What do I need to know about pet shipping to Mexico, pet travel to Mexico and pet transport to Mexico?
Ian T. Clement - Clement and Associates
When you travel to Mexico with your pets, you will need to have a letter from your home vet stating that the dog is not sick, doesn’t have any diseases, and is sound enough to travel abroad. That’s very important. Also, upon crossing back into the States or wherever you’re going, you’re going to want a Mexican vet to do a clean bill of health so your pet can go back to its home country.
I’ve seen people whose dogs and...
When you travel to Mexico with your pets, you will need to have a letter from your home vet stating that the dog is not sick, doesn’t have any diseases, and is sound enough to travel abroad. That’s very important. Also, upon crossing back into the States or wherever you’re going, you’re going to want a Mexican vet to do a clean bill of health so your pet can go back to its home country.
I’ve seen people whose dogs and cats have been sequestered at the airport upon coming in to Mexico. It can be really traumatic for the dog or the cat, and they can basically just be kept waiting until you get the letter from the vet. That can certainly give a dog or a cat a panic attack- to be in a strange place and be held by strange people for an indefinite amount of time. Sometimes they don’t ask for the letter from the vet, but normally they do. You’re better off just having the letter on hand.
There’s no difference between bringing your pet as a visitor, or as a resident; it’s the same.
What's the best strategy for asset protection and wealth preservation offshore?
Mike Cobb - ECI Development
Offshore asset protection is the highest form of protection a US citizen can have. Even with the disclosures on the 8938 and other IRS tax forms, privacy is greatly enhanced when assets are held offshore. An offshore trust is a powerful asset protection tool when used correctly.
The best strategy for offshore asset protection is a custom plan that takes into account your total assets, the location of them, your risk profile for lawsuits, your age,...
Offshore asset protection is the highest form of protection a US citizen can have. Even with the disclosures on the 8938 and other IRS tax forms, privacy is greatly enhanced when assets are held offshore. An offshore trust is a powerful asset protection tool when used correctly.
The best strategy for offshore asset protection is a custom plan that takes into account your total assets, the location of them, your risk profile for lawsuits, your age, family structure and generational planning.
How easy would it be for me to find a job in Nicaragua?
Carla Fjeld - Ola Verde SA
Finding a job in just any sector in Nicaragua would not be easy. However, I can think of two sectors in which there are many opportunities, those being business management and teaching. Teachers certified in the United States can find multiple opportunities in Managua and probably increasingly outside the capital as well. More and more schools are qualifying for certification in the USA and teacher certification is increasingly important. In business management, there are also...
Finding a job in just any sector in Nicaragua would not be easy. However, I can think of two sectors in which there are many opportunities, those being business management and teaching. Teachers certified in the United States can find multiple opportunities in Managua and probably increasingly outside the capital as well. More and more schools are qualifying for certification in the USA and teacher certification is increasingly important. In business management, there are also multiple opportunities, though the salaries may not be competitive with those in the USA. Having said that, the cost of living is much lower, so maybe it all balances out.
Driving in El Valle de Anton is very easy. El Valle is a beautiful little village in the Anton province. It is located in what used to be the crater of an extinct volcano.
During the week there are not a lot of cars in El Valle. On week-ends a lot of wealthy Panamanians go to spend the week-ends there..so there is a bit more traffic those days.
Also for long week-ends you will see a lot more people and cars around the El...
Driving in El Valle de Anton is very easy. El Valle is a beautiful little village in the Anton province. It is located in what used to be the crater of an extinct volcano.
During the week there are not a lot of cars in El Valle. On week-ends a lot of wealthy Panamanians go to spend the week-ends there..so there is a bit more traffic those days.
Also for long week-ends you will see a lot more people and cars around the El Valle area.
Is there racial tension, acceptance or diversity in Portugal?
Carol Bartlett Ribeiro - Carol Bartlett Ribeiro, Property Consultant
There never used to be any racial tension in Portugal, but there is a little bit now. In general, however, compared to a lot of other countries, even though some racial tension exists, it is very minimal.
There’s no discrimination like we have in South Africa but sometimes there are comments. The issues we have here are cultural. Portugal used to have colonies in Mozambique and Angola, so you would hear people asking why certain people do things...
There never used to be any racial tension in Portugal, but there is a little bit now. In general, however, compared to a lot of other countries, even though some racial tension exists, it is very minimal.
There’s no discrimination like we have in South Africa but sometimes there are comments. The issues we have here are cultural. Portugal used to have colonies in Mozambique and Angola, so you would hear people asking why certain people do things certain ways. We’ve had lots black clients from the US embassy, however, and we’ve never ever had problems.
We can also have economic issues. For example, there was a time when the less wealthy Brazilians were migrating and taking jobs as maids or gardeners that the Portuguese would have wanted, so here was some resentment there. But now the level of Brazilians who are coming into the country are the wealthy Brazilians who want to get out of Brazil because of the corruption and because of the criminalities. Well, criminalities always been in Brazil but it’s a lot worse now, so that’s why the wealthy Brazilians are getting out. So it all have to do with what level of people are migrating and if they’re competing for jobs.
(Portuguese air force during the 1960's in Luanda Air Base, Angola, pictured.)
Will Belize make me pay income tax on money I earn outside of Belize?
Virginia Krohn - Villa Cayo Belize
No, Belize will not make you pay taxes on money you earn outside of Belize. You could have passive income from a rental property or income from a US consulting or internet business and the money could come to you in Belize tax free because it is not earned income in Belize. Please check with a lawyer for accurate information pertinent to you.
If you have income in the States you could leave your money there, transfer your money...
No, Belize will not make you pay taxes on money you earn outside of Belize. You could have passive income from a rental property or income from a US consulting or internet business and the money could come to you in Belize tax free because it is not earned income in Belize. Please check with a lawyer for accurate information pertinent to you.
If you have income in the States you could leave your money there, transfer your money to a Belize money exchanger or you could put it in an offshore account if you’re not a citizen. You cannot have an offshore account if you are a citizen of Belize. On a side note, you cannot have more than $10,000BZ on you at any one time. So you wouldn’t want to go to your money exchanger and have them convert US $10,000 into BZ $20,000 because if you get involved in a traffic incident or are stopped by the police for any reason and they discover it, they can confiscate it.
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.
Whether you live across town or across the country, this is the same as being in a distant land. Our world is huge but still small and new technology makes it smaller still, easier than ever to stay up front and personal with family and friends.
This morning I laughed and talked with my grandson, age seven and granddaughter, age four. Their mother and father continued with the morning regime, making breakfast. I love SKYPE, as it keeps them alive and us in love with their...
Good roads leave no traces in the memory – smooth, seamless, without jarring bumps or sudden twists, they are the silent asphalt arteries that carry us from one place to another as we go about our daily lives, never calling attention to themselves. Not so with bad roads. A bad road, like a bad marriage, feels endless, terminal, and impossible to escape, even years later.
I have seen many bad roads around the world. Some in Central America are...