Author Topic: My retirement blog.  (Read 233001 times)

[email protected]

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Re: My retirement blog.
« Reply #375 on: February 18, 2019, 09:41:42 am »
forgot to mention, it is practice in multiple countries, including South Africa that in certain circumstances, should you income be subject to a tax in another jurisdiction, you may be entitled to a tax credit/rebate on the tax paid (or notionally paid) in the other jurisdiction.  Intention of this is a further effort to eliminate double taxation.

Once again, you need to refer to local Portuguese legislation and once again I encourage you to seek the appropriate tax advice.

Orca

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Re: My retirement blog.
« Reply #376 on: February 18, 2019, 10:03:25 pm »
forgot to mention, it is practice in multiple countries, including South Africa that in certain circumstances, should you income be subject to a tax in another jurisdiction, you may be entitled to a tax credit/rebate on the tax paid (or notionally paid) in the other jurisdiction.  Intention of this is a further effort to eliminate double taxation.

Once again, you need to refer to local Portuguese legislation and once again I encourage you to seek the appropriate tax advice.

Mr vz. Remember me from the other forum where I am known as "Shampoo"? That's me pretending to be my wife as she is not pc literate. Anyway, you go. The best tax CA in this business.
« Last Edit: February 18, 2019, 10:26:29 pm by Orca »
I started here with nothing and still have most of it left.

[email protected]

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Re: My retirement blog.
« Reply #377 on: February 19, 2019, 08:55:58 am »
lots of incorrect assumptions in that post....... :))

Orca

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Re: My retirement blog.
« Reply #378 on: March 05, 2019, 10:46:41 pm »
The stress has started once again. Moving countries twice in just over 4 years is taxing and the first one was severe enough.

We sold all our SA belongings to come to Portugal and had to re equip our home here only to sell it all again at rock bottom prices.

Finding movers was stressful as they charge from € 720 to € 2 000.00 for the same amount of stuff. We eventually found it cheaper to sell our appliances and not use Home Movers. Baggage Forwarding is so much cheaper at € 40 per 40 kg door to door. Not much more than baggage on flights but then it is not door to door and has a 23 to 30 kg weight restriction.

We are now packed for the pickup. No TV. No appliances so camping out here waiting for our flight out. Two weeks to go. Luckily we have not had winter this year so no heating is needed.
 

 
I started here with nothing and still have most of it left.

bw

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Re: My retirement blog.
« Reply #379 on: March 06, 2019, 10:06:04 am »
Orca, may your move and especially your adjustment to the new environment go well. 10 out of 10 for your willingness to adapt

Captaindura

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Re: My retirement blog.
« Reply #380 on: March 27, 2019, 07:59:05 pm »
Great idea. I personally long to venture full-time into the stock market when I  retire, so this retirement blog is quite an inspiration. Keep it on even in your travels and other endeavors, for the sake of newbies and your other fans like myself. I like following your progress

Orca

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Re: My retirement blog.
« Reply #381 on: March 27, 2019, 10:51:59 pm »
Thanks captain for the heads up. We eventually abandoned our appliances and furnishings in Portugal and left for the UK. The landlord's wife came to check and was very happy to accept the apartment as is.

EasyJet staff at Porto airport almost refused my wife to board the flight as she had no visa and it took me 45 minutes of arguing before they phoned the UK head office and let us through customs. EasyJet is just a glorified taxi service with no idea of immigration regulations with staff on minimum wage.

Arrival in Bristol was just as bad. The black clad customs official reminded me of the Nazi SS Gestapo who also would not allow her in. Took me another 30 minutes of arguing until he went to his superiors to hopefully confirm his decision but came back only to say "Enjoy your stay".  :))

Now we are in Monmouth Wales with our eldest daughter waiting for our home purchase in Cirencester to finalise. It has been 5 full months so far and seems never ending. Our 2 large suitcases have been delivered to our other daughter in Cirencester at last after some sweat.

Our kids have clubbed in and bought us a beautiful bedroom suite with bedding, curtains and all one would need in a bedroom. So sweet of them.

Our investments are bad but not yet in dire straights but should SA be downgraded we will certainly feel the pinch and no more nightly tipples and restaurants for us. The UK is very expensive as it is compared to Portugal. We will prevail no matter what.

The red tape will begin soon once again.



 
I started here with nothing and still have most of it left.

Mr_Dividend

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Re: My retirement blog.
« Reply #382 on: April 01, 2019, 11:12:39 am »
Am I understanding this right - your wife (on an SA passport) was let in with no visa at all? On the basis of your EU passport?

Orca

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Re: My retirement blog.
« Reply #383 on: April 01, 2019, 07:14:30 pm »
No Mr Divi. My SA wife was issued with an Article 10 Residency Card in Portugal due to my Finnish citizenship and the card can be used in lieu of a visa for any EU member state.

Check if you need a visa. https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa/y/south-africa

No matter if you choose "tourism" or "long stay" it says that she does not need a visa. EasyJet and UK customs and immigration did not know this. This makes it impossible for my wife to get a visa as the website will not allow it yet the staff knew better.

It is important to know that an Article 10 RC is issued under EU regulations and only applies to the spouse of an EU country citizen when settling in an EU country of which the citizen is not a national of.

For instance, if you are a Portuguese citizen and bring your wife to Portugal then she will be issued with a Residency Permit under the Portuguese Domestic Law and not an EU regulated Residency Card. The Permit is only valid within Portugal.

Should you relocate to Spain then she would be issued with the Article 10 Residency Card under EU Law.
I started here with nothing and still have most of it left.

