How Many U.S. Expats Are There Throughout The World? Good Question.

Expat Careers,Living Abroad — Joshua Wood @ 11:02 am

Here are some numbers about U.S. citizens living abroad from an article on Foxnews Latino. According to the article, “between 2.2 million to 6.8 million Americans live in another country.” What a wide range:

The authors conceded that coming up with a number of Americans overseas “is a significant challenge.”

“Unlike many countries, the United States does not require its citizens to register a place of residence, either in the United States or abroad,” the report said. “Further, there is no longer a central database against which to calculate U.S. citizen departures. Nevertheless most estimates do show an upward trend over time.”

Estimates of how many Americans become expatriates each year varies widely, with ranges from 18,000 to 45,000, the report said.

We’ll often get questions about the number of U.S. citizens that live abroad, and this is as good as any explanation I’ve read before.

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Which Countries Do Professionals Most Covet?

Expat Careers,Expat Trends,Living Abroad,Work Abroad — Joshua Wood @ 12:20 pm

Curious about the countries that professional expats – and wannabe expats – find most desirable? Well, look no further! The Hydrogen Group has developed research that shows the U.S. as the most popular destination, with the U.K. and Australia following as 2 and 3, respectively. Here is a release about the Global Professionals research from Reuters via Yahoo:

Worries about Britain’s fragile economy, high household bills and squeezed wages were eclipsed by its growing reputation as a centre for fast-expanding technology companies, the poll said.

The United States held on to its status as the most popular location for professionals moving overseas, followed by Britain, Australia, Singapore, Canada and Switzerland.

“The United States is still the dominant force, but the UK is definitely on the march,” said Dan Fox of recruitment company Hydrogen, which commissioned the survey of 2,000 people in 90 countries.

You can read the full report here: Global Professionals on the Move – 2013.

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Retiring Abroad and Working

Expat Careers,Expat Entrepreneurs,Expat Lifestyle,Expat Tax & Finance,Expat Trends,Expats and Economy,Living Abroad,Retirement Abroad,Work Abroad — Joshua Wood @ 1:07 pm

ExpatExchange got some ink from the New York Times on Wednesday, in an article about Making a Move Abroad, and Working There, Too:

There’s a wide range of jobs that globe trotters may consider. Of course, there’s the possibility of accepting contract assignments from former employers. And there are often positions available to teach English, work as a translator, lead English-speaking tours, or work at hotels that cater to English-speaking travelers, according to Betsy Burlingame, founder of ExpatExchange.com, a leading Web site on international living.

This is a great article, as it covers a trend that is unlikely to change: people will need to work later into life. I think those that are able are likely to find a way to enjoy it, too – if you don’t have a choice, why let it ruin your life? Retiring abroad is adventurous and offers great opportunities – international experiences – that can’t be had at home. It won’t always be fun and games, but what is? So many people don’t have a choice, or they want to move overseas, and they are finding fun, rewarding lives abroad.

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Can’t We Get THIS Expat A Ballot?

British Expats,Expats and Politics,Living Abroad,World Events — Joshua Wood @ 9:43 am

A British expat who fought in World War II lost the most recent chapter in his battle to win the right to vote in UK elections for long-term expats, as noted on the BBC’s website. Harry Shindler lives in Italy, and has for quite some time, and he continues fight a UK law that limits suffrage to those who have lived in the UK within the last 15 years:

In its judgement, the Court determined that the UK was entitled to confine the vote to those citizens with a “close connection” to the UK and those “who would be most directly affected by its laws”.

Given that Mr Shindler would be able to vote if he returned to live in the UK, it ruled that the current laws did not infringe the “very essence” of his rights to take part in free elections.

It noted that different countries had different rules about eligibility for elections and it was important that they should be given leeway to do so as long as they “struck a fair balance”.

One can argue about the merits of the law itself, but doesn’t something seem amiss when a CITIZEN who fought for the UK in the most horrific war in history can’t even vote? Can’t the PM or the Queen or someone else with political mojo step in and get this guy a ballot?

