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Ask YC: Where's the escape hatch? I'd like to leave the US, but to where?

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Re: Ask YC: Where's the escape hatch? I'd like to leave the US, but to where?

#81

Post by mechanical_fish »

isoadventure wrote: post #67
mechanical_fish wrote: post #42

- uuilly is right: Stop reading the news. It's just making you depressed. - The USA has got its problems, but other countries also have their problems. Half the problems that plague the USA also plague the world. (Example: Our housing bubble is also, in part, a global housing bubble -- easy credit can cross national boundaries, and it has!) And many of the problems that are new to the USA are old news in the rest of…

> - You're a web worker All my adult life I've dreamed about doing this. But how many people actually do that? It sounds practical, but in practice, there is really no substitute for presence.

Oddly, over half my consulting clients have never met me. Some have never spoken to me. All of them seem reasonably happy.

Re: Ask YC: Where's the escape hatch? I'd like to leave the US, but to where?

#82

Post by anewaccountname »

byrneseyeview wrote: post #34
briansmith wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Although if you're worried that the US is a police state, you might not like it there." That is putting it mildly. It is illegal to possess chewing gum there. Vandalism is punishable by torture.

'Punishable by torture' is ridiculous. Caning is rarely used, and I would probably prefer it to a prison sentence. But again, this is a matter of preference. If you love being an antisocial asshole, Singapore will be hell for you until they kick you out (if they let you in). If you're a responsible adult, you won't notice the laws because they won't apply to you -- the penalty for vandalism or heroin use or spitting…

http://www.indonesiamatters.com/images/aceh-caning-1.jpg

Re: Ask YC: Where's the escape hatch? I'd like to leave the US, but to where?

#83

Post by mrtron »

ibsulon wrote: post #26

If only Toronto wasn't so cold...

Motivation to stay indoors 6 months of the year?

As long as you don't really hate the cold - and enjoy winter sports, the winter is bearable. (yes, that was for laughs, and yes I just thought it up now)

It does make it harder to get focussed right now when the weather is delightful.

Re: Ask YC: Where's the escape hatch? I'd like to leave the US, but to where?

#85

Post by dan-kruchinin »

isoadventure wrote: post #61
dan-kruchinin wrote: post #27

Very naive. Do you know anything about immigration policy in different countries? Do you really think that foreign governments are waiting you with open arms? For them you're just useless foreigner if they can't get profit from you. You may be profitable if 1) Foreign country need high qualified specialists. If you one of them you could get work permit. 2) You have enough money to open your own business there. (actua…

Very negative. Curious as to where you get your expertise. From my (admittedly limited) research, immigration for skilled workers is easy if not encouraged. Take for example, NZ, which lists hundreds of "qualified" jobs on their immigration site that will get you fast-tracked toward 2+ year documents.

Note, I didn't say that immigration is impossible. All immigrant needs is to be profitable for the country he wants to move to. If he has really good skills in a priority area and if purposed country has a lack of qualified workers in that area, he has a chance to get a work permit. In this case all depends on his skills. And it's not "pessimistic" point of view, rather it's realistic.

Actually I don't know much about NZ immigration policy, but in some countries(CZ for example) you can find a job on the spot, in other countries(for example in Australia) you have to prove your skills via some tests and only after you have appropriate number of points you get a work permit.

Re: Ask YC: Where's the escape hatch? I'd like to leave the US, but to where?

#86

Post by gscott »

anewaccountname wrote: post #80
ideas101 wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And if you're addicted to reddit and cant help it then following are your choices: Americas: Canada (English speaking, diversified society, encouraging entrepreneurship etc.) Asia: Singapore, India, Indonesia, Philippines (all countries are english speaking for business) Europe: any eastern Europe that has good weather and encouraging environment for start-ups. Far East: Australia/ NewZealand (they have immigration p…

>Middle East: Abu-dhabi and Dubai (most happening place, no tax, you just need to find good geeks or import it from India). If you are from the US, you can never escape paying income tax unless you plan on never returning. You can't legally renounce your citizenship.

You can renounce your citizenship but it comes with serious consequences. It is not anything anyone should do and you can't undo it once done.

Re: Ask YC: Where's the escape hatch? I'd like to leave the US, but to where?

#89

Post by wheels »

anewaccountname wrote: post #80
ideas101 wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And if you're addicted to reddit and cant help it then following are your choices: Americas: Canada (English speaking, diversified society, encouraging entrepreneurship etc.) Asia: Singapore, India, Indonesia, Philippines (all countries are english speaking for business) Europe: any eastern Europe that has good weather and encouraging environment for start-ups. Far East: Australia/ NewZealand (they have immigration p…

>Middle East: Abu-dhabi and Dubai (most happening place, no tax, you just need to find good geeks or import it from India). If you are from the US, you can never escape paying income tax unless you plan on never returning. You can't legally renounce your citizenship.

There's an allowance for up to $70k or $80k where you avoid double taxation. I'm a US citizen with permanent residence in Germany and since my income has been below that all I have to do is fill out my return and not pay anything.

Re: Ask YC: Where's the escape hatch? I'd like to leave the US, but to where?

#90

Post by wheels »

isoadventure wrote: post #61
dan-kruchinin wrote: post #27

Very naive. Do you know anything about immigration policy in different countries? Do you really think that foreign governments are waiting you with open arms? For them you're just useless foreigner if they can't get profit from you. You may be profitable if 1) Foreign country need high qualified specialists. If you one of them you could get work permit. 2) You have enough money to open your own business there. (actua…

Very negative. Curious as to where you get your expertise. From my (admittedly limited) research, immigration for skilled workers is easy if not encouraged. Take for example, NZ, which lists hundreds of "qualified" jobs on their immigration site that will get you fast-tracked toward 2+ year documents.

Some countries, at least the UK and Australia have a points system whereby if you qualify it's relatively easy to move over. Most countries require you to have lined up a specific job (i.e. not starting a company) that couldn't be filled by a local. Understand that "relatively easy" means, "a huge amount of effort, waiting and frustration, bordering on traumatic".

Moving away from the US is a huge amount of work. I have done it and I have to say that I agree with the negative tone here -- if you're not completely determined to do it, and haven't done the due diligence to have a strong desire to go to a specific place and really dig deep into their immigration requirements, then it bodes ill for your scheming. It's just not something you can do on a whim.

As for workplaces, some are in English, especially in international firms, but usually to feel comfortable in a place you'll want to learn the local language. Aside from it being necessary for building up a social circle, say, when you go to the doctor, or need to get your utilities set up, or have to fill out your tax forms, that will naturally all be in the local language.

Setting up a new business, without a local co-founder, would be next to impossible without speaking the local language ( aside from the fact that in most countries you wouldn't be allowed to do so anyway). You need to put so many things -- taxes, incorporation, insurance, contracts, banking -- and again, naturally all of those things will happen in the local language.

And then, to top things off, for doing a startup, the US is the most convenient place to be. You can do it elsewhere, and there are a couple hot spots -- Tel Aviv, London -- but it seems best to focus on where you want to be, figure out if you could possible get there, and then figure out if there's a startup scene. Keep in mind that if you start sorting this out today, it'll probably be 6-12 months before you could move.

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