Mr_Dividend

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Re: My retirement blog.
« Reply #384 on: April 01, 2019, 09:06:45 pm »
Very interesting - had been doing a bit of research and had not heard of that before. House should be going on the market in a couple of weeks - then 6 months (or longer) of traveling around SE Asia before deciding where to settle for a bit - either Portugal or UK - but might look elsewhere and BREXIT depending.

Orca

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Re: My retirement blog.
« Reply #385 on: April 02, 2019, 08:41:17 am »
Here is an email I received from HO yesterday:

HOME OFFICE

1 April 2019

 
To over 3.5 million EU citizens who have made the UK their home: you are our friends, our neighbours and our colleagues, and our country is all the better for it.

Whilst our future relationship with the EU is uncertain and I understand the anxiety this may cause, I want you to know how much we want you to stay regardless of whether the UK leaves the EU with or without a deal.

EU Settlement Scheme fully open

The EU Settlement Scheme is now officially open. This means that the rights you and your family currently have, including access to employment, healthcare, benefits and pensions, are protected – so you can continue to live your lives as you do now. After a successful launch on Saturday, more than 50,000 applications were made over the weekend. This brings the total number of applications to over 280,000.

Applying to the EU Settlement Scheme is completely free, and the Home Office’s aim is to make it as simple and straightforward as possible. All you need to do is complete a three-step application with a laptop, tablet or mobile device to prove your identity, confirm you live in the UK and declare any criminal convictions.

Let me be clear, we are looking for reasons to grant people status and we want everyone to get the status they are eligible to receive.

Support for everyone

As Home Secretary, I’m determined that no-one is left behind. That is why up to £9m has been made available for supporting more vulnerable people, whether they are homeless, elderly, disabled or unaware of the Scheme so far, to make an application. For those without access to a computer, or lacking the skills or confidence to use one, there will be assistance available in Assisted Digital locations across the country.

The Scheme has already been thoroughly tested. Nearly four out of five of those who have applied did not need to provide any additional evidence or send in their documents for checking.

There are now multiple routes for providing an identity document. For example, you can use the ID Document Check app from the comfort of your own home, post your document to us, or visit one of the many locations where documents can be scanned and verified. We have 1,500 specially trained staff on hand to assess your application.

ID check app on Apple devices

I know many of you will have read that it is currently not possible to use the ID document check app to verify identity on Apple devices. I’ve had numerous conversations with Apple at the highest levels to ensure everyone can use the app. Together we’ve been working hard to find a solution that will allow the app to work on their devices. I’m pleased to confirm that Apple will be making the necessary changes and the app will be working on their mobile and tablet devices by the end of the year.

We’re committed to ensuring that people in every corner of the UK know what they need to do to secure their status. A £3.75m nationwide marketing campaign is encouraging people to apply now, and you may have already seen the adverts in your local area.

We have worked hard to ensure this Scheme provides EU citizens with the certainty they want, and we are confident that it will be a success.

Please do make sure your EU citizen friends and family know about the Scheme. To find out more go to GOV.UK.
 

Yours sincerely,

Rt Hon Sajid Javid
I started here with nothing and still have most of it left.

Orca

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Re: My retirement blog.
« Reply #386 on: April 07, 2019, 01:02:01 pm »
Just some feedback from my daughter's application for Settled Status. She has been in the UK for 10 years.

She downloaded the "EU EXIT" app from Google Play Store to her phone. The instructions are very simple to follow and even has pictures. It took less than 10 minutes to upload her passport and other documents were not required as the system picked up her presence over the years on the NHS and tax history.

It then directed her to the "Application" website that can be done on the same phone or a laptop. After answering a few questions, she posted it. It is free of charge and no questions are asked about finances or medical insurance.

Two days later an email arrived to state that she was granted Settled Status. The email in itself is not proof of status but a link provided shows her status on the GOV.UK website. Employers and government officials use this link to check for status.

Bear in mind that this is only available to EU members and their non EU family. Non EU applicants must use the UK domestic immigration laws that are so frustrating and expensive.
I started here with nothing and still have most of it left.

Orca

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Re: My retirement blog.
« Reply #387 on: April 19, 2019, 10:31:39 pm »
Preparing to relocate to foreign shores is exiting. New country. Foreign language, strange food and new custom is something to look forward to albeit with some uncertainty.

Arrival and setting up a new home was just as exiting but the next few months of red tape was frustrating. When this was done the new journey began. Exploring the new location, country and food puts one on a high of sorts and is rejuvenating. We found our utopia at last. Or so we thought.

It soon wore off as we could not communicate with people our age as they spoke no English. The food got boring and we missed good old baked beans, fish n chips, ox tail stew, chutney and sweet chilli sauce.

Long story short. We upped and relocated to the UK and living in Wales. We have been here for a month as our home in the Cotswold is not yet ready.

From the day we landed here we felt that we have arrived at home. This is where we belong. This quaint village of Wyesham is nestled in the valley of Forest of Dean. Luscious green hills and dales lined with forests and sheep farms with Hobbit homes. A Harry Potter scene.

Our neighbours speak English to us and we can go to the library at long last. We can understand what food we are buying.

I knew I had made the right decision when I saw my wife staring out the window at the pretty snow clad hills and she had a continuous smile on her face. 

 

I started here with nothing and still have most of it left.

Mr_Dividend

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Re: My retirement blog.
« Reply #388 on: April 20, 2019, 03:17:57 pm »
I always think the English downplay how gorgeous much of their countryside is, not sure if they just being polite or they hoping to keep immigrants out! Photos from my trip last year around the South.
BTW you were not tempted to reenter your old friend, CML, at R40 or so?
« Last Edit: April 20, 2019, 03:26:05 pm by Mr_Dividend »

Patrick

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Re: My retirement blog.
« Reply #389 on: April 20, 2019, 08:13:14 pm »
So many beautiful places in the world, I think it's great that you're exploring another.