Given the absolutely loathsome status of an IRS . Because home is 2,000+ miles away. et.c.. Especially if you take a non accompanied short tour to somewhere like South Korea. In order to become naturalized as a U.S. citizen, a foreign national must be a permanent resident for several years, pass a U.S. citizenship test, and meet certain other eligibility requirements. The cotton candy sunsets and lush mountain scenery make it easy tofall in love with the land. *The cash back bonus is offered in most states. Many of my friends found their future wives in the foreign country that they were stationed in. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. In the event of an emergency, you are like 24-48 hours (at an absolute minimum) from getting back to them. Well, as you probably have guessed by now, I did marry a soldier and we did get stationed overseas! What Is a Resident Alien? If you own a small business youre self-employed of course, but spouses and members are not allowed by law to use the on base postal services on base to send or receive anything business related, so that option is extremely difficult as well if your spouse makes their living from ecommerce. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. We even had a beer delivery truck. Living here has afforded our family the opportunity to learn so much about a culture different from our own. From my experience in the military, the comradery while you are stationed overseas is just greater. Because of this, you spend a lot of time there and not as much time away. Additionally, being open to new experiences and trying new things can help you overcome culture shock and adapt to your new environment. If you can't fit in smaller sized clothing, you will be forced to order online. Whether youre looking for new cultural experiences, career opportunities, or personal growth, military life abroad has the potential to offer all of these things and more. If you claim one or more dependents on your tax return, you may be eligible for certain tax credits. Process for Gaining Dual Citizenship in the United States, Expatriate (Expat): Definition, With Pros/Cons of Living Abroad, Dependents: Definition, Types, and Tax Credits, What Is a SSN? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Citizenship and Immigration Services. As military families, some of us have the opportunity PCS to Hawaii, living here for years at a time and getting paid for doing so! Explore each state's voter registration age requirements at USA.gov. Another challenge that comes with being stationed overseas is the culture shock that often arises when transitioning to a new environment. How can service members and their families best prepare for their overseas tours? A dependent is a person who relies on you for their support. She has some great advice for anyone who will be pcsing to Germany anytime soon. Below are some of our biggest pros and cons of moving to Germany. Others blame it for disrupting local economies and eliminating jobs. For one thing, very few of the people stationed where you are can go home for the weekend. You can also ship things to your deployed spouse for free. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. My wife and I had a regular schedule where we FaceTimed her family and mine every single week. One of the biggest benefits of serving overseas is the opportunity to immerse yourself in new and exciting cultures. Program terms and conditions are subject to change at any time without notice. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". As you can see there are a lot of great things about being stationed in Germany. Many of the houses include the story and information behind the service members who lived there when the Pearl Harbor bombing happened. People are more likely to stress about audits than identity theft and nearly as likely as they are to worry about having enough money or missing the filing deadline. Why? In our last PCS I was forced to do that, as I started pre-nursing courses almost immediately after arriving at Ft. Bragg. From cultural immersion to career opportunities, serving abroad has the potential to be an incredibly enriching experience. A cool thing about living overseas is that travel costs to go to other countries are generally pretty cheap. With the added stress of adapting to a new culture and being away from family, it is important to prioritize self-care and find a healthy work-life balance. It really does take several weeks to get over jet lag! Having a citizen's passport eliminates the need for long-stay visas and any questioning about the purpose of your trip during the customs process. (OCONUS = outside the continental United States) I dont suggest these circumstances, but I did gain a certain sense of accomplishment from completing the move (and school) without anything major going wrong. By having several small nations join for one economic purpose, more influence can be exerted on local and global economics. I am so glad you are here. If something were to happen and they had to go to Germany, you are already in the country. These VA Home Loan FAQs ensures Military.com members are fully prepared to take advantage of this exclusive benefit. That was another thing that kinda stopped me in my tracks. The festivals areso much fun and are a great way to spend an afternoon or evening. If youre anything like me though, youll at least learn just enough to get by saying, Hello, good morning, thank you, excuse me, and Id like two beers please.. Know what a VAT form is and how it can save you money. Pros: Germany's food costs are reasonable. "I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. We did travel when we could and left Germany feeling like we did get to see a lot of different unique places. Just travel as much as you can because you will not get this kind of opportunity in your life again. Schools generally charge a small administration fee, but other than that, it's f-r-e-e! Whether through texting, phone calls, facetime, email, or even regular letters, staying connected to your support network can help to ease the feelings of loneliness and isolation. Germany was my first experience with the Army and my first experience living on an Army post. Otherwise, you can obtain dual citizenship by marrying someone who is a citizen of a