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Post by scumbuster on Aug 14, 2023 13:51:28 GMT -5
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Post by elexpatriado on Aug 15, 2023 8:26:30 GMT -5
I Am going there today to check things out, as the Visa situation in Colombia has become entenable.
Even the way it is, with the Blue and MEP conversion rate,it is a pretty good deal, and inexpensive.
I talked to a few Argentinians, if you have $US, it is a pretty good quality of life, even the way it is.
Anyway, we will see, just one of several options.
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Post by búfalo on Aug 15, 2023 8:43:15 GMT -5
For me Colombia is going down fast. I loved BsAs when I went twice, early 2000s. True I had an advantage as I got there with cash at the same time the economy collaped. Not going anywhere just now so I have time
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Post by elexpatriado on Aug 15, 2023 8:47:01 GMT -5
Decisively- only 33% of the popular vote.
Argentina has a lot of potential-lots of lithuim and shale oil in the Vaca Muerta field
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Post by scumbuster on Aug 15, 2023 8:56:32 GMT -5
Argentina has been on my radar for about 5 years. Going to the dollar might really help the economy but not sure how that will affect the expats going there with dollars. Now seems the ideal situation, with the currency over 100% inflation and everyone wants dollars. The dollars go up in value equil to the inflation rate. If dollars is the national currency it may become less of a financial benifit to go with dollars. It will all depend on how things get priced in dollars if they do adopt the dollar.
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Post by búfalo on Aug 15, 2023 9:07:48 GMT -5
Guy mention powdery drink and 1 meal a day. Should be mate, I follow that routine to shred fat, drinking one right now
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Post by búfalo on Aug 15, 2023 9:08:28 GMT -5
Going to the dollar might really help the economy but not sure how that will affect the expats going there with dollars. Now seems to be the ideal situation as there currency is over 100% inflation and everyone wants dollars. The dollars go up in value equil to the inflation rate. If dollars is the national currency it may become less of a financial benifit to go with dollars. Very true
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Post by búfalo on Aug 15, 2023 9:11:01 GMT -5
But not changing s a short term good thing for going on a vacay. If you go to live now due to being cheap and it doesn't switch - you'll be living richly in a hell hole. Switchingn ill bring the country up so life will improve overall - crime, etc.
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Post by elexpatriado on Aug 15, 2023 9:42:56 GMT -5
Argentina has been on my radar for about 5 years. Going to the dollar might really help the economy but not sure how that will affect the expats going there with dollars. Now seems the ideal situation, with the currency over 100% inflation and everyone wants dollars. The dollars go up in value equil to the inflation rate. If dollars is the national currency it may become less of a financial benifit to go with dollars. It will all depend on how things get priced in dollars if they do adopt the dollar. If they switch, initially there will be a disruption, but eventually it will stabilize and they will do the exchange based on the blue rate, which will mean everybody will be paying the same for goods in dollars they earn as in Pesos. The population cant be hit with another big 100% jump in cost of living. Price of goods wand service will be based on supply and demand, and 99% demand is based on what locals earn and are willingto pay. He may not even get in, and even if he does, he may not be able to dollarize the currency. Just cutting back public sector largesse, union power and corruption, and adopting a business friendly attitude would help Argentina a lot.
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Post by elexpatriado on Aug 15, 2023 9:45:53 GMT -5
But not changing s a short term good thing for going on a vacay. If you go to live now due to being cheap and it doesn't switch - you'll be living richly in a hell hole. Switchingn ill bring the country up so life will improve overall - crime, etc. From what Argentinians whpo are well off tell me, it is closer to paradise than a hell hole. In their opinion, if you have acess to dollars, it is better than Chile. Only their opinion though That was my experience in Bariloche a few yyears back. I amgoingto check out Mendoza BA-now thats a big dirty city
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Post by elexpatriado on Aug 15, 2023 10:01:43 GMT -5
For me Colombia is going down fast. I loved BsAs when I went twice, early 2000s. True I had an advantage as I got there with cash at the same time the economy collaped. Not going anywhere just now so I have time I dont know Colombia is going down fast, now that Petro has proven to be a "Lame Duck" president, cant push his reforms through, and will be out in 3 years. I was thinking June last year that it was nuts to invest a lot of money in a 12% Colombian CDT. But those thst did it made out like robbers. But it could have gone the other way, and inflation and currency devaluation could have hit like in Argentina, if Petro had a lot more power, like Chavez, for example. I wouldnt be doing it long term though. Petro has still done a lot of damage that will come back to haunt Colombia later. Completely sacked Ecopetrol and the Energy Ministry. No new E&P contracts...which will mean Colombias reserves and producton of both oil and gas will drop in about 5 to 7 years, meaning big fiscal problems down the road. For me the big issue is the Visa thing, which has been getting worse and wores every year, and is become completely ludicrous as of last October. Espescially painful for me as a Canadian,withthe convoluted legalization process, and fact I am not eligibe for a Pensionad visa, and have to go for a Rentista, which requires more income and has significantly less benefits. On my last Visa application, the first one that failed after 5 or 6 previous ones, before they considered even granting me a visa, they were trying to get me to back pay my EPS payments for the last 12 months based on 12% of my stated visa income, or about 2 million a month. I dont even use the stupid EPS sytem nor want to be part of it. Can you imagine the Expats moving out of Colombia if they try to force this rule on everyone? I dont know why they are doing this. Maybe because aof a few bad gringos, running webcams with underage women, abusing the EPS system, so they get super greedy ,try to scam more money off of you, and paint all us Expats with the same brush.
