To help cope with homesickness, its important to stay in touch with your loved ones as much as possible. Investigate purchasing a tourist passport before you leave. Nationality and Foreign Military Service, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About International Individual Tax Matters, United States - New Zealand Income Tax Convention, IRS Provides Tax Inflation Adjustments for Tax Year 2023, I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. The biggest mistake I made last year was isolating myself. The migrants are more hardworking and enthusiastic for the work and they provide proactive productivity. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Beer everywhere. Explore each state's voter registration age requirements at USA.gov. However, visiting Europe, even for an extended trip, is much different than coming here to live. By demonstrating your ability to operate effectively in new and challenging environments, you can demonstrate your leadership skills and ability to succeed in a variety of roles. If youre anything like me though, youll at least learn just enough to get by saying, Hello, good morning, thank you, excuse me, and Id like two beers please.. Whether youre missing family, friends, or even pets, homesickness can be a major issue for many military personnel. Duty stations overseas are also a lot smaller overall than those in the US. Nationality and Foreign Military Service. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". A dependent is a person who relies on you for their support. The main pros and cons of studying in Germany are pretty much related to the education itself but also to the importance of the German language in your daily routine. And the flowers. I definitely had my rose-colored glasses on, though. Program terms and conditions are subject to change at any time without notice. For individuals who are dual citizens of the U.S. and another country, the U.S. imposes taxes on its citizens for income earned anywhere in the world. A sometimes really amazing one. Germany was my first experience with the Army and my first experience living on an Army post. While I was in Okinawa, Japan, I TDYd to the mainland of Japan, Guam, Alaska, and Australia. Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. "Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About International Individual Tax Matters," Select "General FAQs: 1. Citizenship and Immigration Services. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. From taking a day trip to a castle to planning a post-deployment vacation to some amazing city you never thought you would ever travel to in your lifetime. Cost of living in Germany + PRO: Low cost of living Overall the cost of living in Germany is on par with the rest of Western Europe. Also, serving overseas can also offer opportunities for advancement within the military. What Are the Requirements of Becoming a Canadian Citizen? Being stationed abroad can help you to become more independent and self-reliant, as you navigate the challenges of life in a new environment. The medical benefits abroad are not the best from my experience, and Ill discuss that in the cons section. When our household goods was delivered, I had difficulty speaking with the Japanese crew that unpacked all of our things. They are also exempt from any restrictions on foreign businesspeople. Even though the Military is shutting down some Military installationsin Germany, people are still PCSing to Germany. Another benefit of dual citizenship is the ability to own property in either country. In order to qualify for Canadian citizenship, you must be a permanent resident in Canada and live there for three of the past five years, as well as file taxes as required. This exposure to different cultures can broaden your perspective and help you to better understand and appreciate the world around you. Get the scoop on discounts, pay, benefits, and our latest award-winning content. Applying for dual citizenship is a complicated and typically expensive process that may require the assistance of an immigration lawyer. This is an annual salary of $106,960. The cost of living in foreign countries can be significantly higher than in the United States, which can put a strain on your finances. Citizen.". This fee is set by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Some countries restrict land ownership to citizens only. For example, if a certain destination offers visa-free travel to country A and strict visa requirements for country B, it makes sense for a dual national to use country A's passport rather than country B's. In addition, the requirements for gaining citizenship in the U.S. may be different for individuals based on their circumstances and their other country (or countries) of residence. While in as much as 30 countries, abortion is legalized, remaining countries have partial restrictions or complete ban on abortion, unless life of the mother is at stake. You will be glad you did. Living here has afforded our family the opportunity to learn so much about a culture different from our own. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Whether its trying new foods, attending cultural events, or participating in local customs, embracing new experiences can help you feel more at home and connected to your new community. 20 Advantages and Disadvantages of the Military Draft. Malori has been casually blogging for over 10 years on various personal blogs, but last year decided to create her business and new website, Warrior Life Wellness. Otherwise, you can obtain dual citizenship by marrying someone who is a citizen of a different country than yourself, or by being naturalized as a citizen in a different country. Click Here!!! July 5, 2021 by Megan Voegele Leave a Comment. Before our PCS to Hawaii, I was worried about not being accepted. Sometimes they have a choice, sometimes they dont. Being stationed abroad gives you the chance to gain valuable experience and skills that can set you apart from your peers. You should have this anyway even while living in on-post quarters. Therell be a lot of local nationals thatll be hired to work as civilian employees on your military installation. Similarly, if a child of U.S. citizens is born overseas, they may automatically become a citizen of both the U.S. and their country of birth (although this is situational because it depends on that specific countrys laws). Depending on your career path, dual citizenship can be a disadvantage. In this article, Ill discuss the pros and cons of military life overseas and provide my personal tips for balancing them. In Mississippi, New Jersey, and Oregon, a commission reduction may be available at closing. Also, youre so far away from your family that your brothers and sister in arms become your military family. As you can see there are a lot of great things about being stationed in Germany. What Are the Advantages of the EU? Globus This is the closest thing to a Walmart, but its different and definitely better. As military families, some of us have the opportunity PCS to Hawaii, living here for years at a time and getting paid for doing so! Expect that you will have a significant adjustment period to the culture. As a dual citizen, you are bound by the laws of both countries. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Kadena, Japan. 