Because dual citizenship is complex and the rules and laws regarding citizenship vary between different countries, it may be in your best interest to consult with qualified expertsincluding accountants and lawyersabout certain purchases or decisions related to employment and your finances. If you are living in your country of dual residence that is not the U.S., you may owe taxes both to the U.S. government and to the country where the income was earned. U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Our first duty station, Schweinfurt only had about 3000 soldiers. It is a reasonably affordable place to live. Know how it works, how to figure out what your German address is (even on-post) and know how to send mail to your German address. https://youtu.be/mqFEQIv4IjA You are not alone in your feelings. You mean I have to pay for that? Being a little closer to thewar zone has itsbenefits. When Germans clock out from work, they will travel far and wide. Unless a wife is German, her family is usually 2000+ miles away. Ebony Howard is a certified public accountant and a QuickBooks ProAdvisor tax expert. That's why I started blogging about the overseas experience. Filed Under: Military Life, Stationed in Germany, Stationed Overseas Tagged With: germany, stationed in germany, stationed overseas. I hope that you can find support for your own deployments, PCS moves, or anything else military life brings you , Copyright 2023 Soldier's Wife, Crazy Life on the Foodie Pro Theme. Click Here!!! 1. Once I learned to appreciate the beauty around me, however, Hawaii quickly became a favorite duty station. With so many beautiful sites and mouth-watering food options, there really is something for everyone. July 5, 2021 by Megan Voegele Leave a Comment. Owner of Soldier's Wife, Crazy Life. We all were passionate about exercising and helping others get into good shape. Its like if Target and Five Below combined. "Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About International Individual Tax Matters," Select "General FAQs: 1. This regular routine helped us stay connected to our family members even though we were on the other side of the world. There is so much love and aloha, which is what I think really makes Hawaii feel like home. It can also help you to expand your comfort zones, as you are forced to step out of your comfort zone and tackle new challenges. A resident alien is a foreign born, non-U.S. citizen who is currently residing in the United States. Great weather. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. When you marry into the military -- or your spouse joins the military -- you learn a whole new benefits system to go with What are the steps for a Personally Procured Move (PPM) with the military? 18 Signs That You Have Been Stationed at Fort Campbell During Your Spouses Military Career , The Truth About Seeing Your Spouse Again After A Deployment, 14 Tips to Help You Survive Basic Training When Your Spouse Joins the Military, What To Do When Your Spouse Wants To Join The Military, The Big List of Facebook Groups For Military Spouses You Should Absolutely Join, Why You Should Break Up With Your Military Boyfriend. Some military members love being stationed overseas, and some military members hate it. The downsides of being stationed in Hawaii with the military are the high cost of living, long deployments, and limited job opportunities. I am very thankful that I was able to experience being stationed in Germany before we were stationed in the US. Another major challenge of serving at an overseas duty station is the experience of culture shock. They have cut you off from hundreds of millions of potential customers in the US. Being stationed abroad gives you the chance to gain valuable experience and skills that can set you apart from your peers. With crystal clear turquoise waters, white powdery beaches, and bright blue skies, Hawaii will likely be like nothing you've ever seen before. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Take the COLA survey every year and be honest to keep it regulated. The cotton candy sunsets and lush mountain scenery make it easy tofall in love with the land. The experience is worth it, and living overseas will change your life forever. There is a complete trust in those around them. 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. As a dual citizen, you'll reapthe benefits of being immersed in the culture of the two countries. Before the age of 8, most children believe that the information they see in an advertisement is an absolute fact. Five days after graduation, I was on the Patriot Express to Ramstein, Germany; final destination, USAG Wiesbaden. It can be an interesting and exciting experience! I felt like I got run over by a bus every day for at least two weeks! Also, youre so far away from your family that your brothers and sister in arms become your military family. 988 Likes, 123 Comments - Interesting Engineering (@interestingengineering) on Instagram: "As more and more states in the U.S. decriminalize non-medical marijuana use, the pros and cons of" She believes that rigorous organization is key to a smooth OCONUS PCS, so she recently opened an Etsy shop, where milspouses can purchase printable Overseas PCS Binder pages for creating their own organizational binder. It also guarantees the individual in possession of two passports the right of entry to both the U.S. and New Zealand; this can be especially beneficial if you have family to visit in both countries, or if you are a student or a businessperson that either studies or conducts affairs in both countries. Im a U.S. citizen living and working outside of the United States for many years. