More and more Americans are deciding to move to other countries. For the most part, Americans who move abroad wind up being very happy living in other countries. There are still things that you should know about the process, though. Take a look at the following four things you need to know as an American expatriate.
You might not be aware of this, but US citizens who move abroad are still required to file taxes. This is true even if you’re already paying taxes in the new country that you’re living in. American expatriate taxes can be hard to grasp at first and it’s worth talking with an expert. This will bring you up to speed so that you can ensure that you’re doing everything right.
So what should you do about social security now that you have moved abroad? Well, the United States has many agreements in place that will allow you to only pay social security taxes to one of the two governments in question. You will want to take advantage of this if possible. The countries that are part of this deal include Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, and Chile.
Your American driver’s license isn’t necessarily going to transfer over to your new country. This means that you might have to reapply and take certain driving tests in this country. The process shouldn’t be difficult, but some Americans are not aware of the need to do this. Make sure that you do things properly and don’t drive in a new country until you know that it’s legal for you to do so.
People who have only experienced the American healthcare system might be surprised by how things work elsewhere. Your American health insurance plan won’t cover you in many parts of the world. If you become a citizen of your new country, then you might be able to enjoy a version of universal health care. In some situations, it’s going to be best to look into global healthcare policies.