Dumaguete Info Search


New Immigration Rules coming?

Discussion in 'Expat Section' started by ChMacQueen, Aug 20, 2019.

  1. Jeff08xx

    Jeff08xx DI Junior Member

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    Jeez, I lose my mind there after 4 months. Have you tried Cambodia? Wonderful people. Food and hotels better and cheaper than Thailand or PH. Not proficient liars and scammers.
     
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  2. djfinn6230

    djfinn6230 DI Senior Member

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    Thank you for the recommendation.


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  3. Notmyrealname

    Notmyrealname DI Forum Luminary Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer

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    For good information on Cambodia: https://www.expat.com/forum/viewforum.php?id=141
    • (especially read the contributions from the very knowledgeable 'JoeKhmer').

    Visa: Obtain a ONE MONTH 'ORDINARY' (formerly called 'Business') VISA upon arrival (DO NOT get a tourist visa as this can be extended only once and do not apply online as online is for tourist visa only) and then convert to a 12 month ORDINARY VISA using travel shops, guest house or motorbike rental shops (e.g. 'Lucky Lucky Motorcycle') in Phnom Penh. DO NOT use GOVERNMENT IMMIGRATION to EXTEND an Ordinary Visa as it takes 25 days and requires lots of paperwork. A new visa type, (ER class) for retirees has been announced (a few years ago!) but nothing has so far happened).
    Abode: Phonm Penh for facilities but perhaps Sihanoukville for seaside life (being heavily rebuilt at present and will become very much a Chinese casino town). Also consider
    Battambang, Siem Reap, Kampot.
     
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  4. Notmyrealname

    Notmyrealname DI Forum Luminary Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer

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    Here is a list of some countries and their suitability for ex-pats. It was obtained from 'Expat Insider' (https://www.internations.org/expat-insider/2019/quality-of-life-index-39831) and the methodology was "In 2019, the Expat Insider survey includes 64 countries and territories with a minimum of 75 respondents each. The Quality of Life Index covers various factors from six different subcategories: Leisure Options, Health & Well-Being, Safety & Security, Personal Happiness, Travel & Transportation, and Digital Life."

    Summarizing a few of what, IMO, are probably the main criteria many would seek as an expat:

    Quality of Life: 1. Portugal (good choice if can obtain citizenship to get access to many EU countries); 2. Spain (ditto as Portugal for EU access); 3. Taiwan. Ecuador, seemingly a good choice for ex-pats from other research I have done over the years, is 13th (and listed 8th overall). Philippines is 56th. UK is 46th.
    Leisure Options: 1. Spain 2. Portugal 3. Mexico (listed 4th overall). Ecuador is 6th. Philippines is 32nd.
    Personal Happiness: 1. Ecuador; 2. Portugal; 3. Mexico. Vietnam is 5th. Philippines is 10th.
    Health and Well-Being: 1. Finland; 2. Austria; 3. Spain. Ecuador is 14th. Philippines is 48th.
    Safety and Security: 1. Oman; 2. Singapore; 3. Switzerland. Ecuador is 37th - a bit low but then Philippines is 51st and UK is 53rd.

    Vietnam ranks 2nd overall (it ranks first for finance and working abroad, but I did not specify that criterion above as I assume most expats here don't want to work). Taiwan ranked first and Portugal 3rd.

    Other countries not mentioned above but which may be worth considering, include: Panama (13th overall), Colombia (16th overall), Costa Rica (21st overall), Cambodia and Dominican Republic (both not enough respondents to qualify for inclusion).
     
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  5. djfinn6230

    djfinn6230 DI Senior Member

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    One key question would be “ease of foreigner to obtain a long term visa”. I know Vietnam would not rank so highly with that for retired people. Philippines big advantage might be the ability for a long term stay but was discussed previously, the long term stay tourist visa may not be so prevalent in the future.


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  6. Notmyrealname

    Notmyrealname DI Forum Luminary Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer

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    Agree but I did not add that detail as it is always changing. Best people decide if they want to move, which places suit them and then what the visa rules are for those places. I know Vietnam requires frequent visa runs but some there seem happy to do it; Cambodia has annual visas with no need to leave the country. Ecuador has a 90 day T3 visa which allows you there to look around for 90 days then/or you can apply for a 180 day visa at your country's Ecuadorian consulate - this is needed to apply for a 2 year temporary visa which can then be followed by an indefinite permanent residency. The pensioner route requires a monthly income of only $800 (plus $100 per dependent) and citizenship is on offer. With residence status you can import your household goods duty-free. And, at age 65+ you are given special treatments, such as 50% bus fares and movie (and other events') tickets, discounts on air fares, free landline phone and a refund of your VAT up to $92.64 per month.

    But all the above information needs to be checked for up to date changes.
     
  7. djfinn6230

    djfinn6230 DI Senior Member

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    Thanks for your excellent information. Despite the fact that the information is constantly changing, I think it might have a lot of bearing for many people as to whether one would even consider a country with strict visa requirements. Actually Vietnam would not be favorable to me because of the the visa runs required; it is a stupid and arbitrary rule and the VN government knows that yet there it is, ready to highly inconvenience the potential expat every 3 months seemingly for no reason other than to intentionally cause inconvenience. I do see the difficulty incorporating this parameter in any comparison because it is often complex and very subjective.


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  8. Notmyrealname

    Notmyrealname DI Forum Luminary Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer

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    If I were looking at moving now then I would try Cambodia first and if that did not work out I would go to Ecuador. My other options would be Panama, Colombia and Dominican Republic. There are many options available but some require the purchase of 'Golden Visas' and when in the older age bracket it seems too much a financial gamble - especially for the (fully legal) donations to government, less so the investment in property.

    It is worth people knowing about the subject of alternative residencies and /or 2nd passports as 'hope for the best but plan for the worst'. There are many resources on the internet: e.g. https://www.kathleenpeddicord.com/ and https://internationalman.com/retire-overseas are two I am familiar with.
     
  9. greko

    greko DI Junior Member

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    I used Mary Jane Gomez <maryjanegomez2008@yahoo.com> Visa Consultancy. She is in Makati (Manila) near the PRA headquarters. I highly recommend her.
     
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  10. tlrtraveler

    tlrtraveler DI Forum Adept

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    Stem Reap is a great city also. outstanding restaurants in the tourist area. Secondary roads leave much to be desired, but the history of the area is unparalleled
     
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