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Don't be rich, Live rich

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Re: Don't be rich, Live rich

#21

How does immigration law work for this kind of trip? Do you need a work permit/visa?

IANAL, but I've been traveling 6 months and have read a lot about this. I have never seen a work permit needed unless you are working for a local company. If you are an American working for American clients remotely, you're fine.

Always, always, always, always, always check visa requirements. If you need one and don't have one, you will be buying a very expensive plane ticket when you get turned back at the border. Default tourist visas for American citizens is 3-6 months most places, but you always have to check. Don't trust any website that's not the official government, and call an embassy if you're at all unsure.

Re: Don't be rich, Live rich

#22

What are the best technologies to focus on in order to be mobile/remote? I've notice that nobody is interested in remote C++ development, and the few people I meet who are doing something like this are in some branch of web development.

Web stuff works for me. Demand is high enough that there are companies willing to take part-time workers.

Re: Don't be rich, Live rich

#23
post #6

How does immigration law work for this kind of trip? Do you need a work permit/visa?

And where do you need to file taxes?

If you are an American citizen, you always have to file taxes on wages, no matter where you earn them or who you work for (even if you steal things, you pay taxes on them).

Re: Don't be rich, Live rich

#24
post #15
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Currently doing this in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Off to Croatia next!

Peng, can you talk about the visas/taxes part? Thanks.

I don't think traveling workers do anything special with visas - if any visa is needed, they just use a tourist visa. For all business purposes, it looks like they never left their home country; billing is done as if it came from their home business address.

I once spent a few months in Spain, where I devoted 30% of my time to developing a C++ application, 30% of my time to learning Spanish, and 30% on touristy things. This was before the Internet era, and I sent in my work each month on a floppy disk, along with an invoice (just as I did from home). I think they never noticed the Spanish post stamps ;-)

Re: Don't be rich, Live rich

#26
post #18

What are the best technologies to focus on in order to be mobile/remote? I've notice that nobody is interested in remote C++ development, and the few people I meet who are doing something like this are in some branch of web development.

I think the reason for this is C++ is the new COBOL with the commensurate PHBs.

The kinds of things you need C++ for - high-performance webservers, database engines, 3D renderers, etc. - often require very close communication between team members to get right. They're deep, not broad - the software is structured as a series of layers, and if you don't get the interfaces between the layers just right, the software won't even compile. Typical webapps are much more horizontal - they consist of a series of screens, and once the basic webserver framework is in place, developers can pretty much parcel out portions of the UI and work on them independently.

Re: Don't be rich, Live rich

#27

What are the best technologies to focus on in order to be mobile/remote? I've notice that nobody is interested in remote C++ development, and the few people I meet who are doing something like this are in some branch of web development.

Sure. The bottom line is that nobody is interested in any serious stuff being done remotely. So those type of stories you usually hear from someone like these folks who did "online communications" and "freelance web design/programming", which is not serious by definition. Projects involving something like C++ have significantly higher chances of having a bigger scope, impact and different set of responsibilities from all participants.

This lifestyle might be appealing for some very short period of life, under very specific circumstances. You have to be young to not worry about health insurance. You have to have the job that is simple enough to be outsourced and complicated enough to be at least reasonably paid. You have to not worry about "career" or "experience" (which are just different words for "future"). You have to be from the first-class country to take advantage of the visa requirements with your passport. It is also interesting to note that things they can afford in certain countries, like going to the beach every day, would definitely be prohibited for them in their home country given their occupation (note their remark on costs in Argentina, which, I assume, are lower than in Belgium).

I can elaborate much further as few of my friends live this sort of lifestyle in South-East Asia. From what I know about it, it's definitely (a) not for me, (b) doesn't make me think that the future knowledge workers will work that way. I work on my own projects in one of the most expensive cities on the planet and it's hard for me to see how can I relocate anywhere without losing the advantages I'm getting from the infrastructure and population here.

UPDATE: Though seeing the world is awesome, I'd personally prefer saving 10-20K and taking a year off work for that.

Re: Don't be rich, Live rich

#28
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the reason for this is C++ is the new COBOL with the commensurate PHBs.

The kinds of things you need C++ for - high-performance webservers, database engines, 3D renderers, etc. - often require very close communication between team members to get right. They're deep, not broad - the software is structured as a series of layers, and if you don't get the interfaces between the layers just right, the software won't even compile. Typical webapps are much more horizontal - they consist of a se…

This is not true. You can just parcel out those kinds of projects as well (my personal experience) if you are a competent manager.

What you are comparing is complexity. Yes, it is easier to parcel out the typical web app than a database engine.

Re: Don't be rich, Live rich

#29

What are the best technologies to focus on in order to be mobile/remote? I've notice that nobody is interested in remote C++ development, and the few people I meet who are doing something like this are in some branch of web development.

I was able to do freelance iPhone development. If you're already good in C++, it will give you a leg up in learning objective-c.

Also, I could not agree more with the points about "working needs discipline." If you're staying in hostels, I would basically say forget it. I found it INCREDIBLY difficult to sit down and code when I was traveling around in hostels (like a tourist) and surrounded by fun people and things to do. In BA, I an apartment like the OP, which made getting work done a bit more tolerable (but still very challenging given the surroundings...)

Re: Don't be rich, Live rich

#30
I've been doing the same for 9 months now. I've travelled round the whole world, had a fantastic time, and wrote a book for O'Reilly as I went. It's been the best year of my life. In fact, it turns out that writing books is one of the best ways to do this - as it's very flexible and a successful book will just about cover traveling costs. What most people don't realize, is how cheap it is to do this.

As always though, everything is best in moderation. I'm yearning to be back in the startup/technology scene - and I will be come September. I'm sure that'll I'll do another trip like this in my twenties though (I'm 21 now).

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