simon
2016-05-28 19:40
has joined #general
alextrades
2016-05-29 03:37
has joined #general
meskiukas
2016-06-02 19:40
has joined #general
etienne
2016-06-02 19:41
has joined #general
colin
2016-06-02 22:09
has joined #general
abens
2016-06-03 04:08
has joined #general
jumichot
2016-06-03 17:32
has joined #general
lenard
2016-06-06 04:26
has joined #general
kenny
2016-06-06 16:42
has joined #general
maxsuur
2016-06-09 03:43
has joined #general
maxsuur
2016-06-09 03:44
Hi guys
maxsuur
2016-06-09 03:45
New member here
etienne
2016-06-09 05:45
hey hey!! as everyone :wink:
maxsuur
2016-06-09 05:46
Hey etienne
maxsuur
2016-06-09 05:46
What is up?
etienne
2016-06-09 05:46
not much id say.
etienne
2016-06-09 05:47
and ya?
maxsuur
2016-06-09 05:47
Time to go to bed I guess
maxsuur
2016-06-09 05:47
It is a bit late around here
etienne
2016-06-09 05:48
same time here i guess
etienne
2016-06-09 05:48
2 am :stuck_out_tongue:
maxsuur
2016-06-09 05:48
Wow
maxsuur
2016-06-09 05:48
You are in america
maxsuur
2016-06-09 05:48
I guess
maxsuur
2016-06-09 05:48
Somewhere in the continent
etienne
2016-06-09 05:49
yea bro! Canada est coast
etienne
2016-06-09 05:49
east*
maxsuur
2016-06-09 05:49
Amazing!
etienne
2016-06-09 05:49
and what about you?
maxsuur
2016-06-09 05:50
Well I have been living in lovelt mexico for a while
maxsuur
2016-06-09 05:50
So 0:50 am here
maxsuur
2016-06-09 05:50
Slightly earlier
maxsuur
2016-06-09 05:50
Down here
etienne
2016-06-09 05:50
hoo yeaa slightly haha!
etienne
2016-06-09 05:51
but brobably way warmer !
maxsuur
2016-06-09 05:51
No doubt about that
maxsuur
2016-06-09 05:51
Women too
maxsuur
2016-06-09 05:51
Haha
etienne
2016-06-09 05:52
hahaha muy caliente�!
maxsuur
2016-06-09 05:52
Good spanish pal
etienne
2016-06-09 05:52
lol
etienne
2016-06-09 05:53
ill keep it for next time I gess :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:
etienne
2016-06-09 05:53
so i wich you Gnight! catch ya latter bro!
maxsuur
2016-06-09 05:54
Thanks etienne! Bonne nuit and talk soon!
etienne
2016-06-09 05:54
no doubt !
etienne
2016-06-09 05:55
merci!
maxsuur
2016-06-09 05:55
:kissing:
david99
2016-06-16 12:32
has joined #general
josh
2016-06-21 08:53
has joined #general
agalt
2016-06-24 17:56
has joined #general
agalt
2016-06-25 10:03
Hello from Tbilisi Georgia
kim
2016-07-12 22:52
has joined #general
vladeikamen
2016-07-13 21:08
has joined #general
replay
2016-07-15 21:13
has joined #general
simon
2016-07-15 21:22
Big day today! The Nice attack and now the Turkish army has launched a coup!
simon
2016-07-15 21:23
If any of you have exposure to Turkey, I recommend getting out now. Things will get worse before they get better
replay
2016-07-16 00:50
this month is going to be in one of the "leading up to <some event>" chapters of a year 2100 history book
agalt
2016-07-17 11:31
Interesting times indeed. Security got really tight quickly in Sofia Bulgaria where I was staying after the events. On the way to Slovenia right now through Serbia and they are definitely more careful but the people and military are so hard here from the war they are better suited to the time we are living in than those in North America or western Europe. Eastern Europe feels very safe and stable.
brab
2016-07-23 15:10
has joined #general
clr
2016-07-23 15:51
has joined #general
ilfornetto
2016-07-24 23:26
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jase
2016-07-25 07:23
has joined #general
peter
2016-07-26 15:56
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jase
2016-07-26 16:53
Got a flight through Turkey later in the year. I wonder if their airline will still be in business by then...
simon
2016-07-26 18:36
@jase: Probably. It's one of the largest airlines in the world and the national flag carrier of Turkey. Did you bought travel insurance? If so, you should be covered anyway.
jase
2016-07-26 18:55
Yeah I'm having a bit of a laugh :slightly_smiling_face:
arcaballero
2016-07-28 04:18
has joined #general
promitheus
2016-07-28 14:51
has joined #general
jase
2016-07-28 16:57
Anyone here built a business with the intention to sell? Any wisdom for a newbie?
maxsuur
2016-07-29 00:48
There is a book
maxsuur
2016-07-29 00:48
"Built to sell"
jase
2016-07-29 18:54
Thanks Max
maxsuur
2016-07-29 21:23
You are wilkommen ;)
promitheus
2016-07-30 15:56
Hi everyone. I live in Greece and I am currently doing some freelance work via upwork. I am thinking of creating a company either in Bulgaria or Estonia, but I can't decide between the two... any recommendations?
simon
2016-07-30 16:03
@promitheus: Between the two, Estonia is clearly more advantageous. You do not have to pay any taxes at the corporate level as long as you do not issue any distribution. You can pay yourself a salary instead which is tax-free in Estonia (you have to pay Greek income and social taxes however). There are services specifically designed with people like you in mind, to simplify compliance and the running of the company. LeapIN for example has a great plan for freelancers: https://www.leapin.eu/compare
simon
2016-07-30 16:04
As for banking, in Estonia you can choose between SEB, Nordea, Swedbank and LHV. SEB and Nordea are both some of the best and most stable banks in Europe.
josh
2016-07-31 18:27
@simon do you know why Leapin chooses to work with LVH though? I noticed in your banking rankings the other day LVH wasn?t on there, but the government of Estonia even partners with them globally for the e-Residency (when you get your e-Residency card, you meet with the gov rep and an LVH rep).
simon
2016-07-31 18:48
@josh: LHV is the largest Estonian-owned bank. The other three (SEB, Swedbank and Nordea) are all foreign-owned (Sweden). This is the likely reason for the government partnership. For us though, I strongly recommend the Swedish ones. They are much larger, better capitalized and more stable overall.
josh
2016-07-31 18:49
Ah I see. Makes sense!
yura-by
2016-08-02 02:34
has joined #general
josh
2016-08-02 20:32
The #tools posts reminded me about a question I have - how the hell to use uber when traveling? Especially visiting the US? I cannot get it to work, even if it's a number I've used successfully in another country with Uber, as soon as I login in the US it asks me to confirm my mobile number. Idiots. And google voice allegedly works but it absolutely doesn't. Short of giving a DNA sample and signing away my firstborn for a US SIM card (which probably still wouldn't work if it is prepaid), any suggestions?
simon
2016-08-02 20:39
I don't think that you need a US number. I've used Uber in many countries and have a Hong Kong number associated with the account. Did you add a new credit card to the account? This might have caused the phone verification.
simon
2016-08-02 20:42
Otherwise you could try creating a Twilio trial account, they will give you a free US number and it can be used to receive sms. Uber uses Twilio to deliver their messages so I guess this might work.
josh
2016-08-02 21:16
Thanks I will give that a shot. It wasn't caused by cc changes, I'll literally use it to go to the airport in the country I'm leaving, land in the US, and it'll give me problems. So I end up paying for a taxi at 3x the price. I hope Twilio works!
agalt
2016-08-03 11:16
You can use net 10 cell service from tge states on roaming to receive text messages possibly. They dont require an id, street address, name, or previous phone number. You can puck any area code as well.
alistair
2016-08-13 18:13
has joined #general
alistair
2016-08-14 14:04
So I'm new to all this PT stuff. Trying to get my head around it...
etienne
2016-08-14 14:04
Welcome!!! :slightly_smiling_face:
alistair
2016-08-14 14:04
Hey )
alistair
2016-08-14 14:05
Someone is here ))
etienne
2016-08-14 14:05
yea happens sometimes haha
etienne
2016-08-14 14:05
have a good day everyone !
alistair
2016-08-14 14:06
I'm a UK citizen... I recently started earning good money as an Amazon affiliate...
alistair
2016-08-14 14:07
It could be $150000 for the next year
alistair
2016-08-14 14:07
All going well
alistair
2016-08-14 14:08
So as I understand it... the UK taxes foreign income but only if I am a UK resident
alistair
2016-08-14 14:08
But do I just need to be out the country? Or do I need official residence in some other country?
alistair
2016-08-14 14:09
The Amazon affiliate money is http://Amazon.com paid in dollars to a payoneer card
etienne
2016-08-14 14:11
I am not the best to answer you but i could try
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:11
What kinds of products do you promote?
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:12
Do you also promote your own products?
alistair
2016-08-14 14:13
I have a travel website. I don't have any of my own products. I might add information products sometime and also display advertising on the site. I get 60,000 visitors per month
alistair
2016-08-14 14:13
So I'll probably add display ads like Google Adsense
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:14
Good numbers. That'd make a lot of sense. What about fb ads?
alistair
2016-08-14 14:14
fb ads would come after I develop an information product or course
alistair
2016-08-14 14:15
the margins are small to make fb ads pay for Amazon affiliate stuff
alistair
2016-08-14 14:15
Once I quit my job here I should be able to expand additional revenue streams to the site
alistair
2016-08-14 14:16
At the moment it's just Amz affiliate revenue in my own name
etienne
2016-08-14 14:17
So if you move your residency to an other contry you should be able to avoid some taxes :stuck_out_tongue:
alistair
2016-08-14 14:17
yeah a lot I hope )
etienne
2016-08-14 14:18
hoo yeaa!
alistair
2016-08-14 14:18
but I need a residency somewhere else right?
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:18
Wow
alistair
2016-08-14 14:18
I can't just be travelling all the time
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:18
You make that amount of miney and still hold a job
etienne
2016-08-14 14:18
as long as you are not born in the USA you are good to save a lot of taxes hehe
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:18
Money
alistair
2016-08-14 14:18
yeah lol
alistair
2016-08-14 14:18
I work 60 hours a week for less than minimum wage
alistair
2016-08-14 14:18
lol
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:19
Quit the hell outta there haja
alistair
2016-08-14 14:19
crazy right? lol
alistair
2016-08-14 14:19
it's my dads business
alistair
2016-08-14 14:19
and it's not doing so well
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:19
Ahhh gottcha
etienne
2016-08-14 14:19
do what you like bro :wink:
alistair
2016-08-14 14:19
so I'm helping out to keep it afloat
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:19
Nice
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:19
Family matters
alistair
2016-08-14 14:20
but I will be out soon
alistair
2016-08-14 14:20
I can use the money I'm earning to help now
alistair
2016-08-14 14:20
but there is a 2 month delay to wait for Amazon payments
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:21
You could sell your own fba products
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:21
And make morr
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:21
More
alistair
2016-08-14 14:21
yes it's an option
alistair
2016-08-14 14:21
it would fit with the website
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:21
Travel related items
alistair
2016-08-14 14:21
i could use the site to drive initial sales
etienne
2016-08-14 14:21
make it rain!!! haha
alistair
2016-08-14 14:22
or just create more content for the site
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:23
The possibilities are endless
alistair
2016-08-14 14:23
so where should I be thinking about for residency?
alistair
2016-08-14 14:23
and do I actually need to live there...
alistair
2016-08-14 14:23
because I want to reduce my tax
alistair
2016-08-14 14:24
but I don't want to imprison myself somewhere to do it
alistair
2016-08-14 14:24
If... and it's a big IF... I keep earning at this level
alistair
2016-08-14 14:24
my aim would be to reinvest $100,000 or more in growing the business
alistair
2016-08-14 14:25
hiring writers, getting into FBA etc
alistair
2016-08-14 14:25
I don't need so much money to live on
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:25
Absolutely
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:25
It also depends on your personal goals
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:26
You could establish residency in Paraguay for example
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:26
To avoid taxes altogether
alistair
2016-08-14 14:28
I'm also British and we just voted to leave the EU
alistair
2016-08-14 14:29
I can't see myself wanting to live in Paraguay for more than a few months
alistair
2016-08-14 14:29
I don't have any kids or wife
alistair
2016-08-14 14:29
I'd like to be able to travel about for the next few years
alistair
2016-08-14 14:31
What's your story guys?
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:47
You dont have to reside in paraguay actually
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:47
Just spend a few days there every couple of years
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:48
That is the beauty of the perpetual traveler lifestyle
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:48
I have no wife either
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:48
And no kids as far as I am concerned
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:48
You necer know
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:49
Those wild old parties in the baltics..
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:49
Also doing business on the internet
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:49
And aiming to scale it
alistair
2016-08-14 14:52
Cool ) What kind of online business?
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:52
Language-learning
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:52
Online courses
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:52
And so on
alistair
2016-08-14 14:53
Udemy? or self hosted?
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:54
Self hostes
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:54
Hosted
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:54
I aim to have full control of my business
alistair
2016-08-14 14:55
and you mentioned fb ads
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:55
Absolutely
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:55
I am starting to create my first fb ads
alistair
2016-08-14 14:55
so can sell courses with fb ads and still make a profit? )
alistair
2016-08-14 14:55
or do you depend on organic traffic?
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:55
That is the whole poin
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:55
Point
alistair
2016-08-14 14:56
because being dependant on Google isn't ideal
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:56
The thing is to build sales funnels
alistair
2016-08-14 14:56
like I am
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:56
If you invest 1 dollar in fb ads, to get at least 2-3 dollars out
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:56
So you are profitable
alistair
2016-08-14 14:56
yeah that's the goal )
alistair
2016-08-14 14:57
I'm doing ok
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:57
These 2 books
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:57
Will give you a huge start on the matter
alistair
2016-08-14 14:57
but either Google or Amazon could topple me any day
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:57
1. Getting everything you can out of all you've got by Jay Abraham
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:58
2. Dot Com secrets by Rusell Brunson
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:58
Both blew my mind
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:58
So you can have full control of your biz
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:58
:))
alistair
2016-08-14 14:58
Yeah I heard ClickFunnels are good
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:59
Yes
maxsuur
2016-08-14 14:59
But it is important you understand the underlying principles
alistair
2016-08-14 14:59
sure
alistair
2016-08-14 15:00
it's always good to learn )
alistair
2016-08-14 15:00
and the mistake is to think you already know something )
maxsuur
2016-08-14 15:00
The only way is to stay hungry, stay foolish
maxsuur
2016-08-14 15:00
As mr jobs would say
alistair
2016-08-14 15:01
I will have more time for different areas once I stop working
alistair
2016-08-14 15:01
email listbuilding, fb ads and product development is near the top of the list
maxsuur
2016-08-14 15:02
Those are crucial
maxsuur
2016-08-14 15:03
In order to have sustainability
alistair
2016-08-14 15:03
Yep. This is the second online income I built
alistair
2016-08-14 15:03
I was earning $100 per day back in September 2014
alistair
2016-08-14 15:03
Then google emailed me
alistair
2016-08-14 15:03
and it was gone ))
alistair
2016-08-14 15:03
My site got a penalty )
maxsuur
2016-08-14 15:04
You cannot relay on others
maxsuur
2016-08-14 15:04
Amazon and google dont give a flying fuck about us
alistair
2016-08-14 15:04
yep I agree
alistair
2016-08-14 15:05
I learned that the hard way )
maxsuur
2016-08-14 15:05
The school of hard knocks
maxsuur
2016-08-14 15:05
Haha
brab
2016-08-14 20:26
While were on the topic, anyone have any experience with fba? It's always something I've heard about but have not pursued... My girl is into a lot of yoga stuff and has some connects with chinese suppliers but not sure how much work would have to be put in if I want to sell on http://amazon.com, I suppose would have to be an agent in US that clears customs and then ships to amazon fulfillment warehouse
brab
2016-08-14 20:27
After reading how much amazon charges in fees without even including the cost of shipping from china to us and us agent to amazon warehouse I'm not sure how high the profit margin would be as it is probably pretty competitive
brab
2016-08-14 20:27
obv best would be finding some real niche products without much competition
alistair
2016-08-14 20:29
The Amazing Seller podcast is pretty good
alistair
2016-08-14 20:30
competition can be fierce if you don't have a unique product
alistair
2016-08-14 20:30
because other sellers can hijack the listing and undercut your price
alistair
2016-08-14 20:30
this creates a race to the bottom
alistair
2016-08-14 20:31
I've no direct experience... just lots of watching from the sidelines
alistair
2016-08-14 20:35
the junglescout chrome plugin is great for niche research
brab
2016-08-15 02:20
yea thats what I'm thinking, race to the bottom especially for easy to find products sourced in China... thanks though
jase
2016-08-15 16:37
Late to the party but I'm in the process of selling an FBA PL business at the moment
jase
2016-08-15 16:37
it's small time but hey, money is money
jase
2016-08-15 16:54
amazon has a great system but you're absolutely at the mercy of them. my advice is to pick a product that is ideally $40 or higher to make sure you make a good profit. Certainly once you start talking under $15, unless your costs are lower than $2 or your volume is huge it makes it hard to justify the effort
simon
2016-08-15 18:32
@alistair: Tax residency is different from regular residency. You could have 20 residencies in 20 different countries but you'll always only be the tax resident of one country (unless you are American). Most countries determine tax residency based on the time test. In most cases, if you spend 183+ days per year you pass the test and are considered a tax resident. In the UK, HMRC uses the SRT to determine tax residency. How to pass it is explained here:
simon
2016-08-15 18:34
If you are ready to move in the next few months, what I'd recommend is becoming resident in Malta. It's an EU country so it would be super easy (the UK is still part of the EU at the moment). It's very likely that UK citizens holding EU residencies will be allowed to keep them post-Brexit (and likewise for EU citizens residing in the UK)
simon
2016-08-15 18:37
As an EU citizen, all you need is an address there (can be a mail forwarding service) and to file an annual tax return there. You do not have to live in Malta but you are also forbidden from spending >183 days in any other countries (if you do, you will lose the Malta residency).
maxsuur
2016-08-15 18:38
Is it valid for spanish citizens as well?
simon
2016-08-15 18:38
Having the Malta residency will give you a cheap, tax-free opportunity to give the location independent lifestyle a try.
maxsuur
2016-08-15 18:38
How viable is that?
simon
2016-08-15 18:38
Yes, for any EU citizen
simon
2016-08-15 18:39
It's not viable in the long-term, only for a few years. Once you qualify for permanent resident in Malta you have to pay taxes on your worldwide income.
simon
2016-08-15 18:40
But for as long as you are only a temporary resident, you do not have to pay any taxes on foreign-sourced income (if it stays outside Malta).
maxsuur
2016-08-15 18:40
That is awesome
maxsuur
2016-08-15 18:40
I was thinking about Paraguay
maxsuur
2016-08-15 18:41
But Malta seems to be a good temporary option
maxsuur
2016-08-15 18:41
So, anything else is required?
simon
2016-08-15 18:42
Paraguay is great as a long-term solution and for a second passport but as a short-term solution Malta is pretty much unbeatable for EU citizens.
maxsuur
2016-08-15 18:42
Amazing
simon
2016-08-15 18:42
To qualify as a resident you need an address and you need to file a tax return there
maxsuur
2016-08-15 18:43
And temporarily even if I dont have an offshore company, would it be tax free?
maxsuur
2016-08-15 18:43
Because I was also thinking about the e-stonia business
simon
2016-08-15 18:47
If your money stays outside Malta, it won't be taxed by Malta. As for Estonia, they do not tax salaries (at all) if the person receiving it is not an Estonian resident and is a tax resident somewhere (in Malta for example).
simon
2016-08-15 18:48
It's a bit of a mess, Estonian accounting. Using the services of a local company like Leapin is a must. Especially as some parts of the reporting software are only in Estonian!
simon
2016-08-15 18:50
I talked to Kaspar (the guy in charge of e-Residency) about it and he said that they are planning to fully translate everything eventually. Right now they are mainly focused on allowing e-Residents to open bank accounts remotely.
maxsuur
2016-08-15 18:53
I understand
maxsuur
2016-08-15 18:53
so
jase
2016-08-15 18:53
Are most of the people here sole income earners/freelancers/etc? Is anyone incorporated with a partner/s?
maxsuur
2016-08-15 18:53
would you recommend to have the combo: "Malta residency" and "estonian company" for an EU Citizen?
maxsuur
2016-08-15 18:53
or is there any other good alternative?
jase
2016-08-15 18:54
Panama residency is easy - but it really depends if you want to live in the place. It's quite expensive for what it is.
simon
2016-08-15 18:55
@maxsuur: It's a good short-term combo. A true tax-free setup is better long-term obviously, especially if it leads to a second passport.
simon
2016-08-15 18:56
@jase: Most of the people here who have businesses are the sole owners I think.
jase
2016-08-15 18:57
I figured that was the case. I'm currently in the early stages of planning out a SaaS product and I'm unsure of I should be going it alone or partnering up with an acquaintance. I can see pros/cons each way.
maxsuur
2016-08-15 18:57
@simon: just read your article and it seems that some proof of residence is required for some tax authorities (so it seems I should be spending a great deal of the first year in Malta to justify that)
jase
2016-08-15 18:58
@maxsuur: as someone that has left Australia it was important for me to prove residence elsewhere - especially a "permanent place of abode"
simon
2016-08-15 18:58
@jase: Partnering up can work well in some cases but you have to structure everything really well so that you can leave or your partner can leave without damaging the business.
jase
2016-08-15 18:58
It's a tough answer because depending on the country you are from, it can easy, hard or somewhere in between
simon
2016-08-15 18:59
@maxsuur: That's for your home country, not Malta. Spain may require you to prove that you are truly living there to accept your expatriation or they may not. It's really on a case-by-case basis.
jase
2016-08-15 19:00
Yep - it seemed to me at the time that the best way was to permanently relocate to a place I'm happy to live year round, then travel to/from that location
jase
2016-08-15 19:01
...and also limit time in your home country at least for a few years
simon
2016-08-15 19:01
@jase: Andorra seems really nice too. Definitely not a bad place to live.
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:01
Yes, I know
jase
2016-08-15 19:01
The only problem is the banks!
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:01
that's the thing, I am not sure how my tax authorities would react to that
jase
2016-08-15 19:02
Can I ask where you are from @maxsuur ?
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:02
Spain
jase
2016-08-15 19:02
Ok I have heard mixed opinions about leaving to become a PT
jase
2016-08-15 19:03
Do you want to travel or establish yourself somewhere low tax?
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:03
both
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:03
but mainly focused on the second
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:03
I don't want to remain in Spain
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:03
probably 2-3 months a year
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:03
that's more than enough
jase
2016-08-15 19:04
That's perfect then. I just went through this the last few years. Don't rush it - do your research and pick a few places to check out
jase
2016-08-15 19:04
...Malta, Andorra, Malaysia, Panama, New Zealand (only for 4 years from memory)
jase
2016-08-15 19:04
whatever your shortlist
jase
2016-08-15 19:05
Check them out, decide where you are happy to spend 9 months of the year
simon
2016-08-15 19:05
Don't forget Hong Kong and Singapore :wink:
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:05
ahaha
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:05
I love the idea of Paraguay
jase
2016-08-15 19:05
:slightly_smiling_face: I love HK and Singapore
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:05
but, first I'd like to try something more reachable
jase
2016-08-15 19:05
But they are too big of a city for me
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:05
like "Malta"
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:06
I don't want to live permanently anywhere else
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:06
just the PT thing
jase
2016-08-15 19:06
in 2016 a residency flag is handy
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:06
Well, I could spend happily a great deal in Mexico
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:06
love that country though
jase
2016-08-15 19:07
high tax rate, no?
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:08
mmmm
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:08
I live there as a tourist
simon
2016-08-15 19:08
Hong Kong has some great mountain biking trails though. I know a guy who's in a club there and they ride every week. The weather is a bit much though, I nearly passed out riding uphill on Lantau island the only time I went with them. It was nearly 40C + humidity.
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:08
6 montths
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:08
180 days
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:09
no problem at all, then you leave the country, re-enter and you get another 6 months
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:09
forever
jase
2016-08-15 19:09
You still need the tax residency if you want a sustainable setup
jase
2016-08-15 19:09
Otherwise you run the risk of receiving a huge tax bill from Spain in 10 years
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:09
I could always buy some property there
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:09
and get the residency
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:10
absolutely
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:10
that's why I am looking for a residency
jase
2016-08-15 19:11
yeah but the point is that residency is worthless if you can't prove that it is "home" - at least to please most home country tax authorities
jase
2016-08-15 19:11
@simon: we hiked up to the big buddha last time we were there - i forget what it is called, the 360 trail?
jase
2016-08-15 19:11
That was such hard work in the humidity!
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:12
so, I just need to "prove" it
jase
2016-08-15 19:12
*maybe not worthless
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:12
there is always a way
jase
2016-08-15 19:12
could be a good backup in a time of conflict or something
simon
2016-08-15 19:14
You just need to have more ties to your country of residency than to your home country. That and not spending 183+ days anywhere else. For example, banking there is one tie. Having a permanent address is another tie etc
simon
2016-08-15 19:14
If you cut all ties to your home country (except for your passport), it's fairly easy to prove closer ties to your country of residency
jase
2016-08-15 19:15
It's getting hard to please the CRA, yeah? Australia is tough nowadays
simon
2016-08-15 19:16
Yeah the CRA is cracking down on PTs and those moving to tax havens. That said, once they approve your expatriation you are in the clear. It's getting that approval that is getting harder.
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:17
CRA?
jase
2016-08-15 19:17
thats the vagueness of Australia - no formal approval, so a lot of people fall into the trap of lodging as a non-resident, then getting a tax bill when they return to australia years on
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:17
australian one?
simon
2016-08-15 19:17
Canadian Revenue Agency
jase
2016-08-15 19:17
CRA = Canada, ATO = Australia
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:17
thanks
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:17
"Hacienda"= Spain
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:18
@simon: tried to get the number26 bank account as spanish resident
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:19
they're not opening accounts to spaniards anymore
jase
2016-08-15 19:19
I need to replace my 28 degrees card with that
jase
2016-08-15 19:19
Have a friend in Germany, hopefully that will help
simon
2016-08-15 19:22
There's a lot of loopholes though regarding taxation and residencies. I'm in the process of updating the ZTN course and will dedicate a new module to them. For example, Canadians who went to high school in Quebec are eligible for near-instant French citizenship.
simon
2016-08-15 19:22
@maxsuur: They received a banking license a few weeks ago. This may have something to do with that.
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:23
I understand
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:23
any good alternatives?
jase
2016-08-15 19:23
Interesting. I wonder if I can take an adult age high school exam and be eligible? :slightly_smiling_face:
simon
2016-08-15 19:24
You need to be the citizen of a country which has French as an official language.
jase
2016-08-15 19:24
Lucked out again
jase
2016-08-15 19:24
My wife should be Italian any month now
jase
2016-08-15 19:25
That's my best strategy right now
simon
2016-08-15 19:25
Do you have any Irish ancestors?
jase
2016-08-15 19:25
yes but too many generations from memory
simon
2016-08-15 19:26
ah that's a bummer. Ireland grants near-instant citizenship to those who have Irish ancestors (I think up to grand or great-grandparents)
jase
2016-08-15 19:30
I'm searching through old emails from my parents now :slightly_smiling_face:
jase
2016-08-15 19:35
"only if your parent D had registered by the time of your birth."
jase
2016-08-15 19:35
Short sighted parents!
jase
2016-08-15 19:35
All good, there are other ways
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:42
any good alternatives to number26?
simon
2016-08-15 19:44
@maxsuur: Online EU banks? Otherwise any account in HK or Singapore will be a better alternative.
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:45
I was just looking for a lowcost alternative like number26
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:45
it could be European or HK, SIngapore
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:45
any suggestions?
jase
2016-08-15 19:46
only one i know of is 28 degrees card in Australia
simon
2016-08-15 19:48
In HK and Singapore the banks typically charge no account fees (if you meet their minimum balance requirement). Many banks offer cards with no forex and ATM fees (some even refund overseas ATM fees). Best of all, many banks offer cards that earn 2-5 miles per dollar spent.
simon
2016-08-15 19:48
In Europe there is also Holvi
simon
2016-08-15 19:48
It's an online bank like N26
simon
2016-08-15 19:48
But they charge a forex fee
simon
2016-08-15 19:49
Their product is mainly aimed at businesses but they also open personal accounts
simon
2016-08-15 19:49
They are owned by BBVA and accept EU residents
jase
2016-08-15 19:50
interesting
simon
2016-08-15 19:51
It's a good option for those who have Estonia companies but do not want to travel to Estonia to open a business bank account
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:53
and a good HK/singapore bank you recommend?
jase
2016-08-15 19:53
Honestly sometimes I wonder if I should have opened in Estonia instead of HK
simon
2016-08-15 19:53
Citibank, they are a joy to work with and offer some of the best cards. They also offer free international wire transfers.
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:54
fantastic
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:54
I am going to take a look at it
maxsuur
2016-08-15 19:54
but the thing is I should go to HK in person I guess
simon
2016-08-15 19:57
@simon uploaded a file: https://freedomsurfer.slack.com/files/simon/F21HXPW13/20160815_155727.jpg
simon
2016-08-15 19:57
Yup
simon
2016-08-15 19:58
And you get one of these
simon
2016-08-15 19:58
Free ATM withdrawals worldwide, a cashback and no fees whatsoever
jase
2016-08-15 19:58
I need dis
jase
2016-08-15 19:58
I signed up with Hang Seng on the advice of Streber
jase
2016-08-15 19:58
first CC application disappeared into thin air
jase
2016-08-15 19:59
I've been making do without for a while but it's time to try again - hoping the history helps
simon
2016-08-15 20:00
Hang Seng has some of the worst products in HK (same with its parent HSBC). Citibank, SCB and DBS are much better options. Heck, even BEA has better products.
simon
2016-08-15 20:01
And the cool thing with Citibank is that you can connect all your accounts together and transfer money between them instantly, free of charge.
simon
2016-08-15 20:02
Citibank is in many countries so this can be very useful
simon
2016-08-15 20:04
Also, you can transfer the miles you earn to any of these programs:
simon
2016-08-15 20:05
@simon uploaded a file: https://freedomsurfer.slack.com/files/simon/F21J27NET/premiermiles.jpg
jase
2016-08-15 20:07
Citibank seems like the go. Sketchy bank but good products. Really, even HSBC seems better than Hang Seng
simon
2016-08-15 20:14
Both Citi and HSBC are quite sketchy. That said, they are nearly impossible to avoid. For example, they own all the big Singapore banks (OCBC, DBS and UOB). They also own many of the HK banks (including Hang Seng, DBS and Wing Hang) and a lot of other banks worldwide.
jase
2016-08-15 20:14
Yeah my strategy nowadays is to forget about how bad the banks are and try and buy assets instead
jase
2016-08-15 20:15
Of course, buying assets that are not overpriced is also a challenge :slightly_smiling_face:
simon
2016-08-15 20:18
I also do not care about what the banks are doing. They have so much power and money that in my opinion, it's a given that they will misbehave. What I care about is how stable they are and how good their products are. In this regard Citi is pretty good.
jase
2016-08-15 20:19
ok time to switch off - bye
simon
2016-08-15 20:19
Good evening :slightly_smiling_face:
alistair
2016-08-16 11:08
@simon: Thanks a lot. That helped clarify things for me.
alistair
2016-08-16 12:19
Btw... Since coming across Freedom Surfer in the last few days I've... bagged a free Regus Gold Card worth �588, Got myself a Revolut card so I can get �0.75 for each dollar rather than the �0.66 I was getting withdrawing with my Payoneer card.... and great advice about Malta that could save me thousands in UK tax.
alextrades
2016-08-16 12:20
thought revolut card no good any more Alex uK
alextrades
2016-08-16 12:20
UK
alextrades
2016-08-16 12:20
?
alistair
2016-08-16 12:20
I just test loaded it with �10
alistair
2016-08-16 12:21
paid $13.31 using my Payoneer card
alextrades
2016-08-16 12:21
are you from uk
alistair
2016-08-16 12:22
yes
alistair
2016-08-16 12:22
if I withdraw �10 from the atm with the payoneer it costs me $14.98
alistair
2016-08-16 12:22
i'm in Scotland, UK
alextrades
2016-08-16 12:23
Norwich & Peterborough Gold Classic (�5/mth fee if you don't pay in �500 or hold �5,000/mth) NIL NIL
alextrades
2016-08-16 12:23
i use this
alistair
2016-08-16 12:25
I earn my money in dollars. Amazon pays to my Payoneer account in dollars.
alextrades
2016-08-16 12:26
cool
alistair
2016-08-16 12:26
but need to convert to british pounds
alistair
2016-08-16 12:26
Payoneer gives me shit exchange rates
alextrades
2016-08-16 12:27
what about amazon payed straight into uk bank account
alistair
2016-08-16 12:27
they don't do that
alistair
2016-08-16 12:27
they only pay to a US bank account
alextrades
2016-08-16 12:27
really ?
alistair
2016-08-16 12:27
i could ask for a cheque to be sent
alistair
2016-08-16 12:28
but... it's 2016 )
alextrades
2016-08-16 12:28
do that
alextrades
2016-08-16 12:28
try it
alextrades
2016-08-16 12:28
amazon uk
alextrades
2016-08-16 12:28
dont pay into uk account
alistair
2016-08-16 12:28
they will yeah
alistair
2016-08-16 12:28
but I just take my Amazon UK income in the for of gift vouchers
alistair
2016-08-16 12:28
in the form of*
alextrades
2016-08-16 12:28
why
alistair
2016-08-16 12:29
it's only about �200 per month
alistair
2016-08-16 12:29
I will just use this for my new laptop fund
alistair
2016-08-16 12:29
the usa income is a lot more significant
alistair
2016-08-16 12:30
i also get about 100 Canadian dollars each month
alistair
2016-08-16 12:30
and some euros
alextrades
2016-08-16 12:30
ok you drop shipping ?
alistair
2016-08-16 12:31
no i have a blog
alistair
2016-08-16 12:31
it's amazon affiliate earnings
alextrades
2016-08-16 12:31
cool
alextrades
2016-08-16 12:31
whats the link
alistair
2016-08-16 12:31
visitors get directed to their local amazon store
alistair
2016-08-16 12:32
I keep that secret sorry )
alextrades
2016-08-16 12:32
im into trading
alextrades
2016-08-16 12:32
how much traffic do you get to your blog a month
alistair
2016-08-16 12:32
that's a world I know nothing about ))
alistair
2016-08-16 12:32
I get about 2500 visitors per day
alistair
2016-08-16 12:33
so... 75000 I think
alextrades
2016-08-16 12:33
nice work how have you built your traffic up
alistair
2016-08-16 12:33
it all comes from google
alextrades
2016-08-16 12:33
seo
alistair
2016-08-16 12:33
organic traffic
alistair
2016-08-16 12:33
yeah seo
alextrades
2016-08-16 12:34
nice i was thinking of doing a blog on medium
alistair
2016-08-16 12:34
why medium?
simon
2016-08-16 17:49
@alistair: I'm glad you got good value out of your membership. For the Revolut card, they used to allow free USD top ups from Payoneer. This meant you could access your cash almost free of charge. I guess it was too good to last... If you travel to the US in the future, you could look into opening a bank account there. Many banks offer Visa/Mastercard debit with no forex fee, monthly fees or ATM fees.
alistair
2016-08-16 18:36
Awesome... I currently pay a 1% fee for loading the payoneer card. Then it's another 1% to load the Revolut card. Enough money to be saved to cover the trip to the US :grinning:
alistair
2016-08-16 18:38
How long has your Insiders Club been open?
simon
2016-08-16 18:58
@alistair: It's been open since June. I'm still building the material and site, should be complete by the end of September. These days I'm working on a big update of the ZTN course (new look, tons of new material, some exclusive intel). After that I'll polish the other courses and publish them. Then I'll finally have time to focus on growing the group and organizing meetups. That and writing more articles, especially about lifestyle and business related stuff that isn't usually covered online (mainly because most of those who write about this lifestyle do not live it themselves).
simon
2016-08-16 19:03
@alistair: In some cases, you can even open a US bank account from the UK. The United Nations Credit Union in New York allows remote applications for example. Their product is also pretty good, the only fee you pay is if you withdraw cash more than 8 times from ATMs outside the US.
simon
2016-08-16 19:05
To be eligible, you simply need to join the UN association of the United States of America. It's open to anyone who has a US mailing address (including virtual addresses :wink: )
maxsuur
2016-08-16 19:08
Any of you guys is an eu citizen residing in malta?
yura-by
2016-08-16 19:43
@simon: idea about ZTN course updates. Maybe we can have private organisation on github (or perhaps gitlab would be better, they allow free private repositories) with course uploaded there? This will allow easily to follow up updates. Eg., I read course, after few month I will be able to go and check what changed, without re-reading evething from begging. Also others can contribure via pull requests.
jase
2016-08-16 20:08
Yeah I was thinking some sort of notification system would be good
jase
2016-08-16 20:08
even if it's just a message on slack
simon
2016-08-16 20:40
I was under the impression that Github / Gitlab was for coding...
maxsuur
2016-08-16 20:44
So did I
maxsuur
2016-08-16 20:45
I think you can just send us an email with the updates
maxsuur
2016-08-16 20:45
I love hearing from the freedomsurfer community
yura-by
2016-08-17 12:46
git is not only for coding. It is version control system, you can use it for any text like documents. Eg., this book https://github.com/jwiegley/git-from-the-bottom-up hosted on github, you can list of changes sorted by date https://github.com/jwiegley/git-from-the-bottom-up/commits/master and check what changed in every particular commit, eg. https://github.com/jwiegley/git-from-the-bottom-up/commit/2133ee73a5f2ac2e410ea76d58e70734fb980e08 and https://github.com/jwiegley/git-from-the-bottom-up/commit/e73e2d93fbfec8678b4537f66a1fef929566eee3
yura-by
2016-08-17 12:49
or more simplier solution: just put ZTN into wiki and give us access to see changes between versions
yura-by
2016-08-17 12:53
But git is much more powerful tool, I'm sure you will love it if you spend some time to understand how it works. Personally I use git for many things that change over time (configuration files, resume and source code of course), it is really cool that you can go back to any revision in the past at any time
yura-by
2016-08-17 14:06
You might find these articles interesting if you gonna try it (they written for non-programmes):
1. https://www.sitepoint.com/version-control-git/
2. http://blog.scottlowe.org/2015/01/14/non-programmer-git-intro/
alistair
2016-08-17 14:54
@simon: Thanks again Simon )
agalt
2016-08-19 12:10
Looking for a bank in the uk to open a personal checking account. Im unfortunately a us citizen and im not sure what banks will accept us persons. Does anyone have some suggestions?
simon
2016-08-19 13:59
@agalt: this bank will:
https://international.standardbank.com/personal/optimum
simon
2016-08-19 14:00
You can even open the account online, remotely
simon
2016-08-19 14:01
It's in the isle of man (not UK) but they use the same IBAN country code so it'll work with UK services (they will see it as a UK account)
simon
2016-08-19 14:02
Other than HSBC, I don't know of any mainland UK bank that will open an account for a non-resident (especially if you aren't a EU citizen)
agalt
2016-08-19 14:54
Thank you!
jase
2016-08-22 09:21
Have heard good things about Lloyds Offshore in Isle of Man too.
jase
2016-08-22 10:00
Does anyone have insight/thoughts on the Panama Canal bonds?
jase
2016-08-22 10:00
As I understand it, 20 year, 7%
jase
2016-08-22 13:45
free upkeep, free transactions, multiple currencies, 30 000 euros a week limit Mastercard debit
austinweb
2016-08-23 21:34
has joined #general
austinweb
2016-08-25 13:01
I trade forex, but as an American our options are quickly becoming limited...for example, interactive brokers will no longer allow US citizens to trade leveraged forex unless they have $10,000,000 account...also I would like to open an account at darwinex...but they don't allow US citizens...is there a way around these issues?...like following the path you took with your first Belizean company? Just looking for options...not to hide anything...I just want to increase my flexibility and options.
jase
2016-08-27 07:22
@simon do you have suggestions on where to incorporate an FBA company? I plan on selling in US/CAN/UK/Europe/Japan. If possible, I'd like to avoid the VAT nightmare but I don't know if that is possible.
simon
2016-08-29 01:39
@jase VAT isn't much of a problem as Amazon handles compliance for you.
simon
2016-08-29 01:40
I'm not very familiar with FBA though. Does your company needs to be registered in a country where Amazon operates?
simon
2016-08-29 01:53
@austinweb That is unlikely to work, the CFTC has rules specifically against that. Besides, foreign brokers are likely to deny your application based on US beneficial ownership.
simon
2016-08-29 01:57
I've heard of US citizens getting foreign drivers licenses to open accounts with foreign brokers but that is very much playing with fire.
jase
2016-08-29 05:36
@simon: this is the first I have heard of Amazon handling compliance. Everything I have read says that Amazon doesn't handle taxes for you though I have usually read it from a US perspective. Company can be registered anywhere for Amazon.
simon
2016-08-30 01:46
@jase My bad, I was looking at the regular Amazon seller documentation. It does indeed seem that Amazon FBA requires sellers to register for VAT.
jessems
2016-09-01 18:58
has joined #general
austinweb
2016-09-03 16:33
@simon I don't think there is anything inherently illegal for a US citizen to go offshore...just most brokers won't accept US citizens
austinweb
2016-09-03 16:34
austinweb
2016-09-03 16:36
Of the more "trusted" brokers: it looks like Tallinex and FX Choice seem like they still accept US citizens ... Definitely not Interactive Broker quality
simon
2016-09-04 14:38
@austinweb It isn't illegal in an of itself for a US citizen to go offshore, the problem lies mainly with the brokers and their compliance with the Dodd-Frank Act.
simon
2016-09-04 14:39
You also have to be careful about compliance if you register an offshore company to trade.
rupyb
2016-09-04 14:51
has joined #general
maxsuur
2016-09-04 19:28
Sounds cool but a bit sketchy
simon
2016-09-04 21:51
Any bank card offering full anonymity is either lying or illegal.
rupyb
2016-09-05 04:55
Hi Simon, I tried to open a Citi Bank account in HongKong and was told the minimum balance required was HK$1.5mil. I even tried at two separate branches.
rupyb
2016-09-05 04:56
(I am a non-HK-resident, and non-US citizen)
rupyb
2016-09-05 05:00
Does anyone have good recommendations for bitcoin-friendly countries for registering a business and bank accounts with?
rupyb
2016-09-05 05:01
(Or know a good agent to assist with registering the Bitcoin business?)
yura-by
2016-09-05 05:20
@rupyb Were you trying to open personal or business account with Citi in HK?
rupyb
2016-09-05 05:20
@yura-by personal
yura-by
2016-09-05 05:22
have you tried other banks later? any success?
rupyb
2016-09-05 05:23
Yup, I was successful with StandardChartered
yura-by
2016-09-05 05:30
Regarding bitcoin, I'm also interested in finding bitcoin friendly bank. Simon told me that bitcoin may be dangerous in Chinese speaking world, banks may close account. So I've checked which banks crypto-exchanges uses, WB21 (Singapore) uses UOB Singapore and Bitfinex (HK) uses KGI HK, still waiting for itBit account verification to check theirs bank. If these banks works with exchanges, they probably will not close accounts for individual customers after receiving transfer from exchange (just my guess)
yura-by
2016-09-05 05:40
KGI HK seems to be very business friendly if they still work with Bitfinex after they got hacked
jase
2016-09-05 08:15
@simon do you know of any Estonian companies like LeapIN that will allow you to incorporate using a holding company rather than individual shareholders?
yura-by
2016-09-05 12:03
Guys, have anybody tried opening personal account at Citi SG recently? Do they still allow open account with 5000 SGD/USD? Or they redirecting to IPB branch similar to how Citi HK did to @rupyb?
agalt
2016-09-05 12:43
There is a bitcoin clearing house in Slovenia (Ljubljana). Regarding the anonymous bank, i dont believe they are, it may be marketing bollox. Its easier to play by the rules with banking and make the consequences minimal.
josh
2016-09-05 15:57
@jase I think Estonia is only individuals, as the whole process revolves around an individual digital ID which allows for the rest.
jase
2016-09-05 15:57
@josh I think you are right
josh
2016-09-05 16:00
The process is rather simple though and so long as you don't live in Estonia or hire anyone there, it's simple to avoid the 20% tax on dividends as there is no tax paid by the company on salaries paid (outside Estonia).
jase
2016-09-05 16:02
Yes - I'm trying to restructure everything in a logical way but realistically it's probably making life hard for myself
josh
2016-09-05 16:06
Yeah and a lot of things have changed the past few years which muddies the water, I hear that. Estonia is good if you can use it as a vehicle for growth and pay a moderate salary. They control it all pretty tightly though. It's kind of the opposite of anonymous but I thought it'd be a worthwhile experiment.
josh
2016-09-05 16:07
Moderate salary I mean because anything extravagant they may look at as flaunting the rule and decide it should be taxed as a dividend
jase
2016-09-05 16:11
I'm looking at using Estonia for a company for a SaaS business that is built to sell anyway, so I wouldn't want to take too much income - make it look better on paper.
josh
2016-09-05 16:13
By sell you mean exit?
josh
2016-09-05 16:14
I am not clear on the rules for that, but I think they might hit you with 20% if you sold the company outright
josh
2016-09-05 16:14
Of course, there are ways to lower that bill.
josh
2016-09-05 16:16
But for that you'd be better served in a different jurisdiction probably, I image @simon has suggestions.
jase
2016-09-05 16:18
Yeah, ~3 year exit
josh
2016-09-05 16:39
Sweet! Good luck. Are you bootstrapping it or getting funding?
jase
2016-09-05 16:53
Thanks, we'll be bootstrapping. I have funds I'm willing to invest but my cofounder doesn't - it's been an interesting first challenge :slightly_smiling_face:
josh
2016-09-05 17:03
#respect! All the sweeter when it pans out though.
jase
2016-09-05 17:15
Seems to be a lot of people complaining about being knocked back for HK/Singapore bank accounts nowadays
jase
2016-09-05 17:16
Would be awesome to get a Holvi style service running in either jurisdiction
replay
2016-09-05 17:22
I'm planning to open a personal bank account at DBS in singapore. The "best banks" page on http://freedomsurfer.com says that's hard but possible, for DBS. But when I read about their account eligibility requirements on http://dbs.com.sg it seems that they require citizenship or permanent residence in singapore for all their accounts... Is that one of those "bendable" requirements?
replay
2016-09-05 17:23
for example when i click on "Apply Now" here it's asking me which type of residency i have, seemingly requiring some type of residency: http://www.dbs.com.sg/personal/deposits/savings-accounts/multiplier
jase
2016-09-05 17:23
It's a case by case basis, but with the right amount of cash anything is possible
jase
2016-09-05 17:23
DBS flat out knocked me back despite following their rules and enquiring on their website before visiting
replay
2016-09-05 17:24
@jase were you physically in singapore when they knocked you back
jase
2016-09-05 17:24
yes
replay
2016-09-05 17:24
oh, that's annoying then
jase
2016-09-05 17:24
OCBC however, still do remote opening despite what many will tell you
jase
2016-09-05 17:24
All depends on deposit amounts
replay
2016-09-05 17:24
did you open one at OCBC?
replay
2016-09-05 17:24
when they asked you how much money you're planning to move in, what did you say?
jase
2016-09-05 17:25
A trick: most banks only require a set amount to open an account for premier banking
jase
2016-09-05 17:25
so if you can pull a bunch of cash for a few months, pool it together then meet the requirements it could be a good way to open an account
jase
2016-09-05 17:26
Sorry for being paranoid but :zipper_mouth_face: on personal stuff :slightly_smiling_face:
replay
2016-09-05 17:27
depending on if you're talking about a few ten thousand usd or a few hundred thousand usd i might be able to do that
jase
2016-09-05 17:28
most premier banking is $200-250k
replay
2016-09-05 17:28
hehe, k, that's out of scope :stuck_out_tongue:
jase
2016-09-05 17:31
are you concerned about losing funds due a banks defaulting?
replay
2016-09-05 17:32
no, but i have most of my money invested in stuff and can't just move it there. i'd have something like 30 or 40k usd in cash that i could move there if that's enough, but can't really liquidify more
replay
2016-09-05 17:33
do you think i should be worried :slightly_smiling_face: ?
jase
2016-09-05 17:33
yeah, i guess i meant what is the motivation - everyone has different reasoning.. sometimes opening up a bunch of offshore accounts just makes life harder though
replay
2016-09-05 17:34
i'd be using it as my main banking account because it has better integration with asian payment networks than my current swiss bank account
replay
2016-09-05 17:34
generally i'm really not happy with my swiss bank
replay
2016-09-05 17:35
so i'm trying to move away from it
replay
2016-09-05 17:35
and looking for alternatives
jase
2016-09-05 17:35
good call. asia is quite good. australia is good too
jase
2016-09-05 17:35
bbl
simon
2016-09-05 18:13
@rupyb Were you opening a regular account? The 1.5 mil requirement is for Citigold. For regular it is 10000$HK, around 1300$US.
simon
2016-09-05 18:31
@jase The process for registering a company with legal person shareholders is a bit more complicated. From what I was told by a lawyer there, the documents of the legal person shareholders have to be presented to the Estonian notary in a special form and additional clauses have to be added to the MOA.
jase
2016-09-05 18:32
Sounds like a case of me making life hard for myself again :slightly_smiling_face:
simon
2016-09-05 18:33
@replay It is certainly possible to open an account at DBS but as mentioned in the article, it is hard. What the bank is mostly interested in is your reason for wanting the account, your connection to Singapore. Simply wanting an offshore account isn't going to cut it unless you have millions.
replay
2016-09-05 18:35
thx @simon. my reason would be that my official residence is in europe but i spend most of my time in asia, and that's why i would prefer to have my account in asia. i guess i need to come up with something better then.. :slightly_smiling_face:
simon
2016-09-05 18:36
A workaround is opening a business bank account. The minimum balances are lower: http://www.ocbc.com/business-banking/accounts-and-services/foreign-business-accounts.html
simon
2016-09-05 18:39
@jase Good call on the Australian banking. It is indeed quite good and it's very easy to open an account. There's even no need for a proof of address. I still have a Commbank account I opened a few years ago on a tourist entry, I haven't used it in a while though. I keep it "just in case".
rupyb
2016-09-05 18:39
@simon Yeah, I asked Citi just for a regular account. I went to two different branches, but I'll call them again tomorrow and triple check
jase
2016-09-05 18:39
I've heard NZ is quality too. Most banks are linked to Australia anyway so I imagine the service is identical.
jase
2016-09-05 18:41
The thing to remember when going offshore is :
1) You pose a risk to the bank. Have a water tight reason you want an account with them, otherwise they likely assume "they are going to deposit $5k, waste our time and maybe try and pull off some small fry money laundering/tax evasion crap".
2. Can they make money from you? Lots of transfers in/out. Are you interested in their poorly managed financial products?
simon
2016-09-05 18:45
@rupyb If they tell you they do not offer the product to non-residents, show them this: https://www.citibank.com.hk/english/banking/pdf/service_fee.pdf
rupyb
2016-09-05 18:46
@simon thanks!
simon
2016-09-05 18:46
International Personal Banking Clients - 10000$HK minimum balance - 400$HK under-balance fee
rupyb
2016-09-05 18:47
Gotcha, thanks bro
simon
2016-09-05 19:35
It seems like a great deal for those who are starting their business and are looking for a quiet place to settle down for a few months and focus on work
simon
2016-09-05 20:33
@replay Wow that's seriously cheap! It's a great deal for someone who wants to give the nomadic lifestyle a try, at this price there is literally no risk!
maxsuur
2016-09-05 20:38
Hi guys
maxsuur
2016-09-05 20:40
I want to buy a flight with bitcoin I purchased through the btc-e platform. Do you guys know the best way to take the money out and not lose too much in exchange fees, currency conversions and so on?
maxsuur
2016-09-05 20:40
My original plan was to send those bitcoins to an uphold account and then transfer the money to my bank account
maxsuur
2016-09-05 20:41
I'd love to hear alternatives
replay
2016-09-05 20:42
@maxsuur there's that (but i haven't tried it myself) https://cryptopay.me/bitcoin-debit-card
maxsuur
2016-09-05 20:42
Let's check them out
maxsuur
2016-09-05 20:45
Interesting
maxsuur
2016-09-05 20:47
@simon: any news about the barcelona meeting?
simon
2016-09-05 20:49
@maxsuur The 26 of September works for me. Any day during that week would be fine actually.
maxsuur
2016-09-05 20:50
Cool
maxsuur
2016-09-05 20:50
So I can purchase the flights with confidence
simon
2016-09-05 20:53
For the meeting yes. For the bitcoin booking site I have no idea :stuck_out_tongue: They seem legit, even have a IATA number but there's very little about them online.
maxsuur
2016-09-05 20:56
Hahaha
maxsuur
2016-09-05 20:56
Yes, i think i have found better prices on skyscanner
maxsuur
2016-09-05 20:57
Though
jase
2016-09-06 07:35
Hey, Barcelona? I can make it there. Or if you guys are keen to check out Andorra let me know!
simon
2016-09-06 18:36
@jase I'll send an email with the details soon but it will be on the 26th of September in the evening.
yura-by
2016-09-06 18:39
@simon I'm a bit confused after these messages from you: "If they tell you they do not offer the product to non-residents, show them this: https://www.citibank.com.hk/english/banking/pdf/service_fee.pdf
International Personal Banking Clients - 10000$HK minimum balance - 400$HK under-balance fee"
So for non-residents in HK only IPB available even with personal visit? Or in Singapore it is possible to open non-IPB account?
simon
2016-09-06 18:41
In HK only IPB is available but the balance requirement is the same as for residents. The only difference is the fee if you go under the minimum balance (400$ vs 60$). In Singapore you can open a regular account but as others mentioned above, you need a rock-solid reason as the bank sees you as a risk.
yura-by
2016-09-06 18:42
Ah, good, then I still have a chance )
rupyb
2016-09-06 21:09
Hey Guys, who are your favorite agents for incorporation?
rupyb
2016-09-06 21:11
Trying to find the best company to assist us with setting up a business - preferably in Jersey, Isle of Man or Gibraltar, as I've heard these have good reputations so will make bank accounts easier, and they are friendly towards bitcoin
jase
2016-09-08 15:06
@rupyb Startupr in HK have been good, albeit a bit of a disorganised system it seems to work
jase
2016-09-08 15:07
If building a business to sell - what are everyone's thoughts on incorporating in a less than common country? Does it affect sale price?
josh
2016-09-08 16:35
I don't think so - it's getting purchased and will get reorganized anyway. Plus the DD is going to uncover anything they want to know. I mean if you register a software company in Somalia or something, that would be weird, but if the software kicks ass and you're willing to be the one who goes and takes care of anything on the ground there, then it probably wouldn't matter. :smile:
jase
2016-09-08 17:15
Thanks @josh. In this case I'm not building anything revolutionary - an agency with recurring income. Very tempted to move it to Andorra to make a lot of things easier but it is an unknown, far away country to most people so I don't know if that is a negative.
josh
2016-09-08 18:11
Andorra has a good reputation though, doesn't it? That's not at all like registering it on some BFE island.
simon
2016-09-08 19:51
@jase For sure using a well-known structure would help (US LLC for example) but it should not be a deal-breaker in this case. As josh said, Andorra isn't the Congo.
jase
2016-09-08 21:56
Good enough reputation for sure. I just wasn't sure if the well known structure was a big deal or not. Biggest catch here appears to be payment processing.
jase
2016-09-09 09:02
@simon would you ever go into business the Chinese? Are there particular things to look out for? I'm thinking that visibility of earnings and control of money is important.
simon
2016-09-10 00:43
@jase Absolutely. There are some fantastic opportunities in China and while the learning curve is steep, it's very rewarding to do business there. I recommend reading the HSBC guide to doing business in China, it's very well written and is chuck full of valuable info.
simon
2016-09-10 00:50
Many of you probably know Revolut, the nomad-friendly prepaid card. I opened an account with them a while ago to review the service for the site. I still have the card although I haven't used it in a long while. Today I received an email from them about a change to their fair usage policy. I clicked to see if there was anything interesting. There was. I noticed that it said (debit/credit card top up : 1% fee). That's new or at least, wasn't there back when I reviewed the card. Back then it was only possible to use a debit card.
simon
2016-09-10 00:50
Here's the deal: I gave it a try and used my credit card to top up a few EUR to give it a try. It worked and even better, it posted as a regular transaction on my credit card. Where am I going with this? My bank pays me 2.5 miles per USD spent. With a fee of 1% from revolut, I'm paying 0.4 cents per miles. That's FREAKING GOOD!
simon
2016-09-10 00:53
Once the money is in my Revolut account, I can simply withdraw it to my EUR account at no extra charge.
simon
2016-09-10 00:55
There doesn't seem to be any top-up limit on my Revolut account nor any withdrawal limit.
simon
2016-09-10 01:02
Considering that a return long-haul ticket in J with most airlines costs around 100k miles, we are talking 400$US with this hack. Add maybe 25% more to cover bank transfer fees, small forex losses etc and that 100k miles cost 500$US.
brab
2016-09-10 04:31
wow absolutely sick
brab
2016-09-10 04:31
need to get on that asap
brab
2016-09-10 04:41
Revolut is available to legal residents of the following countries:
Aland Islands, Andorra, Austria, Azores, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Ceuta, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Faroe Islands, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Guadeloupe, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Jan Mayen, Jersey, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madeira, Malta, Martinique, Mayotte, Melilla, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, R�union, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Georgia, South Sandwich Islands, Spain, St. Barth�lemy, St. Martin (French Part), Svalbard, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Vatican City.
brab
2016-09-10 04:42
guess im outta luck
simon
2016-09-10 04:46
Last year I created my account with a Chinese address and they mailed my card to Shanghai no question asked. I guess they may have restricted new accounts only to European countries. That sucks.
brab
2016-09-10 04:47
nice, well definitely milk it while it lasts
josh
2016-09-10 04:50
Yeah it was useful for a while but then they dropped US account holders (thanks to some new law in the US I'm sure)...looking for a way around it. Sounds like a sweet hack for miles now!
brab
2016-09-10 04:52
do they need any id or verification?
brab
2016-09-10 04:52
can just use a virtual mailbox that forwards the mail?
simon
2016-09-10 04:53
"Please note that we may request a copy of your legal right to remain (e.g. visa, residence permit) if you provide a passport issued in a country outside of the European Union."
simon
2016-09-10 04:54
That's some irony, considering they are a UK company!
maxsuur
2016-09-10 07:41
@simon: In conjunction with Revolut which credit card would you recommend to a european citizen to make the most of this hack?
simon
2016-09-10 14:05
@maxsuur: I do not know the EU credit card market well. What you should be looking for is an earning rate of around 2 miles per EUR spent, no annual limit to how many miles you can earn and if not in EUR or GBP, no forex fee.
simon
2016-09-10 14:05
This is a good example (in the US): https://www.capitalone.com/credit-cards/venture/
agalt
2016-09-10 14:06
South Georgia? (Georgia in the caucuses?)
maxsuur
2016-09-10 14:07
And what about annual fees? Do you consider them a deal-breaker above certain amount?
simon
2016-09-10 14:10
Not if the benefits are worth it. For example, the Citi Prestige card has an annual fee of nearly 300$ but when you pay it you receive a year of unlimited worldwide lounge access, 20000 bonus miles and a travel credit. In my opinion that's worth the 300$.
simon
2016-09-10 14:10
But if the benefits are crap then no I don't want to pay an annual fee.
simon
2016-09-10 14:10
Thankfully most banks will waive them if you ask.
maxsuur
2016-09-10 14:14
It makes a lot of sense. But I have the following concerns; 1. Do I need to open a bank account along with the credit card? Or the credit card works as a standalone product?
2. If I recharge the card before the credit renewal each month, I would not have to pay the purchase fees they mention, right?
maxsuur
2016-09-10 14:14
(Using the card as a debit one, I mean)
simon
2016-09-10 14:21
In the US, Canada and Asia credit cards are standalone products. You pay them like you pay any other bills via your online banking. You get a limit and can spend up to that limit free of charge. You then get a bill at the end of the month and if you pay in full there are no fees. I'm not sure if they work in the same way in Europe. I remember having a look at the French cards and being confused at how they worked.
maxsuur
2016-09-10 14:31
Here is just a little bit different. I had one once which was linked to my bank account
maxsuur
2016-09-10 14:32
But cancelled it after a while
maxsuur
2016-09-10 14:32
It'd also be nice some hack for european citizens to access the cards canadians and us citizens use
maxsuur
2016-09-10 14:33
To access the revolut hack, a double hack sandwich
simon
2016-09-10 14:54
It's fairly easy to get a US credit card. I could definitely write on article about that.
maxsuur
2016-09-10 15:04
Looking forward to read it :)
maxsuur
2016-09-10 15:05
*to reading it
jase
2016-09-10 18:24
Anyone know if Singapore Airlines would status match SA Gold?
simon
2016-09-10 19:18
@jase: South African Airlines? Not likely. Airlines do not usually match within the same alliance.
jase
2016-09-10 19:21
Sorry, Star Alliance.
simon
2016-09-10 19:27
Same problem though, it has to be another alliance. Besides, Krisflyer has some of the worst benefits of any program so you are probably better off using your current status. PPS on the other hand is a very solid program but is based on spend, not miles.
jase
2016-09-10 21:19
Hmm damn ok. Reasoning for wanting to go with KrisFlyer is because I am most likely able to get a half decent card in Singapore. Might need to rethink the strategy.
simon
2016-09-10 21:28
What I personally do is use a card that isn't tied to one airline program. This way I can transfer to a different program each time depending on who has the best rate / availability for the ticket I want to book. Citi has a great card in both HK and SG, you can transfer to a lot of different programs. DBS also has a decent card.
simon
2016-09-10 21:29
For the Citi card: 1 Citi Mile = 1 Mile with:
KrisFlyer
Asia Miles
Royal Orchid Plus
SkyMiles
Executive Club
Enrich
Infinity MileageLands
Garuda Frequent Flyer
Etihad Guest
Qantas
Qatar
Flying Blue
simon
2016-09-10 21:30
Both cards offer 2 miles per SGD spent with a bonus in some categories. In EUR that works out at 3 miles per EUR.
jase
2016-09-11 15:10
Thanks @simon
stevaebasta
2016-09-11 19:39
has joined #general
rupyb
2016-09-11 21:52
Hey @simon I see you mention that most of the China banks don't support multi currency, specifically USD. Does that hold true for even the China bank, branches in Hong Kong banks? eg: http://www.bochk.com/en/deposits/savings/savings.html
rupyb
2016-09-11 21:52
It says only HKD and RMB it seems...
simon
2016-09-11 22:01
All HK banks offer USD current accounts, including Bank of China. http://www.bochk.com/en/deposits/savings/current.html
rupyb
2016-09-11 22:01
Oh fantastic, thanks
rupyb
2016-09-11 22:01
Which are the easiest to open accounts with?
simon
2016-09-11 22:01
Please note that you need a HKID to open an RMB account in HK
rupyb
2016-09-11 22:02
Oh, my Standard Chartered account gave me a RMB account, and I don't have a HKID
rupyb
2016-09-11 22:02
Opened it last week :smile:
rupyb
2016-09-11 22:02
They must be more lenient I suppose?
simon
2016-09-11 22:02
Possibly or you may have got lucky
simon
2016-09-11 22:02
I know a lot of people who were refused the RMB account
simon
2016-09-11 22:03
Anyway congrats on the SCB account, it's a good bank :)
rupyb
2016-09-11 22:03
Oh, whew, well im glad I snagged one!
rupyb
2016-09-11 22:03
Thanks
simon
2016-09-11 22:03
Did you also get a credit card? They have a great Asia Miles card and are known to waive the annual fee if asked
rupyb
2016-09-11 22:04
All of the China banks in HK allow remote wire transfers, right?
rupyb
2016-09-11 22:04
Oh, no I didnt, as a non-resident I didn't know I could get a credit card. I shall apply! Thanks
simon
2016-09-11 22:04
I'm my experience yes you can send a wire remotely although you may need to receive a two factor authentication code.
rupyb
2016-09-11 22:05
Via SMS?
simon
2016-09-11 22:05
Yeah you can apply for any card in HK although you may need to leave a security deposit for the first year
rupyb
2016-09-11 22:05
I better make sure to update it away from my HK number, and to my roaming google voice number, before I leave
rupyb
2016-09-11 22:05
cool, thanks!
simon
2016-09-11 22:05
Yes or using one of those anything pin machines
simon
2016-09-11 22:06
Annoying*
simon
2016-09-11 22:06
Sorry, my phone's autocorrect is going crazy :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:
rupyb
2016-09-11 22:07
My only question is how many bank accounts and credit card are too many! haha
rupyb
2016-09-11 22:07
I have nearly 20 debit/credit cards now, including my company cards :S
rupyb
2016-09-11 22:08
Im almost afraid to ask what your number is @simon hahaa
rupyb
2016-09-11 22:09
Anyone here heard of this Jetsmarter thing btw, wonder if its worth it?
simon
2016-09-11 22:15
Depends where your cards are issued. If all in the same country, I'd say 20 is a bit much (although not that unusual). If spread across many countries then I'd say it's not a lot :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:
simon
2016-09-11 22:17
Jetsmarter is worth it if you live in one of their shuttle cities and often fly to other shuttle cities. In my experience it's not worth it elsewhere unless you are super flexible and do not mind buying a lot of one-ways (to come back home after getting on an empty leg)
maxsuur
2016-09-12 11:45
@simon: Shortly I will be flying to Switzerland for a few days. I was wondering if it'd be smart to open a bank account there for the sake of diversification. I am a EU national. What do you think? Any easy bank to open an account with?
simon
2016-09-12 17:13
@maxsuur: Most banks require a proof of address in Switzerland. It's possible to open an account without one but you'll have to deposit a much larger amount.
jase
2016-09-12 17:45
Registered!
jase
2016-09-12 17:45
Anything that makes life easier
maxsuur
2016-09-12 17:46
I understand
simon
2016-09-12 17:46
I registered too, the product looks interesting! Hope the customer service won't be as bad as on personal accounts
maxsuur
2016-09-12 17:46
Pre-registered too, thanks
maxsuur
2016-09-12 17:47
I am having trouble at confirming bank transfer on then N26 app dashboard
maxsuur
2016-09-12 17:49
It shows: touch to confirm or remove
maxsuur
2016-09-12 17:49
"Tap"
rupyb
2016-09-12 18:12
@simon do you know of any bank accounts that allow remote opening, aside from Isle of Man?
agalt
2016-09-12 18:21
Registered. Didnt see this and posted in tools :(
simon
2016-09-12 19:21
@rupyb Some banks in Singapore accept remote applications but the minimum deposit is 200000$+. Most banks in Latvia accept remote applications for a fee. Banks in the Caribbean (Butterfield for example) also accept remote applications. Banks in Estonia will start accepting remote applications later this year (for e-Residents). If you are the resident of a major western country, chances are there's a bank there that opens accounts online.
jase
2016-09-12 19:47
+1 on singapore :wink:
simon
2016-09-12 19:48
Oh and some US banks accept remote applications for business accounts
jase
2016-09-12 19:48
Really, you can get it done anywhere with enough cash.
jase
2016-09-12 19:49
I've heard stories of Andorra sending choppers to pick up deposits and paperwork :slightly_smiling_face:
jase
2016-09-12 19:49
chopper=helicopter if that's not a term used elsewhere
simon
2016-09-12 19:51
@jase There's a Singapore bank that charted a Boeing to transport 13 pallets of USD a couple of years ago for Maldives' El Presidente. Really, with cash everything can be done :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:
simon
2016-09-12 19:52
Around 1.5 billion in cash if I remember correctly. I pity the clerk who counted every bill!
jase
2016-09-12 19:54
Amazing
jase
2016-09-12 19:55
Reminds me of the time they found a plane full of gold bullion in the walls of the bathroom cubicles
jase
2016-09-12 19:56
@jase uploaded a file: https://freedomsurfer.slack.com/files/jase/F2ARHP8KT/pasted_image_at_2016_09_12_09_56_pm.png
simon
2016-09-12 19:57
I like the name of the photo :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:
jase
2016-09-12 19:59
you know they found more
jase
2016-09-12 20:00
gotta run - bye!
mescos
2016-09-12 23:08
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alextrades
2016-09-13 10:27
where did they find the gold?
jedijames
2016-09-14 20:18
has joined #general
rupyb
2016-09-14 22:03
I was comparing world currencies since 1970, and gees, Singapore$ is utterly amazing!
rupyb
2016-09-14 22:03
And poised for the best market returns: http://www.gurufocus.com/global-market-valuation.php
rupyb
2016-09-14 22:05
What do you guys think? Possibly would one be 'buying at the top' (will it dip soon?), or is it still a good time to invest a portion of one's wealth there / hold S$?
simon
2016-09-15 03:32
SGD won't dip anytime soon, it is soft-pegged by the MAS to a basket of currencies (fairly easy to guess which).
rupyb
2016-09-15 19:08
Thanks @simon Im a total currency novice, so appreciate the advice
jase
2016-09-16 18:58
thoughts on long term outlook of GBP?
endeavour80
2016-09-18 15:16
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simon
2016-09-19 02:56
@jase It's very hard to say at this point. Until brexit actually happens no one has any idea of what the future will be like for the UK.
jase
2016-09-20 19:07
i bought into some high yield dividend shares while they were on sale with the brexit madness
jase
2016-09-20 19:08
i'm banking on it being smooth sailing but a drop in the currency value could screw that up for me. time will tell
rupyb
2016-09-21 01:53
Anyone have experience opening bank accounts in South Korea, as a foreigner?
jase
2016-09-21 19:42
This Revolut Business account can't come soon enough.
jase
2016-09-21 19:42
Half tempted to apply for a Holvi account now but I know the day I get approved Revolut will be out
jase
2016-09-21 20:04
@simon do you know if it's possible for a UK LLP to have a holding company as a partner? I'm guessing they both need to be natural persons
simon
2016-09-21 20:07
@jase According to this article, Revolut for Business will launch in November. http://uk.businessinsider.com/revolut-business-sign-ups-fintech-fx-2016-9
simon
2016-09-21 20:10
@jase Yes it is possible, you can even have an IBC as a partner. It will be a bit harder to open a business bank account though if the partners are legal entities (especially offshore).
jase
2016-09-21 20:10
Awesome, that is promising
simon
2016-09-21 20:10
You can find all details about the tax implications in the PDF linked above
jase
2016-09-21 20:11
Thanks I will give it a read. Here I was thinking it was a stupid question but hopefully it can work.
jase
2016-09-21 20:11
Out of curiosity, do you have any opinions on holding companies?
jase
2016-09-21 20:11
For common folk
jase
2016-09-21 20:11
My main motivation is that holding companies in Andorra pay 2% tax as opposed to 10%
jase
2016-09-21 20:11
But it clearly makes operating the companies much harder
simon
2016-09-21 20:21
It's a good idea to use a holding company to hold your assets. For both tax reasons and assets protection. It can also allow for very "creative" tax optimization strategies. For example, your business (active company) could pay a dividend to your offshore holding company and the holding company could then choose not to distribute the income to you until it can do so without incurring a tax payment. It also makes it easy and efficient to plan succession, you only have to transfer the holding company to your heir (no need to transfer each assets individually, easier to avoid a tax charge).
simon
2016-09-21 20:23
I'm not familiar Andorra but that 2% tax rate sounds pretty good! In your case it could be a better option than going offshore (if you need to prove strong ties to Andorra for your residency).
jase
2016-09-21 20:24
Cool - I think I'm working all of this out but some days I question myself!
jedijames
2016-09-21 20:24
@jase I know how you feel :slightly_smiling_face:
jase
2016-09-21 20:24
The good news with Andorra - you do not pay personal tax if you earn an income from a local company
jase
2016-09-21 20:26
So 0% UK dividend withholding tax for non-residents to a 2% Andorra holding company, on which the individual pays 0% is pretty good!
jase
2016-09-21 20:27
@jedijames how far along the process are you? Are you looking to go "full 5 flags" or just a bit of diversity?
jedijames
2016-09-21 20:46
@jase I?m looking to go 5 flag. just have many things to consider which makes it a little complicated
jedijames
2016-09-21 20:47
Andorra was also my consideration. the thing is that I don?t want to have to spend 90 days there as a resident
jase
2016-09-21 20:53
@jedijames of course, lots to consider. I like Panama for ease, but dislike it for actual livability. That and to satisfy my tax department I needed to prove a new home elsewhere which is easier to do spending more time in a place.
jase
2016-09-21 20:54
I have heard they don't check the 90 day residency, it's a formality.
jedijames
2016-09-21 20:55
yea. I guess they don?t check. I know that there are also services which offer to use your credit card and send letters in andorra in case they check
jedijames
2016-09-21 20:57
did you consider Georgia ? Andrew Henderson recommended it to me.
simon
2016-09-21 20:58
@jase There's no border between Andorra and Spain/France right? I wouldn't advise it but it would probably be fairly easy to live somewhere else in the Schengen zone while claiming to live in Andorra.
jase
2016-09-21 20:59
Definitely a border! Never had a stamp though
jase
2016-09-21 21:00
I agree though. I enjoy living here but if you didn't I doubt anyone would catch on/care
simon
2016-09-21 21:01
@jedijames You should ask @agalt about Georgia, he lives there. Personally I wouldn't recommend it, there are far better territorial taxation countries to live in.
jedijames
2016-09-21 21:02
@simon will do! I guess you are right. but I don?t plan to actually live in Georgia. it?s more to claim residency.
simon
2016-09-21 21:06
If it's just for the residency paper, Paraguay and Panama are better options. There's also Costa Rica and Malaysia. Heck, if you want an exotic residency, St Helena has a territorial taxation system :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:
simon
2016-09-21 21:07
If you apply on your own (fairly easy to do), the Paraguay permanent residency is very cheap (less than a grand).
jedijames
2016-09-21 21:07
awesome
jedijames
2016-09-21 21:08
is Andorra the only place near Switzerland with territorial taxation? I guess there is also Monte Negro
simon
2016-09-21 21:10
Monaco is a tax haven, there's no income tax at all. It's not an easy residency to get though.
jedijames
2016-09-21 21:11
also it?s really expensive. what about Monte Negro ?
simon
2016-09-21 21:13
Not a territorial taxation country: http://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/global/Documents/Tax/dttl-tax-montenegrhighlights-2016.pdf
jedijames
2016-09-21 21:13
okay
simon
2016-09-21 21:17
@simon uploaded a file: https://freedomsurfer.slack.com/files/simon/F2EDLCW0Y/malta.png
simon
2016-09-21 21:18
Only income remitted to Malta is subject to Maltese taxation. If your income stays outside Malta it isn't taxed.
simon
2016-09-21 21:18
Not true territorial taxation but still a fairly decent option
simon
2016-09-21 21:18
In Europe that is
jedijames
2016-09-21 21:20
noted
jedijames
2016-09-21 21:22
so we have Andorra, Malta, Georgia in Europe
jedijames
2016-09-21 21:23
to be considered a non resident in Switzerland you can?t spend more than 90 days per year in the country
jedijames
2016-09-21 21:24
however since I live near the border of Germany and France this should make it easier to move around should I stay for a little while longer right?
jedijames
2016-09-21 21:25
I actually don?t plan to stay more than 90 days a year in the country. but if for any reason I must stay longer the option would be great.
simon
2016-09-21 21:27
You mean, live outside of Switzerland to avoid eating into those 90 days but close enough to the border that it's essentially as if you still lived there?
jedijames
2016-09-21 21:28
ja
simon
2016-09-21 21:35
That could work for Switzerland but you'd need to prove that you are living abroad and this could mean having to establish ties to Germany or France (a lease agreement, utilities, a job etc). This could in turn create tax liabilities in those countries.
simon
2016-09-21 21:35
Definitely something you'd need to run through a tax attorney first
jedijames
2016-09-21 21:38
yea. This is why maybe Andorra sounds interesting. still making pro/contra list?s for myself
jase
2016-09-22 08:08
Malta is probably better for you if you don't like the cold, but from everything I have heard it's not easy to pay 0% tax if you do not earn a great deal of money - that is, pay a good chunk of your tax income on lawyer/accountant fees.
jedijames
2016-09-22 10:28
@jase so are you thinking about Andorra? Why not Malta or Georgia for example?
jase
2016-09-22 11:57
@jedijames I already live here. Georgia was never on my radar - I want to live close to the environment. I lived in a ski resort prior to Andorra so it's been an easy transition.
jase
2016-09-22 11:58
Malta was on the list, but it lacked mountain biking which is a big part of my life. I do however, want to get down there and experience the place. I have heard only good things aside from the fact that tax optimisation requires a lot of paperwork.
jase
2016-09-22 12:01
Anyone have suggestions on who to use to set up a UK LLP? @simon ?
simon
2016-09-22 17:54
@jase I like 1stformations, they are used to registering companies for non-UK residents and their prices are very competitive. https://www.1stformations.co.uk/compare-packages/
jase
2016-09-22 17:55
Thanks @simon, I'll check them out
jase
2016-09-22 17:55
New venture with my buddy from China. Nothing ventured........ :slightly_smiling_face:
jedijames
2016-09-22 18:04
looks great!
jedijames
2016-09-22 20:33
@simon hey simon. I had a chat with agalt today. great guy. thank you for recommending him. I was wondering if you have any suggestions on who to use to form a labuan company?
agalt
2016-09-23 11:44
Thanks! Look forward to seeing you in Tbilisi, Georgia @jedijames
simon
2016-09-23 22:03
@jedijames http://labuantax.com is my favorite Labuan registered agent. You can check out their profile on the Labuan government site at: https://labuanibfc.com/page/178/trust-labuan-tax-inc.html
jedijames
2016-09-24 14:20
awesome thanks!
mario_g
2016-09-26 01:19
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yura-by
2016-09-26 09:47
I tried to open Citibank SG account at Woodlands branch today. After they saw my non SG address, they told me that I want to open offshore account and only one branch opens them and told me to go to IPB branch
yura-by
2016-09-27 03:29
Guys, anybody have citigold relationship in SG and wants 300 dollars bonus?
yura-by
2016-09-27 03:30
Write me your name and phone number
yura-by
2016-09-27 03:33
In another branch I've been told they can open normal account if i have a friend with Citigold status
kl5340dc
2016-09-27 11:21
has joined #general
rjmarsden
2016-09-27 15:32
has joined #general
stoplight
2016-09-29 06:51
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stoplight
2016-09-29 06:55
Hi @yura-by ..were you able to open a normal Citibank SG account or did they ask you to open in IPB?
yura-by
2016-09-29 06:57
I was not able, because they asked do i have friend with Citi gold status
yura-by
2016-09-29 06:57
If i had, they would open
yura-by
2016-09-29 06:58
But I do not, so they said IPB is the only option
stoplight
2016-09-29 07:04
Oh. Last time I checked, opening an IPB account requires a minimum of $50,000 ...
stoplight
2016-09-29 07:07
Can you good folks suggest a fairly easy jurisdiction to open a bank account in South East Asia except, Philippines, HK and SG? ...with the smallest minimum deposit if possible?
yura-by
2016-09-29 09:39
Now they ask for 200 000$
yura-by
2016-09-29 09:39
Opening in Thailand is relatively easy, but I doubt about stability
yura-by
2016-09-29 09:40
Can be done on tourist visa
stoplight
2016-09-30 14:13
oh my @yura-by ...that's just way too up there for a bank account.
stoplight
2016-09-30 14:14
thanks for the Thailand tip..any specific banks that "friendlier" to those on a tourist visa?
yura-by
2016-09-30 14:50
@stoplight try Kasikorn or Bangkok Bank. Banks might ask for residence certificate, but it is easy to make it in local immigration office (even as tourist)
yura-by
2016-09-30 14:52
Try branches in places with a lot of foreigners, they will speak better English and less likely decline or to ask for strange documents
stoplight
2016-09-30 16:38
thanks very much for this!
agalt
2016-09-30 20:29
you can always look at TBC in georgia
agalt
2016-09-30 20:30
5.5% interest on your checking account, etc.
ibello
2016-10-01 16:55
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david99
2016-10-02 10:52
@yura-by, the $200K requirement is for account with relationship manager. If I remember correctly, they would open checking account without relationship manger for $10K USD/SGD. Not sure if this is still possible. https://www.ipb.citibank.com.sg/english/forms/english/apply_now/apply-form.htm?icid=IPBFMAXYENDEDCCACF&product=chkAcc&check=applynow
yura-by
2016-10-02 10:59
@david99 Even it is still possible, it does not make sense if one is not going to maintain >=200k$USD balance, because of 50USD monthly fee for IPB accounts:
For clients whose relationships are opened after March 1 2016, the monthly service fee of US$50 will be automatically waived if your Total Relationship Balance (TRB)[1] is above USD$200,000 (or equivalent) for all other accounts per month.