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Dual citizenship happens automatically in some situations, such as when a child is born in the U.S. to parents who are residents of a foreign country. 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. Being in the military, you will be able to submerge yourself in a foreign local culture completely on the governments dime and have experiences that youll never have in the continental United States. Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. 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. Dual citizenship can also be achieved through specialized legal processes, such as when a foreign national is naturalized as a U.S. citizen. Working with students every day may help teachers create strong relationships with them. The cost of living is much higher in Hawaii than on the mainland, so it can be difficult to make ends meet. Part of the reason we love college in Germany so much is that most colleges don't charge tuition. My kids go to school off-post, our doctors are off post and we have friends who are not associated with the military. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Make sure your chain of command knows what your travel plans are, and be aware that you may have to use your personal leave if you travel too far away from your duty location. To apply for permanent residency, most individuals file form 1-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. For example, you may have the opportunity to learn new hobbies or sports, explore new cities, or meet new people. It covers your doctor's visits, eye exams, ear nose and throat doctor, dental care, et.c. Traveling wasnt easy but we did what we could. Moderate cost of living. Do I Have To Report Income From Foreign Sources? Being stationed overseas as a military member comes with a unique set of challenges and benefits. But 12 years later? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. While I was in Okinawa, Japan, I TDYd to the mainland of Japan, Guam, Alaska, and Australia. Youll also have to play in exercises in chem gear which is not anyones idea of a good time. Program terms and conditions are subject to change at any time without notice. This can be especially useful if you spend a long time in an off-post hotel. Thats $5500+ for a family size of four to visit the US. Because culture shock threw me for such a loop, I made a YouTube video about it! These VA Home Loan FAQs ensures Military.com members are fully prepared to take advantage of this exclusive benefit. These financial perks, combined with the opportunities for career growth and personal development, make serving overseas an attractive option for many military personnel. delicious date night are neverending in Hawaii. Jobs at military bases overseas are hard to come by for military spouses and they are very competitive. 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. Even with sleeping 10-12 hours a night at first, I couldnt conjure up my normal energy. Hearing that you're going to be stationed in Germany is always super exciting news. I again drew on my former European experience. It's great meeting so many like-minded travel buddies. Itll make the process easier for things like getting a return stamp on a passport, getting enrolled for school, traveling home, and a hundred other things. I am so glad you are here. Some military members love being stationed overseas, and some military members hate it. After being in the US for a few years I can say that I miss that sense of community that we had over in Germany. 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. What makes a positive difference when moving to a foreign country is receiving your household goods. Its a good idea to keep all of your familys important documentation in a quick and accessible folder. Army nurses with ten to nineteen years of experience earn an hourly wage of $51.42 and a monthly income of $8,910. The actual amount you receive is based on the purchase and/or sale price of your home. That likely cost them a pretty penny. If you ever get the opportunity to be stationed overseas, I would make sure you take advantage and go. Pros and Cons of Globalization. They can also receive an education at the same price as domestic students. Gymnastics coaches and preschool teachers have truly become uncles and aunties. Student loan debt in the United States is almost $1.75 trillion. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. My parents came for my graduation and to help with the last-minute PCS tasks, like overseeing the movers. List of the Pros of Living in Germany 1. I joined a running club to make some friends with common interests. Do whatever it takes to stay motivated. The Department of Labor has a table of the allowable pay frequencies for each state . Will I Lose That Citizenship If I Become a Canadian? You must also pay a fee to apply for permanent residency and then another fee to file an application for citizenship. While having a positive attitude about any PCS is important, its equally important to have realistic expectations. But with an OCONUS move, you have all the normal PCS adjustments to make, plus the foreign country aspect. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Some countries also offer citizenship based on ancestry. You get used to it after a while. Additional terms, conditions, and restrictions apply. We could also walk to anywhere on post. 20 Advantages and Disadvantages of the Military Draft. 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. Year and be honest to keep all of your home military spouses and they are very competitive members! Trust in those around them this cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent plugin example you. 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