How do I transfer funds to my Mexico bank account?
Oscar Hererra - SimplePay
There are three ways you can transfer funds into your Mexico bank account.
The easiest way that I see happening here, although it costs a little bit more out of commission, is PayPal. You can open a PayPal account in Mexico with no issue with any kind of passport or FM2 or FM3, which is a visa saying that they live here permanently.
With a visa that says that you live in Mexico permanently you can open a bank account in Mexico...
There are three ways you can transfer funds into your Mexico bank account.
The easiest way that I see happening here, although it costs a little bit more out of commission, is PayPal. You can open a PayPal account in Mexico with no issue with any kind of passport or FM2 or FM3, which is a visa saying that they live here permanently.
With a visa that says that you live in Mexico permanently you can open a bank account in Mexico and then you can transfer funds from the States such as from your account in Chase or Wells Fargo into PayPal. And then you can take it out from PayPal into your Mexican bank. That is one kind of transfer that I see younger people do and not the older people, perhaps because the younger people are more comfortable with the technology.
If you want to transfer larger amounts you would definitely use your bank and pay an average of $40 for the wire transfer fee.
If an American wants to live in Mexico, and doesn’t want to purchase a home; he just wants to rent and live just like that and not be involved in investments, then you don’t need anything. You could just use cash. If you pay in cash, no one is going to ask you for an FM3, which is a visa that if you want to own something in Mexico, you have to present these documents. That is one of the things that immigration in Mexico doesn’t track very well so anyone can just cross the border either by flying or by car. They can go to Mexico and rent and pay cash and be perfectly fine. In this case, you don’t need a Mexican bank account.
There are lots of volcanoes in Nicaragua, 19 to be precise. Of those, eight are active, and some of them are great for hiking and exploring. One of them, Telica has a once a month full moon hike to the top where you can see the lava and a sunrise. Cerro Negro is a cinder cone famous for the bicycle land speed record set in 2002 by the Frenchman Eric Barone. Today you can slide down on a sled of sorts and try to set your own speed record. I hit 68 km / hr. before...
There are lots of volcanoes in Nicaragua, 19 to be precise. Of those, eight are active, and some of them are great for hiking and exploring. One of them, Telica has a once a month full moon hike to the top where you can see the lava and a sunrise. Cerro Negro is a cinder cone famous for the bicycle land speed record set in 2002 by the Frenchman Eric Barone. Today you can slide down on a sled of sorts and try to set your own speed record. I hit 68 km / hr. before flipping over and tumbling a while in the ash and gravel. 3rd fastest that day.
I call the people who grew up here in Corozal, “Corozalians.” They swim right in the sea in Corozal. However, there isn’t a lush beach there.
We send people to Orchid Bay because there’s a nice beach there. There’s also an infinity pool. But beyond that, there’s not a lot of well-developed beaches in the Corozal area. At Mark Leonard’s property at Cerros Sands, he has developed the area around his...
I call the people who grew up here in Corozal, “Corozalians.” They swim right in the sea in Corozal. However, there isn’t a lush beach there.
We send people to Orchid Bay because there’s a nice beach there. There’s also an infinity pool. But beyond that, there’s not a lot of well-developed beaches in the Corozal area. At Mark Leonard’s property at Cerros Sands, he has developed the area around his property but you can’t compare it to a resort in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, or in Jamaica for example. Those are “10s” and the ones here are “6” or “7.” That’s how I’d put it. People live on the water’s edge here and they swim on their property and some develop their beachfront a little more than others but in terms of public places to go, there’s not much more than Orchid Bay, which is decent. They’ve developed it well on purpose and I think there are plans for further expansion.
In order to get to Orchid Bay or Cerros Sands, you need to take what’s called the Ferry Road from Corozal. You have to cross a ferry, which is really something out of the 1920’s. I call it the Armstrong ferry because the guys crank it by hand 24/7. The ferry is like you’re stepping back a hundred plus years and you’re in the Amazon somewhere. It’s pretty cool. So if you live in Corozal or you want to go to Orchid Bay, it’s going to take you 40 minutes, depending on ferry traffic.
(Picture: Ferry in Belize, courtesy of Grant D'Eall.)
What are the least-expensive countries in which to obtain dual citizenship?
Jay Butler - Asset Protection Services of America
There are only six (6) countries in the world which currently offer "economic citizenship" programs, which are:
The Commonwealth of Dominica ($100,000+)
The Dominican Republic ($200,000+)
St Kitts and Nevis ($250,000+)
New Zealand ($1,300,000+)
Ireland ($1,500,000+)
Austria ($3,000,000+)
Numerous countries offer citizenship by "naturalization" including, but not limited to, Costa Rica,...
There are only six (6) countries in the world which currently offer "economic citizenship" programs, which are:
The Commonwealth of Dominica ($100,000+)
The Dominican Republic ($200,000+)
St Kitts and Nevis ($250,000+)
New Zealand ($1,300,000+)
Ireland ($1,500,000+)
Austria ($3,000,000+)
Numerous countries offer citizenship by "naturalization" including, but not limited to, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Panama and Paraguay.
