People often always like to overcomplicate things.
I’m guilty of this myself in the past…
For example, the American way of life is just flat-out complicated.
Every little contract that you need in order to live just adds up over time to make life full of headaches.
Water bill.
Trash bill.
Electricity bill.
Cell phone plan.
Cable plan.
Car payment.
Mortgage.
Just some of the many ways that keeps people “plugged in” to the system. Ultimately, it makes them a slave…
This leads me to…
A question comes in:
Basically, what did it take for you to legally leave the country, enter a new one and start working, etc. Tax info maybe? Just an idea of what maybe me and some other people might wanna know about ecom expat life
Now, this is not actually difficult to do.
If you live in America, we are still a free country. You don’t need to do anything to leave other than be in possession of a passport and a plane ticket.
As far as getting to a new country, that’s relatively easy, too. You can enter on a tourist visa in most places for at least 30 days. As Americans, it’s often 90.
Now, you can’t legally work while on a tourist visa.
But working on the internet on your online business is a bit of a grey area that nobody except the USA seems to care much about. Thailand doesn’t care if you do web design while you come in and do tourism for thirty days. They want you to make money and spend it there in Thailand.
Now, working for an actual company…i.e.being gainfully employed by an American-owned company in Thailand…
That’s a big no-no.
Naturally, you have to apply for an actual work visa, go through that process, etc, etc.
As far as “remote work”.
This seems to be something that is, again, a grey area.
You get hired by a western company for a “remote position”, meaning you can work anywhere you want. Some people choose to just do it from the comfort of their home. Some people choose to travel the world while doing it. Again, it’s a grey area. But I think most second or third world countries are happy to have western dollars being spent there, in most cases…and typically turn the blind eye.
I think this is a great route for many people – if you don’t want to be a business owner.
That’s why I’ve gone into great lengths for this month’s edition of “Trouble Times”, including a nearly-2,000 word interview with someone who has extensive experience in the remote work space.
I’m also going to break down the tax implications of living abroad.
(Hint: if you live abroad, you automatically have until June 15th…)
Which is why, if you want this information, you need to get over to the link below and get in before the looming May 17th deadline.
Boogeyman Uncle Sam Tax Thief is coming for you, after all…
Last thing:
I’m not a lawyer and these are merely one man’s musings.
I would guess that most SEA countries have an equivalent to the US in various forms of entrepreneurs’ visas. In the US if you have a business plan and a few tens of thousands of $$ worth to invest in it you can get a visa. Venture to guess that the same exist elsewhere. If you are an owner of capital and builder of wealth and will pay taxes you are in.
Excellent comment, the freelancer visa is usually the easiest, by far.