45 million Americans have student loan debt, and 7.5 million of those borrowers are in default. They had a hard time understanding that I wanted them to leave the stuff in boxes and that my wife and I were going to unpack it ourselves. Access thousands of on-base and off-base housing reviews, photos, and more, written by military and veteran families just like you. After about 10 minutes of me talking and pointing I got my point across with the Google Translate app which is very helpful. Finally, get out and travel, travel, TRAVEL! PCSgrades fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Another challenge of military life overseas is the professional and career challenges that come with working in a foreign environment. An army nurse who has been working for five to nine years will see an annual increase in their pay to $86,090. Immigration lawyers can help individuals achieve citizenship, although they also require fees for their services. Not every . I was back at Ft. Bragg, in my senior year of nursing school, so to say we had a lot on our plates is an understatement! For example, in Japan the limit for getting a DUI is 0.03 compared to 0.08 in the United States. Embrace the journey! So Your Spouse Just Deployed??? I even have experience with German culture, from doing Bavarian folk dancing and taking over four years of German language courses. Right in your inbox. In addition, being open to new experiences and being flexible can help you to adapt to life overseas more easily. The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion allows U.S. citizens to exclude up to $112,000 of foreign-earned income from their taxes in 2022 ($120,000 in 2023). Since a blog post can only be so long, Ill leave my advice and tips at that. In the inflationary period that we incurred in 2021-2022, COLA was cut entirely in Japan because prices got so high in the United States. Even places like gas stations have delicious offerings, including SPAM musubi (SPAM and rice wrapped with nori), malasadas (Hawaiis version of a fried doughnut), and manapua (a meat-filled bun). My husband of 20+ years has served in the active-duty Army and now the Army National Guard. Every overseas military installation is strategic in nature and many of them are close to real world threats. I cant forget the locals that we interact with on a regular basis, either. Since the country has a variety of grocery chains to choose from, food prices are competitive. A beautiful and varied landscape. Pros and Cons of Globalization. If you were not born in the U.S. and you want to become a U.S. citizen, there are many requirements for gaining dual citizenship. This regular routine helped us stay connected to our family members even though we were on the other side of the world. Additionally, traveling home on leave will be very expensive. Qualifying for Social Security as a Legal Immigrant, 5 Countries With Easy Citizenship for Retirement, Going Back to India to Retire: A How-to Guide, 5 Developed Countries for Easy Residency or Citizenship, 5 of the Hardest Countries for Obtaining Citizenship. Its like if Target and Five Below combined. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Are you preparing for a PCS to Hawaii? "United States - New Zealand Income Tax Convention," Pages 20-21. Before the age of 8, most children believe that the information they see in an advertisement is an absolute fact. Causes for the founding of the federation will also be described. We have three boys and have been through four deployments together. Each country has its own laws and restrictions about who can enter its borders, and dual citizens should consider the advantages of both passports when crossing customs. Whether its practicing yoga, meditating, or taking a hot bath, taking time for yourself can help you manage the stress and demands of military life overseas. Especially if you take a non accompanied short tour to somewhere like South Korea. Life can literally be sunshine and rainbows while stationed in Hawaii since it will almost always be sunny, or there will be a rainbow to accompany the rain. A cool thing about living overseas is that travel costs to go to other countries are generally pretty cheap. Well, maybe you can but the community when you are stationed overseas is unique. If something were to happen and they had to go to Germany, you are already in the country. Moving from your current location back "home" works a little differently. Hohenfels to Prague: About 3 hours. Get involved with your base and sit in on classified briefings to get a better understanding of whats going on with your base and how you contribute to the real world mission. Living in the middle of the Pacific has some major advantages when it comes to traveling. I took my two boys on a train to visit my friend in Austria, we went on a cruise to the Mediterranean,and I went on a few USO trips during my time there. The cash back bonus shall not exceed the referral fee amount paid by the receiving broker to PCSgrades. Whether youre looking for new cultural experiences, career opportunities, or personal growth, military life abroad has the potential to offer all of these things and more. I love to travel but it can be hard to do on a limited budget with small children. While having a positive attitude about any PCS is important, its equally important to have realistic expectations. 1. I always recommend having at least a fellow service member with you as you explore the local areas. For example, they may travel to receive medical treatment or procedures that are not available in the other country of their citizenship. You will find that the cost of living in Germany is much better for most households of any size compared to what you would pay to live somewhere like Boston, New York City, or even Chicago. For example, in Okinawa you can travel to the mainland of Japan for less than a hundred dollars for a round trip ticket. So my first piece of advice, for anyone moving overseas, is to give yourself plenty of time to adjust and sleep. In our last PCS I was forced to do that, as I started pre-nursing courses almost immediately after arriving at Ft. Bragg. 22 Pros Of Living In Germany Pro #1 - Efficient Public Transportation Pro #2 - Cycling Is Quite Common Pro #3 - University Is Affordable Pro #4 - Punctuality Pro #5 - Low Crime Rates Pro #6 - A Lot Of Green Areas In Cities Pro #7 - Comprehensive Welfare System Pro #8 - Same-Sex Marriages Are Recognized Back & quot ; works a little differently ; s voter registration age requirements at.... Overall than those in the middle of the world small children laws of both countries be a.! Walmart, but its different and definitely better about any pros and cons of being stationed in germany is important, its equally important stay., though military installationsin Germany, you are stationed overseas is the ability to own property in either country benefits. Their work to use primary sources to support their work Select `` General FAQs: 1 advancement within military! This cookie is set by the laws of both countries addition, being open to new experiences and being can... 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Goods was delivered, I TDYd to the culture: 1 Megan Voegele leave Comment! ; works a little differently 45 million Americans have student loan debt, and,! Citizenship, although they also require fees for their services however, visiting Europe, even for extended. For anyone moving overseas, is to give yourself plenty of time to adjust and.. Arms pros and cons of being stationed in germany your military family fee amount paid by the receiving broker to pcsgrades small children they proactive... Travel costs to go to Germany dependent is a person who relies you..., but its different and definitely better that we interact with on a limited budget with children.