For clients whose relationships were opened before March 1 2016, the monthly service fee of US$30 will be automatically waived if your Total Relationship Balance (TRB)[1] is above US$20,000 (or equivalent) for all other accounts per month.
https://www.ipb.citibank.com.sg/english/static/pricing_guide.htm?lid=IPBENCBGFSLNTLFeesAndRates
david99
2016-10-02 11:29
@yura-by Thanks for pointing this out. Seems like 01/03/2016 was the cut-off date. We are a bit too late to the party :disappointed:
stoplight
2016-10-02 14:19
$50 per month is hefty..that's $600 per year... :disappointed:
jase
2016-10-02 15:04
I hate to say it, but maybe this is why they won't open accounts? Banks are a business remember, they need to know they're going to make some money from you
stoplight
2016-10-02 15:34
They do make money...they use it to loan other people right? :smile:
simon
2016-10-02 15:50
The problem in countries like Hong Kong and Singapore is that the local market is very small. The demand for loans and credit products is too small to absorb all deposits.
jase
2016-10-02 18:02
Fees are where it's at. Tell them how much they will make from fees and products and the doors will open.
rupyb
2016-10-02 18:28
Does anyone have any experience working with Cim Banque? They are a Swiss bank which allow remote opening which seems quite convenient https://www.cimbanque.com/
simon
2016-10-02 19:42
@rupyb I have. They are okay as a place to park money but definitely not suitable for day-to-day banking.
rupyb
2016-10-02 19:43
Oh why do you say they not good for day-to-day?
rupyb
2016-10-02 19:45
They are very aggressive with wire fee's I see (3.5 Euros!) Which is important for us, since we need to send and receive wires every second day or so
simon
2016-10-02 20:03
@simon uploaded a file: https://freedomsurfer.slack.com/files/simon/F2JEC8W5D/cimbwires.png and commented: That's for a small CHF transfer. You can see their fees for all types of transfers.
rupyb
2016-10-02 20:39
Wow, thanks @simon thats awesome
rupyb
2016-10-02 21:03
@simon who do you find in Europe has the lowest wire fees? Probably Citi by your articles?
rupyb
2016-10-02 21:03
Do you have a fee schedule of CIMBank's USD fee's by any chance btw?
rupyb
2016-10-02 21:06
@simon and which is the best business bank account in general, in your experience?
simon
2016-10-02 21:10
The USD fees are listed in the chart (other currencies). As for the best business bank account, it depends on your needs. Do you send tons of wires, do you need a great credit card, which currency you want to transact in etc.
rupyb
2016-10-02 21:10
yeah we do daily wires
rupyb
2016-10-02 21:10
we use USD
rupyb
2016-10-02 21:11
A great credit card is important too, but we can always get that with another bank if needed
rupyb
2016-10-02 21:13
"The USD fees are listed in the chart " Aaaah I see, ouch okay thats actually quite pricey for us, considering we need to do about $40k every few days
rupyb
2016-10-02 21:14
This is super useful, thanks so much @simon !
rupyb
2016-10-02 21:16
How do you find SB Isle of Man with wires + business banking hey @simon?
simon
2016-10-02 22:12
SB is great for personal banking but it's hard to open a business account. You need some form of connection with Africa. If you send lots of wires, Citibank in HK offers free wires (to any bank, country, multiple currencies supported) to SME clients (if the transfer is sent using online banking). They also offer USD checking accounts. Simply ask them about the "remittance fee waiver" for the terms and conditions. As for credit cards, you can get any of their card by leaving a security deposit.
rupyb
2016-10-03 08:57
@simon Thats awesome about Citibank, but surely one would still pay intermediate bank fee's right?
stoplight
2016-10-03 18:24
on a different but similar note folks..anyone tried banking with ANZ? Do they have the easy online transfer between accounts like HSBC and Citibank does?
rupyb
2016-10-04 00:46
Hey guys, which card would you say is best: DBS Black or Eminent? https://www.moneyhero.com.hk/en/credit-card/best-deals
rupyb
2016-10-04 00:51
And side-question, do any of them beat the Standard Chartered Asia Miles MasterCard?
rupyb
2016-10-04 02:35
What are your guys thoughts towards these Latvian banks btw, they seem very open to offshore companies which surprises me?
jase
2016-10-04 17:04
I love all of these new style accounts opening up - yet to use one as I'm holding out for the "right" one for company use - revolut. I am almost sure that it will be launched and we won't be eligible as we keep residency/company in the wrong locations...
simon
2016-10-04 17:12
@jase Revolut is currently available to residents of Andorra so there is hope. Personally what I'm hoping for is support for Gibraltar registered businesses.
maxsuur
2016-10-04 17:14
I live 100 km away from Gibraltar
maxsuur
2016-10-04 17:15
Apart from being a tax haven, I have always wondered why it is so appealing
jase
2016-10-04 17:21
@simon hoping so. Might mean having to move a company to Andorra... less flags but less hassle.
agalt
2016-10-04 17:56
Are they giving hints on revolut business supported countries? Hoping they add support for a variety of tax havens.
simon
2016-10-04 18:09
They used to accept every country. Back when I opened my personal account I used my Hong Kong address (and had the card delivered to Shanghai). Something big must have happened to make them focus only on Europe. Going from 7.1 billion potential customer to a few hundred millions isn't a move you make unless you have to for some reason.
agalt
2016-10-04 18:37
yes. wonder what their concerns are/ were?
simon
2016-10-04 18:45
@agalt Almost certainly compliance. They are trying to become a bank and banks have to comply with strict KYC rules. They could accept non-European customers but the compliance cost of doing so is probably prohibitive.
agalt
2016-10-04 18:46
makes sense. need to have them re-issue the card i signed up for. it never got here to georgia (my fault because the addresses are goofy here)
simon
2016-10-04 18:48
By the way, I've created a new channel named "Instagram". Any photo that is tagged #freedomsurfer on Instagram (the app, not the channel) will automatically be posted in the channel. Feel free to post anything you think might be interesting to other members :slightly_smiling_face:
maxsuur
2016-10-04 18:48
Cool
agalt
2016-10-04 18:49
food photos?
jase
2016-10-04 18:49
They were bought out by BBVA weren't they? Or was that Holvi?
simon
2016-10-04 18:50
@agalt Food, travel, lifestyle, useful photos (cool coffee shops, hotels, places to work, party etc).
simon
2016-10-04 18:50
@jase That was Holvi
simon
2016-10-04 18:50
Revolut raised millions in funding from VC and crowdfunding platforms
agalt
2016-10-04 18:52
@simon : excellent, so "freedom surfer picks, the best travel locations the internet has to offer" - lifestyle marketing blah blah...
agalt
2016-10-04 18:52
:slightly_smiling_face:
rupyb
2016-10-04 20:30
Hey guys, what is the cheapest way to send wire transfers to Slovenia?
rupyb
2016-10-04 20:31
Of course getting a dometic account in Slovenia I'm guessing (since sending USD from a Slovenian bank to another Slovenian bank would be negligible right?)
rupyb
2016-10-04 20:32
But what would the second best bet be? Citibank maybe?
rupyb
2016-10-04 20:32
It's a bit of a hassle to fly to Slovenia to setup a bank account haha
simon
2016-10-04 20:46
@simon uploaded a file: https://freedomsurfer.slack.com/files/simon/F2KAFQRQC/citiwires.png and commented: Citi doesn't charge anything to send wires online if you have Priority, Citigold, Citi private banking or Citibusiness.
simon
2016-10-04 20:46
@rupyb That's Citibank HK btw
rupyb
2016-10-04 20:48
Wow.
rupyb
2016-10-04 20:48
Okay Citibank is clearly the one to go for
rupyb
2016-10-04 20:48
Thanks so much Simon
rupyb
2016-10-04 20:50
How would Transferwise compare? Would it even be possible to use them in this scenario?
simon
2016-10-04 20:50
If you often send wires to Slovenia I'd ask first if there is a correspondence fee (I've never sent a wire there so I don't know). In my experience there are rarely any fees with citi (they usually are the corresponding bank) but in a small country like Slovenia...
simon
2016-10-04 20:51
Yeah you can wire USD to transferwise and then let transferwise convert it and send it
rupyb
2016-10-04 20:51
Hmm, yeah I see Citi doesn't have a branch there, one of the only places actually: http://www.citi.com/ipb/europe/pdfs/transferfund_lon_0113.pdf
rupyb
2016-10-04 20:53
Does Transferwise have any sort of limits? Would the process $100k for example no problem?
rupyb
2016-10-04 20:53
Oh yeah I see limit of $49,999
simon
2016-10-04 20:53
On their site it says the minimum/maximum is $3/$49,999
simon
2016-10-04 20:54
So it would only be a good option for small transfers
rupyb
2016-10-04 20:55
They don't seem to list a fee, other than the intermediate fee of $25?
rupyb
2016-10-04 20:56
I suppose one could always do multiple transfers with them instead to get around the limit
simon
2016-10-04 21:06
According to this page, they have daily and yearly limits: https://transferwise.com/help/article/1667423/us-dollar-transfers/usd-transfers
rupyb
2016-10-04 21:14
@simon thanks, you're the best
rupyb
2016-10-04 21:15
So it looks like Transferwise might work for us, but they surely wouldn't be cheaper than a Citibank setup, right?
rupyb
2016-10-04 21:15
nor quicker - not ideal to have the cash sitting in Transferwise's queue for 3 days!
rupyb
2016-10-04 21:16
Which branch in HK would you recommend we go to for a Citibank Business account hey Simon? Any any tips to get approved / make it happen quicker?
simon
2016-10-04 21:37
The Wheelock House branch is the easiest, they are used to opening accounts for non-residents. To improve your chances, bring as much business documentation as possible. If they understand what you do they'll be a lot more likely to approve you.
rupyb
2016-10-04 21:47
Brilliant, thanks
rupyb
2016-10-04 21:48
"Our business focuses on money laundering and does a bit of heroin on the side"
rupyb
2016-10-04 21:48
Think that will fly?
rupyb
2016-10-04 21:49
But seriously, we don't have much documentation since its a new business, and also there are no clients, we do crypto currency investments, using only shareholders money
rupyb
2016-10-04 21:50
Reading their docs, Im guessing it helps if one offers a larger initial deposit?
simon
2016-10-04 22:40
Crypto currency? That will complicate things. I strongly recommend not mentioning bitcoin as this will almost certainly get your account application denied. Better say that you invest in new financial technologies or something like that.
simon
2016-10-04 22:49
What do you guys think of the new Google VR headset? It looks like a very nice gadget to have on a long flight / train ride. http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/10/googles-daydream-view-vr-headset-is-smartphone-powered-vr/
rupyb
2016-10-04 22:56
"New financial technologies"... i like it!
rupyb
2016-10-04 22:56
Thanks
rupyb
2016-10-04 22:58
If they ask what kind of financial technologies what would you say hey Simon?
rupyb
2016-10-04 22:58
aside from "very legit and safe" ones :smile:
rupyb
2016-10-04 23:01
Banks are such pussies
agalt
2016-10-04 23:02
unless you are a cartel and get smoochy smoochy with hsbc
rupyb
2016-10-04 23:02
Lol exactly
rupyb
2016-10-04 23:02
Us small, entrepreunerial guys always have it the hardest
agalt
2016-10-04 23:03
depends on where you bank. some banks will welcome you. they just want your money.
rupyb
2016-10-04 23:03
And apparently the Hong Kong Monetary Authority agrees with me: http://blog.startupr.com/bank-account-in-hong-kong/
simon
2016-10-04 23:35
@rupyb It's good that the HKMA is trying to turn things around because banking in HK has become very hard for non-residents (same in Singapore). Banks only accept "super safe" companies or hnw individuals and many even require that one of the directors / account holder be a resident. This is ridiculous considering that in the mainland you can open an account on the spot at any bank without any visa or status and without showing anything else than a passport.
simon
2016-10-04 23:37
@rupyb I'd say that I focus on new payment transfer technologies and distributed databases :stuck_out_tongue:
simon
2016-10-04 23:38
A fancy way of describing bitcoin and the blockchain
rupyb
2016-10-04 23:41
So we can use the word Blockchain?
rupyb
2016-10-04 23:41
Thanks Simon!
simon
2016-10-04 23:55
I'd use "distributed database". It essentially means the same thing but sounds more "tech".
rupyb
2016-10-04 23:58
Hahah brilliant ya
rupyb
2016-10-04 23:58
And it will help if we say "its only shareholder money" right?
simon
2016-10-05 00:15
Just say that you only invest the company's money. The company's money comes from the shareholders.
agalt
2016-10-05 00:16
:slightly_smiling_face:
rupyb
2016-10-05 00:20
Gotcha, thx
rupyb
2016-10-05 00:21
What if I say we killed a few drugdealers and just found their cash lying around
rupyb
2016-10-05 00:21
and now would like to invest it into something more productive
simon
2016-10-05 00:28
That might work if you are opening an account in Venezuela :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye: It won't cut it in HK though
agalt
2016-10-05 00:29
interested in going there after most of the madness dies down. Keep singing to myself, "buy when there is blood in the streets"
rupyb
2016-10-05 04:06
USA Slipping further down I see, no surprise
simon
2016-10-05 04:29
I don't understand why they list the Nordic countries at the top for opportunities. If you work hard and smart, there's no better place to make money than the US and China. 81% of the global GDP growth over the last few years has come from those two countries. Also, while I'm flattered that they rank Canada number 1 in the world for personal freedom, I'm not sure I'd agree! Thanks for sharing @rupyb , while I don't agree with all their numbers it's still an interesting report.
rupyb
2016-10-05 04:34
That is interesting, thanks @simon
rupyb
2016-10-05 04:34
What you say makes total sense
rupyb
2016-10-05 04:36
China: #3 for economic prospects and one of the worst for personal freedom haha what a place
rupyb
2016-10-05 04:36
Its quite thrilling lol
rupyb
2016-10-05 04:37
a friend of mine was there and was watching anti-CCP documentaries in their hotel and researching about the government, and apparently the Chinese secret service knocked at their door the next day and started questioning them
rupyb
2016-10-05 04:37
Is that even possible? I half didnt believe it
simon
2016-10-05 04:41
Frankly I doubt it but it could be true depending on where they were in the country. I've lived in Shanghai for a year and before that in Hangzhou and barely ever saw the police or any government-related stuff. Life was very "normal" except for the internet. Some things were even surprisingly easy, like opening bank accounts. What a fantastic place to make money though, 1.4 billion people with an ever rising middle class.
rupyb
2016-10-05 04:42
Yeah its brilliant
rupyb
2016-10-05 04:42
I think good chance India will follow them next too
rupyb
2016-10-05 04:42
India was the wealthiest nation in the world for a long time in the middle ages, so its likely they will return
simon
2016-10-05 04:42
Yeah and India will be easier for us, they speak English there :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:
rupyb
2016-10-05 04:44
My friend is a hippy, and bleeding heart liberal type, so its likely he was posting and stirring the pot too, he was in Shanghai
rupyb
2016-10-05 04:44
He said he left the next day lol
rupyb
2016-10-05 04:44
He isn't the lying type but who knows
simon
2016-10-05 04:49
The air pollution in China and India is really a big turnoff for me though. It doesn't prevent me from doing business there but I won't live there again unless they clean up their act.
rupyb
2016-10-05 04:49
Yeah
rupyb
2016-10-05 04:49
Even Hong Kong has its days where its unbearable
simon
2016-10-05 04:50
@simon uploaded a file: https://freedomsurfer.slack.com/files/simon/F2KEPARSR/pullution.jpg
simon
2016-10-05 04:50
I love hiking in HK and now plan my hikes around the AQI forecast. Even on Lantau it's bad often.
simon
2016-10-05 04:51
That's two shots I took from my office in Shanghai
simon
2016-10-05 04:51
A very good vs a more normal day
rupyb
2016-10-05 04:57
Dear god
rupyb
2016-10-05 04:57
Nope.
rupyb
2016-10-05 04:58
That is one way to give yourself cancer
rupyb
2016-10-05 05:08
Well lets hope Trump wins, he'll be the man to clean up China
rupyb
2016-10-05 05:09
:joy:
simon
2016-10-05 05:12
Part of me hopes he will win because let's be honest, a trump presidency would be a fantastic source of daily entertainment :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:
simon
2016-10-05 05:13
And the guy is a tax optimisation god, that's something I can respect!
rupyb
2016-10-05 05:16
Lol
rupyb
2016-10-05 05:19
I dont think any of us can complete step 1 on the Trumponomics tax optimisation action plan: lose $1bil haha
rupyb
2016-10-05 05:28
Hey @simon general question, but do you prefer to have bank accounts in your personal capacity? It seems crazy not to put as much as possible into company names, the more I learn about all of this
rupyb
2016-10-05 05:28
Have you ever written an article on the pros and cons of each?
rupyb
2016-10-05 05:37
And even bank accounts aside even for small share holdings in private companies, like, if company A (main large company) is incorporated in TaxZone 1 with 30% tax, and company B (offshore holding company) is domiciled in Taxzone 2 with 0% tax, and you personally hold a few shares in company A. Surely its best to sell your shares in company A, to company B, as early as possible, at nominal\low value, and then when company A gets sold later, at full value capital gains are taxed to company B right, at 0% tax, this one is HUGE
jase
2016-10-05 08:24
In a perfect world I'd probably head down the "control everything, own nothing" path... but I don't think I have wealth worth being too concerned about yet
stoplight
2016-10-05 08:48
@rupyb ...hmm..in my limited knowledge of taxation..isn't that concept similar to what they do with double irish dutch sandwhich?
rupyb
2016-10-05 08:56
@jase haha great saying. @stoplight I think its v similar yeah.
rupyb
2016-10-05 08:56
Keen to hear @simon's thoughts when hes around
agalt
2016-10-06 17:17
wonderful news "The Seasteading Institute tells Business Insider it has found a partner, French Polynesia, to help build a floating city in the South Pacific. A formal agreement, which is likely to be passed, according to Hencken, now awaits the signature of President �douard Fritch. " http://www.businessinsider.com/silicon-valley-seasteading-institute-2016-9
maxsuur
2016-10-06 17:19
Sound amazing
simon
2016-10-06 19:45
@rupyb In a perfect world, I'd recommend using "opaque" holding entities to hold most assets. In the real world though, a complex ownership structure will limit your ability to open bank accounts / take advantage of some tax optimization strategies / get a business license etc. It can also create new tax liabilities. As such, I recommend going at it on a case by case basis. In some cases it will make a lot of sense and the cost will be justifiable, in other cases it won't make any sense.
rik
2016-10-07 18:58
has joined #general
stoplight
2016-10-09 01:48
Seasteading! Nice...and of course...Tahiti! :slightly_smiling_face: ...now..the thing is..being an overseas territory of France..and some political instability in the past..even if this happens...might get into some issues in the future...but nonetheless..this is still very good news! :slightly_smiling_face:
kiessler
2016-10-09 04:04
has joined #general
jase
2016-10-10 17:27
So for non-residents - UK LLP or UK PLC? I was under the impression the LLP is the way to go - limited liability, but pass-through taxation (which is good assuming you live in the right country/have a good holding company structure).
simon
2016-10-10 17:38
I'd go with an LLP. It offers the same advantages as a limited company but with pass-through taxation. In your case you could hold your shares using an Andorra holding company. Your partner could hold his privately or also using a company (can even be offshore). It's very easy to add or remove partners. With an LLP you can also use Stripe and other UK business services. Tax-wise, your LLP only pays taxes on the UK-sourced portion of its income.
jase
2016-10-10 17:40
Perfect, you have seen my plan already :relaxed:
jase
2016-10-10 17:40
Only catch I can see is that it appears opening a UK bank account is not possible as neither will be residents
jase
2016-10-10 17:42
Info also seems to be conflicting about VAT - technically I think the company needs to be earning over 80k to register but opinions seem to be that you should register for VAT straight up as it's easier in the long run
jase
2016-10-10 17:42
especially with import/export of goods in the UK
simon
2016-10-10 18:14
Yeah and it looks more professional (if you do not have a VAT number everyone you do business with will think of you as a very small company)
jase
2016-10-10 18:15
Great, thanks @simon
jase
2016-10-11 09:35
Is a Limited Company any better or worse for a partnership @simon?
jase
2016-10-11 09:36
More overheads, less liability?
vc813692
2016-10-13 02:29
has joined #general
rjmarsden
2016-10-13 07:55
Hi @jase I would definitely advise an LLP for a partnership not a limited company
jase
2016-10-13 07:56
@rjmarsden for tax reasons or others? Thanks
rjmarsden
2016-10-13 08:01
tax reasons if you are offshore (and also to avoid corporation tax) but also because LLP's are a lot simpler. LLP is not required to hold board or shareholder meetings, or make decisions by resolution. Here is a good explanation, just ignore the sales pitch from them: http://www.gannons.co.uk/company/partnership-agreement/llp-vs-ltd/
jase
2016-10-13 08:20
Thanks RJ
heyhaneef
2016-10-13 12:16
has joined #general
simon
2016-10-14 03:13
Hi everyone, you've probably noticed that I haven't been very present here this week. I've been very busy moving Freedom Surfer to a new, much better server. I'm no tech guy so this has been quite challenging but I'm very satisfied with the result so far. The move will improve speed for everyone, it will also allow me to offer interactive tools and video content. I've also improved the UX and the way articles are presented. I'm nearly done updating everything (will be done tomorrow). Your login details will start working again at that time, in any cases I'll send everyone an email about the changes and the login situation.
maxsuur
2016-10-14 07:24
@simon: awesome! :)
agalt
2016-10-14 08:05
@simon excited!
stoplight
2016-10-14 09:00
congrats! @simon
bastianernst
2016-10-15 23:30
has joined #general
gammahammer
2016-10-17 20:46
has joined #general
josh
2016-10-18 00:49
The new site kicks ass @simon great job
simon
2016-10-18 03:18
@josh Thanks!
titusblair
2016-10-18 03:27
has joined #general
agalt
2016-10-20 17:36
what is the best mailing address from simons guide if i don't want my mail being read by the ussa? estonia? https://www.freedomsurfer.com/mailing/
jase
2016-10-20 17:43
Desperately waiting for my password reset :stuck_out_tongue:
jase
2016-10-20 17:43
Been so busy I haven't had a chance to check it out yet
agalt
2016-10-20 17:50
simon is a good dude. don't even know my own password but it doesn't stop me from looking at the site :slightly_smiling_face:
jase
2016-10-20 18:31
Did you get into the insiders section after the changes @agalt ?
jase
2016-10-20 18:32
I'm in no rush, but I didn't get my password reset email to gmail - not in spam folder @simon
maxsuur
2016-10-20 18:33
I did get it. Just push the icon login button on the upper rigt corner
maxsuur
2016-10-20 18:33
And click on: lost password?
maxsuur
2016-10-20 18:33
Forgotten or something like that
maxsuur
2016-10-20 18:34
Write your email and then wait for an email in your inbox
maxsuur
2016-10-20 18:34
It worked for me
jase
2016-10-20 18:37
Yeah it all seemed to work fine, I never got the email. I'll be patient, maybe something is slowwww
maxsuur
2016-10-20 18:38
I got it instantly
maxsuur
2016-10-20 18:38
Anyway, "results may vary" in lower case
stoplight
2016-10-21 05:01
@agalt ?i?ve been using UKpostbox for some time now..not as reliable as I would prefer them to be?but they?re pretty good at sending out mails if you need that kind of service...
stoplight
2016-10-21 05:02
I?m currently using a so-so service in Wyoming for my LLC registered there..can anyone suggest a better mail forwarding service in the same state?
agalt
2016-10-21 06:14
Thanks @stoplight ill look into the uk postbox.
florian79
2016-10-22 07:03
has joined #general
markosjk
2016-10-24 17:54
has joined #general
titusblair
2016-10-27 15:20
@simon what are your top books you would recommend everyone read? I have a site called http://www.bookcelerator.com and would like to put a profile of you on there with your books, let me know! Thanks!
maxsuur
2016-10-27 15:35
That is amazing
maxsuur
2016-10-27 15:35
I created the channel #lifechangingreads for the matter
simon
2016-10-28 03:21
@titusblair I'll send you a list tomorrow :slightly_smiling_face:
simon
2016-10-28 03:21
@maxsuur Great idea! Thanks for creating the channel :slightly_smiling_face:
simon
2016-10-28 03:54
By the way, I have implemented the first phase of the new "members directory" feature. If you visit an article page, the Chile one for example, you will see a list of members living there (or those with an interest in the country) along with a short description (for example: I moved to Chile 3 years ago. Have PR. Live in Santiago and am open to meet other members). If you click on the member's username, it will automatically create a private discussion on Slack.
simon
2016-10-28 03:55
As the community grow, the feature will become more and more valuable to all members. It will be a great way to connect with people who share similar interests. It will also be a great way to have other members connect with you if you choose to list your username.
simon
2016-10-28 03:56
Obviously, this new feature works on an opt-in basis. Your username will never be listed unless you specifically ask it to be.
agalt
2016-10-28 05:14
Awesome!
jase
2016-10-28 07:40
Anyone know if any payment processors have volume pricing for around USD$20k per month?
jase
2016-10-28 07:46
One thing I'm realising after incorporating overseas is the added costs
jase
2016-10-28 07:46
In hindsight, I think US is a better deal
jase
2016-10-28 07:50
Hang Seng are now charging incoming wire fees. It still makes sense on larger payments, but for smaller ones, it's cutting into them!
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 07:59
also credit card declines are more likely
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 07:59
billing US customers using account that is nonUS => more credit declines
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 07:59
it can be quite severe
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 07:59
even with a stripe acocunt in EU we were having tons of declines fromUS customers
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 08:00
basically US banks who are on the aggressive side can label it as fraud by accident, blocking the payment pro-actively, even though customers want it
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 08:00
quite annoying
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 08:00
but if that's with EU - imagine with bank in HK or similar
jase
2016-10-28 08:00
A friend told me about "front companies" a few years ago
jase
2016-10-28 08:01
For example you run your business out of Seychelles - which customers hate dealing with/payments are tricky
jase
2016-10-28 08:01
Then you have a US/UK company to take payments from, which is owned by the Seychelles company
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 08:01
Yeah, I heard a guy dealt with it by opening account in US
jase
2016-10-28 08:02
I'm considering a restructure at the moment - don't want the hassle of it, but I'm not happy with the current HK arrangements
jase
2016-10-28 08:03
Tempted to set up in Andorra for easier residency, but merchants are worse here than HK
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 08:03
yeah
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 08:03
can you do paypal?
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 08:03
paypal easiest really
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 08:03
what we did is switch back from stripe to paypal
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 08:03
funy because people were saying "I don't have paypal, can i pay with cc"
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 08:04
so we switched to stripe thinking more sales
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 08:04
it was 30% less sales
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 08:04
=> more declines
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 08:04
=> paypal login is easier than entering CC info
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 08:04
switched back to paypal
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 08:04
personally I hate having to enter my CC online, just let me do with paypal
jase
2016-10-28 08:04
Paypal is a significant cost IMO
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 08:04
well it's no clear cut paypal vs stripe or so
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 08:05
how much do you lose with declines, tax optiomization, etc
jase
2016-10-28 08:05
This is for B2B business - so not lots of small payments
jase
2016-10-28 08:05
That's true
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 08:05
paypal is just a bitch for developpers
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 08:05
stripe far easier
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 08:05
and for subscriptions paypal is also quite hard
jase
2016-10-28 08:05
That part is fine - everything is done through Freshbooks at the moment
jase
2016-10-28 08:06
Agency business - not SaaS
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 08:06
ok
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 08:06
yeah we had SAAS product back then
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 08:06
now everythin billed through app stores, easier
jase
2016-10-28 08:06
We work with businesses in Canada, and they hate wires because they have to physically go to the bank
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 08:06
they pay with CC?
jase
2016-10-28 08:06
But you say "ok, I'll split the CC cost you with, 2%"
jase
2016-10-28 08:06
Oh no no no no
jase
2016-10-28 08:07
in HK - 3.9% + 50c or so
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 08:07
raise your price 4% :slightly_smiling_face:
jase
2016-10-28 08:07
for new clients I am :slightly_smiling_face:
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 08:07
problem solved :slightly_smiling_face:
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 08:07
hihi
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 08:07
*evil*
jase
2016-10-28 08:08
Yeah I suppose - psychological barrier :slightly_smiling_face:
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 08:08
IMO - simplest solution best :slightly_smiling_face:
jase
2016-10-28 08:09
Good call
jase
2016-10-28 08:10
Thanks for the chat - I have to run
stoplight
2016-10-28 11:59
great new idea Simon! Love it! :slightly_smiling_face:
jase
2016-10-28 13:29
Don't know if anyone is using Xero/Freshbooks, but this is interesting: https://www.pancakeapp.com/
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 14:16
I'm looking for something to just track the business nubmers - in/out, by category etc
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 14:16
ideally linked up with stuff (like linked with amazon, app stores, paypal, etc)
maxsuur
2016-10-28 14:18
Tracking?
maxsuur
2016-10-28 14:18
Check out "wicked reports"
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 14:18
just to see in/out each month
maxsuur
2016-10-28 14:19
That is for analytics
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 14:19
but for the overall business
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 14:19
there doesn't seem to be somethig like that and I just don't get it
kl5340dc
2016-10-28 14:19
it has to exist
jase
2016-10-28 14:46
Yeah I need an all in one solution
jase
2016-10-28 14:46
I'm sick of Freshbooks, but they have 2.0 coming
jase
2016-10-28 14:47
It's meant to address some issues including expenses in multiple currencies
jase
2016-10-28 14:47
Also will be able to rebrand the invoices better apparently
jase
2016-10-28 14:47
Payment gateway is still a sore point for me
simon
2016-10-28 15:13
@jase It's quite common for an offshore company to also operate an onshore payment processing entity (most commonly in the UK / US). It does add complexity however and is only worth it if you process large volumes.
jase
2016-10-28 15:15
@simon for a marketing or software development agency, do you think US is worth investigating? Delaware or somewhere similar, then use a US bank account (remote opening I'm told) and Stripe or similar? Should still be 0% rates and cheap/easy to manage right? Maximum integration with SaaS products, etc
jase
2016-10-28 15:15
I'm beginning to feel as though the HK setup has introduced unnecessary complexity to my life
simon
2016-10-28 15:30
@jase It really depends on volume because there is a compliance cost that is not negligible and if not done right you can end up with a nasty tax bill. If you just want lower payment processing fees, you could open a US merchant account (in the name of your offshore corp) and use Worldfirst to have the money wired to HK (or anywhere really). https://www.worldfirst.com/us/
jase
2016-10-28 15:33
Sorry, I should have clarified - this is to close the HK company and run the lot from the US. Maybe I'm remembering this from an eCommerce perspective but from memory the tax rate is only charged within that state - similar to a territorial system per state. Or would that company be expected to pay tax to USA on global income?
simon
2016-10-28 15:38
A US company has to pay tax in it's state of registration and in any state where it has a nexus. It also has to pay federal income tax to the IRS for it's US + global income. If it has local offices, it may also have to pay local taxes. The rates are brutal too, up to 38%.
simon
2016-10-28 15:39
A properly structured non-resident LLC will pay tax only on it's US income. Great if all your clients are in other countries but if they are in the US you are stuck pay US taxes.
jase
2016-10-28 15:43
Hmm, no magic bullet solution :slightly_smiling_face:
simon
2016-10-28 15:47
No magic bullet, it's either complicated and tax-free or simple but high-tax. For online businesses that is especially a problem as it's much harder to "create" expenses (as opposed to more traditional types of businesses). Fewer expenses = larger tax bills.
jase
2016-10-28 15:48
I find the hardest part minimizing risk for parties involved
jase
2016-10-28 15:48
Banks are less keen to open for companies in other jurisdictions
jase
2016-10-28 15:49
CC gateways want to see company and bank in the same country
jase
2016-10-28 15:49
Customers want to see a bank and address in their company (they are often oblivious to the rest)
p32kz
2016-10-28 15:51
has joined #general
simon
2016-10-28 15:52
With Worldfirst you get a US business bank account number, this allows you to bypass those geo-restrictions. You can only receive money using that account and it is then sent to your overseas account (a la Transferwise)
jase
2016-10-28 15:52
So it's a normal bank transfer to US?
jase
2016-10-28 15:53
Do they send to the overseas account in USD or do they convert it to the local currency (eg: HKD) similar to Stripe?
simon
2016-10-28 15:59
@jase I'm not sure if you have to convert the funds or if you can transfer them in the same currency. I think you can but you'd have to confirm that with them. https://www.worldfirst.com/us/online-sellers/
jase
2016-10-28 16:00
Cool, thanks @simon
jase
2016-10-29 14:44
@maxsuur I'm taking #lifechangingreads off topic, apologies!
jase
2016-10-29 14:44
Are you selling shovels?
maxsuur
2016-10-29 14:48
Hahaa good. I guess I am not, an sometimes I think I should
maxsuur
2016-10-29 14:48
What about you? Selling the laptop lifestyle?
jase
2016-10-29 14:48
Nah not at all
jase
2016-10-29 14:48
Currently selling "full stack" digital marketing/web dev (not design, but I probably should)
jase
2016-10-29 14:49
Keen to focus on a niche next year and ideally 4x our revenue
jase
2016-10-29 14:50
Part of it involves making a WordPress plugin as a free product for a while (will be good for link building/relationship building/fine tuning our product), then ideally sell it either as a flat rate or on a subscription basis
jase
2016-10-29 14:51
If they pay say $100 for a plugin with us, it's an introduction to our business - if they ever need anything above and beyond they know who we are
jase
2016-10-29 14:51
Hopefully trust us by then
maxsuur
2016-10-29 14:54
that sounds nice
maxsuur
2016-10-29 14:54
SAAS
maxsuur
2016-10-29 14:54
I love that business model
maxsuur
2016-10-29 14:54
I find myself paying various software solutions to run my business
maxsuur
2016-10-29 14:55
If everyone wants to get rich by selling on amazon, software specialized in making these amazon seller their lives easier, is a "selling shovel" type of making money
jase
2016-10-29 14:56
Yeah definitely - SaaS is quite brilliant
jase
2016-10-29 14:56
I have a product in mind there too, which I need as part of my agency, but.. I need to be patient too
jase
2016-10-29 14:56
I'm currently building a lead generator and - not sure how to describe it but "qualifier" of the opportunity with that lead
jase
2016-10-29 14:57
If I can prove it with my niche I will probably set it up for multiple niches and sell the leads
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:02
Cool. it seems you've got plenty of ideas.
jase
2016-10-29 15:02
Yeah catch is focus and following through with them
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:02
the same for me
jase
2016-10-29 15:02
I had a few people tell me a few years back "ideas aren't worth anything"
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:03
execution as MJ would say
jase
2016-10-29 15:03
Since I've been acting I realise how many ideas friends have
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:03
is king
jase
2016-10-29 15:03
exactly
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:03
the difficult part is persistence after 3 years of having that idea
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:03
running the business and doing whatever it takes
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:04
to make it successful
jase
2016-10-29 15:04
totally. i'm pretty tired at the moment. been a long year (we moved country/trying to learn a new language too)
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:05
I guess you are from the US? where did you move to?
jase
2016-10-29 15:05
I'm from Australia - moved to Andorra
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:05
Ahh sorry
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:05
Andorra
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:05
so you're trying to learn catalan
jase
2016-10-29 15:05
No probs, I need to start keeping track of everyone's story :slightly_smiling_face:
jase
2016-10-29 15:05
Well, I'm trying to learn Spanish right now, but I want to learn Catalan
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:05
haha cool
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:05
I am spanish
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:05
from Southern Spain
jase
2016-10-29 15:06
It's a catch - Spanish is smarter decision for travel and business
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:06
absolutely
jase
2016-10-29 15:06
Catalan is best for being a true local/dealing with government/law
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:06
and people there speak spanish without a flaw
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:06
regionalisms.. I guess
jase
2016-10-29 15:06
Yeah
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:07
Once you develop a core in Spanish, you'd have no problem in doing the same with Catalan
jase
2016-10-29 15:07
Yeah thats what I'm hoping
jase
2016-10-29 15:08
Tempted to try and take a month off to do classes and surf every day next year
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:08
I do not recommend to learn both languages at the same time due to its proximity
jase
2016-10-29 15:08
Andorra is a terrible place to learn because of that
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:08
Gran Canaria is cool for that
jase
2016-10-29 15:08
Spanish/Catalan/French every day
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:08
I can imagine
jase
2016-10-29 15:09
I try and be nice - Hola, bon dia - then switch to Spanish
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:09
generally the have no problem in communicating in spanish with foreigners
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:09
as far as I know
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:09
they're completely bilingual
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:10
or even trilingual sometimes
jase
2016-10-29 15:10
more sometimes
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:10
what an advantage !
jase
2016-10-29 15:10
I know, it's amazing as an Australian
jase
2016-10-29 15:10
we are very close minded when it comes to languages
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:10
I mean, english is the lingua franca
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:10
and just by knowing english you get very far
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:11
but the more languages you know, even if it's just two simple phrases/expressions
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:11
the further you'll get
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:12
even knowing dialects, the lingo of some region is helpful
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:12
"If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart"
- Nelson Mandela
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:12
haha
jase
2016-10-29 15:12
Definitely :slightly_smiling_face:
jase
2016-10-29 15:13
My friend speaks Spanish/Catalan/English very well
jase
2016-10-29 15:13
He says he knows about 20% of Italian words, but he can fake it the rest of the way
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:13
yes, it can be
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:14
to be honest, knowing catalan and spanish you've got thousands upon thousands of words for free
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:14
specially in romance languages
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:15
there is a very interesting book to learn spanish through english: "Madrigal's Magic key to learning Spanish"
maxsuur
2016-10-29 15:15
feel free to check it out
jase
2016-10-29 15:15
Thanks
etienne
2016-10-29 15:25
About languages, this is a really nice app that will help you learning a new language kind of the same way a kid will learn... without translating but mostly with associations.
etienne
2016-10-29 15:27
(That was a Cuban guide who was able to speak 5 languages that introduced me to this app)
yura-by
2016-10-29 16:17
I'm learning Spanish on http://duolingo.com. It is free and effective. Highly recommend.
maxsuur
2016-10-29 16:18
I dont like Rosetta Stone
maxsuur
2016-10-29 16:18
Nor the polyglots I follow
maxsuur
2016-10-29 16:19
Assimil/Pimsleur/Michel Thomas
maxsuur
2016-10-29 16:19
That is language learning trifecta for the beginner
etienne
2016-10-29 16:20
Anyway we all agree to learn a new language, nothing worth more than real immersion ;p
maxsuur
2016-10-29 16:20
Absolutely
maxsuur
2016-10-29 16:21
This chat is great for that
maxsuur
2016-10-29 16:21
:))
etienne
2016-10-29 16:21
Just a real pain in the ass when you are absolutely green I'd say
etienne
2016-10-29 16:21
Yea that's help a lot.
agalt
2016-10-29 16:21
does anyone here have experience learning Russian as a 2nd or 3rd language? Thoughts on it coming from English and Spanish and Latin in school?
maxsuur
2016-10-29 16:22
Learn the Cyrillic alphabet
maxsuur
2016-10-29 16:22
And then get your hands on Michel thomas russian audiocourse
agalt
2016-10-29 16:22
thank you
maxsuur
2016-10-29 16:22
For the basic grammar structure
maxsuur
2016-10-29 16:23
And forming basic phrases and dialogues
etienne
2016-10-29 16:23
I haven't spoken Spanish for years... I practically forget all... that's part of the process of not practicing haha
maxsuur
2016-10-29 16:24
Sure, what you dont practice..
agalt
2016-10-29 16:24
agreed @etienne
agalt
2016-10-29 16:25
time spent in costa rica was quite a bit of fun. Looked like an idiot throwing nouns verbs and adjectives together without conjugating
maxsuur
2016-10-29 16:25
Hahaha
maxsuur
2016-10-29 16:26
That is always the starting point
maxsuur
2016-10-29 16:26
The more you try, the better you get
etienne
2016-10-29 16:26
as a french canadian id say is it is quite hard to focus practicing it with few unmotivated poeple?
etienne
2016-10-29 16:28
last year when I went to cuba, it came back quite fast? ofcourse when there are lot of beautiful woman speaking only spanish It gives you an unexplainable motivation haha
maxsuur
2016-10-29 17:23
:dancer:
etienne
2016-10-29 17:47
Latina women are just amazing hahaha
maxsuur
2016-10-29 19:29
I can attest that
lenard
2016-10-30 21:25
@simon: Hi Simon, after I read the Wayoming free taxation me and my wife created an LLC in Wayoming. We wanted to bouble check the taxation so we had a chat with an accontent company. The company is on her name and she is not resident of any contry. This taxation company told us that she has to pay 28% personal taxes to the USA goverment. In the article you wrote that not require to file an US income tax. Can you send me some info where I can check this. Thanks a lot.
simon
2016-10-30 21:45
@lenard Is she a US citizen?
lenard
2016-10-30 21:49
@simon No she is a Hungarian citizen and she has no residency. We signed out from Hungary.
lenard
2016-10-30 21:52
@simon we plan to move to US but we need a visa and I know than things will change.
simon
2016-10-30 21:56
Alright you should be fine then. I'll send you the docs when I come back home later this evening :)
lenard
2016-10-30 21:59
@simon Thanks Simon, the guy said, that the llc is nontaxable, but if she wants to take the money out through her personal account she has to pay that 28% for federal income tax.
simon
2016-10-31 03:28
@lenard Because you said the LLC is nontaxable, I will assume that all it's business is conducted outside the United States. I will also assume that it is a disregarded entity (she did not elect to have it taxed as a corporation). As such, your wife does not tick any of the boxes that would subject her to US income tax (see the link below about ECI). The reason for that is that there is no concept of dividends for disregarded LLCs because the company itself doesn't exist for taxation purposes. All income received by the company is considered personal income even when not distributed.
simon
2016-10-31 03:28
simon
2016-10-31 03:28
stoplight
2016-10-31 09:33
just to add to the good information @simon already gave?having a Wyoming LLC myself?to be safer and to make sure you don?t have any liable taxes to the U.S., it?s still best NOT to work with any U.S. citizen or company at all even if they are located outside the U.S., its just simply much safer that way as in the process of your dealings with them, they might mention your LLC to their IRS submissions and that may create some problem. Also, you mentioned that you have plans to move to the U.S., once you do that, definitely things will change. You automatically become a U.S. based LLC.
paul999
2016-10-31 11:12
has joined #general
jase
2016-10-31 11:17
@simon if a HK company is currently owned by myself but is being purchased by my holding company, do I need to advise my bank if the UBO does not change?
artem
2016-10-31 12:21
has joined #general
jase
2016-10-31 19:48
Looking through your "coming soon" articles @simon, you've piqued my interest :slightly_smiling_face:
jase
2016-10-31 19:48
"RUN A 100% TAX-FREE US / UK BUSINESS"
jase
2016-10-31 19:48
"OPEN OFFSHORE BANK ACCOUNTS REMOTELY"
etienne
2016-10-31 19:50
Hell yea!
lenard
2016-10-31 19:52
Thanks @simon for the links. We will go through it.
lenard
2016-10-31 19:54
@stoplight: Thanks for the info. These info are really valuable.
simon
2016-10-31 20:17
@jase Yes, you should let the bank know that the ownership structure of the company has changed. It's necessary if the new shareholder (you holding company) holds over 10% of the HK company.
jase
2016-10-31 20:18
@simon does this ever cause issues in HK? Or is it a formality now that they have trading history?
simon
2016-10-31 20:20
It should not cause issues, considering that the company has a history with the bank and the new owner is reputable (it's from a good, regulated country).
jase
2016-10-31 20:23
Cool, here's hoping :slightly_smiling_face:
vbraut
2016-11-02 22:51
has joined #general
vincent
2016-11-03 15:17
has joined #general
reese
2016-11-03 18:53
has joined #general
maxsuur
2016-11-04 18:15
Do you know guys what it'd be cool? To have a freedom surfer's music playlist.
maxsuur
2016-11-04 18:15
So we can tap into each other's brain through the music we listen to
simon
2016-11-04 18:19
Would be nice indeed. Any platform you'd recommend?
maxsuur
2016-11-04 18:20
Spotify, perhaps.
maxsuur
2016-11-04 18:20
That could be even paired with instagram photos
simon
2016-11-04 18:21
A song for every photo :stuck_out_tongue: I like it! I'm registering right now.
simon
2016-11-04 18:21
Damn someone already has the freedomsurfer name!
maxsuur
2016-11-04 18:23
Hahaha
maxsuur
2016-11-04 18:24
You should man :p
maxsuur
2016-11-04 18:24
Probably freed0msurfer?
maxsuur
2016-11-04 18:24
With the zero
simon
2016-11-04 18:32
I think it should work
simon
2016-11-04 18:33
Although the damn app doesn't let me change my country. I guess it only allows the country where I physically am.
simon
2016-11-04 18:33
Which is a shame because I won't be able to add my credit card as my billing address is in HK
maxsuur
2016-11-04 18:34
Absolutely
maxsuur
2016-11-04 18:34
Let's take a look at it
maxsuur
2016-11-04 18:35
You just made freedom surfer even more appealing
maxsuur
2016-11-04 18:35
:))
simon
2016-11-04 18:36
Thanks man :slightly_smiling_face: I'm looking for songs to add to it but I can't find many. I love electronic remixes of old songs...
agalt
2016-11-04 18:37
:slightly_smiling_face:
maxsuur
2016-11-04 18:38
Me too, youtube contains many as you know, listening to some phil collins' remix right now
simon
2016-11-04 18:40
I've just added one! It shows up here too, like magic :slightly_smiling_face:
maxsuur
2016-11-04 18:43
In some sense, talking through a wireless device with people we haven't personally met at thousands of kms of distance is some sort of magic as well
simon
2016-11-04 18:55
Yeah, we have to spend hours in a metal tube to get somewhere but information only needs a fraction of a second. And if you go back a few years, this type of international community would have been unthinkable.
simon
2016-11-04 19:00
I'm adding more songs. What do you guys like listening to?
maxsuur
2016-11-04 19:01
Sure! Electronic music, hip hop, r&b, indie
agalt
2016-11-05 12:45
Youtube-dl in linux will grab audio from a video in a terminal window if you need some flight music from a playlist. Possibly something similar in osx?
maxsuur
2016-11-05 13:09
I use Clipgrab for the matter @agalt , also within linux
agalt
2016-11-05 18:02
what flavor of linux do you use @maxsuur
maxsuur
2016-11-05 19:33
I am using ubuntu 14.04
maxsuur
2016-11-05 19:33
Need to upgrade to 16.04
maxsuur
2016-11-05 19:34
But on a portable netbook I merely use for travel purposes I am using peppermint OS
maxsuur
2016-11-05 19:34
Possibly the most lightweight linux flavor out of there
maxsuur
2016-11-05 19:34
What about you?
stoplight
2016-11-06 05:05
how is ubuntu nowadays? I?m tempted to purchase these 1 or two year old portable netbooks..they?re dirt cheap nowadays?probably can get one for $50 if you try hard enough...and install ubuntu in them...
agalt
2016-11-06 09:45
Well since i started using it on 5.04 in high school it has gotten a lot easier to use. Linux mint is a favorite of mine these days. Ubuntu packed too much junk into the default install. It works well on any x, or t series thankpad (personal preference) if you want something cheap for travel, the x230-x250 models are decent used off of amazon.
agalt
2016-11-06 10:11
@agalt uploaded a file: https://freedomsurfer.slack.com/files/agalt/F2YRTD98T/mintspecs.png and commented: Last year's T-series ultra-portable (i buy last years tech 99.9% of the time)
maxsuur
2016-11-06 13:17
Nice
maxsuur
2016-11-06 13:17
I may try that flavor for another computer of mine
simon
2016-11-06 14:22
For those interested in running a US / UK business tax free: https://www.freedomsurfer.com/ic-hacks-00004/
maxsuur
2016-11-06 14:44
Thanks
simon
2016-11-06 14:59
And a little hack that will make succession planning much easier: https://www.freedomsurfer.com/ic-hacks-00005/
etienne
2016-11-06 15:15
:ok_hand::+1:
maxsuur
2016-11-06 15:54
a well-rounded sunday then
maxsuur
2016-11-06 16:10
@simon in which would you recommend a EU national (non-UK resident) go for a US/UK LLC/LLP instead of an estonian company?
simon
2016-11-06 16:14
If you have no US / UK clients and you have a low / no tax residency, it can make a lot of sense to register there. The banks are good, payment processing rates are low and they are high reputation countries.
maxsuur
2016-11-06 16:22
the question is why the UK would be a better place than estonia to run a business from in that case? cheaper? more reputable? easier?
simon
2016-11-06 16:26
If you have no UK-sourced income and you have a zero tax residency, your UK business will be entirely tax-free. An Estonian business is never tax-free even though you can get some money out tax-free as a salary.
maxsuur
2016-11-06 16:28
that makes lots of sense
agalt
2016-11-06 16:35
great info
jase
2016-11-06 17:04
@simon thanks for those posts.
jase
2016-11-06 17:04
If you have time, I'd love for a post on an Amazon FBA style business one day; selling physical products by using inventory in USA/UK/other countries. I'm interested to see what you discover/recommend.
jase
2016-11-06 17:35
@simon do you find this to be correct? I assumed all sales made from US company to US citizens would need to pay US tax - this guy is claiming otherwise. It is some technicality with ECI?
simon
2016-11-06 17:57
@jase This guy?
simon
2016-11-06 18:32
There may be some circumstances in which what Stewart wrote is true but from the IRS's own site: "If you own and operate a business in the United States selling services, products, or merchandise, you are, with certain exceptions, engaged in a trade or business in the United States. For example, profit from the sale in the United States of inventory property purchased either in this country or in a foreign country is effectively connected trade or business income."
simon
2016-11-06 18:33
If there is a way to get away with selling to US clients and not having to pay any taxes, go for it! But talk to a few tax attorneys first to be extra sure.
jase
2016-11-06 19:19
Yeah, I'm not convinced
jase
2016-11-06 19:33
I was always told by selling using FBA, you're storing inventory in their warehouses, meaning you have Nexus somewhere
simon
2016-11-06 19:35
Yeah, in each state where your inventory is stored. And then there is the issue of sales tax. Not as easy as Stewart makes it sound. (I wish)
anna
2016-11-06 21:00
has joined #general
rik
2016-11-07 00:43
Has anyone here lived in Malta, or have any experience with residency there?
simon
2016-11-07 10:31
I'm visiting LeapIN's office later today in Tallinn, Estonia. They are the most popular registered agent in the country and experts on everything related to e-Residency and doing business in Estonia. Any question you'd like me to ask for you?
agalt
2016-11-07 10:33
is it possible to get an address without registering a company? will Estonia open bank accounts remotely for a Nevis IBC or a LLC in Georgia
simon
2016-11-07 10:36
@agalt By getting an address, do you mean a mailing address for general use?
agalt
2016-11-07 10:36
@simon yes
simon
2016-11-07 10:38
@agalt Will ask! I've got meetings with the major banks later this week. Will ask them too, about IBCs and Georgia. I do suspect that yes they do but only if there is a connection to Estonia.
agalt
2016-11-07 10:39
:smile: diddi- madloba (georgian: many thanks! )
stoplight
2016-11-08 09:01
awesome @simon and best of luck! :slightly_smiling_face:
stoplight
2016-11-08 09:02
By the way, if anyone of you folks are here in the South Pacific, give me a hollar, i?m here for the next few weeks shuttling between Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu.. :slightly_smiling_face: ...
simon
2016-11-08 13:21
Election day! The results have started coming in, Trump is currently ahead with 32-25. Will definitely be an interesting day!
simon
2016-11-08 13:40
Just a general reminder that the CRS will be implemented by most countries on the first of January 2017. What this essentially means is that from that point on you will be required to prove your tax residency to each bank with whom you have accounts (businesses will also be affected by this). In most cases, you will need to provide a TAX ID number so staying in one country as a tourist for 183+ days simply won't cut it anymore (can't usually get a tax id on a tourist visa). Here is a sample of the form you will have to complete soon: http://www.oecd.org/tax/automatic-exchange/crs-implementation-and-assistance/CRS_INDIVIDUAL_Self-Cert_Form.pdf
paul999
2016-11-08 13:52
@simon, wow that CRS implementation seems like a huge blow to our freedom and flexibility to choose banks :disappointed: What's your take on this?
paul999
2016-11-08 13:53
Will it be implemented in Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong?
josh
2016-11-08 14:33
So ironic the USA hasn't signed the treaty for it. ftw
agalt
2016-11-08 14:35
the us has the best government and regulations money can buy. They don't follow rules they endorse. "pay-to play" and all of that...
josh
2016-11-08 14:36
Thanks for the heads up @simon
josh
2016-11-08 14:39
It pays to use nominee directors...
agalt
2016-11-08 14:46
:smile:
agalt
2016-11-08 14:46
@josh esepcially if you are an American citizen.
simon
2016-11-08 14:50
@josh @agalt The US is a great tax haven. They almost never give any info on account holders, they are very uncooperative in tax investigations. Funny considering how they treat their citizens.
simon
2016-11-08 14:52
@paul999 The Philippines isn't on the list but Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia are.
agalt
2016-11-08 14:55
it is a great place as long as you are a citizen. It is an interesting tax haven after I renounce, but not before.
etienne
2016-11-08 15:13
Trump's gonna be the next US president, you shouldn't be too worried about taxes :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:
jase
2016-11-08 15:16
Next election campaigns will be "this is why capitalism doesn't work, socialism for all"
agalt
2016-11-08 15:16
Honestly, not sure who will be the next lead puppet this time, and it isn't worth worrying about for me.
jase
2016-11-08 15:16
agreed
maxsuur
2016-11-08 15:28
@simon could the CRS thing affect n26 bank accounts opened with virtual addresses in germany for example? Being the account holder resident somewhere else.
simon
2016-11-08 15:34
@maxsuur N26 may simply ask you to confirm your tax residency. If they do, you'll have to give them your real one. The bank will then report to that country.
kl5340dc
2016-11-08 15:35
TD Direct Lux asked me about tax residency/TIN number etc during account opening last week
kl5340dc
2016-11-08 15:35
they sounded very german-like in the way they handled this
kl5340dc
2016-11-08 15:35
N26 last week didn't ask about this at all
maxsuur
2016-11-08 15:36
But the thing is that n26 would only open accounts "for pickup locations" in germany, austria and france. So the thing is i wonder if they could close bank accounts once they know the tax id residency being somewhere different to those countries. Hopefully it'll be ok, but I want to know your thoughts on the matter
kl5340dc
2016-11-08 15:37
what if you work 5 months in germany, 6 months outside those contries? They close it down? Makes no sense imo
simon
2016-11-08 15:38
They could certainly close it. Revolut contacted me a few weeks ago because of my HK address. I had to change it to a European one otherwise they would close my account.
simon
2016-11-08 15:38
I can see N26 cracking down on virtual addresses and forcing people to use residential addresses
kl5340dc
2016-11-08 15:39
n26 goal seems to be to expand accross EU though
maxsuur
2016-11-08 15:40
Yes, it makes sense. To be honest, I used a residential address, and that is fine. The thing is the tax id thing. So, I'll pay attention to it.
simon
2016-11-08 15:40
Yeah but then they became a real bank. Now they have to deal with all the roadblocks banks have to deal with.
maxsuur
2016-11-08 15:42
@simon I saw you registered Freedom Surfer as an estonian company, after yesterday's meeting would you still keep recommending it for an online business?
simon
2016-11-08 15:49
Yes, but not for every type of businesses. In my case it made a lot of sense because of the way I'm setup. I will not have to pay any taxes and I'll save money on payment processing due to EU rates.
simon
2016-11-08 15:50
In more ways than one, it aligns perfectly with my long term goals for the site.
simon
2016-11-08 15:52
But you need to be the resident of a tax haven / territorial taxation country for it to make sense. Otherwise you'll have to pay taxes.
maxsuur
2016-11-08 15:54
Great. Thanks for the info, and the last paragraph also applies equally to that wyoming LLC and UK LLC as far as I am concerned
maxsuur
2016-11-08 15:55
*uk llp
simon
2016-11-08 15:57
Yes. Having a solid, zero tax personal residency really opens up a lot of possibilities
maxsuur
2016-11-08 16:05
Thanks man!
maxsuur
2016-11-08 16:06
Btw when are you coming down to spain?
simon
2016-11-08 16:29
Is it warm there? After Tallinn I don't think I can stomach more cold weather :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:
jase
2016-11-08 16:40
Brrrrr it was snowing here today
jase
2016-11-08 16:40
Had to run from the car to the gym.... still wearing shorts :smile:
maxsuur
2016-11-08 17:06
Hahah, well, it is a bit cold now, but nothing compared to tallin. You can make it with only a jacket and it is sunny! :)
rik
2016-11-08 17:13
It's pretty could down in Southern Spain this evening, but has been warm during the day
maxsuur
2016-11-08 17:15
Where are you at right now @rik ?
rik
2016-11-08 17:16
Just outside Malaga, but inland a little from the coast, has been getting steadily colder for the past week... don't like the cold :slightly_smiling_face:
rik
2016-11-08 17:17
where are you @maxsuur ?
maxsuur
2016-11-08 17:19
I am located in the province of C�diz, pretty close though
rik
2016-11-08 17:19
ah cool, not far!
rik
2016-11-08 17:21
I'll be leaving for Malta in a week or so though, not keen on the taxes here unfortunately
maxsuur
2016-11-08 17:21
Me neither!
maxsuur
2016-11-08 17:22
I have also been looking into becoming a resident there, perhaps in a few months or so
rik
2016-11-08 17:23
I'll let you know how it goes, I'd much prefer to stay here, but seems too risky in the long run. I've never been there so quite a jump in to the unknown :slightly_smiling_face:
jase
2016-11-08 17:24
Where the living begins!
maxsuur
2016-11-08 17:24
Sure man! I always welcome new information on interesting stuff
agalt
2016-11-08 17:24
you can get residency in georgia in about 2 weeks for 5,000 usd and not pay taxes anywhere and they don't have rules for how long you need stay there each year.
agalt
2016-11-08 17:25
just don't have any business in georgia and you wont pay taxes there
maxsuur
2016-11-08 17:25
You are an amazing ambassador of Georgia @agalt
agalt
2016-11-08 17:26
you know me @maxsuur Honestly though, it makes life easy and I want to share the ease of life with others
agalt
2016-11-08 17:26
i love the balkans, and mainly live there, but tell everyone i live in georgia for tax purposes (on paper)
jase
2016-11-08 17:27
BUSTED
maxsuur
2016-11-08 17:27
Yes man! I am also excited by all of this, and I want to share all the time as well. I thought that I a resident of georgia shoukd stay in the country for at least six months a year
jase
2016-11-08 17:27
NSA is for sure reading these chats
jase
2016-11-08 17:27
:slightly_smiling_face:
agalt
2016-11-08 17:28
nah, you don't actually need to stay there durring the year. you just get your residency and leave
agalt
2016-11-08 17:28
meh, they have better things to do than read these chats
maxsuur
2016-11-08 17:28
It is a very tempting deal though
agalt
2016-11-08 17:29
it is a great deal, and quality of life here is very decent compared to value priced places in southeast asia.
maxsuur
2016-11-08 17:29
I heard that people there are very welcoming as well
agalt
2016-11-08 17:30
they are fantastic
maxsuur
2016-11-08 17:30
We should set up there some kind of tax-free libertarian commune or something like that
maxsuur
2016-11-08 17:30
:p
maxsuur
2016-11-08 17:31
It is time to collect new residencies!
agalt
2016-11-08 17:31
eh, it is easy to blend in with the people. you don't really need to live in some community to enjoy the benefits of this country
maxsuur
2016-11-08 17:32
That is something I value a lot
maxsuur
2016-11-08 17:33
While In mexico, people were that welcoming too. Felt like at home
agalt
2016-11-08 17:33
there is so much oppertunity here to buy properties and flip them
agalt
2016-11-08 17:34
come in with 30,000 euros spend 10,000 and sell for 70-80,000
jase
2016-11-08 17:34
to dumb foreigners?
agalt
2016-11-08 17:34
possibly
jase
2016-11-08 17:34
how do they double in value overnight?
agalt
2016-11-08 17:34
come in and buy an old place
agalt
2016-11-08 17:35
gut it, then pay to remodel the inside, rehab it with euro standard equipment, then flip it to someone who doesnt want to spend the time or energy
jase
2016-11-08 17:36
ah yep
jase
2016-11-08 17:36
fair risk/hassle not knowing the language/standards/being an expat and trying to contract locals that know you don't know though?
jase
2016-11-08 17:37
contacts would be worth their weight in gold
agalt
2016-11-08 17:38
when you get here jase we can talk contacts and find you people who are reliable to do construction. they have a culture of only wanting to be paid in cash due to distrust of goverment.
jase
2016-11-08 17:38
hahahah
jase
2016-11-08 17:39
you should definitely work in their destination tourism board
agalt
2016-11-08 17:39
don't get my started about my other love... bulgaria
jase
2016-11-08 17:39
what do you do for work/business again @agalt?
agalt
2016-11-08 17:41
i help people travel (I provide complete concierge landing packages in a select number of cities globally). I take the hassle out of landing by getting a sim card, landing package, list of hotels, resturants, a local guide and depending on the package 18-24 hour around the clock call service for expats.
agalt
2016-11-08 17:41
wont promote my site because i respect simon and his rules but you can sent me a pm and we can talk.
jase
2016-11-08 17:42
ah yep, cool service
jase
2016-11-08 17:42
do much business?
agalt
2016-11-08 17:43
in the last couple weeks. yes
jase
2016-11-08 17:43
That's good
maxsuur
2016-11-08 17:47
Love the concierge concept @agalt
agalt
2016-11-08 17:48
thank you!
agalt
2016-11-08 17:48
it has been a work in progress, but the latest client was satisfied
simon
2016-11-08 17:59
It's a cool concept although quite a challenge to scale in a small market like Georgia and the Balkans.
maxsuur
2016-11-08 17:59
That is amazing, and you get to know the essentials of many countries
agalt
2016-11-08 17:59
thanks @simon
simon
2016-11-08 18:00
Cool fact, if you have a friend who is a resident of Singapore (or if you are one yourself) you can register a Singapore LLP for around 120$ all-in and there is no audit requirement for LLPs.
agalt
2016-11-08 18:01
its difficult to meet people who will preform for clients, but I have been lucky to meet some simply wonderful people while traveling. Most people in the world are good and want to do well and treat people well. They are happy to help foreigners and get paid to share what they love about where they live.
agalt
2016-11-08 18:02
thats awesome @simon , so the singapore LLP can be used for a payment passthrough
simon
2016-11-08 18:04
There is no usage restrictions (unlike in some countries). The company can do whatever you like (within the boundaries of the law obviously)
agalt
2016-11-08 18:04
it is like the British pass through?
agalt
2016-11-08 18:04
that is fantastic!
simon
2016-11-08 18:05
Yeah similar to the UK LLP but you need one resident partner.
maxsuur
2016-11-08 19:01
Breaking news from the N26 team
maxsuur
2016-11-08 19:02
@maxsuur uploaded a file: https://freedomsurfer.slack.com/files/maxsuur/F3000D4P4/slack_for_ios_upload._null_
maxsuur
2016-11-08 19:03
A 29 eur fee for clients outside of germany and austria
simon
2016-11-08 19:11
Ah that sucks. Did you get yours already? If so, you should be able to avoid the fee.
maxsuur
2016-11-08 19:18
I did, fortunately. But still, I would have time If I hadn't (22 days left) :slightly_smiling_face:
kl5340dc
2016-11-08 19:32
heh
kl5340dc
2016-11-08 19:32
was put on waiting list but approved just last weekend, so befoer this
kl5340dc
2016-11-08 19:32
did receive their updated prices
kl5340dc
2016-11-08 19:33
Foreign currency ATM
withdrawals
with Mastercard
A competitive fee to help cover the
higher cost of these transactions.
kl5340dc
2016-11-08 19:33
=> this is free with their black mastercards (5.90?/month)
kl5340dc
2016-11-08 19:34
so euro on account, taking SGD out in singapore => free with this? (1.7% with free card)
kl5340dc
2016-11-08 19:34
would seem to be worth it to save costs on yearly basis
stoplight
2016-11-08 22:20
@simon @paul999 though Philippines is not on OECD yet?the recent Bangladesh-Philippines $100M++ ?money laundering hacker" scandal has been rumoured to be with the blessing of the U.S. to pressure both countries to be OECD compliant asap..during the first state of the nation address of the current Philippine President Duterte..he mentioned about relaxing bank laws..prior to that in the previous administration?the Internal Revenue commissioner was already pushing for CRS compliance by 2018?so yes..for now..you can still get some residency in the Philippines?and keep things quiet for the next 2-3 years at least?according to a friend at Citibank SG?there has been some minor movement of money to the Philippines from some of their clients because of this?but not enough to cause any panic?CRS is still some way to go..but then again their are many countries who aren?t still part of OECD? :slightly_smiling_face: ...
darwin
2016-11-08 22:53
has joined #general
darwin
2016-11-08 23:23
Just joined, thrilled to find this community. Starting a new company and want to incorporate and setup business banking in Hong Kong. Is there a recommended read on the most current experiences and recommendations?
lenard
2016-11-09 02:43
@simon @stoplight thanks for the links we managed to get through them. So far the taxation looks good. We have a few more questions:
Do I understand right:
- Just personal tax return filing is needed with a personal EIN number? (I have only LLC EIN number, and I have a SSN from the past, I believe, I shouldn?t use these?) - How can I get a personal EIN number?
- Do I have to file the Sales / Use Tax License Application for my LLC?
- If I file everything as a private person, that doesn?t pick up any of the tax liabilities? (This is where the tax attorney told me that I?m taxable for 28%.) How can I make sure not to get into trouble with this?
- Can you recommend a good accountant who could help me with my taxes? Whoever I spoke to they weren?t knowledgable about this disregarded entity situation.
- Do I have to do bookkeeping?
- When do I have to file my personal tax return? - Probably the accountant will know this.
- Do I have to file anything for the LLC? Any other documents needed, to make this clear to the authorities that my clients are all outside of the USA? Do you keep any documents on file for this purpose?
- Any other recommendations?
HUGE THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!!!
paul999
2016-11-09 09:42
Thanks @stoplight for that additional insight into CRS as it relates to the Philippines
simon
2016-11-09 11:19
@stoplight Thanks for sharing! Very interesting insights.
simon
2016-11-09 11:22
@darwin I'd recommend posting any questions you have in the #business channel. Many club members have HK businesses so you'll be able to harness our collective knowledge. You can also send me any questions you have via private message if you prefer :slightly_smiling_face:
reese
2016-11-09 11:29
can you recommend an international tax lawyer that does consulting work vis skype? thanks.
stoplight
2016-11-09 11:32
I second the motion @reese ?please let us know if you know anyone who?s a good international tax lawyer..
simon
2016-11-09 11:34
@lenard You do not have to file a personal tax return in the US if you have no ECI. Simply pay the Wyoming state fee and the registered agent annual fee.
simon
2016-11-09 11:34
Of course, it is important to keep your books in order in case you were audited.
simon
2016-11-09 11:37
@reese @stoplight If you are dealing with a complex situation, it could be worth hiring one of the big four (KPMG, PwC, Deloitte, Ernst & Young). They have, by far, the best tax lawyers.
stoplight
2016-11-09 11:38
@simon ..oh no..thing that complex?no double irish dutch sandwiches for me?just some queries and all that local tax lawyers won?t be able to answer..
reese
2016-11-09 11:48
@simon I'm just doing my homework, don't have anything to report yet, but I was about to open a bank account. Basically @simon you saved my life telling us about CRS.
reese
2016-11-09 11:51
In any case, I know that you can get tax residency in several countries and it's pretty cheap. I wonder if it's legal to be a tax resident in several countries. Those kind of queries I have for the lawyer.
And find a way around it.
For every law, there is a loophole.
For me it's not about tax deferral, it's more about privacy.
reese
2016-11-09 14:59
Here's the CRS document:
http://www.oecd.org/ctp/exchange-of-tax-information/Automatic-Exchange-Financial-Account-Information-Common-Reporting-Standard.pdf
From what I understand, the signed countries signed only on the standard.
It doesn't mean that the exchange would happen.
Countries still should negotiate between themselves an agreement.
Am I right? English is not my native language, so I might be wrong.
harvie
2016-11-10 03:14
has joined #general
jase
2016-11-10 09:23
Good doc on Andorra: http://actua.ad/wp-content/uploads/Invest_in_andorra_ENG.pdf
agalt
2016-11-10 13:16
@reese Sent you some info on the Attorney who I ask when I need help with international tax issues. Another person on this channel knows him as well.
reese
2016-11-10 14:41
Thanks @agalt
simon
2016-11-12 19:27
Starting today, all club members can submit their events for listing on Freedom Surfer free of charge. All events will be listed on the Event page and be visible to all visitors. Because the page is listed on the top menu, it gets a lot of traffic. https://www.freedomsurfer.com/events/
simon
2016-11-12 19:28
I've created two "demo" events to show what the listings look like.
simon
2016-11-12 19:28
Be sure to be logged in your account on the site when submitting an event.
jase
2016-11-12 19:30
Thanks @simon, I'll have to remember that one.
jessems
2016-11-12 21:25
Hey @simon , following your visit to Estonia, any news on when we?ll be able to open a bank account in Estonia with eresidency without visiting the country?
simon
2016-11-12 21:44
@jessems The LeapIN people I've met were hopeful that it would happen this year. My account manager at the bank said he also hoped it would be this year but wouldn't be surprised if it was pushed to Q1 2017.
jessems
2016-11-12 21:44
thanks!
yamahoto
2016-11-13 00:23
has joined #general
stoplight
2016-11-13 01:21
awesome @simon ..will there by any limit as to what type of activity can be posted? :slightly_smiling_face:
stoplight
2016-11-13 01:22
will be having one soon with our firm?but just want to make sure there won?t be any conflict of interest or anything like that.. :disappointed:
simon
2016-11-14 22:00
@stoplight As long as it's a quality event, it can be posted :slightly_smiling_face:
stoplight
2016-11-15 07:34
Ok will PM it to you first and let me know.. :slightly_smiling_face:
alexanderhay
2016-11-15 16:13
has joined #general
etienne
2016-11-15 20:37
@simon Is an event with beautiful Russian or Slovenian girls would be considered as a Quality event? :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:
agalt
2016-11-15 20:54
+1 for Slovenian women
alextrades
2016-11-16 12:00
Would like to do your forex course :slightly_smiling_face:
theremotetrip
2016-11-17 10:51
has joined #general
stoplight
2016-11-18 00:22
awesome article @jase thanks! :slightly_smiling_face: ..I think that?s pretty much all of us here in this group in one way or the other..
scorps
2016-11-19 15:24
has joined #general
gary
2016-11-19 19:47
has joined #general
josh
2016-11-20 01:59
Speaking of beautiful women, I have noticed that there seems to be a lack of women here - but it is kind of also the pt / flag theory space in general it seems like.
stoplight
2016-11-20 05:41
Hmm..you?re right..hey simon?I think you need to make your website more ?women? friendly? Have some flowers on the design maybe? :joy:
simon
2016-11-20 05:43
@josh That's true, there's only 3 women in the club in total (unless some joined under disguise :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye: )
stoplight
2016-11-20 05:49
oh my! We gotta do something about that..hehe..make the PT space less?err?.manly? LoLs! :sweat_smile:
simon
2016-11-20 05:52
@stoplight I'm all for it :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye: Not sure how to do it though!
stoplight
2016-11-20 06:23
hahaha?maybe we should start asking those 3 ladies for some suggestions? :smile:
josh
2016-11-20 06:34
It seems like in the more collective work / live PT groups there are more, or just backpackers, but overall I don't know a lot of single girls passionate about flag theory life. Maybe they are just better at staying undercover though, not sure
agalt
2016-11-20 12:34
it is oftentimes to convert a local girlfriend to the pt lifestyle.
maxsuur
2016-11-20 13:09
If this was a fashion channel, it'd probably be quite the opposite. I don't know, for some reason these kinds of things are often more appealing to men.
maxsuur
2016-11-20 13:13
@jase i have often struggle to find women who share similar intellectual pursuits, I'd love it, but it is usually with fellow men I find most at home when it comes to discussing things that go beyond the ordinary
jase
2016-11-20 13:15
Well don't go alienating the women already in the group.
jase
2016-11-20 13:16
For what it's worth, my wife enjoys the lifestyle now that she has her head around it.
jase
2016-11-20 13:16
I still prefer more travel than her but we have a good common ground.
maxsuur
2016-11-20 13:21
Not trying to be politically correct here. Just speak what I found to be true.
maxsuur
2016-11-20 13:24
Often the only person in the world who would accompany you in personal ventures is wife/girlfriend. It is in their own best interests. To be honest, the rest of the world could not possibly care less.
agalt
2016-11-20 13:26
^much truth to this. Gf from Bulgaria is in Tbilisi, Georgia with me for a few days and it increases productivity, and decreases stress.
jase
2016-11-20 13:28
Sorry, I wasn't say you were - more of a general reminder to everyone :slightly_smiling_face:
maxsuur
2016-11-20 13:29
Me too. I have just reencountered with an old ex gf. And things go smoothly. No problem @jase i still love the vibe here :kissing:
jase
2016-11-20 13:29
hahah
jase
2016-11-20 13:32
Honestly I'd be half as successful without my wife. She's the manager, I'm the one that thinks outside the square constantly.
jase
2016-11-20 13:32
She reigns it in and makes it work.
jase
2016-11-20 13:32
I'm kind of the 80/20 guy - I get things "good enough", she fine tunes afterwards.
jase
2016-11-20 13:34
Ties back into The E-Myth actually - good read that.
maxsuur
2016-11-20 13:49
Absolutely. And also tie back into the "channeling sexual energy" from "think and grow rich" by napoleon hill, women are super important to balance you and help you achieve big things. As Groucho would say: "behind a great man, there is always a great woman, and behind this one, his wife"
agalt
2016-11-20 13:51
not sure how to inteperate that last one. it sounds like bedroom shenanigans or his wife going after the mistress.
kl5340dc
2016-11-20 14:03
it seems most women do not like the idea of leaving their family/friends at home behind
kl5340dc
2016-11-20 14:04
there are more male expats than female, males have this thing of seeking opporutnity, in extreme ways like gong abroad
kl5340dc
2016-11-20 14:04
it doesn't seem to be the female thing to do
kl5340dc
2016-11-20 14:05
the ones who do, it seems the travelling part is what attracts them most to it. Until their internal clock tells them to get kids, then it's over
maxsuur
2016-11-20 14:07
Yes... it is a matter of different deeply ingrained evolutionary priorities. And we know we are mostly irrational like this: fgghhhjjjyhggggfxzxvbjhhfgj
kl5340dc
2016-11-20 14:08
In groucho's time ok, in 2016 this quote is BS
maxsuur
2016-11-20 14:09
Sure @agalt
maxsuur
2016-11-20 14:09
@kl5340dc: speaking sarcasm
jase
2016-11-20 14:25
Anyone read "The 7 Day Startup" by Dan Norris? Worthwhile?
maxsuur
2016-11-20 14:32
I read that too. Good book to speed up the process.
josh
2016-11-20 15:12
You have to take Napoleon Hill's comment in context. He was speaking of sexual energy as a driver. In modern day it can work either way - a partner (or a couple of them haha) can serve to provide stability whether you're a man or a woman.
Hill was also saying it's often not the spouse that is the energy driver but the mistress. Yet the spouse provides a form of familial stability that is needed as well.
In terms of human nature it's still as true now as it was then, PC or not. It can work the same for women though (husband / paramour) or gays or whatever context you want to put it into. I wouldn't throw out the baby with the bathwater on that one just because it was written in the leave it to beaver era. The fundamental concept is still valid.
josh
2016-11-20 15:13
I'm not sure what the reason is though that there are far more men in the PT communities than women. Maybe because most of it has for the past couple decades revolved around TEOTWAWKI and fearmongering, and perhaps men buy into that a lot more than women do. :wink:
jase
2016-11-20 16:39
I suppose free thinking isn't just limited to business and tax and travel. :slightly_smiling_face:
etienne
2016-11-21 02:03
On my point of you, women are pure energy. They kind of always tell you the truth by their behaviour. They also are driven by emotions, feelings and beauty. Lucky for us men, it fills our lives with Colors, instead of being only black and white.
On the opposite, I think men are more task oriented. We need to express our feelings through actions and by getting things done. As men, I believe we truly need a purpose. For myself, I wouldn't be able just to let be driven by the flow... In history, men mainly fought for freedom and I think it will always be. We need to find our way :blush:
stoplight
2016-11-21 02:19
good points there @etienne :slightly_smiling_face:
josh
2016-11-21 04:06
That seems a little Mars / Venus though, which I personally think that book concept was way oversimplified because it totally discounts jungian brain types (it instead essentially paints all men as like INTJ and all women ESFP or something ridiculous).
I don't have the answer but if it's a men vs women gap, I would wager it's much less nature and much more nurture, so culture and upbringing.
It is something that is real though, for whatever reasons. Whoever figures out the solution in this space can potentially make a fortune. :thinking_face:
jase
2016-11-21 07:47
What trends are you following?
* Western populations are ageing
* Western middle class is shrinking
* The rich are getting richer
* Eastern and African middle class is growing
* Software, robots and other types of automation is growing and putting other companies out of business
* Jobs are being outsourced to contractors/freelancers/smaller agencies
* More project work, less ongoing work
* Better educations, including English fluency overseas
maxsuur
2016-11-21 07:58
Education overseas and automation
maxsuur
2016-11-21 07:58
Good summary though
jase
2016-11-21 08:06
Food shortages
Water shortages
maxsuur
2016-11-21 08:23
Premium services for the rich
maxsuur
2016-11-21 08:23
The decline of the university institution as we know it
maxsuur
2016-11-21 08:26
And one I expect to see in few short years: neoludism (technology adversion)
maxsuur
2016-11-21 08:26
The rise of the private security sector
maxsuur
2016-11-21 08:27
And a more intense general disbelief on government before a breaking point occurs
jase
2016-11-21 10:49
Dark! :smiley:
jase
2016-11-21 10:49
Disconnected travel will be a thing IMO
maxsuur
2016-11-21 16:45
Sounds appealing
kl5340dc
2016-11-22 02:35
It's not nurture but biology
kl5340dc
2016-11-22 02:35
men are stronger/bigger than women due to biology etc
kl5340dc
2016-11-22 02:35
risk taking starts there
kl5340dc
2016-11-22 02:36
they looked at DNA - 80% of women reproduced for thousands of years but only 40% of the men
kl5340dc
2016-11-22 02:36
lots of men weren't getting laid, had to get up the social ladder to get laid
kl5340dc
2016-11-22 02:36
motivation starts there
kl5340dc
2016-11-22 02:36
opportunity seeking starts there
kl5340dc
2016-11-22 02:37
women can basically just "be" - a women today has the choice to work, work halftime, not work. A men choice is to work, work or work. He doesn't work he's not even looked at
kl5340dc
2016-11-22 02:37
seeking opportunity starts there
tal
2016-11-23 16:07
has joined #general
anna
2016-11-29 14:19
I'm with @josh on the woman/man comparison. I'm a woman and an INTJ and deeply logical. The Mars/Venus comparison does apply for some, but not for all.
agalt
2016-11-29 14:20
another INTJ :smile: (don't worry I'm not flirting, happily occupied with a Bulgarian lady)
anna
2016-11-29 14:22
haha :slightly_smiling_face: another INTJ? Nice to meet you :slightly_smiling_face:
agalt
2016-11-29 14:23
what do you do?
anna
2016-11-29 14:23
I'm a product owner for a SAAS company while traveling around the world.
anna
2016-11-29 14:23
And you?
agalt
2016-11-29 14:27
I help people with landing concierge landing packages, (provide full landing services, hotel reservations, city guides, appartment bookings, tours, company formations, etc) and am dabbling in advertising employing locals, and starting on another venture soon as well hopefully. Traveling frequently. Used up half the pages in my passport this year with stamps. 12 countries, some multiple times.
agalt
2016-11-29 14:29
what is/ are your nationality(s) ?
anna
2016-11-29 14:30
I'm a hybrid South African/Canadian.
anna
2016-11-29 14:30
Do you cover Bangkok with your landing concierge packages?
anna
2016-11-29 14:30
And you?
agalt
2016-11-29 14:31
I can yes.
agalt
2016-11-29 14:31
unfortunately I am American. Next month, i will be Georgian as well if everything goes as planned, then hopefully Bulgarian next year
anna
2016-11-29 14:33
good for you. I've read about all sorts of challenges in navigating american citizenship living outside the country
maxsuur
2016-11-29 15:06
Intj represent only a 2% percent of the population, entps a 3% and intps similar too
maxsuur
2016-11-29 15:06
And there is a a lot of NT rationals in here, for obvious reasons
maxsuur
2016-11-29 15:06
Entp here though
simon
2016-11-29 15:07
INTP here :slightly_smiling_face:
simon
2016-11-29 15:07
Are you in Bangkok @anna? Many of us currently are.
maxsuur
2016-11-29 15:09
That is why I think I felt drawn to your blog as soon as I found it
maxsuur
2016-11-29 15:10
Businesswise I think there is still a lot to do when it comes to crafting products/services depending on different personality types- customized experiences
maxsuur
2016-11-29 15:10
(In general)
simon
2016-11-29 15:12
It can be a challenge however for a one-man (or woman) business. To understand the other personality types enough to craft products / services that will appeal to them.
maxsuur
2016-11-29 15:13
I mean, in the business landscape, there is not so many businesses making use of this competitive advantage
agalt
2016-11-29 15:13
the personality thing is difficult to cater too
maxsuur
2016-11-29 15:14
It can be as simple as making some automated quizz before a consultation or coaching session
maxsuur
2016-11-29 15:14
So you can understand better what makes the prospect tick
maxsuur
2016-11-29 15:15
And give them some customized experience, and that is what I am intending to do on my business
maxsuur
2016-11-29 15:15
I am very interested in the intersection of MBTI-gamification and automation
agalt
2016-11-29 15:17
one of the hardest things about being an intj is wanting to tell people, "I don't care how this makes you feel. We are taking a logical approach to this problem"
maxsuur
2016-11-29 15:17
One of the hardest things of being an entp is being one :p
agalt
2016-11-29 15:18
:slightly_smiling_face:
jase
2016-11-29 19:06
The power is realising your personality can be modified to suit the situation. I'm an INTJ and have previously been described as "the most painfully logical person I know", but I have also learned that not everyone wants logic. Even the most logical "solution" won't make everyone happy.
jase
2016-11-29 19:07
Seems a lot of people use their personality as an excuse to be brutally honest/logical. Doesn't havr to be that way.
agalt
2016-11-29 19:10
this is helpful. guess you learned through a few hard knocks then :slightly_smiling_face:
maxsuur
2016-11-29 19:44
+1
jase
2016-11-29 19:52
No I'm still painfully logical :joy: - I just see a lot of people being assholes for no reason - often not realising it's hurting their potential
etienne
2016-11-30 02:08
Being logical to take a decision (T) is a thing, but that doesn't mean that you do not have an emotional intelligence developed too! :wink:
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 03:08
INTJ too
etienne
2016-11-30 03:19
I'm too!
scorps
2016-11-30 04:20
For those living in Bangkok. How do you find the quality of life?
scorps
2016-11-30 04:21
I read that Thailand is territorial on taxes. Big plus.
etienne
2016-11-30 04:23
Big plus for the food too! :ok_hand:
simon
2016-11-30 04:34
@scorps Bangkok is great and if you stay within the developed areas, everything is world-class. The weather is nice (if you like warm), the food is great, the nightlife is great and the internet is very fast. Plus, there are direct flights to most major cities.
simon
2016-11-30 04:35
@simon uploaded a file: https://freedomsurfer.slack.com/files/simon/F38LU3J7N/img_20161130_103608.jpg
simon
2016-11-30 04:35
That is my view of Bangkok right now.
scorps
2016-11-30 04:38
Great! I was their 3 years ago and really enjoyed the buzz/ambiance of the city. I'm definitely drawn to maybe living there one day.
scorps
2016-11-30 04:41
Will be visiting with my wife mid January.
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 06:56
where's pic taken from?