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Post by wildstubby on Aug 15, 2023 10:57:48 GMT -5
Living in the US, I see Central and South American countries spinning 180° on a dime with regards to the political climate. It might be "Bienvenidos gringos, bienvenidos!" now and tomorrow its time to 'hasty bananas!' That's kind of the reason I'm staying put. Plus the wife didn't like how much Colombia changed in 3 years.
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Post by scumbuster on Aug 15, 2023 11:03:05 GMT -5
Elex. A very visa friendly country is the Philippines. They speak English and you can stay up to 3 years on a tourist visa. Then just step out of the country and return to start another 3 years again. Like Colombia you can get a mild climate if you go up into the mountains. It seems to be compatible as the cost of living similar to Colombia. Its another place on my radar. But with Petro being held back due to the scandals in his administration, I think the worst-case scenario for Colombia has been averted. Im confident he will be gone next election.
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Post by elexpatriado on Aug 15, 2023 14:34:32 GMT -5
Elex. A very visa friendly country is the Philippines. They speak English and you can stay up to 3 years on a tourist visa. Then just step out of the country and return to start another 3 years again. Like Colombia you can get a mild climate if you go up into the mountains. It seems to be compatible as the cost of living similar to Colombia. Its another place on my radar. But with Petro being held back due to the scandals in his administration, I think the worst-case scenario for Colombia has been averted. Im confident he will be gone next election. Not interested in Philipines. Apparenty you can stay in Argentina 360 days a year with just a tourist stamp if you leave after 6 months for a day and pay a small fine when you comme back. I will confirm.this and its implications when I am there. The visa issue started before Petro.I Have heard of guys married to Colombianas 20 years who have lived here for yeats being ruled " inadmissable" for a visa. And guys on investment visas who have invested a lot in Colombia who had to leave because they were refused a renewal. Results will vary from case to case
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Post by scumbuster on Aug 15, 2023 14:43:06 GMT -5
Elex. A very visa friendly country is the Philippines. They speak English and you can stay up to 3 years on a tourist visa. Then just step out of the country and return to start another 3 years again. Like Colombia you can get a mild climate if you go up into the mountains. It seems to be compatible as the cost of living similar to Colombia. Its another place on my radar. But with Petro being held back due to the scandals in his administration, I think the worst-case scenario for Colombia has been averted. Im confident he will be gone next election. Not interested in Philipines. Apparenty you can stay in Argentina 360 days a year with just a tourist stamp if you leave after 6 months for a day and pay a small fine when you comme back. I will confirm.this and its implications when I am there. The visa issue started before Petro.I Have heard of guys married to Colombianas 20 years who have lived here for yeats being ruled " inadmissable" for a visa. And guys on investment visas who have invested a lot in Colombia who had to leave because they were refused a renewal. Results will vary from case to case Looking forward to a trip report from Argentina..
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Post by wildstubby on Aug 16, 2023 11:10:14 GMT -5
After a few fall-outs from Colombia, I considered going to the PI for a visit with the women there. Most that I video chatted with wanted me to buy their 'photos'. I did meet a few prospects and one who was very aggressive from day 1 insisting she 'loves me' after a 5 minute non-video chat. At the time the airfare there wasn't too out of line. Round trip on Air Emirates in premium economy(extra legroom!) was $875 with a 3 hour layover in Dubai. But what killed it was that it was 23 hours to go from DC to Manila and 26 hours from Manila to DC again. 2 whole days spent in the air! I was ok with the ~5 hours to Colombia.
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