Dumaguete Info Search


Hi, new guy here

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Forum' started by lqsi12, Feb 27, 2012.

  1. lqsi12

    lqsi12 DI Junior Member Showcase Reviewer

    Messages:
    19
    Trophy Points:
    163
    Ratings:
    +3 / 0
    Well I'm searching for answers to questions I have concerning: moving to Dumaguete, how to move cash here, staying as an American citizen, should I have my Fiancé become an American citizen first, dissolving my assets here in America and so much more. Any comments or suggestions will be read and appreciated, have visited there 2 times. I really appreciate reliable, honest answers, or recommendations. Geo.
     
  2. devildog4

    devildog4 DI Member Veteran Marines

    Messages:
    131
    Trophy Points:
    136
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    calif
    Ratings:
    +5 / 3
    Lots of questions and answers about your questions and concerns here on the forum...
     
  3. Rhoody

    Rhoody DI Forum Luminary

    Messages:
    5,283
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Ratings:
    +38 / 0
    Geo,

    welcome on board, enjoy your stay. Like said before, many advices are already discussed and many more different opinions expressed. I am sure you can spend hours reading through the topics. That also gives you a kind of overview about the DI members, their experience and attitude, which makes it easier reading between the lines.

    cheers and welcome again

    Rhoody
     
  4. Pedro

    Pedro DI Senior Member Showcase Reviewer Veteran Navy

    Messages:
    847
    Trophy Points:
    179
    Occupation:
    Programmer, Photographer and Web Developer
    Location:
    Florida and Dumaguete
    Ratings:
    +73 / 5
    Whoaa cowboy! Think about what you are asking. What advantage could there be to living in the PI if your fiance (future wife?) is a US citizen? If you wait the 3 years minimum it takes for her to become a citizen I would be highly surprised if she really wanted to return. Once they get to the states (or anywhere else for that matter) its extremely hard to get them to go back and it's usually not a smart move. Now if making her a citizen is important to you it will be much better to start now, there are so many variables that have to be considered and worked out. I think you need to prioritize what it is you want to do.
     
  5. OP
    OP
    lqsi12

    lqsi12 DI Junior Member Showcase Reviewer

    Messages:
    19
    Trophy Points:
    163
    Ratings:
    +3 / 0
    Hey Pedro, thanks for the reply, hence why I am here asking, I am not familiar with anything that involves marrying a Filipino lady. She currently owns her home there, has 14 brothers and sisters locally, nice family most all work, she does know to say no, 10 years my junior, and really I believe wants to stay in Dumaguete. So is it possible for her and I to marry, be recognized as my wife, so if I live long enough, she would be entailed to my Social Security ? All this is new to me, I have explored some but not enough, is it possible for me to live there full time, without giving up my rights as a citizen, ( I have no family here ) still collect SS when I am of " age " . Sorry so many questions, currently I consider myself free to do as I wish within reason, no debt, own my "stuff" outright. Can you help with some direction where I may find more information that is reliable, should I find an attorney ..... just so much spinning around in my head. I see your from 2 places, how are you able to do that ? G
     
  6. Pedro

    Pedro DI Senior Member Showcase Reviewer Veteran Navy

    Messages:
    847
    Trophy Points:
    179
    Occupation:
    Programmer, Photographer and Web Developer
    Location:
    Florida and Dumaguete
    Ratings:
    +73 / 5
    You will be glad to know that as a US citizen you are free to live where ever you want and would not lose your US citizenship. The problem is the host country you choose to live in and what are the rules for the "expat" concerning visas. Here it gets complicated because as a non citizen you will be required to renew your visa often unless you are eligible for some of the long term visas such as the retirement or working visa. You can find out more about this at the BI- immigration.gov.ph web site or reading some of the many posts on this site concerning visas. You are also free to marry your finace and have her recognized as your wife, but she would not be entitled to your SSN payments unless she is a US citizen or resident alien (in US), more complications because as a resident alien she is not supposed to spend more than a year outside of the US or risk having her green card revoked.

    At great expense to me but I am not willing to cut my ties to either place.
     
  7. Rhoody

    Rhoody DI Forum Luminary

    Messages:
    5,283
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Ratings:
    +38 / 0
    Just for my understanding, you have seen her on 2 (more on less) short vacations, and that's about it ?
     
  8. PatO

    PatO DI Forum Luminary Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer Veteran Marines

    Messages:
    6,071
    Trophy Points:
    451
    Ratings:
    +4,532 / 1,016
    lqsi12, welcome to our forum. Lots of good solid advice already given to you. I will add a little more. You do not give up your US citizenship if you become a permanent resident here. It is easy to wire money from US to Dumaguete, although be aware there are no US banks in Dumaguete. You can withdraw money from an ATM machine.
    I have friends who spend part time here and part time in their home country. However, my US friend's wife is
    a US citizen so she can travel back and forth. I moved here permanently and have not been to the US in over four years.
    As suggested, if you have only met your "wife-to-be" on two trips here, you are in the high risk category, plenty documented on this forum regarding failed relationships, so good luck in that regard.
     
  9. OP
    OP
    lqsi12

    lqsi12 DI Junior Member Showcase Reviewer

    Messages:
    19
    Trophy Points:
    163
    Ratings:
    +3 / 0
    Hello Rhoody, yes I have stayed with her on two occasions, once in June for 2 weeks, then again in Dec/Jan for 5 weeks of this year. Both times I stayed @ her home, and lived daily life with her and her family. We also have daily emails for over 10 months (at the start of the relationship it was all about learning with a few chats on Skype each week) , for the last 6 months we chat almost daily on Skype, for a minimum of 1 hour. I have met all her extended family, as well as become fairly close with her 2 college age children, ( both attending college one graduating this year) and one 9 y/o. The kids are nice to me, always chatting and seriously intuitive of my life, even taking some of my comments/concerns of life, and turning them into thought processes of their own. My plans include another trip this year. This last January I would have stayed longer, but had to return for tax return preparation for the business I sold, and personal taxes. Thanks for much for your interest here, may I ask why you may or may not have concerns ?
     
  10. OP
    OP
    lqsi12

    lqsi12 DI Junior Member Showcase Reviewer

    Messages:
    19
    Trophy Points:
    163
    Ratings:
    +3 / 0
    Hi Pedro, thanks so much for the info, looks to me like I have a lot of homework, and research to do. Curiously and off topic, how long have you lived in Dumaguete, and what seems to be your greatest challenge there with regards to life in general.
     
Loading...