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 06:57
what you thkn of chiang mai? I'm here for 2 weeks for the first time. Lots of expacts clearly, eveyrthing cheap, but overall quite. Looks like cheap plce to get things done, but not that much to do
simon
2016-11-30 06:58
@kl5340dc From the lounge at the top of All Seasons Place. I'm working from here today with @etienne
simon
2016-11-30 06:59
Chiang Mai is "ok" for a few days. I wouldn't stay for long though. There isn't much to do and the infrastructure is pretty basic
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 06:59
I'm in camp in chiang mai, coworking in shopping center, with ais sim card unlimited wifi it's okay
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 06:59
yeah rented scooter
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 06:59
quiet comingfrom Hong Kong and Singapore :slightly_smiling_face:
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:00
seems to me lots of nomads here by necessity rather than choice...
simon
2016-11-30 07:00
Yeah, and most are barely scraping by. Not the same crowd as in BKK or HKG
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:01
it's cheap, it's okay, but fuck for 50% extra you can have better life elsewhere
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:01
myeah
simon
2016-11-30 07:01
Will you come to Bangkok after Chiang Mai?
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:01
yes
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:02
next week sunday
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:02
there then?
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:02
will be there 10 days before heading back to europe
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:02
11-21dec in BKK
simon
2016-11-30 07:04
I have to go back to HK soon but maybe I'll still be there on the 11th. I'll let you know when I book my flight
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:04
ok
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:04
actually, I'm no really there the 11th, arriving late flight
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:04
more like 12 :slightly_smiling_face:
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:04
but thikning spending month in HK in jan
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:04
where'd you go 1 month in hk?
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:05
I've looked at appartments but fuck it's small
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:05
hotel I stayed last time offered 2k/month USD for 15m2
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:05
small appartment same size found for 1k/month
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:05
but it's really bed/bahtroom done :slightly_smiling_face:
simon
2016-11-30 07:06
There's some neat serviced apartments / airbnb but yeah most are small by Western standards.
simon
2016-11-30 07:06
Shama has a few locations and they are quite nice: http://www.shama.com/hongkonghotels.aspx
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:06
what you do when staying long-term? if you do that?
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:06
just fuck it hotel?
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:06
I hate spending a lot on hotels/appartments, just for sleeping basically, seems like throwing money away for no reason
simon
2016-11-30 07:07
Yeah me too, especially when you can get a massive penthouse for the same price in most other cities.
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:08
shama expensive :slightly_smiling_face: I checked out stuff like that, my frugal side can't do it :slightly_smiling_face:
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:09
thinking of sucking up in that small room
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:09
the wanchai hotel I was last time was super small. Burlington hotel. 2k for 10 days the bastardz
simon
2016-11-30 07:09
If you don't mind living outside the center, there are some nice houses in the New Territories. 1000-2000 USD per month with easy access to the mountains.
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:10
now got 2k for 30 days offered (last one was same day booking, I made mistake during booking at other hotel and they cancelled, had to quickly find something else - screwed me)
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:10
yeah, but that'd be a lot of time wasted to get to the center and stuff, prefer to pay slightly more for central
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:10
I saw appartments in wan chai for 1000 usd
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:10
just really small :slightly_smiling_face:
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:11
singapore didn't like
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:11
not for me
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:11
the weather is shit, way too hot all the time, even at night
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:11
and city seems boring, people seem boring
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:11
was happy to be gone
simon
2016-11-30 07:13
Singapore is a great place to bank but yeah, not a very exciting place to live. HK is way better, Bangkok too. If you have a Chinese visa, cross the border and go party in Guangdong. Some of the parties there make Bangkok look pretty tame :stuck_out_tongue:
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:14
thoguht about going to shenzhen, then weekend HK, train only seems to be 2h
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:14
and shenzhen rent half the price it seems
simon
2016-11-30 07:14
Shenzhen is a massive city too, lots to do. If you can stomach the shitty internet that is...
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:15
that's whole china, no?
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:15
better in guangdong?
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:15
guangdong province? which city?
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:16
shenzhen is guangdong i thought
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:16
guanghzou?
simon
2016-11-30 07:16
It's pretty bad all over China. If you want a usable connection, get a cross-border SIM card in HK and activate a China plan. You'll have an uncensored connection while in the mainland.
simon
2016-11-30 07:16
Shenzhen is in Guangdong
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:16
k
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:17
which city you like there then? shenzhen? guangzhou?
simon
2016-11-30 07:18
Guangzhou is definitely more interesting than Shenzhen. You get the "true" cantonese culture unlike the migrant culture of Shenzhen. Zuhai is nice too, right next to Macau (very easy to cross the border for the evening to visit the casinos)
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:18
ok
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:18
thanks for the tips :slightly_smiling_face:
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 07:19
let me know i youre in BKK the 12th still
simon
2016-11-30 07:19
will do
rjmarsden
2016-11-30 08:43
Hi @kl5340dc i've just come back from a week in HK on business and whilst i was there i went to Shenzhen and Guangzhou as well. Ask any questions you like but I can confirm with you that the accommodation in HK was very small, in fact too small for me, and I spend most of the UK summers in a caravan :slightly_smiling_face: I stayed in Causeway Bay which is next to Wan Chai and the place was absolutely mental, so noisy, dirty and busy. My favourite of the three places was Guangzhou as it seemed slightly more relaxed than both Shen and HK.
rjmarsden
2016-11-30 08:46
I think a good compromise would be somewhere in the New Territories in HK, I went through there on the train and my friend who was with me said that he stayed in Sheung Shui which looked nice.
rjmarsden
2016-11-30 08:47
I got a good cheap 4G connection everywhere in HK and Guang so not sure on your internet demands but I work in tech and it was fine for me to connect everywhere i needed.
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 08:59
thanks
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 09:00
I was in wan chai 10 days in nov, it was okay area. I was just parallel to the street with the all the whore bars etc. No noise in hotel and was clean. Just expensive thing
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 11:58
so you use 4G dongle with HK sim card in China?
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 11:59
which sim card would that be? And how many gigs do you get/speed? It seems liked you'd run down the gigs quite quickly
simon
2016-11-30 12:16
I use the China Mobile HK cross border prepaid SIM. If you reload it with 300 HKD+ you get a bonus and the data is 5 USD per day (unlimited). The speed is decent, 10-30 mbps.
rjmarsden
2016-11-30 12:24
yes same here, the cross border thing is fairly unique to China Mobile i think, there are loads of shops in Causeway and WanChai that sell them though.
kl5340dc
2016-11-30 13:18
ok tnx
jase
2016-11-30 16:13
Hey @simon, my mate Richie runs a Vietnamese place in Bangkok - if it sounds good to you, it might be worth checking it out: https://web.facebook.com/banhmibothailand/
simon
2016-11-30 16:47
@jase Looks good! Will check it out tomorrow :)
jase
2016-11-30 16:51
Were passwords for the site reset recently @simon? I have mine in my password manager and the site is rejecting me :confused:
agalt
2016-11-30 21:45
Sorry for not looking at where i was posting. Posted in the wrong chat for a reply. :( :(
clr
2016-11-30 22:31
Missed the chat for a few days. I?m also an INTJ. Interesting to see so many NTs here. For some reason I guessed that most people here would be xSTP.
clr
2016-11-30 22:31
@simon Same problem here with passwords for the site.
maxsuur
2016-11-30 23:09
it seems that FS is strangely appealing to INTJS, any other personality type around here?
kl5340dc
2016-12-01 04:46
I think part of is efficiency, INTJ seems to be intersted in efficiency why putting less attention to what people may think
kl5340dc
2016-12-01 04:46
TAx is an inefficiency in the system :slightly_smiling_face:
kl5340dc
2016-12-01 04:46
living abroad easier if you can live by your own and rely less on social input to feel okay, unlike the extroverts
etienne
2016-12-01 05:00
Good point here!
kl5340dc
2016-12-01 06:52
good book on personality types: https://www.amazon.com/Please-Understand-Me-Character-Temperament/dp/0960695400 => helps understanding yourself, also covers which types you mix best with (and which not, helps with relationships for example )
stoplight
2016-12-01 07:37
missed the chat for a few days?not surprising that there are lots of INTJs here.. :slightly_smiling_face: ...
stoplight
2016-12-01 07:39
Bangkok is a great city?shopping..food...are all reasonable.. :slightly_smiling_face: ?can get a bit hot at times though?hotter than here in Manila..lol! :smile: ?but not as hot as Singapore I think?right now HK is enjoying great weather?so best time to go..
simon
2016-12-01 07:42
@jase @clr This is strange, I haven't changed anything with the password system.
simon
2016-12-01 07:43
I will investigate what may be the problem and get back to you two
jase
2016-12-01 09:11
"86% of Millennials put money away each month"
maxsuur
2016-12-01 09:12
What Millenials need is Mentors
maxsuur
2016-12-01 09:14
And less crappy bring-me-coffee internships
jase
2016-12-01 09:14
" half of Millennials say they have no one they trust for financial guidance"
jase
2016-12-01 09:15
"Only 36% talk to their parents about money and just 8% trust financial institutions. Millennials are even 1.3X more likely than Gen Xers/Boomers to turn to a financial advisor"
maxsuur
2016-12-01 09:15
There is a lack of a strong leadership nowadays
jase
2016-12-01 09:15
I'm cynical about a lot of financial advisors, but I have to say - they sound like a smart generation
maxsuur
2016-12-01 09:16
Us, millenials are a reflection of that
jase
2016-12-01 09:16
I never feel as though I fit into these generational names
maxsuur
2016-12-01 09:19
Like it or not we belong to a certain generation, even if we don't share the common values of it
jase
2016-12-01 09:25
Haha, true :slightly_smiling_face:
simon
2016-12-01 11:33
@simon uploaded a file: https://freedomsurfer.slack.com/files/simon/F398QAJ4S/20161201_182948.jpg
simon
2016-12-01 11:33
@jase Stopped by your mate's restaurant. Very good Vietnamese sandwiches.
jase
2016-12-01 13:21
Ah cool @simon! Did you happen to meet Richie?
jase
2016-12-01 13:54
It's been fun watching their progress - they started as a food truck, now have the store, last time we spoke they were considering franchising.
jase
2016-12-01 13:55
They work damn hard, I hope it all goes well.
torsten
2016-12-01 16:30
has joined #general
harvie
2016-12-02 04:27
Never tried them but heard good things from my friends, quite hard to find a good sandwich in BKK due to the lack of bread quality. Le Lapin are also meant to be good and do delivery.
jase
2016-12-07 08:29
Thought this could be of interest to some: http://www.alphadevx.com/a/482-Anton-Kreil-on-the-10-Secrets-to-Achieve-Financial-Success
jase
2016-12-07 08:29
There's a lot of pretentious BS in there - clearly he's selling the lifestyle, but his actual tips are good in my opinion
jase
2016-12-07 08:31
If you skip to around 20 mins in you miss a lot of the crap
maxsuur
2016-12-07 08:50
thanks for sharing
stoplight
2016-12-08 08:21
Hi folks, i?m experimenting with more secure email for personal use..not that I need though..just want to have options..aside from Protonmail, any other services you guys can suggest?
rjmarsden
2016-12-08 09:08
yes there is one more i reviewed, hang on i will just search it out . .
rjmarsden
2016-12-08 09:10
tutanova I have also tried
rjmarsden
2016-12-08 09:10
but i preferred proton
rjmarsden
2016-12-08 09:10
this has some more as well https://freedomhacker.net/list-of-secure-email-providers-that-take-privacy-serious/
maxsuur
2016-12-08 09:35
I also tried tutanota, but ditched it for protonmail. I like it better
stoplight
2016-12-08 09:40
ok great! thanks for the inputs! :slightly_smiling_face:
soebusiness
2016-12-08 10:43
has joined #general
rupyb
2016-12-08 13:33
Hi All, does anyone have a bank account in Hong Kong that they would be willing to give me a referral for?
rupyb
2016-12-08 13:34
We're a new, but fully legit registered HK business, but need a bank account now, and a referral apparently goes a long way according to some of the bankers.
rupyb
2016-12-08 13:35
We have solid proof and history so there would be zero risk to anyone who is keen to help, and I'd be happy to make it worth your while.
rupyb
2016-12-08 13:35
We're specifically looking for an account with Bank of China, ICBC Hong Kong, or China Construction Bank
rupyb
2016-12-08 13:35
But any HK banks at this point would be a great start
trevorjames
2016-12-13 17:33
has joined #general
kl5340dc
2016-12-15 08:35
@simon @rjmarsden you recommended china mobile HK cross corder for access in China. But it seems that card is only for sale in HK. I'm flying from EU to HK next Jan, but with long layover in Beijing to spend some time there without visa hastle. What's best sim in this case?
mescos
2016-12-17 17:25
@simon, just noticing that we can't read Slack messages past October for many channels. Can you upgrade your Slack account so we access to the older archives? After 10k messages, Slack forces you to pay for basic plan or you lose access to past messages. In many channels there is a note from Slack saying: "your team has more than 10,000 messages in its archive, so although there are older messages than are shown below, you can't see them, find out more about upgrading your team.?
maxsuur
2016-12-18 03:41
There's always limitations
maxsuur
2016-12-19 00:31
I was wondering: when do you guys think all of this flag theory thing will go mainstream (if ever)?
agalt
2016-12-19 00:35
it wont. the sheep are too dumb. Hate to admit the human stupidity, however they simply will not learn.
maxsuur
2016-12-19 00:36
I agree. Most people are dumb. I wish they weren't. But that they don't want to learn
maxsuur
2016-12-19 00:36
it's that sad
maxsuur
2016-12-19 00:36
anyway a good understanding of the mass marketing mentality is precious to make tons of moolah
kl5340dc
2016-12-19 04:52
I don't think it's dumb
kl5340dc
2016-12-19 04:52
I think leaving the familiar, friends, family is too hard for most people
kl5340dc
2016-12-19 04:52
it requires a certain mindest
kl5340dc
2016-12-19 04:52
the amount of INTJ types says something
max
2016-12-19 05:27
has joined #general
jase
2016-12-19 07:49
Flag theory is hard. Take diversification of banks across the world. 5 bank accounts in different countries in case of a banking crisis.... There is a strong chance one will be financially better off if they banked with 1 bank in their home country over a lifetime. No flights to countries that deny them bank accounts, much easier to manage, much less stress.
Flag theory is different things to different people. For some it's tax. For others it's freedom of movement (passports).
Just because we value what we do doesn't mean we are right.
However, as @maxsuur said it also has a lot to do with not knowing a different way is available. It's a society thing. From the day we are born we are taught to not inconvenience others, keep our head down and not to rock the boat. It takes a strong (and to others, often painful) person to unlearn what we have been taught and persist on this path.
maxsuur
2016-12-19 08:57
Yesterday I was reading again about personality theory, and "Ns" represent the 25 % of the population, and rationals (NT) somewhere between 5%-10% (ENTJ, INTJ, ENTP, INTP)
maxsuur
2016-12-19 08:58
A very small percentage of society, usually the most influential ones are rationals, and we are over-represented here
maxsuur
2016-12-19 08:59
it is very hard to relate to other groups: artisans, idealists, guardians. As a group we value: competency and knowledge
maxsuur
2016-12-19 09:00
To me, there is no better thing to do than to learn as much as possible to be able to understand this world we live in
josh
2016-12-19 09:01
I think that "not knowing a different way" is why most people or sites who promote flag theory in part or whole, rely so much in fearmongering to get the message out
josh
2016-12-19 09:01
The only way to cut through the mainstream clutter is to be scarier in some way
josh
2016-12-19 09:02
I think the next generation has a much MUCH better sense of a connected world though and will get away from that
josh
2016-12-19 09:04
I doubt it'll ever get mainstream because msm won't stand for it (look at the Panama papers coverage) but hopefully it'll stop being "the sky is falling get a foreign bank account before you die in a FEMA camp!"
josh
2016-12-19 09:04
Being a global nomad is freaking awesome and the world is full of opportunity, is a better message.
josh
2016-12-19 09:05
My .02
maxsuur
2016-12-19 09:06
The thing is that it is having the whole world at your fingertips is very hard to ignore
maxsuur
2016-12-19 09:07
Like airbnb, uber, amazon, if there is a better, cheaper, more efficient, convenient alternative, people will know
maxsuur
2016-12-19 09:08
The fact that you can save up to 50% of taxes while going PT is too tempting too pass on
josh
2016-12-19 09:08
But how many people are into Bitcoin? It's not msm accepted so not nearly as many as one would think
maxsuur
2016-12-19 09:09
Now mainstream banks are pushing hard the app thing (to be able to pay with your phone) to the masses
josh
2016-12-19 09:10
I have many friends in the states who have heard me talking about it for a decade and they just don't care. They're comfortable. Other parts of the world are scary because they are different cultures.
maxsuur
2016-12-19 09:10
Banking is changing and I am sure that bitcoin has to do sonething with that as well
josh
2016-12-19 09:10
Like the guy getting rid of his HK corp and bank account. Just doesn't think the insurance is worth the annual hassle.
josh
2016-12-19 09:11
Yeah banking is changing that is the one danger I see though about this getting TOO mainstream.
maxsuur
2016-12-19 09:11
I know most people won't convert to this lifestyle, especially if they are getting married or having kids- that is the perfect excuse not to
josh
2016-12-19 09:11
After Panama papers it's a lot harder now with KYC
josh
2016-12-19 09:11
Even though it's the best thing for kids
josh
2016-12-19 09:12
Being 3rd culture now with technology would be sooooo much easier than some of us had it. And even more rewarding I think
josh
2016-12-19 09:12
My friends with kids get mad at me because I tell them they are robbing their kids of the best education they could possibly give them
maxsuur
2016-12-19 09:13
Absolutely
maxsuur
2016-12-19 09:14
That'd be a good marketing message @josh
josh
2016-12-19 09:15
I think so. A difficult one for parents to swallow though. But it'll change. Millennial parents are blogging their travels with young kids already and starting to shift them mindset. Give it another decade it'll be quite common I think
maxsuur
2016-12-19 09:19
In the US, families are very used to relocate to another city. Countless films I have watched about the typical teenager landing in a new town and trying to make new friends etc
josh
2016-12-19 09:20
It's seen as a negative though, or a hardship
maxsuur
2016-12-19 09:20
That'd be the case in the near future outside the borders, throwing in a new language and culture and so on
maxsuur
2016-12-19 09:21
It is undeniable it can be hard at first, but overtime things will get easy
josh
2016-12-19 09:21
Kids are extremely adaptable. It's the parents who need to learn :nerd_face:
maxsuur
2016-12-19 09:21
And you inevitable learns
maxsuur
2016-12-19 09:21
*learn
maxsuur
2016-12-19 09:22
Another problem i see is the ease of dating someone new, thanks to the uprise of dating apps such : tinder
maxsuur
2016-12-19 09:23
So, american dad and mum getting into Ukraine for a year or two for their kid to learn Russian
maxsuur
2016-12-19 09:23
And then Dad getting to know a young beatifuk ukrainian woman
josh
2016-12-19 09:23
You mean tinder is a solution :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:
josh
2016-12-19 09:24
Oh haha I see where you were going with it
josh
2016-12-19 09:24
Yeah true
maxsuur
2016-12-19 09:24
Hahaa
maxsuur
2016-12-19 09:24
It can work both ways though
maxsuur
2016-12-19 09:25
Scary world we head to, but equally exciting. It is a great time to be alive :)
josh
2016-12-19 09:26
Yes it is! An incredible time
josh
2016-12-19 09:26
Garyvee has been hammering that lately, I enjoy his rants
maxsuur
2016-12-19 09:27
He is ENTJ haha
maxsuur
2016-12-19 09:27
In-your-face style
josh
2016-12-19 09:28
He's great
josh
2016-12-19 09:28
It's what needs to be said in a non-political way
josh
2016-12-19 09:28
Not just to younger people to everyone
maxsuur
2016-12-19 09:29
I agree
maxsuur
2016-12-19 09:29
He says many truths
jase
2016-12-19 11:11
@maxsuur have you heard of the 12 archetypes? I've always figured the INTJ is the Sage. http://www.soulcraft.co/essays/the_12_common_archetypes.html
jase
2016-12-19 11:14
I'm sure there will always be some offshore underworld going on, but for legal tax minimization I suspect the days are numbered. They're doing the ground work with surveillance laws now.
jase
2016-12-19 11:15
Which part was the problem? :joy:
maxsuur
2016-12-19 12:13
Hahaha, probably the wife threatening to get the kids back to america and end up the international traveler lifestyle @jase
maxsuur
2016-12-19 12:14
@jase: legal tax minimization: days are numbered? So you think all what we are talking here is coming to an end?
maxsuur
2016-12-19 12:16
Misunderstood your statement. You mean the shady offshore world is coming to an end. I agree.
jase
2016-12-19 12:20
I think the grey areas are coming to an end. Hidden money are ending.
maxsuur
2016-12-19 12:21
And crypto-currencies being an increasingly better substitute for that
maxsuur
2016-12-19 12:21
Stashing bitcoins hidden somewhere in the vast of abyss of thw internet
stoplight
2016-12-21 09:55
Hi ?need your suggestions..
our firm is planning something for 2017 which may involve registering an NGO/non-profit?this NGO will not be used as a vehicle to solicit donations rather as an organization that will promote certain subject matters and will be funded by our firm and a few other persons?we?re at a dilemma as to where we should register this NGO/non-profit?as it will most likely be doing activities in numerous countries in the Asian region, South Pacific region and Caribbean region?it?s simply ridiculously expensive to register in several countries in these regions?initially..we were thinking of registering it in the U.S. but maintenance and annual reporting can get tedious?we were thinking of registering in the UK as they have a relatively easier registration and maintenance process?any thoughts?
djoneverett
2016-12-21 11:08
has joined #general
agalt
2016-12-21 11:59
Montenegro is fairly laid back when it comes to ngo requirements. Ill ask the person i work with there and get back to you @stoplight
rjmarsden
2016-12-26 08:14
Hi @stoplight my wife and I are involved with a uk charity and it is fairly easy to administer in our opinion. See link below for more info on options available http://www.resourcecentre.org.uk/information/legal-structures-for-not-for-profit-organisations/
petr.novak
2016-12-27 09:29
has joined #general
remy
2016-12-27 10:31
has joined #general
stevaebasta
2016-12-27 17:20
Hi Simon, i ve got a problem logging into inside club, after you upgraded i cant get in anymore! Can you check for me please? thks
alex
2016-12-27 23:54
has joined #general
jase
2016-12-28 08:42
Interesting to see a lot of economy flights leaving Europe now have 0% points earn on Asiana.
ahawkins
2016-12-28 10:36
has joined #general
ahawkins
2016-12-28 10:36
:wave:
ahawkins
2016-12-28 12:35
@simon someone feedback for you. I never received a confirmation email after completing the purchase via paypal. A welcome email would be good as well :slightly_smiling_face:
philippe
2016-12-28 14:28
has joined #general
maxsuur
2016-12-28 15:16
Freedom Surfer is on fire! Lots of new members :) wilkommen, bienvenidos, welcome, bienvenues!
agalt
2016-12-28 15:49
welcome!
simon
2016-12-28 16:03
@ahawkins That's a good idea. PayPal usually sends a receipt but I will see if there's a way to personalise it with the membership info.
maxsuur
2016-12-28 16:11
That is usually referred as to "customer onboarding process" you can often automate it eiter with some membership software or with an email marketing platform such "Active Campaign" which I highly recommend @simon
philippe
2016-12-28 16:12
As well as Drip, Mailchimp? and maybe Mautic if you want to have fun
maxsuur
2016-12-28 16:13
Mautic.. to experimental. The other two, not as robust as AC
philippe
2016-12-28 16:14
I?ll check it then
maxsuur
2016-12-28 16:14
And for the price... it is the best. You can thank me later ;)
philippe
2016-12-28 16:14
integrations ?
maxsuur
2016-12-28 16:15
Most of them
maxsuur
2016-12-28 16:15
And if use zapier... you got it all
philippe
2016-12-28 16:16
You know the founders?
maxsuur
2016-12-28 16:16
Not personally
maxsuur
2016-12-28 16:17
They have been doing the email marketing thing for a long time
simon
2016-12-28 16:17
@maxsuur Will look it up, thanks :)
maxsuur
2016-12-28 16:17
And there is a lot room for growth
maxsuur
2016-12-28 16:17
You are welcome @simon
maxsuur
2016-12-28 16:18
The good thing with AC is that it is very easy to automate the whole sales process (through triggering automated emails based on user behavior)
philippe
2016-12-28 16:19
Deliverability is good for any country/language?
maxsuur
2016-12-28 16:29
Klingon is not yet included. But for the rest is good enough
maxsuur
2016-12-28 16:29
:)
philippe
2016-12-28 16:41
:wink:
philippe
2016-12-28 16:59
should we try to respect the channels topics? :stuck_out_tongue:
maxsuur
2016-12-28 17:23
As a general rule we do.. laissez faire...
philippe
2016-12-28 17:37
:stuck_out_tongue:
sherice
2016-12-29 04:18
has joined #general
americanomad
2016-12-31 00:08
has joined #general
ahawkins
2016-12-31 03:18
Which podcasts does everyone listen to?
harvie
2016-12-31 03:22
Joe Rogan.
jase
2016-12-31 09:30
Tropical MBA
jase
2016-12-31 09:30
Sometimes Six Pixels of Separation
maxsuur
2016-12-31 10:51
The Voluntary Life by Jack Desyllas
maxsuur
2016-12-31 10:51
Incredibly packed with good information
jase
2016-12-31 13:51
Cheers @maxsuur I hadn't heard of that before. Seems good so far.
maxsuur
2016-12-31 13:53
You are welcome
jase
2016-12-31 13:54
?Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you are still paying for - in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car, and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it.? - Ellen Goodman :joy:
maxsuur
2016-12-31 14:14
Bukowski had something similar
maxsuur
2016-12-31 14:14
Haha
maxsuur
2016-12-31 14:19
@maxsuur uploaded a file: https://freedomsurfer.slack.com/files/maxsuur/F3L432Y8K/image_uploaded_from_ios.jpg
jase
2016-12-31 14:28
:smile:
maxsuur
2016-12-31 21:58
Happy New year to all freedom seekers and surfers of the world
ahawkins
2017-01-01 05:48
:confetti_ball:
philippe
2017-01-01 10:35
All the best for 2017!
jase
2017-01-01 13:23
HNY all! Many happy adventures to you.
petrsuska
2017-01-02 12:29
has joined #general
dawn
2017-01-02 21:59
has joined #general
alistair
2017-01-03 13:54
Any advice on how to get a us phone number to use with us online banking (for a non us resident obviously). I guess I need to be able to receive sms worldwide for authentication.
On this article @simon mentions Twilio but http://Twilio.com seems to be about building apps. I'm not sure how to proceed.
alistair
2017-01-03 13:56
Looks like I'm finally heading to New York to try to open up a US bank account. I'm reading that Capital One and Wells Fargo are the easiest to open without a SSN.
maxsuur
2017-01-03 13:56
As far as I remember: google phone and hushed
maxsuur
2017-01-03 13:56
Are a couple of options for that matter
alistair
2017-01-03 13:57
But does anyone have any tips for specific banks to look at. Especially since I'll probably have some deposits sitting in the account for a while.
alistair
2017-01-03 13:58
I struggled with Google voice for a while already then gave up.
lenard
2017-01-03 14:00
@alistair we opened bank account at Bank of America, we are not resident but have SSN number. I can recommend it was fast. I use hushed and looks good but I don't get the text message from BoA don't know why.
alistair
2017-01-03 14:01
@lenard from what I've read usually the SSN is the biggest hurdle
alistair
2017-01-03 14:03
@lenard it's not required legally but not all bank staff are sure about it
alistair
2017-01-03 14:08
@lenard so can you use your online banking from BoA without a phone number?
alexanderhay
2017-01-03 15:46
Indeed without a SSN and physical presence at the bank, opening a bank account at BofA (or any other US bank) is just about impossible. There are solutions, but they are not that easy.
lenard
2017-01-03 16:07
Whit stripe atlas you can create a company and they open a business account at Silicon Valley bank.
lenard
2017-01-03 16:10
@alistair: if you don't want to transfer international using the bank than is fine. We live on the road and use transferwise to transfer money to other account. I use the BoA debit card here in Vietnam to get money from the account. We created a business in Wyoming as @simon suggested. But still have to double check the taxes.
alistair
2017-01-03 16:16
@lenard my plan would be to transfer the money using transferwise so thinking about it, maybe I don't need phone authorization. Not really sure how online banking works in the US. I've booked my flight so I'll report back here if I manage to get something setup :slightly_smiling_face:
I'll probably be trying Capital One on 3rd Ave NY 10017 since I read about non-residents opening accounts in this branch.
rjmarsden
2017-01-03 16:28
hi @alistair I got all excited at the mention of Twilio then! (I work in the telecoms industry) But i think your question is more about finding a suitable telephone service to use when calling a US bank. I have used several over the years, but a Skype In/Out number is very hard to beat in terms of cost and ease of set-up for both voice and SMS.
alistair
2017-01-03 16:30
@rjmarsden in the UK here I don't think I've ever called my bank ) I do everything with online banking and that's how I will operate with my US bank. But I read that sometimes you need an SMS to authorise use of the online banking. That's why I was thinking about a US number. Also I just want to be as best prepared as I can be for the application.
philippe
2017-01-03 16:30
Skype In SMS does not work in certain countries :disappointed:
lenard
2017-01-03 17:32
@alistair: BoA offered to send a token instead of using the sms but as we are on the road this wasn't an option. Why do you need a US bank account?
alistair
2017-01-03 17:35
@lenard mainly because of earnings from Amazon Associates. The choices are to get paid via cheque which can mean waiting up to 5 months to get the money and I need to take a cheque to a bank account. Or via Payoneer which means high processing fees.
lenard
2017-01-03 17:36
Ok that makes sens
alexanderhay
2017-01-03 18:17
Well be careful. Even if you get your US bank account opened, you will probably still have problems with PayPal or any other US based payment processing service due to FATCA rules. http://www.alexander-hay.com/disregarded-entity-vs-taxable-association-what-is-the-best-way-to-structure-your-llc/
alistair
2017-01-03 18:51
@alexanderhay I don't need paypal or any payment processing. I just need to be able to receive ach deposits direct from Amazon to the account. They currently do this to the US payments service that payoneer provides.
alistair
2017-01-03 18:51
If anyone else wants to chime in with any words of wisdom I'd be grateful :slightly_smiling_face:
alistair
2017-01-03 18:54
Glad you guys are here... all this stuff does my head in )))
alistair
2017-01-03 18:54
@alexanderhay thanks for that link!
alexanderhay
2017-01-03 20:01
Amazon is a payment service. They require the same information that PayPal, et al require.
david99
2017-01-03 22:29
@alistair, to share my experience :
1) I saw AT & T SimCard pack available at JFK airport for about $20. You can get this if you are flying to this airport. Else, you can easily get a simcard from the grocery stores. Activate roaming before you leave the US. T-mobile roaming does not work for me after leaving the US.
2) Use this app (talkU) to get a US number for free or at very low cost. However this number usually can't receive sms. Sometimes the bank provides call back option if you can't get sms.
I hardly need the US number while using my TD bank account. All online operations need no sms verification. Occasionally they do call me to verify some online transfers or to get my feedback for their survey. Once they failed to reach me and blocked my online access until I called them to verify a transfer.
lenard
2017-01-04 11:27
@simon when do you have time for a meeting I have some questions related US company taxation. I need some answers 5 months went by since I have the US company and I need some answers to important questions. Thanks
alistair
2017-01-04 11:58
@david99 thanks David
stoplight
2017-01-05 06:28
Just got back online after a couple of weeks of being disconnected?enjoyed the holidays too much! lols! :smile: ?.happy new year to all!
stoplight
2017-01-05 06:32
Hi @alistair ..i?ve been using magicjack for several years now?it is my official US number?I receive calls and sms with their app on my ipad & iphone?if i?m offline?all calls go to voicemail?it works anywhere in the world where I can get internet connection?just $99 for a 5 year subscription..you may or may not use the hardware anymore?I use the app to call unlimited to all US/Canadian numbers and top-up some credits if I need to call somewhere else and ?need? the receiver to see my US number...
stoplight
2017-01-05 06:35
It?s actually registered as a backup number with my Citibank account?and I regularly use it to send SMS to friends and relatives in the US & Canada?another positive is you can choose which state you want to have your number from?.
stoplight
2017-01-05 06:38
If you want a free option..there?s an app/service called Textnow..you technically get a ?free? US number but you can?t choose which state and you must use it regularly so they don?t cancel your account?I have a Textnow number as a backup when magicjack gets fuzzy?downside..textnow sometimes sends delayed SMS to receivers?then again..can?t argue with free service? https://www.textnow.com/downloads
tkrunning
2017-01-05 20:51
has joined #general
philippe
2017-01-06 10:30
Anyone has airport lounge hacks? :slightly_smiling_face: (for notsofrequent travellers)
rjmarsden
2017-01-06 10:46
hi @philippe not a hack as such but i have bought dragonpass previously if I have a decent layover somewhere, you get your first pass free i think https://en.dragonpass.com.cn/ #tools
alistair
2017-01-06 13:00
@stoplight Thanks man ) I setup up using Sonetel in the end. They forward any sms to my email.
stoplight
2017-01-06 13:21
@alistair no worries! :slightly_smiling_face: I almost signed up with Sonetel before but found magicjack to be better? :slightly_smiling_face:
kl5340dc
2017-01-06 14:23
@rjmarsden you pay per access with dragonpass?
rjmarsden
2017-01-06 15:16
yes that is correct, from memory they do bundles though which can be worthwhile. On my last HK/China trip I went to 4/5 lounges over a weeks period and I think the pass cost �50 in total
agalt
2017-01-06 15:18
lounges are awesome. It is a big plus to stay halfway sane while traveling. The Sphinx lounge in Doha Qatar is pretty awesome if you fly through there on your way to Georgia or Zagreb Croatia
ace01
2017-01-07 01:15
has joined #general
kl5340dc
2017-01-07 03:42
I have access to plaza lounges through hsbc card, when I finally have the visa signature should get more
kl5340dc
2017-01-07 03:43
to me biggest benefit of the lounge is the saving in money on food?drinks at the airport, which is usually super expensive and shit quality
kl5340dc
2017-01-07 03:43
lounge is not always that good food either, but at least free
jase
2017-01-07 18:06
Which lounges are they John? I thought there were only 4 attached to HSBC? Guessing they have some sharing going on..
kl5340dc
2017-01-08 06:44
i'm here now in plaza lounge in hk airport, free with hsbc business card. Shitty food quality, the place is dark (its like a night bar or so), no great views. But showers, wifi. Lots of people here all the time, queues to get in
kl5340dc
2017-01-08 06:44
the visa signature card that I should be getting soon will get me access to 500 lounges. not as good as city privilege card but improvement on hsbc.
kl5340dc
2017-01-08 06:46
hsbc business card is limited access. Could not enter in lounge in doha using it, need premier for that (this bothered me that I didnt take them on premier offer at hsbc, maybe later). Doha offered pass for 50$ or so? Idiots, not going to pay for $50 for just a private chair and some food.
kl5340dc
2017-01-08 07:26
I might have misunderstood, but there were ads here on their tv screens about their new plaza lounges in shanghai and taipei. Maybe not part of hsbc biz card offer
agalt
2017-01-08 10:21
the doha sphinx lounge is not bad. the lounges in the Moscow airport are quite nice as well
ahawkins
2017-01-08 11:58
also it would be really cool to have a freedomsurfer podcast :slightly_smiling_face: :slightly_smiling_face:
agalt
2017-01-08 12:03
Honest opinion: I made the mistake of doing business with him. Paid him to set up a Nevis IBC... It took 4 months and was setup incorrectly... $5,000 wasted, paid him for a Georgian residency package and the lawyer he works with recomended a bank that his friends were on the board of... a few months later the bank gets shut down for money laundering. I rented an apartment from his company because it was cheap. The wifi took a month to get installed, there was no electricity for 4 days one month, and the lawyer managing the property took weeks to get a legal document back to me. I WILL NOT DO BUSINESS WITH HIM (is the nice answer)
agalt
2017-01-08 12:05
He owes a friend of mine thousands of dollars, and threatens to sue him if he comes out and tells the truth about how he does business.
maxsuur
2017-01-08 12:45
That guy Andrew Henderson, although is undoubtedly an interesting and controversial character is earning himself a really bad rap. I suspect long term things are not going to play out well for him. He could keep scamming new customers, but what about repeated customer purchases? I believe that there will be none. And as all of experienced marketers know, the real profit resides in the backend
josh
2017-01-08 12:49
Is there anybody with a flawless reputation in the industry though? I've heard stories about pretty much everyone, seems it comes with the territory but also a lot may just be hearsay. Although if you personally got screwed by someone that's much more substantial than 3rd person rumor.
josh
2017-01-08 12:51
It's the offshore / emerging market world though. The rules are very different (if there are any). I'm by no means defending anybody's wrongdoing but it's a different world.
agalt
2017-01-08 12:52
its hard. for so long I didn't say much publicly about it, but this last year was a repeat of bad experiences with him. I wouldn't come out like that, however. It was a lot of bad advice that cost me a "lot" of money. about 20,000 usd this year.
josh
2017-01-08 12:52
I haven't heard anything bad ever about @simon though so good job there :smile::innocent:
maxsuur
2017-01-08 12:53
It is just you keep hearing bad comments about him all of the time. In his favour, he is very good at marketing and differentiating himself. That I appreciate. There is some sort of mistery around him as well. He said he run several businesses. Which ones?
maxsuur
2017-01-08 12:53
He also recommended a offshore hosting company which I bought, and it was the worst decision ever
maxsuur
2017-01-08 12:53
Almost 10 months of headaches
josh
2017-01-08 12:54
Yeah man @agalt if you got screwed directly that sucks. Sorry to hear that.
agalt
2017-01-08 12:54
@simon is awesome and took me under his wing and introdcued me to this community which was a breath of fresh air.
agalt
2017-01-08 12:57
to be fair, the motivation for helping people with tax packages, landing packages, and general travel products was a result of the experience with andrew henderson/ nomad capitalist. So technically I am thankful he pointed me in this direction because I really enjoy helping people with @alexanderhay with taxes and asset protection
josh
2017-01-08 12:57
The thing is for some - maybe many - of these guys they make their money off mass subscriptions and it's people who live in the US or some western country who will likely never take action but they pay for the info anyway for various reasons. So screwing people who actually take action is extremely shortsighted, but it doesn't seem to impact their bottom line.
josh
2017-01-08 12:58
That's great @agalt because it's precisely the opposite of the mass-market subscription model and you're actually doing a genuine service for doers, not just readers.
maxsuur
2017-01-08 12:58
Reputation is everything in business. One needs to take really good care of it
josh
2017-01-08 12:59
I agree with that 100% in principle but it seems like if you get big enough that doesn't play out in reality. Case in point: POTUS Trump!
agalt
2017-01-08 13:02
people ask me if im real or something and i tell them to call me on viber and ill show them my face on camera with viber in Tbilisi. They still have trouble believing you are real... due to the stereotypes in this industry
josh
2017-01-08 13:04
Yeah. Because for so long it has been all mysterious. Still important to be smart but considering everyone is tracked and in various databases, better to keep it clean and be genuine.
agalt
2017-01-08 13:04
I love what I do to be honest. Some people are comming in and I get to pick out the best resturants, cafes, and entertainment in the city, nice apartments, deliver fresh produce from the markets to their apartments so they dont need to waste time with that.
josh
2017-01-08 13:04
That's really cool. And great value.
agalt
2017-01-08 13:07
plus its hard to walk into a grocerie store in tbilisi and say: "give me: 1 kilogram of salmon, 3 red onions, a bag of golden skin potatoes, some parsley, olive oil, fresh garlic, a bag of lemons, and your best bottle of dry red wine, a couple of bars of dark chocolate and a couple loaves of fresh baked, bread, smoked sausage, and good aged cheese... in 10 minutes please"
josh
2017-01-08 13:11
That made me hungry
josh
2017-01-08 13:11
Why is it hard?
josh
2017-01-08 13:11
Language barrier?
agalt
2017-01-08 13:11
they generally have a problem with the language
agalt
2017-01-08 13:12
and they don't want to give you the best sometimes
agalt
2017-01-08 13:12
there is this idea that if something is too expensive for them they don't want you to buy it also
agalt
2017-01-08 13:12
so it is easier to have a local do shopping for you sometimes.
josh
2017-01-08 13:13
Different. I'm used to them just charging a lot more. So locals can buy expensive stuff but not foreigners?
agalt
2017-01-08 13:13
in Batumi near the sea i just message a contractor on viber and ask her to go get what is needed for clients. buys the stuff and sends me the bill
agalt
2017-01-08 13:14
it is very strange. they will sell it to you, but there is a mental barrier for some of them
josh
2017-01-08 13:14
What kind of margin do you make on that?
josh
2017-01-08 13:14
If you don't mind me asking?
agalt
2017-01-08 13:14
for instance, the smaller stores have better produce and meat, so the language barrier is hard
josh
2017-01-08 13:15
Makes sense
agalt
2017-01-08 13:15
if you want lamb for instance, the good lamb is not always at the big brand stores
agalt
2017-01-08 13:15
or if you want goat also
josh
2017-01-08 13:16
Man it sounds like Georgians eat well
agalt
2017-01-08 13:16
it is a great place to eat if you are a foodie.
agalt
2017-01-08 13:17
they eat like italians and sit there for a couple hours at big meals eating. the trick is washing it down with red wine and coffee
josh
2017-01-08 13:17
I've noticed that on your Instagram! :smiley:
agalt
2017-01-08 13:17
i love this country. it is a great place for food
josh
2017-01-08 13:17
Where does their wine come from?
agalt
2017-01-08 13:18
6,000 year old tradition from different regions
agalt
2017-01-08 13:18
some produce white, and some red
agalt
2017-01-08 13:18
they have stone carvings describing the wine production
josh
2017-01-08 13:19
Wow so it's local? I wouldn't have thought they grew it locally
agalt
2017-01-08 13:19
it is all local here unless you go to a big store and want to buy french or italian wine
agalt
2017-01-08 13:20
you can buy it in 2 lieter coca cola bottles outside the subway stations for less than 5 dollars
agalt
2017-01-08 13:21
there is a video of the gori caves on my facebook @josh
agalt
2017-01-08 13:22
ill upload it to instagram if anyone wants to see it
josh
2017-01-08 13:24
Damn do they export anywhere? Thousands of years of tradition can be marketed somewhere! I see the same wines everywhere, it's like soft drinks.
agalt
2017-01-08 13:24
i have an import/ export company here if you wanted to get into business doing that
agalt
2017-01-08 13:25
there is no tax on exported goods
agalt
2017-01-08 13:26
we rescheduled the ski event for march and could do a wine tour of the country while people are here
josh
2017-01-08 13:26
Would be interesting to look at. One of my exes uncle imported tons of wine from Chile to Costa Rica and Dominican Republic
ahawkins
2017-01-08 13:26
agalt: .... 20,000 ... lord! That's a ton of money. What kind of business are you in? Thanks for the feedback FYI. I'm looking for someone to help me get my affairs in order and came across him.
josh
2017-01-08 13:27
Nice - I might be able to come in March, Jan wouldn't work.
agalt
2017-01-08 13:27
charter a mercedes bus and see the country's vinyards
agalt
2017-01-08 13:27
@ahawkins I can help. Send me a pm
josh
2017-01-08 13:27
Do you have details on the event? Dates and cost etc?
agalt
2017-01-08 13:27
yeah, send me a pm
ahawkins
2017-01-08 13:28
agalt thanks so much :slightly_smiling_face: will do
ahawkins
2017-01-08 13:29
seems like you all are dealing with so much more money than I am
ahawkins
2017-01-08 13:30
It's inspiring
josh
2017-01-08 13:31
There is a wide range but the lifestyle and setting things up can be done step by step in a way that works for pretty much anyone willing to go for it. Especially now with it so much easier to work / earn location independent
agalt
2017-01-08 13:31
I made a good living last year, but this offshore stuff does not need to be expensive. A solid foundation is important.
josh
2017-01-08 13:32
Although it sounds like the way y'all eat in Georgia it's a high-roller diet at the very least! :wink:
agalt
2017-01-08 13:41
it is not as expensive as many think to eat here. fly in from Sofia Bulgaria for 10 euros to kutiesi, and take the chartered Mercedes Bus to Tbilisi for another 10 euros and grab an apartment for the month for 300-400 usd
ahawkins
2017-01-08 13:45
Anthony Bourdain did a parts unknown episode on Georgia it was really interesting. That region is really interesting. How's the Russian influence?
agalt
2017-01-08 13:49
yeah he has an awesome show
agalt
2017-01-08 13:49
:slightly_smiling_face:
agalt
2017-01-08 13:49
it is a mix of everything here. Asian + european + russian
ahawkins
2017-01-08 13:53
I'm happy I joined this group. It's a mix of like minded people :confetti_ball:
agalt
2017-01-08 13:54
great people :slightly_smiling_face:
ahawkins
2017-01-08 13:59
that's why I asked if anyone was in some master mind groups. I'm trying to really to get things going for me in 2017. Being around like minded people is a real boost. :slightly_smiling_face: At this point I'm a serial expat but I want to move back to the self-employed game with more focus on my business (particularly software consulting and SaaS construction).
princevaliant
2017-01-08 21:40
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stoplight
2017-01-09 06:48
@ahawkins had a bad experience with andrew henderson/nomadcapitalist as well..not as bad as @agalt ?didn?t lose money but definitely lost respect for his bullcrap feeling know-it-all without a first hand experience?for the longest time he was harping the second citizenship song..only to find out that the SOB doesn?t even have connections on the ground! How do I know? Well, thanks to him?i?ve met a lot of folks from the Caribbean?and i?m Dominican now?so stay away from that Andrew SOB?haha?.i?m glad that Simon connected me to this great group as well?who are all pretty much trying to help each other which is what the nomad community should be?and not just a one-man show that thinks he knows it all when in fact he probably takes it off from some other people online?one think for sure though..he knows how to market and scam people with subscription money? :joy:
stoplight
2017-01-09 06:51
@ahawkins there?s a lot of good people here with experience in many countries plus of course Simon is always good help as always...
ahawkins
2017-01-09 07:19
@stoplight thanks for the info.
ahawkins
2017-01-09 07:20
Personally I'm less keen on the "screw the government" angle he talks about it. I'm more aligned with personal freedom in life and movement. Taxes are always going to be there. Sure they can be minimized but it's not a major concern for me.
kl5340dc
2017-01-09 07:26
his podcasts always gave me an impression that the guy was struggling with his biz, too hard sell.
kl5340dc
2017-01-09 07:27
seemed to be begging to get people to his seminars
ahawkins
2017-01-09 08:38
he changed the podcast format up a bit. Now h'e doing guest + interview format in 2017. The last episode was good. More talks with people instead of at people.
ahawkins
2017-01-09 08:38
I'm always looking for more podcasts around location independence, nomadism, and friends
jase
2017-01-09 09:59
+1 the value of this community is that no one is selling anything, just people giving advice.
jase
2017-01-09 10:00
Maybe we need a no solicitation rule? Not very libertarian though :slightly_smiling_face:
maxsuur
2017-01-09 10:50
+1
maxsuur
2017-01-09 10:52
@ahawkins check out this one: "The Voluntary Life" by Jack Desyllas. There's is tons of value on the podcast. I used to listen to it while boxing. ahaha.
ahawkins
2017-01-09 11:27
let's have a look
saskia
2017-01-09 11:41
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maxsuur
2017-01-09 13:05
@ahawkins: nomadcapitalist is using the strategy of having a common enemy (the govt) in his marketing efforts, and that usually sells well
ahawkins
2017-01-09 13:36
@maxsuur sure, it's an easy pitch. Personally I don't see government as an enemy.
maxsuur
2017-01-09 14:02
Well, probably not your best friend either. :p how do you see it? @ahawkins
simon
2017-01-09 14:12
@maxsuur I see the government as a referee and we as the players. As long as we play fair, by the rules, we have nothing to fear from the referee. For sure there are some countries where the government is more akin to a criminal organization than to a referee but that is the exception rather than the norm.
ahawkins
2017-01-09 14:35
@maxsuur I'm a strange combination of libertarian and socialist. I think the government's job is to ensure a level playing field and provides all citizens equal means to succeed. Personally I think the government should maintain and improve things required for all people such as infrastructure and health care while imposing no limits on individual freedom. Individuals should be free to proceed whatever they want as long as they are not inhibiting other's ability to do the same.
ahawkins
2017-01-09 14:38
I like what I saw about from the swedish government while living there. I've heard good things about Singapore as well.
ahawkins
2017-01-09 14:39
The US is a horrid mix of corporatocracy that provides little value to the majority of citizens
ahawkins
2017-01-09 14:39
it's an absolute shame that people go hungry or lack clean water in the united states
ahawkins
2017-01-09 14:40
I've been abroad now for almost 6 years. I still pay some tax to the US yet all I get is a passport. There is no real value for me. The tax I pay is not used wisely. It's a shame really.
ahawkins
2017-01-09 14:41
i don't mind paying tax as long as there is value in it. There certainly is no value from tax in the US.
ahawkins
2017-01-09 14:42
perhaps my position would be that government should be run by the people with the goal of constantly raising the floor for universal human rights
ahawkins
2017-01-09 14:43
I'd like to see politicans deprecated but I don't know how that could happen without a fundamental change in the human perspective
maxsuur
2017-01-09 15:05
@simon: It's interesting to see the government as a referee. Never thought of it this way. About internationalizing oneself, i see it like some kind of using foreign countries policies to create your own customized game in the most advantageous way. So, I can see the player as a catalyst of the game itself molding it to what's best for him.
maxsuur
2017-01-09 15:09
@ahawkins: i have changed my views on the government over the years. The best definition of government I found through reading "Anatomy of the State" by Murray Rothbard. So spot on. I think it sort of depends of how idealistic/realistic one is, and personal experience as well.
agalt
2017-01-09 15:53
If anyone here is in the software business here and is looking for information on the tax free software export rules in Georgia, the information on this is available in english: http://newzone.mof.ge/en
alexanderhay
2017-01-09 16:37
@agalt , yes this is one of the nicer items in Georgia. And it is not limited to software. Anything remotely related to "IT" will be approved.
alexanderhay
2017-01-09 16:40
Definition of IT: "IT is the process of research, development, support, design, production and implementation of computer and information systems; as a result, various software products are in place." Can't get too much broader than that.
skat
2017-01-10 13:24
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skat
2017-01-10 13:31
Hello!
jjlm
2017-01-12 22:36
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danz
2017-01-13 04:23
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alistair
2017-01-15 15:45
A guy I know is headed back to Malta next week to set up residency there :wink: :wink:
One of the requirements to qualify for Ordinary Residency is to be physically in Malta for a minimum of 183 days..
His question is this... since Malta is in the Schengen area how would Malta know if "my friend" met this requirement or not?
He will rent an apartment in Malta all year round, he'll be paying bills year round... he does intend to use Malta as a base but is a bit concerned he might get a bit bored.
He'd like to know that visiting larger cities in the Schengen isn't going to raise any flags if it ended up being more than 183 days.
I can only think if the Maltese government check with the airlines about ticket sales information or something? Do airlines supply passenger information about travelers moving with Schengen countries?
tkrunning
2017-01-15 16:29
I?m no expert on Malta, but I think the Maltese government is okay with that as long as ?your friend? does not spend more than 183 days in any one country other than Malta.
I assume he?s from an EEA country or Switzerland?
tkrunning
2017-01-15 16:31
Anyway, I?m not sure what the airlines report to Maltese governments for travel within Schengen. I think it varies from country to country in Europe, but in many cases I don?t think they report anything automatically. I guess the government would get access to passenger records if legally needed/requested.
tkrunning
2017-01-15 16:32
Anyway, I would be interested in a definitive answer to this question, as I?m considering moving my tax residency to Malta as well. :slightly_smiling_face:
alistair
2017-01-15 17:07
Yeah he's from the UK like me. They are quite clear that for ordinary residence they want you to physically reside in Malta for at least 183 days and make it your main place of residence. When I traveled from Malta to Budapest last year the only person that looked at my passport was the airlines staff at boarding. It made me wonder if and how they would know if you didn't meet the 183 day requirement.
tkrunning
2017-01-15 17:10
https://www.academia.edu/11744329/Domicile_and_Residence_in_the_Maltese_Tax_System This is an interesting read :slightly_smiling_face:
tkrunning
2017-01-15 17:22
Especially the chapters on residency? To me it sounds like you could be ordinarily resident even if you?re only spending a few months per year in Malta, as long as you do it regularly, year after year. But I?m sure a local paper-pusher will follow the 183 days guideline? But I doubt they?ll have access to your travel history within the Schengen area anyhow.
And once you?re granted the status, do you know if you have to continue to renew it (e.g. yearly)?
jase
2017-01-15 18:04
In these situations it's not a problem until it is. Theoretically so long as they are making money from him they won't care, but other EU nations may put pressure on the country to begin caring.
jase
2017-01-15 18:05
If this happens, it'll likely be up to him to retroactively prove his time spent in Malta
jase
2017-01-15 18:05
I.e. take photos, keep receipts, use Maltese credit cards regularly, etc
maxsuur
2017-01-15 19:13
I may do the malta thing as well.
yuli
2017-01-16 06:35
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ace01
2017-01-16 20:17
It's a beautiful island but you can practically see it all in a couple of weeks. Also if your planning on dealing with the government, allow a lot of time... I applied for citizenship by descent 20 months ago and still waiting lol
stoplight
2017-01-17 01:14
From what i?ve heard on the grapevine...Malta is making it more difficult for people to become residents there specially if you?re not an EU national since they launched the Global Residency Programme which is targeted to persons of means?they are still however issuing..as far as I know anyway?visas for Economically Self-Sufficient Persons or Retirees?which i?m sure if you have one..you don?t need to stay there 183 days of the year?
...normally for tax purposes?.establishing ties and domicile?are always the best way to say that you?re a resident of any place, Malta or otherwise. Proving that you are "staying there??means a permanent residential address?an annual flat contract?a bank account coupled with bills from local services like water, power, internet, mobile phone etc...allows you to establish permanent residency in a country and use that to showcase not only to that country?s government but also your own wherever you?re coming from?
here are some websites form Malta?.
https://ird.gov.mt/regulations/grp.aspx
https://integration.gov.mt/en/ResidenceAndVisas/Pages/Economically-Self-Sufficient-Persons-Pensioners-Retired-Persons.aspx
stoplight
2017-01-17 01:30
In my opinion..if you can apply for the Global Residence Programme?then you should?because it has special tax advantages compared to if you were an ordinary resident of Malta?part of the program is to prove that you can show an annual lease of less than $10,000?if you intend to stay in Malta several months a year..its actually not a bad thing?according to the rules...you aren?t allowed to have anyone else stay in your leased property other than dependents/family or ?household staff??.and you can?t have it sub-leased either?but if you can have a permanent ?household staff? live there full time?and he/she has the empty rooms AIRBNB?d while your not there?well?you get the picture.. :wink: ?.at the moment..its an open loophole? :wink:
stoplight
2017-01-17 01:47
Downside is the annual flat tax of 15,000 Euro I think?so again..there are pros & cons to this program?.for those who are bold enough to go to Asia...other options for easy residency?are the Malaysia ?My Second Home Program" and the Philippines "Special Resident Retiree?s Visa? for anyone 35 years old and above?relatively easier than the Malta program as you just need to put some money in a bank account that you will maintain?.and as resident foreigner in both countries, you can live tax free...
stoplight
2017-01-17 01:54
@alistair ?for your friend?I think it?s already enough that he can show that he has a rented flat and pays bills there despite not being there all the time?that?s one of the advantages of being an EU national?.establishing residency shouldn?t be too difficult?.now if he is going to do this for tax planning purposes?.well that?s where it can get a bit complicated?Malta has residential taxation?charges taxes even for resident foreigners?.suggest consulting with a tax professional specially with Brexit and all...
jd
2017-01-17 05:55
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maxsuur
2017-01-17 10:04
Amazing info @stoplight delivering as usual :)
alistair
2017-01-17 17:05
@spotlight thanks )
stoplight
2017-01-18 00:42
Thank you kind sirs.. :slightly_smiling_face:
alextrades
2017-01-20 21:43
@agalt what happened with andrew henderson ? he looked a bit scammy
agalt
2017-01-20 21:44
search for the results you can read them here
stoplight
2017-01-21 10:24
folks?what do you think of virtual residence services?I am very intrigued with the possibilities..
http://www.orcaoffshore.com/virtual-residence-services.html
maxsuur
2017-01-21 17:15
Reading @stoplight
maxsuur
2017-01-21 17:15
very interesting and numerous possibilities
arkdeeplove
2017-01-21 17:55
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scorps
2017-01-22 03:22
Not too sure about the virtual residence for tax residency purposes. Can't the tax authorities just find out with the countries custom offices if you have really physically been in the country?
maxsuur
2017-01-22 08:57
In "borderless" Europe I highly doubt so
stoplight
2017-01-22 11:53
@scorps ?good question?brushed up on my reading on international taxation because I wondered the same thing... :slightly_smiling_face: ?in my opinion and in theory?they technically could?but if you were flying under the radar?and don?t owe the country millions of dollars?tax authorities reaching out to the governments of other countries?even with CRS and AEOI, it?s still a very difficult thing to do?even with US FATCAt, the US government, meddlesome as they are, cannot impose other governments to take tax-related actions against US citizens living in other nations, that?s why they instead penalize the banks, because these are private institutions which they can ?spank? if they won?t cooperate. Take the case for example of persons who are already found ?guilty" in other countries then living somewhere else and even with a recognized extradition treaty with the other country, may opt not to give up the person. Best example is Snowden, the U.S. has an extradition treaty with Hong Kong since 1998, well we know how that ended up. Tax crimes are not necessarily easily extraditable because of the practicality of the matter, it?s just simply time consuming and expensive for both countries because it starts at the diplomatic level first which may take months or even years hence the implementation of CRS / AEOI but even with that there are many loopholes. And that?s just the technicality and legality of things. That is, ASSUMING, you were in the other country in the first place. Which obviously you are not. :slightly_smiling_face: ?so yeah, i?m guessing this whole virtual residency concept could work?hoping to find someone who?s actually doing this?haha.. :smile: ?I still think the biggest challenge will be is how to prove to your original country that you?re no longer their tax resident?
scorps
2017-01-22 12:08
Interesting stuff @stoplight and you may be right. Just for precaution i'd probably still physically enter the country of virtual residence once a year. @maxsuur Borderless Europe is a good point.
stoplight
2017-01-22 12:13
@scorps ?yep...definitely agree?it would raise less suspicions that way?personally I just didn?t realize until I saw this website.?haha?.that i?m actually trying to setup something similar to their service in one of the most unlikely places in the world.... :smile: ?which thankfully isn?t likely to sign anytime soon with AEOI / CRS...
agalt
2017-01-22 14:30
is it a place that it would be believable that you were living there, how easy is it to move in and out without boarder stamps and use a national id card? (for instance Georgia lets EU citizens in and out without passports if you bring your ID card). or is it some island where very few people actually would believably live?
agalt
2017-01-22 14:32
ive convinced many georgian people to accept a us drivers liscense for id when a national id is required. Balkan countries are good for this also. The laws a country has don't always matter, but the laws that are enforced are the ones you need to worry about.
agalt
2017-01-22 14:38
@stoplight not meaning to be critical. We just see so much of the "oh im a resident of panama, paraguay, uraguay" in the location independent community and its just not believable. it doesn't pass a brief smell test. lets say your country of citizenship questions you when you come into an embasy to renew your passport and you dont have any stamps from the country of your tax residence. sure it is legal, but it raises too many questions.
stoplight
2017-01-22 14:42
Yup agree?that?s why should you always try to visit your tax place of residence once in a while.. :smile:
agalt
2017-01-22 14:45
or at least look like you are there :slightly_smiling_face: fly in with one passport and get it stamped. fly out on a national id card of another citizenship and a few months later fly out with the passport you had stamped months ago :slightly_smiling_face:
agalt
2017-01-22 14:47
in with american, out with georgian, in with Bulgarian ID card, out with american :slightly_smiling_face:
hhenrikson
2017-01-23 09:29
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ahawkins
2017-01-23 12:41
For those of you are security & privacy focused: https://medium.com/@ahawkins/securing-my-digital-life-gpg-yubikey-ssh-on-macos-5f115cb01266#.jrdfhd38k
agalt
2017-01-23 12:43
the first thing i see is an Apple OSX window. The foundation of the system is flawed on privacy alone. (unappologetic Linux user who tapes cameras on laptops and rips out camera wires on phones)
agalt
2017-01-23 12:45
not trying to be a jerk, however I don't understand how any Windows or Mac user can claim their systems are secure. The foundations of the systems are flawed from the ground up.
el_roberto
2017-01-23 13:10
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alextrades
2017-01-23 15:58
I would like to make the switch but not all software runs on linux
agalt
2017-01-23 16:29
you can use wine, crossover suite or a virtual machine inside your linux disro running a stripped down version of windows 7 without all the garbage and UI/UX nonsense
agalt
2017-01-23 16:31
ive been using debian based linux since 2005 and am happy to send people links about making the switch. if someone wants info via PM
skat
2017-01-23 16:36
@agalt wait? do you know if you give one script a sudo access, you grant all other processes that sudo access as well? How would you even call this secure in linux?
skat
2017-01-23 16:38
I will not even say how much exam answers i stole from my teachers in Univercity, who have no clue how to use chmod -)
skat
2017-01-23 16:38
Linux could be a very bad idea in wrong hands.
el_roberto
2017-01-23 17:02
haha @skat, reminds me of university linux based programming courses - everyone home folder was world readable with their lab/test answers....
foreverlearning
2017-01-23 18:33
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agalt
2017-01-23 20:43
It depends @skat are those process listed in the script. Depends on a lot of things.
agalt
2017-01-23 20:44
Sudo is effectively fake root and for that command only depending on how you use it.
agalt
2017-01-23 20:45
Or if you open the terminal and use "sudo su" then keep typing comands as root. That is a dangerous can of worms.
agalt
2017-01-23 20:54
Linux is like Georgia. It is a great tool but if you dont know what you are doing, your time and money is wasted.
agalt
2017-01-23 20:58
I got in a lot of trouble with a live linux cd in high school whne i was 16. They disabled booting from a cd on the pc computers but i carried around a power pc bootable cd with Ubuntu 5.04 on it then started using backtrack because they didnt lock out 2 usb ports for booting, so i removed the mouse and used kt with a serial- usb adapter
maxsuur
2017-01-23 21:16
What for?
agalt
2017-01-23 21:43
getting into the attendance records, grading records and deleting the entire freshman class photo id database
agalt
2017-01-23 22:47
the school officials were not happy :confused:
maxsuur
2017-01-23 22:51
Kind of "flakebook"
agalt
2017-01-23 22:51
not sure i understand?
maxsuur
2017-01-23 22:55
Well, basically the opposite of what Zuck did to create flakebook (at least his beta version)
agalt
2017-01-23 22:59
guess they couldn't keep track of the human cattle as easily. they even managed to drag in a police officer to scold me and scare me. politely telling them that they were idiots didn't help the situation.
tatelev
2017-01-25 15:27
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save
2017-01-27 08:35
has joined #general
simon
2017-01-27 09:35
I've just added a new feature: the ability to save interesting conversations to the site. This will not only preserve the information shared but will also make it easier for other members to access that information. Simply tag @save in the conversation and let the magic happen :slightly_smiling_face:
simon
2017-01-27 09:35
The conversations will be accessible on this page: https://www.freedomsurfer.com/category/conversations/
tatelev
2017-01-27 09:39
will these saved converstanions publicly accesible? i.e. indexed by Google
simon
2017-01-27 09:40
No, only to logged-in members.
tatelev
2017-01-27 09:40
is this needed because Slack charges subscription to be able to search way past conversations?
simon
2017-01-27 09:43
It's mostly because there are some pretty interesting conversations here but they are sometimes hard to find (and there is often lots of noise). Many are also buried beneath lots of day to day messages etc. Having a place to archive them all will make it easy for members to read them, even if they are not used to Slack. They will look more like articles.
tatelev
2017-01-27 09:45
most of you are paid subscriptors of Slack?
tatelev
2017-01-27 09:45
I think I cannot search for past conversations if I am not, right?
simon
2017-01-27 09:49
You can search but there is a limit of 10000 messages I think. It's a team thing though, if I wanted to remove this limit I would have to pay Slack a monthly fee per user (which would end up being quite expensive and not sustainable considering the number of members).
alextrades
2017-01-27 10:42
This might be useful simon - http://blog.capterra.com/the-top-13-slack-alternatives/ - ps emailed ref tax audit did you get it the email ok?
alextrades
2017-01-27 10:45
rocket.chat looks pretty good
jase
2017-01-27 11:06
Would be hard to convince others away from Slack
jase
2017-01-27 11:06
I know I wouldn't move to yet another tool
alextrades
2017-01-27 11:07
cool see ya ! lol
alextrades
2017-01-27 11:07
just looking at the options quite interesting fleep looks good as well
jase
2017-01-27 11:07
skype, slack, whatsapp, messenger + email and actual phone
jase
2017-01-27 11:08
oh, and hangouts
jase
2017-01-27 11:08
too hard to manage
alextrades
2017-01-27 11:09
that's because the modern person has less attention span than a gold fish ! snap chat world now
agalt
2017-01-27 11:11
@maxsuur recommended franz messenger. It is handy since it integrates Skype and others like http://wire.com and multiple slack channels
jase
2017-01-27 11:12
:stuck_out_tongue: that was me :joy:
jase
2017-01-27 11:12
has nothing on the slack app IMO
jase
2017-01-27 11:12
hoping development continues though!
alextrades
2017-01-27 11:13
thats awesome ! @maxsuur
alextrades
2017-01-27 11:16
HOPE THEY BRING A MOBILE APP VERSION OUT
alextrades
2017-01-27 11:40
I think fleep is the way to go looks great
maxsuur
2017-01-27 14:36
I got the tip from @jase :smile: thanks again! currently writing you all from "franz" (but in Spain) hah
agalt
2017-01-27 14:40
@jase Many thanks! franz is a lifesaver. People message you via fb and want to ask questions about residency and tax. then they don't realize fb & skype are the worst place to discuss areas that are sometimes "grey" when it comes to taxes and residency. Franz gives us the ability to click over to another communication strategy to use http://wire.com or slack if they don't want to use viber.
agalt
2017-01-27 14:40
Georgia may have no extradition, but I doubt many people here are citizens of Georgia yet... so it is best to keep things quiet if your tax strategy is creative.
726dbr
2017-01-28 07:05
has joined #general
wojtek
2017-01-28 15:58
has joined #general
saskia
2017-01-29 22:39
Hey! Does anyone know a good accountant in the UK that will be able to help with compliance as non-resident with an LLP? @simon I tried to contact RHJ in Sheffield but was unable to get a reply. Thanks!
agalt
2017-01-29 23:04
@saskia I can hep with this
agalt
2017-01-29 23:04
*help
saskia
2017-01-29 23:08
Thanks @agalt!I?ll PM you
skat
2017-01-30 12:28
@alextrades we?ve been experimenting with slack alternatives at #nomads, just because community is reaching slack cap of 5000 people. This community is very small and other alternatives are not as good. So i don?t think it?s worth the hassle.
tkrunning
2017-02-02 08:10
I actually really like Fleep. That's what we use at Teleport and in many ways I prefer it to Slack.
tkrunning
2017-02-02 08:11
But we could use both, and just sync the channels using webhooks
simon
2017-02-02 08:12
@tkrunning I also use Fleep. I love how each conversation gets assigned a unique email. I also like that they sent me a free tshirt :stuck_out_tongue:
simon
2017-02-02 08:13
I'm not sure it would be a viable Slack alternative though, it seems more focused on smaller teams where everyone knows each other.
alextrades
2017-02-02 19:48
fleep - rocketchat - ryver
alextrades
2017-02-02 19:49
its tricky
jb
2017-02-03 14:05
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skat
2017-02-05 11:53
Fleep does look good and pricing is decent.
skat
2017-02-05 11:54
Probably, i would give it a shoot if it wasn?t such a pain to migrate 30 people team.
wojtek
2017-02-07 14:04
anyone interested in a meetup in Bangkok?
wojtek
2017-02-07 14:05
we have an amazing and cheap fish restaurant around here, or some good shrimp bbq
wojtek
2017-02-07 14:05
I live 40km north of bbk
wojtek
2017-02-07 14:05
bkk easy to reach
gbennett
2017-02-08 02:38
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jase
2017-02-08 07:34
@simon have you ever come across CFC laws for Andorra?
wojtek
2017-02-08 18:21
no one in or around bkk? Though some of you are here?
danz
2017-02-08 18:22
Was a couple of days ago:)
harvie
2017-02-09 08:29
I will be next week
mysteir
2017-02-10 04:39
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simon
2017-02-10 06:41
@jase As far as I know, Andorra has no CFC rules.
simon
2017-02-10 06:42
@wojtek Was there a few days ago but left for Hua Hin.
tkrunning
2017-02-10 06:51
I arrived in Estonia last night, will be here for a week before heading back to SF. Anyone else in the country now?
simon
2017-02-10 06:53
@tkrunning I think @max is still there? And so is @hhenrikson I think
max
2017-02-10 06:54
I was there yesterday, @tkrunning stay warm I almost froze to death!
tkrunning
2017-02-10 06:54
Yeah @hhenrikson works in the same building as the Teleport office, I?ll be there from Monday :slightly_smiling_face:
tkrunning
2017-02-10 06:54
@max I?ll try
tkrunning
2017-02-10 06:56
I?m staying a week but traveled from SF with only a small daypack (the ~20L Tortuga), which is mostly full of tech gear, not warm winter clothes. :stuck_out_tongue:
simon
2017-02-10 06:59
@tkrunning I travel full-time with a 13L backpack :wink: https://www.xd-design.com/bags-trolleys/laptop-bags/bobby-anti-theft-backpack-black
simon
2017-02-10 06:59
I usually stay in warmer countries but when I need to visit a cold country I buy a jacket and donate it to a salvation army type place when I leave
simon
2017-02-10 06:59
I love traveling light
kl5340dc
2017-02-10 07:03
seems optimized for china that backpack :0
kl5340dc
2017-02-10 07:03
chinese usually wear backpack in front to avoid backpack theft
kl5340dc
2017-02-10 07:03
smart design
kl5340dc
2017-02-10 07:04
ah creqted in shanghai it seems. that explains
tkrunning
2017-02-10 07:14
Yeah, that?s a really nice backpack @simon. When I move around with all my stuff I use the regular sized Tortuga, which is maybe a bit on the large side. But I spend too much time in cold countries and carry too much tech gear to only travel with a daypack, I think. I don?t really have a home base where I leave some things, so need to bring it all with me at all times.
harvie
2017-02-10 07:38
13l with clothes? I use the Cabin Max which is 40l and can be taken on as hand luggage on all the budget airlines. It fits enough clothes for a week's rotation, often I'll take less.
simon
2017-02-10 07:46
@harvie Yes although I carry only warm climate clothes, a laptop and my toiletries.
max
2017-02-10 08:52
I used to pack into a 40l farpoint and I thought that was light :wink: Now my electronics take up easily a 20liters ( pacsafe Z500 intasafe). So 13 liters seem to be completely not attainable. I also abandoned backpack mode in favor of a suitcase + electronics backpack / messenger bag. In the end it's so much more comfortable and I actually feel lighter. I just roll both suitcase and backpack stacked on top of it. Most of the time it's city / airport commute. I realized that a good backpack along with proper shoes are necessary when you hike. So I pack them into a suitecase, I also put some running shoes and also travel with a portable blender (we can mix up some mangos and veggies if we find ourselves in a place with no good restaurants) .
harvie
2017-02-10 09:01
^ my problem with a roller is I'm mostly in Asia where the roads are bad it's hard to stroll . Been looking to replace my backpack with a high-quality 40l suitcase though.
simon
2017-02-10 09:08
@harvie Same here. I went through so many suitcases when I first started traveling around the region that I decided to just moved back to a backpack and forget about it. It's always the wheels...
simon
2017-02-10 09:09
@max Wow a blender! Did it ever give you any trouble at the airport security?
max
2017-02-10 09:12
@simon I check it in and I never had an issue. @harvie I was looking into Osprey Meridian 60l, has a detachable daypack and you can carry it on 98% of the time.
max
2017-02-10 09:18
But I think they changed the design. The original Meridian had a hip belt the new one I think does not :disappointed: So as much as you can call it a backpack you would not go on a hike with it. With regards to Asia and the roads that?s absolutely true and for that reason I just pay for tuktuks, red trucks, taxis, ubers. I also plan to pack a second monitor. I do not want to compromise on work and having a second display (WQHD) makes my life so much easier. Still not sure on this one, though :slightly_smiling_face:
simon
2017-02-10 09:20
@max I seen a few people use the big ipad pro as a second monitor. Could be an option as an ipad is likely to be lighter / easier to pack than a normal monitor
max
2017-02-10 09:29
duet app works pretty well but I think you need the 12.9 inch ipad model to fully enjoy it as a second display. If you max out the resolution on the 9 inch your eyes will hurt eventually. I am just waiting to see what the new models are going to look like in March. Btw, I would also be interested in a 22 inch WQHD display, but I have not seen one yet. Anyone?
alistair
2017-02-10 11:57
@simon cool backpack! I'm buying one ))
nemo
2017-02-10 13:07
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max
2017-02-11 00:56
@jase I had ASUS 169B+ (USB 3 verision) for a couple days but I sent it back. There was a very noticeable lag and I did not think it was bright enough. Switching from Retina display to a low light FullHD made to much of a contract to me. So I am curious how the the new USB C version performs?
jase
2017-02-11 08:58
I am very practical when it comes to this stuff. My guess is if you demand the highest experience/speed/clarity it won't fit the bill. For me it helps my productivity massively so is worth it.
skat
2017-02-11 19:24
@wojtek i can meetup in bangkok until 23. then i?m flying to europea
wojtek
2017-02-12 07:09
@skat
wojtek
2017-02-12 07:09
@skat sure, do you ride bikes I got some :slightly_smiling_face:, ever tried wakeboarding I live at the best wakepark in the world :slightly_smiling_face: .. but dinner in BKK somewhere is fine too
skat
2017-02-12 07:11
@wojtek yeah, tried bikes, but avoid them. I like speed too much, afraid to end up under the car or something. ;) What time is best to go wakeboarding ? Evening or during day?
wojtek
2017-02-12 07:37
anytime, it is open until 10.30pm or midnight or friday and saturday
wojtek
2017-02-12 07:37
opens at 0900
nomadn
2017-02-12 12:27
has joined #general
hanthai
2017-02-14 01:14
has joined #general
arkdeeplove
2017-02-15 21:04
What?s happening with http://www.freedomsurfer.com website. It is down only for me?
tatelev
2017-02-15 21:05
up for me
maxsuur
2017-02-15 21:10
It is online for me too
jamief
2017-02-17 09:52
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ivopalazzi
2017-03-01 17:53
has joined #general
princevaliant
2017-03-05 16:25
About courses, only the "zero tax nomad" can be opened, while there are no working links to the oher two (china and south america) it's only a problem of mine?
maxsuur
2017-03-05 18:42
As far as I know, those courses are yet to be put together
princevaliant
2017-03-05 18:48
ok thanks
yu138086
2017-03-07 15:21
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mrblonde
2017-03-08 17:25
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globalconsulteurope
2017-03-09 12:50
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simon
2017-03-10 20:32
Estonian e-Residents will be happy to learn that there is now an alternative to the awful id-card authentication system, at least for those with accounts at Swedbank and SEB. You can now create a Smart-ID using the app available on Android and iOS. It will then work in a similar way to Authy and will allow you to login into your bank account and perform transactions without your e-Resident card.
simon
2017-03-10 20:33
LHV doesn't support the technology yet but have announced that they are considering it. Fingers crossed
maxsuur
2017-03-10 21:28
Awesome! Thanks for sharing
tkrunning
2017-03-12 09:12
Yeah, signed up for Smart-ID a while ago, but adoption has so far been lacking. Good to see Swedbank and SEB adopt it now.
TBH, the whole ID card authentication system in Estonia is terrible, especially on Mac. I hear it?s more stable on Windows. Compared to the online authentication methods I?m used in Norway and Denmark, at least from a UX perspective, the Estonian system feels terribly outdated. It would be nice if there would be some significant improvements to the main/official ID card system (perhaps with a system similar to Smart ID or even better, closer to the Norwegian ?BankID?) in addition to the ID card itself (as a replacement of Mobile ID). That way I think we would get a more secure system than Smart ID and hopefully near 100% adoption...
jerobo
2017-03-12 17:19
has joined #general
highflier
2017-03-12 20:00
has joined #general
skat
2017-03-14 13:34
@tkrunning yeah, i?ve been talking with guys who are in charge of this e-residency program. And i was sharing my frustration with id-cards, they considered that mobile-id was a viable alternative. But for people like us - it?s not. But they are working on new solution, they told me that they basically gave up on id-cards - it?s too troublesome to maintain.
skat
2017-03-14 13:40
@skat uploaded a file: https://freedomsurfer.slack.com/files/skat/F4JNLELGN/answer_from_kaspar_korjus.txt and commented: @tkrunning ^^
simon
2017-03-14 13:49
@skat I'd very much like to see a solution that does not involve physical hardware. I have bank accounts in many countries and my Estonian accounts are the only ones I can't access from my phone / tablet.
josh
2017-03-14 13:50
It's an awful system. Glad to hear I'm not the only one with issues. The hassle alone makes it almost not worth it.
josh
2017-03-14 13:51
So long as you delete your keychain access codes and reinstall the plugins and the ID software each time, and then restart your computer after clearing your cache, you should be good to go! ?
skat
2017-03-14 13:55
@simon i think Estonia is more obsessed with security then other nations. Those hardware chips they put in sim cards or ID cards have very strong security built in. Security is always a trade, you have more hassle for being more secure.
skat
2017-03-14 13:57
At least, i?m sure that my government doesn?t have any ?backdoor? into my bank account.
skat
2017-03-14 13:57
The thing i?m not sure about then using any startup from US..
simon
2017-03-14 13:59
@skat A good compromise would be to let people view their bank accounts without the id-card. No transaction, view-only access. At least this way I wouldn't need to use the damn card when I just want to review a transaction. I've tried setting up a password with LHV but it doesn't work. Swedbank will let me do it but only if I set the password at one of their branch.
skat
2017-03-14 14:00
@simon khm, strange. i have such an ability, i have a pin calculator that generates passwords for me.
skat
2017-03-14 14:01
to access very limited banking
skat
2017-03-14 14:01
like i can have a transaction up to 250 euro
simon
2017-03-14 14:01
A physical pin calculator? Or an app?
skat
2017-03-14 14:01
and review everything
skat
2017-03-14 14:01
physical
skat
2017-03-14 14:01
it?s slightly bigger then a credit card.
simon
2017-03-14 14:01
Ah what I meant is just a password, no physical device.
skat
2017-03-14 14:02
before they gave me a card with 30 passwords? and they randomly asked different passwords.
skat
2017-03-14 14:03
and there is an app for android i?m still using.
skat
2017-03-14 14:04
I upgraded to this calculator thingy. because i?m obsessed with security myself :wink:
skat
2017-03-14 14:04
but card was easier...
simon
2017-03-14 14:06
I like security but not if it means I can't do anything. The other day I tried to make a purchase using my Swedbank MasterCard. I was taken to a SecureCode page and had to login using my ID card to continue! I was using an iPad so no way to login. Had to use a personal card instead.
skat
2017-03-14 14:08
@simon there is an option to enable internet shopping for credit cards, that removes this validation. you can do that online.
josh
2017-03-14 14:57
Also the cards require a pin at every POS terminal, which is obnoxious at restaurants and other places where one doesn't normally use a pin. I'm with you though @simon on the view only, would be helpful for accounting.
skat
2017-03-14 15:15
@josh obnoxious is to collect checks from restaurant to be sure that nobody billed you more then they should and waste your time checking those. Just because your to lazy to use PIN. It?s another stupid thing US is refusing to use, like metrics system...
skat
2017-03-14 15:16
I have one banking card from us and i?m just afraid to use it anywhere.
peter
2017-03-14 15:16
anyone having a problem with the estonian ID card on mac - use firefox - MUCH more reliable
josh
2017-03-14 15:34
Really? They always tell me not to use Firefox. Only safari seems to work with mine. @skat I guess I have not really ever had any issues with using pinless cards at POS, so I'm not as concerned about it personally. Having to get up and go to the lobby to enter my pin though is less about the effort and more about it looking less than professional and being a hassle.
skat
2017-03-14 15:35
@josh yeah, Firefox works stably.
josh
2017-03-14 15:37
Maybe it's just my mac then it never works and they always tell me only use safari, which does work. :neutral_face::upside_down_face:
skat
2017-03-14 15:44
safari never worked for me :confused:
johannago
2017-03-14 16:28
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tkrunning
2017-03-14 16:52
@simon how come you weren't able to set up a password for LHV? That's how I log in whenever I don't need to execute a transaction, works great for me...
simon
2017-03-14 16:56
@tkrunning When I try to set a password on the website I get an empty white page. I tried both Safari and Chrome but to no avail.
simon
2017-03-14 16:56
Did you set yours on the site? (Using the manage passwords page)
tkrunning
2017-03-14 17:18
It has been a while, but I believe so.. logged in with ID card and set a password.
crimsonpost
2017-03-15 11:28
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pedrodemendez
2017-03-16 13:38
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netroxx
2017-03-17 15:35
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roman
2017-03-20 10:05
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roman
2017-03-20 17:57
Anyone here involved with local lead generation? I really want to get into that and looking for some guidance. I have software development background, but am very comfortable talking to clients, and know a bit about online marketing already. Just need to put all pieces of the puzzle together. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
maxsuur
2017-03-20 21:55
A couple of names: Doberman Dan and Rick Mulready
maxsuur
2017-03-20 21:55
Mail order and Facebook ads for local business, respectively
mi
2017-03-20 23:41
has joined #general
andrew.m
2017-03-22 11:36
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stoplight
2017-03-25 22:35
Hey folks?looking for possible digital partners willing to develop an online portal?pls. PM for details...
ahawkins
2017-03-26 04:47
Hello freedom surfers :wave:
titusblair
2017-03-27 18:44
hey everyone. anyone know of an awesome freelance growth hacker? looking for someone to help me with my businesses and clients businesses. feel free to direct message me
darwin
2017-03-29 14:53
@titusblair What type of business and what stage are you at?
titusblair
2017-03-29 14:54
@darwin I have a few clients some are startup and some have been around a while.
titusblair
2017-03-29 14:54
edtech mostly but also b2b businesses
darwin
2017-03-29 14:54
So selling a service?
titusblair
2017-03-29 14:54
yes services and classes
titusblair
2017-03-29 14:55
online courses
titusblair
2017-03-29 14:55
one is in the text messaging space
darwin
2017-03-29 14:59
I'm dubious of growth hacking is something that you can hire but rather something that is the domain of scrappy entrepreneurs. So I don't know any consultants but I'd be happy to spend a few minutes sharing some of my growth hacking techniques with you.
titusblair
2017-03-29 15:00
cool @darwin I really need someone to implement strategies and come up with ideas to test who has edtech experience so maybe its more a marketing position in edtech lol
darwin
2017-03-29 15:06
That's a really narrow field. If you create a magazine category on Flipboard for Growth Hacking it will curate articles written on the topic. Since pushing content is a growth hacking g technique that's a good way to get exposed to people in the space.
jerobo
2017-03-29 17:57
Hello :wink:
maxsuur
2017-03-29 18:59
There is this book named Growth Hacking, you may want to get a copy :)
simon
2017-03-29 19:02
Out of curiousity, how important is it for you that a site accepts PayPal? Will you be turned off from making a purchase on a site taking only credit cards?
maxsuur
2017-03-29 19:07
I believe nowadays people are getting used to more and more to entering their credit card details online. From a practical view, Paypal is very convenient. I'd say that the best way would be to test it, although I believe that adding paypal as an alternative payment option would probably boost your conversion rates. My 2 cents.
simon
2017-03-29 19:09
@maxsuur I currently accept both but I'd gladly get rid of PayPal. Their rates are outrageous.
netroxx
2017-03-29 19:11
I would love to get rid of them as well
netroxx
2017-03-29 19:11
at the end you have to test it, as our opinions do not carry any weight. The only thing that does is your target market
netroxx
2017-03-29 19:12
Since I earn in USD and have a business setup in EU, PayPal takes ~8% till the EUR hit my bank account
netroxx
2017-03-29 19:12
which sucks real hard
netroxx
2017-03-29 19:12
and if a customer files a claim, I always lose, so that should add another few %
simon
2017-03-29 19:16
@netroxx Does PayPal allow USD withdrawals in your country? I know that they do in some European countries.
netroxx
2017-03-29 19:17
Sadly not.. What I heard is that PayPal will only be able to cash out to a local bank account
netroxx
2017-03-29 19:17
Do you know of a setup that works like this in the EU and has low taxes?
netroxx
2017-03-29 19:17
That would be a good base for any ecommerce biz
maxsuur
2017-03-29 19:20
Yes, I have the same problem with Paypal. Let's say, if for every 100 subscribers, 4 of them make a purchase. Try the same with CC only option and see what happens.
maxsuur
2017-03-29 19:21
If the conv rate stays the same... you can take paypal out of the picture
simon
2017-03-29 19:25
@netroxx If you have a bank account in the US, you can link it to your European PayPal account. You can then remit the cash to Europe using a service like TransferWise for better rates.
simon
2017-03-29 19:27
@maxsuur I may give it a try. I pay 1.20% to process cards vs 7-10% for PayPal. Not to mention the shitty customer service I've received from PP.
maxsuur
2017-03-29 19:27
Definitely. I've also thought of getting rid of them.
netroxx
2017-03-29 19:27
I'd need a business bank account in the US though
netroxx
2017-03-29 19:28
mhmh interesting
simon
2017-03-29 19:31
WorldFirst could be a solution (they offer virtual business bank accounts in the US so that you can receive local payments and once the money hits the account they convert it at the best rate possible and remit it to your main business bank account in Europe). A sort of mix between TransferWise and Payoneer
netroxx
2017-03-29 19:32
So I'd add their USD account in my EU PayPal account to cash out the USD?
simon
2017-03-29 19:34
Yes. They give you your own dedicated USD account number that you can link to PayPal, Stripe etc. They do not accept every type of businesses? though, you'd have to ask them if they would accept yours.
agalt
2017-03-29 20:19
@simon it is preferable to me to pay with a card. My corp bank account webpage shows me a pie chart of expenses and catagories. having to use paypal for a transaction makes life more complicated than just using a card to track expenses and a catagory of expense.
tkrunning
2017-03-30 07:02
@netroxx even if you don?t get a worldfirst account, you can at least do the same for the amount you pay yourself from the company. In that case you just need a personal US bank account, which is easy to open.
