Table of Contents
Foreword: What Are You Waiting For? 11
About This Book (a.k.a.: the fine print) 15
Introduction: Enter the Matrix and Get Out! 17
Expatriate, Know Thyself 19
I Got Out 24
Part I The Basics: Living and Working 43
Getting In…and Staying In: Visas, Residencies, Work Permits and Citizenship 44
Visas: What Are They Good For? 44
Held Guide to Common Visas 50
Working With Your Visa 53
What's Your Visa Story? 58
Getting Out to the Max: Foreign Citizenship, Second Passports and Renunciation 75
Getting By: Jobs and Other Hustles 88
Studying Abroad 89
Peace Corps 92
Volunteer Organizations/NGOs 94
Retire, Slack or Slum It 96
Teach English 98
Working for Uncle Sam: U.S. Government Jobs Overseas 103
Ply Your Trade Overseas: Who Gets Hired and How 106
Correspondent/Stringer/Editor/Blogger 110
Nanny/Au pair 113
Minding Your Own Business 115
Independent Contractors/Internet Commuters 122
Odd Jobs and Working Off the Books 124
Part II For Your Consideration: The Rest of the World 127
Is It Any Better There? Choosing the Country That's Right For You 128
Does Anyone Speak English? For Those Who'll Never Learn 128
How Much Does It Cost? Bargain vs. Boutique 133
Liberty and Justice For All? Freedom, Democracy and Good Governance 136
Do the Trains Run on Time? Infrastructure/Availability of Goods + Services 139
Is it Safe? Crime and Terror 142
Healthcare: How Free and How Good? 147
Gimme Shelter: Taxes Abroad 155
Going for Broke: Business Climate and Economic Health 157
Greener Pastures: Ecology and Sustainability 163
What to Eat? Food and Agriculture 166
God and Country: Religion and You 168
A (Wo)Man's World? Gender Issues 168
LGBT: Who Do You Love? 173
Expat High: Drugs and the Law 176
The Right to Bear Arms: Gun Control 181
Is Everybody Happy? Happiness and Life Satisfaction 182
May We Suggest? The Getting Out 61 + 1 186
1 Andorra 195
2 Argentina 197
3 Australia 201
4 The Bahamas 205
5 Belize 207
6 Brazil 210
7 Bulgaria 214
8 Cambodia 217
9 Canada 219
10 Chile 223
11 China, People's Republic of 226
12 Colombia 234
13 Costa Rica 238
14 Croatia 243
15 Czech Republic 246
16 Denmark 249
17 Dominican Republic 253
18 Ecuador 256
19 Egypt 260
20 Estonia 262
21 France 266
22 Germany 271
23 Greece 275
24 Hong Kong 279
25 Hungary 283
26 India 286
27 Indonesia 288
28 Ireland 291
29 Israel 294
30 Italy 296
31 Japan 300
32 Latvia 305
33 Malta 307
34 Mexico 309
35 Morocco 317
36 The Netherlands (Holland) 319
37 New Zealand 323
38 Nicaragua 328
39 Panama 330
40 Peru 334
41 Philippines 337
42 Poland 340
43 Portugal 343
44 Russia 347
45 St. Kitts & Nevis 350
46 Saudi Arabia 352
47 Singapore 356
48 Slovenia 359
49 South Africa 361
50 South Korea 364
51 Spain 368
52 Sweden 372
53 Switzerland 375
54 Thailand 378
55 Turkey 382
56 United Arab Emirates (UAE) 385
57 United Kingdom 389
58 Uruguay 394
59 Vanuatu 397
60 Venezuela 400
61 Vietnam 403
61 + Everywhere and Nowhere: Nomadic Living 406
Part III Doing It 413
Driving 414
Ex-Pets 414
Gadget Power 415
Insurance and Health 416
International Shipping: Take it or Leave It? 420
Minor Details: Your Children 421
Money Matters: Deposits, Withdrawals, Currency and Cash 422
Real Estate: The Ownership Society Abroad 424
Staying- in Touch 427
Taxes: The IRS and You 430
The Long Arm of U.S. Law: A Short Course in Extradition 434
Web Resources 439
General Expat Resources 442
Alternative Accommodation 444
Currency 444
Cost of Living 444
Drugs and Drug Policy 444
Ecology and Sustainability 445
Electricity, Adapters, Etc. 445
Families/Children 445
Gay and Lesbian 445
Guns, Crime and Safety 446
Governance, Regulatory Environment, Human Rights 446
Health 446
Insurance: Overseas Providers 447
International Calling 447
International Embassies 447
International Mail Forwarding 447
International Moving 447
Internet Cafes 448
Internet ISPs 448
Internet Penetration 448
Internet VoIP 448
Internet Wi-Fi 448
Jobs 448
Jobs, Au Pair/Nanny 448
Jobs, English Teaching 449
Jobs, Journalism/Writing/Media 450
Jobs, Private Military Contractor 450
Pets 451
Permanent Traveler/Digital Nomads 451
Religion 451
Schools, American and International 451
Study Abroad 451
Taxes 452
Publications, Blogs and Websites of Some of our Contributors 453