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Credit For Expats Still Problematic

Expat Banking,Expat Package,Expat Tax & Finance,Living Abroad,Moving Overseas — Joshua Wood @ 1:39 pm

Expats continue to face a challenge getting credit when they move abroad. This can make the simplest financial services, such as getting a bank account, very difficult and source of great frustration for a lot of people when they move abroad. A recent article about expats and credit on WSJ.com re-examines the issues involved:

U.S. lenders rely heavily on credit reports and scores, more so than in other countries, relocation experts say. That reliance can pose challenges for returning expatriates and foreign nationals whose companies bring them to the U.S.

“Even though we are in a global marketplace, the credit marketplace is still very segmented by country,” with different rules and standards, says Maxine Sweet, vice president of public education at credit bureau Experian.

That means your credit experience in one country isn’t shared when you move to another country. The result: Even senior foreign nationals on assignment to the U.S. often “cannot open a bank account or get a line of credit,” says Ed Hannibal, North American mobility leader at consulting firm Mercer.

Expat finance will always be a critical aspect of expat life, and it’s one that should be addressed before moving overseas. Too many expats assume that financial services will be just like they were in their country, and that is just not the case.

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Culture Shock Report: Bolivia

British Expats,Expats and Culture,Living Abroad,Repatriation — Joshua Wood @ 12:48 pm

Here’s an excerpt from a great Culture Shock Report. Actually, it’s written by an expat in Bolivia that isn’t experiencing much culture shock at all:

What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?

Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia

Did you receive any cross-cultural training for your move abroad? If yes, was it before or after the move?

No, but as a Graduate Teacher of Spanish, French, and English as a Foreign Language , I first lived abroad (Spain) in 1976, and am currently a resident in Spain again after returning from Bolivia in 2010. I have been teaching for some 33 years now, half that time in Spain, so for me adjusting wasn’t a problem.

If they speak another language in your new country, do you speak the language?

Yes, Spanish, which I had studied at University and have been teaching for over 30 years.

Were you worried or concerned about culture shock before you moved abroad?

Not at all! For me I get “reverse culture shock” on the few occasions I have returned to live temporarily back in the UK!

How significant was the culture shock you experienced when you moved abroad?

Insignificant, having been residing in Spain for more than 20 years, my move to Bolivia was much easier than for most. Some uneasiness about South America but I had spent 4 months in Colombia earlier in the same year I went out to Bolivia (2009) so I had a good idea of what to expect and was much more confident.

Expats often talk about going through the “stages of culture shock.” Do you feel like you went through these or any other stages as you settled into the new culture?

Having been divorced from my British ex-wife for more than 20 years, and used to being alone, I didn’t experience any of these stages. Of course it helps that I am totally immersed in the Spanish way of life, food, customs, and speak the language fluently!

Do you have any advice or thoughts about culture shock you would like to share?

Learn the language!! Immerse yourself into the lifestyle of the locals. Keep a low profile, especially at the beginning of your stay, and if you don’t speak the language. Keep on your guard, as a “Gringo” you are going to stand out like a sore thumb, so some people will inevitably try and take advantage of that, either by attempting to trick you out of your money, or other items, to robbery or worse.

So, this continues our theme this week of blog posts that highlight the importance of cross-cultural training. Have you shared your experiences with Culture Shock?

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Cross-Cultural Training is Important!

Expat Careers,Expat Counseling,Expat Package,Expats and Culture,Living Abroad,Work Abroad — Joshua Wood @ 10:32 am

A recent article on expats and the importance of cross-cultural training has an almost nostalgic feel to it. Ten years ago, articles like this one from Chron.com (Houston Chronicle) were a dime a dozen. Not so much anymore. We need to be reminded that culture shock can be avoided! Here’s a brief excerpt from the Chron.com article:

Studies have shown that the faster an employee can adapt to the new country and culture, the more productive that employee is likely to be. By engaging the employee’s family in the same intercultural training, the easier it is for all to adjust to life in the foreign country, thus increasing the chances of a successful assignment.