I receive quite a bit of USD income on my corporate Danish PP account. So I just pay myself partly in USD every month, and transfer the USD amount from my Biz DK PP to my Personal DK PP to my personal US bank account at zero fees or FX loss.
tkrunning
2017-03-30 07:03
I always make sure to pay most corporate expenses with my personal credit cards (with no FX fees and cashback), so even if I don?t pay myself a large salary, I can refund my expenses in this way.
maxsuur
2017-03-30 08:57
Hi hi is anyone in Vienna? I'll be there in the city for several months starting on Monday. So, if any of you wants to hang out, talk about marketing, go for a beer, kick some ass or whatever, let me know!
aka
2017-03-30 16:31
has joined #general
skat
2017-03-31 08:22
@simon i?m very likely to turn down a website if they are using credit card processor i don?t trust. Paypal i don?t have much issues, because i?m not giving away my card details.
aka
2017-03-31 08:27
@simon have you considered accepting altcoins or simple bank transfers to revolut?
jase
2017-04-01 03:51
For one company i haven't been able to get a credit card, so if they don't accept PayPal, i cant buy the product
simon
2017-04-01 09:37
@aka What do you mean by simple bank transfers to Revolut? Having people send the payment to my Revolut account?
aka
2017-04-01 09:37
Yes
simon
2017-04-01 09:43
Not sure if I could automate that. Maybe it will become possible in a few weeks when they launch Revolut for Business. From their site, it's not clear yet how it will work.
skat
2017-04-01 13:13
@skat uploaded a file: https://freedomsurfer.slack.com/files/skat/F4TPMBF8E/c8qhblmxkaahe_d.jpg
jase
2017-04-01 14:07
Italy fluking it? (disclaimer: my wife is Italian)
maxsuur
2017-04-01 14:26
The food, man, the food
jase
2017-04-01 15:40
Agreed. And the laid back lifestyle.
harvie
2017-04-01 15:51
Brb moving to Japan :smile:
jase
2017-04-02 00:14
Been in Taiwan for the last week. It seems to me it's a cross between Japan and China. I think I need my personal space/air quality.
ma-x-us
2017-04-02 02:44
has joined #general
skat
2017-04-02 15:48
i wouldn't say that Japanese are laid back, but very concerned about their health as it seems :slightly_smiling_face:
skat
2017-04-02 15:49
Never been to Italy at least yeat, but interesting to hear why their healthcare is so cheap but life expectancy is so high
skat
2017-04-02 15:49
US ranks very low for very obvious reasons at it seems to me.
simon
2017-04-02 17:21
It may come as a surprise to some to learn that Hong Kong has the highest life expectancy in the world. The main reason, according to studies, is the fact that the entire population of HK is within easy reach of world class hospitals. This makes a difference compared to big countries where a significant percentage of the population live in rural areas. That and universal access to clean water, food and a low smoking rate.
simon
2017-04-02 17:27
It may also come as a surprise to learn that the life expectancy of US residents WITH health insurance is actually pretty damn good. There is a large gap between the well insured and the poor / not well insured
simon
2017-04-02 17:30
A rather cruel statistic shows that US residents with proper health insurance have the highest life expectancy in the world post-diagnosis (serious illness or injury) while the poor / not well insured have one of the lowest.
jase
2017-04-05 02:18
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/23/andorra.life.expectancy/ :slightly_smiling_face:
pragmatic
2017-04-05 16:07
has joined #general
tatelev
2017-04-06 04:55
@skat nice, it looked in your graph as though if USA life expectancy growth curve was starting to stall, but since the graph measures until 2014?
tatelev
2017-04-06 04:57
some continuation data on how graph could be continuing might be found in this article(I wish I could see a detailed analysis also for the current evolution in the other countries): http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-12-08/life-expectancy-us-drops-first-time-decades-big-deal :slightly_smiling_face:
agalt
2017-04-06 08:38
@tatelev love some http://zerohedge.com in the morning with a smoke and some coffee :smile:
simon
2017-04-11 09:40
On paper at least, their product is impressive especially at that price point. I've seen a few other companies offering similar houses but usually for 5-10x the price of PassivDom.
pragmatic
2017-04-11 09:41
What is the price?
pragmatic
2017-04-11 09:42
But, you can't just place a new house wherever you like :slightly_smiling_face: ? You need to own some land or something first?
simon
2017-04-11 09:44
Yes you need to own a piece of land (or lease one) to install the PassivDom house.
pragmatic
2017-04-11 09:46
Well that's pretty cool. Maybe it's suspicious that they can manage to be so much cheaper than competition though?
simon
2017-04-11 09:55
I'd certainly not buy without going to visit their factory first but if they are legit, they could be game changers. There are lots of places and situations where such houses could be useful, especially at that price point.
jase
2017-04-11 14:02
Very cool. I love the concept.
jake
2017-04-11 14:43
has joined #general
ahawkins
2017-04-11 16:22
Any recommendations for back packs? I'm looking at the Minaal or Aer. I currently have a Northface Surge which has served me well for 6 years. I need something that can carry more stuff comfortably .
tkrunning
2017-04-11 16:24
I?ve been happy with the Tortuga V2, but have considered sizing down to a Minaal. The new Tortuga looks good too, but haven?t tried it.
jase
2017-04-12 08:03
I don't think you can go wrong with an Osprey harness, but whether or not the packs suit your needs I'm not sure.
agalt
2017-04-12 11:31
really neat concept @simon
ahawkins
2017-04-13 08:23
Anyone else getting weird links redirects? I'm on https://www.freedomsurfer.com/banks/, but clicking anything takes me to the insider's club
pragmatic
2017-04-13 09:20
Yeah, those links are broken @ahawkins
agalt
2017-04-13 11:38
(cleared this with @simon ) Looking for a crash test subject for our Ljubljana Slovenia landing package. We are giving away our explorer package for FREE in Slovenia. After ripping apart the website 3x everything works and is mobile freindly. Free Airport taxi pickup (we cover the cost) with a local who speaks the language (delivers you to your hotel), sim card with 1gb data, sms and limited calls, mineral water, local snack food/ treats, hotel recommendations, restaurant recommendations, club recommendations, historical and natural beauty sites. We have a contest up on Instagram, however i would like to give it to someone in the fs community if any of you have travel plans in the Balkans.
agalt
2017-04-13 11:38
@agalt uploaded a file: https://freedomsurfer.slack.com/files/agalt/F4YPW8A8J/img_20170413_131514_454.jpg
ahawkins
2017-04-14 09:02
Hopefully we can get those links fixed soon
sdfk787
2017-04-16 13:59
has joined #general
ayotech
2017-04-17 13:53
has joined #general
jase
2017-04-18 04:43
Is anyone here running an FBA business from outside of USA?
jase
2017-04-18 04:43
If so, I'd like to discuss structure/banking optimization with you
brepalco
2017-04-18 06:11
has joined #general
soniasofia
2017-04-18 17:10
has joined #general
jase
2017-04-21 01:34
What's everyone's view on the future of Hong Kong? Rosy future? Or slowly dying economy as they lose independence?
jase
2017-04-21 01:34
I've read some interesting stuff about the port companies struggling to compete
roman
2017-04-21 06:58
@jase I don?t know about HK specifically but freight and logistics industry is scheduled for ?disruption?. In fact we are already seeing the initial seeds of that with Amazon getting into air freight business. I can imagine in just a few years the whole Chinese manufacturing and western consumption switches to just-in-time model. Imagine you order something on Amazon, it gets built, put on Amazon plane, and it arrives the next day in USA to a distribution center and then a truck brings it to your house.
roman
2017-04-21 06:58
I don?t know the costs of that, maybe it?s not feasible. But there has to be a reason why Amazon is getting into this biz.
roman
2017-04-21 06:59
It also might not be profitable right away. But knowing that Amazon likes to ?productize? their pains, they might as well turn Amazon Air into a global on-demand currier service, like UPS or FedEx.
roman
2017-04-21 06:59
Which will lower cost with scale.
jase
2017-04-21 06:59
That would, frankly - be incredible. No more dead stock. No more separate inventories.
roman
2017-04-21 07:00
And might even offset their cost with other people?s shipping costs.
roman
2017-04-21 07:00
Meaning that they?d basically ship their stuff free
jase
2017-04-21 07:00
It seems probable that Amazon will become a freight company in time
roman
2017-04-21 07:00
They basically already have. Just on the down-low.
roman
2017-04-21 07:00
They have their own delivery services in many cities.
roman
2017-04-21 07:00
They have planes.
roman
2017-04-21 07:00
They have trucks.
roman
2017-04-21 07:00
They have warehouses.
roman
2017-04-21 07:00
What else do you need?
roman
2017-04-21 07:01
Add some smart people to write route optimization software?
roman
2017-04-21 07:01
Productize it. Done!
roman
2017-04-21 07:01
They have robots sorting stuff?
roman
2017-04-21 07:01
That will displace entire warehouse staff. Making it cheaper.
jase
2017-04-21 07:01
Yep, very amazing. I'd invest but valuation seems crazy high right now.
jase
2017-04-21 07:02
I'd think that HK is well positioned to serve Amazon though. Lots of logistics companies based out of there at the moment.
roman
2017-04-21 07:02
I think amazon doesn?t want any middle men tho.
jase
2017-04-21 07:02
My feeling is that Singapore could do well too
roman
2017-04-21 07:02
They want to automate and own the chain.
jase
2017-04-21 07:03
Short of buying a country, they need land and warehouses
roman
2017-04-21 07:04
Oh ya, in that sense, yes.
roman
2017-04-21 07:04
I don?t know about the logistics in that area much. But why wouldn?t Amazon just do it directly from China?
roman
2017-04-21 07:04
If they are flying planes.
jase
2017-04-21 07:05
It's true. I suspect China is tough to "own". I suspect control is much easier for Amazon to get in HK.
jase
2017-04-21 07:05
I know they are a large company, but China comes first, you know?
jase
2017-04-21 07:06
Kind of like a foreigner getting into a lawsuit in UAE
roman
2017-04-21 07:06
Yeah I see the point. They have their own monoploies there and probably don?t want to get outsiders. I?ve heard there is a giant booming economy of couriers budding and fighting for domination now. And even set to expand on a global level.
jase
2017-04-21 07:07
Honestly sometimes I think that's what the whole Google/Facebook blocking thing is about - encouraging local entrepreneurs
jase
2017-04-21 07:08
Either way - fascinating :slightly_smiling_face:
jase
2017-04-21 07:08
I have to assume Amazon will be building an FBA center in Singapore before long
jase
2017-04-21 07:08
Seems too perfect to serve Malaysia/Indonesia
roman
2017-04-21 07:09
Unless Ali Express grabs the market first :slightly_smiling_face:
roman
2017-04-21 07:10
Or is it Alibaba?
roman
2017-04-21 07:10
Or is it the same thing? :smile: I?m always confused about those names.
jase
2017-04-21 07:10
haha
jase
2017-04-21 07:10
Lazada? From memory they are big in the region
roman
2017-04-21 07:12
?http://Lazada.com is a privately owned German e-commerce company founded by Rocket Internet ? Headquarters: Singapore Owner: Alibaba Group
roman
2017-04-21 07:12
haha so confusing
roman
2017-04-21 07:12
I know lazada is HUGE in Thailand
roman
2017-04-21 07:12
Everyone uses it
roman
2017-04-21 07:13
When I ask a local ?where to get X?, the default answer is Lazada
roman
2017-04-21 07:13
But I have not used it yet.
jase
2017-04-21 07:25
Yeah I'm tempted to try selling on there. Lots to learn
jase
2017-04-21 07:26
I know they do a Fulfillment service
stoplight
2017-04-22 03:16
Lazada is big in ASEAN region?I often buy my tech stuff, microSD?s to hard drives to laptops from there?at least 15-20% cheaper than retail stores anywhere....more so when they have their huge sales?.I?ve also used Alibaba several times for our other company?.geared for more bulk purchases of course?.it would help if you had a local forwarder instead of using Fedex, DHL, etc. as they tend to rip you off with additional fees if you use chose those courier services?.luckily?got to know a local forwarder based in Guangzhou?so all shipments are basically considered ?local??more so if the factory is also in Guangzhou?shipment is free?
skat
2017-04-23 16:38
@jase there is a huge fight right now in Asian market - who will be Amazon of Asia. I have some investor connections in Singapore and they are investing heavily in online shops/marketplaces now. We will see more competition for lazada very soon.
danz
2017-04-23 16:39
Doesn?t Aliexpress/Alibaba have by far the biggest marketshare in Asia?
skat
2017-04-23 16:40
@danz it seems like Aliexpress/Alibaba are more focused on selling to US/Europe
danz
2017-04-23 16:40
Yes, they focus heavily in Europe. But I have read earlier that they have a huge marketshare there already, probably 50%+
tatelev
2017-04-23 16:40
The Alibaba groups is huge
tatelev
2017-04-23 16:41
has several companies
tatelev
2017-04-23 16:41
Alibaba and Aliexpress are for the weste
danz
2017-04-23 16:41
Yeah true, also Alipay is very popular
tatelev
2017-04-23 16:41
west
tatelev
2017-04-23 16:41
the chinese sister companies are Taobao and 1688
tatelev
2017-04-23 16:42
taobao is like Aliexpress, B2C
tatelev
2017-04-23 16:42
1688 is like Alibaba, B2B
skat
2017-04-23 16:42
@danz I don?t think there is one very big player in ASEA region. I?ve been approached by investors to join as CTO to couple of companies who try to compete with lazada. It seems that everyone is expecting that evnetually there will be a big player who wil lstart buying off all the competition.
tatelev
2017-04-23 16:43
they are huge in Asia
danz
2017-04-23 16:43
Alibaba might just be the biggest in China then
danz
2017-04-23 16:43
I know most in Thailand buy by Lazada as example
tatelev
2017-04-23 16:43
sorry, I should have said ?they are huge in China?
tatelev
2017-04-23 16:44
taobao and 1688 are huge in China
skat
2017-04-23 16:44
@tatelev yeah, but taobao don?t even deliver outside of china
skat
2017-04-23 16:45
at least, two years ago, they didn?t deliver to Thailand
skat
2017-04-23 16:45
maybe now they do, but i wouldn?t bet on it
danz
2017-04-23 16:45
I think that?s still the case
danz
2017-04-23 16:45
I know for my country (the netherlands), that people need to buy there with an agency from there.
tatelev
2017-04-23 16:46
@danz what company are you talking about?
danz
2017-04-23 16:46
Taobao
tatelev
2017-04-23 16:48
yeah, normally from outside China you would use either AliExpress or Alibaba
tatelev
2017-04-23 16:48
buying from taobao or 1688 form the west is complex
tatelev
2017-04-23 16:48
as most businesses there don?t have export licenses
tatelev
2017-04-23 16:49
it?s tempting, as prices aimed at the chinese market are even lower, but it has many complexities
danz
2017-04-23 16:50
Yeah, to complex. I know Europeans all use Alibaba as it?s the most convenient for them
agalt
2017-04-23 16:56
Aliexpress is very popular in the repubiic of georgia
rupyb
2017-04-24 04:36
Hi All, does anyone here have experience setting up bank accounts in Taiwan - either personal or business
rupyb
2017-04-24 04:36
Is it easy or very hard?
agalt
2017-04-24 08:08
@stoplight ?
simon
2017-04-24 08:09
Taobao and JD are the big two in China. Most people use Alipay (owned by Alibaba, who also owns Taobao) and Wechat Pay to pay for their online purchases (in-store too). When I lived in Shanghai, I use to buy everything on Taobao and JD, from groceries to movie tickets to gym passes.
simon
2017-04-24 08:10
@rupyb As a resident, possible but from the experience of a few friends who live there, not as easy as it should be. Especially when it comes to credit cards and investment products. I have no idea about business accounts.
stoplight
2017-04-24 15:12
yes @agalt ?
agalt
2017-04-24 15:12
tiwan banking is your speciality? @stoplight
stoplight
2017-04-24 15:16
@agalt oh not really a specialty?more so now that they have made some changes there as far as my local contacts are concerned?so i?m also interested to hear recent experiences of people here?our firm has refrained from engaging in the suggestion of Taiwan for offshore banking as it has gotten quite difficult?was suppose to do an on-ground visit last month but postponed it to 3rd or 4th quarter of the year in favor of other priorities..
stoplight
2017-04-24 15:18
it is still however a good place to keep some money off the OECD map?
simon
2017-04-24 15:33
@stoplight Someone determined enough could apply for residency there and then open bank accounts with a resident ID. Getting residency in Taiwan is easier than in HK or Singapore.
stoplight
2017-04-24 15:33
agree!
simon
2017-04-26 08:28
Not a form of taxation we often talk about here but interesting nonetheless: https://drivetribe.com/p/OjytGhaKRfKVKIR4mO3nyg
simon
2017-04-26 08:29
What do you guys think? Should all types of fines be income-based?
pragmatic
2017-04-26 08:31
Depends if I think about it from an objective point of a view, or the point of view of someone who's received a few speeding fines, may receive some in the future, and plans to earn a high income in the future :stuck_out_tongue:
tatelev
2017-04-26 10:20
you should also plan not to receive any more speeding fines in the future
maxsuur
2017-04-26 10:23
Either way, the state always wins.
agalt
2017-04-26 11:23
Or pick a country where you can pay a lesser fine directly to the local jack boot who pulled you over
simon
2017-04-26 11:32
@agalt A miscalculation could land you in serious trouble though.
agalt
2017-04-26 11:40
yes, this is why I don't drive
agalt
2017-04-26 11:40
once upon a time in an unamed Balkan country...
agalt
2017-04-26 11:42
a friend and i hopped in a taxi on the way to an airport en rout to a trans-atlantic flight and told the driver, "please drive faster, we can not be late" taxi cab driver says, "ok, it will cost you two different ammounts in 2 differnt scenarios"
agalt
2017-04-26 11:43
"1st scenario, 50% more in cash up front, 2nd scenario 50% more plus a 200 euro 'tip' to the local jackboot when we get pulled over so i can call him later and sort the matter out and we can keep driving after we briefly talk"
simon
2017-04-26 11:48
200?! That's steep! What would have been the normal fine?
agalt
2017-04-26 11:49
i dont know, but thats price for 160-200km/ hour
agalt
2017-04-26 11:50
good empty roads, not being a danger to others on the roadway
tkrunning
2017-04-26 12:25
200 EUR, please :smile: I?ve gotten one speeding ticket in my life, and that was 1000 EUR for doing 111 in an 80 km/h zone (which happened to be changed to a 90 km/h zone literally two weeks later). That?s Norway for you :joy:
tkrunning
2017-04-26 12:25
10 km/h speeding will already cost you 250 EUR
jase
2017-04-26 12:36
Fines being income based gives even less incentive for people to innovate and earn more. People will continue to not declare income and collect welfare, paying miniscule fines when breaking the law.
agalt
2017-04-26 12:38
fined/ bribes work differently depending on the country. This is what was relayed to me while sitting in a taxi cab. I could be completely wrong, however it seemed correct based on data gathered from family members that get pulled over in illinois usa and are too busy to show up in court.
agalt
2017-04-26 12:40
they are "just doing their job" and enforcing laws for 95% of the population that will follow them on a regular basis without access to lawyers or, "call your supervisor and ask him how his kids soccer games are going and tell him ________ said hello"
agalt
2017-04-26 12:42
you are committing a victimless crime, so why so much fuss about it?
kl5340dc
2017-04-26 12:43
reminds me of steve jobs getting a fine for riding without plates, and telling the officer to write the fine more quicly cause he has an appointment, then driving away after the fine again above the speed limit
agalt
2017-04-26 12:43
lol yup!
agalt
2017-04-26 12:52
@agalt uploaded a file: https://freedomsurfer.slack.com/files/agalt/F54M53TDZ/12027348_149363055409756_8610474597163907269_o.jpg and commented: 3 months without plates. then parked outside my house for another month. After police threatened to tow it i left an attorney's contact information in my window and they left me alone. I don't drive anymore btw
agalt
2017-04-26 12:55
"murdered out subaru outback" with no factory brand, make or model labels
brutus
2017-04-27 11:11
has joined #general
agalt
2017-04-27 19:25
It was a pleasure meeting @globalconsulteurope tonight in sofia, Bulgaria. He is professional and knowledgeable. Bulgaria seems better and better for lifestyle, financial privacy + attractive tax strategies. Highly recommend running any questions by him if you have plans to optimize your life in Bulgaria.
globalconsulteurope
2017-04-28 09:48
Thanks for your kind words, @agalt ! Honestly you blew up my mind with facts about possibilities in Georgia and the things you are running there with @alexanderhay . I will visit you both in Tbilisi as soon as possible. Meanwhile, during your stay here i will be happy to share some thoughts over a beer. If any other freedomsurfers will arrive soon in Sofia will be welcomed to our army of two :grinning:
simon
2017-04-28 10:21
@simon uploaded a file: https://freedomsurfer.slack.com/files/simon/F563EN8GM/20170428_181151.jpg and commented: Just wanted to share this excellent view of the mountains near Kuala Lumpur from my desk this afternoon. I definitely recommend visiting the Intermark Lounge (Doubletree Hilton) if in town.
pragmatic
2017-04-28 14:28
@globalconsulteurope sounds good sir. But if you want the best grilled meats in the world, head to your western border :wink:
agalt
2017-04-28 14:29
Serbia :smile: such a beautiful country!
pragmatic
2017-04-28 14:30
@pragmatic uploaded a file: https://freedomsurfer.slack.com/files/pragmatic/F561Z015Z/received_120332000438640376.jpeg
maxsuur
2017-04-28 15:54
Cevapci, pescavci?
pragmatic
2017-04-28 16:13
Yes sir, cevapcici
globalconsulteurope
2017-04-28 16:49
Try pleskavica!!! :grinning:
globalconsulteurope
2017-04-28 16:50
Where are you exactly? I know i great place next to BG-Srb border. We usually go there during the weekend to relax and have tasty grill.
pragmatic
2017-04-28 16:51
Belgrade
maxsuur
2017-04-28 23:38
Greetings from Munich
ahawkins
2017-04-29 06:35
@simon great you can get everything done with just an iPad! I'm some what envious :slightly_smiling_face:
jase
2017-04-29 06:40
@simon how much do you travel with nowadays? I'm sort of obsessed by travelling with less now. Last trip (5 weeks) was 8kg of checked luggage and 7kg of cabin luggage. Definitely gets trickier leaving Andorra because you always need an insulated jacket as the weather is so variable.
jase
2017-04-29 06:41
On shorter trips I'm only travelling with carry-on now and loving it. Even when I have checked luggage allocated, not running the risk of losing it or having to wait for it on the other end is a motivator
simon
2017-04-29 06:55
@jase I travel with one bag and it weights around 6-7kg. I recently changed it and my new one is a 26L (old one was 16L, a bit too small). I can wear it all day without feeling any pain, if necessary. It looks business-like too so no problem bringing it to a meeting or work lounge. I have a week worth of clothing, my iPad, a bunch of electronics and a toiletry kit.
simon
2017-04-29 06:56
I spend most of my time in cities so if I need something else, I just buy it
jase
2017-04-29 06:56
Perfect! What bag is that? I definitely struggle with clothing. Slowly finding very functional but tidy clothes. I seem to either be in meetings or out hiking so it's hard to find 1 thing that works for all occasions.
jase
2017-04-29 07:00
Oh perfect. We've been using Osprey packs for years, they make great stuff.
brutus
2017-05-01 06:13
Can you please share experience on residency in Malta or Cyprus? Thinking of becoming tax resident there. Thank you in advance!
ahawkins
2017-05-01 07:04
Happy May day everyone :slightly_smiling_face:
alexanderhay
2017-05-01 08:11
@brutus My experience with Cyprus was in the 1980s, but I really loved the place. It is in a very interesting location between the Middle East and Europe. The people are wonderful as is the food, beaches, mountains, etc. Only the political situation is a bit dodgy but that is the case pretty buch everywhere nowadays.
brutus
2017-05-02 07:54
@alextrades Thank you Alex! Do you know if anyone else here has recently become resident in Cyprus or Malta? Would like to know if process (residency, tax registration, etc...) went smoothly...
globalconsulteurope
2017-05-02 08:08
Fast tag from Burgas - second biggest Bulgarian city, located on the Black sea coast. I recommend visiting it during summer months, combined with road trip on southern seaside.
danz
2017-05-02 08:11
I been there during the summer like 4 years ago, it?s nice but to crowded in my opinion
tkrunning
2017-05-02 09:22
@brutus I looked into the Malta situation for an EU/EEA/Swiss resident, and it?s super straight forward if you want to register as self sufficient (which only takes 14000 EUR in a bank account + health insurance). Wrote a mini-guide here two days ago: https://nomadgate.com/register-as-self-sufficient-malta/
tkrunning
2017-05-02 09:29
@jase for functional + tidy clothes, definitely check out Outlier
tkrunning
2017-05-02 09:30
It?s a bit easier to get while in the US (easy returns and free shipping), but their stuff is all amazing
tkrunning
2017-05-02 09:37
Some of it might seem a bit pricy, but since it?s so durable it?s totally worth it. I?ve used a pair of their Slim Dungarees as my only pair of pants for the last 2.5 years. Equally fit for hiking and business meetings. They also have some even more formal looking, 4 way stretch pants that feel and look amazing, but since I only have one pair I want something a bit more durable, since that kind of material tend to snag more easily. And then I have one of their New Way shorts as my only pair of shorts (which works for working out + swimming ++ too).
All my t-shirts are from Outlier as well (the softest merino t-shirts you will ever wear).
Getting good quality stuff that?s easy to maintain really makes a difference when traveling light. I might not travel as light as Simon, but I never, ever check a bag. And I carry lots of tech gear (laptop stand, keyboard, trackpad, big ass NC headphones) and clothing that works from -10C to +40C and above.
tkrunning
2017-05-02 09:38
For really nice wool shirts, check out Wool & Prince. Looks super sharp and you only need to take them to the cleaners once or twice a year (if you rotate between maybe two).
jase
2017-05-02 10:05
I saw Outlier years ago, I'll have to check them out. Thanks @tkrunning
jase
2017-05-02 10:05
Currently on the hunt for a new midlayer here - I might wait until I visit Canada to buy - FYI, Canada is a good spot to buy stuff with the low dollar right now
maxsuur
2017-05-02 11:12
Thanks for the malta guide @tkrunning
tkrunning
2017-05-02 11:14
Sure thing! It?s a bit on the shorter side, just wanted to quickly jot down some of the practical details I learned while there. Let me know if you have any additional questions and I?ll try to expand on that :slightly_smiling_face:
clr
2017-05-02 11:44
@tkrunning Thanks for the guide. How did it work regarding address? Is the Rental Declaration Form required?
jase
2017-05-02 15:32
What is it like as a place to live @tkrunning? Could you spend 12 months a year there?
tkrunning
2017-05-02 16:18
@clr No I don?t believe so
@jase I wouldn?t want to live anywhere for 12 months out of the year. Personally it would be a good base for about 6 months out of the year (not summer when it?s very hot and overrun by tourists). Might get a little boring spending all of my time there, though. But it gets a plus in my book for decent diving conditions (didn?t try this time, but apparently quite cheap and good).
agalt
2017-05-03 13:46
Enjoy the benefits http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-05/02/c_136251717.htm
agalt
2017-05-03 13:47
Republic of Georgia Central bank raised rates to 7%
pragmatic
2017-05-03 13:50
How much are the banks paying on USD @agalt ?
agalt
2017-05-03 13:52
1 year cd with 10,000 6?7% walk in with 50,000 and you can negotiate a much better rate.
agalt
2017-05-03 13:52
Tbc and bank of Georgia are on the London stock exchange
agalt
2017-05-03 13:53
Banks and businesses are more valuable to the georgian government than the common people
agalt
2017-05-03 13:54
I walked into liberty bank and asked about 10k usd in lari (local currency) they will give you 11-12%
agalt
2017-05-03 13:55
@alexanderhay and some others may be in town now if you want exact details
pragmatic
2017-05-03 13:55
Nah, just curious.
danz
2017-05-03 13:56
What interest do they give on EUR accounts
agalt
2017-05-03 13:57
Ive seen people walk in with bags full of cash (150k-200k usd) and they will bend over backwards to help you
agalt
2017-05-03 13:58
Dont know the euro rates off the top of my head. Ill post a screenshot when i find it
danz
2017-05-03 13:58
Thanks
agalt
2017-05-03 14:01
The rates online are not what they are for amounts 10-50k
danz
2017-05-03 14:03
1.75% for EUR, for term deposits
danz
2017-05-03 14:03
Not that bad tbh
agalt
2017-05-03 14:03
Typical of Eastern Europe / caucuses : "come in and talk friend, we don't do business online over the phone"
agalt
2017-05-03 14:04
*or over the phone "
agalt
2017-05-03 14:06
Eh, the returns are in property investment, microfinance and other categories
danz
2017-05-03 14:19
But they seem to like it online, it says ?If opened through internet banking +0.2%? :slightly_smiling_face:
agalt
2017-05-03 14:22
Mhm, they will work with you.
alexanderhay
2017-05-04 07:26
You walk in and they give you a special deal which you then do online which compounds the return. They want your money, and can turn around and lend it out at 25% to 45% easily.
simon
2017-05-04 10:29
The tips listed are from my own experience. If such a situation has happened to you, I'd appreciate if you could share your own tips :)
maxsuur
2017-05-04 13:33
@simon nice article. Very useful tips all of them
maxsuur
2017-05-04 13:34
Something missing:
maxsuur
2017-05-04 13:34
Bitcoin
maxsuur
2017-05-04 13:35
if you have a localbitcoin account with bitcoins in it, you can easily sell them (even at a very cheap price) so you can get money in cash right away
maxsuur
2017-05-04 13:35
and then you can spend it as you see fit
simon
2017-05-04 13:43
@maxsuur That's a great idea! Is there a lot of buyers on Localbitcoin, if you need to sell asap?
agalt
2017-05-04 13:51
Ljubljana has a local market for it :)
maxsuur
2017-05-04 15:37
I think so @simon you can filter out by cities, but it is generally easy
maxsuur
2017-05-04 15:38
Specially if you sell btc at a discount. There is always a market for it :)
agalt
2017-05-08 15:25
Theres a bitcoin atm that lets you take put euros in the city center of Ljubljana inside the lobby of an upscale hostel
maxsuur
2017-05-08 17:33
Here in Vienna too
johncitizen
2017-05-09 00:05
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johncitizen
2017-05-09 01:58
I have a permanent sales account on local BTC at a 20% markup. People still buy for some reason :/
johncitizen
2017-05-09 01:58
Then just replenish with bitfinex or poloniex.
johncitizen
2017-05-09 01:58
I wouldn't recommend bitfinex atm.
paul
2017-05-09 04:31
has joined #general
jase
2017-05-09 17:51
Looks like the site is having trouble again @simon - any time I try and view a bank page it kicks me to the /ic-home/ page, but I'm already logged in.
jase
2017-05-09 19:47
Following on from the clothing chat the other day, I just read some good news on Bluffworks pants: https://shop.bluffworks.com/products/chino-tailored-fit-travel-pants-charcoal
johncitizen
2017-05-10 15:16
Bluffworks blazer looks good
jase
2017-05-10 15:22
Machine washable is nice. I need a folding blazer that somehow won't crease
bmapilot
2017-05-12 08:20
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simonbcr
2017-05-12 09:53
has joined #general
tkrunning
2017-05-14 11:52
@simon regarding the what to do when you lose everything article, if you lost your credit cards but not your phone you can continue using Android Pay at all places that accept contactless payments (which in my experience is a lot of places these days?in the UK almost all merchants it seems).
tkrunning
2017-05-14 11:52
When you report your old card lost and order a replacement the Android Pay app will automatically update and be linked to the new card.
tkrunning
2017-05-14 11:53
Not sure if it works the same way for Apple Pay
otkeedca
2017-05-18 05:22
has joined #general
jase
2017-05-18 10:45
Anyone know if an international toll free number service that allows anyone in the world to call it for free? As I understand it a US toll free number doesn't work this way...?
ma-x-us
2017-05-20 07:15
@
simon
2017-05-21 07:55
@jase Anyone can call a US toll free number free of charge via Skype, Google Voice etc. As far as I know, that is as close to toll free as you'll get.
swiss_gael
2017-05-22 11:46
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brian
2017-05-23 21:14
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emondpph
2017-05-25 08:39
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architect
2017-05-25 12:27
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johncitizen
2017-05-25 14:39
Sure
johncitizen
2017-05-25 14:39
We have one on telegram already
johncitizen
2017-05-25 14:40
But it's all Australians pumping shitcoins and converting to BTC or eth.
johncitizen
2017-05-25 14:40
Yes it does. I believe it's a Google chrome extension as well
johncitizen
2017-05-25 14:40
So mine works on my work laptop
harvie
2017-05-25 15:20
To join a bitcoin chat, click on CHANNELS on the left hand side and then search for bitcoin in the search, click join.
pieter.j.becker
2017-05-28 14:28
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kl5340dc
2017-05-29 13:02
who has tax residency in georgia here?
agalt
2017-05-29 13:03
I do
kl5340dc
2017-05-29 13:03
thinking about it too
kl5340dc
2017-05-29 13:03
panama seems pita
danz
2017-05-29 13:51
And me to, haha.
agalt
2017-05-29 13:52
some of us on here already have residency with an address service and it makes life more simple
danz
2017-05-29 13:53
Could I ask you a couple of questions Agalt as you have experience?
agalt
2017-05-29 13:53
absolutely
danz
2017-05-29 13:53
Great!
agalt
2017-05-29 14:01
alright where do we start?
danz
2017-05-29 14:04
Sending you a pm in few mins if you don?t mind, got to finish something small
agalt
2017-05-29 14:04
alright. that makes two of us
jase
2017-05-29 15:24
Panama is a walk in the park @kl5340dc
pragmatic
2017-05-29 15:27
@jase But to get the benefits you need to actually live there for at least half the year.
jase
2017-05-29 15:29
@pragmatic This is where "losing" ones existing residency comes in. I can't comment on people from most countries, but as an Australian if claimed "residency" in Georgia for the 2 months I spent there each year the tax office would laugh at me and continue to send me my tax bills.
agalt
2017-05-29 15:29
correct, this is the case with many tax offices
agalt
2017-05-29 15:29
the devil is in the details
jase
2017-05-29 15:29
Many countries are the same, but my concern with many "digital nomads" are that they are blissfully unaware
agalt
2017-05-29 15:29
i live in Georgia for at least half the year because I like living there
jase
2017-05-29 15:29
Exactly
jase
2017-05-29 15:30
IMO you have to choose a place for residency that you enjoy spending time in
agalt
2017-05-29 15:30
however if you do not need to live there full time or even half the year depending on how you structure things, and what exemptions you qualify for
maxsuur
2017-05-29 15:31
Hence: Malta's residency for EU nationals
agalt
2017-05-29 15:32
@simon 's Guide highlights an exemption on income https://www.freedomsurfer.com/georgia/
pragmatic
2017-05-29 15:34
@maxsuur what do you get with that?
agalt
2017-05-29 15:34
what do you get with what?
pragmatic
2017-05-29 15:35
He said Hence: Malta residency for EU nationals - which implies you don't need to live there, based on the earlier conversation
agalt
2017-05-29 15:35
yes they cant tell where you actually live. same thing with EU nationals flying in and out of georgia with a EU ID card and no passport
agalt
2017-05-29 15:35
no stamps if you don't want them
agalt
2017-05-29 15:36
then the address service keeps a phone and water bills for you if needed for proof of residency
agalt
2017-05-29 15:40
Watched a hippie backpacker walk past customs with just a Portugal EU ID. She was freaking out. The customs guys waved her through and handed her a complimentary bottle of wine for comming to georgia.
pragmatic
2017-05-29 15:41
@agalt but ID cards can also get scanned, can't they?
pragmatic
2017-05-29 15:41
They have a chip
agalt
2017-05-29 15:41
YES @brian but as a citizen
agalt
2017-05-29 15:41
they can get scanned, but georgians don't work harder than they have to
agalt
2017-05-29 15:42
they just look at it and wave you through
agalt
2017-05-29 15:43
if you were a citizen of bulgaria for example
agalt
2017-05-29 15:43
you could travel to georgia with just your european id card
agalt
2017-05-29 15:44
or if you were spanish
agalt
2017-05-29 15:44
or whatever
agalt
2017-05-29 15:44
they will wave you through
agalt
2017-05-29 15:45
if they don't like you you will sit down and they will talk to you regardless of your nationality
agalt
2017-05-29 15:45
this is not some spanish or italian boarder control. They will question americans about stamps or anyone else for that matter.
maxsuur
2017-05-29 16:31
Simply put: @pragmatic Malta does not care too much if you live there or not. You just have to be wary that any other country claims tax residency on you by living in that country for an extended period of time. The same thing happens with Paraguay.
pragmatic
2017-05-29 16:34
Are you in Malta @maxsuur ?
maxsuur
2017-05-29 16:37
In the coming months @pragmatic id everything goes as planned
pragmatic
2017-05-29 16:39
@maxsuur I think Malta seems better than Paraguay, because it can be pretty easy to prove that you were outside Paraguay, but if you live in Malta, and travel around Europe, especially in Schengen, but also other countries that accept European ID cards, hard for anyone to prove you were outside Malta.
pragmatic
2017-05-29 16:44
True. Unless you're just travelling in schengen zone.
jase
2017-05-29 16:46
For now :stuck_out_tongue:
maxsuur
2017-05-29 16:47
For now, exactly
maxsuur
2017-05-29 16:47
Well, we will always find a workaround
jase
2017-05-29 16:47
Think of how many jobs that could be manufactured by bringing back border guards in the schengen!
maxsuur
2017-05-29 16:49
Unless they plant automated border patrols and machines! Just like tolls.
agalt
2017-05-29 16:56
#bullish_private_airports :)
simon
2017-05-29 17:14
@pragmatic If you want to be on the safe side, travel inside the zone with a non-EU passport (for train tickets, hotels etc)
simon
2017-05-29 17:15
This way your "European citizen self" never leaves Malta
simon
2017-05-29 17:16
If they really investigate you they will see the deceit but it's unlikely that would happen unless you commit a serious crime
simon
2017-05-29 17:17
Heck, those cheap Comoros passports might be useful after all :stuck_out_tongue:
pragmatic
2017-05-29 17:20
sounds like a plan
pragmatic
2017-05-29 17:20
now just the small matter of learning Hungarian, and I can be a Hunarian citizen by ancenstry
pragmatic
2017-05-29 17:20
good luck to me
pragmatic
2017-05-29 17:20
:stuck_out_tongue:
agalt
2017-05-29 17:38
What countries have visa on arrival in euro but dont share data on a regular basis, but you csn travel to with an eu id so you don't get stamped?
agalt
2017-05-29 17:39
Balkan and eastern-europe countries come to mind as well as caucuses
agalt
2017-05-29 17:40
@globalconsulteurope serbia gets to go into Europe with just a serbian id?
pragmatic
2017-05-29 17:41
nope
pragmatic
2017-05-29 17:41
@agalt EU countries get into Serbia with just ID, but not other way around
agalt
2017-05-29 17:41
Thats crappy
pragmatic
2017-05-29 17:41
Serbian IDs can only get you into Bosnia, Montenegro and Macedonia
agalt
2017-05-29 17:42
Montenegro is not a bad spot to charter a boat to go somewhere else
johncitizen
2017-05-29 22:35
Honestly I travel around Europe for work, only hotels and stuff care about my passport, I've used my Australian Drivers license successfully just by saying my passport is in the hotel safe.
maxsuur
2017-05-30 05:55
Few years ago A passport was needed to enter Serbia (EU national here)
kl5340dc
2017-05-30 06:13
I believe I needed to show passport when I passed border by car between serbia to bulgaria in aug last year
kl5340dc
2017-05-30 06:14
the border is quite aggressive there, they open your car and check everything etc. Maybe different if going by plane
maxsuur
2017-05-30 06:26
Went by train, and that was exactly the case.. in 2009
pragmatic
2017-05-30 07:17
@maxsuur not anymore
pragmatic
2017-05-30 07:18
@kl5340dc I've definitely seen my EU friends enter Serbia with just ID card
pragmatic
2017-05-30 07:19
@kl5340dc Also I found the Bulgaria to Serbia car border very non-agressive, didn't even give me an exit stamp, which caused some little issues later :stuck_out_tongue:
kl5340dc
2017-05-30 08:13
I'm talking serbia to bulgaria
kl5340dc
2017-05-30 08:13
you're going from non eu to eu, prob why the difference
mep757
2017-05-30 10:56
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c-bass
2017-05-31 15:36
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roman
2017-06-01 00:59
Both Serbia and Montenegro required a passport check in 2014 (I was driving). You also need correct car paperwork or they will refuse entry (or you have to bribe them, 20EUR is enough).
roman
2017-06-01 00:59
I.e. even when going from Serbia to Montenegro there was a post and they were checking.
roman
2017-06-01 01:02
Croatia to Serbia also had rigorous checking by car. They checked the trunk. And asked to open luggage.
nickc
2017-06-01 07:53
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simon
2017-06-05 15:16
I don't know if any of you have investments in Qatar but if you do, I'd strongly recommend liquidating them. The GCC and Egypt have just announced that they have cut all ties (including all transport links) with Qatar and that they will pressure other countries and companies to do the same. This may or may not succeed in crashing Qatar's economy but this will certainly have large repercussions. The reason behind this move is that the Qatari government has supposedly supported terrorist groups.
pragmatic
2017-06-05 15:23
I wonder if this will have any impact on World Cup 2022
agalt
2017-06-05 16:17
Does this affect flying through doha also. It is one of my favorite airports between Georgia and Europe or georgia to Asia :/
pragmatic
2017-06-05 16:18
I don't see why it should, unless other countries follow suit
danz
2017-06-05 17:25
@agalt, depends on how you flight. Mostly not, but most flights between Doha and Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt etc. are cancelled
agalt
2017-06-05 19:41
Interesting. Such a fascinating area of the world. Hopefully the wars and nonsense will stop some day so we can explore more easily and make a profit while traveling.
scorps
2017-06-06 03:53
Had booked a trip to Dubai from Qatar. Flight is officially cancelled.
scorps
2017-06-06 03:55
Very serious event. Qatar airways cannot fly over Saudi/UAE territory so will create a lot of diversion and longer flights.
scorps
2017-06-06 03:57
Yesterday everyone rushed to the market to stock up on food.
roman
2017-06-06 04:09
Bad news for Qatar. And I almost bought tickets with them on this insane sale Montreal to Bangkok about a month ago :) got lucky
benjamin
2017-06-06 04:57
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alexanderhay
2017-06-06 13:39
I was about the book a cheap flight back to Tbilisi through Doha, but the airtime and layover was just too long. Glad I dodged that bullet.
pragmatic
2017-06-06 13:57
@alexanderhay Flights from US to Qatar, and Qatar to Europe/Eurasia should still run though...
jase
2017-06-06 14:05
Flew through Doha a few months back - was a pretty good experience
jase
2017-06-06 14:05
I wish Singapore Airlines would do SIN>BCN - if I go with them I need to transfer through Milan
simon
2017-06-06 14:19
@jase Qantas now has direct flight to Perth from London. It's a pretty long flight but also a good way to avoid a Middle East stopover if there is trouble in the region.
jase
2017-06-06 14:19
Wherever possible I try for a single layover - Barcelona to Adelaide is a fairly un-travelled route though :slightly_smiling_face:
jase
2017-06-06 14:21
I'm thinking once I go SA Gold on Asiana later this year I'll cut over to Krisflyer though
jase
2017-06-06 14:21
It'll give me 2 years to rack up the status
stoplight
2017-06-06 14:33
@simon wow..perth to london?just checked..that?s like a 17-18 hour flight?damn? :smile:
stoplight
2017-06-06 14:38
This in-fighting in the GCC will see oil prices go crazy?most analysts say it will go down?but I think there will be an increase bubble first?then maybe eventually go down in the future?whatever happens?it?s not going to be good?which means there will be a lot of other economic opportunities in the future..such as middle eastern folks spending more outside of the middle east.. :slightly_smiling_face:
jase
2017-06-06 14:40
Strategic planning for a guy from the Philippines planning to facilitate citizenships/investment opportunities for others in the Caribbean :wink:
stoplight
2017-06-06 14:41
@jase ?shhhh?hahahah?.. :smile: ?i?m actually off to the Caribbean next week..will be there for the next couple of months.. :smile:
jase
2017-06-06 14:42
What a terrible place to spend one's time! :smile:
stoplight
2017-06-06 14:43
Yes..very terrible?lol! :smile:
jase
2017-06-06 14:43
I have heard good things about property in the Cayman Islands - is it easy to island hop around there or do you need to fly back to US/Mexico to get around?
stoplight
2017-06-06 14:48
Cayman is great but too high in my opinion?try exploring Bahamas, Turks and Caicos and the other islands as well...Cayman is nearer to Miami..so you can get lots of flights from there..
stoplight
2017-06-06 14:49
Major airlines serve the Caymans so you can get to go around the other islands as well?
jase
2017-06-06 15:00
Too high as in price?
stoplight
2017-06-06 15:05
Yes..in my opinion of course. Lots of other islands that you can get a better price, live and do business under the radar and yet still have access to good services. Of course, the Caymans are mature markets already, they even have medical tourism hospitals. Other opportunities aside from Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, BVI and USVI are the emerging Eastern Caribbean islands of Antigua, St. Kitts and St. Lucia. Bias aside, some strengths include a new international airport for Antigua, high-end services in St. Kitts and well, you?ve got several Sandals resorts in St. Lucia.
stoplight
2017-06-06 15:12
sorry @brian by dangerous you mean? crime wise? or business?
stoplight
2017-06-06 15:14
@jase ..if you?re bold enough..you can do some prospecting by going through bank auctions?i?m actually doing some ?property window shopping? when I go there.. :smile:
https://www.cibc.com/fcib/about-us/bank-sale-properties.html
jase
2017-06-06 15:15
That link alone is awesome!
jase
2017-06-06 15:17
My guess is these countries are a fairly "negotiable" place - when it comes to getting developments through, you pay a "fee" and all is approved?
stoplight
2017-06-06 15:17
haha..you?re welcome..just take note..some prices are in Eastern Caribbean Dollar or EC$ which is US$1 = EC$2.7 so you can actually stretch your US$ much further in Eastern Caribbean countries? :smile:
stoplight
2017-06-06 15:19
The smaller countries are much hungrier for any type of foreign investment that?s why they?re even selling citizenships. Sometimes you don?t even need to pay a fee to get approved, if you ask nicely and spend a big sum, they roll out the red carpet.
jase
2017-06-06 15:21
I want to get involved in this stuff!
jase
2017-06-06 15:21
Gotta build that asset base first
stoplight
2017-06-06 15:41
@brian ?hmm?murder-related crimes in St. Kitts is still nothing compared to other islands in the region like Jamaica, DR or Haiti?the smaller islands are tourist islands?there will always be some crime in any country.?murders included but I wouldn?t be afraid to walk around at night. The average of a few murders a year for a small population like St. Kitts maybe big in statistics and numbers but considering walking in London, New York or Brussels on a bright sunny day is scarier nowadays than walking in Basseterre late at night.
jase
2017-06-06 15:48
This topic of conversation reminds of the John McAfee saga in Belize
stoplight
2017-06-06 15:50
It seems its actually quite bad in the Bahamas than in St. Kitts now?May 3 update?wow? :flushed:
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/bahamas/safety-and-security
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/st-kitts-and-nevis/safety-and-security
alexanderhay
2017-06-06 17:49
@brian I think you are being misled by statistics. There are only about 10,000 people in Nevis. If a wife pushes her husband in the shower and he dies it throws the murder rate to sky high rates. Now as for property investments I really don't know why you want to invest there. It makes little sense other than to get a passport and there are easier and more useful options out there.
agalt
2017-06-06 18:33
Wife killes husband then realizes his trust only names a close friend ad the beneficiary to distribute funds to the kids. Bad day for the wife...
agalt
2017-06-06 18:35
Wife kills husband without the trust and keeps his money after she hired a good defense lawyer.
Trusts and georgian joint stock companies save the day yet again :)
stoplight
2017-06-06 19:30
There?s about 52,000 people in St. Kitts and Nevis. Purchase of land is not necessary in getting citizenship. The Caribbean is definitely not for all but there are a lot of advantages as well which in my opinion is mostly not for the folks here on our slack forum. :slightly_smiling_face:
alexanderhay
2017-06-07 14:04
Why would anyone want such a passport? There are better places faster, cheaper, easier, and better.
agalt
2017-06-07 14:07
Logic does not apply for many people. Sexy sells. Cheaper citizenship options exist with no extradition that have land and water boarders
stoplight
2017-06-07 14:41
@agalt @alexanderhay ..being both born in the US.?in my honest opinion?I don?t expect either of you to understand the personal rationale that some people see in the second citizenship industry?specially those who aren?t so lucky to be born in an EU country or North America?.anyway?like I said?it?s not for many folks here on our slack forum.. :slightly_smiling_face: ?I do agree that there are numerous citizenship options that have no extradition?but say you?re a wealthy bloke from a country such as China, Thailand, Bangladesh or Libya, extradition treaties won?t matter much to you?you just want out?fast?legitimate...painless?and if you can do so in 90-days without ever setting foot on an airplane?then a $100k-$500k investment is easily palatable for the future and security of your wife and children?.
stoplight
2017-06-07 14:43
@brian yup $250k++ ..same with Antigua?they?re on the higher end of the Caribbean citizenship market while Dominica, St. Lucia and Grenada are on the lower end?
agalt
2017-06-07 14:44
@stoplight I worked with a dual national Chinese guy in the states that sold us citizenship packages. 500k down plus some fees and maybe a dinner with a governor of a state gets you a us passport in 2 months.
stoplight
2017-06-07 14:45
I know of the EB5 program which is basically that..but it gets you a green card?not a passport?if they sold passports in 2 months?well?some magic will be involved.. :smile: ?
stoplight
2017-06-07 14:46
It maybe illogical for those who are well informed like many of us here in the slack forum but I recall personally laughing out loud when I found out that Malta will be offering their program for 1.3M euros plus plus or about $1.5 million dollars?
agalt
2017-06-07 14:47
At that time i was working 2 jobs living in a car sweeping floors in a 7-11 gas station and working in a mall during the day for a Chinese guy who sold cell phone cases at kiosks in 3 malls and married off us born Chinese to mainland Chinese fir us citizenship on the side.
stoplight
2017-06-07 14:49
That was 2015 when I learned about the Malta program?several years and almost 400 million euros later?I?m not laughing anymore at them?laughing at myself for not getting into it earlier..hahah.. :smile:
agalt
2017-06-07 14:49
Yup!
agalt
2017-06-07 14:51
I turned down a job in China before i fled amerika selling us citizenship because it would require me to travel back to the states
stoplight
2017-06-07 14:52
it?s big business?specially in China?where money is literally overflowing to many new young wealthy illogical Chinese.. :smile:
jase
2017-06-07 14:52
Can someone please tell me how to get in on that market? :smile:
agalt
2017-06-07 14:53
Well @jase you seeme to have better social skills than my INTJ self. Send me a pm.
agalt
2017-06-07 14:54
You like fast cars also, so that's a start ;)
jase
2017-06-07 14:54
My father in law brings a suitcase full of baby formula to China from Australia each visit. I'm looking for something more scalable. :joy:
agalt
2017-06-07 14:54
Diamonds
jase
2017-06-07 14:55
I investigated becoming a Perth Mint Distributor
jase
2017-06-07 14:55
Think about it - most businesses in developed countries are paying 30%+ tax
agalt
2017-06-07 14:55
Guy in the call center i worked in would fly from the us to hk with them in a carry on bag
agalt
2017-06-07 14:56
Its all about how you do it
jase
2017-06-07 14:56
So anyone in a "tax optimized" country can undercut their prices by 20-30% and make as much profit as them. 20-30% more competitive!
stoplight
2017-06-07 14:57
Diamonds?buy them uncut in Africa?have them cut in Southeast Asia then sell them in other countries? :smile: ..profit margins through the roof!! hahaha
jase
2017-06-07 14:58
So apparently Kenya went and burnt all the elephant tusk
jase
2017-06-07 14:58
The Botswana crew told me that they are putting it into vaults
jase
2017-06-07 14:58
They still cut them off so poachers don't kill elephants, which is good
stoplight
2017-06-07 14:59
it?s hard to deal in the animal market..too many animal lovers?with guns! :smile:
jase
2017-06-07 14:59
But they're locking it up, waiting for prices to go to the mooon first
agalt
2017-06-07 14:59
:) BTFD
jase
2017-06-07 14:59
I like animals, but it's good to see countries making the best of both situations
alexanderhay
2017-06-07 16:26
stoplight: I think a 2nd citizenship is a good idea. Just not from Nevis. There are better IMHO.
gregor
2017-06-10 15:08
has joined #general
architect
2017-06-12 00:12
Hey, who else is in the Philippines?
harvie
2017-06-12 02:29
I'm be there next month @architect
danielabagnale
2017-06-12 03:10
has joined #general
pedrodemendez
2017-06-12 08:09
Am going to be there in 3 months :-)
skat
2017-06-12 08:11
Anyone in Chiang Mai, Thailand at the moment? I?m keeping a low profile here, but will be happy to meet some Freedom Surfers.
danz
2017-06-12 08:21
I arrived yesterday!
danz
2017-06-12 08:21
haha.
danz
2017-06-12 08:22
Just settling the next 1-2 days, if you want to meet after that let me know
simon
2017-06-12 09:12
@brian For Google I use the Authenticator app. It gives me a random code every time I want to log in. Maybe this could be an option for you?
skat
2017-06-12 09:19
@danz cool. are you settling around Nimman?
tatelev
2017-06-12 09:26
@brian are you using a VPN? that would explain why they lock you out. otherwise it is weird
danz
2017-06-12 09:27
@skat, yes
skat
2017-06-12 09:28
@danz cool, i?m very close (The Mirror)! Give me a notice then you?ll settle down
danz
2017-06-12 09:29
I?m next to there I believe
danz
2017-06-12 09:29
Moving in to PT residency
skat
2017-06-12 09:29
@danz oh, same company manages both of our buildings :wink: so we are very close
danz
2017-06-12 09:30
What a coincidence. I?ll sent you a message in a few days
stoplight
2017-06-13 00:22
@architect @harvie ?too bad i?m not in Manila now..you blokes have a good time and play nice! @harvie has many ?friends? in Manila?hahaha.. :smile:
stoplight
2017-06-13 00:51
Hi ?what are your thoughts on UAE free zone companies? If you we?re given an opportunity to have the same benefits/facilities in a country closer to North America, would you go for it? :slightly_smiling_face:
rtiagm
2017-06-13 02:20
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pragmatic
2017-06-13 06:24
@stoplight sure... why you know of one :stuck_out_tongue: ?
jerobo
2017-06-13 17:02
Hi Panama have a free zone aswell. People show it as an opportunity near USA.
agalt
2017-06-13 19:15
0% tax for software exports. 5% tax on farm Income (you need to be a citizen to buy agriculture land)
stoplight
2017-06-14 01:50
@pragmatic ?I might? Lols?. :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye: ?haha? nothing concrete yet?just checking if there will be some interest from many digital nomads?which is one of the target markets for free zone companies.. :slightly_smiling_face:
stoplight
2017-06-14 02:00
@jerobo oh nice! ?do they also have that one-stop shop that UAE FZE?s have now?
stoplight
2017-06-14 02:03
@brian @agalt ?.yup yup! lot?s of good opportunities in Georgia?sadly a bit quite far though for some folks?myself included? :cry:
jase
2017-06-14 11:19
@stoplight it all comes down to credibility, cost and ease of doing business IMO. Single non-resident director company with low audit requirements and 0% tax with ease of opening quality bank accounts and a low % payment processor. Make it work and the digital nomad crowd would flock to it.
stoplight
2017-06-14 12:09
@jase agree agree! :slightly_smiling_face: thanks for the input..
pragmatic
2017-06-14 12:33
Well the point of freezone companies is actually that they are resident companies
jase
2017-06-14 15:32
Yeah the freezone aspect I think is hard to take advantage of in a country without major/cheap ports to use
jase
2017-06-14 15:32
You'd probably pay more for shipping there than the tax you'd save
jase
2017-06-14 15:33
Or is it that it's simply a more established company base of operations for those concerned about CFC law?
stoneagezen
2017-06-15 21:06
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stolzlos
2017-06-17 08:35
has joined #general
evl4r
2017-06-17 12:07
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simonbcr
2017-06-17 12:12
@danz @skat I'm in Chiang Mai too, let's meet :slightly_smiling_face:
skat
2017-06-17 12:32
@danz @simonbcr totally up for it!
evl4r
2017-06-17 14:19
Hey guys. I wasn't sure which section to put this in as it covers residence, taxation, trading and Canada... All of which are sub comments. Its mostly to do with residency/taxation planning though.
I know you're all busy, so any bits of advice are greatly appreciated. Once I'm set up and living the nomad lifestyle I look forward to be able to give others advice on doing the same!
I am currently a full time Forex trader with a negligible trading account size (not worth relocating to save tax $). I am based in the UK, domiciled here, born here always been a citizen etc. I'm 24.
This winter I am going to Whistler in Canada on a 6 month tourist visa to trade at bight and snowboard all day. As well as write and produce music when I can (if anyone dabbles In similar hobbies, message me:)).
After that, my plan is to move from place to place every six months, living in new countries/cities on an ongoing basis for as long as I love doing it. Top of the list are Japan, Australia, a few south american countries...
I am seeking some advice. Especially if any Forex traders have done a similar thing.
Are there any difficulties with nomad trading? For example finding a trading broker? I suppose if i have an HK comoany the money will always be gojng to/from the broker from that comoany, so it matters little where I log in and trade from...
I think the best thing for me to do is become a resident for tax purposes in a residential tax jurisdiction such as Costa Rica, and keep travelling from there. Setting up an offshore company in somewhere like HK, and a bank account in another jurisdiction. Similar to the five flag theory, as I would like to retain citizenship in the UK, just not residency.
Does this seem like a reasonable plan? Are there any ideal places to set up tax residency in? Ideal would be:
Residential/low tax
Minimal amount of time needed to be spent in the jurisdiction to qualify for tax residency (both initially and ongoing, but more importantly ongoing)
Those are the major things - unless I am.missing anything obvious.
Another question would be:
Given my situation leaving the UK for 6 months but only being in Canada on a tourist visa, if I then moved on to, say, Costa Rica, to get residency, would those initial 6 months in Canada count towards time out of the UK in terms of taxation? The statutory residence test is fairly complex and operates a 'split year' policy, but I was unsure if just going away for 6 months as a tourist affected that.
I suppose it wouldn't be hard to prove I am working full time as a self employed Forex trader whilst in Canada...
danz
2017-06-18 03:51
@simonbcr @skat Let?s meet this coming week? I have time all week, except tuesday basically. Let me know when you two have time.
johncitizen
2017-06-18 09:47
@evl4r read carefully in to British residency laws. I'd suggest getting a paper address and permanent residency visa in some country that doesn't tax on global income.
johncitizen
2017-06-18 09:47
Make that your "home" and travel anywhere you like
evl4r
2017-06-18 09:48
Thanks John. Sounds like solid advice
chaostar
2017-06-20 18:43
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titusblair
2017-06-21 00:42
hey all just launched http://pitchpodcasts.com would love to list your podcast if you have one or if you can help spread the word would be much appreciated!
fish
2017-06-21 04:59
has joined #general
fish
2017-06-21 05:47
Hi All!, a 3 point question/announcement
- First of all I'm a new member, feel free to welcome me in. Israeli, IT/web dev, ~3 years on the road :slightly_smiling_face:
- Going to be in Chiang Mai, Thailand, starting from tomorrow eve. Meetup anyone?
- Most importantly I'm looking for any insign of prolonging a Mexican visa for Thailand
alexanderhay
2017-06-21 08:00
Some thoughts I decided to share: http://www.bank-in-america.com/index.php/2017/06/21/an-analytical-model-for-the-digital-nomad/
agalt
2017-06-21 08:18
So your saying we can not just buy one fancy offshore product and fix all of our problems? (shocked face)
alexanderhay
2017-06-21 08:26
:disappointed:
alexanderhay
2017-06-21 08:42
agalt: Well I am trying to provide some free advice. Now that they now how I do it they don't need me anymore!
agalt
2017-06-21 08:47
.... but i read somewhere on the internet that i could buy an IBC from some lawyer on an island country and have absolute privacy and no taxes. It seemed legit! they told me I could avoid having a residency as well. Is that what all the cool kids these days are doing?
alexanderhay
2017-06-21 08:48
agalt: I wouldn't know. I am not a cool kid.
evl4r
2017-06-21 09:40
Interesting read. Thanks. I'm only just getting into learning about all this stuff, and after a couple of Skype consultations I have come to similar conclusions. Most people tell you what you want to hear. Its tough to know who to trust
harvie
2017-06-21 10:06
I need to receive an SMS to open a bitcoin account in Singapore but I don't have a Singapore mobile number, what's the best place online to sort this problem out?
danz
2017-06-21 10:07
@harvie, that's funny. I have the exact same thing.
danz
2017-06-21 10:08
I am going to SG in a couple of weeks and get an sim, don't think there's another way around it.
harvie
2017-06-21 10:14
That sucks, not sure when I'll be there next. I'm thinking about paying a freelancer on Upwork to do it for me lol
bmapilot
2017-06-21 10:14
Please check your Direct Messages thank you
pascal
2017-06-21 11:26
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v
2017-06-21 11:38
has joined #general
mikeseo
2017-06-21 12:11
has joined #general
stolzlos
2017-06-21 15:36
@harvie doesn't SMS work globally? Any phone should do, no? I remember using OKcoin in China from abroad using SMS without issue. Actually I never had any problem using any SMS based service from abroad.
harvie
2017-06-21 15:49
@stolzlos on the site they have already set the code prefix to +65 and I cannot edit it, so I need a Singapore simcard sadly.
stolzlos
2017-06-21 15:52
ah I see. that sucks. what bitcoin company?
stolzlos
2017-06-21 15:52
might join you
maxsuur
2017-06-21 20:18
Check twilio @harvie
maxsuur
2017-06-21 20:18
I believe you can set up a singaporean mobile phone number
harvie
2017-06-22 03:50
@maxsuur cheers will do!
danz
2017-06-22 10:50
No, never heard of that one.
danz
2017-06-22 10:50
Coinhacko from SG asks for SG or Malaysian number.
danz
2017-06-22 11:23
Not heading there for that, but I thought of a small hack as I use banks in SG. Instead of using Transferwise, perhaps could use a SG BTC exchange and transfer money straight to SG instead coming from a other bank and spare the fees. Just wanted to try this
danz
2017-06-22 11:37
Ofcourse, there's always that volatility. But I trade it anyway, so that doesn't really matter. I can keep it there and sell when I want.
stoplight
2017-06-23 04:13
@harvie ..if you can?t find a solution to your SG mobile phone predicament, let me know, I have my SG mobile roaming with me wherever I travel in the world. :smile: ?I?ll lend it to you for whatever purposes except tinder! :joy: ?in return for a bottle or two next time we go to Guillys?lols! :joy:
millnmd
2017-06-23 04:34
has joined #general
evl4r
2017-06-23 11:30
Is the website down for anyone else?
maxsuur
2017-06-23 11:31
yesterday it was for me too.
maxsuur
2017-06-23 11:36
today uoo
maxsuur
2017-06-23 11:36
too
stolzlos
2017-06-23 11:37
also no problem here
brutus
2017-06-23 11:39
works for me via my CH & US VPN but not when on my UA internet provider.
brutus
2017-06-23 11:40
@simon I just did a check with this website, looks like http://freedomsufer.com is not reachable for 50% of the world !?
https://www.uptrends.com/tools/uptime
evl4r
2017-06-23 11:44
Weird. I'll try with a VPN
evl4r
2017-06-23 11:44
thanks guys
maxsuur
2017-06-23 11:55
may FS soon only be accessible through TOR :stuck_out_tongue:
maxsuur
2017-06-23 11:55
going underground
agalt
2017-06-23 12:16
:slightly_smiling_face: make them work for it then if they want the info :slightly_smiling_face: Intellectual barriers to entry sound like a good way to cut out a lot of b,s,
mescos
2017-06-23 13:54
UK Corporate Service Provider Question :
Which service provider(s) do you recommend or hear good things about for registered office, secretary, filings, accounting services in the UK for a UK Ltd?
agalt
2017-06-23 13:55
@alexanderhay ?
mescos
2017-06-23 13:57
It would useful to get a thread going with names of the firms everyone uses, recommends, or thinks are semi decent?
aka
2017-06-23 13:59
Crunch accounts
aka
2017-06-23 13:59
Accounting
aka
2017-06-23 13:59
Is one of them
aka
2017-06-23 14:00
Very nomad friendly
mescos
2017-06-23 14:00
@aka - Crunch accounts
aka
2017-06-23 14:00
crunch accounting
aka
2017-06-23 14:01
they can also register companies and do the rest of paperwork
mescos
2017-06-23 14:02
Thanks @aka! Any other recommendations? Who does everyone else use?
aka
2017-06-23 14:03
people here use freeAgent but not for nomad concerns
aka
2017-06-23 14:05
mostly people use personal accountants (like me), its cheaper
mescos
2017-06-23 14:08
Thanks @aka. I?m looking to change the service provider for a UK Ltd. So looking for a corporate service provider that can provide basic accounting, tax filing, registered address, tax computation, VAT, etc.
mescos
2017-06-23 14:11
Which firms does everyone use for registered address and non-accounting services?
agalt
2017-06-23 14:28
i use an address in Georgia however simon posted a great list of address services on his site.
agalt
2017-06-23 14:39
the danger of using an address that many others use is it stinks if people look into it. If you find a friend to forward mail to you or leave a phone with a local sim card at his/ her place and ssh into your phone/ pc with a sim card it would stack up better on paper.
mescos
2017-06-23 15:04
Thanks @agalt. I?m more so looking for a corporate service provider that can provide everything - address, secretary, VAT registry, tax comp, and accounting. Any suggestions?
pascal
2017-06-23 15:04
Mescos, A corporate service provider in Georgia ?
pascal
2017-06-23 15:05
Answer : REGUS
agalt
2017-06-23 15:05
UK as i understood it
mescos
2017-06-23 15:05
@pascal - corporate service provider in UK for a UK ltd.
agalt
2017-06-23 15:05
which is why i responded. Alex may know since this is another field of his speciality
pascal
2017-06-23 15:06
Agalt : do you use a corporate service provider in Georgia ?
agalt
2017-06-23 15:06
for the record, i don't whore out just Georgia. Many other options exist..
agalt
2017-06-23 15:07
yeah. There is a good lawyer there who I use for stuff. He will not help some people though if they waste his time.
agalt
2017-06-23 15:08
same thing with many other good lawyers. The attorney I used in St. Louis would only take family friends since he had too much other stuff to deal with. There is no ammount of money some people will accept after you burn a bridge or waste their time.
agalt
2017-06-23 15:10
Georgia is a different animal when it comes tho this stuff. If you get an inexpenerienced lawyer, they wont know what they are doing or can't call the right people if you need a building permit. Family names count, and there are barriers to entry if you want to establish yourself there. Any lawyer will take your money, few know the right people to get what you need accomplished done.
pascal
2017-06-23 15:19
Agalt, do you know the name of a good real estate lawyer in Georgia ?
agalt
2017-06-23 15:21
yes. check your PM please
gmarkey
2017-06-26 00:15
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wojtek
2017-06-26 17:28
where do you guys have an international health insurance if you have no postal address at all?
sdfk787
2017-06-26 17:45
in your country of residence
wojtek
2017-06-27 02:18
I have no country of residence :stuck_out_tongue:
danz
2017-06-27 02:25
I got it at my country where I had residency before, now I don?t have any residency either. But might switch to a new one if I get new residency this year
wojtek
2017-06-27 02:35
I had one but mine got expensive (440eu/month)
wojtek
2017-06-27 02:35
so cancelled it for now
danz
2017-06-27 02:38
Wow, that?s insane high
kl5340dc
2017-06-27 07:03
I got health insurance with allianz. around 500usd a year with 10k deductible. I've put an address I use there but they never send anything to it. Wjhy do you need an address?
mysteir
2017-06-27 13:11
Hey guys, question about OECD?s "common reporting standards". I'm curious whether all bank account info will be shared with your home country, or is it just high-value and/or suspicious accounts?
Also, will the info be shared with your country of Citizenship, or country of Residency?
stoplight
2017-06-27 13:18
@mysteir ..from my initial research?its really a case-to-case basis?they may have standards?but banks are still understanding it themselves?but as to your second question?they may use the option to share it with both?best to ask your bank?they are suppose to inform you of this..that?s part of the initiative.
mysteir
2017-06-27 13:33
@stoplight You mean inform us before/if they decide to share our account info?
stoplight
2017-06-27 17:43
From what I gather, the banks should let you sign some form accepting the AEOI crap?.but I can?t really say from my standpoint since I?ve never encountered it yet?fortunately?..the banks I use don?t need to do anything yet with CRS and both my residency & citizenships aren?t affected yet?
brab
2017-06-28 02:37
this is a pretty good article, I havent had much time for the past 6 months to really use slack and I kind of get what they are saying
brab
2017-06-28 02:38
like freedom surfer I really want to be more involved bc I like this stuff but sometimes its just a mountain of stuff to catch up on
brab
2017-06-28 02:38
obv they are promoting their own app 'twist' ...but anyone use it?
mysteir
2017-06-28 04:16
@stoplight hmmm will be interesting to see what happens- I do hope they are forced to notify us before sharing our personal and private info. I'm not a terrorist nor a drug dealer & frankly, it's nobody's business where I do my banking. Last thing I need in life is unnecessary government meddling even though I have nothing to hide.
stoplight
2017-06-28 05:50
@mysteir sadly.. :cry: ?that?s the kind of world we live in now?big brother was shit compared to what they?re doing with CRS/AEOI?
maxsuur
2017-06-28 07:24
crypto is the way :slightly_smiling_face: @stoplight
dsim
2017-06-29 14:51
has joined #general
mattbellme
2017-07-04 13:34
has joined #general
jemmasta
2017-07-04 13:56
has joined #general
marc
2017-07-04 19:02
has joined #general
janemac
2017-07-05 12:10
has joined #general
globalconsulteurope
2017-07-05 13:04
I am looking for maritime registration and consulting company/law firm in Holland. It is required to change the ownership of a small yacht within Holland maritime registers.
If some of freedomsurfers here, by any chance, has such experience, drinks will be on me :wink:
brepalco
2017-07-05 16:42
@mescos https://www.1stchoice-formations.co.uk has very reasonable prices for registered office and receiving official mail.
brepalco
2017-07-05 16:44
@mescos Brian at https://www.easyfiler.co.uk/ is very helpful if you are unfamiliar with the filing processes for tax returns and annual accounts. Their pricing is VERY reasonable compared to the extortionate amounts large accounting companies charge.
jemmasta
2017-07-06 07:39
anyone having issues opening https://www.freedomsurfer.com/freelancing-legal/
harvie
2017-07-06 07:46
^not working for me either @simon.
maxsuur
2017-07-06 08:29
it doesn't work for me either
roman
2017-07-06 08:30
I have lots of issues opening various pages. They end up being stuck in an infinite redirect loop. Misconfigured WordPress or web server. Already reported to Simon a couple of times, but haven't heard back in a while.
roman
2017-07-06 08:31
Speaking of which, haven't seen Simon here in a while. Hope he's ok :)
stoplight
2017-07-06 22:04
yes?agree? @simon has been quiet for some time now?hope he?s ok..
simon
2017-07-07 12:58
Sorry guys, I?m in the middle of my annual family trip (to the jungles of Borneo this year) and haven?t been online much over the last 2 weeks. I?ve got a couple of relax days here on a small island near Sipadan, will use that time to reply to all messages.
philippe
2017-07-07 12:59
Enjoyyy :)
simon
2017-07-07 13:00
@simon uploaded a file: https://freedomsurfer.slack.com/files/simon/F65D1LWVA/image_uploaded_from_ios.jpg
agalt
2017-07-07 13:02
Have a great time!
2017-07-07 13:22
@titusblair commented on @simon?s file https://freedomsurfer.slack.com/files/U1CGE4FDX/F65D1LWVA/image_uploaded_from_ios.jpg: make sure you dont lose that boat :stuck_out_tongue:
roman
2017-07-07 13:50
Sweet. Loved Borneo. Was there just a few months ago. Checked out semi-wild orangoutangs. I want to be like them!
philippe
2017-07-07 18:40
you want to be semi wild ? :stuck_out_tongue:
roman
2017-07-07 19:01
Care-free :)
stoplight
2017-07-07 21:08
@simon OH my..if I had that view everyday?I also wouldn?t want to work..hahah?been avoiding the beach areas here in the Caribbean?or else I wouldn?t have any work done..
skat
2017-07-08 13:23
Feels so good to not open laptop for 3 week's. I can get used to this ;-)
jase
2017-07-09 14:12
Have heard talk in here about getting a prepaid sim before easily, but was mainly around asia - any tips on a long life sim card for europe? Ideally 24 months or so. I only need it for verifying services such as Amazon
agalt
2017-07-09 14:33
slovenia has good options for roaming
agalt
2017-07-09 14:34
roaming options are great. no photo id required as well for some services
jase
2017-07-09 14:34
not concerned about giving ID, only going to get 1 text message every 6 months or so
jase
2017-07-09 14:34
most important is just not having to "top up" regularly.. don't want the hassle
agalt
2017-07-09 14:35
ok. your find then. I posted something awhile back about this. most of the phone plans let you top up via an app from a debit card
jase
2017-07-09 14:37
cool thanks
agalt
2017-07-09 14:54
i like si mobile and there is another one ill get the name of
agalt
2017-07-09 14:54
you can throw the sim in a cheap nokia burner and stick it in your bag for when you need it
agalt
2017-07-09 15:07
corprate options also. Not sure if you need a company locally for a corprate plan off the top of my head
jemmasta
2017-07-09 16:17
@jase I've seen prepaid sims on ebay
jemmasta
2017-07-09 16:18
Some services has blocked twilio numbers for auth.
roman
2017-07-09 17:51
I just bought this one, but haven't received it yet. So can't give a personal review yet. But the description is promising. https://www.ebay.ca/itm/302368786571
roman
2017-07-09 17:52
Another option is to get Know Roaming SIM. It can also provide an EU number.
roman
2017-07-09 17:53
Yep, N26 seems to block twilio for account verification.
roman
2017-07-09 17:54
I tried it with a German number and wasn't getting any verification SMS.
jase
2017-07-09 20:21
Thanks I will check it out
jase
2017-07-09 20:21
@brian my Twilio number doesn't work. Already tried. I believe they have them blocked
agalt
2017-07-09 20:24
Georgian numbers with Magti wireless work globally as well (but people here seem to be burnt out on Georgia, so i won't advertise something even though it works very well)
agalt
2017-07-09 20:47
setting up a raspberry pi 3 with a sim card in your country of residence does not sound like a bad idea these days. It is do-abe with debian or Fedora core linux and you dont have the android or IOS crap that goes along with it, and you still recieve texts when you need them for verification purposes
tkrunning
2017-07-09 22:37
A raspberry pi sounds like a good idea. If I only knew how to do that :)
Currently I have a dual SIM Android phone with my Norwegian and Danish sim cards installed at all times. I plugged it in last time I visited my parents and left it there. It has been reliably forwarding texts to my email for about 6 months now.
I got the cheapest dual SIM Android phone that's running Android 6, for $60: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01H2E0J5M/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499639427&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65
My Danish sim is actually on a subscription, automatically charging my debit card about 1.5 EUR per month. My Norwegian one is just a prepaid, but it only requires a 3 EUR top up via a debit card once every 18 months to stay active.
