About giovannijoe

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Some Forum Posts:

Trinidad & Tobago: Moving to Trinidad...Red Alert!!!:

this thread has been helpful. I posted in a separate thread that my gfriend is a medical doctor and was unable to secure a US residency. I've been looking for info on how to move and believe me Google isn't all that helpful. the mere fact that it's difficult to obtain a legit work permit is a nuance that only those who have tried can comment on. my gfriend seems to think with my IT skills and my soon to be MBA degree, I shouldn't have a problem. but who knows. A skilled practitioner like a RN having issues? In my visits to the island for most of my life, most non nationals I've come across where older Europeans with money in hand already. Or folks working off the books or standing up a business. With the unemployment situation, it does only make sense there would be protectionist policies in place. I met a Norwegian fellow who owns property out West down "de islands" and he did tell me once immigration did not allow him back in! But he found that that 3 month rule becomes 6 months if you arrive by ship..hmmm lol. He's looking to just bite the bullet and become a resident. His national benefits won't be lost, but I'm not sure about a US citizen and doubly unsure about any tax treatments. I was contemplating doing a phased move. contract work in the US, spend extended periods in Trini. The idea is you do need to get into that right circle. it not race as much, as someone said, it's class ranks. Culturally, I think what you experience isn't unique. there are places you'd move to within the US and feel the same way, resented. Nothing you can do about that. The beurocracy does kill me though. I was visiting and had an issue with my Digicel Sim card and had to go in POS to get customer service. After 3 hours I was sorted out and issued a credit. But this same issue I could have handled over the phone in the US and done in 10 min....this is the island life tradeoff. You take the good with the bad or you'll be miserable.

Trinidad & Tobago: Where to start.. NYC to TmT:

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?

Date Joined:

12/1/2016

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