different country than yourself, or by being naturalized as a citizen in a different country. Before our PCS to Hawaii, I was worried about not being accepted. While I was in Okinawa, Japan, I TDYd to the mainland of Japan, Guam, Alaska, and Australia. If you travel frequently between the two countries, this might be especially useful since property ownership might offer a more economical way to live in two places. I even have experience with German culture, from doing Bavarian folk dancing and taking over four years of German language courses. "Advice about Possible Loss of U.S. You are not rushed out in the same way. I had little babies and toddlers when I was there. It looks nothing like English, and it almost feels like youve been immersed in a cartoon when you get into the country. Get the scoop on discounts, pay, benefits, and our latest award-winning content. Connect with Malori on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook! I guess it is because I know I will be in the United States for the rest of my life and I knew my time in Europe would be over someday. You mean I have to pay for that? Being a little closer to thewar zone has itsbenefits. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our. Some countries also offer citizenship based on ancestry. In Mississippi, New Jersey, and Oregon, a commission reduction may be available at closing. For example, in the United States, there are more than a few states where you can't legally pay employees monthly or that limit which employees can be paid monthly. But my pride got the best of me and I struggled big time with adjusting. Remember, accepting an overseas assignment comes with an additional service commitment that will require you to stay for anywhere from 2-4 years before you can PCS which can feel like a long time. Honestly, there is not a lotof good information out there about PCSing to Europe. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. For most people, the complicated process of gaining citizenship requires the help of an immigration lawyer. I purchase a lot of clothing here. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Five days after graduation, I was on the Patriot Express to Ramstein, Germany; final destination, USAG Wiesbaden. The more complicated answer is how the amount is calculated. Duty stations overseas are also a lot smaller overall than those in the US. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. Do whatever it takes to stay motivated. "N-400, Application for Naturalization. I Am A Citizen of Another Country. Better average education levels Free college education may lower the wage gap Lower unemployment rates Higher average salaries Overall GDP may increase Higher tax revenue Can be regarded to increase fairness levels Social benefits from better education Pressure on students may decrease Students would be better able to focus on their studies One benefit of dual citizenship that is often cited is the ability of an individual to possess two passports; however, a potential drawback is the possibility of double taxation. When we were in Germany I felt so as though the post was where my life was and looked at the German community as a different type of place. You will find that the cost of living in Germany is much better for most households of any size compared to what you would pay to live somewhere like Boston, New York City, or even Chicago. Dual citizens can receive the benefits and privileges offered by each country where they are a citizen. It also helps to meet your neighbors and to make at least one close friend with whom you can commiserate and go through this unique experience together. Depending on your career field, youll be more likely to engage in armed conflict in a war zone while you are overseas. That pretty much means if you have one beer and drive home, you could get a DUI in Japan. I knew we were in for the adventure of a lifetime, but I did not have proper expectations of what that entirely meant. The amount of the fee depends on what application you use and your filing category. Beer everywhere. Yet I always have this underlying belief that this time Ill be more efficient. Although there are a lot of great places to visit within a days drive of where we are in Tennessee I dont feel like I always have to be visiting them. Children have a certain innocence about them when it comes to the world. Those opportunities are first offered to those stationed overseas. The Big Island is my favorite and taking a helicopter tour over a live volcano is near the top of my all-time best experiences list! I would have never seen those places if I had not been stationed overseas. Jobs at military bases overseas are hard to come by for military spouses and they are very competitive. Drawbacks of being a dual citizen include the potential for double taxation, the long and expensive process for obtaining dual citizenship, and the fact that you become bound by the laws of two nations. To apply for naturalization, most individuals file form N-400, the application for naturalization. Itll save a lot of heartache and grief. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Even though I wouldnt consider myself an outdoorsy person, spending time outside picnicking or paddleboarding are enjoyable any time of year with the mild weather. Some people save throughout their entire lifetime to be able to spend just a week in the islands. However, visiting Europe, even for an extended trip, is much different than coming here to live. You basically have your Army family to support you and that is it. Once I learned to appreciate the beauty around me, however, Hawaii quickly became a favorite duty station. They were so cheap. Ah, Hawaii the land of perpetual sunshine and rainbows! These cookies this cookie is used to store the pros and cons of being stationed in germany consent for the weekend your tax return, you overseas. Uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website are fully prepared take. S voter registration age requirements at USA.gov ( at an absolute minimum ) from getting back to them much... Seen those places if I had little babies and toddlers when I was forced to do that it... You for their overseas tours, more influence can be exerted on local global! 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