So it's about the price of Twilio, but with actual physical sim cards, so works with services blocking virtual numbers :)
agalt
2017-07-09 22:41
after destroying a asus zenphone 2 with 4gb ram i bought this as a backup/ throw-away in macedonia http://www.blackview.hk/blackview-152/
agalt
2017-07-09 22:42
it works well so far. I like that it doesn't have gorilla glass and i can break it in half and toss it in a river or an ocean and walk away.
agalt
2017-07-09 22:43
Blu makes good phones. It was the go-to phone of the ex- cons i used to work with in the states. they loved them and those net10 4g sim cards you could activate without an ID or name
agalt
2017-07-09 22:45
recently bought this 6gb ram beauty with GLONAS Russian GPS as a primary phone. hope it lasts more than a year without loosing it or destroying it: http://www.blackview.hk/blackview-198/
tkrunning
2017-07-09 22:53
:)
Gotta love NET10, too. It used to be my preferred provider when visiting the states (until I got Google Fi). I think they still sell starter packs with 4 sim cards for 99 cent and free next day delivery on Amazon. I would just stock up on those and activate one right before boarding a flight to the states.
agalt
2017-07-09 22:55
yep :slightly_smiling_face: net 10 is good stuff. I worked in a 7-11 petrol station and checked out a lot of these cards in the past. it was the prefered sim card of choice. AT&T without the BS
agalt
2017-07-09 22:56
needless to say i sold everything I had in Amerika and got out as soon as possible. Happily living in Eastern Europe and the Caucuses
agalt
2017-07-09 22:57
the Chinese I worked with at my 2nd Job used to use it as well along wtih another provider at best buy for some reason that was a subsidary of T-mobile
agalt
2017-07-09 22:58
Ting maybe? I don't know. Amerika is not my problem anymore
agalt
2017-07-09 23:12
If you are deep in the woods behind enemy lines, pay-lo uses sprint and verizon towers that get better coverage per tower in areas in the country. You can get chinese phones without gps chips if you look carefully with qwerty keyboards. The coverage is better than Net 10 for some people if you like to hunt or fish
brutus
2017-07-10 07:42
If anyone interested, I saw different phones with 3 or 4 SIM card slots in various shops when in Russia last year. I can check online but they are probably coming from Asia anyway :smile:
brutus
2017-07-10 07:44
Also for iPhone I saw some advertisements for 2nd SIM systems for voice + sms and 3G/4G (via bluetooth connection)
agalt
2017-07-10 10:18
10 piece minimum order. Anyone interested in a group buy for something like this in the future? If we could find a good aftermarket ROM for it we could rip out all the nasty Google stuff and limit the junk that slows everything down.
agalt
2017-07-10 10:22
To be perfectly clear, the objective of modifying a phone is not to hide from goverment. Marketing crap these days is the sole purpose to avoid the extra junk on a phone. Even an unregistered sim card does nothing if you are still talking on the phone since voice patterns and tones can be anylyzed and traced. The whole idea of, "I want an unregistered phone so 'they' don't know who I am." Is something in the past.
stoplight
2017-07-10 14:19
?I would caution against using tri-sim and quad-sim phones?the technology currently being used by these Chinese copycat manufacturers is simply not designed to have 4 receiving antennas being used at the same time?several years ago..I had 2 of these tri-sim phones and our office was using a quad-sim phone?not only did it not last half-a-year..the battery was simply not able to sustain the needed consumption to keep the 4 antennas alive simultaneously..and to think those were just basic call and text phones?no android OS?.yes battery technology has considerably improved since then but still?unless the battery is at least 10000 mah upwards?the risk of going boom on you is considerably high IMHO?.one of the phones we had melted the battery while being charged?as someone who takes 4 phones when traveling?2 having dual-sims on them?I just find it better and safer to use the dual-sims from mainstream brands rather than risk personal safety on crappy phone.. :slightly_smiling_face: ?
roman
2017-07-10 14:26
Yeah, I?d agree with Matthew. I just got a Nokia 3310, which will survive nuclear apocalypse. Battery lasts 7+ days. Good enough to receive SMS and make calls. Just swap the SIMs. Unless you need to do it often and many times during the day, then it might be a PITA.
roman
2017-07-10 14:26
In which case, maybe just get an SMS gateway that supports multiple SIMs. They are $$$, but might be a good fit. And host it somewhere with remote access :slightly_smiling_face:
stoplight
2017-07-10 14:45
@roman ?that?s very jason bourne-ish?I like it! hahahah?we can host it on offshore anonymous servers away from the prying eyes of meddling countries?.I dunno..places like Iceland or Netherlands maybe? Lols! :smile: ?and maybe for truly under the radar matters?maybe I can coerce the Tongan government to share some of their ?.to? server space for us?.let?s just pray the palace doesn?t burn down since many of the servers are rumoured to be in the basement?LOLS! :joy:
roman
2017-07-10 14:46
Key is that the ISP should be able to work in the host country :slightly_smiling_face: Not all SIMs roam well in all countries. Something to check.
roman
2017-07-10 14:46
But there are definitely some rack mountable, professional solutions out there. Just need a data center rack space and you can host one professionally.
stoplight
2017-07-10 14:49
Sounds like a good business?somebody should start this! :smile: ?no one offering services like this? Signup and they just send you your own sim/info/software?
roman
2017-07-10 14:50
I was thinking about this several times already. But it seems to be cost prohibitive. Those gateways cost thousands. And the cost of someone administering it (receiving SIMs, inserting them). It would cost ~ $20/mo to host one SIM. Not sure how many people would be interested in that.
roman
2017-07-10 14:51
On the other hand, I had an idea for a consumer solution.
roman
2017-07-10 14:51
A device that you can simply leave at home, connected to your WiFI.
roman
2017-07-10 14:51
That can redirect both voice and SMS elsewhere.
roman
2017-07-10 14:51
But I am not a hardware guy, so I didn?t get far with that.
roman
2017-07-10 14:52
I think it *might* be possible to do something like that on some cheap android-compatible hardware and with some rooted hacking on Android platform. But I am not too sure about that.
roman
2017-07-10 14:53
I was thinking to have a central UI somewhere on the web, to which the device connects automatically when booted. And simply forwards via internet all incoming SMS and calls.
roman
2017-07-10 14:53
And maybe the other way too.
stoplight
2017-07-10 14:57
OMG?I think it sounds feasible?I dabbled in a less complicated but similar solution back when everything was Analog?and cloning was still easy?
roman
2017-07-10 14:57
The consumer solution is definitely feasible.
roman
2017-07-10 14:58
I am thinking it?s kind of like Sling for phone :smile:
roman
2017-07-10 14:58
(Sling is a unit that re-broadcasts cable TV via internet)
stoplight
2017-07-10 14:59
oh?haha..
roman
2017-07-10 14:59
It can technically even be autonomous, if SIM has internet capacity. It can use it?s own 3G to forward SMS. So it doesn?t even need an active internet connection (WiFi).
roman
2017-07-10 15:00
Just need a power source.
roman
2017-07-10 15:00
Can leave it at parents? house or cottage or anywhere, really?
stoplight
2017-07-10 15:00
Well..the software is in place for sure?lots of apps offering ?numbers? for free?we just need to downscale it for our needs..
roman
2017-07-10 15:00
Well, the software there is different. They all pretty much just use Twilio.
roman
2017-07-10 15:01
The UI part is like 5% of the work :slightly_smiling_face:
stoplight
2017-07-10 15:01
hmmm?maybe we can ask the guys at magicjack to build something?hahahahah
roman
2017-07-10 15:01
95% is creating API for hardware/
roman
2017-07-10 15:01
Basically hacking on Android to create the ability to intercept SMS/calls.
roman
2017-07-10 15:02
Last time I checked I think the OS was protective of that. So need someone with some deep skills to be able to tap into that.
stoplight
2017-07-10 15:02
i?m sure if we introduce the concept to a chinese communications manufacturer?they will build it?
roman
2017-07-10 15:02
Yeah, but it will be not consumer friendly :smile:
roman
2017-07-10 15:02
But yeah, good idea though to collab with someone in China.
roman
2017-07-10 15:03
Western people to do UI and marketing. Chinese to do the actual hardware and low level hacking.
stoplight
2017-07-10 15:03
consumer friendly is a state of mind?.its all ?marketing? hahahha
stoplight
2017-07-10 15:03
exactly! :smile:
stoplight
2017-07-10 15:04
You would be surprised though?the Chinese manufacturers can be darn creative with their UI if you show them a sample?they get the younger Chinese software engineers to improve on it?lols! :smile:
roman
2017-07-10 15:05
afk
agalt
2017-07-10 17:08
This is my backup phone If i need battery life or want to check out for awhile. It makes calls and recieves texts. the web browser is so awful that it is only good for text based email: http://www.catphones.com/en-us/phones/b30
agalt
2017-07-10 17:36
Awhile back I posted something about sim card adapters for raspberry pi and making it work in Debian Linux and Fedora Core/ Centos/ Redhat.
agalt
2017-07-10 17:39
less moving parts = less stuff to break. If I can avoid android, ios, or blackberry for something simple to forward calls and texts that would be ideal. Making calls through the phone from another location entirely would be of benefit as well. It doesn't even need to have a glorified UI. A command line solution may even be better.
jase
2017-07-11 07:55
On the topic of datacenters we've been investigating starting one in Andorra. Excellent connectivity, but too small of a country to be on the radar of most government security (read: lack of privacy) organisations, so it could work. Has a history of privacy/good values around that.
roman
2017-07-11 13:46
On the other hand, small countries are easier to affect by putting pressure on. US government has a strong history of meddling with smaller countries. Besides, I am not even sure if you put a foreign SIM in another country, if that original operator ceases to get access to communications. I imagine it might still be somehow routed via their data centers eventually, no?
skat
2017-07-11 18:42
@jase is Andorra affiliated with any big countries? Maybe it has close ties with US? Or?
jase
2017-07-11 19:08
@skat closest affiliations are with Spain and France. But for a country that is so reliant on both, it's fiercely independent
harvie
2017-07-13 06:48
Joe Rogan Experience is pretty good imo.
maxsuur
2017-07-13 07:04
The Voluntary Life & Freedom Fastlane
etperth
2017-07-13 08:16
has joined #general
jsimps28
2017-07-13 10:09
has joined #general
tkrunning
2017-07-13 12:16
If you like to geek out about commercial aviation, Layovers is highly recommended!
harvie
2017-07-15 03:05
For some reason when you make a comment, you cannot go back and edit, only delete, is this the case for anyone else?
agalt
2017-07-15 09:42
it is a free one. simon posted about the message archives being available on freedom surfer website awhile back
agalt
2017-07-15 16:34
Yes. Others have used them. Simon is on a family vacation and may be making changes soon.
agalt
2017-07-16 21:21
Fedora core 26 makes ARM support better. There are drivers for sim card adapters as well in Fedora https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Architectures/ARM/F26/Installation (any other GNU/ Linux guys/ gals here?)
agalt
2017-07-16 22:33
Have you looked at Slovenia or Bulgaria for a number and you hosting? Slovenia has strong personal privacy laws and you could pay someone to stick a server in their closet. Romania is very off the radar as well and the internet is incredible. Sim cards are cash and no ID for the orange provider. Ukraine, Belarus, or Macedonia might work as well.
brutus
2017-07-16 23:11
Belarus you need ID for a SIM. Not for Ukraine
roman
2017-07-17 01:39
Ukraine SIM doesn't work well overseas. Doesn't work in Canada for me.
I got pre-activated German SIM and Russian SIM on eBay though. They are activated on someone's else's name, which is, of course, not so good, but both worked from Canada.
roman
2017-07-17 01:43
You can also get Know Roaming SIM. Great offer. They do give you US or UK number. And it works anywhere pretty much.
roman
2017-07-17 01:45
KR does not need any official activation per se. You do need to provide a shipping address and top up with a credit card. If you wish to remain anonymous then use a mail forwarding service and credit card backed by bitcoin, eg cryptopay.
roman
2017-07-17 01:46
Company headquarters are in Toronto, Canada. They deal with some provider in Israel for actual roaming service.
agalt
2017-07-17 10:25
You can get Georgian sim cards through beeline activated in other peoples names in local markets. You can also buy foreign beeline sim cards here that are already activated.
agalt
2017-07-17 10:26
Magti is wonderful for roaming. I use it all over Europe to call and text. You can get corporate accounts as well that roam.
archivebot
2017-07-20 07:13
has joined #general
pedrodemendez
2017-07-21 17:12
anybody joining? went there last year, great experience..
stoplight
2017-07-21 22:55
@pedrodemendez ?have had invites to that?never really thought of going..haha?let me know if its any good? :slightly_smiling_face: ?no longer in the IT scene?but sounds like its a lot of fun..
skat
2017-07-22 10:59
@pedrodemendez a lot of people i never heard off and no topics :wink: maybe i should submit my talk? do they cover expenses for speakers?
skat
2017-07-22 11:00
I?ve been giving a talk titled ?Horrible truth about companies that go remote? at a conference couple of month and it was well received. Was thinking of doing it again.
skat
2017-07-22 11:01
Not sure how appropriate talk this is for PH audience
roman
2017-07-22 11:37
@skat do you have a recording of the talk?
gregor
2017-07-22 18:18
Has anyone dealt with Lettica for Estonian incorporation and getting a bank account?
ivo
2017-07-24 08:46
has joined #general
jase
2017-07-24 16:28
What's the truth skat?
pedrodemendez
2017-07-24 18:52
i go for the networking, not necessarily the presentations..
pedrodemendez
2017-07-24 18:52
don't know if they cover expenses
yannerbp
2017-07-25 22:46
has joined #general
alex1
2017-07-27 11:06
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alex1
2017-07-27 11:07
Hello guys, new here
fish
2017-07-27 14:37
Welcome @alex1
harvie
2017-07-27 22:22
Hi Alex :smile:
stoplight
2017-07-28 02:07
hello @alex1
bitesak
2017-07-28 17:39
has joined #general
bitesak
2017-07-29 13:08
Hi, I just signed up and I am pretty sure I remember reading there was 'powerful hack' of sorts to retrieve funds from an estonian company without taxes, but now that I am in, I no longer find any related info.
maxsuur
2017-07-30 18:31
@bitesak salary route I guess and business travel expenses
svending
2017-07-31 14:40
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stevesmith
2017-07-31 20:36
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bigworld
2017-08-01 16:55
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gregor
2017-08-02 08:46
I just got a new Sim in Spain and was told the data package now works across Europe by law. :) so my question is, what country has the best data plans?
fish
2017-08-03 22:07
How do one resets the website password?
fish
2017-08-04 08:19
Still unable to reset my pass, the emailed link is broken...
brutus
2017-08-04 13:11
Hi! How exactly do you get your SMS forwarded from those physical SIM cards? is that an included feature in those Scandinavian package or you have a software/trick for that?
brutus
2017-08-04 13:18
Sorry I should have googled my question first... I can see various Androids apps for that and standard iphone setting apparently
lifecoach
2017-08-04 20:09
has joined #general
skat
2017-08-05 13:48
@fish strangely enough, @simon has been absent for some time. And he is the only person who can fix this
fish
2017-08-05 20:59
Oh well...
adam1516
2017-08-07 05:39
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ciupi13
2017-08-07 08:29
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silviu.pojar
2017-08-07 09:02
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bmihalcea
2017-08-07 09:15
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popaionut
2017-08-07 15:15
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madalinchi
2017-08-07 17:41
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sherice
2017-08-08 05:44
Hi everyone :slightly_smiling_face:. I'm technically not 'new' but haven't had the chance to formally introduce myself. I'm originally from Canada and my husband I have been travelling throughout SE Asia for the last 3+ years. I hate the cold so 5 years ago we decided to give early snowbirding a try, fell in love with travelling and decided after 2 years to get a one way ticket. We're currently in KK, Borneo (after reading a great post from @simon) and really enjoying it! Our ultimate goal is to formally exit Canada, we have a Canadian corp there which we run online. We went to explore our options in HK last fall, but put things on hold because we needed to figure out our residency seeing as our taxes would still pass through to us even if we had an HK corp. So we're currently exploring new options - the UK is looking interesting but we still need to sort out the residency piece. That's pretty much the situation in a nutshell :slightly_smiling_face:. Looking forward to learning more & connecting with you all!
coroiumarius25
2017-08-08 07:03
has joined #general
coroiumarius25
2017-08-08 07:06
Hello, this is Marius
stoplight
2017-08-08 07:12
welcome @coroiumarius25
coroiumarius25
2017-08-08 07:13
How are you? I just joined.
stefan
2017-08-08 07:23
has joined #general
stefan
2017-08-08 07:38
Hello everyone, my name is Stefan and i'm glad i'm here, hope to keep in tuch whit everybody.
Cheers!
stoplight
2017-08-08 07:43
@coroiumarius25 ..i?m great? :slightly_smiling_face: ?
stoplight
2017-08-08 07:43
where you from?
stoplight
2017-08-08 07:43
hi @stefan ?welcome! :slightly_smiling_face:
agalt
2017-08-08 07:52
@stefan welcome!
agalt
2017-08-08 07:52
@coroiumarius25 welcome!
coroiumarius25
2017-08-08 08:24
Im from Romania
coroiumarius25
2017-08-08 08:24
And you?
stoplight
2017-08-08 08:25
@coroiumarius25 awesome! I shuttle between the Philippines, Canada and the Caribbean.. :slightly_smiling_face:
coroiumarius25
2017-08-08 08:26
Cool. My fiance is from PH;)
stoplight
2017-08-08 08:28
Nice! Let me know if you?re planning a trip to Manila?let?s have a couple of bottles?or a case! hahah :smile:
coroiumarius25
2017-08-08 08:30
Haha..i went there in May
stoplight
2017-08-08 08:30
Aww..too bad! Well..there?s always next time! :smile:
tkrunning
2017-08-08 13:37
Yeah I just use two apps for Android, don't remember the names exactly.
danielmoise
2017-08-08 13:41
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sego
2017-08-09 07:36
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coroiumarius25
2017-08-09 19:32
Hy guys, does anyone have an LLC opened in Wyoming?
stoplight
2017-08-09 22:47
@coroiumarius25 ?I do..why?
coroiumarius25
2017-08-11 06:20
Can you tell me if your name appears in the certificate of the LLC?
daciandemian
2017-08-11 07:54
has joined #general
wojtek
2017-08-11 17:13
what happend to @simon
wojtek
2017-08-11 17:14
is he offline?
simon
2017-08-11 17:21
@wojtek I took an extended holiday through most of June and July. Got back to work a couple of days ago and am now slowly going through the thousands of messages that were posted while I was away. I will also answer the private messages soon.
skat
2017-08-11 19:34
welcome back
wojtek
2017-08-11 21:24
:slightly_smiling_face:
wojtek
2017-08-11 21:25
hope you had a good time
stoplight
2017-08-11 23:03
welcome back @simon ..we missed you! :smile:
otkeedca
2017-08-12 05:55
welcome back Simon
austinweb
2017-08-12 06:11
@simon
simon
2017-08-12 06:40
Thanks guys. @wojtek I had a great time, spent most of it diving at Sipadan and exploring the jungle in Borneo. For those who haven?t been to the island yet, I definitely recommend it. The nature is definitely more ?intense? than on the Asian mainland.
wojtek
2017-08-12 11:23
Borneo is on my todo list
agalt
2017-08-12 19:25
welcome back @simon Hope you found some smiles under the water. it is a different world.
maxsuur
2017-08-13 14:27
Welcome back @simon :)
lucian.avadani
2017-08-14 14:47
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liviu
2017-08-14 22:12
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adrian7
2017-08-14 23:28
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valicotiga
2017-08-15 00:30
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actsellers
2017-08-15 04:32
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millnmd
2017-08-15 05:53
Welcome back @simon
toughsegment
2017-08-15 12:52
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harvie
2017-08-15 18:55
I'm in Prague, Bratislava and Krakow the end of Aug/Sept. Anyone about?
maxsuur
2017-08-16 11:23
I am in Vienna, 1h away from Bratislava. You are welcome to visit the city, which is just beautiful
maxsuur
2017-08-16 11:23
@harvie
harvie
2017-08-16 12:47
@maxsuur hows the nightlife :smile:?
maxsuur
2017-08-16 14:18
inviting :slightly_smiling_face: @harvie
dia951
2017-08-16 14:37
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wojtek
2017-08-16 15:01
We go out in Vienna today :slightly_smiling_face:
maxsuur
2017-08-16 15:10
You here @wojtek ?
wojtek
2017-08-16 15:31
Yep
neal
2017-08-17 16:15
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stolzlos
2017-08-20 09:07
Does anybody else have problems accessing https://www.freedomsurfer.com/thailand/
danz
2017-08-20 09:08
Yes, doesn?t work for me. As all countries, and perhaps more pages.
stolzlos
2017-08-20 09:08
thanks
goyologo
2017-08-20 16:35
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sylvain156
2017-08-24 08:56
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fish
2017-08-24 13:12
Anyone been to Vietnam? Where to stay? recommendations?
I spent a month riding across Vietnam but I don't really know how is the community, current options are: HCMC, Hanoi, or whatever is recommended
skat
2017-08-24 13:16
@fish if your in HCMC pick your districts wisely, never end up with tourists.
fish
2017-08-24 13:19
District 2, is it?
fish
2017-08-24 13:19
The touristic area was not cool at all
skat
2017-08-24 13:21
@fish i stayed here last time in HCMC -> https://www.facebook.com/miplacehomestay/ had a blast with them. Owners are very entrepreneurial Vietnamese who studied in EU or US. They have a lot of friends who are into IT and own outsourcing companies. It was my kind of crowd and we had a lot of good time!
fish
2017-08-24 13:29
Is it a hostel?
skat
2017-08-24 13:31
@fish stay at home
fish
2017-08-24 13:32
Like AirBnb?
skat
2017-08-24 13:32
@fish also dynamic circle is very active in HCMC, Jon Myers is a very cool dude you should meet. They usually have a regular get-togethers somewhere in club every week.
skat
2017-08-24 13:33
They can basically hook you up with anything you need in that city.
skat
2017-08-24 13:33
be it fun-wise or business-wise.
skat
2017-08-24 13:34
I recommend to check out da-nang if really
skat
2017-08-24 13:35
I can hook you up with James there, i don?t how busy he is. But usually he is a very welcoming dude, who can do a crash course around a city.
fish
2017-08-24 13:35
That would be awesome
fish
2017-08-24 13:35
Please do
danz
2017-08-25 00:51
@fish, I prefer the city Da Nang in Vietnam. It?s clean, beautiful, not so busy, next to the sea, affordable, some great restaurants.
danz
2017-08-25 00:51
Just don?t expect there such a big community of people working there/expats as HCMC. But it?s getting there.
danz
2017-08-25 00:56
Hanoi is nice to, but everything is more spread out like HCMC. I stayed there a month last time. You need to find a place in a nice are which can be difficult sometimes without know the area good. I can also recommend Da Lat, Nha Trang and Sapa for just travelling.
roman
2017-08-25 02:53
We liked Ph� Qu?c a lot. Apparently it's getting super developed though. So maybe things have changed from 2y ago. But it was a pleasant beach destination with a few stunning beaches.
skat
2017-08-25 12:51
I think Hanoi has a lot of great dissapearing ?old vietnam? kinda of feeling spots. Da-nang and HCMC are more modern.
skat
2017-08-25 12:52
Nha Trang was a total disaster for me. I got a sweet hotel deal there for a week, and regretted taking it. Very touristy.
anairda
2017-08-25 17:47
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fish
2017-08-27 17:40
@roman Thanks I'll look into it
mattbellme
2017-08-29 09:05
can anybody recommend a good international health insurance company?
maxsuur
2017-08-29 10:16
Simon has an article on that very topic
maxsuur
2017-08-29 10:16
Allianz, seven corners..
ahawkins
2017-08-30 09:28
:wave: Not sure if this is the correct channel, so apologies if not. I'm looking for a good single bag travel bag. I've looked at Peak Design, WNDRD, Minaal, and Tom Bihn. Anyone know other interesting brands?
fish
2017-08-30 13:36
@ahawkins I use this one. Maximum allowed size for most budget flight companies: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mil-Tec-Military-Tactical-Rucksack-Backpack/dp/B004LSBYR0
jase
2017-08-31 15:00
Has anyone invoices themselves from their company and paid via credit card to earn airline miles? Asking for a friend.
maxsuur
2017-08-31 15:33
I also have a friend who'd be interested in knowing if that's possible
pragmatic
2017-09-01 08:03
But then your company is paying the transaction fee. Is it worth it?
salliecookies
2017-09-01 15:13
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bigworld
2017-09-01 17:39
Not to mention that if there is an invoice there is profit. Hence taxes.
skat
2017-09-01 20:55
I still keep up to date highly opinionated list of resources useful for perpetual travelers. http://howtodigitalnomad.com Mayb anyone has any good additions for it?
brutus
2017-09-02 12:58
Anyone heard from Simon lately? He sent us that message he was back from vacation then nothing any more?!? Is he OK ?
fish
2017-09-02 14:35
I'm still waiting to reset my IC password
roman
2017-09-03 03:36
Probably taken over by NSA by now...
patjk
2017-09-05 02:45
has joined #general
freediddly
2017-09-05 12:11
has joined #general
bravo17
2017-09-05 13:21
has joined #general
neal
2017-09-11 22:36
anyone else having difficulty logging into the site and reading pages? I keep getting a ?redirected too many times? error on pages like: https://www.freedomsurfer.com/newzealand/
roman
2017-09-11 23:39
Yep getting the same. Already reported multiple times. Seems like Simon has abandoned this project.
maxsuur
2017-09-12 07:14
I don't think he's abandoned this project, at least yet. I already saw some improvements on the site. And all in all FS has such a huge potential.
globalconsulteurope
2017-09-12 10:28
Summer season is not the best time for doing tones of work :) Maybe in the following months there will be progress on that.
globalconsulteurope
2017-09-12 10:28
Any chance users to contribute with content?
ken
2017-09-12 23:01
has joined #general
ahawkins
2017-09-13 06:40
oh my
ahawkins
2017-09-13 06:41
I wrote a 1700 word blog post on planning a large trip form India to SEA for an Indian passport holder. tl;dr: It's absolute shit!
skat
2017-09-13 08:13
For an abandoned project this chat holds up pretty good :wink:
simon
2017-09-13 08:33
The project isn't abandoned, although it's been on hold for a few months now. I've been pretty busy with other projects as well as personal stuff. I'm looking forward to creating new content and fixing site glitches over the coming months. Actually, I've just fixed a big source of friction: the password. No password is required anymore, just type in your email and you'll get a one time login link (it has to be the same email you used to sign up).
skat
2017-09-13 09:44
Happy to see that your still around @simon
maxsuur
2017-09-13 09:47
Rather relieved to see you around @simon :smile:
sdfk787
2017-09-13 12:57
anyone run their business with fb ads or snapchat ads?
sdfk787
2017-09-13 12:58
am creating a private spy tool for specific ads, looking for some feedback on it
maxsuur
2017-09-13 13:28
I've been thinking about doing whatsapp bulk messages @sdfk787
sdfk787
2017-09-13 13:33
bulk messages? advetising something?
globalconsulteurope
2017-09-13 13:43
@maxsuur should it work? What does research show? I usually get such messages in viber but do not care about them
maxsuur
2017-09-13 14:23
Here's how it'd work:
On your website you tell your visitors to add you as a contact on whatsapp and write you "start". Then they're subscribed to your promotional offers..
I just subscribed to a website that forwards you via whatsapp daily affordable flight tickets, so If you see a deal you like, you can immediately take advantage of it by clicking on the URL and booking the flight.
It'd like email, but with a higher response rate. People pay more attention to whatsapp than email nowadays. The delete button is not that obvious there :wink:
globalconsulteurope
2017-09-13 14:26
That sounds awesome! :slightly_smiling_face: Count me in if you start such service :slightly_smiling_face:
skat
2017-09-13 15:11
@maxsuur bulk messages on whatsapp? but they don?t have any api?
maxsuur
2017-09-13 16:48
Well, there are already such services out of there, I may use them for my own projects. They actually have an API @skat
sdfk787
2017-09-13 17:30
Many chat is one for Fb
sdfk787
2017-09-13 17:31
I wouldn't be surprised if a WhatsApp tool exists
sdfk787
2017-09-13 17:31
All depends how you market and sell it though
sdfk787
2017-09-13 17:31
The spy tool is for viewing ads on snap and insta story videos
skat
2017-09-13 17:58
@maxsuur i don?t believe you
maxsuur
2017-09-13 18:38
Well, @skat This is a legit website (it is in Spanish though) you can check out the process, even add that number to whatsapp, and then you'll see how you're getting those promo whatsapp messages.
skat
2017-09-13 18:39
@maxsuur link?
maxsuur
2017-09-13 18:39
there you are
ahawkins
2017-09-14 18:11
:wave: Hello friends. I will be Thailand for 2 months starting sometime in October. Does anyone in our group have a hookup on a good place for my GF and I for ~20 days in Chiang Mai?
stoplight
2017-09-15 06:16
Good Friday to everyone?.anyone of you in Singapore for the F1 weekend? I have some free time on Monday night and will be staying close to Clark Quay..anyone up for coffee or alcohol? :smile:
harvie
2017-09-15 11:14
They are paying you too much @stoplight!
skat
2017-09-15 13:05
@harvie Mirror is full
harvie
2017-09-15 21:56
@skat only place I know that I can rec, otherwise there's Airbnb holla if you never used it for an invite :wink:
ahawkins
2017-09-16 03:55
Sent the mirror a reservation request. However they price did not calculate correctly online so no idea how feasible it is!
sylvain156
2017-09-16 18:36
@stoplight it seems we will meet before than we though haha I'm in Singapore right now
sdfk787
2017-09-18 08:35
was in SG for f1
sdfk787
2017-09-18 08:35
back in KL now
sdfk787
2017-09-18 08:36
AP had a rooftop event at fullerton so got to watch it from there hehe
hanthai
2017-09-18 09:16
hi all, does the Thailand guide work for anyone? Here it redirects to the insiders guide
admin
2017-09-18 10:36
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danz
2017-09-18 12:04
@hanthai, not at this moment. Same for all I believe.
fish
2017-09-18 15:53
@maxsuur, I wrote a Whatsapp bulk message tool a while ago
maxsuur
2017-09-18 19:39
Interesting @fish
fish
2017-09-18 20:06
It was meant to be for a client but that project never kicked in so I have it sitting and waiting in the toybox. If you know how to monetize such a thing we should talk.
maxsuur
2017-09-18 21:21
Well, I believe there's demand for it
skat
2017-09-19 16:11
@fish based on those bugs in protocol to send out messages?
skat
2017-09-19 16:11
I?ve been looking around on github and found some hacky libs that use bugs in protocol to send messages
c-bass
2017-09-21 08:52
Hey all, impressive list of channels in here! Was surprised there isn't one dedicated to "Visas".. so I'm not sure where to ask this.. but it does feel like a very general visa question so here goes :wink:
I'm about to travel to Europe and would like to spend a year there. I've been considering applying for residency eventually but I'm not ready to cut all my ties with Canada (I like my bank accounts and I have a business registered here...). In the meantime I find it so annoying to have to get out of the schengen zone every 3 months.. it's very restrictive! No European ancestors for me I'm afraid. Are there any interesting Visas for digital nomads that would allow me to stay in a West-European country for more than 3 months? Excluding those that require a huge investment of course... I should also mention I'm above the age of 35 because I know that makes a difference for some special visas.
skat
2017-09-21 20:39
@c-bass Germany offers freelancer visa, that might be a good option
yuli
2017-09-22 00:34
Following.
I am interested in something similar.
otkeedca
2017-09-22 03:39
France has a similar visa, looks a bit more involved to get than Germany, haven't tried it myself though
fish
2017-09-22 18:20
@skat Not exploiting any bugs rather mimicking the mobile client.
bns200
2017-09-25 00:42
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nort17
2017-09-25 08:28
has joined #general
ianpaul
2017-09-25 09:12
has joined #general
andra_korb
2017-09-26 16:43
has joined #general
haralabob2
2017-09-28 08:17
has joined #general
titusblair
2017-10-02 14:52
hey everyone I am giving away 5 free A.I. RESUMES (http://airesume.com) + my personal help in geting you a job/freelance work. First 5 people to email will win! - please let me know if there is a better place to post this if this is not the best place :slightly_smiling_face: thanks everyone!
aka
2017-10-04 10:34
cool
aka
2017-10-04 10:35
@titusblair have you exhausted the 5 already?
titusblair
2017-10-05 16:14
hey i can send you 1 if you send an email to
silviu_ruj
2017-10-06 17:27
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rwinorganization
2017-10-08 11:11
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millnmd
2017-10-08 22:56
I was looking into this and its well documented online about New Zealand Citizens being able to bypass the 90/180 rule because NZ had bilateral visa waivers prior to the schengen agreement. So I checked http://www.treaty-accord.gc.ca/ and it turns out Canadians also have bilateral visa waiver agreements with some Schengen states still in force.
Iceland
3-months
may extend visa
http://www.treaty-accord.gc.ca/text-texte.aspx?id=102537
Greece
3-months
may extend visa
http://www.treaty-accord.gc.ca/text-texte.aspx?id=102536
Portugal
2-months
http://www.treaty-accord.gc.ca/text-texte.aspx?id=102553
Austria -
3-months
http://www.treaty-accord.gc.ca/text-texte.aspx?id=102520
Belgium
2-months
http://www.treaty-accord.gc.ca/text-texte.aspx?id=102522
Luxembourg
2-months
http://www.treaty-accord.gc.ca/text-texte.aspx?id=102546
Germany
3-months
http://www.treaty-accord.gc.ca/text-texte.aspx?id=102534
France
3-months
http://www.treaty-accord.gc.ca/text-texte.aspx?id=102531
Netherlands
3 Months
http://www.treaty-accord.gc.ca/text-texte.aspx?id=102548
Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland ( Days don?t reset when crossing borders within Nordic Council)
3 months / 6 months
May extend visa
http://www.treaty-accord.gc.ca/text-texte.aspx?id=102527
These treaties are still in force but haven?t been transcribed and uploaded to the Canadian website.
Switzerland
http://www.treaty-accord.gc.ca/details.aspx?id=102563
Italy
http://www.treaty-accord.gc.ca/details.aspx?id=102541
Spain
http://www.treaty-accord.gc.ca/details.aspx?id=102556
millnmd
2017-10-08 23:08
This is a NZ citizen who also emailed the embassies to find out if they are still being honoured. https://www.brenontheroad.com/new-zealand-bilateral-visa-waivers-schengen/ Also here is an Australian Citizen with similar BVW agreements https://thefreedominitiative.wordpress.com/2015/04/24/unlimited-visa-in-europe-for-free-maybe/
millnmd
2017-10-08 23:13
I read all of the Agreements I could find and they don't say anything about a cooling off period except the Nordic Countries and the response he got from the German Embassy in Sydney is ?According to the agreement Australian citizens may stay in Germany for 90 days after every entrance."
yura-by
2017-10-09 15:53
If anyone having problems with logging in to insiders area - clearing cookies for http://freedomsurfer.com helped me to login
ahawkins
2017-10-10 04:47
Can anyone help me out with https://medium.com/@ahawkins/itinerary-2-months-in-thailand-af83983c0d93 ?
danz
2017-10-10 04:54
Been in Thailand for a year in total, if you have any questions let me know:)
harvie
2017-10-10 10:51
Not a fan of staying in Phuket Town, it's quite a distance to travel to most places and does cost a bit of money. Hiring a car would be cheaper than getting taxis to and from places. There's hot springs and the "blue hot pool" you can see which is not too far away from Railay, car hire would be ideal.
7 days in Bangkok seems about right, so many things to see and do. Looks fine overall
globalconsulteurope
2017-10-13 07:33
Just booked flight from Sofia to Dublin in November. Will stay there with my wife and couple of friends for a few days. Any tips and tricks? Good places/bars/sights?
Anyone in the city between 18.11 and 21.11?
wojtek
2017-10-14 09:48
Kill your internary
wojtek
2017-10-14 09:48
and go to some real awesome places
wojtek
2017-10-14 09:48
like Petchabun
wojtek
2017-10-14 09:48
@ahawkins thailand has a lot more to offer than this touris crap
usman
2017-10-15 16:22
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skat
2017-10-16 13:58
@ahawkins i disapprove of travelling itineraries ? it?s not a nomad thing to do. go with a flow.
skat
2017-10-16 13:59
@ahawkins and as @wojtek already pointed out, you have all the ?garbage destrinations? of thailand in that plan. you just need to hit Pattaya ? and that should cover all of it.
skat
2017-10-16 14:07
Koh Lipe, Koh Lanta ? was okey in my experience, Lanta was especially good with eco-tourism. Ayuthaya is a good place to go, it was previously a capital of Thailand. I loved my trip to Sukhothai ? city is built around ankor like temple. Pai is very popular hippy destination (a bit too popular nowadays to my tastes ? it was much friendler before). A lot of good national parks if you move towards bangkok from Chiang Mai.
skat
2017-10-16 14:09
If your not into sport ? i don?t know why you want to go to phuket. I had to go there once, i hated every single minute of my stay in Phuket.
mrblonde
2017-10-16 15:26
@skat out of curiosity why did you not like phuket? did you see much if it?
skat
2017-10-16 15:34
@mrblonde I didn?t see all of it, but i?ve been staying in main areas ? food is expensive and crap, constant fight with over-charging taxi drivers, all the souvenirs are not produced locally (but over priced dramatically), beach is full of garbage, even motorbike renters are scammers (demanding to leave your passport is illegal) and very welcoming Thai people on the island who speak shit about you, while your still eating at their restaraunt (yeah, all the foreigners are so stupid, that they can?t learn thai).
skat
2017-10-16 15:40
@mrblonde i also went to muay thai gym ? i?m no a pro or anything, but since i?m in the island that is notoriously known for good gyms. I decided to go ? trainer just tried to run me down with running and punching bag. No valuable lessons about fighting technics, didn?t even bother to do sparring with me.
roman
2017-10-16 19:40
Phuket is the ONLY place that I have not visited in Thailand after spending almost a year and a half there (cumulatively over 4 trips). I just have no appeal from talking to others and reading the reviews. It?s a trap. I would also never visit Pattaya again, such a dump. Everything else is a fair game. My favourite experience was actually flying into Rayong, just renting a car and exploring the surroundings and also renting a car in Chiang Mai and driving up north through golden triangle to the Chinese village where they grow tea.
roman
2017-10-16 19:41
Out of the islands Koh Lanta was my favourite.
skat
2017-10-16 19:52
I did motorbiking to Rayong and Trat (?) ? i liked it too, there are couple of gems there.
danz
2017-10-17 00:20
Agree with Rayong, the area is nice
mrblonde
2017-10-17 04:21
@skat@roman@danz thanks for your feedback, yeah i have read a lot of negative stuff on phuket actually, a lot on the thai visa forums - oh boy haha, I was quite surprised, i was considering relocating there lol?. that or samui, mmmm decisions decisions
roman
2017-10-17 08:20
Check Lanta too. That?s another nomad hotspot.
skat
2017-10-17 10:10
@mrblonde i was living for couple of weeks in Samui ? can?t say anything bad about it. I was staying near the nudist beach ? enjoyed staying around open minded people :smile:
skat
2017-10-17 10:11
Back then i had problems finding coworking places at Samui, but it was 3 years ago. So, i think now that?s not a problem
alex.bosyj
2017-10-17 15:23
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wojtek
2017-10-17 15:59
Go to Petchabun it is soo awesome there ...
wojtek
2017-10-17 16:01
The best islands are only reacheable by a private sailing boat
wojtek
2017-10-17 16:01
sitll love Ko tao .. and I live here for 4+ years
wojtek
2017-10-17 16:01
get a motorbike and explore Thailand has sooo much to offer outside the toursit areas
wojtek
2017-10-17 16:03
Phuket is a russian isle .. there is not much to like about it ... I did see all of it .. you can find some nice places if you have a motorcycle ... and speak Thai
wojtek
2017-10-17 16:04
Koh Lanta is more for families, but in general do NOT go anywhere most people recommend you too .. because it is overcrowed
wojtek
2017-10-17 16:04
that is the beaty about petchabun apart from being one of the most beautiful areas Thailand
wojtek
2017-10-17 16:05
No mass tourism, no easy fly in ... rent a bike/car go explore yourself
wojtek
2017-10-18 16:39
Nothing new
wojtek
2017-10-18 16:39
:slightly_smiling_face:
wojtek
2017-10-18 16:40
This happens if you use infinion :slightly_smiling_face:
ggiampieri
2017-10-19 03:06
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ggiampieri
2017-10-19 03:13
Hi!
stoplight
2017-10-19 10:26
Hello @ggiampieri welcome!
tkrunning
2017-10-19 10:51
Hi @ggiampieri !
tkrunning
2017-10-19 10:53
Who has any good recommendations for Hong Kong? I'm going there for the first time tomorrow and don't really know too much about the place. Cc @simon
tkrunning
2017-10-19 10:54
Things to do/people to see... All suggestions are greatly appreciated!
ggiampieri
2017-10-19 17:30
I am here man.. ask questions!
ggiampieri
2017-10-19 17:35
First of all buy octopus card at airport, top it up with cash at the machine or 7eleven, take bus if you wanna stay cheap. Sleep in hostels around wan chai/causewaybay. Dont sleep in chunking mansion in kowloon. If you are westener you probablu want to hang out on the island and check out lan kwai fong with cheap beer at 7eleven. Enjoy!! City is getting more and more expensive.. check out welcome supermarket and local places, plenty of them around!
jase
2017-10-20 11:00
@tkrunning do the Ngong Ping Hike. It's a nice way to spend a day
jase
2017-10-20 11:01
tkrunning
2017-10-20 13:03
Thanks @ggiampieri and @jase !!
jase
2017-10-20 14:09
No probs, enjoy!
jase
2017-10-20 14:10
The most expensive coffee I ever bought was in HK :slightly_smiling_face:
jase
2017-10-20 14:11
City of extremes it seems. I bought breakfast for 3 on the mainland (we all left stuffed), with tea for about $12 USD, then spent more on a single coffee on the island.
stoplight
2017-10-20 14:29
@tkrunning?since you?re in HK already..take the ferry to Macau?see the ?Las Vegas? of Asia.. :slightly_smiling_face:
tkrunning
2017-10-22 15:46
Thanks @stoplight ? that's definitely the plan! Any recommendations for Macau? I'm not much of a gambler, but excited about it nonetheless.
jor.acker
2017-10-22 16:13
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ivan
2017-10-22 18:34
has joined #general
danz
2017-10-23 00:56
@tkrunning, Macau is nice. It?s not that big, I would just suggest to walk around there in the center and just check some hotels/casino?s for the fun, even if you don?t gamble.
stoplight
2017-10-24 08:54
@tkrunning I agree with @danz?I don?t gamble either but I love to shop?.which some say is worse than gambling! haha?the venetian has more than a hundred stores?that should keep you busy for at least a few hours?and walking around all the hotels and experiencing their different themes is fun?make sure to maximize the use of the free bus service in between hotels?that will get you around Macau easily and for free!
tkrunning
2017-10-24 09:40
Yeah I definitely enjoyed just exploring the town and a couple casinos a bit. It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Portugal, so I really enjoyed the Portuguese influence!
Overall a nice place to spend a day, but there's definitely more going on in HK!
stoplight
2017-10-24 09:52
oh yeah! 2 days tops in Macau if you?re not gambling?7 days in Hong Kong at least! :smile:
skat
2017-10-24 10:24
@tkrunning are you planning to comming to Thailand?:-)
tkrunning
2017-10-24 11:48
@skat not on this trip, it's just a quickie. I'm heading to Malta next week. Slight chance that I'll swing by Thailand in late January, in case you'll still be around then. :)
skat
2017-10-24 14:00
@tkrunning my wife is pregnant, so we?re sticking around in Thailand for a while.
jase
2017-10-24 14:29
@skat I've been told it's a good place to have a kid.
jase
2017-10-24 14:30
I was told to "have your baby here": https://www.samitivejhospitals.com/ "with this lady": https://www.samitivejhospitals.com/en/doctors/yaowaluk-rapeepattana/?initial=Y&hospital=all&specialty=sspc_98&keyword=
skat
2017-10-24 18:55
@jase yeah, very cost effective to give birth here. a lot of very good clinics here (and medical tourism in general is booming here, but mostly for plastic surgery as i understand).
skat
2017-10-24 18:57
It?s interesting if there is a medical visa for people who plan to give birth here.
ivan
2017-10-24 19:36
your first child @skat? My daughter was born exactly 5 months ago. We're planning on start traveling. What are your plans now?
skat
2017-10-24 19:38
@ivan First child. I don?t plan that far away, my main goal now is to publicly launch a project before baby will be born :slightly_smiling_face:
skat
2017-10-24 19:38
@ivan but i have a car? i was thinking roatrip from thailand to laos and then vietnam
ivan
2017-10-24 19:39
congrats by the way, been a great experience for us so far. Very frightening before the birth, tho.
ivan
2017-10-24 19:40
Things get more relaxed after the first 2 months usually. if you are around the house to help a bit and your partner doesn't need to work during that time things are way easier I think.
ivan
2017-10-24 19:40
@skat yeah, we're also considering a car trip and longer stays rather than airplanes and hotels
skat
2017-10-24 19:41
@ivan i was always a slow traveler :slightly_smiling_face:
skat
2017-10-24 19:41
A lot of people visited so much in couple of years.
skat
2017-10-24 19:42
I was mostly in Asia all 5 years
ivan
2017-10-24 19:44
what did you like the most?
ivan
2017-10-24 19:44
you're from Europe?
skat
2017-10-24 19:48
Yeah, from Europe. I remember it happening in thailand ? I had to find some public transportation ? and I had a cultural shock. All those tuk-tuk?s, motorbike taxi and not a single bus in sight. And I come from country, that is covered with bus system and they are always on time.
Well, I became a cultural shock junky probably. It?s not exciting enough in Europe for me :slightly_smiling_face:
ivan
2017-10-24 19:50
hahaha, I imagine
ivan
2017-10-24 19:51
And what about raising a child over there? I heard Thailand is quite safe
skat
2017-10-24 19:52
I think off the beaten path in Asia is super cool way to travel. Avoid tourist places, get lost in a city (or village).
skat
2017-10-24 19:52
But well, in Europe same strategy works great too
skat
2017-10-24 19:53
But in some places, it?s extremely rare to find a western guy. And then you understand, that language is only 55% of our communition means :slightly_smiling_face:
skat
2017-10-24 19:54
locals want to talk to you ? google translate can do wonders :slightly_smiling_face:
skat
2017-10-24 19:55
I think Vietnam is probably best place in Asia for me.
skat
2017-10-24 19:55
Thailand is too popular :slightly_smiling_face:
ivan
2017-10-24 20:01
What about Bali? Heard good things about it.
skat
2017-10-24 20:01
Never been. Too touristy for me
skat
2017-10-24 20:01
But wife insist we should go sometime
ivan
2017-10-24 20:03
Hahaha
skat
2017-10-24 20:08
There is one productivity hack in travelling ? you don?t need to socialise with people. Your old friends will not feel forgotten, it?s just you travelling.
skat
2017-10-24 20:08
Could be one of most productive times, at least for me it is like that :slightly_smiling_face:
ivan
2017-10-24 20:09
Well I had something very similar happen to me last year. We spent 8 months in a house in very small town in a forest.
ivan
2017-10-24 20:10
I worked a lot and enjoyed the nature the rest of the time
ivan
2017-10-24 20:10
I feel like I never fully rest in big cities
skat
2017-10-24 20:12
plus one to that
skat
2017-10-24 20:12
After two weeks in new york, i slept back home for two days no stop.
ivan
2017-10-24 20:14
Yeah, it's way harder to focus with so much over stimulation
bountybairn
2017-10-26 20:20
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globalconsulteurope
2017-10-27 08:07
Guys, give some local guidance for Dublin pls
globalconsulteurope
2017-10-27 08:08
Need unpopular places to explore
jase
2017-10-27 10:45
I need new headphones/microphone for work - everyone complains about my current headset with a lot of noise/echo. Does anyone have recommendations? A quality microphone is the most important feature, it doesn't need to be the worlds best audio quality
ivan
2017-10-27 10:58
what's your budget @jase?
jase
2017-10-27 10:59
No set budget really, I do travel with them so I'd probably prefer to buy 2x of something cheaper after I break one rather than 1x something very expensive
jase
2017-10-27 10:59
Is it possible to get a good microphone on an in-ear set?
jase
2017-10-27 11:00
Or do you really need the headset style with microphone in front of your mouth?
ivan
2017-10-27 11:05
I'll tell you what I do: I purchased a H4n Hand recorder from Zoom
ivan
2017-10-27 11:06
it's audo interface, great quality mic and audio recorder all in one
ivan
2017-10-27 11:06
I'm a musician so the audio recorder elements comes in handy
ivan
2017-10-27 11:06
and I need an audio interface form time to ime
ivan
2017-10-27 11:07
it's quite portable and robust. You could get a headset for less money, that's for sure
ivan
2017-10-27 11:07
not sure about the quality
ivan
2017-10-27 11:07
I've good headphones plugged into the recorder
ivan
2017-10-27 11:07
some dt 880 pro
ivan
2017-10-27 11:08
If you want great quality there's orobably some headsets that can provide it
ivan
2017-10-27 11:08
or another great option could be a lavalier mic
ivan
2017-10-27 11:09
for a laptop setup I'd go for a good quality headset
ivan
2017-10-27 11:09
you need something to plug and unplug easily
jase
2017-10-27 11:09
yes, I don't need anything too complicated
ivan
2017-10-27 11:10
yeah, go for a better quality headset
ivan
2017-10-27 11:10
with noise reduction
ivan
2017-10-27 11:10
if possible
jase
2017-10-27 11:11
yeah I think that's the go
skat
2017-10-27 18:51
Finally managed to get Estonian Smart-ID working ! (took 4 times to activate it properly), but in the end it works much better then all other options (id card or mobiil-id).
ivan
2017-10-27 20:07
@skat what's that?
ivan
2017-10-27 20:09
(for anyone interested: I got to open a worldcore account for the IBC. Now working on opening in Paysera, Leupay, Advcash, 2checkout and Payoneer. For the Leupay I hired a 50 USD / year mail forwarding service in Belize instead of my registrars virtual office service (1k+ / year) in order to verify the address)
roman
2017-10-27 22:06
Bose QC 35
jase
2017-10-28 07:34
Thanks Roman!
jase
2017-10-28 07:35
Ah, no microphone though. Microphone is the most important element for me
ivan
2017-10-28 11:16
thanks @skat
roman
2017-10-28 23:46
What do you mean no mic? )) it has built in mic. I?ve asked a bunch of people if the sound quality was good and everyone said it was great.
roman
2017-10-28 23:47
I use it for calls all the time.
roman
2017-10-28 23:48
If you want an amazing production quality mic try Blue Yeti. Many podcasters use it.
me1
2017-10-30 07:31
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brutus
2017-10-30 17:39
@ivan Can you share contact details of that Belize mail forwarder?
But Leupay sends the activation paper or mastercard to the registration address... Don't know about Paysera & Advcash
ivan
2017-10-30 19:34
@brutus the service is http://www.clearcall.bz but can't recommend it as I haven't received any letters there yet.
ivan
2017-10-30 19:36
Leupay is asking me for more information before sending the verification letter. So far they haven't complained about the registration address (in the company's documentation) being different than that registered in Leupay. It makes sense to operate elsewhere, what doesn't make much sense is sharing PO address with 200+ other companies, tho.
ivan
2017-10-30 19:36
Don't know if they'll verify that.
ken
2017-10-31 01:03
Is there anybody here who have a Shopify Ecommerce Store, I would like to connect :wink:
jeanpaul
2017-10-31 06:24
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ggiampieri
2017-10-31 07:47
@simon postfix is not sending login emails
tkrunning
2017-11-03 17:49
Anyone in Malta these days? :smile: (I am)
stoplight
2017-11-03 21:13
welcome back @simon ?glad to know you?re back up from your vacation.. :slightly_smiling_face:
simon
2017-11-04 03:11
@ggiampieri You can also login at: https://www.freedomsurfer.com/insiders/alternate
ggiampieri
2017-11-04 03:12
:+1:
adiviz1
2017-11-04 12:45
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johncitizen
2017-11-06 02:53
The Queen!
pragmatic
2017-11-06 11:03
Conclusion: Don't use the huge companies to set up your structures - as they could be a target of leaks :slightly_smiling_face: ?
johncitizen
2017-11-06 13:13
Yes
johncitizen
2017-11-06 13:13
Small companies, less loose lips
johncitizen
2017-11-06 13:14
Also smaller companies are more likely to fold to government and bribes.
johncitizen
2017-11-06 13:14
And have cheaper security in place.
ivan
2017-11-06 13:16
someone read the reports? I wonder how complex these guys' structures are
johncitizen
2017-11-06 13:20
There is like 120gb.
johncitizen
2017-11-06 13:20
I?d like to, start with the queen
ivan
2017-11-06 13:32
I was just reading about it. Looks like many of these guys didn't hide anything. They were in the directories of the companies.
ivan
2017-11-06 13:34
Is that considered illegal by some countries? doesn't look like more than tax avoidance in most cases, right?
stoplight
2017-11-06 14:36
the ICIJ thrives on sensationalizing?the first few stories and ?papers? were good news?now?.it?s just getting old?
ivan
2017-11-06 14:42
Yep, looks like sensationalizing. Mostly trying to make people look bad for stuff that sounds bad (thanks to sensationalizing) but is legal.
stoplight
2017-11-06 14:43
exactly..
stolzlos
2017-11-06 18:32
can anybody recommend a tourist simcard for HK? Will be there for 11 days. thanks.
stolzlos
2017-11-07 12:24
@brian will do that. Thanks
ggiampieri
2017-11-07 15:26
Beware theu expire if you forget to top up.if you need long term checkout smartone
stolzlos
2017-11-07 19:05
@ggiampieri thanks
jase
2017-11-09 12:11
Does anyone know of any tricks with buying cars for export from different countries? I seem to recall some good references in PT books about buying cars in Scandinavia for export to UK, and also buying LHD cars in UK for export to other countries.
jase
2017-11-10 14:57
Turns out there are loads of military and diplomatic car sales programs. Many of these are open to run of the mill "expats".
Seems there may be an opportunity for someone like myself to buy tax free, brand new from a dealer in UK (they can order both left and right hand drive), then import to Andorra (4.5% import tax). Many of you live in low tax countries and may have the same opportunities. When it comes time to sell, they can be imported back into a high tax country (at a lower value after devaluation) and sold close to purchase price (obviously depending on condition and time of ownership).
It also seems there's scope for export to China, if it interests anyone:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/luxury-car-dealerships-are-targets-of-growing-multi-million-dollar-export-businesses-1.3368819
http://www.autonews.com/article/20140721/LEGALFILE/307219975/selling-vehicles-for-export-angers-automakers-but-is-it-illegal?
roman
2017-11-11 02:50
Buying luxury cars in North America and exporting to China. Apparently they go x2 the price there. But need to have local contacts. Read corrupt officials. And buying in NA is tricky. Dealerships hate that. Usually exporters use common people to buy for them.
roman
2017-11-11 02:51
Seen ads on local classifieds for that.
stoplight
2017-11-11 06:25
got first hand experience when my sibling bought his car at a local dealership in Vancouver?they had to let him wait a month even though the unit was there because many local Chinese Canadians buy cars for their ?relatives? back in China..and it?s becoming a problem for them?they did ask for a lot of paperwork before he got the car?even asked him to sign something that if he exported the car..it would void warranty I think?couldn?t be sure?but heard the exporters are also getting wise?
bombine
2017-11-11 22:44
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onlinesale2003
2017-11-15 07:08
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2017-11-17 14:14
This message was deleted.
fish
2017-11-17 14:20
Also foodies :heart_eyes_cat:
harvie
2017-11-18 05:24
my girlfriend runs a service for people who want a personal bank account in Bangkok. Feel free to PM me, she can also help you with a business bank account in Thailand.
harvie
2017-11-18 05:25
as for food Sabaijai Gai Yang is my #1 spot for Thai food in Bangkok. Cheap and delious
fish
2017-11-18 07:16
I'm heading to Hong Kong and China in a bit and I would like to have recommendations of:
- Opening a personal bank account.
- registering a Business + business bank. account.
- VPNs I should be using to have proper access to the real word.
- Foodies :heart_eyes_cat:
- Anything else that can come to mind please.
Thanks
fish
2017-11-18 07:17
I misspelled HK with BKK and had to re-write the message, oops.
andrei_adam2001
2017-11-20 11:57
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bwings.office
2017-11-23 10:38
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ahl
2017-11-27 08:14
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mathieu.bouvier
2017-11-30 02:25
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2017-11-30 20:07
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johncitizen
2017-12-01 01:39
@johncitizen uploaded a file: https://freedomsurfer.slack.com/files/U59RPMC3S/F890A7962/image_uploaded_from_ios.jpg
johncitizen
2017-12-01 01:39
@johncitizen uploaded a file: https://freedomsurfer.slack.com/files/U59RPMC3S/F881VJ203/image_uploaded_from_ios.jpg
mark24
2017-12-02 23:58
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pablesque
2017-12-03 14:35
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ahl
2017-12-05 19:42
Hey any one have experience with "nomadcapitalist"?
pristinegems4c
2017-12-11 17:05
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maxsuur
2017-12-12 14:49
@simon Hi Simon, any Freedom Surfer event in the foreseeable future? I'd love to get to know you guys in person.
stoplight
2017-12-13 07:26
@maxsuur same here! Maybe in the Asian region? :smile:
skat
2017-12-13 11:00
I would probably attend as well especially if it would be in Asia (a bit stuck nowadays here, since wife is pregnant)
diamantino.ferreira
2017-12-13 19:00
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maxsuur
2017-12-13 22:26
For me it'd be great if it were to be held somewhere in Europe
ggiampieri
2017-12-14 17:26
Europe or Asia is good, I'm in!! Cheers from Siem Reap!
johncitizen
2017-12-15 01:15
Asia is best for me
globalkibo
2017-12-17 10:35
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dfmanagement
2017-12-19 12:18
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stoplight
2017-12-27 16:10
hope everyone had a great christmas! :slightly_smiling_face:
stolzlos
2017-12-27 17:15
@stoplight thanks. hope you did too!
bifton1
2017-12-30 08:23
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rachel
2017-12-30 15:50
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ciorbaadrian82
2018-01-02 23:37
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jase
2018-01-03 10:46
Just made the channel #travel-gear to discuss gear that has made travelling light easier.
franc.feliu
2018-01-03 11:24
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it.consultant.experti
2018-01-05 13:09
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jase
2018-01-06 16:34
@skat I guess we should talk in the general travel as it's not about gear anymore!
jase
2018-01-06 16:35
I have a friend in Bangkok (runs a Vietnamese take out place of all things!).. and know a few people in BKK/CM/Phuket, so I'll be hoping to see as much as I can - never been!
skat
2018-01-06 16:36
@jase i?m not sure why your planning to cut on travel after baby will appear. I think while baby is under 6 years old ? it?s a perfect time for active travels. At least i?m planning to give up on home base after baby will appear.
jase
2018-01-06 16:37
It's more the combo of kid and business
jase
2018-01-06 16:37
I'll probably do a few more business trips than usual this year - my wife is kind of keen on coming but to be honest life here is pretty great, so she'd probably prefer to take him hiking during the day rather than be in a big city
skat
2018-01-06 16:39
@jase Damn, you make Andorra sound sexy! We may consider living in EU for 6 months per year, but we didn?t found a perfect place yeat.
skat
2018-01-06 16:39
(so my wife could get a EU citizenship)
jase
2018-01-06 16:39
As far as raising a kid goes, it might be in the top 5 places in the world
skat
2018-01-06 16:40
@jase why is that?
jase
2018-01-06 16:42
So safe! Lots of environment around, health care is great, ski school starts at 2.5, bike school at 3, child care here is 220 euros per month - that wouldn't get you 2 days worth in Australia, they learn Catalan, Spanish and French in their first few years, then English.
jase
2018-01-06 16:42
Environment is a huge drawcard for me - it's not quite as nice as British Columbia, but it's pretty damn close
skat
2018-01-06 16:49
@jase I think i need to up my game a bit, to consider Andorra as permanent location :slightly_smiling_face: And that darn language barrier ? i don?t speak spanish or catalan.
jase
2018-01-06 16:49
Neither do I! haha
jase
2018-01-06 16:49
Trying :thinking_face:
skat
2018-01-06 16:53
@jase your wife works too?
jase
2018-01-06 16:53
Yep but she'll take some time off this year
skat
2018-01-06 16:56
@jase hopefully, my plans will work out and after a year we will come to visit :slightly_smiling_face:
jase
2018-01-06 16:57
Happy to show you around when you do :slightly_smiling_face:
skat
2018-01-06 16:57
I believe I?m very close to starting something big here :)) totally bootstrapped
jase
2018-01-06 16:57
Great stuff
jase
2018-01-06 16:57
SaaS?
skat
2018-01-06 16:57
Yeah, SaaS. Already one customer onboarded, two to go and then maybe a public launch.
jase
2018-01-06 16:58
Congrats!
mikeseo
2018-01-06 19:40
what are the other areas on your list of best places to raise a kid?
jase
2018-01-07 12:00
:joy: I am not an authority on this. For a child - before they become a teenager, Whistler in Canada is crazy idyllic.
maxsuur
2018-01-08 22:11
Vienna
geoffrey.theodule
2018-01-11 17:16
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petrus.luijpers
2018-01-13 23:29
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chaostar
2018-01-16 00:20
Hi guys and girls! I have one question about the legal notion of "work in a country". I think it's a common issue for digital nomads. I work in translation and I really don't have a clear picture about the legality of working in places. For example, being an Argentinian citizen, if I enter the USA and at some point in the stay I get a translation job and do it there, does it count as "working in the US" and thus illegal? Which is the criterion for "where" you work? Is it where you are physically? Or who pays you? Or where you pay your taxes? Thanks!!!
mikeseo
2018-01-16 01:41
it's not strictly legal but you're not going to have any issues flying under the radar as a digital nomad on a tourist visa, unless you tell immigration that you're gonna work inside their country. Just answer their questions, you're a translator, you live in Argentina, you're on a holiday, you're paying for the trip with savings.
mikeseo
2018-01-16 01:42
leave out the part about working as a translator inside their country.
mikeseo
2018-01-16 01:43
it's probably a bigger problem actually getting a US visa and proving you will return to Argentina
timpetch
2018-01-18 10:24
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thesimitch
2018-01-19 05:54
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smuft84
2018-01-20 22:11
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ken
2018-01-23 16:14
Anybody know how I can change the name of my LLC?? Prefer to change it. @simon any tips please?
ken
2018-01-23 16:14
Or anyone else, would be really helpful
stoplight
2018-01-23 18:45
@ken where is your LLC located?
ken
2018-01-24 01:54
@stoplight It's an LLC I purchased from Freedom Surfer, it's based in Wyoming
ken
2018-01-24 01:54
can I just change the name?
stoplight
2018-01-25 17:04
@ken?I believe you would need an articles of amendment?you can double check with Simon how to go about it.
https://soswy.state.wy.us/Forms/Business/LLC/LLC-Amendment.pdf
mcdonald.ben
2018-01-25 23:47
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ken
2018-01-27 15:51
Hey Mattoy, I haven't really done anything with the business I created :smile: I just got some more insights in what I really want to do, and would like it changed. I hope this is possible
stoplight
2018-01-28 05:36
Yup?should be possible?but my suggestion is to hold off until you really have to. If the name isn?t really of high importance to your business offerings?then it shouldn?t really matter, in my opinion?I mean you could be offering say web development services and call your company space explorations llc?hehe.. :smile: ..
ken
2018-01-28 13:26
Ok, I leave it like this for now, thanks for the tips! And yeah, not planning to compete with Space X :smile:
marius.pellegrini
2018-01-31 10:15
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manishwalia53
2018-02-01 05:24
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travelosopher
2018-02-07 02:39
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maxsuur
2018-02-07 09:25
anyone with a nitroflare account that can download a pdf for me? Thanks in advance.
ahawkins
2018-02-11 01:36
I'm filing a 129F (Fianc� visa) in the US. Can anyone recommend an immigration lawyer to assist with this?
vinodgn0088
2018-02-11 12:14
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burrup.lambert
2018-02-12 11:21
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ahawkins
2018-02-13 00:33
Hey everyone. I could use some help on a different front. My girlfriend is involved in a music licensing dispute. She's an Indian and the company is US based. There is no lawsuit right now. I'd like to find a lawyer to talk through some things and get some advice. Anyone know someone?
tkrunning
2018-02-17 15:13
I figured we needed an #estonia :flag-ee: channel, so I created one! Go join :wink:
johncitizen
2018-02-17 21:44
Thanks
rp_vpnet
2018-02-18 07:10
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ca
2018-02-18 18:34
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dustdancer
2018-02-23 02:04
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augustas
2018-02-23 17:49
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2018-02-24 01:51
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2018-02-24 09:44
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2018-02-25 15:00
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freedom
2018-02-26 05:34
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thy
2018-02-28 23:49
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johncitizen
2018-03-02 22:24
@johncitizen uploaded a file: https://freedomsurfer.slack.com/files/U59RPMC3S/F9HR561C3/image_uploaded_from_ios.jpg
johncitizen
2018-03-02 22:24
One of the more decent sunsets I?ve seen :)
stolzlos
2018-03-03 21:13
@johncitizen where's that? cargo ship? rig?
johncitizen
2018-03-04 01:19
That?s from the accommodation vessel
johncitizen
2018-03-04 01:19
I?m living on the ?POSH Arcadia? for the moment
harvie
2018-03-04 04:33
Wow nice and scary at the same time :slightly_smiling_face:
stolzlos
2018-03-04 07:20
interesting! do you work on the prelude? I would love to see that thing real life.
johncitizen
2018-03-04 22:19
@stolzlos yes! I was in Korea for 4 years building it, now it?s in field and we?re trying to get it ready for gas import.
anemariaconcepts
2018-03-05 14:19
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stolzlos
2018-03-05 16:44
@johncitizen from inception to deployment. thats incredible! I assume it is a tough job, right?
johncitizen
2018-03-06 00:58
I came in after they started steel cutting, mostly in regulatory compliance stuff so they can legally operate in certain places. It?s engineering focused technical safety stuff. It?s always tough, they need rapid solutions for weird problems all the time
ec9731a
2018-03-08 08:39
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2018-03-08 13:26
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mart.herndz
2018-03-08 15:30
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stoplight
2018-03-10 00:30
@johncitizen wow?I just had to look it up..looks fun but also challenging to live there. It?s flying the Bahamian flag! Awesome! :slightly_smiling_face:
sacrifice24-10-91
2018-03-14 01:59
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paul.budny
2018-03-14 13:41
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freedomsurfer140
2018-03-14 16:29
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iulian.florescu91
2018-03-15 19:08
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stoplight
2018-03-15 22:01
The Marshall Islands recently launched their own official currency which is a crypto currency?.what do you guys think?
ozdemir_can
2018-03-18 10:46
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chris2224
2018-03-21 13:21
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robert.mihaila01
2018-03-26 21:08
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2018-03-28 16:25
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2018-03-30 15:43
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2018-03-30 18:06
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2018-04-01 02:42
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2018-04-01 09:45
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2018-04-05 15:51
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2018-04-08 16:04
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2018-04-09 09:27
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2018-04-14 17:19
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2018-04-19 04:57
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2018-04-21 03:28
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n321
2018-05-05 06:01
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architect
2018-05-08 05:10
hey folks, anyone in manila?
ibbyazam
2018-05-10 07:51
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jase
2018-05-11 20:11
Speaking of Thailand, I'm thinking of heading out there towards the end of this year.
jase
2018-05-11 20:11
Will likely be going with someone who has an Andorran passport - only allows 15 day visa on arrival.
jase
2018-05-11 20:12
Has anyone tried to extend one of these 15 day visas before? Is it straightforward?
danz
2018-05-11 20:16
I am not sure, but I think you can extend any visa in Thailand pretty easily. You will get another 15 days or 30 days.
danz
2018-05-11 20:16
Atleast this is the case for most European and US passports.
jase
2018-05-11 20:17
Thanks @danz. Do you think it's important to sort this out before arriving? I don't really want to book flights and get messed around at the border.
roman
2018-05-11 20:17
@jase yes, visa extensions are generally easy.
roman
2018-05-11 20:18
But keep in mind that on arrival is not a visa
roman
2018-05-11 20:18
You could exit and enter again technically
roman
2018-05-11 20:18
But after a few times, immigration might have questions./
roman
2018-05-11 20:18
I?d suggest getting a proper visa.
jase
2018-05-11 20:18
Would like to avoid that hassle if possible.
roman
2018-05-11 20:19
Fly to Kuala Lampur - quite a nice break :smile:
roman
2018-05-11 20:19
Easy and cheap with Air Asia.
danz
2018-05-11 20:19
I would check it out how it works for the Andorra passport to be sure. But extending in general is very easily, takes an hour at the immigration there and cost like $50.
jase
2018-05-11 20:19
Catch: the person on that passport is my son - will be 9 months old, so minimal hassle = good.
danz
2018-05-11 20:19
Depending on where you go in Thailand, you can also do an border run.
roman
2018-05-11 20:19
@danz
danz
2018-05-11 20:19
But flying out is never bad:)
roman
2018-05-11 20:19
Are you talking extending actual visa or stamp on arrival?
roman
2018-05-11 20:19
Because AFAIU it is not the same thing/
danz
2018-05-11 20:19
stamp on arrival
danz
2018-05-11 20:20
I don?t think he needs an actual visa to enter Thailand? (Depending on how long he wants to stay)
roman
2018-05-11 20:20
Ok, I?ve heard other stories. I?ve never came in with a stamp - always a visa. And extending visa is not too difficult. Same - just line up at immigration.
roman
2018-05-11 20:20
Right, but that?s what he said :smile: Andorran gets 15 days and he needs more.
danz
2018-05-11 20:21
My fault, then go for a visa to make it easier:grin:
roman
2018-05-11 20:21
I don?t mess around with visas and just get one. But I think the problem is probably that there is no Thai consulate in Andorra
roman
2018-05-11 20:21
And he cannot easily get a visa.
roman
2018-05-11 20:22
But you can get a visa in Laos ? but that?s a headache and you were trying to avoid that :smile:
danz
2018-05-11 20:22
Mmm, that will make it a bit more difficult yeah
roman
2018-05-11 20:22
But I know a lot of people who go there for visa extensions and new visas.
danz
2018-05-11 20:22
Yeah I would avoid that..
jase
2018-05-11 20:23
Apparently there is a consulate in Barcelona, only open for minimal hours though. I may try and head down and talk with them
roman
2018-05-11 20:23
I think the easiest route is just to take a break, fly to Kuala Lampur, or Kota Kinabalu (great place too!) and spend a few days there (you don?t have to) and then just re-enter.
jase
2018-05-11 20:23
We may just cut the Thailand part short tbh
roman
2018-05-11 20:24
Or Hong Kong. Lots of direct international flights from everywhere. Even islands have international airports
jase
2018-05-11 20:24
14 days there, a week or two in Malaysia, another week in Singers then off to Aus
roman
2018-05-11 20:24
I think some islands even had direct flights to EU ?
jase
2018-05-11 20:24
for real?
roman
2018-05-11 20:24
yup
roman
2018-05-11 20:24
They are mostly charters I think
danz
2018-05-11 20:25
Plenty of options in SEA, but flying from BK is not that cheap as KL/SG/HK are most of the times
roman
2018-05-11 20:25
Ya BKK outbound is $$$, KUL is $$ to $ :slightly_smiling_face:
roman
2018-05-11 20:25
I always try to go via KUL
roman
2018-05-11 20:25
Fun city and muuuch cheaper.
danz
2018-05-11 20:25
Yeah best airport
roman
2018-05-11 20:25
E.g. from Canada, last time, it was CAD$650 to go to KUL
roman
2018-05-11 20:25
Insane
jase
2018-05-11 20:25
return?
roman
2018-05-11 20:25
yup
roman
2018-05-11 20:26
It was a deal, but I see them pretty often
danz
2018-05-11 20:26
Yeah KL has almost good flights anywhere
roman
2018-05-11 20:26
Regular price might be like $900
danz
2018-05-11 20:27
From Toronto?
roman
2018-05-11 20:27
Montreal
roman
2018-05-11 20:27
it was via US
roman
2018-05-11 20:27
I think it was O?Hare
jase
2018-05-11 20:28
Yeah see Barcelona is still not an awesome airport for cheap flights
jase
2018-05-11 20:28
Slowly getting some good connections though
roman
2018-05-11 20:28
Try Flight Fox
roman
2018-05-11 20:28
Have you ever used them?
jase
2018-05-11 20:29
nope
roman
2018-05-11 20:29
Ok, well, try it next time. No loss.
roman
2018-05-11 20:29
They charge $50 if they find you a better deal than you can
roman
2018-05-11 20:29
And no charge if they don?t
jase
2018-05-11 20:29
nice
roman
2018-05-11 20:29
It?s like a travel agent for a fee
roman
2018-05-11 20:29
But they know some real good travel hacks!
roman
2018-05-11 20:30
My wife was flying Kiev -> Pairs -> Montreal (one way). It was like $1400 or something like that. They did the same route! but ? then added on return NYC -> Some place else in EU -> some place else in EU -> Kiev. And it was $300 cheaper. LOL
roman
2018-05-11 20:30
Airlines make no sense./
roman
2018-05-11 20:30
5 legs vs 2 legs = $300 cheaper.
roman
2018-05-11 20:31
But they found me other deals without leg skipping too. Really good service.
jase
2018-05-11 20:31
Yeah I'd take the 2 legs instead ha
roman
2018-05-11 20:31
No, I mean she didnt have to take the other legs
roman
2018-05-11 20:31
i booked 5 legs
jase
2018-05-11 20:31
oh, nice
roman
2018-05-11 20:31
instead of 2
roman
2018-05-11 20:31
And it was cheaper
jase
2018-05-11 20:31
ahhh right, got it
roman
2018-05-11 20:31
that?s airline logic right there
roman
2018-05-11 20:32
First 2 legs were identical, same flight numbers. They just tacked on more legs and it made the fare cheaper.
ggiampieri
2018-05-11 21:31
Penang or Ho Chi Minh also good options for visa. Straight flights to Phuket with middle east airlines. From MXP for example straight charters to Phuket and Phu Quoc in Vietnam. Check out Madrid departures. Scoot flyes to SIN straight from Athens and you have one way option, they should launch Berlin soon. Thai is having cheap flights lately to compete, and you get pleasure of no connection!
roman
2018-05-11 23:24
+1 for Phu Quoc. Great place. Lots of investment ops too. Last time I checked gov?t was giving out all kinds of subsidies and tax breaks for development of Phu Quoc.
ggiampieri
2018-05-12 09:49
Phu Quoc is tax free and is 30days visa free. 'Mainland' Vietnam is visa free for 15 days for few Eu countries, I tried.. airport cop not so happy I didn't pay 40$ but it does work well!
rp_vpnet
2018-05-13 12:22
Hi, I wonder if anyone has experience with being digital nomad and schooling options. Home schooling etc.
jase
2018-05-13 12:57
Going to be an interesting topic of our children's generation IMO!
jase
2018-05-13 12:57
Unfortunately home schooling is not allowed for Andorran resident children.
jase
2018-05-13 12:57
I know some people who sail around the world and school their kids along the way themselves and with classes they enrol in short term.
rp_vpnet
2018-05-13 13:44
@jase, yes also there are a few countries that give visa to parents if kids attend school (international schools it is). Malaysia is a good example, lot's of visa parents.
skat
2018-05-14 13:32
I will have 6 years to figure that out...
skat
2018-05-14 13:35
I'm still on the fence if homeschooling is a good idea. I have couple of friends that do it ... and i'm not convinced. They could be really good at something, but completely lacking in different areas of their education.
skat
2018-05-14 13:36
I still have this idea that you need to try to learn kids variety of different subjects. If parents are doing that -- they usually tend to focus on certain topics more then others.
skat
2018-05-14 13:37
Maybe it reflects more because of kids interests, i'm not sure.
maxsuur
2018-05-14 13:58
@skat @jake has interviewed a few people who've homeschooled succesfully their kinds on his podcast. Check it out: http://thevoluntarylife.com
maxsuur
2018-05-14 13:58
*kids
jase
2018-05-14 17:25
It's trendy but I reckon "world schooling" is the go
jase
2018-05-14 17:25
I wouldn't want to homeschool personally.. but it's a good system for allowing flexibility
jase
2018-05-14 17:26
"Homeschooling" kids while being on the road for 3 months, then putting them into a school for 6 months, then travelling for another 3 months, etc
maxsuur
2018-05-15 08:35
I would at least put them in private international schools, I don't want to be indoctrinated by certain gov't ideas. As Albert Einstein would say: "Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school"
maxsuur
2018-05-15 08:36
*them to be
skat
2018-05-15 09:02
While i was researching this question -- I found very interesting schooling system that avoids all 'classes/subjects'. Kids gather together and decide what are they interested in doing, teachers are mostly there to coach/guide them.
skat
2018-05-15 09:02
I forgot how this system was called.
skat
2018-05-15 09:03
I even meet couple of people that studied like that -- it's kids that lived in eco-villages mostly.
skat
2018-05-15 09:04
I was playing around with idea of building a house a bit away from big communities, eco-village might be it. And live there for 6 months a year.
maxsuur
2018-05-15 09:17
@skat Montessori?
maxsuur
2018-05-15 09:18
or the Finnish Education System?
mikeseo
2018-05-15 09:32
or waldorf?
skat
2018-05-15 10:57
@maxsuur If i remember correctly, Finnish Education System switched just recenty (couple of years ago?)
skat
2018-05-15 10:57
Yeah, Montessori seem to be it -> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montessori_education
ggiampieri
2018-05-15 13:10
She was from my home town, many people think is it good!
jase
2018-05-15 17:29
Waldorf is fairly popular in Canada
jase
2018-05-15 17:30
I think my strategy is going to be Andorran school ~9 months a year for a crazy number of languages then try and let the world educate my son for ~3 months each year.
jase
2018-05-15 17:30
Remains to be seen if they let me do this though
maxsuur
2018-05-15 17:30
There are a few billion dollar startup founders who attenteded Montessori school as kids. Cannot recall any.
maxsuur
2018-05-15 17:31
One thing for sure, your son will have a very distinct English accent :slightly_smiling_face:
jase
2018-05-15 17:33
Will be better than my Catalan accent :joy:
mikeseo
2018-05-16 00:56
@jase, what are the drawbacks of living in Andorra?
matt
2018-05-16 03:57
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jase
2018-05-16 07:31
@mikeseo 2.5h drive from an international airport, lots of services we take for granted outside (eg: Stripe, PayPal) aren't available for Andorran companies or are buggy to work with, socially it takes a lot more effort than major nomad/expat hubs - there are fewer people here in general and most tend to travel regularly, however everyone seems to be fairly interesting/successful.
roman
2018-05-16 11:27
Is it possible to have a Stripe or PayPal account via LLC in some other jurisdiction which then remits to an Andorran llc? I?ve read about similar setups with US llc
jase
2018-05-16 12:26
Yeah there's certainly ways around it
jase
2018-05-16 12:26
Braintree offers 1.9% processing fees anyway
jase
2018-05-16 12:26
Generally it's just that everything is a little bit more difficult here
roman
2018-05-16 12:43
Braintree is alright though.
jase
2018-05-16 13:10
100%
jase
2018-05-16 13:10
It's just the little things - Typeform only works with Stripe for example
jase
2018-05-16 13:11
Freshbooks doesn't work with Braintree, etc
jase
2018-05-16 13:11
Everything can be made to work, but you need to be more creative/determined
maxsuur
2018-05-16 13:35
@jase there's alternatives for Typeform. There's this plugin for Gravity Forms named "LastForm" which is nearly the same as Typeform
asarun72
2018-05-18 00:24
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vs301991
2018-05-20 07:29
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michael
2018-05-22 00:08
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michael
2018-05-22 07:13
Kanye got smarter? Was posted on his twitter.. pretty interesting.
michael
2018-05-22 07:14
@michael uploaded a file: https://freedomsurfer.slack.com/files/UAUJHS30E/FAUMZ13D4/screen_shot_2018-05-22_at_2.08.04_pm.png
alexanderhay
2018-05-22 08:50
His book Propaganda was chilling to read.
aka
2018-05-22 14:06
kanye becoming self conscious
aka
2018-05-22 14:08
realizing that he isn't real but was created to create even more superficial stuff to drive more consumerism..
maxsuur
2018-05-22 16:22
@aka He could join the ranks of Jim Carrey's of sorts
nikolay404
2018-05-25 18:33
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musso.bros
2018-05-25 21:29
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burrup.lambert
2018-05-26 11:53
Anyone else a member of other communities like this they can recommend??
freedomsurfer.com
2018-05-27 17:06
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jase
2018-05-27 17:41
Are the Streber forums dead nowadays?
nikolay404
2018-05-28 10:09
@burrup.lambert I?ve been a member of Nomadlist since the beginning but wouldn?t recommend it due to low value. Check out Dynamite Circle, it?s a community of location-independent entrepreneurs, at the time I was a member (2 years ago) seemed to be focused mostly on dropshipping type businesses
ggiampieri
2018-05-28 12:22
@nikolay404 I met the guy of nomadlist at Dojobali, and DC is tropicalmba membership. I guess this is still be the best around! I would suggest globalfromasia as he covers some nice topics and it is linked to wechat and chinese related business, but not a community!
nchuprin
2018-05-30 11:28
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burrup.lambert
2018-05-30 18:14
Hadn't heard of him until the other day! Signing up to the forums now.
burrup.lambert
2018-05-30 18:17
Awesome, thanks. I've heard of DC before but can't justify the yearly price (at the moment). Still a regular joe blow tax payer in a Western country for maybe another year or 2. As I'm typing this though my thoughts are changing so I might just go ahead and subscribe :slightly_smiling_face:.
jase
2018-05-30 19:49
Did you get in? Maybe my ad blocker is messing with it
sanderkocken
2018-06-04 10:33
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don.white
2018-06-04 14:02
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coler.liviuovidiu
2018-06-07 09:40
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burrup.lambert
2018-06-08 18:04
Says it sent the email and to check spam filter but received it :confused:. Anyone else?
michael
2018-06-09 09:03
very easy watch https://youtu.be/kKW0LbeiWio not sure if there are any nassim fans out there.
stephen
2018-06-12 11:51
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2018-06-12 16:39
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2018-06-13 04:36
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2018-06-15 06:03
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2018-06-27 12:04
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2018-06-28 17:01
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info
2018-06-28 18:35
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hello
2018-07-03 19:32
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michal.opoka
2018-07-03 21:59
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curtayalex
2018-07-07 11:23
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2018-07-07 12:46
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mikeseo
2018-07-08 01:58
@mikeseo uploaded a file: https://freedomsurfer.slack.com/files/U5Y01UY4E/FBLR9ULDT/image.png
mikeseo
2018-07-08 01:59
@mikeseo uploaded a file: https://freedomsurfer.slack.com/files/U5Y01UY4E/FBL0LSWCQ/image.png
mikeseo
2018-07-08 02:00
@mikeseo uploaded a file: https://freedomsurfer.slack.com/files/U5Y01UY4E/FBLLU1UJE/image.png
mikeseo
2018-07-08 02:00
@mikeseo uploaded a file: https://freedomsurfer.slack.com/files/U5Y01UY4E/FBMNXUMFH/image.png
mikeseo
2018-07-08 02:19
Does anyone here have residency and a home base/condo in a no tax country like Panama Thailand Georgia etc and than have a couple apartments in high tax first world countries and spend less than 6 months in the high tax countries?
I'm thinking how to enjoy living in the first world without the drawbacks of taxes and regulations. It would be nice to spend part of each year in asia/americas/eu.
I could have residency and a home base/condo in the Philippines, live there for 3-6 months of the year Jan-Jun summer. Keep most of my stuff in the PH condo. Than go to US for 3 months Jul-Sep summer. Than go to Spain or somewhere warm in the EU for 3 months Oct-Dec.
It would be nice to have condos in the US and EU all setup with my stuff, internet, desk, kitchen etc so I just land in the airport and go to my condo instead of taking the chance on airbnb.
$1000/mo for a decent condo in PH, doesn't hurt too much to leave it vacant for half the year... but US and EU condo's might be more expensive? and kinda lame to leave them vacant for 9 months every year.. Airbnb'ing seems like a hassle, would have to find a good manager and I don't really want strangers living in my condos, sleeping in my bed, etc.
I could have a 4 unit house in the US, rent out 3 apartments and keep the 4th vacant for my stuff.
Not sure what's possible in Europe? Maybe a 2 bedroom apartment and than lock the door for my bedroom and airbnb it out with only 1 bedroom?