So, to best answer the question "What are the least expensive countries in which to obtain dual citizenship?" the answer would rely heavily on whether you have the financial means to afford an 'economic citizenship' program or the time to wait for a 'naturalization' program to come to fruition. Generally speaking, economic citizenship programs make second passports available within 3 to 12 months while naturalization programs can take 5 to 7 years.
If the case is the former, then the Commonwealth of Dominica offers visa-free access to 76 countries with a charitable contribution starting at $100,000 for individuals and $175,000 for married couples.
The Dominican Republic offers visa-free access to 40 countries with a $200,000 business investment which "furthers the overall economic value of the Dominican Republic".
And St Kitts and Nevis offers access to over 125 countries through either a charitable contribution to the SIDF (Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation) which runs $250,000 for an individual and begins at $300,000 for married couples, or through the purchase of real property (the minimum investment is $400,000) with government fees running $50,000 for the head of household, $25,000 for the spouse, and an additional $25,000 or $50,000 per child depending on their age.
If the case is the latter, then prices and residency or visitation requirements can vary dramatically. Although your options are more abundant for 'naturalization' programs so too is the demand for you to thoroughly do your research before making a decision. Unfortunately the length of this article will not permit for a comprehensive answer to the least expensive countries in which to obtain dual citizenship by way of naturalization. I would suggest speaking at length to someone qualified to get more details if interested.
Regardless of which jurisdiction best meets your needs, you must be pointed to the specific underlying legal foundation upon which the dual citizenship program is being made available to the public. Meaning, if you are not provided with a section from the constitution, a constitutional amendment or piece of current legislation validating the program then you are likely to become involved in a scam.
Be leery of anyone who tries to sell you a second passport based on adoption, the death of a citizen, or 'special activities' such as an involvement in the film industry, etc. The use of a fraudulent passport is a serious international crime and punishable with long prison sentences in most every participating country.
Lastly, whomever you choose to provide your dual citizenship services, the actual work should be performed by legal counsel on-the-ground in the country wherein you are seeking your second citizenship. Under no circumstances whatsoever should you consider attempting to procure a second passport without competent and reliable legal counsel.
What are the outdoor activities in and around the Panama City, Panama area of San Francisco?
Jean Carlos Jaramillo - Panama SpeciaList
There are very good outdoor activities in the San Francisco, Panama City area. I walk almost every day. Other outdoor activities I'd like to mention include jogging, walking and bicycling at CintaCostera. There are not only nice views while you are working out your body, but the area also has some equipment, like having a gym all the way through the CintaCostera.
Cinta Costera is a huge area located up against the Panama Bay at Balboa...
There are very good outdoor activities in the San Francisco, Panama City area. I walk almost every day. Other outdoor activities I'd like to mention include jogging, walking and bicycling at CintaCostera. There are not only nice views while you are working out your body, but the area also has some equipment, like having a gym all the way through the CintaCostera.
Cinta Costera is a huge area located up against the Panama Bay at Balboa Avenue (the main road) with basketball and tennis courts, soccer fields, and areas for kids to play.
How much do healthcare and medical services cost in Portugal?
Duncan MacGregor - Duncan MacGregor Accounting
In Portugal, we have the national health insurance and the national health system, which is not terribly efficient and it has long waiting lists so it is advisable for people to have private health insurance, which is not expensive.
There are some very good private clinics and hospitals here in the major centers of Portugal. I have a health insurance policy for myself, for my wife, and my three children even though they are adults now. It costs me...
In Portugal, we have the national health insurance and the national health system, which is not terribly efficient and it has long waiting lists so it is advisable for people to have private health insurance, which is not expensive.
There are some very good private clinics and hospitals here in the major centers of Portugal. I have a health insurance policy for myself, for my wife, and my three children even though they are adults now. It costs me €200 (US $218 or £147) a month and it covers basically everything except dental.
(Logo for Pacific Prime, private medical insurance offered in Portugal, pictured.)
These three words are enough to strike fear into any news watching / Internet reading American. We are led to believe that we would either be kidnapped or just plain murdered within minutes of crossing the border. Even Mexicans who lived in the US advised us against driving in Mexico.
So, in order to add some firsthand experiences into the mix, and at the risk of contradicting...
January 2014, I arrived in the early afternoon in Managua airport via United Airlines. After the huge and tedious Houston Airport, the small Nicaraguan airport was a relief. Customs stamped my passport and I paid the $10 fee.
I had reserved a so-called “resort” online for one night in Managua, as well as the Budget car rental. (I am deliberately omitting the name of this hotel for reasons that will become clear soon. I will say, however,...
This is the way to spend a weekend in February! Why fight the cold and the snow? Nicaragua has such great weather in January and February!!
Saturday morning we decided to do a little exploring, so we jumped in the car and headed south about 25 miles from Managua to the town of Diriamba. After stopping at a local fruit stand for some fresh mandarinas and a ripe pineapple we checked out a local coffee farm.