Conversely, the failure of an employee and/or family to adjust to life in the host country often results in assignment failure, which translates into financial loss for the company.

So, if people who take the time to get cross-cultural training do adapt more readily to a new country and culture, it’s probably not a bad thing to have articles such as these to remind us every once in a while. I do understand how some people tire of them, but I disagree that they are unnecessary. Expats need to be reminded, and HR staff need to be reassured that they are funding worthwhile services.

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Expats in Boston Weather A Tough Week

British Expats,Expat Security,Living Abroad,World Events — Joshua Wood @ 11:28 am

Expats in Boston are offering some of their thoughts about what it has been like for them over the course of the last week. Here are some snippets about one expat in Boston during the week of the Boston bombing as detailed on Telegraph.co.uk:

Many of the runners and spectators at the scene on Monday were from Britain, including Becky Wall and Will Bowry, who teach at the British School of Boston…

Bowry, 29, was born in Scotland and lived in England – including stints in London and Suffolk – before moving to Boston…

He was quickly ushered from the scene, shocked but unhurt…

“I have lived in Boston for six months and there’s a real sense of strength and the ability of Bostonians to be able to overcome this vile and cowardly atrocity,” he said.

“People are getting back to work. I was in London during the 7/7 bombings and there is the same sense that the city will not be defeated.”

I was living and working in New York City on 9/11 and its aftermath, and I felt the same sentiments offered by Will in the above article. These people that perpetrate such horrendous acts think that they can intimidate our society, but it has the exact opposite effect. Nothing brings together Americans and the British, as individual countries and as allies, than an attack against one, the other or both.

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Push To Reform Overseas Taxation For Expats Continues

Expat Tax & Finance,Expats and Politics,Living Abroad — Joshua Wood @ 12:37 pm

A recent article by TheHill.com examines the push for expatriate tax relief proposals before the House Ways and Means Committee. This initiative has largely been driven by American Citizens Abroad. Here is an excerpt:

Letters are pouring in to the House Ways and Means Committee from as far away as Australia, Germany and Bahrain from citizens who say the IRS inflicts a particularly cruel form of punishment on them for living abroad.

“For the simple tax situation of one wage and some interest income, my 2012 U.S. tax return, with supporting documentation, is 28 pages!” an American living in Australia wrote to the House committee. “I muddle through as best I can, spending dozens of hours each year on it.”

Here is more in an article about the overseas tax initiative on Yahoo!. Here’s hoping that the Ways and Means Committee is truly open to finding a fair and balanced approach to overseas taxation for American expats!

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Expats in South Korea Quietly Track North Korean Provocations

Expat Security,Expats and Politics,Living Abroad,World Events — Joshua Wood @ 10:00 am

Expats in South Korea continue to contend with aggressive posturing from North Korea, and last week we shared one expat’s thoughts about the Korean situation. CNN wrote an article about the same time that also included thoughts from expats in the Asian nation:

U.S. teacher Vincent E. Van Wattum, originally from Connecticut, has worked in Gyeongju, South Korea, at a boys’ high school for the past two years. Despite global unease over spiraling tensions on the peninsula, he says he and his colleagues remain largely unmoved by recent events.

“Reactions are non-existent at the moment,” he said. “My co-teachers and I have never discussed it and it never comes up among Koreans in general conversation.”

However, he acknowledges that a moment of nervousness did lead him to take some precautions.
“I was (slightly) scared the other day when I thought I heard air raid sirens going off on my way home from school,” he said.

“Just in case, I packed a light bag, ready with my passport, some cash and a change of clothes ready to go if I need to get out of Dodge.”

There are a few other comments from expats that are worth reading, as they capture details about what expats might do should a true emergency present itself.

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