I want like a guaranteed good airbnb that I can keep coming back to. I'm mostly disappointed in the airbnbs lately, there's usually something wrong that makes it annoying, dirty, bad view, bad internet, noisy, bad curtains in the bedroom, ac doesn't work right, etc.
mikeseo
2018-07-08 02:25
maybe that's one reason the chinese buy a nice house in AU or CA and put their kid in it to go to college, the parents get someone to watch their first world vacation house all year.
ivo
2018-07-08 09:49
@mikeseo income from immovable property like housing is taxed on the tax code of its location, not your personal tax residency.
jase
2018-07-08 11:18
Very true, however lots have been using airbnb to take payments/bookings and divert that cash to another country.
ggiampieri
2018-07-08 17:52
@mikeseo in Eu, 2 rooms one locked works. I think you can apply same concept to every condo in a big western city. Would stay away from detached house, stick to downtown. Most important issue is not to buy in a bubble. And if you rent make sure resigning it's easy and you can cover the empty month with extra cash. Airbnb can be tricky with the algorithm, but works well to accomplish your goal!
ggiampieri
2018-07-08 17:53
Agree on Chinese buying abroad!
ggiampieri
2018-07-08 17:55
Oh and watchout for the neighbours, police calling on your guests could be a bad nightmare..
roman
2018-07-08 20:11
Problems with condos though that they more and more have rules against short term rentals.
roman
2018-07-08 20:11
And these rules can change without notice, just by a majority vote at a condo meeting.
will
2018-07-11 03:33
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julienduteurtre
2018-07-15 19:27
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kuka
2018-07-19 19:57
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colbybridges
2018-07-20 17:13
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michael
2018-07-23 21:59
this cracks me up.. "important jobs".. http://nationalpost.com/news/world/spanish-civil-servant-fired-after-skipping-work-unnoticed-for-more-than-a-decade
james
2018-07-24 09:26
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burrup.lambert
2018-07-29 20:07
Anyone have experience using a virtual credit card provider like http://Privacy.com or Entropay for personal use? Are there better options?
simon
2018-07-29 20:20
@burrup.lambert I've used Entropay extensively over the years. Never for my day-to-day spending or for anything significant but instead for stuff like hotel promotions (for example, when a discount is limited to once per card), to get around geo-locks (you can use any address with Entropay, this means you can sign up for any service which requires a card with a local address) and to receive cashback (you can receive money free of charge and then transfer it to Revolut, also free of charge as Entropay issues their cards in the EU).
arthur.capard
2018-08-01 12:40
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burrup.lambert
2018-08-02 19:47
If anyone is into "electronic/digital" flag theory, came across this website which is really good. https://www.privacytools.io/ Already do a lot of the things but looking at moving away from Gmail email to a secure email hosted on private domain in another country. Fastmail has good recommendations but Australia based so out for me.
thy
2018-08-03 10:04
If paying few usd / eur monthly for using private domain name makes sense for you, http://protonmail.com is Swiss based and provides great service! Even the free version is great!
maxsuur
2018-08-03 12:38
Protonmail is very good. I use it as well.
michael
2018-08-03 15:28
@burrup.lambert thank you for that. very useful. it's good to have a "cheat sheet" for privacy tools. I have had to research my own and now I can cross check it on the site.
jase
2018-08-03 17:03
Protonmail is great, but I made my life impossible with all of this stuff
jase
2018-08-03 17:04
I love my Gmail - so long as you use it knowing you have no privacy it's all good
maxsuur
2018-08-03 18:01
I love Gmail too, and it's so convenient! Full disclosure: I use it for most of my business endeavours
johncitizen
2018-08-04 02:59
I?m mostly migrated to ProtonMail. We use gmail for Low risk business like amazon FBA. But for my holding companies and finances I run it all through protonmail domains.
skat
2018-08-04 16:09
Proton calendar would be really nice to have
skat
2018-08-04 16:09
I mostly use only protonmail also
johncitizen
2018-08-05 00:02
I understand in the future they lan to integrate more outlook features into it. I?m using proton bridge with outlook and I?m part of proton beta
johncitizen
2018-08-05 00:03
Also using bridge beta in Ubuntu with thunderbird. I prefer the for,er at present, more-so when they integrate calendar with outlook properly and update the phone app etc
michael
2018-08-05 16:23
Same. Used to use Runbox, but it couldn't beat the Gmail functionality. I do understand the privacy and use it for less important information.
rj22
2018-08-06 07:26
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burrup.lambert
2018-08-06 19:25
After careful research I decided to go with ProtonMail with a ch TLD. I may move to my own domain in the future which ProtonMail started supporting in 2016. They also have 2FA which was an important factor for me. On the android app you can also configure an additional PIN. Now comes the painful task of migrating all my emails over from Gmail ><.
simon
2018-08-06 19:27
Is there a difference between ProtonMail .ch and .com?
burrup.lambert
2018-08-06 19:30
burrup.lambert
2018-08-06 19:32
On the lowest plan you can have up to 5 addresses I believe, ch or com.
burrup.lambert
2018-08-06 19:39
Since we are on the topic, another great resource, the best I've seen with regards to VPN comparison, but it also has an email section which I used to make my decision (email section is slightly outdated though). https://thatoneprivacysite.net/
stoplight
2018-08-06 23:04
@burrup.lambert thanks for that info, didn?t know they had a big difference.
stoplight
2018-08-06 23:12
I guess for those wanting some added privacy on their domain names, try using a ?.to? with your upgraded Protonmail account?the top level domain name of Tonga doesn?t have a public whois system?so that?s additional layer of protection in case you really need it.
roman
2018-08-07 02:00
You can put any garbage info into Whois anyways. Nobody?s checking.
stoplight
2018-08-07 02:43
Well that?s true @roman :smile:
monargent
2018-08-07 19:34
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johncitizen
2018-08-07 23:23
Also proton mail now includes an @pm.me option which arouses much less suspicion when dealing with gov and banks.
johncitizen
2018-08-07 23:24
TBC in Georgia asked for a different email as they felt my http://unseen.is one was obfuscating my identity :/
burrup.lambert
2018-08-08 14:00
Thanks! Just activated my one then :slightly_smiling_face:.
fish
2018-08-09 09:31
Recommended cities in Portugal for a low cost nomad?
vinodgn0088
2018-08-09 09:32
If you travel a lot. Then stay in Porto or Lisbon.
fish
2018-08-09 12:41
Those are my two main candidates
wimva
2018-08-14 20:59
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2018-08-16 20:14
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2018-08-28 18:20
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2018-09-05 19:02
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2018-09-08 10:13
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2018-09-10 07:03
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2018-09-16 15:42
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2018-09-20 04:39
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2018-09-21 02:43
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2018-09-21 06:11
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2018-09-22 03:15
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2018-09-23 00:00
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fish
2018-10-02 14:55
Schengen is so big and it exhausting my 90 days. Anyone has experience with prolonging a touristic visa or any hassle free visa that can grant me another 30-90 days?
fish
2018-10-02 14:56
In Spain ^
maxsuur
2018-10-02 16:03
where @fish? I'm here too
fish
2018-10-02 16:04
North Gothic like 100m away from the cathedral
fish
2018-10-02 16:04
@maxsuur In Barcelona
burrup.lambert
2018-10-02 16:11
@fish I can't remember which book I read it in but I think Hungary's borders are quite lax, i.e they don't even check your passport. I think the trick was to exit Hungary into Serbia then back again on the same day and boom new 90 day stamp, though if you leave the Schengen area from another country they might catch on. I think then trick was to then enter back in Hungary and exit via Serbia and leave that way.
fish
2018-10-02 16:11
@burrup.lambert I wish, its 90 days in a 180 days window
burrup.lambert
2018-10-02 16:13
Yeah that's what I mean, they don't check you've been out for 90 days, they just give you a new stamp.
fish
2018-10-02 16:15
I didn't know it goes by the stamp
fish
2018-10-02 16:15
I thought theyre counting the days in between the ins and outs
fish
2018-10-02 16:18
The problem should be when you leave. The last thing I want is ending up in a EU blacklist
jase
2018-10-02 18:10
I think what you need is a double entry visa @fish
jase
2018-10-02 18:11
Then you could potentially go to Andorra or somewhere
jase
2018-10-02 18:11
*may be too late for that and I'm not helping though
fish
2018-10-02 18:37
@jase Looking up "double visa spain" let me to this link, that is an angle to work. So yes, it is somewhat helpful even tho I didn't find the exact term
maxsuur
2018-10-02 19:24
I'm merely 1,200km down south
fish
2018-10-04 23:20
Does US business bank account counts towards the owners personal credit score?
millnmd
2018-10-05 22:01
@fish If your Australian, Canadian or NZ citizen they have bilateral agreements with individual schengen states before the schengen zone was established and they are still valid. you will need to check each country for info. There are more countries with these bilateral agreements for example Denmark has on with USA and 8 other countries. http://canada.um.dk/en/travel-and-residence/visas/bilateral-visa-agreements/ https://www.norway.no/en/australia/services-info/faq/immigration/#Bilateralagreement
burrup.lambert
2018-10-06 08:06
Thanks for that @millnmd I'm Australian and didn't even know that one.
fish
2018-10-06 12:20
That looks great. Israel is in the list. Reading on!
fish
2018-10-06 15:44
@millnmd Thats great input!
millnmd
2018-10-07 06:35
@burrup.lambert @fish no problem.
cliqueapp
2018-10-07 12:11
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millnmd
2018-10-07 20:53
I just found a list I made last year of Schengen countries that have Bilateral visa waivers with Canada. I'll post it below. I moved it to the thread.
millnmd
2018-10-07 21:08
I just found a list I made last year of Schengen countries that have Bilateral visa waivers with Canada. I'll post it below.
millnmd
2018-10-07 21:08
Iceland
3-months
may extend visa
http://www.treaty-accord.gc.ca/text-texte.aspx?id=102537
Greece
3-months
may extend visa
http://www.treaty-accord.gc.ca/text-texte.aspx?id=102536
Portugal
2-months
http://www.treaty-accord.gc.ca/text-texte.aspx?id=102553
Austria -
3-months
http://www.treaty-accord.gc.ca/text-texte.aspx?id=102520
Belgium
2-months
http://www.treaty-accord.gc.ca/text-texte.aspx?id=102522
Luxembourg
2-months
http://www.treaty-accord.gc.ca/text-texte.aspx?id=102546
Germany
3-months
http://www.treaty-accord.gc.ca/text-texte.aspx?id=102534
France
3-months
http://www.treaty-accord.gc.ca/text-texte.aspx?id=102531
Netherlands
3 Months
http://www.treaty-accord.gc.ca/text-texte.aspx?id=102548
Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland ( Days don?t reset when crossing borders within Nordic Council)
3 months / 6 months
May extend visa
http://www.treaty-accord.gc.ca/text-texte.aspx?id=102527
Switerland
(http://www.treaty-accord.gc.ca/details.aspx?id=102563)
me1892
2018-10-08 00:53
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mirceabujanca
2018-10-09 03:24
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ivan.lakatos
2018-10-09 04:15
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fish
2018-10-09 16:07
There is also this
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_requirements_for_Israeli_citizens
bryanlum888
2018-10-10 00:04
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sergiy.shlykov
2018-10-11 08:55
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umgelurgel
2018-10-21 08:16
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johncitizen
2018-10-24 23:07
SUper easy, only takes 1-2 years to become an israeli citizen, if you do it over age 22 you don't have to do the 2 years conscript.
danz
2018-10-25 00:33
@johncitizen But that?s only if you have family I believe?
johncitizen
2018-10-25 00:38
Nope, you can go enter a course running 8 months to a year, convert to judaism, get sworn in, then move to israel and live in a commune for a year. After that you get citizenship.
johncitizen
2018-10-25 00:38
I've heard the study is harder than university.
wimva
2018-10-25 07:08
Just curious what you wouldn't pick a more central European country for passport purposes. Seems to be they're easier to get into, plus they grant more worldwide access.
http://www.traveller.com.au/worlds-most-and-least-powerful-passports-named-in-2016-ranking-gn80jt
wiksch
2018-11-03 20:10
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2018-11-05 03:01
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ren
2018-11-05 12:51
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michael
2018-11-07 08:35
Started to use protonmail lately, due to this thread. Decent functionality so far.
burrup.lambert
2018-11-07 22:38
Mine is going well. I'm still in the processing of logging in to all my email accounts and changing them to my new address! The only issue I have with PM is the android app seems to hang, at least on my phone (Nexus 5x). I was also using the PIN feature so I had to enter a PIN to open the app but that crapped out and stopped working. I had to uninstall the app and reinstall it, now I don't use the PIN feature.
burrup.lambert
2018-11-10 09:32
Another great tool for comparing secure messaging applications. I'm going to attempt to start moving to Signal.
https://www.securemessagingapps.com/
maxsuur
2018-11-10 20:39
@burrup.lambert FYI A while ago @jase recommended Wire. I gave it a try, and it is worh its while.
michael
2018-11-11 06:50
@maxsuur from our experience, we tested it out.. and got a lot of miss notifications (for messaging and calls) and sometimes messages didn't get delivered/sent... contacted support, they sent us to the website FAQ - which didn't work. we have decided not to use wire.
maxsuur
2018-11-11 12:44
Alright @michael, thanks for sharing your experience with the app. I guess you are using Signal then.
michael
2018-11-14 16:44
@burrup.lambert and have been testing out http://tutanota.com - pretty good too :slightly_smiling_face: and their free version you can remove the branding signature compared to protonmail.
michael
2018-11-14 16:45
@maxsuur haha, no. a mix of whatsapp, line, telegram, wechat... whatsapp.. is where everyone is on though. i tried to get friends/family to switch to more private messengers but they also reverted back to whatsapp.
skat
2018-11-14 16:47
ProtonMail paying user here too. Love the service, but needs a but more improvement (well, as everything) :)
aphelan1
2018-11-16 00:08
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michael
2018-11-20 10:45
a good watch from Andreessen Horowitz - future trends etc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF5VIwDYIJk&feature=youtu.be
22525
2018-11-20 14:51
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ggiampieri
2018-11-20 20:21
Thanks @michael great data to confirm the trend.
kommodis
2018-11-25 09:31
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daniel
2018-11-28 16:21
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blackbear18
2018-11-30 02:39
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aphelan1
2018-12-02 07:46
I am an EU citizen employed in Europe for an Asian based company and I spend part of the year in SEA working at their main office.
I have an opportunity to spend 6 months a year working from their Maltese office and the rest of the time working either in their SEA offices or remotely.
They have also indicated that they are willing to pay me in the most tax efficient manner and I am trying to work out what that is.
From my research it seems that, keeping in mind the new minimum ?5k a year tax on overall worldwide income, my best option would be to be an employee in Malta with sufficient income to satisfy that tax and for the remainder of my salary to be paid as a contractor to an account in another country for the 6 months I spend working outside of Malta.
Does that sound like a viable approach? I could easily prove the amount of time I spend in various places if necessary but the figures for the income outside of Malta would be considerably more than that earned and remitted in Malta.
I know I could be paid 100% as a contractor but the being an employee in Malta option sounded like it would save me some hassles!
Any thoughts on if this is a viable approach?
nnmatveev
2018-12-03 06:45
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assefphilippe
2018-12-05 08:45
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contact
2018-12-06 01:12
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contact
2018-12-06 18:42
So, were are you from ? :smile:
jase
2018-12-17 01:08
Do you guys use any forums on PT/expat/offshore stuff nowadays? If so, which ones?
maxsuur
2018-12-17 09:03
+1 interested
info837
2018-12-17 11:05
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ryan.mera
2018-12-18 01:44
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magnus
2018-12-19 11:38
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2018-12-19 12:45
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vdragoiu
2018-12-19 23:22
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tkrunning
2018-12-20 20:07
I?m 100% biased, but I use NG. Not all PT/offshore stuff, but more and more. Even though it?s a public forum, you can also be anonymous if you?d like.
I also used to like Streber?s forum, but there isn?t much activity there these days.
daniel
2018-12-20 21:23
what's NG?
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2018-12-22 03:00
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2018-12-22 19:40
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reinders.leon
2018-12-23 19:46
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skat
2018-12-27 05:24
@simon any chance that your concidering move from slack to something else? (Discord and telegram as an example). This community is the only reason I still have slack on my phone, but I frankly want to get rid of this garbage software completely.
I'm a bit more emotional, but here are some of well written rationale why others move
https://getgrav.org/blog/chat-moving-to-discord
burrup.lambert
2018-12-27 06:20
App works fine for me on Android! On desktop I view via webpage.
roman
2018-12-27 06:31
++ for discord too
roman
2018-12-27 06:32
But imo lots of members will be lost during move. The community is weakening as it is ...
simon
2018-12-27 07:58
@skat I?ve considered it. It?s a though call though as Slack is well liked by many.
jase
2018-12-27 09:43
Yeah I wouldn't go to Discord
jase
2018-12-27 09:44
Mainly because I just cbf having _another_ chat solution
jase
2018-12-27 09:44
Slack has critical mass right now
skat
2018-12-27 12:41
@jase not sure about critical mass, most of the communities I'm in moved on to telegram or discord. And with latest immediate sweep ban scandal - more communities consider moving faway.
skat
2018-12-27 12:43
I'm just a bit worried, that i like to travel and if I end up using slack from some country that US has issues with - I will get immediately banned one day from all communities (without prior notice)
For such a global community as this one - this could be an issue.
skat
2018-12-27 12:51
@roman maybe community is weakani g because of slack? The app is just a memory hog.
Like I'm sure that one day I'll get pissed enough to remove slack completely and you'll lose another member.
I personally don't like that business gets mixed with politics. Today they ban users from Crimea without any warning, tomorrow they will be banning all Muslims, Buddhist or anyone who is far too right for them.
kuka
2018-12-28 13:26
Telegram doesn?t have channels, does it?
kuka
2018-12-28 13:27
I think migrating to either Discord or Telegram would lead to the same thing. The only alternative is to get something like Discord up and running so that all knowledge is public. All these chats are not for the persistent type of knowledge that this kind of community can gain from.
kuka
2018-12-28 13:28
Running Discord, Slack and Telegram gets tedious. Most are in Slack, so I agree with the ?critical mass? argument.
mylogun94
2018-12-29 12:27
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justin
2019-01-02 20:29
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blake.pope
2019-01-05 16:08
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julienduteurtre
2019-01-06 20:01
+1 for discord
carrabeanga
2019-01-08 01:33
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kuka
2019-01-09 16:21
I had done fucked up. I meant using Discourse as the only solid alternative.
m.moser
2019-01-10 10:46
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2019-01-10 20:08
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2019-01-12 05:08
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2019-01-12 13:57
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2019-01-16 02:15
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2019-01-16 13:33
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bogdan.pahomi
2019-01-22 14:38
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bogdan.pahomi
2019-01-22 14:46
Hello, I'm new here. Hello everybody
burrup.lambert
2019-01-22 23:20
Welcome @bogdan.pahomi!
ahawkins
2019-01-26 09:51
:wave: Hello everyone. I have an on-going USA K1 (Fiancee visa) application in progress. It was marked incomplete pending subsequent documentation. One document is a evidence and/or detailed plan for US domicile. Not surprising given I haven't lived in the US in approaching 8 years now. Can anyone recommend an immigration lawyer or consultant to clarify this? Thanks all FS :bow:
tiendamodel
2019-01-27 15:07
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angelowysz
2019-01-29 07:24
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sscobe
2019-01-29 08:38
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benny
2019-02-01 02:41
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ggiampieri
2019-02-02 00:00
Guys if you can share/donate he is my friend from high school. Thanks
creativespot
2019-02-04 06:57
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imatfaal
2019-02-06 04:05
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ggiampieri
2019-02-06 15:58
Hi guys just landed in KL, heading to Canggu tomorrow, if anyone is around it would be nice to have a pizza at my friend's place..
d.mikocionis
2019-02-07 09:13
I'm in Ubud, so if you're here, let me know
jase
2019-02-09 08:13
I have to admit, the comments on that article were way more logical than I expected
michael
2019-02-09 12:00
haha.. same here @jase :stuck_out_tongue:
johncitizen
2019-02-10 01:41
If I can offer an honest critique of the above article. If you change social and public policy to discourage billionaires hoarding wealth, they will take their business elsewhere. This is the problem with our current tribal capitalist societies, if you don?t like the rules in one region you drop your ?identity? and migrate to a new tribe that embraces it. (Because they benefit from lobbying, financial investment schemes, etc).
I do agree excessive wealth is wasteful, but this group is a great example, we vote with our dollars. Governments that don?t support it see big business slowly migrate headquarters to Ireland, Or UK for tax breaks
skat
2019-02-10 04:07
US more and more resembles with good old Communists days - they had issues with rich people too and actively promised equality for all.
jase
2019-02-10 08:32
Oh yeah, agreed @johncitizen, this is why from a business point of view, I'm bullish on businesses like Simons :slightly_smiling_face:
jase
2019-02-10 08:33
Even the "wealthy poor" (digital nomads) are taking their money abroad
p_jeuch
2019-02-10 23:25
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burrup.lambert
2019-02-11 00:11
Thought I'd throw it in there to spark a bit of healthy discussion. @johncitizen agreed.
"Don't boo, ~vote~ *run*" - Krapen 2019
contact007
2019-02-15 18:06
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wearethepacktory
2019-02-17 07:18
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pierre.berthalon
2019-02-21 19:07
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contact007
2019-02-24 19:47
Hi everyone, I have a quick question. We have an LLP in UK with my business partner and are french resident for the moment.
To validate our account, PayPal asked us for a UK residential address, which we obviously don?t have. So we took a parcel with PostBox UK but they said that it?s a virtual address. We called them to see if our french residential address could be used to validate the account, and it?s not possible. We need a physical address in UK...
Do you guys have any ideas on how to get around this issue ?
lucasb2611
2019-02-25 13:31
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2019-02-25 14:21
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riccardo.longobardi
2019-02-26 02:41
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kevin.ogier
2019-03-01 09:23
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shaharhillel4
2019-03-01 14:57
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justin
2019-03-02 07:59
Hey, do you have any recommendations how to save on flight tickets going from Europe to Asia? Main goal is to get to Singapore and come back to Lithuania within 1 month period.
simon
2019-03-02 11:56
Google Flight works well too, and is super fast. https://www.google.com/flights#flt=VNO.r/m/0j0k.2019-05-06*r/m/0j0k.VNO.2019-05-27;c:USD;e:1;ls:1w;sd:1;t:e
redareda9
2019-03-02 12:00
You can use ITAMatrix as well if you really want to save. They can find some routes that you can't book with the usual websites. You will need to contact a travel agent who will book for you.
redareda9
2019-03-02 12:00
There are some tutorial about ITAMatrix on Google if you want to use it.
simon
2019-03-02 12:04
@redareda9 You can actually book online from ITA Matrix, using PowerTools. Here's how it looks.
simon
2019-03-02 12:05
When you search, links to different airlines and booking sites appear on the right. You can click on them and it will take you automatically to the payment page on the relevant site.
redareda9
2019-03-02 12:06
Oh ok that's good to know for the next time
redareda9
2019-03-02 12:07
And for Business classes and First classes, there are some websites providing discounted tickets (ex: https://alphaflightguru.com/)
cnilson46
2019-03-04 13:04
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2019-03-04 15:34
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2019-03-04 16:02
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2019-03-04 16:50
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2019-03-06 07:00
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simon
2019-03-09 06:19
My new article covers a subject that is a bit different, how to disappear. What do you guys think?
stolzlos
2019-03-09 06:46
I like it.
stolzlos
2019-03-09 06:47
What about the optionality of getting a new identity? Like buying forged (or even possibly original) passports and other necessary documentation?
simon
2019-03-09 07:10
That's certainly a possibility but not one I would personally consider. The legal economic citizenship programs are all under heavy scrutiny and anyone carrying such a passport is going to attract attention (something you don't want if you are trying to disappear). Using forged documents may work in the short term but is very risky in the long term (especially as more and more countries are making use of connected databases).
simon
2019-03-09 07:11
A possible strategy would be to move to a country that offers fast naturalization, spend a few years there, become a citizen, do a legal name change, get a passport under that new name then move to a third country using that passport.
simon
2019-03-09 07:12
This is obviously not a perfect solution (is there even a perfect one?) but it will make it hard for anyone to connect the dots.
burrup.lambert
2019-03-09 08:40
Often isn't there a requirement, with banking and such, to declare other legal names you have gone by? "Have you ever been known by any other legal name?"
stolzlos
2019-03-09 09:03
I get the point in regard to the connected databases. But I also think that may turn to be a weak link in the future. I wonder how much it costs to have such a database altered, extended by a "professional".
stolzlos
2019-03-09 09:06
With corruption so out of control and becoming the norm everywhere I think that there should be willing sellers already somewhere on this planet.
johncitizen
2019-03-09 09:55
The best solutions I?ve seen are to hire people to investigate and dox you. Then do all you can yourself to remove information, if you can?t remove it obfuscate it and hire people to add conflicting information and false bread crumbs. After a few months of this you will have confused enough people that tracking you will be too hard.
simon
2019-03-09 10:31
That may be an issue with some banks, especially those in common law countries where name changes are more common, but you should still be able to find banks with no such requirements.
simon
2019-03-09 10:33
Actually this got me thinking, has any of you tried applying for a passport or bank account using another of your names? I personally have three names on my birth certificate and that is fairly common in Canada as far as I know. Technically-speaking, I imagine it would be legal to use any of those names...
danz
2019-03-10 14:54
No, but I know I am pretty sure it?s possible in countries like Georgia.
mescos
2019-03-10 19:38
@stolzlos - what databases are you referring to? The compliance databases that that banks use to perform background checks?
ravi
2019-03-11 01:48
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simon
2019-03-11 03:14
@mescos there?s also a number of databases used by some governments, run by Interpol and other security agencies.
stolzlos
2019-03-11 17:50
Well, I don't know the English expression but I meant databases that store data about your citizenship.
riccardo.longobardi
2019-03-12 11:13
Hello guys
i am trying to understand for the logo and mark registration in EU - i read that there is the EUIPO where you need to enroll based on the class of your product, does anyone have experience in this?
immanuel.debeer
2019-03-13 05:06
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2019-03-13 12:10
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phelipeslinhares
2019-03-13 17:17
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aphelan1
2019-03-13 17:20
Hi, I have been trying to open an account with Standard Bank IOM and it is a very painful process! I chose them partly due to it being mentioned in an article on here that for "simplicity" they were a good option! Although I tried to apply online they contacted me to request I complete and send a hard copy application. I had no problem with that and the application is progressing. However they are now asking me for copies of contracts. My employer has, at my request, given me 2 contracts. One locally in Malta where I pay approx 5k EUR tax pa to satisfy their new requirement for worldwide earnings and another for work carried out outside of Malta, and remitted outside of Malta, which would then not be liable for tax. My question is, should I send one or both contracts to Standard? Also, what does anyone think their reaction would be to two contracts, one where I am taxed in Malta and the other where I am liable for my own tax? Many thanks for any advice, anyone may have.
mrmarcroca
2019-03-13 22:25
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simon
2019-03-14 10:17
@aphelan1SB has no minimum income requirement so you should be fine sending only your Malta contract.
aphelan1
2019-03-14 11:18
Thanks @simon, the only issue there is that they had already asked what my salary deposits would be and the Malta contract wouldn't be sufficient to fulfil that.
llc
2019-03-19 14:15
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2019-03-19 16:47
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2019-03-20 08:26
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2019-03-22 12:57
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contact008
2019-03-27 14:29
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philcoub
2019-03-28 08:04
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philcoub
2019-03-30 07:16
Hey guys, is it easier to get a remotely bank account opened for a UK LLP than a US LLC (in a reputable jurisdiction) ?
I know there is the Transferwise Borderless option for both, but it's always better to have a backup option.
simon
2019-03-30 07:50
@philcoub It's not particularly hard for either if you have a good reason. For example, if you live in Singapore, run your LLP / LLC from there and want to open a local account, it will be fairly easy as your reason will be obvious as far as the bank is concerned. On the other hand, if you have no local ties and do not do business in Singapore but show up to open an account, you will have a hard time as the bank will not understand why you need an account there vs one in the UK / US.
philcoub
2019-03-30 08:27
OK. Got it. I don't live in SGP but I think the same reasoning applies for anywhere else. But I assumed due to FATCA and reporting requirement for US entities it might be easier for a UK LLP than a US LLC. Even though I am not a US citizen.
simon
2019-03-30 08:41
FATCA used to be a major source of friction and still is if you want to open an account with a small bank but nearly all the larger banks have updated their systems to support US entities and individuals.
Some banks may charge higher fees to non-residents, however, to offset their higher costs / riskier profile.
danz
2019-03-30 15:19
@philcoub Impossible
danz
2019-03-30 15:19
Atleast if you want a decent bank, you need a physical visit. The online banks like Transferwise a few others can be opened remotely yes.
martin
2019-04-02 07:22
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aphelan1
2019-04-03 12:04
@simon SB finally accepted my application, took almost 2 months! Anyway, in the interim I received some tax advice that I was okay to pay these monies to the UK if I wished. Therefore my latest question is, as SB have my Maltese tax number are they likely to share my details with Malta? Although I am theoretically complying with the tax laws I am taking advantage of them and would rather avoid having to explain all of this to the Maltese tax man. Maybe I should just pay direct to a mainland UK bank, assuming I can get an account.
simon
2019-04-03 12:20
SB will share your financial information with the government who will then pass it along to Malta as required by the CRS.
aphelan1
2019-04-03 13:00
Thanks @simon
wowkroskar
2019-04-03 13:47
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michael
2019-04-05 12:23
Not sure where to post this, but is anyone a Global Wealth Protection Insider by Bobby Casey? Was wondering if it was worth signing up? I stumbled onto his stuff a while back but never signed up.
burrup.lambert
2019-04-05 12:49
Curious as well. Just saw his website the other day, signed up for emails.
jase
2019-04-05 20:09
Haven't signed up but I think he's no BS. Just a genuine guy talking about what he's learned.
doujak
2019-04-06 07:38
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stuart
2019-04-07 06:30
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michael
2019-04-08 16:52
@burrup.lambert @jase ok thank you for the replies. will sign down and see how it goes. :slightly_smiling_face:
burrup.lambert
2019-04-09 01:40
Let us know!
xavier
2019-04-09 07:29
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michael
2019-04-09 07:54
@burrup.lambert @jase I am quite familiar with the material, that is being promoted by GWP. So far, some of what is in the Insiders seems a bit dated, ie the banking paper is from 2017... albeit a detailed paper, much has changed since then. That's the only part I have read so far... will read more later... I will try out a call with Bobby on a venture I need to setup and give feedback then.
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2019-04-09 09:12
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2019-04-10 03:52
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2019-04-13 01:31
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2019-04-16 00:37
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2019-04-18 22:11
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2019-04-19 09:23
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2019-04-19 14:21
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2019-04-20 07:30
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2019-04-21 15:31
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michael
2019-04-23 13:42
@burrup.lambert @jase Had a call with Bobby, a very knowledgable individual. Offered several solutions (He also offers to setup some of these entities too). For the price and the content, it is worth it. As long as you use the consultation calls. The information he provides in the GWPInsiders is good, however it is not as frequent or as vast a for example SovereignMan - however you don't get to talk to Simon Black or get advice from him. Hope that helps :slightly_smiling_face:
jase
2019-04-23 13:44
Good feedback, thanks @michael!
burrup.lambert
2019-04-24 05:32
Thanks @michael, another tool for the tool belt!
simon749
2019-04-25 01:25
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julianmb
2019-04-28 08:09
What information to the public a UK LLP discloses ?
julianmb
2019-04-28 08:09
Revolut would open LLP account if one of the partners is a holding ?
simon
2019-04-28 21:13
The ownership details are public, as well as some of the company details (for example, most of the documents filed with the register are public).
simon
2019-04-28 21:17
Having a holding company as partner is not an issue for Revolut. With that said, there is no guarantee that they will open an account. Lots of factors are taken into consideration (risk levels, actual place of business, who the owners are etc).
saartje.vandenhende
2019-04-29 18:24
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osiris
2019-05-04 14:34
@simon I?m from the UK and looking to buy an International Health Insurance policy. I was wondering if you?re still using Integra? Would you still recommend them?
simon
2019-05-04 17:51
If you are covered by the NHS and only need a policy covering you when traveling abroad, I'd recommend SafetyWing. It's incredibly good value and includes coverage for travel delays, lost luggage etc. https://www.safetywing.com/insurance-pricing
simon
2019-05-04 17:52
If you need full health insurance, Integra is a great option. I'm very happy with their coverage and customer service.
simon
2019-05-04 17:53
It may be worth having a look at William Russell too as their UK prices are usually very competitive.
osiris
2019-05-04 18:17
@simon Ok thanks. I?m covered by the NHS, and very grateful, however, I?m living between Indonesia and Australia and really don?t want to have to fly back to the UK purely for medical reasons. I was using Insure & Go for travel insurance but I?m going to switch to SafetyWing for sure and ill check out William Russell.
I had to come back in March after having tests in Australia on their Medicare system but unfortunately the operation was not covered as it was deemed not urgent enough.
Im going to pay for the op to be done privately, as the NHS waiting times are insane, however I would like an insurance policy that will allow me to have the same level of private service I get in the UK, but the ability to choose or go into any of the hospitals on Integras or Allianz list anywhere in the world, except the US/Canada.
Is that what Integra allows you to do? Have you had a situation when you had to use it abroad?
simon
2019-05-04 19:01
That is what Integra, William Russell and Allianz offer, a complete replacement for government-funded health care. You can choose where you want to receive treatment and you can even add coverage for routine outpatient visits, dental care etc.
simon
2019-05-04 19:05
I haven't had any issue getting reimbursed by Integra but I haven't had any major illness so the amounts were small (mainly annual checkups).
osiris
2019-05-04 19:29
Perfect! They seem to be the best option for my situation, compared to several others, so ill think ill go with them.
I thought they paid upfront for the costs, or was that Allianz?
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vallancepm
2019-05-09 03:00
Hi New Member here :slightly_smiling_face:
burrup.lambert
2019-05-09 03:04
Hi @vallancepm, welcome!
vallancepm
2019-05-09 03:19
Hi Krapen nice to be here, thanks :slightly_smiling_face:
dm_rosin
2019-05-09 10:23
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dm_rosin
2019-05-09 10:25
Hello ppl...
ivan
2019-05-09 13:13
Welcome guys!
fortunaecaerus
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marcia.macena
2019-05-20 17:20
documents
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giovannilaperna
2019-05-28 13:18
Hi everyone :slightly_smiling_face:
michael
2019-05-28 16:09
Hi :slightly_smiling_face:
williamc_
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root
2019-06-02 10:09
Hello FreedomSurfers! Nice to meet you. Would love to ask, I am about to start a new business and have most likely a very common question, do you have any article/link/guide in your sleeves on the topic of using a business car for ocasionall personal usage?
coconutsteak
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jase
2019-06-09 06:57
Any tips on getting Google Fi SIM shipped to me overseas?
ledrewy
2019-06-09 08:51
You?d need to register a ?Service Address?. Choose a state without state tax such as Florida, etc. Ship to the US virtual address and then forward the SIM card to your address overseas
vinodgn0088
2019-06-09 09:11
Won't they ask for address proof if you enter a known virtual office address?
ledrewy
2019-06-09 09:14
Choose a less popular virtual address :) They don?t request for any proof of address
ledrewy
2019-06-09 09:17
Please use this referral link. We?d both get US$20 credit when you sign up.
https://g.co/fi/r/CA9DC2
ledrewy
2019-06-09 09:28
Any good co-working office space in Paris that you?d recommend? I just need to use for a few hours.
jase
2019-06-09 15:25
Happy to if you can point me in the right direction of an address @ledrewy!
ledrewy
2019-06-09 20:42
@jase PM your email address to me and I can send you the invite link with credits in your first shipment.
simon
2019-06-09 21:00
@jase When you activate the SIM, connect to a wifi network and use a VPN to get a US-based IP address. Do not grant location permission to the Google Fi app.
jase
2019-06-10 14:47
Thanks
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burrup.lambert
2019-08-02 05:55
3 month update @michael?
michael
2019-08-02 09:02
@burrup.lambert Decent information... (not ground breaking...) however if you are a member similar services such as SovereignMan, you'll find the information more in depth and covering more countries. GWP as most of these services are US focussed.
michael
2019-08-02 09:03
The real value is in the calls with Bob. I have only had 1 call with him, for a venture I was looking to setup. Sound advice. Of course, with the call he will offer GWP services.
burrup.lambert
2019-08-02 10:59
Thanks!
omatic.hk
2019-08-05 03:35
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fish
2019-08-05 23:17
Anybody in Georgia?
ouafouaf
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2019-08-18 09:53
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ggiampieri
2019-08-18 14:21
I think this article is really important to plan well when deciding what and where to sell https://www.visualcapitalist.com/countries-wealth-per-capita/
rafmolho
2019-08-19 02:30
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2019-08-19 09:50
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rafmolho
2019-08-20 09:28
How can i set the push notification in my iPhone in order to know when there is a new subject post it in the blog. Can anyone help me ?
mark
2019-08-21 10:12
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2019-08-26 10:59
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roman
2019-08-26 12:28
Didn?t read this yet. But if you did, please share your thoughts.
https://www.amazon.com/Sleeping-Volcano-Demographic-Geopolitical-Implications/dp/1793927758
stihlman
2019-08-27 11:52
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ouafouaf
2019-09-24 22:54
Some cool videos about Climate and Rain falls cycle worldwide...or...when to travel !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqpA9tswQxM&list=PLu83ZzwRbQvIoyZmLg59P7NY9eU37FBPG&index=3
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2019-09-26 03:29
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timothyhimself
2019-09-26 23:41
Hello champions. I?m Timothy Marc and since 2010 been building little online businesses that fund my lifestyle. I hated my Accounting job so I quit to travel the world and met so many cool people along the way. Some startups I created failed? some did really well. We?ve since grown a membership platform for underground entrepreneurs to over 700 members. These are real business owners. And we do events all over the world. Pleasure to be here? I?ve got some great advisors around nomad, tax and lifestyle. Paid thousands for experts on this subject however it?s refreshing to see @simon just lay it out in a no-nonsense way. I love communities like this and people like you guys. Anyway if you have any questions for me on starting and growing an online business I?d be more than happy to help. Cheers.
timothyhimself
2019-09-26 23:54
PS. Not sure if this was covered somewhere in a guide? but my favorite things to do personally are:
1. Put all advertising spend (google, facebook, etc) on a high miles credit card (I have a black AMEX) and have spent 50k+ some months on facebook ads alone. If you have a profitable business that you can scale then going all in on this is awesome and can lead to more miles than you know what to do with
2. Don?t isolate yourself. Isolation is a killer. When I first started I found it really tough because all my friends had day jobs. It was a reason I started to form a community around online entrepreneurs. Get to LIVE events wherever you can because it gives you a sense of ?holy shit this is real?
3. The opportunity for building profitable online businesses is growing rapidly each day. There?s new markets created daily. A great way to get started is to sell digital services. My first business was an iPhone app development business. I ran google adwords traffic to a landing page where people could enquire about building an app. I then found a developer on upwork that could do the work. Closed the sale over the phone, charged 100% more than the developer. And managed the project to the end. The reason I like this is you can automate all the processes in a digital business. There?s high margin on a lot of products and you don?t have to worry about physical location or physical delivery.
4. The grass is NOT always greener. What I mean is when I started to get really successful I stopped traveling and thought I ?better get serious? with life. So I went back to my home country and city of Melbourne. I opened an office. Had a team of full time staff. And crazy expenses and overhead. I thought it was the right thing to do. WRONG. I had two staff members using my training to build and run a successful business in secret during work hours. One did the same and quit. I had a plumbing issue that the landlord tried to pin on me for $22,000. The truth: I didn?t need an office. I didn?t need a full time team (which are difficult to fire due to local laws so even if they suck you have to keep them)? so the lesson was KEEP IT SIMPLE. You. A Laptop. And the world. Stay lean. Outsource to places like the phillipines (I have 8 full time staff there).
timothyhimself
2019-09-26 23:57
One extra thing: If you discover something cool - GIVE BACK. It?s communities like Simons that keep us going. So jump in here and share your stories and experiences.
timothyhimself
2019-09-27 00:02
Right now I?m staying in the private penthouse suite at a hotel in Bali for 2 weeks. At a cost of $50 a night? A maid comes and cleans every day. I can order from any restaurant delivered to my door via the GoJek app for $10 MAX. For me it?s always been about living a rich life NOW not waiting. However if you do the stuff that is recommended in this community and leverage different geo-locations you can invest in a business, the markets and grow wealth and also live like a king.
me1892
2019-09-27 01:45
Welcome @timothyhimself. Sick promo vid BTW
burrup.lambert
2019-09-27 03:19
Welcome @timothyhimself. Are you still around Bali 10-11 Octish!? I'm in East Indonesia and I'll be passing back through!
timothyhimself
2019-09-27 06:17
Thank you @me1892 :pray:
benjamin
2019-09-27 06:58
Welcome @timothyhimself, being an Aussie in digital marketing, I'm sure we'd have a mutual friend or 7. I saw Gun is also in Bali at the moment, is he part of your business or a client? I've got a few mates that are close with him.
Anyway, I'm in Phuket at the moment, hopefully one day we cross paths.
jerrycjchang
2019-09-27 10:53
Good work @timothyhimself, sounds like a lot of people here have lived the life in Bali. I miss the place and hope to get back there soon
timothyhimself
2019-09-27 11:09
Haha small world mate yes his whole journey started in our community :rolling_on_the_floor_laughing:
timothyhimself
2019-09-27 11:09
I was hanging with him today for a bit
timothyhimself
2019-09-27 11:09
Yeah it?s an incredible place
jerrycjchang
2019-09-27 11:12
I'm doing the nomad thing too but I'm mostly a trader in markets. I'd love to learn more about online businesses for the future, if you can point me to any resources. Cheers and enjoy Bali!
benjamin
2019-09-27 11:13
Very small world indeed! Oh btw I had a look at your website/business, looks great. 1 thing I'm lacking at the moment is a real life community.
Ps. You have a broken 404 when clicking on your 3 day boot camp.
timothyhimself
2019-09-27 11:17
Thanks mate... Yeah I?ve closed up everything on new subscribers/memberships for a while as I focus on some other projects. Planning a Bali event in Feb for the community though.
timothyhimself
2019-09-27 11:34
Nice one... It?s down to a formula Jez... all about reverse engineering. No invention. Find what?s selling and do it better (better design, features, service, etc).
Here?s one part of our checklist that will help... https://www.trustpilot.com/categories
Go to the above link and choose a few markets that interest you.
Check highly reviewed businesses.
Go to the landing pages and scope it out.
The barrier to entry is quite low. You can create a home/landing page with the right elements and better than your competitors within a couple of weeks.
There?s obviously a lot of steps but that?s a basic framework
prideaux
2019-09-28 12:40
@timothyhimself Pic and rate looks awesome, would be be willing to recommend the place? I could do with a good break and somewhere recommended would be awesome.
prideaux
2019-09-28 12:41
@timothyhimself Hi btw :wink:
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jerrycjchang
2019-10-07 04:48
Sorry late response, been on a road trip.. Thanks for the tips it's an interesting way to think about it and I might reach out again for some feedback when I form some of my own ideas!
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prideaux
2019-10-11 11:56
Has anyone activated a three UK sim card outside of the UK? I am currently in Thailand and want to order one and activate here.
bigworld
2019-10-11 13:55
Needs to be Three? Can't it be Giffgaff?
prideaux
2019-10-12 08:06
@bigworld Very cool, just orded, great recommendation! Many thanks.
omocha_10
2019-10-13 17:09
Hi, just read the ?What to do if you loose everything?.
One suggestion:
Having some money in your booking account. You can have a couple hundred usd. If fatality happens, you can book a room or bed in a hotel or hostel.
Usually hostels will have a more flexible policy or situation understanding than a proper hotel.
Plus you can have food from the left overs of other travelers, and the staff will be helpful with access to computer/phone etc
Another tip, have a card locked at home or with someone you trust. I you loose everything, you can use that card on the internet to buy stuff (Uber Eats, Uber, hotel etc)
And the last one, Coach Surfing.
burrup.lambert
2019-10-14 03:51
Hi @omocha_10, do you have a link to the article?
burrup.lambert
2019-10-14 08:40
Thanks!
omocha_10
2019-10-14 09:47
One more idea, one could have a backup credit card and memorize the numbers. If everything disappear, one could by stuff from internet anyway.
prideaux
2019-10-14 11:47
Personally I have everything stored in LastPass
ouafouaf
2019-10-14 22:02
2 years ago I my wallet fell of my new jacket while landing and didnt notice it untill i was about to leave the airport !!!
An angel was nice enough to give it to some Airline crew member- Thank you so much whoever you are :pray: there are still some incredible people nowaday...
so I could get it back with nothing missing 50 min later
it had both my CC, some money and my hotel address...
lesson ??
Now I use two wallets... It may still be easy to drop one ...but I feel that having 1/2 of your belonging is still better than nothing !
:wink:
elsamadrolle
2019-10-15 16:30
I went to Cambodia on a dodgy mission once to try to help someone out of prison, was told not to travel with much money and that obv I?d be a target. I Western unioned myself $1,000 in case I lost everything or had something stolen. I didn?t so then cancelled the transfer after the trip. WU is a rip-off but it was a cheap makeshift insurance!
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klaus
2019-10-24 07:11
If anybody has questions about Malta, I think I can help. Been living here for 5 years, running a small business
vinodgn0088
2019-10-24 12:24
@klaus, What is the present situation in Malta after the introduction of ATAD/CFC rules in Jan 2019. What are the chances of an Estonain company treated as a local company because of the CFC rules and place of effective management rules. Also, if someone is not paying 5000 EUR minimum tax do they need to pay tax on capital gains / passive income outside Malta?
klaus
2019-10-24 13:12
@vinodgn0088 I am not up to date on ATAD/CFC, but Deloitte in Malta has written about it: https://www2.deloitte.com/mt/en/pages/tax/articles/mt-tax-alert-18-15-EU-ATAD-implemented-into-Maltese-domestic-law.html
klaus
2019-10-24 13:12
Any income earned outside Malta is not taxable in Malta
klaus
2019-10-24 13:14
I was not aware of the new 5k limit provision.
klaus
2019-10-24 13:14
I am just reading about it now.
klaus
2019-10-24 13:17
As long as the income is not personal (like if you hold it in a holding company), I think you will be fine, but now I am talking about something I don't know.
klaus
2019-10-24 13:19
But I would be quite hesitant to recommend Malta for anything these days
klaus
2019-10-24 13:20
It used to be great 5-10 years ago, but current banking climate has made it almost impossible to get banking here (I have, but new companies really struggle).
klaus
2019-10-24 13:20
Employees from abroad coming to Malta to work not able to get banking (nowhere to receive pay - employers having to pay out cheques or cach!)
klaus
2019-10-24 13:21
And the corporate tax scheme is so poorly run, that while in theory you pay 35% tax on profits and get 30% back to forreign holding company, in reality, the payouts are now 1.5-2 years delayed, locking your money up.
klaus
2019-10-24 13:22
A lot of foreigners/expats are leaving for some of these reasons
klaus
2019-10-24 13:22
And the polution+rampant construction is completely out of control
vinodgn0088
2019-10-24 15:21
@klaus, Are you also planning to move out from Malta? If yes, do you have any destination in your mind which seems to be same as what Malta used to be.
klaus
2019-10-24 15:40
I might be moving to Ukraine, for non-tax related and more blonde-related reasons... :wink:
klaus
2019-10-24 15:41
But yeah, I have had jsut about enough of Malta. MOst of my expat friends have also moved on.
klaus
2019-10-24 15:41
Cyprus is a pretty good option, from the looks of it
klaus
2019-10-24 15:42
Low tax, low cost of living, a lot of nature, good climate
klaus
2019-10-24 15:42
A friend of mine moved from Malta to there
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2019-10-25 07:25
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skat
2019-10-25 10:30
oh, wow. I?m happy I didn?t go to StartupChile, watching current videos from there ? shocking! civilians and police shooting each other ? that?s something out of this world.
hello888
2019-10-25 21:38
I was in Santiago for 3 months in 2013, it was the first time I ever smelled this gas that the police use against protesters, I was just hanging out INSIDE a university campus when I see this gas falling everywhere...
johngortner
2019-10-27 11:16
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prykhodko.av
2019-10-28 09:29
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prykhodko.av
2019-10-29 22:12
Italian friend of mine has moved to Kyiv few years ago and very happy now with a new business and girlfriend as well, lol ;)
ouafouaf
2019-10-29 22:41
your portrait shows a kid and a firendly lady ! what do they think about your next ukrainian GF plan ? :smile::smile:
skat
2019-10-30 07:20
@ouafouaf he also has Ukrainian family name, so he already executed this plan multiple times :slightly_smiling_face:
prykhodko.av
2019-10-30 22:12
I was speaking about my Italian friend, lol :joy: He moved to Kyiv and it works well for him
prykhodko.av
2019-10-30 22:15
If you need any information about Kyiv and Ukraine, just let me know. I was born in Kyiv and moved to the UK 11 years ago. Now it?s time to move again...out of the UK this time, lol :joy:
bartol.k
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omocha_10
2019-12-25 20:08
Hi, I can?t log into the NS website, thanks
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nikolay
2019-12-29 09:23
Hey, which US virtual address you'd recommend?
I am looking at https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/services.html that provides US Phone Number with forwarding, Scanning/Mail Forwarding, Unique Suite Number and Office lease for $49/mo and not setup costs. Kind of the pricier side but has extra perks and the office lease agreement would serve as proof of address when applying with banks.
Any other to compare and consider are appreciated
Side question for @simon - an office lease agreement compared ot a regular mail forwarding address service doesn't really create a "nexus" or "physical" office for an US LLC and hence a tax liability correct? No work will ever be conducted out of that virtual office (although they do allow to visit it from time to time).
simon
2019-12-29 09:29
@nikolay US banks don?t care if you have a local office address, any mailing address will do.
I recommend having a look at http://anytimemailbox.com, they have addresses all over the country and their prices are very reasonable.
Using a US mailing address will not, in most cases, create a tax liability.
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2019-12-30 08:29
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jase
2020-01-21 16:48
On the topic of US mailboxes, does anyone have tips on getting notarized USPS 1583 forms done remotely? I'm nowhere near an embassy...
michal.opoka
2020-01-21 19:41
maybe this will help you https://help.virtualpostmail.com/article/82-article-usps-form-1583
simon
2020-01-22 07:14
@nikolay In response to your question, no a lease agreement / mail forwarding service does not create a sales nexus. In nearly every cases, if you are physically located outside of the US you will have no ECI. https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/effectively-connected-income-eci
yakirstarosta
2020-01-22 10:18
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connaghanp
2020-01-23 08:00
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kevintimmerhk
2020-01-24 08:36
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kevintimmerhk
2020-01-24 08:41
Hello,
I am new here. I am in the process for registering an US Company (as a EU person)
jase
2020-01-24 13:06
FYI I looked into this with a similar agent (lease agreement on virtual office) and when I suggested using it for a bank they quickly told me "check with your bank to confirm that the address will work". I take that as = it probably won't work for the bank.
burrup.lambert
2020-01-24 13:15
Do what @nikolay said to do and put their address into this:
If it shows CMRA "Y" under analysis the bank might not accept it
? https://smartystreets.com/products/single-address
For me, I used the same address with Citibank and BofA which is identified as a CMRA. Citibank doesn't like it but BofA has not contacted me (yet) so they may be more relaxed with what addresses they accept.
The address I used was from http://www.usa2me.com
jase
2020-01-24 13:17
Yeah I used that this morning @burrup.lambert, mine shows an "N" so hopefully it's OK. I'm actually more concerned about Stripe as they have been especially strict lately.
jase
2020-01-24 13:19
I have read another trick which is to find someone who is happy to give you a lease to a residential or commercial (non-suite) address, then lodge a permanent change of address to a mailbox service and use that residential/commercial address on everything.
jase
2020-01-24 13:19
Unsure of ongoing costs on permanent mail forwarding
simon
2020-01-24 13:27
You can use a Regus-type service if you are concerned about this. They have plenty of locations in office towers etc.
jase
2020-01-24 13:28
I'm probably being overly cautious, but know at least 20 people who have non-resident US LLCs without local staff and had their Stripe accounts closed lately
simon
2020-01-24 13:31
@jase If you rely on Stripe, you should look at registering in the UK instead. Or be prepared to hire US-based staff.
simon
2020-01-24 13:31
It?s possible to use Stripe in the US as a non-resident but it?s a bit risky.
jase
2020-01-24 13:31
hiring US-based staff = US tax liability, right?
nikolay
2020-01-24 13:32
Or consider a stripe alternative
simon
2020-01-24 13:32
@jase If they perform actual work, yes it could create a US tax liability.
simon
2020-01-24 13:33
@nikolay Indeed, there are plenty of excellent alternatives to Stripe that are happy to work with non-residents.
nikolay
2020-01-24 13:33
And stripe are very unreliable anyway
nikolay
2020-01-24 13:33
Like any big business relying on their crappy policies is in trouble.
jase
2020-01-24 13:34
The problem is integration. I have the options of Paypal (hell no), Stripe or 2checkout
nikolay
2020-01-24 13:34
Very low fees, super reliable once you open with them (doesn't happen in 5 minutes though).
nikolay
2020-01-24 13:34
What you trying to integrate with?
simon
2020-01-24 13:36
2checkout isn?t a bad option. I?ve used them in the past and was reasonably happy with them. They allow you to accept PayPal payment without requiring you to get a PayPal account.
jase
2020-01-24 13:38
From what my friends have been through, 2co are stricter than Stripe, and more expensive :man-shrugging:
nikolay
2020-01-24 13:39
More expensive yes; stricter I wouldn't say so.
simon
2020-01-24 13:41
It may have changed but back when I had a 2checkout account, it was possible to link it to TransferWise / Payoneer and similar services.
simon
2020-01-24 13:41
Those services typically don?t care if you use a mail forwarding address as your business address.
jase
2020-01-24 13:42
OK interesting
jase
2020-01-24 13:42
I like that it can accept Paypal but doesn't require me to have an account
simon
2020-01-24 13:42
Heck, I think I even had a 2checkout Mastercard for faster access to my funds
jase
2020-01-24 13:42
And may be a good idea to run Stripe + 2co side by side so I have a backup option
jase
2020-01-24 13:43
I'm planning to use a Mercury account just for quick opening/simplicity
jase
2020-01-24 13:43
12 months of earnings history and I'll jump on a plane to open a proper bank account
simon
2020-01-24 13:43
I?d also recommend signing up for a PayPal account. Their fee structure is highway robbery but they are easy to work with if you have an ITIN.
jase
2020-01-24 13:44
just as a backup option?
simon
2020-01-24 13:44
Yeah
simon
2020-01-24 13:45
And for the few services that only work with PayPal
jase
2020-01-24 13:45
Yeah I do my best not to use Paypal but find it's a game of hot potato - people like to spend their Paypal dollars to send to other PP accounts
simon
2020-01-24 13:49
If you want to have a good laugh, you can have a look at the PayPal fees for ?minor? countries. For example, in Belize it?s 8.9% to receive a payment + PayPal?s shitty exchange rate. There?s also a fee to withdraw to a bank account.
jase
2020-01-24 13:50
The funny one is my Chinese contacts. They loooooove using Paypal and are happy to pay a premium to use it. :slightly_smiling_face:
nelsonq90
2020-01-24 15:13
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2020-01-24 19:54
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2020-01-27 14:37
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jonrodd
2020-01-27 16:15
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jonrodd
2020-01-27 18:45
Hello there !
First post, newcomer.
jonrodd
2020-01-27 18:46
I have dual French/Portuguese citizenship and found FreedomSurfer while looking for a way to reduce some taxes LEGALLY.
jonrodd
2020-01-27 18:48
I have hard time to understand where to post things, I work extensively using Slack in various communities (I think I have like 30 Slack accounts) and I have to say that IMHO there is WAY TOO MANY channels to write into.
jonrodd
2020-01-27 18:50
So I am sorry but I will stick to #general because it seems like the place most people head to first...
jonrodd
2020-01-27 18:52
I was in the process of opening an Estonian OU company and found a note that made me doubt quite a bit:
jonrodd
2020-01-27 18:53
"...you MAY or MAY NOT pay 0% taxes if you keep your money within the company"
jonrodd
2020-01-27 18:54
I dug a bit deeper to find out that the 0% tax only apply to Estonian residents (not e-residents), and DEPENDING ON YOUR COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE you may actually pay taxes anyway.
jonrodd
2020-01-27 18:54
That made me stop right there
jonrodd
2020-01-27 18:54
I have a very fuzzy definition of "place of residency" right now
jonrodd
2020-01-27 18:55
I left France in June, then lived in Argentina 3 months, then Brazil 3 months and now Colombia...
jonrodd
2020-01-27 18:56
I really have no clue where I will be declaring taxes if ever
jonrodd
2020-01-27 18:57
In doubt, I think France will win my Taxes... but will France ask me to pay taxes over my Estonian OU company ???
vinodgn0088
2020-01-27 20:18
@jonrodd, By default Estonian Incorporated company is tax resident there. But things can change if you stick to one particular country for more than 183 days. Your personal tax residency will be most likely France, unless you prove to France that you are personally tax resident in some country (spend 183+ days, have a permanent home in that country etc). Now there is a catch with Estonia company. Many people think that they can just keep money in company and when necessary just distribute profits and pay 20% tax. Unfortunately this is not what I heard from Estonian tax department. You need to allocate a fair share of director fees and pay taxes and social security even if you don't live in Estonia ( exemption on social tax is there if you are paying social tax in another EU country). If your director fees are relatively small you again need to have a employment contract with your own company and take a salary as non resident if you don't live in Estonia(you need to allocate something that is considered a fair salary in Estonia if you were working in same position for a company as just an employee). and pay taxes where you live. If you are just keep flying then this salary's tax needs to be paid where you are tax resident (personally, in your case most likely France).
jonrodd
2020-01-27 20:25
@vinodgn0088 Thanks for your reply ! That is what I was thinking yes.
jonrodd
2020-01-27 20:25
This is why I stopped
jonrodd
2020-01-27 20:27
As of today, I pay around 20% taxes with my French company and I wanted to leverage my "special" forever flying status to downsize these taxes as much as I can. But since I am not a resident from any other country so far, I don't see Estonia fitting my needs...
jonrodd
2020-01-27 20:28
Distribute myself a salary may not decrease my tax rate that much given all the underlying complications.
vinodgn0088
2020-01-27 20:30
@jonrodd, If you don't have any ties to France and Portugal ( Home, Bank account, spouse kids etc). What you can do is setup a residency in Cyprus and fly. Just a shoe box room + 60 days stay in Cyprus is enough.
vinodgn0088
2020-01-27 20:30
For company, you can go for a UK LLP
vinodgn0088
2020-01-27 20:31
You can get non-dom status in Cyprus and non-dom companies are not taxable in Cyprus as well
vinodgn0088
2020-01-27 20:32
Now working while travel on tourist visa is technically illegal, best option is stay low and don't spend more than 3 months in a country
jonrodd
2020-01-27 20:34
Yeah I know
jonrodd
2020-01-27 20:34
Except
jonrodd
2020-01-27 20:34
I don't actually work
jonrodd
2020-01-27 20:34
This is passive income mainly
vinodgn0088
2020-01-27 20:34
Then its great, you don't even need a LLP
jonrodd
2020-01-27 20:35
I still have one customer I cannot take out...
jonrodd
2020-01-27 20:36
I have a 5 year contract with him
jonrodd
2020-01-27 20:36
I cannot convert him to "passive" for now
vinodgn0088
2020-01-27 20:36
Then just keep him on a company
jonrodd
2020-01-27 20:36
So I might be interested in the llp anyway
vinodgn0088
2020-01-27 20:37
As long as you move to Cyprus and fly, should be ok
jonrodd
2020-01-27 20:37
Never heard of Cyprus for companies sorry
jonrodd
2020-01-27 20:37
Do you have some post or docs on that ?
vinodgn0088
2020-01-27 20:38
Nope. You don't need to create a cyprus company. Just create a UK LLP, move your personal residency to Cyprus
vinodgn0088
2020-01-27 20:38
Have a tiniest room in Cyprus on 1 year lease
jonrodd
2020-01-27 20:38
Aaaaaaaah
jonrodd
2020-01-27 20:38
Ok
jonrodd
2020-01-27 20:38
Make sense now sorry
vinodgn0088
2020-01-27 20:38
Just spend 60 days a year in the same room any where in Cyprus
vinodgn0088
2020-01-27 20:38
You can have non-dom status
vinodgn0088
2020-01-27 20:39
And income earned outside of Cyprus is not taxable.
vinodgn0088
2020-01-27 20:39
Make sure you don't bill your client on a date while you are in Cyprus too
vinodgn0088
2020-01-27 20:39
Passive income no date issues
vinodgn0088
2020-01-27 20:39
This should be sufficient
jonrodd
2020-01-27 20:40
Why can't I bill while in Cyprus?
jonrodd
2020-01-27 20:40
You mean
jonrodd
2020-01-27 20:40
Income earned WHILE outside is not taxed?
vinodgn0088
2020-01-27 20:40
Why you want to raise their eye brows, saying you worked and billed in cyprus
jonrodd
2020-01-27 20:40
Or income invoiced outside?
vinodgn0088
2020-01-27 20:40
Work outside, bill also while outside. Less complication for you
jonrodd
2020-01-27 20:41
Oh ok
jonrodd
2020-01-27 20:41
Will check on that !
jonrodd
2020-01-27 20:41
Very interesting
jonrodd
2020-01-27 20:41
Thanks !
vinodgn0088
2020-01-27 20:41
Welcome.
edgr
2020-01-27 21:02
Hi! Can anybody recommend me a civil lawyer in the Philippines?
lauren
2020-01-27 21:28
Once my EIN is setup how do I get a USA bank account and how long does it take?
jonrodd
2020-01-27 21:58
I have the same question as @lauren but regarding ITIN actually... I got my ITIN but could not find a bank willing to open account for me with it. Any recommendations?
seb.malek
2020-01-28 02:13
yeah what about it
office
2020-01-28 08:28
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jonrodd
2020-01-28 21:51
@digimkt Just checked those out. But it seems http://mercury.co is for businesses only and http://transferwise.com I don't really get if they actually count towards FICO credit scores etc... ?
jonrodd
2020-01-28 21:53
I have basically created my ITIN like centuries ago, when FreedomSurfer was not even in my radar just yet, and never made anything out of it because... banks would not allow me to open account with it... Now I sit under this ITIN and would like to know how can I start to build credit.
michal.opoka
2020-01-29 02:59
@jonrodd if you want personal account maybe try https://sablecard.com/ ? I haven't used it myself but it should be ok according to their description
ignacio.rod.h
2020-01-29 03:00
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jonrodd
2020-01-29 04:18
@michal.opoka Thanks, didn't know this one. But they seem they have not launched just yet
simon
2020-01-29 11:41
@jonrodd Do you have an AmEx card in your home country? If so, you can likely use your existing history to apply for a US AmEx. That US AmEx will be connected to your ITIN and will report to all US credit bureaus.
jonrodd
2020-01-29 19:40
I have never applied for AmEx so far. Do you know by any chance if this "hack" applies to any of their personal cards (Gold, Silver, Blue) or is it some kind of premium advantage?
simon
2020-01-30 03:42
@jonrodd It applies to all cards issued directly by AmEx. You can see the country-specific requirements here: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/customer-service/global-card-relationship/
gerry_olson
2020-01-30 13:28
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994kaloyan
2020-01-30 14:26
Hey fam!
Is anyone happy with an accountant in Panama that they would recommend ?
What is the ballpark annual price for this kind of service ?
Cheers :)
ramiro21
2020-01-30 18:39
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toby
2020-01-31 18:11
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p.rawson100
2020-02-01 15:52
@ Lauren and Jona - I was in New York recently and I had the most success with Bank of America. I opened a personal bank account and got a secured credit card linked to my ITIN. I tried for a Capital One account (360? - the one that was easier for non-residents to get) but it seems the rules have changed recently and you have to be tax resident in the US to open one. The guy in the branch was happy to open an account for me but it seems that the rules have changed recently as he only found out about it while we were doing the application. You might have luck with TD Bank but you will need something with a US or Canadian address on it, which I didn't have at that point. The first branch I tried wouldn't go any further without a document with US address, a second branch said they could open an account as long as I could provide a US or Canadian address, but when I provided my US mailing address, the bank clerk googled it and found it wasn't a residential address.
p.rawson100
2020-02-01 15:56
In addition, I did manage to open a HSBC bank account and credit card, but this was based on my existing relationship in the UK and was not linked to my ITIN. Still, I have one ITIN - linked card with BoA and I will try an application for the Sable card which was mentioned on here, so hopefully that will be enough to get me started with my US credit file.
ouafouaf
2020-02-01 16:44
@994kaloyan, can give you an expat living in Panama that probably knows one, do you speak spanish ?
994kaloyan
2020-02-04 18:32
@ouafouaf no, unfortunately I don't
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2020-02-05 13:49
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2020-02-05 16:55
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2020-02-09 15:55
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buynps.org
2020-02-10 01:43
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buynps.org
2020-02-10 02:21
Hi @mrblonde - what?s your experience with this lately? Is it that they do not get approved? Or do they run for some time and get closed down? What kind of business models are affected?
buynps.org
2020-02-10 20:38
@994kaloyan did you find anyone?
robaondrej
2020-02-11 07:12
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994kaloyan
2020-02-11 11:54
I haven't but to be honest I also haven't been looking since then :smile:
g.sfirlogea
2020-02-13 07:27
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ricardoads7
2020-02-13 21:30
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jase
2020-02-18 14:39
I need an ITIN to apply for Stripe. IRS website says it takes 7 weeks to process, but many websites claim to do it in 1 week. Is this just marketing or do agents have some sort of priority/faster system?
jase
2020-02-18 14:39
I recall @simon saying there was no way to speed up the EIN process so I assume ITINs are the same.
simon
2020-02-19 08:57
@jase Using an acceptance agent doesn't speed the process as all they do is fill the form for you, verify your ID and then mail all your documents to the IRS.
jase
2020-02-19 09:02
Awesome, thanks @simon I will apply myself.
ivo
2020-02-19 09:05
Keep in mind @jase, they will only accept a passport copy certified by the issuing authority.
jase
2020-02-19 09:06
Ah ok, so it's not as easy as applying for an EIN @ivo?
simon
2020-02-19 09:32
@jase It?s easy to apply but may not be easy to get the certified passport copy.
jase
2020-02-19 09:43
Got it, I'll get researching. Thanks everyone
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2020-02-19 14:06
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2020-02-20 09:35
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lopez.shereen
2020-02-22 13:51
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2020-02-23 08:26
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candelamont
2020-02-26 19:15
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kevintimmerhk
2020-02-27 08:08
Hey all,
I have my US LLC all set up (non us residence).
What accounting software do you guys recommend. I am getting paid by Stripe on Transferwise
simon
2020-02-27 08:28
@kevintimmerhk Xero works very nicely with Stripe and TransferWise (transactions automatically sync).
kevintimmerhk
2020-02-27 08:29
Oke great. Gonna try that out
brendan
2020-03-01 01:18
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lu.taglialatela
2020-03-02 03:07
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mt
2020-03-04 10:25
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dsf0010
2020-03-06 08:52
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endless.skai
2020-03-06 09:51
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tkrunning
2020-03-08 00:53
@kevintimmerhk If you have quite simple needs and want a lower cost option (which still syncs with most banks (not sure about TW at the moment, but anything supported by Yodlee works) you should check out Sunrise. (https://sunriseapp.com/)
They acquired the US version of a Danish accounting software I was using for my old Danish company (Billy), which is quite snappy and user friendly, which is how I ended up using them myself for my US LLC. They also integrate with Mercury, which I know many people here use.
kalin.stoyanov
2020-03-08 19:22
has joined #general
hennadii
2020-03-10 12:28
has joined #general
fenix5
2020-03-11 08:14
Hi everyone, I am new here and trying to implement solutions I've learned here into my business. Maybe you could help a bit. I have UK residency and use LTDs for business mostly located in Poland. It's a tricky country as local tax office damands certificate of residence from every foreign company. So I was thinking about US LLC/UK LLP company but have two problems. 1. My UK residency - can I use such structure while I am resident in the UK? 2. In this case I won't get certificate of fiscal residence for LLP, right? Can I get it for US LLC?
michal.opoka
2020-03-11 12:09
LLC and LLP are tax transparent - in short they don't exist for tax purposes so they can't have residency
michal.opoka
2020-03-11 12:15
so you would most likely have to show owner's certificate of residency
icefreebiz
2020-03-11 12:30
has joined #general
fenix5
2020-03-11 14:12
Well, that's what I was worry about. But my UK residency is no problem here? I don't get cerificate but still can use such structure for other purposes, right?
simon
2020-03-11 14:14
@fenix5 Correct, you can use those structures. Just keep in mind that as @michal.opoka said, in most cases their tax residency will be the same as yours
fenix5
2020-03-11 14:17
@simon Thanks. So the only solution to this problem is that I personally change my residency to... where? Cyprus? What country would you recommend in EU?
michal.opoka
2020-03-11 14:17
first of all - what is your goal?
fenix5
2020-03-11 14:20
@michal.opoka to reduce tax below 10% and be able to run business in both countries I mentioned UK/PL.
fenix5
2020-03-11 14:22
And do it as anonymous as possible.
michal.opoka
2020-03-11 14:24
so you have to move your personal tax residence to a suitable country, it really depends on you what's suitable for you, there are a lot of articles on the website
michal.opoka
2020-03-11 14:25
for example many places have no income tax at all, but not everyone would be comfortable living there
fenix5
2020-03-11 14:27
Yes, I'm going through them. I prefer stay in Europe for now.
fenix5
2020-03-11 14:28
What do you think would be interesting to think about here?
michal.opoka
2020-03-11 14:29
Malta, Cyprus, Portugal have some interesting residency schemes if you travel a lot, Andorra has 10% tax and low regulations/enforcement
mykolas.ramanauskas
2020-03-11 22:49
has joined #general
jase
2020-03-12 08:35
This looks very interesting Thomas. How does the CC processing work as a non-resident? Do they allow you to use their payment processor?
simon
2020-03-12 15:24
*Important:* the US CDC has issued a level 3 warning that covers nearly every EU countries (11th of March). In practice, this means that many travel / health insurers will stop accepting claims from travelers to those countries. Most policies include a "grace" period (for example, you may be covered for up to two weeks following the issuance of the notice). SafetyWing, a popular insurer, has a 10 day grace period.
sterk
2020-03-13 13:53
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simon
2020-03-16 11:04
Are you guys staying put where you currently are or traveling back to your home countries?
omocha_10
2020-03-16 11:59
Yesterday I moved to a more ?developed and free? country to stay put in a small town or city. Not planning to go home :house:
jerrycjchang
2020-03-16 12:01
I?m in Taiwan. Safer here than most places
burrup.lambert
2020-03-16 12:54
Staying put. Some nomads here went home when their home countries said they were closing borders. Otherwise weren't switched on enough and now are stranded
burrup.lambert
2020-03-16 12:54
I think short term airbnbs are going cheap because of all the cancelations.
sterk
2020-03-16 13:08
Staying put and using the time at home to get some shit done :slightly_smiling_face:
redareda9
2020-03-16 15:27
I?m in Vietnam right now with 30 cases and seems like safer than my home country France with 5k+ cases and 1xx deaths. Vietnam locked itself and doesn?t grant visas to 24+ countries anymore.
simon
2020-03-16 15:36
Malaysia is going into lockdown on Wednesday. I?m currently raiding the combini across the street from my condo...
benjamin
2020-03-16 15:58
Staying put in Thailand, although my visa extension expires in 32 days. I'm hoping things settle down by then. Otherwise, I'll be struggling to find a place to fly to in Asia. Not keen on heading to Australia or any other location that has self quarantine rules.
ggiampieri
2020-03-16 16:07
Back and locked down.. Small Italian home town..with good health care. Let see what happens.. Hopefully it's not going to last until the end of the year.
simon
2020-03-16 17:13
There?s currently discussion of a 30 days EU-wide lockdown. https://mobile.twitter.com/EU_Commission?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
tkrunning
2020-03-16 21:20
I don't really accept CCs, so not sure. But I didn't have any issues getting a US Stripe account for my US LLC as a non-resident, so shouldn't be impossible,
bigworld
2020-03-16 21:53
Yes, EU border will be closed for one month.
julianmb
2020-03-16 21:59
Going to tell my history
julianmb
2020-03-16 22:00
Was living in HK, but when the virus started to outbreak in the city I moved to Europe
julianmb
2020-03-16 22:00
Now I'm waiting to my flight to HK tomorrow, one of the few ones before they suspend flights
julianmb
2020-03-16 22:01
I might need to do a quarantine, but it's ok, HK showed they know how to contain the problem and they do business as usual
nikolay
2020-03-16 23:14
Europe on the contrary is a shitshow I think
nikolay
2020-03-16 23:14
Every country going wild
julianmb
2020-03-16 23:17
You'll see a huge economic crisis
julianmb
2020-03-16 23:17
Worse than 2008
tiagomdreganha
2020-03-16 23:17
There's a mass hysteria, which is great because people are actually staying home and respecting quarantines. Italy and Spain served of good example and most other EU countries are doing their best to avoid having their health system swamped and causing unnecessary deaths (most "bad" cases need ventilation or oxygen)
But this is coming to every other country next, USA acted super late, 2 days ago I was still seeing concerts and full bars. Looks like they are dumping truckloads of cash at it so it might work.
tiagomdreganha
2020-03-16 23:19
depends for how long and how strict the lockdowns have to be. If it lasts more than 1 quarter then yes most likely.
stolzlos
2020-03-17 05:59
actually it does not really matter, the bigger problem is that the damage is already done to supply chains. The global debt bubble has ruptured and air is coming out fast. The virus and actions against it is now at most a secondary issue. @julianmb is right. This is going to be bad.
stolzlos
2020-03-17 06:02
and there will be a timelag which will catch so many people off guard because there is inertia of at least 6 months. The virus will be gone and things *seem* to return to normal but ultimately they don't. And then the real hit comes along.
julianmb
2020-03-17 07:57
Last crisis, people still can buy a car, go to restaurants, buy, spent if you have the money
julianmb
2020-03-17 07:57
But this one is different, massive bankruptcies
jase
2020-03-17 08:04
Good to know @tkrunning. I have a US Stripe account for a US disregarded entity as well as a non resident. Opening seems OK, but many friends have later had them closed down after processing $5K or so
tkrunning
2020-03-17 08:57
Hmm, that's interesting. Do you know why they close them down? Is it because they can't provide a W-9 or that they lack ITIN/SSN or something like that?
skat
2020-03-17 16:39
I have a friend running away from Germany to HK as well :smile: he basically told me the same story
skat
2020-03-17 16:40
@tiagomdreganha one quarter? I don't believe most of people will last 2 months. I remember this research that suggested that 80% of people don't have savings to last even 1 month.
ivan.lakatos
2020-03-17 16:42
I'm in Laos, Luang Prabang. Still zero reported cases here, which is hard to believe. Got a plane back to Chiang Mai on Monday but might stay here for two months.
skat
2020-03-17 16:44
@ivan.lakatos It's probably due to heat? Viruses can't stand it.
alex720
2020-03-17 16:44
Or just no one is testing
skat
2020-03-17 16:45
Yeah, it's hard to believe that Laos has no infections. They have quite a lot of Chinese owned business.
ivan.lakatos
2020-03-17 16:46
Maybe, but Thailand has over a 100 now.
simon
2020-03-17 17:15
Yeah, it?s very likely the lack of testing. In Indonesia, they reported no cases up until recently but it was because they had only done ~200 tests. Now that they are ramping up testing, they are finding lots of cases.
simon
2020-03-17 17:17
Given what we know of the fatality rate for this virus, it?s likely that there is 7-10 times the number of reported cases right now (with the vast majority of those cases being in the mild category).
michal.opoka
2020-03-17 17:53
China only got one new non-imported case today so it looks like it's over there with around 3.2k deaths, Europe is going to be much worse
julianmb
2020-03-17 18:11
China said only 2% die, and its contained
julianmb
2020-03-17 18:11
But actually in Madrid and northern Italy the mortality is 8%
michal.opoka
2020-03-17 18:19
it goes up when health care system is overwhelmed and that's what is happening in Italy
michal.opoka
2020-03-17 18:23
around 12% or sth similar need ventilators, when all of them are used these people which could otherwise be saved die
matthias.wernig
2020-03-17 21:12
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ggiampieri
2020-03-18 09:01
Italy: >95% of deaths are 80+ years old with some previous disease. It affects man more, only 2 guys below 40years passed. Sadly 40% of the ppl in Milan area change phone cell daily, beside ppl going to work that's way too much. Metro is still full (crazy) during peak hours, few people wear masks. Probably the match Valencia Atalanta(Bergamo's team) was the big spreader, Bergamo is devastated by it. No media will every say it as touching soccer means revolts. Wait a month and Milan will see thousands of deaths daily. (I was long time in China in November, then February in Milan, I runned away from the virus). Austria is having cases and people are still denying it. I'm worried for the USA as this will trigger worldwide unemployment for years. (oh.. Doctors are dying here, who's going to cure people?)
ggiampieri
2020-03-18 09:19
It seems pollution is related to the deaths. https://www.zerohedge.com/health/satellite-images-show-massive-decline-pollution-over-italy-amid-national-lockdown
michal.opoka
2020-03-18 10:44
I think Spain/France/UK can be even worse than Italy https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ETVEro6WsAAfwT2?format=jpg&name=medium
ggiampieri
2020-03-18 17:54
Guys I have a terrible news, today they are reporting yougest death, 32 years old bartender.. North of Milan which passed Friday march 6th. they're saying it 13 days later. Keep a low profile. I think the west is in trouble
sterk
2020-03-19 06:06
In Spain a 21 year old died a few days ago
sterk
2020-03-19 06:06
He did have pre existing medical condition though
sterk
2020-03-19 06:06
Leukemia
jase
2020-03-19 08:05
I don't think it's just a number thing. Most tend to cite Stripe wanting some form of proof that they have a representing party in USA. A local staff member, local address (that isn't a virtual/mailbox address), etc.
jase
2020-03-19 08:05
I assume it has something to do with chargebacks.
michal.opoka
2020-03-19 11:01
0.2% death chance for young people is not 0% and some people forget about that
michal.opoka
2020-03-19 11:04
also some studies suggest that corona virus can cause permanent damage to various body parts
nikolay
2020-03-19 12:12
You have a higher death chance to die due to a crash while driving yet transportation isn't halted due to that.
michal.opoka
2020-03-19 14:05
yes, but older people have much higher death rate and if health care system is overwhelmed then death rate can go up even to 10% on average
nikolay
2020-03-19 15:16
That I agree
skat
2020-03-20 00:05
Isn't it around 5% in Italy right now? And they have one of more lethal cases so far?
ivan.lakatos
2020-03-20 03:43
Bit of a ridiculous comparison
michal.opoka
2020-03-20 14:04
yeah but more cases = higher death rate if there are no more intensive care units available
himself
2020-03-20 21:35
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tobievandyk
2020-03-22 03:16
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jase
2020-03-22 08:18
Late to the party but staying put. LOL too late to leave, only way out of the country on foot, mountain bike or 4x4 via smugglers routes
jase
2020-03-22 08:19
Andorra doesn't have a lockdown law, so they have to pass that first
jase
2020-03-22 08:20
Unsure if we will have to lock down but I guess they're getting in early
julianmb
2020-03-22 08:20
They have cases?
jase
2020-03-22 08:20
Yep
jase
2020-03-22 08:22
It's interesting to see how the microstates have statistics off the charts... with only a few cases
jase
2020-03-22 08:22
Check the right column
jase
2020-03-22 08:24
Anyway AND seem to be handling this well. Biggest issue were healthcare workers getting hit in the early days and now the borders mostly being closed. Andorra's not in the EU and EU will take care of themselves first, so best assumption we have is that they won't let any new masks/medical supplies/anything into Andorra until EU get what they need first.
stolzlos
2020-03-23 09:00
lots of money printing promises all over the globe, but the reaction is quite muted I must say
michal.opoka
2020-03-23 11:29
113 now in Andorra, they really should make a lockdown fast to stop the spread
julianmb
2020-03-23 13:12
133 in Andorra is 1/3 Hong Kong
julianmb
2020-03-23 13:12
That's too much
simon
2020-03-23 13:34
It's not surprising, however, considering the proximity to Spain and France. What's the health care situation in Andorra? It's my understanding that for anything more than basic care you are transported to Spain / France?
michal.opoka
2020-03-23 13:35
and Andorra got only 78k population, but it really depends if all these cases are isolated or if there is active community spread
jase
2020-03-24 18:27
We have been on lock down for a while now. :face_with_rolling_eyes:
jase
2020-03-24 18:28
Remember, the smaller the country, the easier it is to skew statistics.
jase
2020-03-24 18:28
I suspect Andorra will be one of the best tested countries by the end of this thing.
jase
2020-03-24 18:30
@simon there are 16 ICU units here, for all but the most major surgeries it's handled here. The hospital is great.
jase
2020-03-24 18:30
There has been one death here, 88 year old who already had many health problems.
ggiampieri
2020-03-24 19:39
I've been on self lockdown for a month(getting crazy), government is saying might go on until the end of July. They will shut down gas stations on highways (wtf?!?) and navigation with private boats is forbidden. Basically only way out of Italy is by plane, to go where is not so clear. Hope this will finish by end of May but..
omocha_10
2020-03-25 14:43
10 days ago was in ST Petersburg :ru:, everything was like nothing was happening, shops/malls/public transport... a friend told me last night in Sochi restos/bars were open....
I?m in Estonia, here looks it?s contained, no deaths so far, but it feels like a ghost town. I just leave to buy food.
They say borders are closed.
In north India is cold, with a lot of traffic in/from Cuna, and it?s so overpopulated and dirty, how is it possible it?s not full of people with the virus?
Any ideas?
marziovit
2020-03-25 15:38
Well they probably have the virus but they call it "flu" because nobody is proactively taking samples
omocha_10
2020-03-25 16:09
@marziovit But if that?s the case, lot?s of people should be dying like Italy or Spain, isn?t it?
michal.opoka
2020-03-26 00:45
different regions get different numbers of people coming with virus - like there was a large movement of people between China and Italy and between Italy and other EU countries, but between Italy and let's say Peru it's much less - it will eventually get to all these places (unless they institute a total lockdown before) but it will be delayed
michal.opoka
2020-03-26 00:46
other thing is that some governments are simply repeating mistake of Italy and don't realize how dangerous it is
michal.opoka
2020-03-26 00:47
also incubation of this virus is like 7 days on average so it will go up exponentially but it will still take some time
michal.opoka
2020-03-26 00:58
also some countries do more testing so more cases are detected, if you do no tests there are no cases :smile:
michal.opoka
2020-03-26 01:00
but I've also seen some theories that temperature around 6 degrees Celsius which was in Wuhan in January and in Lombardy in late February / early March is best for the virus and it's more likely to spread in areas with that temperature
simon
2020-03-26 01:08
It?s important to keep in mind that the numbers being reported are not representative of the real numbers. Most countries only test symptomatic / high risk patients.
To get a better idea of what the real numbers are, you have to look at the numbers of deaths being reported.
Estimates are that the overall fatality rate is between 0.1% and 0.7%. Most patients die within 7-10 days of admission.
