searched google all I could find was general info, how long they have to pay US taxes, how much they have to pay etc.

I was wondering how they support themselves, going from country to country, how hard it was to obtain visas etc.

For those who are curious, I don't mind sharing my reasons. I've become disenchanted with the beuracracy(sp?) government meddling and basically all the b.s I spent some time trying to invison where we where headed, and came to the conclusion that my path lay in a different direction. No family ties here, spent most my time traveling around the US. Now I want to travel outside, and see what else is out there.

As for why I want to start in Ukraine, I have several friends that I would like to visit. I know that if I ever got in trouble or needed help I could count on them when I needed. So I wanted to start there.

And yes, kykysha = kukusha (nickname one of my friends in Ukraine gave to me I am starting to understand better, and I thank you for your replies and patience with a expat noob

[Deicide]

[rusmeister]

Being open-minded is not always good when it means being open to mistakes, like 2+2=5 or a peach pit will yield an apple tree, just as tolerance is not always good when one speaks of tolerating the poisoning of one's body.
GK Chesterton and CS Lewis will slaughter Roberts or any other champion of atheism you'd care to field.
It is not that Deists are closed minded; it's that (those that have reasoned it out) have a much better handle on what to be open-minded about. Denying reason is not something I'll be open-minded about.

En garde!

[Deicide]