giovannijoe
12/1/2016 23:56 EST
Hi, my gf who is a doctor in Trinidad has had a setback in medical exams needed to practice in the States. Its looking more like I will have to move to Trinidad to be with her, which I am totally open to.
Of course to live there permanently I have several reservations that frankly I don't have during the annual carnival time visit, Cost of living (why are electronics so expensive), safety ( namely locals taking advantage of "Yankee boys"), bureaucracy (can this New Yorker ever get used to hours to get personal matters done in POS), transport (stuck in traffic all morning and no uber), and of course employment opportunities...(is the island forever tied to the rise and fall of oil and gas prices)?
Gripes aside, I don't know how to begin in a relo effort.
I am a well compensated IT person in an MBA program that can be completed remotely.
Visas, work permits, ex-pat recruitment, how might this all work? My US social security, investments, taxes, what happens with all of that?
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OhChuts
12/2/2016 07:20 EST
Seems to me that the easier option is for you to marry her and both live in the US. Your job should easily be able to support the two of you while she goes through the process of overcoming that setback and getting her US citizenship. As you rightly said it takes hours to get anything administrative done in TnT.
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giovannijoe
12/4/2016 21:56 EST
Thanks for the reply. I wish I could say it was that easy. I respect the time she put into her medical career and would not want her to give that up. The set back basically means she wont be able to apply in the US...ever really. You only have a few years out of med school to apply for residencies in the US.
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OhChuts
12/5/2016 07:40 EST
Would she be allowed to work as a PA in the US? They do almost as much as a full doctor.
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giovannijoe
12/17/2016 16:28 EST
No, nothing is transferable. She'd have to go to PA school. And those schools, while testing is easier, are actually even more competitive not surprisingly.
But, I'd really like to get some details on where to look for the right info about an American moving to Trini, to at least give it a shot.
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stephylynn
12/17/2016 21:14 EST
Hey there,
I just recently "moved" to Trinidad a month ago. Because I am not a citizen and only have my passport, I have to touch down in the US every 3 months. Will you be using your marital status to gain citizenship? If so, that should take care of your work permit question. However, since you have a job you can work remotely, that shouldn't be an issue. As far as assets and investments, I left mine in the US market. Vehicles here are expensive. Is your wife a returning resident? If so, you can probably ship your car or purchase a right steering car and have it shipped, but look up import taxes etc. Electronics are expensive because they're all imported. Ship via boat as much as you can. That's what I will do if I decide to make a permanent move.
I'm giving Trinidad a trial period. So far so good. The culture and atmosphere is very relaxed. I've been traveling using the maxi and taxi/drivers to get me around. It's very cheap. Being from Jersey originally, I understand not wanting to stand out as a yankee! I usually have a friend or my boyfriend with me to make sure I'm not paying more for things than what I should. For a while I wouldn't speak because I didn't want to stick out too much. Customer service is not the best. So be prepared for that. I don't take it personal. I brace for it and plan accordingly. Crime is high, but I'm sure your wife and friends will direct you to where you should go etc. If you're from NY, I'd assume you'd know how to get around a metropolitan area.
When do you plan on coming?
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