Given the current number of deaths reported, we can thus estimate that around a week ago there could have been as many as ten million cases worldwide (with the vast majority mild or asymptomatic).
michal.opoka
2020-03-26 01:12
problem is that we actually don't know how many asymptomatic people there are in relation to all infected, there are some estimates but they vary a lot and aren't very reliable
michal.opoka
2020-03-26 01:13
Death rate can also be very misleading due to various countries counting deaths differently - man who gets heart attack after being infected and dies might be counted as coronavirus victim in Italy, but might not be counted in Germany
michal.opoka
2020-03-26 01:15
it's also affected by health care system quality and capacity - when it's overwhelmed death rate goes up a lot
michal.opoka
2020-03-26 01:19
another issue -confirmed cases are delayed by about a week so if country had 100 confirmed cases a week ago and now got 400 confirmed it's likely that there are about 1600 infected people which won't be confirmed until next week because tests don't really work for asymptomatic people even assuming everyone is tested
simon
2020-03-26 01:23
Testing is definitely a major issue (reliability, processing times, numbers).
No one really knows the % of asymptomatic vs symptomatic but extensive testing in Iceland shows that it?s likely well over 50%.
As for Italy, they have published a study showing that 99.2% of those who died had pre-existing conditions.
It?s in Italian but the graphs / tables are easy to read anyway:
https://www.epicentro.iss.it/coronavirus/bollettino/Report-COVID-2019_17_marzo-v2.pdf
michal.opoka
2020-03-26 01:24
well most people over 30 have some pre-existing conditions
michal.opoka
2020-03-26 01:25
hypertension being most common
simon
2020-03-26 01:26
Diabetes is a big one too, lots of people in the US, UK, Canada etc suffer from it.
michal.opoka
2020-03-26 01:30
yeah, also in case of hypertension it might be the medicine for lowering BP which is causing vulnerability to coronavirus
simon
2020-03-26 01:32
The Italian numbers show that around 76% of fatalities suffered from hypertension so that might very well be true.
michal.opoka
2020-03-26 01:33
as for asymtpomatic cases many cases which were asymptomatic when test was first made developed symptoms later on so that data from Iceland might be too optimistic
michal.opoka
2020-03-26 01:36
there were similar assumptions for Diamond Princess but when these people were transported to their home countries many developed symptoms
michal.opoka
2020-03-26 01:37
that's why I think death rate is more like 2% but can go up even to 10% if health care system crashes
simon
2020-03-26 01:50
Outside of Hubei, the death rate in China is 0.4% so far (and most cases have been closed). That?s about the same as in Germany right now.
simon
2020-03-26 01:51
Definitely access to quality health care plays a big role in survival for those who are hospitalised and this + undertesting is probably why the death rate is so high in Italy and Spain
michal.opoka
2020-03-26 01:52
Italy/Spain and Hubei got their health care systems overwhelmed because of large number of cases
michal.opoka
2020-03-26 01:54
other Chinese provinces did not, China also had SARS experience and SARS has very similar symptoms so I think it's quite possible Chinese doctors were better prepared to deal with this
michal.opoka
2020-03-26 01:56
as for Germany there are some reporting issues there both due different classifications of deaths and delay due to their federal system
jase
2020-03-26 07:56
That's the issue with the numbers - testing and sample sizes. Andorra now has car testing like Korea, testing is still slow but by end of the week we should have the fast testing machine up and working (I'm told). This is going to be terrible for optics, but great for awareness of the situation internally.
michal.opoka
2020-03-26 09:28
there is more to it than testing - all contacts of infected person have to be traced and put into quarantine for 2 weeks (and tested every few days), otherwise it's going to keep spreading util there are no more people to infect
fattail
2020-03-26 13:05
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jase
2020-03-26 13:46
That was happening 2 weeks ago in Andorra
jase
2020-03-26 13:48
Residents per ventilator:
RUS: 3,600
AND: 3,900
ITA: 12,000
SPA: 15,000
jase
2020-03-26 13:48
But every country is going to have their own unique challenges
jase
2020-03-26 13:49
Russia they're saying they have lots of ventilators but not enough nurses to manage patients
jase
2020-03-26 13:49
Andorra has the challenge of more pharmaceuticals if needed
michal.opoka
2020-03-26 20:20
to be honest ventilators actually don't matter that much, from what I've read around 80%-90% people on ventilators die anyway
michal.opoka
2020-03-26 20:29
maybe it will change in the future but for now I'd rather go to hospital with supply of experimental drugs like chloroquine and no ventilators than hospital with no drugs but many ventilators
himself
2020-03-27 10:57
Can I chip in here
himself
2020-03-27 10:58
Hi all - am new
himself
2020-03-27 10:58
Chloriquine & oxygen I think is your best bet
himself
2020-03-27 10:58
somewhere between 2-5L/minute depending on severity
himself
2020-03-27 10:59
You could administer all of this at home, you just need an oxygen concentrator, chloroquine, a pulse oximeter and some IV and saline
himself
2020-03-27 11:00
Hopefully, the governments who are smart will start making facilities for this - can be done on a large scale. Ventilators, ICU level support is so much more tricky as we all lack the nursing staff for patients in this condition quite frankly
mikeseo
2020-03-28 01:31
long lines at the supermarkets in Manila, 3-4hrs.
ok product supply, missing a few veggies/fruits
mikeseo
2020-03-28 01:32
no public transport/grab/taxis
mikeseo
2020-03-28 01:33
most stores/restaurants closed
kevintimmerhk
2020-03-28 06:03
Hey all,
Can i invest my company money (in my US LLC) into the stockmarket directly. How is this affecting on taxes?
I am not from the US
sterk
2020-03-28 07:33
Following.
bruce_edwards
2020-03-28 08:28
has joined #general
jase
2020-03-28 14:03
Got a lot of friends in Manila @mikeseo. Some are freaking out, others seem super cool with everything. Stay safe man.
buynps.org
2020-03-29 00:07
Interested too
mrchristiaanpieterse
2020-03-30 11:13
@simon it appears the virus might directly affect the heart muscles (which could explain the high fatality for hypertension). Here is a good video and source ive been following - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4P91VrfPGw a Medical Doctor in the U.S. - the video specifically about a corona virus study in monkeys and where the virus was identified in tissues after exposure to the virus. It also discusses RE-infection (unlikely) but this is just a starting point. Noting is clear with this virus right now and it changes by the minute...
michal.opoka
2020-03-30 11:49
hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin are most likely the best medicines available so far https://twitter.com/JamesTodaroMD/status/1244385850684817409
c.yanar
2020-04-01 02:00
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antonio.fonduca
2020-04-01 14:36
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bartek
2020-04-02 22:08
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2020-04-03 13:03
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2020-04-04 11:54
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2020-04-04 20:43
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just4cassie
2020-04-05 16:55
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lucaboero25
2020-04-05 17:22
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mgonlinephone
2020-04-06 18:10
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2020-04-06 18:11
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2020-04-06 19:53
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didzis.vasiluns
2020-04-06 20:29
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trungsseng01
2020-04-07 02:37
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paul_inkpen
2020-04-07 18:40
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mikeseo
2020-04-10 00:39
https://www.google.com/covid19/mobility/
retail and recreation
taiwan -9%
korea -19%
sweden -25%
japan - 26%
singapore -28%
hong kong -35%
australia -45%
mexico -45%
texas -45%
california -50%
vietnam -52%
thailand -55%
united emirates -55%
canada -59%
new york -62%
hungary -66%
georgia -67%
paraguay -68%
brazil -71%
chile -73%
germany -77%
india -77%
philippines -81%
portugal -83%
panama -84%
united kingdom -85%
argentina -86%
new zealand -91%
spain -94%
italy -94%
mikeseo
2020-04-10 01:07
All short-term visitors will not be allowed to enter or transit through Singapore.
Taiwan closed its borders to foreign tourists.
Hong Kong is banning the arrival of all visitors to the city, including those wishing to transit through
The South Korean government has announced plans to temporarily suspend visa waivers and visa-free arrivals for countries that have barred entry to South Korean nationals.
Japan Bans Visitors From 70+ Countries Indefinitely
simon
2020-04-10 03:30
Interesting that California is only -50%, I was under the impression that most of the state is under a strick shelter in place order. Also interesting the difference in approach between NZ and Australia (both seems to be getting good results).
mikeseo
2020-04-10 06:37
I don't think california is that strict, recommended to stay home but not strictly enforced by military/police. In the Philippines they are pretty strict, each household gets 1 quarantine pass, only 1 person can go out to the supermarket/pharmacy with the pass. Beaches/parks closes. can't go for a walk outside. Most restaraunts are closed, the few that are open only do takeout or delivery. All stores besides supermarkets are closed. Long lines at the supermarket.
coapsi.george
2020-04-10 07:41
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redareda9
2020-04-10 09:15
@mikeseo I?d be curious to see Manila without the 1 million motorbikes in there and the perpetual traffic congestion. Must be unreal to see that
michael
2020-04-10 09:58
Very useful information @mikeseo
michael
2020-04-10 10:19
ggiampieri
2020-04-10 12:26
Italy has 400? tax ehm ticket that if you are quick to mantain parasites and pay within few weeks it's discounted to only 280. Every family is getting the present
ggiampieri
2020-04-10 12:27
If you don't pay it goes to court with up to 3000 and can get to jail. Sure they sieze the money on bank account if you forget to pay
mikeseo
2020-04-10 14:19
@redareda9 it is partly nice in Manila right now, the air is pretty clean, it's very quiet, no honking or exhaust. Just a few people walking on the street. You can actually here some birds chirping in the morning. It's kinda surreal. If they would just open a few things like the pool and gym and massage and beach and more supermarkets than I would prefer it...
omocha_10
2020-04-10 15:49
I?m checking for flights, in Estonia they are selling flights since April 14th, In Russia aprox 1st may
simon
2020-04-10 19:53
@omocha_10 I wouldn?t buy any plane ticket with a departure in April, there?s a high risk the flight will be cancelled or you won?t be able to go due to entry restrictions. May is probably a safer bet for intra-EU flights, late June/early July for international flights.
omocha_10
2020-04-10 19:57
@simon Thanks for the advice, been looking, but not buying for the reason you mention. I think it will depend where you are and where you want to go.
simon
2020-04-10 20:01
@omocha_10 I?m currently staying in place until late May but after that, I plan to go on a hiking trip for a few weeks. It?s domestic travel (Toronto to BC) so I should be able to go but I haven?t booked accommodation yet either, will probably wait until the day before
eronorbi
2020-04-11 15:46
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noahlibbyhaines
2020-04-12 01:15
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nitindania11
2020-04-12 16:37
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brent
2020-04-12 22:07
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francoiskocik
2020-04-13 02:05
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paul_inkpen
2020-04-13 14:50
Not sure if there are many members here who are already subscribers to it but I recently became a member of FoundersCard and there are some quite amazing discounts and special offers available. From huge discounts on electronics, hotel rewards to private jet travel trial membership.
saba.bosuener
2020-04-13 15:40
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buynps.org
2020-04-13 18:56
any experience shares with services to help with bookkeeping with Xero? how to hire an easy bookkeeper?
norman.pend
2020-04-14 10:31
"Pandemics for�Dummies" or "What really happened":
*?Three Pincer Attack on Sanity and Sanitation.?*
A) We had a great time binge-watching ?Survivors?, ?Strain? and ?Walking Dead?. Was it five seasons, or six? Enough to burn a *viral fear* into our subconsciousness.
B) The media *must* inform us in a timely and entertaining fashion about facts, and similar. Sure! A must. Basis of democracy! Also, they have to write about SOMETHING.
C) Any government too slow or inept to protect our children from a pandemic would be *dead meat*. Rest assured! If not by vote, then by revolt.
There you are!�
All you need for the greatest depression of all - yet to come.
Claus von Clausewitz would have been proud of us.
b.maite
2020-04-14 16:44
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2020-04-15 06:18
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2020-04-17 19:06
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2020-04-20 02:40
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house.leelah
2020-04-22 06:41
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2020-04-22 16:04
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2020-04-23 07:43
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2020-04-23 08:32
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2020-04-24 03:26
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2020-04-24 07:08
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2020-04-26 06:36
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alejandro
2020-04-27 13:08
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nechita.beniamin
2020-04-27 22:18
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albert
2020-05-02 17:15
We?re looking to escape Thailand as we don?t want to be on the hook for a tax bill for an extended stay? does anyone have suggestions on where to go? Many countries are closed to foreign nationals, and many visa centers are closed.
danz
2020-05-02 19:46
Not that many places are open at the moment yet. I just read some tourist locations in Mexico will probably open in june. Also read that Georgia might open soon. Through Doha you can still fly perhaps.
simon
2020-05-02 20:55
@albert As far as I know, it's still possible to transit in Korea. There are flights from BKK to Seoul, from there you can connect to multiple destinations.
ktos.zajal.moj.login
2020-05-02 21:10
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albert
2020-05-03 01:25
Thanks Simon, it looks like SK has suspended visa-free entry for countries that banned koreans and getting a visa seems quite difficult with most visa centers being closed. It also looks like the US, Puerto Rico (mandatory 14 day quarantine) and the UK are wide open
albert
2020-05-03 01:30
This is a comprehensive list country by country published by IATA, https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/international-travel-document-news/1580226297.htm, I skimmed through the list, the US/UK looks like the best options but the US is a bit scary as we would need to track the # of days extremely carefully
frederic.scheffer
2020-05-03 02:00
@albert after staying 6 months in Thailand? Will they enforce this, ane how?
demmbox
2020-05-06 06:38
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madalina.gheorghica
2020-05-07 05:59
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albert
2020-05-08 02:41
@nikolay do you have a rep with Bluesnap? We?re with Stripe USA with no US presence so it?s something on our mind when they will review our account again and ask for proof of US operations.
jerrycjchang
2020-05-08 02:54
That?s a crazy law
ryan
2020-05-08 03:46
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nikolay
2020-05-08 05:57
I had but haven?t used them for quite some time (out of the ecom business). Best thing is to find some business development guys at the company on Linkedin, present your case professionally, fill out the form on the website as well and they will get back to you.
Compared to Stripe they will be communicative and listen to your situation rather than straight up ban - Stripe loves that!
michael878
2020-05-09 02:45
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redouan.benechehab
2020-05-09 07:50
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2020-05-10 08:50
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info697
2020-05-11 14:41
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2020-05-11 19:26
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2020-05-12 12:17
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ryan059
2020-05-18 20:18
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eduard543
2020-05-20 22:23
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omocha_10
2020-05-23 10:39
Hi, any podcast/Youtube channel on location independence lifestyle/business/investing etc to recommend please?
mikeseo
2020-05-23 13:38
7070140
2020-05-26 10:06
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kris
2020-05-27 19:26
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letstalk
2020-05-27 20:55
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markus
2020-05-29 07:23
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isaac.cu
2020-05-31 06:21
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omocha_10
2020-06-01 13:38
Hi, according to this map it would be possible to travel to UK and Serbia right now. Does anyone knows about people traveling or moving to European countries where they are not nationals or residents?
matt134
2020-06-03 08:43
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augustas
2020-06-04 12:48
If you travel by car, then you should be fine in many countries, I think
ahsmithers
2020-06-09 09:32
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joshuacolombi
2020-06-09 11:32
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simon
2020-06-10 18:26
The EU will start reopening to non-EU travellers in July. I?ve heard that the main criteria will be infection rates and reciprocity (meaning that it?s unlikely Australians, Canadians, Kiwis, Japanese etc will be allowed in).
tiagomdreganha
2020-06-10 19:51
Portugal has never really closed its borders, if you can find a flight from UK, US, Venezuela, Canada or South Africa, all you need is a letter from a resident vouching for you and you'll fly trought customs (confirmed with a US citizen entering Lisbon).
simon
2020-06-10 20:24
@tiagomdreganha Do you need to have a specific relationship with the person inviting you? (business, for example)
tiagomdreganha
2020-06-10 20:25
"Friend" works. I'll ask what they put specificly but I know it wasn't business related
simon
2020-06-10 20:25
The leaflet from the government says that citizens of the US, Brazil, Canada etc are welcome but only if Portuguese citizens are also allowed into those countries
bountybairn
2020-06-10 22:01
@simon my friend flew into Lisbon the other day and wasnt even asked about this, maybe he slipped through the net
tiagomdreganha
2020-06-10 22:03
nationality?
bountybairn
2020-06-10 22:08
British - just checking with him to be certain, but AFAIK he has no contacts at all there - there was a flight from the UK and he just went for it
simon
2020-06-10 22:10
The UK allows Portuguese citizens to enter, however, unlike the US, Canada and some of the other non-EU countries listed.
bountybairn
2020-06-10 22:11
14 day quarantine on entering UK as of this week though, which was reciprocated on the Portuguese side
bountybairn
2020-06-10 22:12
but yeah take the point that this is different for him due to entering from UK and not being national of countries you mention
tiagomdreganha
2020-06-10 22:12
@bountybairn are you sure? I haven't heard of any quarentine requirements in Portugal after entry, other than in Madeira islands.
bountybairn
2020-06-10 22:13
sorry i meant for Portuguese entering UK
tiagomdreganha
2020-06-10 22:13
I think Portugal will be a safe choice, we rely too much on tourism to be mandating useless quarentines
bountybairn
2020-06-10 22:14
exactly this UK policy here is pointless now and getting a lot of public and political pushback
simon
2020-06-10 22:21
I?ve heard the UK will exempt a bunch of countries from the quarantine later this month (probably all EU, maybe some English-speaking countries).
bountybairn
2020-06-10 22:25
yeah sounds right -no basis in science and politically angled
simon
2020-06-10 22:26
@tiagomdreganha I?d love to go back to Portugal later this year, if I can. I hope people won?t be ?anti-tourists?.. Here in Canada there has been several incidents of tourists being bullied, refused service and even having their car tires slashed (each province issues their own license plates so it?s easy to tell a car isn?t local).
bountybairn
2020-06-10 22:29
@simon so they're considering tourists as people from other provinces, and solely based on plates? Surely they could be living somewhere different from where the plates are for? (not familiar with how this works in north america i.e. do you change your plates when you move)
tiagomdreganha
2020-06-10 22:29
No such thing here. Portuguese people are generally welcoming of foreigners, that hasn't changed. I think everyone has someone close that works in tourism related areas so there's an understanding that we need tourism back up & managing the rona at the same time.
bountybairn
2020-06-10 22:44
friend in Lisbon confirmed - not temp test, no questions what so ever but as @simon said is EU/UK 'internal'
simon
2020-06-10 22:48
@bountybairn You have to change your plates / drivers license when you move, usually within three months. Tourism isn?t very important to Canada?s economy (less than 2% and most of it is domestic) so there isn?t much of a push to re-start the sector and public opinion remains negative towards those that do choose to travel.
arkdeeplove
2020-06-11 07:00
Cyprus updates: It looks like they introduced Category C countries and created a special platform to get a FlightPass.
https://cyprusflightpass.gov.cy/
https://in-cyprus.philenews.com/arrivals-via-cyprus-flight-pass/
omocha_10
2020-06-11 12:08
In this Lonely Planet article says many nationalities can go there without quarantine. I read similar things about Serbia, Austria, Belarus.
What is confusing to me is that they say ?people origin from XYZ country can enter?.
What?s not clear is if they mean origin as citizenship or as where you?ve been the las 2 weeks.
I?ve been in Estonia, but I am Spanish. So for nationality, I can?t go to Lithuania, but for where I?ve been, they should let me in...
arkdeeplove
2020-06-11 12:14
p_patruni
2020-06-11 17:28
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bountybairn
2020-06-11 19:40
This is good news! Seriously thinking of heading to Cyprus for a few months to see if I'd like living there - been for short trips in the past and like the place....having a look around for some medium term rental properties now so this is good timing
nsh
2020-06-11 22:39
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arkdeeplove
2020-06-13 11:39
Corona as ?A Global False Alarm?.
https://www.globalresearch.ca/german-official-leaks-report-denouncing-corona-global-false-alarm/5714528?fbclid=IwAR3PqTQJIseHunMdXUDLR4ShmkDSS0YI9pyZAMDkiVaVwkhTvb8NsJZWvg4
I hope more and more people will wake up and realize this is all fake.
edgr
2020-06-13 12:32
I dont get this article... Statistics is showing for most countries in europe that there were more deaths than the expected average deaths from the last view years.
arkdeeplove
2020-06-13 13:56
I don't know what statistics are you following, but the article says that the number of people dead so far were expected this year because those numbers reflect people who reached the end of their lives.
They also say that Corona killed 250k people worldwide within a quarter compared with to 1.5 million deaths of influenza wave in 2017 / 2018.
The most important it states that the danger of corona is no grater than that of many other viruses.
> The report focuses on the ?manifold and heavy consequences of the Corona measures? and warns that these are ?grave?.
This report is not a joke, or a scam or something ordered: The report was the initiative of a department of the interior ministry called Unit KM4 and in charge with the ?Protection of critical infrastructures?.
Here is the original document: https://www.ichbinanderermeinung.de/Dokument93.pdf
994kaloyan
2020-06-14 09:17
Hey guys, just to confirm what @bountybairn said a few days ago - it is possible to simply fly into Portugal and roll. A couple I know went there on Saturday from the UK. They are both Australian. No heavy checks, no quarantine. Just landed and went to the bar lol
simon
2020-06-14 19:59
@994kaloyan Thanks for the update, that?s very interesting! I might go the same route if the UK drops their quarantine requirement later this month.
omocha_10
2020-06-15 12:16
I took a bus from Estonia to Latvia and crossed
the border like it was pre-corona times.
fish
2020-06-15 20:08
Ideas on how to get myself from Zimbabwe to East Europe?
simon
2020-06-15 20:16
@fish I?ve run a search through the matrix and it seems that pretty much all flights connect in South Africa (which I don?t think is possible at the moment unless you have a SA passport). Kenya Airways is supposed to resume flights to Harare on the 7th of July.
fish
2020-06-15 20:23
Thanks @simon. Hopping for a miracle!
fujimoto.fjc
2020-06-16 03:12
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wice90
2020-06-18 08:19
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enimos
2020-06-21 13:04
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simon
2020-06-22 04:17
I?ve just learned that Seven Corners covers COVID-19 with their ?Liaison Travel Plus? plan. It?s available for most destinations, and for residents of most countries. Best of all, it?s fairly cheap and SC is a well known, well established insurer so you shouldn?t have any issues with claims.
https://www.sevencorners.com/#start
simon
2020-06-22 04:19
That will be handy for those who are planning to start travelling again in the near future (some of the countries that are reopening require insurance coverage for COVID-19).
alexis.alfroy
2020-06-23 09:35
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providedsolutions.ad
2020-06-24 07:55
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buynps.org
2020-06-25 00:27
Anyone living in Panama? I created #panama channel
sarah
2020-06-25 01:57
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elbriella
2020-06-25 12:04
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axel.gay1997
2020-06-26 01:40
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jase
2020-06-26 14:51
@simon I just discovered that the [at]channel function can be disabled for regular users. Might be worthwhile using in FS as it gets abused here sometimes.. Obviously you know best for your community but I'd certainly vote +1 for this.
ivo
2020-06-26 15:04
+1
simon
2020-06-26 21:30
I?ve updated the preferences to block the at channel mentions. I?ve also activated the do not disturb mode from 10pm to 8am (to mute notifications).
jase
2020-06-27 15:57
Thanks. I use the DND but the red notification still shows up when someone uses at channel.
emilianod76
2020-07-13 18:39
Has anyone heard of or used the services of this website? https://www.privacyworld.com/index.html
simon
2020-07-13 18:47
@emilianod76 Their products look super dodgy to be honest. They even sell fake travel agent ID / press ID cards. Also, I?d be weary of a business selling a ?Easy To Obtain Merchant Account? product when they only accept crypto, Western Union and Moneygram themselves.
emilianod76
2020-07-13 18:53
@simon I feel the same way. It looks very dodgy indeed! I just wanted to know if anybody here had any dealings with them. In addition to what you mentioned it looks like they can only be contacted by encrypted email and no phone number or address :astonished:
994kaloyan
2020-07-16 13:26
Hey fam! Does anyone know if it?s possible to use 2checkout for processing PayPal payments? I think I read somewhere that 2checkout have their own PayPal account and can process those payments for you without you ever needing your own account in PayPal but I can?t find anything about this on their official http://2checkout.com website
buynps.org
2020-07-16 15:25
@994kaloyan yes, it?s possible. you don?t need your own paypal. i?ve used them for 8 years
buynps.org
2020-07-16 15:25
they are a merchant of records reselling for you
994kaloyan
2020-07-16 15:26
Awesome! Thanks for letting me know @buynps.org
994kaloyan
2020-07-16 15:26
Can you give me any hints as to how to get it set up?
994kaloyan
2020-07-16 15:27
Is it just the standard 2checkout integration or does it require anything more?
buynps.org
2020-07-16 15:43
@994kaloyan just standard
buynps.org
2020-07-16 15:43
i don?t like 2CO though
buynps.org
2020-07-16 15:44
they are also very strict on their underwriting
buynps.org
2020-07-16 15:44
and non-flexible
994kaloyan
2020-07-16 19:56
Thanks @buynps.org
994kaloyan
2020-07-16 19:56
I?m just gonna use them as a backup to PayPal
994kaloyan
2020-07-16 19:56
Thank you for your input
994kaloyan
2020-07-16 19:56
:raised_hands:
buynps.org
2020-07-17 13:57
no problem
ryan059
2020-07-18 14:57
A friend and I have rented a great 5 bedroom apartment in Barcelona for August&September - anyone fancy joining us? He's a Harvard economics grad and I'm doing devops. Both enjoy healthy living. This is the place:�https://housinganywhere.com/room/1658063/es/Barcelona/carrer-del-bruc
albert
2020-07-22 14:58
Taiwan is open for foreign nationals but not for tourism/social visit. You?ll need a good reason, e.g., youth working visa, conventions, etc?
omocha_10
2020-07-23 15:15
I?ve been thinking about going to Russia, but looks like it is still close.
Going there sounds corona dangerous, but I think the danger is if you go to Moscow, or don?t try to avoid social distances.
But if I go to the beach or a rural/mountain area, and take care, doesn?t feels dangerous.
simon
2020-07-23 16:23
@albert Interesting, I guess a quarantine would be mandatory if you manage to get approval from immigration?
kevintimmerhk
2020-07-24 11:55
Hello! Random question maybe but..
I am a Europian living in Spain at the moment. And i have a US LLC. Can i buy a car in that company here in Europe? And how does this work with VAT. Many car dealers have the option "VAT deductible".
1. Is it possible to buy a car on an US LLC?
2. And do i have to pay the VAT?
skat
2020-07-25 11:08
I'm reading lately a lot of stories that immigrants to US, that made some money and renounced their citizenship, running into issues with US government later on. Latest examples would be:
https://gothamist.com/news/schumer-wants-to-ban-us-citizenship-renouncing-facebook-co-founder
Is this is a witch-hunt for high profile immigrants? Or anyone could run into these issues nowadays?
I have a lot of family members that are now planning to leave US for good after all the shit show they seen lately. Should they be worried or taking some extra steps?
mikeseo
2020-07-25 12:59
2012
skat
2020-07-25 21:48
Uh, Didn't notice the date :slightly_smiling_face:
ryan059
2020-07-28 12:20
Jesus, that's some scary use of words by the senator in that article.
bierlingm
2020-07-29 10:53
Another time, looks great have fun guys
simon
2020-08-15 12:17
Israel is reopening its borders on the 16th (tomorrow), no quarantine for green list countries: https://www.gov.il/en/Departments/DynamicCollectors/green-red-countries?skip=0
simon
2020-08-15 12:19
It?s very strange that they have listed their own country as red..
ivan.lakatos
2020-08-15 12:20
Hopefully more countries will follow, especially Thailand. So far the conditions to enter Thailand are crazy.
redareda9
2020-08-15 15:54
Possible if you have Elite Visa from what I?ve heard
michael
2020-08-15 16:48
still a pain.
michael
2020-08-15 16:49
Even if you have a WP for TH.
michael
2020-08-15 16:50
A friend doesn't want to leave TH, even though they have a WP... a pain and documents to get back in.
benjamin
2020-08-20 11:51
The longer you've been out of thailand the easier it is to get back in (if you qualify). Mostly because there's a quota they can't go over per flight and they give priority to people stranded outside Thailand the longest.
The only way around it is if you book your own private jet. Thai Elite can help get the flight approved.
Other than that, Thailand is almost impossible to get in. I'm here now and wanted to go on a short business trip. But Thai elite said if I leave then I shouldn't expect to get back in until the end of 2021. Obviously things change week by week so who knows what things will be like.
michael
2020-08-20 12:21
The end of 2021? :open_mouth: @benjamin
benjamin
2020-08-20 12:24
Let's hope it's a typo
michael
2020-08-20 12:46
Haha... wow... 2021. I missed that.
michael
2020-08-20 12:47
Yeah, right now, it's pretty much impossible. Unless you're a Thai citizen.
felix
2020-08-22 07:33
You can enter your home country and it tells you where you have access (or not).
frederic.scheffer
2020-08-31 04:26
Who is based in Thailand? Would be cool to organize a meetup
994kaloyan
2020-09-07 10:25
Hey fam! Does anyone have experience with travel insurance that covers birth?
I know it?s a bit unusual but a couple of friends of mine are going to travel and the girl is pregnant. Based on my surface research I couldn?t find a company that actually has such a coverage. Any input on this topic would be appreciated.
mb
2020-09-07 10:37
I don't know one, just know from when my wife was pregnant and getting a new insurance in Spain, they didn't cover hospitalisation for the first 10 months (thus it didn't cover child birth) and had to pay out of pocket.
994kaloyan
2020-09-07 12:11
Thanks @mb! This is the same thing I am getting as well. I guess it is what it is. I appreciate your input.
mb
2020-09-07 12:12
The only thing you can do if cost is a concern, is to 'shop' around hospitals. In Spain you can get relatively good healthcare (depending where you go) and it costed me I think 2 or 4K, don't remember. That's including a hotel type of room to stay in for 2 days.
mb
2020-09-07 12:13
DM me if needed in case you want a direct hospital reference.
mb
2020-09-07 12:14
There's one way to mitigate the 10 months 'no hospitalisation' period: When you can show that you had insurance in the same country, with another provider.
mb
2020-09-07 12:14
But I guess that doesn't apply for you.
994kaloyan
2020-09-11 12:14
They?re going to Greece and things there are a bit different. It depends on whether you go to a private or public hospital. As a foreigner you can go to both but without social security, you will have to pay in the public ones as well. This makes it senseless to go to the public hospital :smile:
mb
2020-09-11 12:19
Yup can confirm at least in Spain. I think best really is to ask for quotes on different hospitals they feel good with. Both public/private.
seb.malek
2020-09-14 15:49
We have a company in a nil tax jurisdiction without access to Paypal & Stripe (or pretty much any other payment provider for that matter). Our idea was to incorporate a UK limited and have it enter into an agency agreement with the nil tax company. Have any of you here ever done something like this and can anyone recommend a lawyer who can draft such agreement?
simon
2020-09-17 14:19
@seb.malek Any reason why not use an LLP instead? This way you wouldn?t have to worry about UK taxation / the tax residence of your Limited company.
seb.malek
2020-09-17 14:20
Well, it would be hard to get a bank account for a LLP if there's two offshore IBCs as members.
me1892
2020-09-17 14:21
@seb.malek do you need a bank account or could you get by with some fintech combo?
simon
2020-09-17 14:22
Indeed, for a payment processing entity TransferWise will be a better option (as you will be able to receive payments in USD, EUR etc). A UK bank account is only suitable for GBP payments, and EUR in some circumstances.
simon
2020-09-26 21:04
set the channel topic: Everything related to location independence
joe
2020-10-01 06:32
@simon are you still updating the website? there's no new posts recently
simon
2020-10-01 08:35
@joe I?m about to launch an entirely new version of the site with lots of new content / all existing articles updated hence why I haven?t added new content to the existing site recently. I?m targeting an October launch.
joe
2020-10-01 08:36
oh
joe
2020-10-01 08:36
would be great if there's a new posts feature
joe
2020-10-01 08:36
so we can know what new articles are posted
simon
2020-10-01 08:43
The new site is structured more like a newspaper, with the content presented in a chronological order (and organised into four easy categories instead of the current countries, guides etc).
burrup.lambert
2020-10-01 20:52
I kind of liked the ability to be able to filer by country :sweat_smile:, are you going to keep that feature? Maybe with tags/categories or similar?
simon
2020-10-01 20:54
Yeah the countries list will still be there but it will act more like a search feature. For example, if you click on UK you?ll get a list of all articles related to the UK.
simon
2020-10-02 15:44
Good news for our Australian friends, the govt has approved the so called travel bubble with NZ, starting this month. NZ has yet to agree but if they do, NSW and NT residents will be able to fly quarantine-free to NZ and from there to any destination they want (I can?t imagine NZ enforcing the Australian ban on international travel). https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-02/new-zealand-travel-bubble-coronavirus-restrictions-australia/12726228
burrup.lambert
2020-10-02 15:50
:man-facepalming:
dsf0010
2020-10-04 21:29
@simon Hi simon Can you tell me ,How can I create a website for I be accept in baintree, and cybersource for Use card payment processors?.What need I incluse in this web theme,plugins...? Thanks
simon
2020-10-07 18:13
@dsf0010 You can use an ecommerce service like Shopify to build your site. Or Squarespace. These services will usually create all the pages payment processors require (refund policy, privacy policy etc) and you simply need to add text to them.
asarun72
2020-10-07 21:24
Woocommerce or Shopify
klaus
2020-10-08 09:55
I would recommend Shopify over Woocommerce, because it is so dead simple and has so many great integrations - and no worrying about hosting etc.
As a software engineer, I also have a fairly strongly dislike to Wordpress (which Woocommerce is based on) - but not more than I do use it for a few projects where I just need some content management and don't care that much about performance.
koshis
2020-10-13 10:46
Hi guys,
I am looking to get global health insurance cover.
Was looking at Allianz, AXA, or was also reccomended Vumia.
Basically looking for something to cover everywhere (exUS).
Any suggestions?
mb
2020-10-13 11:55
These guys are helpful, based out of The Netherlands: https://www.joho.org/en/international-joho-insurances
mb
2020-10-13 11:55
They can advice you an insurance based on your situation. And are able to give discounts at times.
netroxx
2020-10-16 13:32
I just closed with AXA a couple of days ago. I can't really say "I recommend", cause I didn't "test" them yet (I don't plan on doing that), but I spent a couple of days comparing, and went with AXA. They called me back immediately, whereas Allianz "call me back" feature didn't work at all. Also I like that AXA has outpatient included in almost every plan. I ended up paying 1500 for 1 year via my AMEX on the phone, which I will be using as company expenses. That includes the optional travel protection for 80 a year (better to have it from the same company than having to rely on my AMEX). That's 125? per month, which is a good deal imo. Both AXA and Allianz have an excellent reputation
maxsuur
2020-10-22 10:02
Does anyone know how to get into the Spanish Affiliate Marketing Space?
danz
2020-10-23 11:52
What is different than other countries there? Many international networks offer Spanish affiliate links for their programs.
simon
2020-11-02 12:19
Interestingly, APEC cardholders are exempt from some countries travel ban. For example, South Korea will allow in cardholders even if their countries are banned.
johncitizen
2020-11-03 10:19
It used to be very easy to get an APEC card in Australia, they've clamped down on it substantailly
yaron.been
2020-11-05 07:58
Hi @994kaloyan
Have you found any solutions for this?
From what I gather all insurance have at least a 10 months waiting period.
Unless you join a policy that was conducted for a group.
994kaloyan
2020-11-05 11:07
Hey @yaron.been, nope. I couldn?t find anything that comes close to a solution. 10 months is actually pretty low. The least period I was able to find was 12 months. Some companies asked 18 :smile:
994kaloyan
2020-11-05 11:10
lol it appears that no solid software engineer/developer likes WordPress. And that?s for a reason. :smile:
jason
2020-11-06 14:48
I really don't want to be in the US right now.. :rolling_on_the_floor_laughing:
felix
2020-11-07 07:46
@jason :roller_coaster: Must be crazy right now, agree.
simon
2020-11-07 20:23
Biden was announced as the winner today, what do you guys think?
daniels
2020-11-07 21:02
Best for investment (stocks, etc.): Congress by one party (Republicans) and presidency by another (Democrats). This is an old saying. Reason: no sudden moves.
michal.opoka
2020-11-07 22:01
It's highly contested, many things can still happen from Trump ending up winning to democrats taking Senate so I'd expect chaos for next 1-2 months
michal.opoka
2020-11-07 22:15
https://theredelephants.com/there-is-undeniable-mathematical-evidence-the-election-is-being-stolen/ lot of shady stuff, I don't want to get into how much of it is true, but this will go into courts, state legislatures and congress, they will ultimately decide, and since it's 2020 anything is possible :)
maxsuur
2020-11-08 00:49
I subscribe to this
frederic.scheffer
2020-11-08 04:31
@arkdeeplove yeah and aliens are spying on you specifically, and rigged the election
frederic.scheffer
2020-11-08 04:52
History about UFOs? Or more about Illuminatis controlling the world?
frederic.scheffer
2020-11-08 04:53
Or about China engineering a virus specifically to get Joe Biden elected?
redareda9
2020-11-08 05:02
Wow I didn?t know we had that kind on this slack :joy:
redareda9
2020-11-08 05:03
But I guess ?it takes all sorts to make a world?
jason
2020-11-08 14:13
I'm less worried about Biden himself, and more concerned about the electorate and the candidates they vote for.. I expect the choices in 2024 / 2028, etc to be even more left..
jason
2020-11-08 14:16
I'll have conversations with some wealthy friends, I'll point out the bad trajectory the US is on and they still won't seriously consider any sort of 2nd residency or passport diversification...
stolzlos
2020-11-08 14:28
Yuri Bezmenov comes to mind
simon
2020-11-08 21:27
Mauritius is launching a renewable one year remote work visa: https://www.edbmauritius.org/newsroom/posts/2020/october/mauritius-introduces-premium-travel-visa-for-long-stays/
asarun72
2020-11-08 23:13
Hows Mauritius cost of living and internet @simon
simon
2020-11-08 23:20
I don?t know about the living cost overall but monthly rentals on Airbnb are pretty cheap it seems. As for the internet, the island is connected via a number of undersea fiber cables so I imagine it?s reasonably fast.
ledrewy
2020-11-09 11:07
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/08/business/digital-nomads-regret.html
I just came across this on NY Times
frederic.scheffer
2020-11-09 12:04
@simon article does not describe the tax status. Any idea?
simon
2020-11-09 13:55
It?s not launched yet so more details will likely be available soon.
simon
2020-11-13 05:32
@arkdeeplove No vaccine at all for now. I?ll eventually get one but I?m in no rush to play guinea pig (especially for a vaccine that uses a new technology).
How about you?
redareda9
2020-11-13 06:28
Pfizer is using RNA vaccine. From what I heard, it?s something that never has been tested (long enough)
frederic.scheffer
2020-11-13 07:38
@arkdeeplove if Biden wins, the vaccine will be mandatory worldwide? As in the US will decide what Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa decide?
Cmon man. Again some crazy theory.
frederic.scheffer
2020-11-13 07:39
Well let me tell you that it will probably not be mandatory in France, and probably not in Europe to start with.
frederic.scheffer
2020-11-13 07:40
So you already know? "This is fact". Common.. don't spread disinformation.
frederic.scheffer
2020-11-13 07:41
France is not in the EU anymore ?
frederic.scheffer
2020-11-13 07:41
That's also a fact?
frederic.scheffer
2020-11-13 07:42
300 million doses = 150 millions people vaccinated. This vaccine needs 2 doses per person
frederic.scheffer
2020-11-13 07:43
Im out. Just stop spreading disinformation and "facts" like that
frederic.scheffer
2020-11-13 07:44
Wanna bet 10 000 USD that vaccine will not be mandatory worldwide as you said?
frederic.scheffer
2020-11-13 07:45
Talk is cheap
frederic.scheffer
2020-11-13 07:47
So Biden is a lizard?
stolzlos
2020-11-13 07:49
well, I won't get vaccinated either. Lets wait and see what is going to happen over the next 12 months after vaccines are consumed in size.
frederic.scheffer
2020-11-13 07:52
Same
frederic.scheffer
2020-11-13 07:53
A lot of us here don't care about lefties media. We can just see that your facts are not facts.
stolzlos
2020-11-13 07:54
@frederic.scheffer u from/in France?
frederic.scheffer
2020-11-13 07:55
Yes
stolzlos
2020-11-13 07:55
Hi, Neighbor :wink:
stolzlos
2020-11-13 07:58
same story in Germany
frederic.scheffer
2020-11-13 07:58
Andrew do you want to bet 10 000 USD that the vaccine will be mandatory worldwide if Bidens get elected?
I bet it will not be mandatory.
frederic.scheffer
2020-11-13 08:00
Then you just talk
frederic.scheffer
2020-11-13 08:00
Enough for me
frederic.scheffer
2020-11-13 08:00
Bye
stolzlos
2020-11-13 08:01
well, not arguing that :wink:
stolzlos
2020-11-13 08:03
and there is also a way to get a medical certificate that you cannot take it
stolzlos
2020-11-13 08:03
some other disease or condition
stolzlos
2020-11-13 08:04
I assume that there are ways to get around it. But it depends on country of course
stolzlos
2020-11-13 08:04
yes, now that I call great news! :wink:
stolzlos
2020-11-13 08:05
Mandatory vaccinations are generally also only for the citizens. I assume as a tourist you should generally be excluded.
stolzlos
2020-11-13 08:06
May also depend on the country though. I assume the poorer the place, the better
stolzlos
2020-11-13 08:06
Can you imagine a bankrupt country to issue a mandatory vaccination?
mb
2020-11-13 08:12
The only thing I'm afraid for is that a country like Germany starts to make it mandatory. Historically German people are paranoid for government involvement/mandates, especially given their history. But just this year they made the measles vaccine madnatory to have your kids in school https://www.dw.com/en/germany-law-mandating-vaccines-in-schools-takes-effect/a-52596233
Which I can wrap my head around as to doing so for the measles. But if they can mandate a vaccine by law (measles) then that would pave the way for any type of vaccine in theory.
mb
2020-11-13 08:14
Also in the Netherlands the Health minister said it won't be mandatory but strongly 'advised' https://nltimes.nl/2020/09/09/netherlands-will-make-covid-19-vaccine-mandatory
So in practice I would expect something like, the vaccine not being mandatory, but if you don't take it, you might get banned from certain places and/or have your job opportunities diminished.
stolzlos
2020-11-13 08:15
@mb I can certainly observe the trend unfortunately. People do not think anymore ....
mb
2020-11-13 08:15
^ not a reputable site, FYI as I never heard of it.
stolzlos
2020-11-13 08:15
@arkdeeplove lets hope that other countries don't follow
mb
2020-11-13 08:16
My daughter is homeschooling while I travel, so for now that isn't a big issue. But traveling itself will be more challenging.
mb
2020-11-13 08:16
But really curious about the laws they put in place vs. practice/actual enforcement.
mb
2020-11-13 08:17
:smile:
architect
2020-11-13 08:17
Andrew is spot on with all of the above
mb
2020-11-13 08:17
Well, if you tell me now that everyone will need a 'COVID' passport in the future, I'd tell you're out of your mind.
mb
2020-11-13 08:17
But it has been discussed by officials around the world already, so who knows.
architect
2020-11-13 08:17
I'm in Serbia, they just passed a law for mandatory vaccination here yesterday
mb
2020-11-13 08:17
Really @architect ?
mb
2020-11-13 08:19
> Serbs are deeply divided over the value of the vaccine, often reflecting their political choices. According to a poll released at the end of October by the research publishing centre Demostat, some 51 of respondents who voted for the ruling parties in the June 2020 parliamentary elections would accept vaccination if it is recommended by doctors and experts ? and 17 per cent would accept it merely if it is recommended by President Vucic.
mb
2020-11-13 08:20
Yeah my issue is, non extensive tested vaccines and looking at the demographics of people dying in the Netherlands (where I'm now) it seems to be mostly people in the older age ranges.
mb
2020-11-13 08:21
Source: RIVM (national dutch virology institute)
architect
2020-11-13 08:22
This pandemic isn't even real
architect
2020-11-13 08:22
giant hoax from top to bottom
mb
2020-11-13 08:22
Btw, interesting to see that in the 90+ age ranges, I guess it clearly shows women either get older than man, or they're stronger. The former I guess is generally known :slightly_smiling_face:
mb
2020-11-13 08:23
Yeah, to be honest it makes me sad.
architect
2020-11-13 08:23
People get the "corona symptoms" of course but that's nothing new
architect
2020-11-13 08:23
what's new is these hoax tests
architect
2020-11-13 08:23
dollar vigilante has exposed them in this video https://www.bitchute.com/video/o4yOP8gRH8Lv/
mb
2020-11-13 08:23
I don't mind wearing a mask, even it nog being mandatory yet here in the Netherlands when indoors. But a vaccine is whole other level.
architect
2020-11-13 08:24
I don't wear the muzzles either - I'm not a dog and there isn't a pandemic. Frankly it's humiliating to wear these things
mb
2020-11-13 08:25
I think COVID is real and people are factually dying (although apparently dying 'with' or 'from' apparently is a distinction to make). But I also think the media is fear mongering.
mb
2020-11-13 08:26
Lol @architect I almost reckon you listen to No Agenda?? :smile:
mb
2020-11-13 08:26
'muzzle' heh.
architect
2020-11-13 08:28
no, not familiar with "No Agenda" - but every single last independent journalist I do follow says all of the above. It's clear as day if you switch off corporate media - paid by the same financial interests as pharma lobby in the background
architect
2020-11-13 08:29
Covid isn't real
stolzlos
2020-11-13 08:31
Well, I would say that Covid is real but the threat is not. Just my opinion (don't kill me :wink:)
mb
2020-11-13 08:31
Perhaps COVID *is* real, but rather a strong flu which spreads quicker than a normal flu? I'm really not informed on the topic.
mb
2020-11-13 08:31
Sure I can see that.
architect
2020-11-13 08:32
Okay you have opinion, I have facts - linked above ;)
architect
2020-11-13 08:33
Read the rooshforum post I linked. There isn't anything going on other than these hoax tests - no excess mortality
architect
2020-11-13 08:35
whoops guess I had to click "also send to general" to make the message show up
architect
2020-11-13 08:35
Read the rooshforum post I linked. There isn't anything going on other than these hoax tests - no excess mortality
mb
2020-11-13 08:35
In The Netherlands I digged it up from CBS (central bureau of statistics):
? Official COVID deaths 6000 but it is assumed to not every person dying with COVID is tested to have it. So they indicate something like between 8593 and 11691.
? Comparison with the flu season of 2017/2018, 9500 people died because of the influenza (flu).
mb
2020-11-13 08:36
Article (I guess opinionated) source: https://www.ad.nl/binnenland/doden-door-corona-en-griep-in-de-vergelijking-dit-is-hoe-het-echt-zit~ad36a72e/
mb
2020-11-13 08:37
What is the rooshforum?
mb
2020-11-13 08:37
I mean, what type of community? Just to see the credibility of it.
architect
2020-11-13 08:38
Indeed
mb
2020-11-13 08:39
Yeah, I guess we'll find out the numbers in two weeks?
architect
2020-11-13 08:40
Trump won
mb
2020-11-13 08:40
But I see a lot of hypocrisy for sure with COVID. Earlier this year when I was still in Spain, you had to wear a mask, even in outdoor shopping centre. *Unless* you're a smoker. Then you can do what you want (don't need to even stand at a designated spot).
architect
2020-11-13 08:41
He had 73 million votes, most of any president ever in history
architect
2020-11-13 08:41
with the exception of Biden who somehow pulled off a bigger victory than Obama's historical 2008 election lol
architect
2020-11-13 08:41
But I guess it's easy when the dead help and come vote for you :sweat_smile:
architect
2020-11-13 08:42
Yeah man. It's all a giant insult to our intelligence
mb
2020-11-13 08:42
mb
2020-11-13 08:44
One of the reasons I left Spain. Forced lockdown (actual lockdown, not a 'intelligent' lockdown like the Netherlands). And just lot's of hypocrisy and mismanagement. It's sad. But you definitely feel a strong presence of police/state authority.
mb
2020-11-13 08:45
Btw, do you guys now how travel is to the US from EU? I know we can't travel. But are there exceptions if you are on a business visa?
mb
2020-11-13 08:45
Also I think the rule is, you must not have been in the EU/other related countries for the past 14 days, prior to entry to the US.
mb
2020-11-13 08:45
Was thinking, if one were to travel to say, Curacao or any Caribbean island, then say to Florida.
mb
2020-11-13 08:45
But waiting at least 2 weeks in the Caribbean.
simon
2020-11-13 09:08
@mb You can enter the US after spending two weeks outside of a banned country.
simon
2020-11-13 09:21
As for whether covid is real, obviously it is. It?s also deadlier than the influenza, at least for those over 40 (and especially over 70). There?s plenty of data to back that up, from hundreds of different (non-aligned) sources.
For sure the danger is somewhat overblown and many governments are overreacting, but that doesn?t make it part of a ?grand scheme?. No government is competent enough to organise something like this, let alone dozens (non-aligned) at the same time.
As the popular saying goes: the simplest explanation is usually the right one. In this case, the wrong animal met the wrong person at the wrong time and shit happened.
simon
2020-11-13 09:26
To go back to the vaccination topic, it is likely that multiple countries will require a vaccine certificate for travel. Many already do for other viruses, such as the yellow fever.
It?s unlikely that major countries will make vaccination mandatory for their citizens because they won?t have to. If travel, attending sports events, concerts, university etc requires a vaccine certificate it is akin to making it a de facto requirement without actually having to cross that bridge politically.
redareda9
2020-11-13 09:53
Thanks @simon. I started to lose hope how this conversation was ��evolving�� :worried:
clr
2020-11-13 11:46
@simon Thanks for your take on this.
It is not ?obvious? that covid is real. That may be ?obvious? for you, the same way it may be ?obvious? for someone else that this is part of a plan by the lizard-elite to rule the world that has been in the works for millennia.
However, the debate of whether covid is real or not, whether it may be natural or man-created, whether it (if man-created) may have been accidentally or deliberately released, whether the governments of the world are acting under a grand scheme or as the result of individually ?rational? (although myopic) decisions by individuals who are part of an imploding nation-state system and are trying to preserve said system which provides their livelihoods; all that is quite irrelevant for our interests in my view.
The name ?Freedom Surfer? suggests to me that the main interest that binds us is freedom (both financial and personal). I believe we need bodily freedom in order to achieve our ends. Of course, that means freedom to travel. I find it important to make clear that what the governments, institutions and corporations are doing is *not ok at all*, regardless of their ?reasons?/excuses, and to call it out.
clr
2020-11-13 11:48
I am finding Vin Armani?s takes on this phenomenon (what he calls The Dim Age) quite interesting so I invite all of you to read into it.
https://twitter.com/vinarmani
frederic.scheffer
2020-11-13 11:54
@clr your point of view is too smart. Can we just talk about lizard conspiracies and how the moon landing was a fake?
jerrycjchang
2020-11-13 13:38
I'm in Taiwan. You will find that most people here, because daily life was never disrupted and they never experienced any lockdown, highly approve of what the government is doing. All they did were the same things most governments are attempting, excpet that they went early and in full force
danz
2020-11-13 14:21
Also here, in the Netherlands, I feel the mood is that people are accepting anything the government put up. No matter what happens almost, all trust is there. So I am pretty sure everyone will follow any new law here sadly.
stolzlos
2020-11-13 14:27
same in Germany ...
maxsuur
2020-11-13 15:38
After watching Vaxxed and Vaxxed II documentaries, I am extremely reluctant to taking one. I'd rather get infected naturally and whatever happens, happens.
maxsuur
2020-11-13 15:39
It would def be dependent on any given country. But as it is very profitable and the scare has been big enough I presume our beloved health officials would declare it mandatory at some point or another.
maxsuur
2020-11-13 15:45
Exactly. The same conclusion I've arrived too
maxsuur
2020-11-13 15:54
Same in Spain
redareda9
2020-11-13 16:27
That?s the problem when you have a community without any filter to get in. You ultimately end up talking about Lizard, chemtrails and Hitler, Elvis and MJ still alive living in a bunker,
ggiampieri
2020-11-13 18:00
Same in Italy
ggiampieri
2020-11-13 18:04
Beside Sweden, and Bali which has open clubs, is anyone aware of any other open Country? How is Thailand or Vietnam? In Europe is probably going to be a very long story..
leehodg
2020-11-13 18:04
@ggiampieri Brazil is very open
ggiampieri
2020-11-13 18:05
Open borders as well
asarun72
2020-11-13 18:09
Read all back logged messages. Conspiracy theories on politics and covid lol
architect
2020-11-13 18:30
Lee, what about mask requirements?
clr
2020-11-13 18:30
I am in Sweden and have been here for the last few months. No lockdowns and no mandatory masks. It helped me rid myself of the fear of getting sick and all that and I am enjoying every minute of it. But I get the sense that this state of things on Sweden may be quite fragile. I feel some sense that if the Swedish government mandated masks, people would comply. Of course, they would adorn it with ?studies? and the opinion of ?experts? and so on. In fact, the govt has already limited restaurant parties to 8 people and banned the sale of alcohol after 10 pm, and they are continuously drilling people on how it?s getting bad and they will have to take harder measures. So the freedom here might not last much longer; we?ll see.
architect
2020-11-13 18:31
simon just because many sources that aren't aligned with each other say corona is real doesn't mean it is. corporate media is corrupt, and medical professionals are relying on these unreliable PCR tests (as per dollar vigilante video i posted)
architect
2020-11-13 18:32
in fact covid CANNOT be real, it's a statistical impossibility because there is no excess mortality if you look at deaths from ALL causes and across the whole year - jan 1st to date compare to same time frame in previous years
architect
2020-11-13 18:33
all we have is flu and pneumonia (dangerous diseases especially to risk groups) plus this hoax test... the president of tanzania tested goats, fruits and motoroil and got positive results back. elon musk tweeted today that the posts are nonsense too, check his twitter
leehodg
2020-11-13 18:40
They are required in supermarkets, ubers, pharmacies, but no one will bother you about wearing them in the street
leehodg
2020-11-13 18:43
and in bars I don't see many wearing them
asarun72
2020-11-13 18:45
Not everyone dies with covid and mortality rate is 1% . What?s actually happening is ER visits and admits. That?s the problem . Flu or influenza doest really filled beds Any time . If anyone thinks this is hoax should visit a hospital or consider working there . I hear they need more hands and got good pay
asarun72
2020-11-13 18:45
Because of excess patients admitting , regular surgical procedures have long wait times and surgeons are actually caring now for covid patients
asarun72
2020-11-13 18:46
The stupidity is un real lol
asarun72
2020-11-13 18:47
Coming to PCR test it?s reliable than regular rapid test but however it?s far from perfect or ideal . The best test is chest ct scan and possible for everyone because it?s expensive lol
asarun72
2020-11-13 18:48
So anyone feeling covid order your self a chest ct scan and it?s 100% reliable
clr
2020-11-13 18:54
Regarding conspiracy theories and so on: the thing here is that this is a memetic war. The real danger here is not the coronavirus, but the fear virus.
I?ll break it down: when the conspiracy theorist says ?There is no virus?, even if this meme is quite crude, he instinctively knows that this is the only way to win this war. *If you concede that covid exists, the debate will immediately turn into how ?we? have to do ?something?. Boom. You have already lost.* From there on, it will just be a nightmare of which numbers can be trusted, which ?experts? are right, whether masks should be mandated just indoors or also outdoors, how long should the lockdowns last, and so on.
?Logic? and ?facts? and ?reason? won?t work if you don?t step out of the fear box. But, in order to achieve that, first you have to rid yourself from the fear of getting covid.
Keep sticking to facts and logic, and your opponents will fact-check you into a reeducation camp (credit to Peter Qui�ones for this, also recommended follow).
The conspiracy theorist is willing to let me be free, while the lockdowner & mask-loving statist is not. I used to get triggered by conspiracy theories but I don?t anymore, because I can see the reasons behind those memes.
clr
2020-11-13 19:09
Mexico. I?m planning to go there soon.
burrup.lambert
2020-11-13 19:10
A few people getting fired up!
stolzlos
2020-11-13 19:25
while the debate about the existence of covid is entertaining I think even more interesting is how to deal with it. I mean, lets "assume" Covid is real, what to do? What if not, then what to do?
stolzlos
2020-11-13 19:26
I think the answer for both cases is actually the same for our lives are hugely influenced by the people around us and what they believe and not us as individuals.
redareda9
2020-11-14 01:48
Vietnam closed until vaccine
redareda9
2020-11-14 02:27
Yeah we are all so ignorant not listening to random Twitter accounts and random YouTube channels because they?re not ��mainstream��. Stop reading any media and get your informations from unbiased science sources, not from ��this is a fact�� YouTube channels. The way most governments dealt with this situation shows exactly how they?d be unable to ��design�� some kind of plan to do mass control.
redareda9
2020-11-14 02:32
And I don?t think this group is meant to change governments. You seem a bit stuck with Us government. People here realize that if we don?t like a country for some reasons (tax, how they deal with a pandemic etc.), we are free to move somewhere else where we like. I?m now in Vietnam where they strictly enforced everything in the beginning (masks, lockdown) and now Covid is unheard of because they managed to react just-in-time.
simon
2020-11-14 02:45
Exactly, we aren?t about changing governments, just playing the rules to our advantage and keeping up with our options.
I hate to quote him but as the other Andrew likes to say, go where you are treated best
jerrycjchang
2020-11-14 03:12
Strange that some people assume every government is like the crap one they?re stuck with
frederic.scheffer
2020-11-14 05:18
Andrew, I would suggest a bit of high school/university science: maths/physics/biology courses. Maybe statistics 101 also. This is a solid base for separating facts from bullshit.
With all due respect, you are living in delusion: you take facts from where it suits you best, without even running the numbers properly, you feel like everyone is against you. As Reda said, you should ignore mainstream media and also ignore obscure emotionally charged manipulative youtube videos/blog posts, and focus on facts.
If you care about left or right, democrat or republican, blue versus red, socialist versus capitalist, this religion versus that religion, then you are most likely being dragged into a limited understanding of reality.
Just my 2 cents. Probably useless to tell you that and will just generate defensive anger.
simon
2020-11-14 05:31
@arkdeeplove What are you doing to change the state of things then?
frederic.scheffer
2020-11-14 05:34
He is teaching French people about Robespierre
redareda9
2020-11-14 05:45
Wow, so with you, we should be from one side or another or we?re ?sheeps?.
redareda9
2020-11-14 05:45
In this group, we don?t feel like governments owe us anything. You have to create your own reality, not be passive and wait for govs to fix your shit.
redareda9
2020-11-14 05:46
If your business is closing down because of Covid, you have 2 options: Cry or try to find a business that would not be affected by CoVid.
redareda9
2020-11-14 05:46
As some people say: ?adapt or die?
redareda9
2020-11-14 05:47
You have a really ?polarizing? attitude. Trying to put people in ?sides? or categories like you are repeating over and over again to Franck because he is French.
frederic.scheffer
2020-11-14 05:49
Actually Andrew, I think you are making most of us lose our time. Almost every single sentence you spit out is full of false assumptions.
In reality you are probably the equivalent of the drunk guy at the pub that everyone ignores. So yeah, we are all losing our time here trying to have a civilized conversation with someone living in a delusion
redareda9
2020-11-14 05:49
What is ?real? French
redareda9
2020-11-14 05:49
In a globalized world
redareda9
2020-11-14 05:50
That?s exactly what?s happening here. Internet gives a voice to everyone in this world, including the ignored drunk guys in pubs.
redareda9
2020-11-14 05:50
Anyway, have a good day (and life) @arkdeeplove
redareda9
2020-11-14 05:51
No time to lose trying to convince you, you already have you opinion and nobody is going to change it.
2020-11-14 05:52
This message was deleted.
mb
2020-11-14 07:08
:lizard:
mb
2020-11-14 07:08
Here Andrew ^ , the only Lizard I could find here.
felix
2020-11-14 07:20
Just read through 50+ messages and feel a bit that I wasted my time. If anyone asked themselves if it?s possible to mute people on Slack, I am already one step ahead :wink::
:x: There's no way to block someone on Slack, no matter which version of the app you're using.
:x: Certain extensions exist for Google Chrome that claim they can block people on Slack, but they don't work.
:white_check_mark: If you really don't want to see someone's messages, you can instead try using a different channel than them, leaving a channel they're in, or asking an admin remove the user from a channel. -> Can we give Andrew an own channel (call it ?lizard? if you like) so we can go back to normal in the general channel?
I really like the constructive conversation we had here before, but now it feels a bit like the comment section on YouTube.
stolzlos
2020-11-14 07:32
Well, this channel is called "General". I assume anything can and should be discussed.
felix
2020-11-14 07:43
Well, this is right and probably the disadvantage of an ?Everything goes? channels such as general. But if there are already articles shared and some people are obviously more interested than others in certain topics, this might be a great opportunity to give them an own channel to really do a deep-dive and to explore that knowledge further - and everyone who is interested can join the channel. That?s the beauty of having different channels for different topics :slightly_smiling_face:
jerrycjchang
2020-11-14 08:46
I thought this slack is about location independence and for people interested in being a digital nomad, not to overthrow global governments. If people want to discuss their favourite conspiracy theories I?m sure there are other slacks
stolzlos
2020-11-14 08:49
ups! One should read the fine print I assume :wink:
redareda9
2020-11-14 10:23
Confirmation bias. You invite only people who think like you to circle-jerk. Anyway, it?s sometimes fun to have conversation with the drunk guy in the pub.
You remind me of my 75yo American neighbour who think CoVid was created by the CIA. Sometimes it was fun to have conversation but too much and it becomes debilitating.
architect
2020-11-14 12:00
Yeah the corona travel restrictions don't impinge on location independence at all lol
jerrycjchang
2020-11-14 12:11
They do. So would natural disasters or if world war 3 broke out. It doesn?t mean I would be interested in what you thought about those either
architect
2020-11-14 12:50
It's funny how people jump to reptiles immediately when they hear someone say we may be getting hoaxed.
architect
2020-11-14 12:50
There are obviously conspiracy theories that are utter nonsense such as flat Earth
architect
2020-11-14 12:50
There's others that are obviously very real like the WMD hoax in Iraq or the Gulf of Tonkin false flag
architect
2020-11-14 12:51
Which ones are real and which ones aren't requires a lot of research
architect
2020-11-14 12:51
And that's where you can't have it both ways. You can EITHER mock people for taking the time to do deep research into this stuff, OR you can tell them they're conclusions are wrong. You can't BOTH say "I haven't researched this much because that would be a waste of my time" AND say "your conclusions about this are wrong."
jerrycjchang
2020-11-14 12:52
I?m not telling you?re wrong. I?m telling you that I?m not interested
architect
2020-11-14 12:52
Fair, why get involved in the conversation then?
jerrycjchang
2020-11-14 12:52
You?re perfectly welcome to talk about it with other people who are
architect
2020-11-14 12:53
Yes some people here are obviously, the topic got a lot of engagement and not only from detractors
jerrycjchang
2020-11-14 12:53
You?re talking about conspiracy theories in a channel about location independence?
jerrycjchang
2020-11-14 12:53
Then take it to the appropriate forum
architect
2020-11-14 12:53
I'm talking about a situation that is curbing our freedoms massively on a group called freedom surfer
jerrycjchang
2020-11-14 12:53
As for whether I?m brainwashed, you don?t know me and have absolutely zero ability to make that judgment
architect
2020-11-14 12:54
I deleted that message (before you just said that btw) - no need to respond to that part
jerrycjchang
2020-11-14 12:54
Really? I?m enjoying huge freedom right now because of the same measures taken, early
architect
2020-11-14 12:55
Simon Black set up in Chile to be more free and then couldn't get there because of lockdown.
I set up in Philippines to be more free and we had the strictest lockdown in the world there.
architect
2020-11-14 12:55
This is a global situation - there isn't any more running away from it. not a single country not doing this nonsense.
architect
2020-11-14 12:55
If you value freedom it's worth talking about
jerrycjchang
2020-11-14 12:55
There has been no lockdown ever in taiwan
jerrycjchang
2020-11-14 12:55
So you?re clearly wrong
architect
2020-11-14 12:56
yeah cause they're not part of the WHO... interesting coincidence, no?
jerrycjchang
2020-11-14 12:56
I had dinner with friends in a crowded restaurant and have done so all year
architect
2020-11-14 12:56
they did close borders though
jerrycjchang
2020-11-14 12:56
Good, I?d say that policy enjoys 90%+ support
jerrycjchang
2020-11-14 12:57
You have to sacrifice a little to have more freedom overall. That seems difficult for some people to grasp
architect
2020-11-14 12:57
So apparently 90% of Taiwanese believe the mainstream media still. What % of what mainstream media publishes do you think is true?
jerrycjchang
2020-11-14 12:57
Mainstream media?
architect
2020-11-14 12:57
Maybe talk to people in Melbourne. They had a "ring of steel" around their city. Not allowed to leave their country for 2 years. Getting locked into their buildings en masse.
jerrycjchang
2020-11-14 12:57
Do you read Chinese? What do you know about Taiwanese mainstream media?
architect
2020-11-14 12:58
A fair bit... one of my closest friends is from Taiwan. But I think this isn't going anywhere> Since you said you're not interested in this topic why not just disengage from it?
jerrycjchang
2020-11-14 12:58
It?s a bit strange for you to keep asserting that everyone is brainwashed when you barely what?s happening outside of your own country
architect
2020-11-14 12:58
now who's strawmanning lol
architect
2020-11-14 12:58
what a joke
architect
2020-11-14 12:58
i'll talk to yo ulater
jerrycjchang
2020-11-14 12:59
I won?t. See ya
architect
2020-11-14 12:59
good
clr
2020-11-14 13:14
@arkdeeplove What is stopping you from coming to Sweden if that?s what you want? You seem to be angry with me. Why?
I don?t follow what you are trying to say. On the one hand you seem to criticize the people who support governments, but on the other hand you seem to believe that Trump getting selected again will solve your problems. How will it be for you if the next USA president is Biden?
You are imploring the people of the nations to come together, but they already have come together into the covidian cult to lock you down and mask you.
You have to save yourself. Nobody else can do it for you.
michal.opoka
2020-11-14 13:17
I would really suggest avoiding politics, this site is not about it and discussing it here won't change anything anyways
frederic.scheffer
2020-11-14 13:21
Saying "covid 19 does not exist, it is a hoax" is not politics. It's delusion
michal.opoka
2020-11-14 13:27
he said what he thinks, you said what you thinks, you won't convince him, he won't convince you so there is no point of continuing it
edgr
2020-11-14 13:36
Why cant I leave this group? Is this sort of a default group?
michal.opoka
2020-11-14 13:37
right click and
stolzlos
2020-11-14 14:10
I find it fascinating that this topic (including politics) gets members so heated up. And I personally don't think that this is a bad thing.
stolzlos
2020-11-14 14:14
What interests me is, what are people going to do about it? I personally will continue to build up my finances and leave Europe. As for where I am going, I cannot say atm because I need more clarity on the political situation that is evolving in each country.
stolzlos
2020-11-14 14:18
And I assume that may heavily be dependent on their economy and government finances as well as the current political mindset.
stolzlos
2020-11-14 14:21
It would be nice to have a discussion about what people think are good countries in the future where you can maximize your freedoms not only tax and economic wise but also healthwise (and that includes a certain virus, may it exist or not)
omocha_10
2020-11-14 14:22
My personal conspiracy theory is that you are the other Andrew himself :joy:
simon
2020-11-14 14:28
@stolzlos Indeed, a discussion about where to spend the winter this year and what the best residency options will be after covid would certainly be interesting.
As for reptiles, lizards, dinosaurs etc, they have nothing to do with location independence or anything covered here so if any of you want to discuss them further do so on Reddit.
omocha_10
2020-11-14 14:28
I guess I will wait until a country like Iceland or Norway are using it themselves. In no way would use the Russian one that they are giving to the Argentinians in December.......specially even before the Russians use it themselves...
omocha_10
2020-11-14 14:33
I think best place to spend the winter is to go to a small first world country with low population density and stay in small city or in nature.... New Zealand, the Baltic States, Slovenian Alps, Iceland, Singapore.... I love cold weather. Slovakia Tatras.
If there is a serious outbreak virus will be contained faster, with first world public health you will be treated correctly, and will be the countries where you are likely to experience more freedom...
simon
2020-11-14 14:41
@omocha_10 The Baltic states are indeed a good option for EU citizens, especially if you stay outside of their major cities.
Regarding Slovakia, is anyone there at the moment? They are testing everyone in the country in a bid to catch as many cases as possible and ease restrictions sooner, will be interesting to see if it works.
Singapore and NZ are pretty difficult to get in at the moment unfortunately.
French Polynesia is an interesting option, it?s easy to ?isolate? yourself on an island there and the nature is absolutely stunning. Decent medical care too if near Tahiti.
omocha_10
2020-11-14 14:53
I just came to Argentina for a short trip, they finished the 8 month quarantine on monday in Buenos Aires. Masks are mandatory, but it looks like it should explode again as people look to confident...
I guess I will be heading to the Slovenian alps(I read you can enter from Italy and not quarantine if you test negative) or Slovakian Tatras.
Was aiming for Polish Tatras, but I?m afraid things can get much worse, so I rather play it safe.
Iceland would be amazing, but cost wise is insane.
simon
2020-11-14 15:09
Iceland is pretty far north though so will be very dark until March / April. Personally I?d find it hard to spend winter somewhere that gets very little sunlight.
If you don?t mind the limited sunlight, Svalbard could be an option too. They haven?t had a case of covid yet and I?ve heard the nature there is fantastic. Would probably be even more expensive than Iceland though.
omocha_10
2020-11-14 15:22
Yes, Svalvars is up there in my bucket list, with Greenland :flag-gl:
mb
2020-11-14 16:18
Agree with you Mario. Just spent a couple of months in a small town in Slovenia. Yes there are rules but I hardly have seen police around.
mb
2020-11-14 16:18
Hope to get back in Januari again.
mb
2020-11-14 16:19
Nobody botters you in the Alps :)
mb
2020-11-14 16:19
And able to bargain on Airbnb's.
mb
2020-11-14 16:44
Entering from Austria is the same: quarantine or negative test. To be frank I went into quarantine in a small village (15 mins from the Austrian border) and nobody checked us.
mb
2020-11-14 16:45
From what I saw at the border, if I'd tell them I was on transit to Croatia, they would simply let me pass...
mb
2020-11-14 16:46
Cars with German license plates they simply let pass without questions (3 months ago).
mb
2020-11-14 16:46
I had Czech plates and I guess was too honest :)
mb
2020-11-14 16:48
That being said, allegedly
there are some unchecked border crosses from Italy to Slovenia. Apparently this information is being passed around on some Slovenian expat FB groups.
mikeseo
2020-11-14 17:41
I've been to Philippines, Japan, US this year, so far Japan is by far the most normal and best. They did a saliva test at Tokyo airport when we entered, took 1hr to get the result. 80% of people wear masks outside but it's not strictly enforced. PH is retarded and very strict. US has a lot of "citizen police" shaming you for not wearing a mask or not standing 6ft apart.
simon
2020-11-14 17:48
@mikeseo Japan is indeed a pretty good option, although not Tokyo as cases are rising there and there are rumours of new restrictions being imposed in the coming weeks.
South Korea is also a good option, if you don?t mind the cold weather and two weeks quarantine.
felix
2020-11-14 20:03
pure gold
stolzlos
2020-11-14 21:02
thanks everybody. Valuable.
stolzlos
2020-11-14 21:03
@mikeseo when did you go to Japan? Isn't 2 weeks quarantine now/still mandatory?
mikeseo
2020-11-15 16:48
October, they just told us we can't use public transport for 2 weeks and there seemed to be someone watching the train entrance in Narita so we rented a car to go from the airport to our airbnb. They didn't follow up or anything after that..
danz
2020-11-15 19:32
Been in Mexico for a big part of the year, pretty open by now.. Dubai might be another option, open for tourist.
ivan.lakatos
2020-11-16 03:46
How difficult is it to enter Japan right now though ? I've been in Laos since March and Japan is a interesting option for me as a next destination. I'd fly from Laos obviously.
ivan.lakatos
2020-11-16 03:47
Is the two weeks quarantine in a hotel or can you choose to do it in a Air BnB ?
simon
2020-11-16 03:55
You can quarantine at an Airbnb if you have a resident visa. If you are a tourist, you have to quarantine at a hotel. An American friend of mine went and from what he told me it?s pretty strict (they monitor you non-stop, to make sure you don?t leave your room). They leave meal trays in front of your room three times a day, you can?t order your own food.
ivan.lakatos
2020-11-16 03:55
I see, definitely not worth it then. Thanks
simon
2020-11-16 03:58
Not for you, as I guess Laos doesn?t have too many restrictions at the moment. For those that are stuck in lockdown in Europe it may be worth doing the quarantine to then have a few months of relative freedom.
frederic.scheffer
2020-11-16 04:21
I would say Thailand is great if you manage to enter with the new 60days visa (which can be extended by 60 days twice). Inside Thailand it is great at the moment
ivan.lakatos
2020-11-16 05:26
It's true what you're saying for those in Europe. I'll just stay put here in Laos then, aiming to go to Chiang Mai in April next year. Hopefully there won't be any crazy restrictions still like it is the case now.
ivan.lakatos
2020-11-16 05:29
I'm sure it is, i'm usually based in Chiang Mai. The visa you mention is the STV (Special Tourist Visa) right ? You can actually stay up to 9 months from what I read, but apparently there's a 500K Baht requirement that has to sit in the bank 6 months prior when you apply for the visa as well as 100k USD insurance cover. Not even mentioning the 14 days quarantine in a hotel at your own cost... @frederic.scheffer
stolzlos
2020-11-16 11:32
Is this the last lockdown? Hint: Germany has general elections in autumn 2021
simon
2020-11-16 21:02
Has any of you tried soylent, huel or similar ?meal replacement? drinks?
maxsuur
2020-11-16 23:14
I haven't. Not a big fan of man boobs.
ivan.lakatos
2020-11-17 05:43
Haha
lenard
2020-11-17 09:56
I love Huel we use it for several month. It tastes great and the black edition is high in protein and you have the extra flavours that you can add to it.
stolzlos
2020-11-17 10:59
using Optimum Nutrition, adding oats for substance and taste.
jerrycjchang
2020-11-18 06:36
I'm curious, what's your main reason for drinking these? For convenience or more for nutritional profile?
simon
2020-11-18 06:54
@jerrycjchang Both
omocha_10
2020-11-18 18:34
Hi, does anyone knows if the ?USB? stick for the estonian ou works on macpros?
daniels
2020-11-18 20:28
Yes, it does.
mb
2020-11-19 10:41
mb
2020-11-19 10:41
I know it's *only* ZeroHedge, but still...
maxsuur
2020-11-19 15:47
This guy is insane. Perhaps a buffoon for the elite.
burrup.lambert
2020-11-20 19:42
Argentina open for air tourism from Dec 15. No quarantine required, only COVID test. Details in article.
https://www.infobae.com/sociedad/2020/11/20/la-ciudad-de-buenos-aires-anuncio-la-reapertura-del-turismo-nacional-e-internacional-sin-cuarentena-pero-con-testeos/
omocha_10
2020-11-20 20:47
17th all in quarantine 8 months again....:flushed::flushed::unamused:
burrup.lambert
2020-11-20 23:35
Don't jinx my freedom :joy:.
burrup.lambert
2020-11-21 12:54
Correction, the article title might be misleading. I believe "international" is only referring to neighbouring countries.
`Currently, arrivals from Chile, Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay are enabled exclusively by air.�Tourists from Uruguay can enter by air and river.`
bobriakov.igor
2020-11-27 06:48
that's what travelling these days may looks like - https://twitter.com/AppleDom_/status/1330778411246108672
mb
2020-11-27 07:00
In that particular case they managed to escape.
mb
2020-11-27 07:00
:runner:
hozgur
2020-11-30 23:52
Avoid these if you can. Fast and eat proper food once a day.
burrup.lambert
2020-12-02 14:54
Correction AGAIN. Argentina *is* open for international tourism, all countries (not just bordering).
omocha_10
2020-12-04 10:03
Hi, travelled from Argentina to Portugal via Spain.
Everything very easy and comfortable, airports and planes quite empty.
I never filled the forms country websites tell you to fill, then I get a form on the plane which is never asked when arriving.
In Portugal I took metro and train, they arrived fast.
Next week will be heading somewhere to ski. Found out the Ukrainian alps slopes are open.
vinodgn0088
2020-12-04 15:57
@omocha_10, Where did you get the immigration entry stamp? In Spain or in Portugal? Did you carried negative RT-PCR report with you? Also, do you have a residence permit or Long term visa in Portugal?
omocha_10
2020-12-04 17:46
Hi, I hold an Euro passport, so I?m welcome. In my experience in Euro zone you get the stamp where you arrive first, not the final destination.
I made the PCR because you are supposed to have it, but almost no one ask...
omocha_10
2020-12-04 17:47
mb
2020-12-04 21:47
Found a thread as I was curious https://www.reddit.com/r/digitalnomad/comments/jsdqjl/greece_to_offer_50_tax_break_for_digital_migrants/
yaron.been
2020-12-06 16:12
Revolut is launching a payment processing solution.
Interesting news for ecom store owners :
https://techcrunch.com/2020/12/04/revolut-lets-businesses-accept-online-payments/
omocha_10
2020-12-06 17:20
I?ve been looking to invest in Revolut for a while.... but still mo IPO....
redareda9
2020-12-07 04:41
Look interesting but I wouldn?t put all my eggs in the same basket. Having Revolut holding payments + balance etc.. in case some alert is triggered isn?t an appealing idea
seb.malek
2020-12-08 20:15
Is anyone here using a BC LLP with Paypal and Stripe?
simon
2020-12-08 20:40
@seb.malek I have an Ontario company that uses those services.
simon
2020-12-08 20:41
Shopify Payments too
seb.malek
2020-12-08 20:51
Ontario LP?
simon
2020-12-08 20:56
Yes, and an Ontario Corp as well
seb.malek
2020-12-08 22:24
sounds good. is there a public UBO register for BC LLPs? how private is it? that's basically the only reason I want to go with it instead of a UK LLP
simon
2020-12-08 22:43
@seb.malek There is no public register of UBO. There is also no requirement to file the ownership details with the provincial government.
seb.malek
2020-12-08 23:02
so it's basically a UK LLP except way better, gotcha =P
seb.malek
2020-12-08 23:03
would it be possible to open a Canadian bank account remotely?
seb.malek
2020-12-08 23:35
"almost no one ask..." so have they asked for it or not? :sweat_smile:
simon
2020-12-09 00:43
Not usually, unless you are a resident (perhaps via HSBC Premier but I haven?t tried). You can open a TransferWise account for a Canadian company and use the USD bank details with Stripe and PayPal.
seb.malek
2020-12-09 00:58
ok, thanks a lot
omocha_10
2020-12-09 07:14
The man from the airline asked for it in the check in desk, and I told him I had the email from the laboratory on my phone, he just had a glance at my phone.....I thought it was going to be asked for when arriving to Europe by inmigration...
seb.malek
2020-12-09 13:34
cool
omocha_10
2020-12-13 10:24
Hi, in Lisbon during weekends everything closes 1pm, plus, due to the person for square metre ratio, in many stores, specially supermarkets and grocery, you have long cues...
During the week everything is supposed to close later, around 6pm
burrup.lambert
2020-12-15 12:41
:confused:
osiris
2020-12-18 15:02
Hi all. Does anyone have any experience using UK Postbox's virtual address services?
simon
2020-12-18 17:04
@osiris I?ve been using them for years and am very happy with their services. It?s a popular virtual address service provider, however, so I wouldn?t recommend using them with any payment processor / bank as your operating address as that will likely raise a red flag (using them as a correspondence address is fine).
osiris
2020-12-18 17:12
Hi @simon Thanks for getting back to me. I signed up with them a few years back and it seems like they've made some improvements since then. I've just got off the phone with them and I think they're by far the best service in the UK, especially when it comes to their web application and mobile app. If you don't mind me asking, who would you recommend using for bank and payment processing? I think i'll go for the Regent Street address but I'm curious to know which one you're using? Also, if you send me your referral link for UK Postbox, i'll sign up for the annual plan using that. :slightly_smiling_face:
simon
2020-12-18 18:32
For those who are keen to get to Thailand, visa-free travel has now resumed (and travellers get 15 more days to compensate for the quarantine). A negative test no more than 72 hours old is required as well as a booking for a quarantine hotel (look for ASQ rates on hotel sites, you can find them if you search for 15 nights).
simon
2020-12-18 18:32
Travelers from Europe, US, Australia etc are all eligible.
simon
2020-12-18 18:55
You can use UKpostbox with banks and payment processing services but I?d recommend using a ?less popular? address service or perhaps even a friends address / Airbnb (if possible) as your operating address. This will significantly reduce the risk of raising a red flag with the banks / payment processing services (as hundreds / thousands of businesses use UKpostbox and so they know it?s a virtual address and not where you really operate the business).
simon
2020-12-18 18:56
Obviously not all banks / payment processing services care about this (the virtual banks are the ones that are most risky, as well as Shopify Payments).
osiris
2020-12-18 19:09
Perfect. Thank you
eran.seobest
2020-12-19 05:38
if your planning to spend the quarantine in Phuket the hotels there have ASQ marked on sites like Agoda :)
redareda9
2020-12-19 16:13
Yeah actually not only banks and payment processors. Even ads platform like Facebook and Google start to automatically flag addresses used by a lot of businesses.
danz
2020-12-20 14:02
Here is also a list of hotels in Thailand, received it last week; https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1z9a0-ROZXm1OJX13LHxkanKCS0h5O60sCfhx5LuMHoY/edit?fbclid=IwAR0UoWh0MNpo9-3eq7H4SDTq4T-E_D9TT3KcwCsbuzVvoAqN3jiLPzpLjm8#gid=2132420569
osiris
2020-12-20 17:22
Ah ok. Yeah, i need to use it for some ad network and affiliate programs. I?ll let you know how I get on.
ivan.lakatos
2020-12-22 05:23
Any ASQ hotels in Chiang Mai someone could recommend?
ivan.lakatos
2020-12-22 05:31
Thanks a lot for this
yaron.been
2020-12-26 19:42
@ivan.lakatos
Have you found anything?
From what I've seen, I don't think there are any ASQ Hotels in Chiang Mai
felix
2020-12-29 20:22
Sorry if off-topic, but could you open a real estate channel Simon?
felix
2020-12-29 20:23
International real estate might be very interesting and some markets have a huge potential. Especially the formation of the right entity might be worthy to discuss and to share.
simon
2020-12-29 20:28
I?ve created one, it?s #invest-realestate and everyone interested can join it
simon
2020-12-30 20:58
I?ve created a geo-arbitrage database and added a few services to it. I?ll continue adding services over the coming days. Feel free to share your own finds here so that I can add them. https://airtable.com/shr60H1M9Rp0VZVWf/tbl3Vnw9Z3cDON7qt/viwtmWtVzO3XivCy9
simon
2020-12-30 20:59
I?ll add the database to the new site along with a form so that members can add their finds more easily.
simon
2020-12-30 21:00
For those who aren?t familiar with the INR (India?s currency), 100 INR = a little over 1 EUR and a little over 1.35 USD
burrup.lambert
2020-12-31 02:16
Have a look at Argentina, India looks like it would be cheaper though because as a foreigner you'll be stuck with using the official exchange rate which is half of the blue market rate (i.e, half the price).
johncitizen
2020-12-31 02:17
Legend! Add this to you paid site
emilianod76
2020-12-31 10:32
Excellent resource Simon! Thank you.
omocha_10
2020-12-31 12:33
Unless you manage to get a bank account in Argentina.... Maybe one could get a Fintech argentinian account, and the transfer the dollars via Airtm...
maxsuur
2020-12-31 21:03
Happy New Year Freedom Surfers! :snowboarder:
sergiy.shlykov
2020-12-31 21:32
Happy New Year y?all!
simon
2020-12-31 22:01
Happy New Year! Hopefully 2021 turns out to be a better year than 2020!
kuka
2020-12-31 22:33
Happy New Year! This community has been a great help in the last couple of years, cheers!
mb
2020-12-31 23:39
Happy new year!!
jason
2020-12-31 23:47
2021 will be epic!
stolzlos
2021-01-01 07:48
Happy new year!
danz
2021-01-01 09:09
Happy new year all!
eran.seobest
2021-01-01 11:41
happy new year :tada::blush:
leehodg
2021-01-01 15:28
Happy New year all!
guillaume.hucheloup
2021-01-01 18:42
Happy New year everyone. May 2021 be full of successes !
bobriakov.igor
2021-01-01 21:04
Happy New Year! To the better one!
gun
2021-01-01 23:07
I've been living off Huel for 2 years. I love it.
I still have on average one 'real meal' on average every 1.5 days just because I miss chewing + for social reasons + taste & variety, but I really like having the my days 'default' handled.
Reasons:
? insanely practical. like insanely:
? no food shopping, no prep time, no heating/ cooking or fridge needed, minimal cleanup. (I rinse the single shaker immediately after I have it - so no dishes ever)
? you will underestimate how practical the above is for a nomad....
? hits all my macro + micro nutritional needs, without thinking. if I want to bulk or cut it's just a matter of adding or subtracting shakes. macro split is 40/30/30
? Protein source in Huel is Rice + Pea, ie I didn't want to live off a soy protein. The above combination covers all the amino acid profiles that you get from meat.
? I always feel 'optimal'. Never hungry, never full/ slow. It completely eliminates the whole category or interacting with food from your life.
? Only downside is I get very irritable if I'm in the same room as someone cooking food. The smells still trigger a hunger response like crazy. Something about cooking hot food drives me insane haha. But if I don't have food wafting up my nose, I simply don't think about food at all which is awesome. Very space-man like.
? It increases my love of food when I do have it. I never eat 'average food' anymore. When I go out to eat socially with friends I am so present to the food I do eat it's awesome. Plus I only eat for taste, no longer for hunger, I'll usually have a Huel before I go to dinner so I just get something small I want to taste & enjoy.
? Cost is crazy cheap. 2000 calories a day comes out at $9/day. I have one month of food on me at any given time. Bring on Covid lockdowns haha
gun
2021-01-01 23:17
Thailand is still open? Might go wait for Bali there
gun
2021-01-01 23:19
Oh sweet I also did this in my own Notion... I'll compare what you found I went super deep.
Brief comparison I also included the 'Family' plans so sharing a family account between 5-6 ppl gets the services down even cheaper.:smile:
simon
2021-01-01 23:39
I?ve been drinking Soylent for the past couple of weeks, as it?s the easiest meal replacement to get where I currently am (they even sell it at Walmart). I like the taste, the mocha ready to drink is by far my favourite although I only have one a day as it?s packed with caffeine. I?ve been averaging 2-3 a day for the past couple of weeks (usually I have one mocha after my hotel breakfast and two original at dinner, I eat lunch in restaurants). I?m looking forward to switching to Huel when I?m back somewhere where I can easily get it.
simon
2021-01-01 23:40
For the record, I love food but I have to admit that the convenience with Soylent / Huel is just incredible.
gun
2021-01-02 07:34
Oh really big tip to anyone trying this... take psyllium husk supplements... will make things more regular for you. Game-changer
gun
2021-01-02 07:47
I still haven't actually gotten them all, I don't know how you would do the Brazil ones for example, but Brazil seems to be cheapest on everything.
Malaysia you can use BigPay.
Here's the data I found @simon if anyone can figure out how to remotely get the Brazil options please let me know, this is a some-what hobby of mine haha
https://www.notion.so/gunhudson/40c56d112d8348a2a3922213d6b75066?v=9e257e00531642f2a392d5e6241c2de8
gun
2021-01-02 07:48
Netflix:
gun
2021-01-02 07:49
Spotify:
gun
2021-01-02 07:50
Apple ONE:
skat
2021-01-02 11:05
Happy New Year!
simon
2021-01-02 17:10
Thanks for sharing! When using family plans, do you have to share all your playlists etc with the other ?family members? or do you each get ?separate? accounts?
fish
2021-01-03 13:50
Happy new year ?
asarun72
2021-01-04 01:22
Any got clubhouse account to invite me ?
bountybairn
2021-01-04 12:37
@gun and @simon Nice!
I had sot of thought that Netflix content would be region specific with licensing etc. Can you watch all content in all regions?
asarun72
2021-01-04 22:57
Is slack down ?
seb.malek
2021-01-04 22:58
works for me
gun
2021-01-06 19:18
@simon I only have experience with Spotify family plans. You get 'your own account'. The head of the family pays for the entire plan, and I settle the bill with my friends with an auto-payment they set up over a year ago, we haven't thought about it since. I would like to combine all the family plans, if you get a squad of 5 ppl you can all get spotify / apple / google/ netflix for about $10/month total, and then add on Google Fi and you have a nice little squad on one monthly bill each. I'm also interested in checking out the other movie streaming apps such as Disney, HBO, etc I know there are a few more. Would be cool to create a working procedure to deck out the full suite. Also interested in Adobe Suite workarounds. I currently share an account with one other person on a 'student' email address plan which saves quite a lot.
? Other softwares worth sharing with [*trusted only* :lock: *]* friends:
:lock: Thrivecart Legacy
:lock: Clickfunnels / FastPages Legacy
:lock: Convertbox Legacy
:lock: Vimeo Pro
:lock: Zapier Pro
:lock: Typeform Pro / Legacy
:lock: Google Apps Legacy account with 50-200 users grandfathered in *[buy off ebay]*
:simple_smile: Thrive Themes Legacy Unlimited *[I have this if anyone wants to share - no trust needed]*
:lock: Loom Pro
redareda9
2021-01-14 02:58
Just tried the India VPN with Udemy, you get courses for about 4xx INR which is around 5 or 6 euros at the moment. Impossible to pay with a non-indian card or paypal though, I tried Curve, TW and Revolut
redareda9
2021-01-14 02:58
I?m checking with Brazil, it?s even cheaper
redareda9
2021-01-14 02:58
Only 3 euros or so for a course
redareda9
2021-01-14 03:08
For Brazil, it does work only with PayPal, but Paypal will process the payments in USD as they don?t accept BRL so it will cost around 5USD for a course which is crazy cheap
jason
2021-01-15 23:13
Signal app is out today as they had to shut down and add capacity.. didn't realize how much I relied on that app!
maxsuur
2021-01-16 09:20
The pains of growing
stuart078
2021-01-20 19:27
Greetings- Just joined up
guillaume.hucheloup
2021-01-20 22:37
Welcome @stuart078
yaron.been
2021-01-21 05:35
@stuart078 Welcome :slightly_smiling_face:
turgut
2021-01-22 08:56
hi
mb
2021-01-22 12:47
Welcome @stuart078 and @turgut
burrup.lambert
2021-01-29 21:01
jason
2021-01-29 22:06
I love the trend towards these remote work visas, but I have to imagine your going to have to pay some tax to the host country, no?
arthur.vandelaak
2021-01-29 22:40
The article does not state much. Also, the Croatian one seems hyped here, where in fact only 1 digital nomad has taken it up so far. A divorced person already living in Croatia and found this visa allowed her to stay for 1 more year.
wice90
2021-01-30 00:15
I am from Macedonia. I haven't heard such thing lately, but I am not following the news that intense to be honest. What I know is that our government is planning 0% personal income tax in the IT field.
bartek
2021-02-01 09:26
oh wow, Macedonia is already a beautiful place to visit (maybe live too, dunno) but if that's true what you are saying wice, it will be much more beautiful than before :sweat_smile:
jason
2021-02-07 15:24
I will probably be the only person in the US not watching the superbowl today.. building my business in more important :rolling_on_the_floor_laughing:
maxsuur
2021-02-07 15:42
super... what?
roman.buzko
2021-02-07 21:13
You are not alone, mate! Easy choices, hard life. Hard choices, easy life.
floriandarroman2
2021-02-08 05:21
Hey I don?t know which channel to talk to :
Do someone as informations about moving cash to an LLC without showing the source ? (No worries I?m not a drug dealer ahah).
loan
2021-02-11 10:22
Hey everyone! Just joined.
yaron.been
2021-02-11 12:14
Welcome @loan :slightly_smiling_face:
jason
2021-02-12 02:12
Heya @loan!
benjamin
2021-02-12 14:43
Anyone a gold member on offshorecorptalk? Worth it?
The forum seems kinda dodgy. But might have some hidden gems in there
burrup.lambert
2021-02-12 18:34
F.
ggiampieri
2021-02-14 10:12
@simon Can we make a list of countries with open restaurants/bars after 6pm and track it somehow? (a column with mandatory masks would be appreciated)
simon
2021-02-14 11:48
@ggiampieri You can find local restrictions here: https://www.northstarmeetingsgroup.com/coronavirus-countries-cities-reopening-COVID-19-new-cases
Masks are mandatory in pretty much every Asian countries, in the Middle East, most of Europe (except for Scandinavia) and most of Latin America. Scandinavia and Africa are the two regions where it seems you can avoid them in most situations. Obviously masks aren?t mandatory in places like NZ but traveling there at the moment isn?t practical.
omocha_10
2021-02-14 18:24
In Poland restaurantes are open, you can buy food but in 99% of the ones I see, you can?t stay/sit inside.
omocha_10
2021-02-16 21:04
Hi, does anyone knows a website or service to be able to watch European Champions football matches from anywhere that works with Mac?
omocha_10
2021-02-16 21:04
I mean to watch wherever you are in the world
omocha_10
2021-02-16 21:06
Some people I see use http://Pirlo.tv or http://tarjetaroja.com But in my mac they don?t work, and if they work they don?t have sound.
nikolay
2021-02-16 22:42
Hey how do you make use of the geo-arbitrage Simon posted - https://airtable.com/shr60H1M9Rp0VZVWf/tbl3Vnw9Z3cDON7qt/viwtmWtVzO3XivCy9
I am trying to get Indian Spotify for example using VPN but I am unable to pay with a Revolut virtual card. It simply doesn?t allow me to pay and shows up and error. I am doing something wrong here?
klaus
2021-02-17 08:46
Where did @simon post that? I feel like I am missing something important here. I can see the Airtable, which is great - I am interested in where @simon actually posted about this. :slightly_smiling_face:
nikolay
2021-02-17 09:57
30th of December in the #general channel.
nikolay
2021-02-17 20:25
Any feedback how to pay this indian spotify or netflix.
felix
2021-02-18 06:56
Maybe the curve card works
taylorwalkerllc
2021-02-18 10:25
He repeatedly said using Curve works but I can not get my card activated at all...
alexbadaoui1
2021-02-18 10:28
Has anybody successfully used TransferWise with some kind of PO box address service?
arthurmarie1991
2021-02-18 13:09
Hey there Surfers !
For those who also make business in France :fr:, we created a channel here :point_right: #business-france
maxsuur
2021-02-19 07:35
I tried both Spotify and Udemy via an Indian server with Windscribe VPN (you can pay with crypto and for a little as a month - 1.6 ?) using Curve card and none worked.
Then I went onto Ebay and purchased a Spotify 2-year subscription from a guy with decent reviews who was selling it for 8?. If it lasts for 3 months, It'll be more than paid off! Touch wood. At the moment it is still running...
vinodgn0088
2021-02-19 13:12
Most likely they started blocking debit/credit cards issued outside India
tiagomdreganha
2021-02-20 23:56
I'm stuck inside my EU citizenship country. Portugal banned their own citizens from traveling abroad, how fucked up is that?
jason
2021-02-21 00:02
Would not have expected that from Portugal
tiagomdreganha
2021-02-21 00:05
I had a flight booked to Mexico to a co-living "conference" before they banned going abroad. Everything is fully paid, 2k+ invested.
I'm still heading to the airport and trying to qualify as "essential" but from reading all the laws, it's explicit that business is not considered essential.
Also, Netherlands is demanding both PCR & antigen test even for transit passangers. The EU countries have gone insane wtf
tiagomdreganha
2021-02-21 00:29
That 2nd passport would be useful now
vinodgn0088
2021-02-21 04:39
@tiagomdreganha, But One can't use a 2nd passport to enter/exit their home country. Isn't it?
jerrycjchang
2021-02-21 08:37
Same as Australia
yaron.been
2021-02-21 09:21
Same situation in Israel, can't go in or out.
Even those who have a 2nd passport.
ggiampieri
2021-02-21 09:52
Same Italy, but you can for urgent reasons. Drive to Spain and fly from there. Usually roads are free
tiagomdreganha
2021-02-21 10:16
@vinodgn0088 well in this case it would prove you have residency somewhere else so they couldn't hold you up.
An Italian friend that is resident here flew out to Mexico on Friday and only had to show his passport
tiagomdreganha
2021-02-21 10:17
@ggiampieri borders with Spain are all blocked
tiagomdreganha
2021-02-21 10:20
This was supposedly only between 29th January to 14th February but they extended it until 2nd march and I think they will probably extend it again.
There's an exception for "professional activity of documented international dimension", whatever that means. Pretty sure that was made for football players.
I'll be trying to fly under that.
hello888
2021-02-21 11:35
My view of these governments that restrict freedom so much (NZ, AU, Israel, etc) is that they are full 1940s Nazis / URSS Stalin style, so they need to be dealt with in the same way minority groups were dealing with the fascist governments back then (1) organized, (2) in secret and (3) no following dumb rules.
Waiting and hoping for the rule of law to "make sense" has become an illusion, they will keep extending and pushing their fear nonsense just like previous dictators did countless times in history.
In other words, if I were you, I would find any other way to gtfo of Portugal (at whatever cost), and then fly to Mexico, depending in your economics, maybe some small private plane rented with other guys to a nearby country, boat exit, crossing the border to Spain in some blind spot area, etc etc.
michael
2021-02-21 14:24
Second what @hello888 said.
tiagomdreganha
2021-02-21 14:25
I was able to get in. The decision was up to a random police officer. Not even the border control officers (which are more qualified).
I spent a couple of hours making a declaration in formal language trying to cover all the angles for the exemption. And attached the invoice for the event paid by my company.
But there were Portuguese people being blocked and clearly speechless/fazed with this sort of shit.
And just hearing the check-in people asking "are you a Portuguese citizen? You need authorization from the police to leave" left me quite worried about the future of this country.
I'm definitely going to work on that Mexican residency and passport.
stolzlos
2021-02-21 14:44
sounds to me like that in the future you avoid setting foot in the place of your citizenship by all means since you never know when they close the border on you. I agree that this will happen more frequently in the future.
mich_cello
2021-02-21 21:16
It?s difficult now to find a good country where you can be less restricted. Shitty world, who knows what will happen next
ben
2021-02-22 01:10
Interesting read posted in #random-chat a few days ago, for those who didn?t see, about possible causes for the world?s current lockdown madness:
https://freedomsurfer.slack.com/archives/C1CGKSDPC/p1613530313013400
jase
2021-02-22 16:24
Anyone getting mail forwarded in USA for the purposes of IRS and credit cards, is First-Class Mail forwarding (only), suitable?
jase
2021-02-22 16:24
I see USPS offer "Premium Forwarding" too, but it's $21.90 per week. Seems crazy for the 4 letters I'll receive each year
jase
2021-02-22 19:03
I've been doing some searching around and it seems the IRS and Amex both use First Class Mail. Unsure about other credit card companies but it seems this is the gold standard.
jase
2021-02-22 19:07
If this is the case, one can:
1. sign a lease
2. set up mail forwarding with USPS to Traveling Mailbox or similar
3. update bank accounts/IRS to that address
For 18 months mail will go to your Traveling Mailbox via a real street address
jase
2021-02-22 19:28
*please tell me if I am wrong!
coreyarice
2021-02-22 19:54
What is the lease for? To have an address? There are virtual mailbox services that will give you a street address
jase
2021-02-22 19:56
To have a lease, which can then be used for payment processors/proof of address/etc.
jase
2021-02-22 19:57
Overall legit address instead of the virtual mailbox stuff that seems to be a round robin
coreyarice
2021-02-22 19:58
I am fairly confident you can do that all with a virtual mailbox as long as it is a physical street address and not a PO Box
coreyarice
2021-02-22 19:58
which it will be. I don?t think anyone is operating a virtual mailbox out of the postoffice
jase
2021-02-22 19:58
They still use the "Suite" type of deal though, right?
coreyarice
2021-02-22 19:59
Like your virtual address as ?Suite? in it?
jase
2021-02-22 19:59
yeah
coreyarice
2021-02-22 19:59
I don?t think so
jase
2021-02-22 19:59
We have a US LLC that Stripe doesn't like at the moment. They want the whole proof of address thing. It doesn't leave too many options with a virtual mailbox.
coreyarice
2021-02-22 20:00
What do you mean whole proof of address?
jase
2021-02-22 20:00
Acceptable documentation for business address verification
Below are examples of documentation we can accept for the purpose of this verification. All documents must include either the name of your business or the name of the owner of the Stripe account.
? Rental or lease agreement with the signature of the owner/landlord and the tenant
? Utility bills (water, electricity, gas, internet)
? Federal or state tax returns
? Articles of Incorporation or other government-issued business documents
coreyarice
2021-02-22 20:01
ahh yeah you?d have to go with the last two options with a virtual mailbox
jase
2021-02-22 20:01
the tax docs state foreign non-US owners, which seems like a trap :slightly_smiling_face:
benjamin
2021-02-23 00:29
@jase The payment processor thing is becoming an issue in all countries, mostly because they require a utility bill. Getting a real address in each country you use a processor isn't a bad idea.
I've been investigating the cheapest possible long term options.
Ie. Can buy a house for under 10k in some parts of the US. And have seen some cheap rentals in the UK for <$500 month.
Having a real address basically solves all problems with banks and payment processors.
jason
2021-02-23 01:11
has anyone ever tried to just photoshop up a utility bill? I don't imagine a processor is going to call a rural power company and try to verify an account, and even if they did a utility company probably isn't going to divulge customer info..
benjamin
2021-02-23 01:16
@jason I've Photoshopped 1-2 times but mostly just dates and the name on it. It was also a family address so it was low risk. Not sure I'd be confident doing it to an address I didn't have access to.
jason
2021-02-23 01:16
@benjamin yeah, good point
mohd
2021-02-23 05:05
wouldn?t having a utility bill in a different country count towards a tax residency? countries like New Zealand for example look at ties to the country
jase
2021-02-23 07:09
@benjamin exactly my thoughts. Sure, getting away with it today is nice but really I like long term solutions.
jase
2021-02-23 07:10
@mohd the world is going crazy but at least for personal residency I imagine it would be hard for them to win if you had never physically stepped foot in the country.
simon
2021-03-04 08:21
https://www.nfcw.com/2021/03/03/370956/eu-to-introduce-digital-vaccination-passes/
The EU is moving ahead with the introduction of a EU-wide vaccine passport.
mich_cello
2021-03-04 10:05
I think this was the plan from the beginning, damned puppets
burrup.lambert
2021-03-04 11:37
No thankyou!
loan
2021-03-04 12:53
It?s funny how people around here act all surprised and rebellious like it?s something we?ve never seen before. If you travel to countries in Africa like Madagascar, you?ll likely need to prove your vaccination against malaria.
Hell, in France, for your children to participate in off-site school activities like forest walks etc, they?ll need to be up to date on polio vaccination and a few other ones.
Big surprise for anyone who doesn?t know how this works: for vaccines to work, you need the majority of the population to get them.
loan
2021-03-04 12:56
Not only that, but they?re not ?moving ahead? with it yet. It?s just a proposal that will be voted, so nothing is done yet and it might never be passed.
simon
2021-03-04 13:17
@loan The difference between yellow fever, polio etc vaccines and covid vaccines is that it?s very easy to get the former and nearly impossible to get the later (for the under 40). If they implement such a passport by summer, which is likely considering how important the tourism industry is to Europe, it?s very possible that it will make life harder for us. In most countries it?s unlikely that the under 40 will get the vaccine until later in the summer.
loan
2021-03-04 13:20
True @simon. At least in the UAE we?ve got more than 60% of the population that got a dose. Governments can?t implement restrictions on non vaccinated people if it?s almost impossible to get vaccinated. Typical EU-style bullshit.
mb
2021-03-05 08:40
@loan I understand your analogy, but a major difference is, that this vaccine has no track record and arguably a different type of disease than the ones you mentioned. Furthermore, traveling to Madagascar vs traveling inside the EU schengen is a huge difference.
loan
2021-03-05 08:41
@mb They all went through 3 trial phases just like all other vaccines, haven?t they? Well, except for SinoPharm which I wouldn?t take. But I don?t see a problem with the others.
mb
2021-03-05 08:43
I guess in the end it's still a personal preference, no? You don't see a problem, perhaps someone else does or at least has their reservations.
As for trials: What does that mean long-term? Do you know?
loan
2021-03-05 08:43
Do you?
mb
2021-03-05 08:44
That's my point :slightly_smiling_face:
loan
2021-03-05 08:46
I could also argue that seatbelts don?t work just because ?I have my reservations?? but I leave it to crash test labs to decide that. Same for vaccines. Thousands of universities and labs have worked day and night together on producing these to get us out of this situation. Millions of people vaccinated so far in countries like the UAE without any signs of major side effects. I see no reason to panick.
mb
2021-03-05 08:49
What mostly bothers me is from a practical point of view, that by taking the vaccine, the goal is that the chances of you getting hospitalized/die are brought down significantly.
But there has been no scientific conclusion that you are not spreading less COVID after taking the vaccine. What's more, you still have to wear a mask after. And you likely have to 'refresh' it at least yearly? Why connect that with a covid passport?
So then the question is, should I decide if I want to take a risk or should someone else force it upon me? It's creates a division in society IMO.
On the other hand, I can see the argument of reducing pressure on healthcare. But statistically speaking, is every demographic/age that target group?
mb
2021-03-05 08:50
> UAE without any signs of major side effects. I see no reason to panick.
I really understand why you'd say it. Especially if a doctor on the news/article tells you 'It's safe'. Perhaps it is? But can you conclude that weeks after someone got the vaccine? Again, maybe you can.
loan
2021-03-05 08:50
True, it kinda sucks that it doesn?t seem to reduce the risk of spreading it. I would?ve hoped that we?d be completely done with it thanks to vaccines? It seems we?re moving in the right direction, but we?re not there yet. :disappointed:
mb
2021-03-05 08:50
Sure, but tell me then, is this different than a strong flu then? Where you have yearly flu shots because of different stains?
loan
2021-03-05 08:51
I?m not a doctor, I know nothing about infectious diseases so I won?t be able to comment on a parallel to the flu. I imagine you?re much more of an expert than I am on this.
mb
2021-03-05 08:52
I'm certainly not, heh. By all means.
loan
2021-03-05 08:52
Generally speaking though, it?s not just comparable to the flu. The flu is a virus and all viruses mutate. At least from what I understand.
loan
2021-03-05 08:52
Let?s just say the flu is the most well-known example of a virus. Perhaps.
mb
2021-03-05 08:53
All I have are anecdotes and quite a few people I know who got sick (confirmed) with Covid, without hospitalisation. But meanwhile, whole businesses are destroyed because of COVID. To me it looks like insanity.
loan
2021-03-05 08:53
On the economic impacts, I?m with you. True insanity. But I don?t see what this has to do with the vaccines.
mb
2021-03-05 08:54
Not with the vaccines directly, more with the general policy around dealing with Covid I guess.
loan
2021-03-05 08:54
When I see that France has lost 10% of its GDP in 2020, I can?t help but want to smash my head into a wall. Good thing I don?t live there anymore.
mb
2021-03-05 08:54
Have to wonder, what restrictions/control measurements will remain in place, after all this is forgotten.
mb
2021-03-05 08:54
10%? Wow.
loan
2021-03-05 08:55
Yeah, one tenth of the economy wiped off the table. Crazy.
mb
2021-03-05 08:56
In the Netherlands it was 3.8% over 2020. Slightly more than the 3.7% in 2009 during the crisis.
mb
2021-03-05 08:57
Are you in the UAE now? How's life there in general at the moment?
simon
2021-03-05 08:57
It?s probably worse, if you take into account the long term consequences (lost compounded growth, mental illness reducing long term GDP growth, added debt etc). A real disaster, there?s no other way to put it
mb
2021-03-05 08:57
> It?s probably worse, if you take into account the long term consequences (lost compounded growth, mental illness reducing long term GDP growth, added debt etc). A real disaster, there?s no other way to put it
Yeah I definitely agree. I think a lot of business are on the brink of bankrupcy.
loan
2021-03-05 08:58
Life in the UAE is great right now. Amazing weather, everything?s open and it really feels like nothing happened (except for reduced seating at restaurants and having to wear masks in public). I wouldn?t trade living in the UAE for any other country, at least for now.
loan
2021-03-05 08:58
I believe @simon is also here in the UAE these days. He?ll probably have the same opinion as me.
simon
2021-03-05 09:00
@loan Yeah, I?ve been in Dubai for a few months now. It?s pretty good here although I?m leaving next week for Thailand, I?m missing having access to ?normal? nature so it?ll be nice to spend a few months scuba diving.
loan
2021-03-05 09:01
Yeah I feel you. Fujairah and Ras al Khaimah are great, but nothing beats forests, green mountains and wild beaches.
simon
2021-03-05 09:01
Do you plan to stay here for a while longer?
loan
2021-03-05 09:02
I live here year-round, actually. For now, I have no intention to leave. My fianc� who?s living in France will join me soon. We?re probably gonna stay for a while. Maybe even apply for citizenship, who knows. She speaks Arabic and I?m eager to learn, so why not.
loan
2021-03-05 09:03
I do need to explore Asia though. Haven?t been there at all for now and I feel like there?s a lot to see in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and more. A bit more traveling could change my mind about the UAE. You never know.
simon
2021-03-05 09:06
You should also add Japan to your list, it?s a fantastic country and the quality of life there is outstanding.
simon
2021-03-05 09:06
Speaking of Japan, anyone from Canada / US plans to go there soon?
loan
2021-03-05 09:06
I?ve been told so about Japan. Definitely need to go there at some point. Also South Korea.
stolzlos
2021-03-10 10:08
does anybody have an up to date list of all globally available Covid-19 vaccines?
Further, is there already some information on which vaccines are recognized / accepted in which countries?
hello888
2021-03-10 12:20
I think right now this is not regulated at all.
Georgia for instance accepts any vaccine as long as you can prove 2 doses
https://mfa.gov.ge/MainNav/CoVID-19-sakitkhebi/sazgvris-kvetis-regulaciebi.aspx?lang=en-US
I think it's safe to say that mRNA vaccines will be accepted globally (Pfizer, Moderna, Astrazeneca, J&J), regardless of their effectiveness, because these are the ones linked to the WHO/Gates/etc
About Russia's Sputnik and China's (Sinovac), I'm not sure, cause they seem to use the "old style" of injecting an actual virus instead of a full genetic experiment.
But that's just a random guess
hello888
2021-03-10 12:21
We will find out about this by the beginning of the summer for sure for EU
simon
2021-03-10 12:27
AstraZeneca and J&J are not mRNA vaccines, they use a similar technology to the Russian and Chinese vaccines
simon
2021-03-10 12:28
J&J is a one shot vaccine so it?s obviously the most convenient to get
hello888
2021-03-10 12:48
*Your're right, my bad, AstraZeneca and J&J are not mRNA vaccines, they are "chimpanzee adenoviral vectored vaccine",* which have just a little bit more testing in the past than mRNA, but still not the typical vaccine that we use for other diseases.
I saw Facci's video promoting J&J and he said "it doesn't inject the virus but some "protein" that generates an immune response", and I since actual Covid virus has never been isolated in a purified way, I figured these two vaccines were doing just the same as mRNA with a different name.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nG3HHkZrFhI
tiagomdreganha
2021-03-10 17:17
I've looked at RAK before for tax residency but never rly considered it a place where I'd be willing to spend much time, so I'm interested in knowing how/why you find it a good place to live.
Is there a expat/Dn community around?
stolzlos
2021-03-10 17:44
thanks for the information.
stolzlos
2021-03-10 17:46
In the end I think this topic is all about risk mitigation and nothing else. Get the vaccine with the smallest risk to health and the most acceptance globally.
bountybairn
2021-03-11 09:25
Im really bored waiting, I would honestly pay right now to get the vaccine to open the door for test free travel, it just adds a bit too much to the experience.
Should have went to Dubai first and got residency there!
stolzlos
2021-03-11 14:45
this is going to take forever ....
stolzlos
2021-03-11 14:50
floriandarroman2
2021-03-12 12:46
Hey ! Is there any channel about Indonesia ?
I am thinking about doing a company here as I live here (and for the KITAS) but I wanted to know more about the taxes. I am from France and still fiscally resident in France. If anyone have infos about it it would be really nice !
Thanks :pray:
russ7
2021-03-16 23:02
We are due to head to Belize in 20 days. But, we have a big dog and it?s proving tough to get him there.
Will actually be easier to get him into Europe looks like.
What cities in Europe are good to visit right now? Any that are easier than others regarding covid restrictions?
omocha_10
2021-03-16 23:36
Ukraine is easy. Europe is quite thought right now. The Baltic States, but probably will need 10 days quarantine. In Poland ski slopes are open, but museums etc, all closed.
omocha_10
2021-03-16 23:37
Google ?Iata travel corona map?, it gives good info for each country.
klaus
2021-03-17 15:17
Ukraine is actually a good option right now. Very limited restrictions.
dsf0010
2021-03-22 22:31
@simon Hi, could I have an LLC as a C-Corporation to register with ACX as a company? I have been told that I could take a salary from the LLC and pay taxes on my salary and the part of the money that is from the company may not be declared in my country. I sell audio books on ACX audible and I would like to know if this is possible, sas they have said I could separate the company from myself. Thanks
simon
2021-03-23 14:26
@dsf0010 If you run the company from your home country, it will be liable to tax there (see permanent establishment rules). Your strategy could work if you live in a tax haven or are a perpetual traveler (but then you?d be better off with a disregarded LLC).
marziovit
2021-03-23 14:37
@simon if for example you live in Panama, own a disregarded US LLC and you open a branch in Poland. Is that branch going to pay corporate income tax or since the LLC is tax transparent you would need to pay personal income tax in Poland for the revenue generated in Poland?
marziovit
2021-03-23 14:40
The question basically is if a branch is treated like a company from tax perspective or an extension of a non resident
simon
2021-03-23 15:51
@marziovit Usually a branch will be treated as a PE (and income generated through it will be taxed as such).
marziovit
2021-03-23 15:55
I understand that a branch will be a PE but how it will be taxed? Does branch pays 9% corporate income tax or 19% as if it was personal income tax?
simon
2021-03-23 15:58
Corporate income tax. The tax treatment of the parent isn?t usually taken into consideration for this.
marziovit
2021-03-23 16:01
Amazing! thanks
vallancepm
2021-03-24 05:54
Anyone any experience of the COVOVAX option?
luyungterd
2021-03-28 07:49
Will this work in @dsf0010 case with the disregarded LLC? ACX will pay out as royalty, and Amazon will still withhold 30% tax, assuming Panama. The IRS doesn't care about the LLC, only who's behind it. Then, the PE branch will get the 30% US withholding tax and also the 9% tax in Panama.
alexbadaoui1
2021-03-29 16:56
Hey @simon,
I am opening a Interactive Brokers Account with a US LLC.
They are requesting an EIN. Are there any tax implications in getting an EIN?
Thanks
michal.opoka
2021-03-29 19:00
No, assuming you are not American you need to get EIN to file form 5472, and you need to file that form since there is $25000 penalty for not doing so
alexbadaoui1
2021-03-29 22:39
So how would I get an EIN? from an accountant?
simon
2021-03-30 00:07
You can get one by filling form SS4 (either via postal mail or fax).
bobriakov.igor
2021-04-13 16:48
and what's the taxation scheme for investing with Interactive Brokers via US LLC for non-residents?
simon
2021-04-13 16:51
@bobriakov.igor No US tax (except for the usual withholding tax levied on certain investment income, dividends received from US companies for example)
bobriakov.igor
2021-04-15 14:22
is there a link with some more details on this matter? (particularly, I want to understand what US tax events occur when LLC holding stocks, and what part of the tax is passed to the non-US resident owner)
yaron.been
2021-04-19 07:51
Can anybody recommend a trustworthy sourcing agent in China?
yaron.been
2021-04-19 07:51
For customizing products and also some private label advice
felix
2021-04-19 15:36
Pushing up the geo-arbitrage post. Tried to get Spotify in India with a VPN and Curve, but without any success. Am I missing something?
td
2021-04-19 15:48
haha maybe that its just 10$ and that time is better spent in earning that 10$ :smile: its somehow cool, but still, is it really worth it? :smile:
maxsuur
2021-04-19 16:45
it didn't work for me either @felix
ambroise.debret
2021-04-19 18:37
I was able to get Audible India via NordVPN + an Amex (visa and mastercard didn?t work)
tiagomdreganha
2021-04-19 22:15
I tried getting audible but none of my cards worked, don't have amex
felix
2021-04-20 01:14
Great! Thanks for sharing, Ambroise. Don?t have an AMEX on my hand though. Curious to see if it?s that. Was already tempted to download PayTm in India to pay for services in India..
ambroise.debret
2021-04-20 18:19
Looks like I?ve found an Amex loophole haha
paul_inkpen
2021-04-25 06:39
Does anyone have any experience with buying Real Estate in Egypt? Recently I have been sent a lot of interesting information about new compound housing developments in New Capital City east of Cairo.
guillaume.hucheloup
2021-04-27 12:54
Hi all
An important warning if you are MacOS users it's highly recommended that you patch your OS to Big Sur 11.3, there's been a critical security flaw detected that has been adressed in the last system upgrade
felix
2021-04-29 10:51
I think it?s more the overall principle. Time invested vs. economic benefit is obviously not favorable, but it?s just something that would not feel right not to leverage :smile:
td
2021-04-29 12:13
ok so another tip, which saves you a bit more, use a south american ip when you buy online tools, ubersuggest lifetime for example, nice seo tool, for example is just half the price when you buy it from brazil or peru, and there are a few others like that, --> warning: cc fraud detection might cause some troubles, when you spend lots of money in brazil and on the next day in some european country, i had my card blocked for that, so better use a seperate one or wait a few days
karthik
2021-04-30 01:49
Hey @simon I?m a real estate investor in ontario, canada and looking to move all my portfolio into different companies. I?m also looking to take up US residency in next year or two because of the high personal income taxes. I was wondering if you know anything about capital gains treatment from the passive income that I get from the rents when I give up my residency in canada and a better way to structure things.
simon
2021-04-30 02:43
@karthik Do you own the properties personally? (or via a holding entity?)
jason
2021-04-30 14:15
looks like Russians can't get a Visa to come to the US due to the staff cuts in Moscow - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9529093/US-Embassy-Moscow-cuts-visa-services.html
karthik
2021-04-30 18:23
both, personally and holding corp as well.
in the process of moving the properties owned personally to corp as well this year and next
felix
2021-05-01 04:52
Great Thank you for the suggestion.
felix
2021-05-01 04:52
Maybe something to add to the list @simon
felix
2021-05-01 05:03
To update this, just got netflix with the curved card in Brazil for 8 USD (4k+), India would have been 10 USD
maxsuur
2021-05-01 20:45
Spotify anyone?
felix
2021-05-02 01:26
Nope
felix
2021-05-02 01:26
Tried Argentina, Brazil, India and Colombia. Credit, debit and PayPal. Nothing worked. Maybe Amex, but I don?t have one.
maxsuur
2021-05-02 19:30
Next to impossible, it seems
omocha_10
2021-05-05 08:12
Hi,
Rented a car in the Baltics and drove all the way to Russia(Kalingrad), 3 km from the border there was a stop sign standing at the Lithuania to Russia lane, 600 mtrs before there was a police car, ?in the bushes?, when to ask them, they said the border was closed.
I went to the Latvian border, there was a Latvian and Lithuanian improvised border control, they told me I need the QR code from the government permission form, that is easy to get and a negative covid test(plus 10 day quarantine).
Checked for flights and iata corona map, Georgia is open to lots of nationalities with no quarantine.
bierlingm
2021-05-05 08:49
quite a roadtrip @omocha_10 :smile:
redareda9
2021-05-05 10:26
@maxsuur Spotify has crazy detection systems, it just does?t work. I had to use a local account in Vietnam to benefit from it.
himself
2021-05-05 10:47
^this is a real adventure - I love it! @omocha_10
bountybairn
2021-05-05 11:29
Yeah id love to go on such a massive trip as well!
omocha_10
2021-05-05 14:52
It?s a 90 km drive from Latvian border to Russian(Kalingrad) one :grinning:
felix
2021-05-06 05:28
One more reason to have bank account in different countries :rolling_on_the_floor_laughing:
gun
2021-05-07 20:48
I got Spotify with BigPay through Malaysia
felix
2021-05-08 01:49
Thank you for the update. Interesting! BigPay looks like an EMI with a debit card, right?
maxsuur
2021-05-08 09:21
@gun It seems you need to be a resident of Malaysia, or have a mail-forwarding service there, I guess
felix
2021-05-08 10:44
If you have Singpass (Singapore ID) you can also register for BigPay. Didn?t try it out yet though
maxsuur
2021-05-08 16:26
not the case :)
994kaloyan
2021-05-12 18:18
this is gonna get louder and louder. the more time goes on, the more facts and data is accrued that this whole pandemic thing is actually well planned. we are in for some really interesting months.
himself
2021-05-13 14:20
Hi All - is anyone here on the ground in Greece? Or from Greece?
I am looking to travel to Greece from the United Kingdom very soon (when the UK's travel ban preventing its own citizens leaving) expires in a few days.
From what I can see from the website of the Greek authorities, travel from the United Kingdom for holiday/recreation is allowed provided you have a negative PCR test 72 hours before departure and passenger locator form: https://travel.gov.gr/#/
I'm just wondering what the situation is like on the ground and if anyone has experience of traveling into Greece? Really hoping to be able to finally travel after over a year in the UK. Thanks in advance.
omocha_10
2021-05-13 14:49
United Kingdom don?t allow its citizens to leave? Russia is open for UK people...
umesh.desai
2021-05-13 15:06
they don't allow you to leave for holiday, but there's a whole bunch of reasons they do allow you to leave for. There's many that arrived in mexico stating they were coming for work, a medical procedure, charity work, or to manage a property - with none of the reasons actually being true
danz
2021-05-15 15:48
Anyone that got a recommendation for a good virtual sim provider? Never used one before. Just looking for a provider where I can receive a sms once in a while.
994kaloyan
2021-05-15 17:13
Just pay for the paper lol
bountybairn
2021-05-16 12:39
@g.malagaris one of my team operates from Northern Greece, the authorities there according to him have announced that the economy must open, and most 'measures' are now relaxed. Not been myself recently but he said they have curfew still but most shops etc are open. Like here in Cyprus i think the issues are more around Boris letting UK residents to leave rather than issues on the other end.
himself
2021-05-16 16:46
Thank you @bountybairn , much appreciated
mllejolly
2021-06-01 22:09
Bonjour Florian as tu re�u une r�ponse � ta question ?
mich_cello
2021-06-05 12:45
What do you think of this bullshit of global taxation discussed at the G7? Will it involve any change for us?
simon
2021-06-05 12:49
@mich_cello Probably not, at worst we?ll just have to jump through additional hoops
michal.opoka
2021-06-06 03:37
I think all G7 countries already have higher CIT rate than 15%
vinodgn0088
2021-06-06 05:23
I think their aim is to force the same in all other countries. Rumors state that G7 already agreed the minimum tax policy and they are going to push the same to G20's agenda. After that next target will be OECD countries.
jason
2021-06-07 20:53
It's an attack on the sovereignty of smaller countries, I hope they push back
bountybairn
2021-06-08 12:00
I waiver between thinking hey its ok its only 2 billion dollar plus companies, but then I think hmm thats now, they can easily attempt to move that needle once its in place :disappointed:
digimkt
2021-06-19 12:49
I think Humanity needs to think thoroughly why we pay taxes and what for... most politicians have no formation or qualification, are corrupt and incompetent, companies would do a much better job running cities, states and countries if we would need such structure... IMHO we need a Humanist Technocracy based on integral education that develops soft and tech skills based on Human values, ideals, principles and rights and focused on the sustainable development of quality of life for all.
Blockchain has a great potential for this... anyways we must fight global taxation and even local taxation and develop a technocrat system to extinguish the parasitical political class IMHO :wink:
digimkt
2021-06-19 12:50
and of course end this fake democracy we live in...
hello888
2021-06-20 21:17
Nuremberg trials 2.0 , it would be a dream to see that before 2030
bierlingm
2021-06-21 10:15
??Now you?re not naive enough to think we?re living in a democracy, are you buddy? It?s the free market.?? Quote from the movie Wall Street 1987 one my favourite movies
bierlingm
2021-06-21 10:16
99% are living in a bubble fed with lies by the fake media and their politicians
jason
2021-06-22 18:16
are there any minimalist-lifestyle folks here? i'd expect there would be a few.. I'm trying to shed possessions after half a lifetime accumulating them, i haven't yet gone to the nuclear option of just throwing away / donating everything, but the process of getting rid of stuff feels healthy
jason
2021-06-22 18:18
i've got over 200 items listed on ebay, most of it low value, boring stuff.. all of them are fixed price listings, but i wrote a python script that periodically lowers the prices on stuff until it either sells or i accept that an item is completely worthless.
jason
2021-06-22 18:19
on the flip side, this has really changed my spending habits, before i buy anything, i check to see if it's selling used on ebay and for how much, rule of thumb, if I can't sell something used, i try not to buy it at all.
burrup.lambert
2021-06-22 18:27
:man-raising-hand:
"Minimalist" going on 6 years now. It's not so much about have less things, it's more so about only having things that provide you value.
When I got rid of everything if it was worth less than $20 I either donated it (charity or friends), or threw it in the bin. Some items above that amount I gave to close friends if I thought they could get value from it. It's not worth the time (and money) trying to sell 100x items worth barely nothing.
Have you heard of The Minimalists? They have a great pod cast, https://www.theminimalists.com/podcast/, there is also a documentary on Netflix.
Another way of getting all your stuff is having a "packing party". You literally pack EVERYTHING you own in to boxes, and then only pull specific stuff out as you need it. If you haven't pulled it out in 2 weeks, get rid of it.
I also try and live my life by the "6 months rule". If I haven't used it in the last 6 months, and I am not going to use it in the next 6 months, I get rid of it.
Generally when I buy something new I will get rid of something. This helps keep the quantity of things in check and ensures you never accumulated.
On the digital side there is a great book called Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport. He also wrote Deep Work which I would recommend.
td
2021-06-22 18:31
when i went minimalist and moved to a new country, i just packed one bag and a small backpack and just left the rest behind... for me this was the only way :smile: it was a vulnarable feeling at first, i was afraid to lose that bag and then having nothing ... for a long time i defined my self by all this stuff i had, ... but as long as you have a full credit card its the ultimate freedom :smile:
jason
2021-06-23 00:36
heh, I think in some twisted way me trying to sell low value items is just just my way of training myself never to buy so much crap again.
jason
2021-06-23 00:36
Thanks for the resources, I have heard about that podcast and the documentary on netflix, really need to check those out
jase
2021-06-23 13:26
I have plenty of stuff, and am trending away from less and less these days. But as Burrup notes, I like the things that provide the most value. I think of these things as "elegant solutions". Think about it, would you prefer a high powered desktop, a portable tablet and a PlayStation? Or a high powered, compact laptop that is functional and portable enough to use anywhere, with a quality monitor/keyboard/etc set up at home?
jase
2021-06-23 13:28
I also work on this concept of my "minimum viable lifestyle" too: https://jaserodley.com/minimum-viable-lifestyle/
Kind of a stoic exercise of "what is the minimum I'd be happy with?" and focusing on really getting that part perfect first. I buy/own stuff above and beyond that but I know that I don't _need_ those things.
jason
2021-06-23 14:45
@jase great post
jase
2021-06-23 15:06
Thanks @jason. Fun thought exercise
jason
2021-06-23 15:08
@jase commenting on your love of cars and a desire for a workshop. i both love and fear the workshop, I have a decent sized property, with maintenance vehicles and lots of tools, and tools to fix my tools.. if your not careful you'll end up with a tire machine :smiley:
jase
2021-06-23 15:09
100%. It's a passion at odds with my values.
omocha_10
2021-06-24 13:07
One thing I learned while nomading/minimalistic lifestyle is that holding on to things because it is supposed to value $XYZ ends up being expensive, I spent lot of time and money in storage rooms, moving things from here to there, paying check in baggage, spending time that could be use to aquire knowledge or more money that the stuff I was holding on too...
As a minimalist one should only have what is really indispensable, all other things, except in crazy expensive countries like Scandinavia/Swiss can be bought cheap and donated once it?s used.
I buy clothes in places like H&M, if I want a car I rent, ski, surf, guitars too, rent or buy and sell.
Right now I have like 7 under 100 usd guitars spread around the world...
jase
2021-06-28 16:35
Mmm I agree, but you're talking about the things you don't enjoy. Renting a car is smarter than buying a boring car, sure. But when you enjoy modifying a car to be exactly how you want it to be, it's different. Riding a mountain bike that has suspension tuned to your needs and the right width bars, etc is a delight. Riding a rental is a constant disappointment.
jase
2021-06-28 16:35
I'm working to change my sports/interests into minimalist/portable ones. But I feel there's a lack of freedom in removing "difficult" hobbies/interests from my life too.
jase
2021-06-28 16:36
Kind of like the "Freedom" of living tax free in a cheap country with a lifestyle business that means you cannot afford to go and live in your home city. Is that really freedom?
omocha_10
2021-06-28 16:57
I HATE my city, so living there was THE PRISION :joy: I move because I like to move. I get your point, but I?m different, for example I like to play guitar, but I don?t need a 2000 usd guitar, Every now and then I buy disposable 70 usd guitars :guitar:
simon
2021-06-30 18:53
To be fair, a car is a ?portable? hobby. It?s not that expensive to ship cars, especially for longer trips (as opposed to renting). You can also drive it to your destination, if it isn?t too far. If you are comfortable with the risk, you can also rent it on Turo or similar when not using it.
simon
2021-06-30 19:02
Most of my hobbies aren?t material (hiking, camping, diving etc) so it?s easy to keep my stuff to the minimum. I?ve got a 40L carry-on and a storage unit for the stuff I don?t need with me (mostly photo albums and the like).
simon
2021-06-30 19:05
I feel that, at least for me, there?s no need to buy anything today as everything can be easily rented if needed.
simon
2021-06-30 20:16
With the introduction of the EU vaccine passport tomorrow (1st of July), and other countries following suit, it will soon become important to get vaccinated so that you can have such a passport (if you want to go anywhere in the next year or two without facing tons of restrictions).
Currently there are multiple options to get vaccinated and acquire such a passport.
For those who aren't EU citizens but who are in Europe (or who are EU citizens but for some reason aren't able to get vaccinated in their home country), Estonia will be your best option. Register for e-Residency (if you aren't an e-Resident already), log into the e-Health portal using your e-Residency card and book your vaccination there (there is no residency requirement). Once vaccinated, go back to the e-Health portal to generate your EU vaccine passport. Estonia gives you a choice of an mRNA vaccine (two doses) or J&J (one dose).
Another option for those who cannot get to Estonia, is to get vaccinated in England (a lot of latin american passport grants visa-free access to the UK, for example). Fly to London, register with a GP (make sure to register as a non-resident), book your vaccination using the NHS website, once vaccinated download the NHS app and sign up for online access, once approved you'll be able to download your vaccination certificate and use the in-app vaccine passport. In England you'll get Pfizer / Moderna if under 40 (two doses), AstraZeneca is over 40 (two doses).
Another option for those who want the quickest vaccination possible and are eligible to enter the US, is to get vaccinated in a US state with a digital vaccination database. Nevada is a good example. You can book your two doses of Pfizer / Moderna (three weeks apart) or one dose of J&J directly with a pharmacy (CVS, Walgreens, Walmart). Make sure to give the pharmacy your personal details so that the records are correctly added to the digital database. A couple of days after your final dose, log into the database and download your vaccination record.
simon
2021-06-30 20:21
I strongly recommend against getting vaccinated in a country / state where no vaccine passport is issued (or where such a passport is unlikely to be easily usable). I also strongly recommend getting the Pfizer vaccine, if possible, as it has the widest recognition globally.
burrup.lambert
2021-06-30 21:14
Great information.
burrup.lambert
2021-06-30 21:31
The world has definitely moved from a world of ownership to a world of access and will continue to do so. You don't buy movies anymore, you rent them. You don't buy CD's anymore, you use Spotfify. Future will be Transport as a Service (TaaS) etc.
omocha_10
2021-06-30 21:49
Thanks.
felix
2021-07-01 01:17
Awesome! Thanks for sharing Simon!
simon
2021-07-01 03:11
@mail777 Is your Chinese friend a e-Resident? If not, it seems he can get the vaccine by going in person. That won?t get him an Estonian vaccine passport but maybe he can fly to DE and get one there using your hack later on.
mail777
2021-07-01 07:10
I have e-Residency and tried it for myself by signing in to the patient portal through Smart-ID. Just wondering whether I should suggest getting it for this, i.e. does booking online and downloading the certificate later actually work for e-Residents in practice?
Good to know there?s another option in case the online way has issues, thanks!
jase
2021-07-01 15:37
Agreed, in developed countries.
jase
2021-07-01 15:37
Actually irony is some developing countries have more than Andorra. lol
jase
2021-07-01 15:38
I still like ownership of some traditional assets. If you haven't read The Alpha Strategy, give it a read.
oscar3000
2021-07-01 18:55
@simon with all respect to "Vaccination mania" (passport) - lust for "freedom" to travel again. I'm very pessimist predicting horrible consequences that are expected to most vaccinated people in coming 1-2 years :disappointed:
The lust to travel free - using their corrupt system to "surviving" in dirty game of EUR and USD may be very different while people will get ill from side effect and will be slaves forever of health system.
SELF Sovereignty is key!!
_I'm speaking from Israel and here 90% of population got the jab .. I know what I say represents the minority_ :disappointed:
To my opinion the entire world set up is control people - not to protect us ... (even if to kill us needed).. The USD is collapsing and this is end game :bug:
_Health and luck to everyone._
kuka
2021-07-01 22:50
So I understand you have a short position then?
ben659
2021-07-01 23:48
This was published in a peer reviewed journal called Vaccines
ben659
2021-07-01 23:48
Quickly to be replaced by:
ben659
2021-07-01 23:52
Looks like censorship is becoming a concerted effort. To quote from the above:
> As the World Economic Forum is uniquely positioned to accelerate the public-private collaboration needed to advance digital safety globally, Microsoft is eager to participate and help build whole-of-society solutions to this whole-of-society problem.
Merging public and private sectors is essentially Fascism. I?m not feeling optimistic about the way things are going either. Maybe the vaccines are fine, but the censorship is not.
ben659
2021-07-02 00:24
I?m not the one politicising vaccination
ben659
2021-07-02 00:29
The point about Fascism relates to censorship, which happens to be largely directed at vaccine related discourse right now
ben659
2021-07-02 00:29
I?m pretty sure we will be forced, one way or another, even if not via literal mandate. It?s hard to tell what?s in the pipeline regarding booster shots etc. Again, please don?t take it personally, I respect people?s decisions and don?t want to have a go at those getting vaccinated, but I implore you to respect those who are hesitant or cynical.
stolzlos
2021-07-02 20:11
felix
2021-07-03 01:56
Thanks for sharing, stolzlos.
felix
2021-07-03 01:56
Everything points towards National Day on the 9th of August. Let?s see.
michal.opoka
2021-07-03 10:44
Given their vaccination progress I think it might be a bit too early
felix
2021-07-03 12:24
The goal is to have 75% vaccinated by National Day. Let?s see if they achieve this goal.
michal.opoka
2021-07-03 12:57
currently they are at 37.3% fully vaccinated according to Google so they really need to speed up if they want to achieve that.
felix
2021-07-03 15:28
I think the number is not correct. My last info was that they were last Monday > 50%. But would need to look it up as well.
Either way it?s a very ambitious goal.
michal.opoka
2021-07-03 15:57
https://www.moh.gov.sg/covid-19/vaccination according to this 61% got at least one dose and 37% is fully vaccinated. Israel got more and had to reintroduce restrictions after virus surge
simon
2021-07-03 16:17
Singapore is catching up to Israel quickly, they?ll probably get to the 70% figure in August.
simon
2021-07-03 16:18
It?s likely that once a country gets to the 70-80% range it?s reasonably safe to remove all / most covid restrictions.
alex720
2021-07-03 16:18
70-80% first dose ?
alex720
2021-07-03 16:18
Or fully vaccinated in your opinion ?
simon
2021-07-03 16:19
Fully vaccinated ideally, as the first dose is effective at preventing severe illness but not so much at preventing infections (at least with Delta).
alex720
2021-07-03 16:19
Once you?re fully vaccinated you can?t transmit covid ?
alex720
2021-07-03 16:20
Wonder why countries like Canada ask for covid tests and proof of full vaccination
arommelaere
2021-07-03 16:20
Can transmit
simon
2021-07-03 16:20
You can but it?s rare, breakthrough infections account for only a tiny percentage of infections
alex720
2021-07-03 16:20
Ok
simon
2021-07-03 16:20
I think tests will still be required by many countries as they want to keep track of variants
simon
2021-07-03 16:21
On arrival tests I mean
omocha_10
2021-07-06 10:32
Hi, one of my citizenships is Spain, thouhj I never lived there. Last month I went for a visit, and found out I could get the vaccine so I did. They didn?t give any covid passport.
Now I am contacting Spain asking for the European covid digital passport and they are telling me that to download it I need to get the ?Cl@ve number?.
To get this ?cl@ve? they redirect you to a IRS/Fisco/Tax website, where you must fill a form with sooooooo much information, feels ridiculous, I want a document for the vaccine, why should I give all this data to a country I never lived in.
Not much concerned about now, but maybe about future ramifications....
Any thoughts?
arthur.vandelaak
2021-07-06 11:17
Yes that all sucks. I got stuck in Italy during lockdowns this year. I am dutch citizen. I can not get vaccine in Italy. However I did get covid badly and recovered fully. Now I want the green passport based upon that. Went to website and due to me being foreigner it does not work.
rodrigo.grania
2021-07-06 17:30
What about Austria for the vaccine? I signed up and I can book an apointment in Wein (I will be there in a month or so). There's an option to say you don't have a social security number. Any non resident with experience in Austria?
simon
2021-07-06 17:39
@rodrigo.grania I would imagine most countries will vaccinate you regardless of your immigration status, but will you be able to get an EU vaccine passport? Or some sort of proof that is acceptable for travel? That?s what I?d want to confirm before getting vaccinated as a non-resident
rodrigo.grania
2021-07-06 17:42
That's the tricky part haha. In the FAQ they say you can get it with a 12 pin code that they give you after a covid test https://coronavirus.wien.gv.at/faq-english/#GreenPass
rodrigo.grania
2021-07-06 17:47
mohd
2021-07-06 17:48
Wouldn?t a test for anti bodies do the job better than a vaccine passport? I find it to be more effective than just people getting vaccinated, if the vaccine doesn?t work for you and your body doesn?t develop antibodies, it would show in the anti bodies test. Right?
ben659
2021-07-06 20:18
It?s almost as if the whole thing were a little suspect :wink:
simon
2021-07-06 20:26
@mohd Some countries require an antibodies test, HK for example. It may become more common in the future but I somehow doubt it due to the complexities involved with the test.
mohd
2021-07-06 20:46
Good to know. Hope they find an easy/quick test for the antibodies and everyone adopts them. At least that way the millions of people who got covid and recovered don?t have to be vaccinated just to get a vaccine passport.
stolzlos
2021-07-07 07:02
I don't know about other countries but in Japan they use a temp cam at immigration for detecting people with fever since ages.
Japan also has these pesky immigration cards which you must fill out and I would not be surprised if they add a few to answer (recent) health related questions (did you have a fever recently, etc.) and medication that you are taking.
stolzlos
2021-07-07 07:05
I mean, whats the point in letting you through with a vacpass when you are sick on arrival?
felix
2021-07-08 00:39
Singapore has these cams for ages as well. That?s why you do a test on arrival at most destinations to make sure you are not sick. Heat cams are just the ?low tech? way of doing that.
felix
2021-07-08 00:41
Correct me if I am wrong, but people who had Covid can get it again, so wouldn?t be the vaccination a better choice in that case instead of the antibody test? (Not going into political discussions here, purely for informative reasons)
simon
2021-07-08 16:09
As far as I know, HK only requires the antibodies test to make sure the vaccine worked (they only test vaccinated travelers). If you have antibodies, you can take advantage of the shorter quarantine for vaccinated travelers while if you do not have antibodies (despite being vaccinated) you are deemed not vaccinated and must do the longer quarantine.
prykhodko.av
2021-07-09 20:33
In the U.K. severe infections dropped dramatically when only less than half population were vaccinated. So severe infection seems to dropped across the board irrespective of vaccination. On the other side the U.K. has one of the highest vaccination rates as well as the highest virus growth rates. Two people I know in the UK just got it, both double vaccinated and one in really poor shape at the moment
prykhodko.av
2021-07-09 20:51
U.K. update: There have been a total of 257 deaths from the Delta variant ? just 0.2 per cent of all cases from this strain, which was first identified in India.
Most deaths were among the over-50s. A total of 46 per cent of those who died had had two vaccine doses
simon
2021-07-09 21:03
It?s quite remarkable how many cases there are versus how many deaths. If this stays this way, covid is essentially over for every country with a decent rate of vaccination
prykhodko.av
2021-07-09 22:02
It is typical for the virus to mutate and evolve in direction of becoming more contagious and less deadly, as it is not in the best interest of virus to kill his victim. Also there are lots of virus mutations, and it might go either way, so I think it is too early to conclude if pandemic is over or not even with all the hype around vaccines
felix
2021-07-12 04:04
Ah ok! Thank you for the clarification Simon.
mohd
2021-07-13 08:03
@felix, as far as i know, getting vaccinated does not stop you from getting covid. It just makes your body more able to fight it off. That means for a good number of people, their body will fight it off so quickly they won?t have any symptoms. Others might have some mild symptoms. It?s all about the antibodies.
frederic.scheffer
2021-07-18 08:16
@simon can we chip in to upgrade this slack to a paid plan? I was trying to look at previous "travel gear" posts but it says I can't as there is more than 10k messages in the workspace
simon
2021-07-18 15:32
@frederic.scheffer The paid plans are unfortunately too expensive (they charge per user and would cost several thousands monthly). I have an archive of all posts but I?m not sure how to present the data. Do you guys know of a good Slack ?file explorer? or some such?
mb
2021-07-18 16:11
@simon Found this https://github.com/hfaran/slack-export-viewer haven't used it but looks useful judging the description.
mail777
2021-07-18 17:32
No reply to my email, called a couple times and finally reached someone. So it?s a known issue for eResidents, apparently some population register data is missing, nobody at TEHIK could tell me which field though. I?m not going to bother trying to get that fixed, the workaround is: just call to get an appointment and give them your isikukood. Was told downloading vaccination records will still work, the issue is only with booking appointments online.
simon
2021-07-18 17:57
I?ll have a look, thanks
994kaloyan
2021-07-21 10:59
lol but how has a mutation been identified if the virus has never been isolated? :joy:
leo.kipfelsberger
2021-07-25 13:51
Hey guys!
Has anyone crossed the *US - Mexico border* *recently via land and is not a US citizen or resident?*
I know the border has been closed since last year except for essential travel (medical, business or military).
I'm currently doing a road trip through Mexico and was considering heading into the US but was wondering what reasoning I can use to get in?
I'll be traveling with my fiance and we both have businesses in the US but will be on a big ADV motorbike which is going to scream tourists haha
Anyone has any experiences or ideas if a business conference would count as essential travel?
simon
2021-07-25 14:35
I?ve recently flown from Mexico to the US, I had no problems at the border.
At the land border, however, you?ll need documentation to support your case otherwise they won?t let you in. For example, a letter from a US doctor explaining that you must travel to receive essential medical care. A letter from a court regarding a summon. A letter from a business explaining that you need to perform a task that no American can perform (essential maintenance at a utility, for example) etc. Regular business travel won?t work.
Have you thought about shipping your bike over the border and flying in? It should be pretty cheap if it?s from a border town.
leo.kipfelsberger
2021-07-25 14:39
Hey @simon!
Thanks for the quick response!
Yes, that would have been our alternative - to fly from Tijuana to San Diego and then ship the bike but was hoping we might just be able to cross via land and keep riding rather than waiting for the bike
leo.kipfelsberger
2021-07-25 14:40
According to your list of required docs - it seems like flying is going to be way easier though - so me might just try to do that instead! Thanks for your help as always :slightly_smiling_face:
Let me know if you happen to be on the west coast over the next month!
leehodg
2021-07-26 13:49
I was thinking of flying (from Rio) to Panama city and then Panama city to somewhere in the US to get the vaccine there. I'd spend 2 weeks in Panama so that coming from Brazil wouldn't be an issue. Does anyone see any issues with this route? Afaik I just need a negative PCR test to enter Panama
umesh.desai
2021-07-26 14:16
negative antigen to enter panama, but as you are coming from rio, they will test you at the airport again, which costs $85
umesh.desai
2021-07-26 14:16
not sure if the req to enter the US is 14 days or 15 days, but assuming you get the timing right, I've heard others doing the same
leehodg
2021-07-26 15:40
@umesh.desai thanks. Is there any point doing a PCR in brazil then? or should I just turn up and pay the $85 for a PCR when I arrive?
leehodg
2021-07-26 15:40
Staying in Panama city for 2-3 weeks is fine also as long as the US will let me enter after that
umesh.desai
2021-07-26 15:42
I think you still need an antigen to board the plane. But it's going to vary from airline to airline on how they enforce it
mikeseo
2021-07-26 15:59
you can't get the vax in Rio?
ben659
2021-07-26 16:44
@lee You?ll have to quarantine in Panama coming anywhere from South America
simon
2021-07-26 16:47
Have you considered spending the two weeks in Mexico instead? No testing required and the risk of rule changes is low
marziovit
2021-07-26 16:49
Guys why don't you create a #vaccine or #vaccine-travel channel?
leehodg
2021-07-26 18:59
@mikeseo As far as I know I can't get the vax in Rio since I'm not actually a brazilian resident (just had a bunch of visa extensions from polica federal because of the pandemic)
leehodg
2021-07-26 19:00
@simon I was originally thinking Mexico for exactly that reason. It's just a cheaper and a direct and short 7hr flight to PTY, which made me think Panama instead if it was open
leehodg
2021-07-26 19:02
Bogota is also a cheap and sometimes direct flight and seems Colombia is pretty open border-wise...so was considering 2 weeks there too if the US from Colombia would be possible
burrup.lambert
2021-07-28 18:10
Easiest way for obtaining EU/UK proof of address without being an EU/UK citizen and having no connection to the EU/UK?
simon
2021-07-28 18:26
@burrup.lambert Getting a bank statement with that address on it is probably the easiest way
burrup.lambert
2021-07-28 18:36
Yep, thought as much. Not for me, for a friend who lives in Latin America and is trying to access better services like Wise and their Borderless debit card.
burrup.lambert
2021-07-28 18:47
I'm thinking that they open an account with Dukascopy Bank and then change the address to an address in EU. Then create a Wise account with that address (and their Latin American passport), verify the proof of address with the Dukascopy and then get the card sent there.
umesh.desai
2021-07-28 18:48
oh, banks won't accept bank statements
simon
2021-07-28 18:50
@umesh.desai Wise may accept it, they did in my case
umesh.desai
2021-07-28 18:50
actually, I think they accept bank statements from banks in the EU, as they trust each other to have done KYC, but won't accept a bank statement from a US bank for example
umesh.desai
2021-07-28 18:50
that's the problem I have had
umesh.desai
2021-07-28 18:52
though I might try dukascopy, thanks for the idea @burrup.lambert
leehodg
2021-07-29 18:23
In the end I booked a flight to Colombia from Rio but via Panama city. I know (or I believe at least) that to enter Colombia I won't need any PCR/antigen test at all, just a "col mig" form completed before the flight. It's with Copa Airlines. I chose this route as it proved much cheaper from Rio than anywhere in Mexico.
However, to transit through Panama and board the airline will I definitely not need a test?
Also just to confirm that I'll be able to enter the US after a few weeks in Colombia right? (I don't see Colombia on any US blacklist currently)
mikeseo
2021-07-29 19:07
looks like you just need any covid test before entering US
mikeseo
2021-07-29 19:07
Antigen: Rapid). Travelers may use a self-test (sometimes referred to as a home test) that meets the given criteria.
simon
2021-07-29 19:26
Make sure you get to the airport with plenty of time to spare if you are from an ESTA country as the DHS often cancels them at the last minute and the airline staff need to have them reactivated.
simon
2021-07-29 19:27
The airline staff in Colombia may not be familiar with the process as Colombia isn?t an ESTA country.
leehodg
2021-07-29 19:56
Thanks
leehodg
2021-07-29 19:58
How about the entry into Colombia itself via Panama transit on Copa airlines however? afaik I don't need any test. I just did an antigen one in a Pharmacy here in Br just as a precaution however but the certificate is in Portuguese. I know for entry into Panama I would need a full PCR, but I think boarding on Copa and a transit connection I don't :thinking_face:
leehodg
2021-07-29 19:59
Re entry to the US I may just go to Mexico from Colombia, as it seems a more sure bet for US entry and I see cheap flights from Bogota next week
simon
2021-07-29 20:46
Seems you?ll be fine as long as you stay airside.
simon
2021-07-29 20:46
There?s no mention of any restrictions regarding transit
leehodg
2021-07-29 20:47
@simon thanks alot!
jason
2021-08-03 19:21
helpful, i'll be going to Panama again very soon
umesh.desai
2021-08-03 19:51
at panama airport, from memory, the place where they check your antigen results, is right before border control. To get there, you have to walk past all the gates and all the shops. However, when I flew mexico to panama, they did ask to see my antigen in mexico at the check-in desk, so it might all come down to how the airline interprets the regulations. I flew with copa.
leehodg
2021-08-03 20:26
Does anyone know about entering the UK with a US vaccine? It seems the UK lifted quarantine for those vaccinated in the US/EU, but the fine print seems to suggest that the US vaccine would only allow such an exemption if you can also show US residency, which just seems ridiculous (I'm a UK citizen but was planning on getting the vaccine in the US and then returning home, but can't stay in the UK for >=10 days for tax issues)
simon
2021-08-03 20:40
@leehodg You need to either show a US passport, green card or resident visa. I inquired and Border Force told me it?s to prevent third country nationals from using fake CDC cards. A contact in the NHS told me they are working on a way to allow UK nationals to upload foreign vaccination proofs into the NHS app (without the need to be registered with a GP).
leehodg
2021-08-03 21:11
@simon damn. thanks for the info. I am only returning in Oct o I hope the nhs app takes the upload by then or something changes
anthony.w.rudd
2021-08-03 21:14
Hi all, joined here to try to figure out the best structure for my business partner and I (he's Portuguese and I'm from US). We are going to be selling products in Brazil, and as a result were considering a Panamanian corporation. But any insight/articles/etc we can be pointed towards would be super super helpful!
anthony.w.rudd
2021-08-03 21:14
(Obviously trying to avoid being taxed out the wazoo lol)
leehodg
2021-08-03 21:33
@simon just want to also confirm that US is accepting the cheaper antigen tests from Mexico. No need for PCR?
simon
2021-08-03 22:03
@leehodg I used an antigen test taken at the airport without any issues (at MEX, flying to Houston).
leehodg
2021-08-03 22:05
I'm also flying to Houston so great to know.
anthony.w.rudd
2021-08-03 22:06
@simon Do you have any great resources you could point me towards for the above question? (joined here to try to figure out the best structure for my business partner and I (he's Portuguese and I'm from US).�We are going to be selling products in Brazil, and as a result were considering a Panamanian corporation, trying to minimize tax burden). Thanks mate!
mikeseo
2021-08-04 00:21
you gotta move out of the US if you want to save in taxes
felix
2021-08-04 00:46
Also #business-general might be a god place to ask
ashishbhatia.ab
2021-08-04 01:41
Has anyone used http://insurednomads.com for insurance? How good are they?
simon
2021-08-04 03:23
@anthony.w.rudd Where will the business be run from?
anthony.w.rudd
2021-08-04 03:57
Combo US and Portugal where the two of us are. Supplier is local to Brazil so no imports to worry about at least
anthony.w.rudd
2021-08-04 03:57
Ha I know right Family stuff unfortunately - can?t do it for now at least
simon
2021-08-04 22:22
Your best option will likely be the US then, as registering there will give you access to US banking, payment processing, business credit cards (valuable if you have significant ad spend as the AmEx Business Gold pays 4 points per $ spent in that category) all the while keeping compliance as simple as possible (especially with a c-corp) and avoiding FBAR / 5471 etc.
The corporation tax rate in the US is the same as in Portugal, 21% (plus state tax, depending on where you are based). If you sell the company, your Portuguese partner will not be liable to capital gains tax (non-residents are exempt).
Obviously if you are willing to move abroad, a lot more options will be possible (including lower tax ones).
anthony.w.rudd
2021-08-04 22:38
Thanks!
hello888
2021-08-08 22:12
I 100% agree with you
It's funny, because if you look at the stats of Israel and Gibraltar there is absolutely ZERO benefit for getting vaccinated from a health perspective
In Israel there are more vaccinated in ICUs than non vaccinated, Gibraltar 100% vaccinated, cases spiked up again last month.
In US many doctors are calling them super-spreaders
Even the novel prize of medicine Luc Montagnier is saying that the vaccine is creating the variants, not a random mutation.
Vaccinate get infected, transmit, and end up in the ICU just as much if not more.
And now all the videos of magnetism are explained because they found graphene on the vaccines.
It's so freaking obvious that the vaccines are going to kill more people than the supposed plan-demic virus ever did, that at this point those who haven't woken up, they just wont.
It's like this woman describing north korea on the JRE, they don't even know they don't have freedom, the regime turned them in to 100% sheep, just like at the end of the novel 1984.
simon
2021-08-09 00:32
@hello888 In the US where almost exactly 50% of the population is vaccinated (making it easy to compare), 95-99% of people hospitalized are unvaccinated (it varies from state to state). That's over a huge number of cases. The situation is similar in the UK.
This whole debate is moot, however, as vaccination will likely become mandatory in the coming months at most companies, to travel, to go to school etc.
hello888
2021-08-09 11:57
I understand that most likely it will become mandatory worldwide, but the reason for that isn't "health", there are safe an effective known drugs that treat covid with higher success rate than the vaccine.
Also, it's not true that "95-99% of people hospitalized are unvaccinated"
It's not true for the US (check for insatnce the attached news from Michigan) and it's not true for Israel (attached stats + news)
I also attached the video of Luc Montagnier about the variants, that are direct consequence of the vaccine, and that's what the government uses to "blame" the vaccinated deaths due to covid.
ben659
2021-08-11 20:37
Panama accepts antigen. You can do it on arrival at the airport, it?s pretty efficient
vaibhav.r.kamble
2021-08-15 05:24
In my limited knowledge, what I undertand is most traders from US plan to move to Peurto Rico and run trading business from there to save on taxes. Does anyone know that due to some reason if you happen to be outside Peurto Rico but within US boundry, how safe and feasible is it to manage your Peutro Rico business with some technical obfuscation from within US?
danz
2021-08-16 16:36
I think what most do, is stay enough days a year there to achieve proper residency/tax residency there and be outside of PR after that.
vaibhav.r.kamble
2021-08-16 19:07
Yes, I realized it, as long as one maintains tax reidency of PR by staying more than 183 days, you can still manage your PR business remotely.
ashishbhatia.ab
2021-08-17 08:18
My understanding is that it has to 184 days first year and then at least 90 days every year as long as most time is spent outside the US.
vaibhav.r.kamble
2021-08-17 08:20
Thanks @ashishbhatia.ab, I will check with CPA on this when I am nearing execution of my plan.
ashishbhatia.ab
2021-08-17 16:47
Please let me know what you learn
digimkt
2021-08-19 16:21
Hi Tony, I actually live in BR, work with SaaS and have Panama residency and corps.
To do ecommerce in BR there are tax efficient ways but several considerations to undergo, specially using a PA IBC direct will result in several difficulties and probably will not work as you would like...
If you guys want a good solid solution for ecommerce in BR PM me and we can do a proper tax efficient setup for you guys.
stolzlos
2021-08-20 08:03
_"Singapore?s arrangement with Germany and Brunei allows only fully vaccinated travelers to skip quarantines. They will have to take *four* Covid tests ? one two days before departure, one upon arrival, one on day three and another on day seven."_
The trust in vaccination is obviously very high :wink:
michael
2021-08-20 14:45
No
fish
2021-08-20 14:54
negative
tiagomdreganha
2021-08-20 18:59
I use https://www.mtxc.eu/en/ to get data right away when I land somewhere, then I get a local card
ben
2021-08-20 19:20
Looks like Google Fi is cheaper data at $10 USD per GB everywhere.
Drimsim I looked at a few places, Brasil is especially bad at ?50 per GB !!! Cheapest I saw was ?10 per GB (Spain for example), which is still higher than Google Fi
tiagomdreganha
2021-08-20 21:56
MTX is 12? per GB pay as you go, much better than getting on a monthly/annual contract. Anyway, it's still cheaper to get a local SIM if you're staying for a few days and/or using a lot of data
It has limited coverage tho, most south america is blank
stolzlos
2021-08-22 09:21
still too expensive but will surely become interesting in the future
michael
2021-08-24 03:42
I would like to get on with learning languages.... any language pros here with any tips to share? I used to speak basic French & Mandarin when I was in school. French better than my Mandarain.
Was thinking to start off either one of those? Instead of trying to learn one from scratch.
simon
2021-08-24 03:44
@michael Can you move to France / China? In my experience immersion is by far the easiest way to learn a language
michael
2021-08-24 03:51
Currently in Thailand... the "closest" for language immersion would be Singapore or Malaysia for Mandarin speaking.
michael
2021-08-24 03:58
I am limited to family ties, so China and France would be considered too far.
burrup.lambert
2021-08-24 17:57
Agreed. I said I would learn Spanish for 6 years before I actually did. And the only way I did that was by moving to a Spanish speaking country.
You can try:
Watching movies/series in French with subtitles.
Reading local news daily in French.
Hanging out with French speaking groups / joining/browsing French social media groups.
Doing private one-on-one lessons multiple times per week.
For apps, you can try Duo Lingo but there is also a good app called Language Transfer (https://www.languagetransfer.org/) (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.languagetransfer) that uses a different method of learning. It is audio only and you basically listen to a student learning the language from a teacher in a one-on-one conversation. I would recommend it.
Like anything consistency is the key, especially when you are starting.
omocha_10
2021-08-24 18:59
Listening to music and reading/translating lyrics helped me a lot to learn languages.
gastan
2021-08-24 19:50
+1 DuoLingo
ashishbhatia.ab
2021-08-24 21:26
Language Transfer is awesome. I learnt Spanish as well as Arabic from it. I hate Duolingo. I wasted years on it and didn't learn any conversation.
marziovit
2021-08-25 04:55
The best to way to learn a language is with Michel Thomas method, learn here why: https://www.michelthomas.com/how-it-works/
michael
2021-08-25 07:16
Thank you for your comments and feedback everyone.
Yeah I forgot to mention I tried Doulingo (albeit with not so much commitment). I will check out Language Transfer and the Michel Thomas. Sounds interesting.
mikeseo
2021-08-25 14:16
he says go to the country and get over your fear of making mistakes, just go there and talk as much as possible making lots of mistakes and using your hands etc and don't revert to languages you already know
mikeseo
2021-08-25 14:17
"throw your hat over the wall" force yourself to adapt...so maybe instead of Singapore go to some city in the middle of China
jase
2021-08-25 14:17
I'm not smart at this stuff but I'm also using wikipedia frequency lists
jase
2021-08-25 14:18
in theory these are more useful words to learn (though some may be too academic)
romanpfeiffer75
2021-08-26 10:45
Anyone else living in Mexico? Would like to exchange some thoughts regarding visa options - please reach out via DM if you are interested :slightly_smiling_face:
marziovit
2021-08-26 12:41
@jase that's exactly the basis of Michel Thomas method. There are 20% of words that make up 80% of the sentences in any language.
994kaloyan
2021-08-26 16:05
Michel Thomas is the legend. I am now learning Spanish with his course. Super easy and a lot of fun.
994kaloyan
2021-08-26 16:48
The basic premise of his method is that The New York times has been established to use 600 too 800 words. That?s it. So if you can use them too, you?re able to build up from there.
alessio.zazzarini
2021-09-02 11:14
Hello Everyone! I am trying to prepare the paperwork to go to Portugal, but I am in a super strict lockdown and I don?t know how to produce a *certified copy of my passport*. My law firm told me that any public notary can do it. Did anyone had any luck in doing this process online? BTW my passport is Italian.
alessio.zazzarini
2021-09-02 11:15
Because I saw many online notary, but they only operate in US
omocha_10
2021-09-02 17:38
Not sure, but it sounds like you need to contact a notary, tell him what you want, and he is supposed to know, and tell you the next steps.
994kaloyan
2021-09-03 10:53
I think using an online notary shouldn?t be a problem. Ask your law firm if it has to be locally notarized or if it can be done anywhere. http://Notarize.com is your friend
felix
2021-09-03 12:00
http://Notarize.com is only for the US. Does anyone know about such a service in Europe?
maticko
2021-09-03 12:04
usually notaries in EU will stamp only local documents in local language
maticko
2021-09-03 12:05
and only when you show original physical document
gastan
2021-09-04 02:55
the problem with notarization (besides need to be present in person) is, that you need to get it apostiled, if used in 3rd country (or 2nd)
vs301991
2021-09-04 13:54
@simon I?ve opened a UK LLP last year after reading your writeup, we run a dropshipping business from china. We?ve received a company UTR and 2 personal UTR for partner.
There?s no premise except a virtual address in UK I?ve read the comments on your blog post and you?ve mentioned ?If no work was performed in the UK, they report 0?
I just wanted to drop in and ask does the reporting stays 0 for both Company?s self assessments and personal self assessment ?
We?ve had like 50k in sales and around 5k reported profit just wanted to double check with you before I file it.
simon
2021-09-04 15:57
@vs301991 That?s right, if you have no UK operations / UK resident partners, all returns are filed nil.
vs301991
2021-09-04 16:21
@simon If one partner is UK resident, they will add their % of the LLP profit in their personal self assesment, does the comapany self assesment and Non resident self assesment still goes nil? The non resident partner pays tax on their share of profit in their residence country right ?
Don't we atleast need to show the numbers sales expenses anything in company's self assesment?
simon
2021-09-04 16:33
Assuming no business was conducted in the UK, the partnership return and the self assessment return for the non-resident partner would still be filed nil, the resident partner would report his / her share of the worldwide profits on his / her self assessment return.
If business was conducted in the UK, you?d need to file two sets of partnership returns. One nil for the overseas operations and one reporting the financials of the UK operations. The non-resident partner would be liable to UK tax on his / her share of the UK income, the resident partner on his / her share of the worldwide income.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/partnerships-foreign-aspects-hs380-self-assessment-helpsheet/hs380-completing-partnership-tax-returns-for-partners-non-residence-in-or-domicile-outside-the-uk-2021#partnership-consists-of-a-mix-of-uk-resident-and-non-resident-partners
vs301991
2021-09-04 18:35
@simon there was no business run from UK, can you please link me to the forms to be filled, I'm slightly confused
The two forms that I thought I need to file nil are SA800 (Partnership Tax return) SA104S (Non resident self assesment short)
Is there any other form also needed to be filed is HS380 A declaration or a form?
simon
2021-09-06 19:40
@vs301991 SA800 (nil), for each of the partners SA100 with SA104, for the non-resident partner SA109
vs301991
2021-09-07 07:46
@simon Thanks :pray:
leehodg
2021-09-11 22:39
@simon don?t suppose you have any updates on this? I?ll be double dosed from the US and arriving in London mid October. Wondering if I still need to arrange all the PCR tests and quarantine in-place or if I could just go visit a GP and get my vaccine acknowledged by the NHS (it?s also got a digitial cert/QR code from Walmart Pharmacy)
simon
2021-09-11 23:00
As far as I?m aware, it?s still impossible to generate an NHS covid pass from a foreign vaccination record.
A workaround would be to fly into Paris, stopover for the night and then travel to the UK. The French stopover would make you eligible for an EU green pass and that is accepted in the UK without a proof of residency (unlike the CDC card, which must be accompanied by proof of US residency).
https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/coming-to-france/coronavirus-advice-for-foreign-nationals-in-france/coronavirus-statements/article/applying-for-a-covid-certificate-if-you-were-vaccinated-abroad-procedure-for
leehodg
2021-09-11 23:46
thanks. Unfortunately I already have the flights booked :disappointed: I?m going via Lisbon but it?s just a connection for an hour
jason
2021-09-12 16:59
Anyone from Moldova here?
denis.obmaichin
2021-09-14 11:38
Yes :slightly_smiling_face: