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At my ripe old age of nearly 78 I would agree with your friend, but for a different reason.
Firstly, there is no 5 year Kitas...you mean a Kitap....and why pay for 5 years ahead when there is NO REFUND if one expires half-way through....:icon_e_surprised:
I would suggest that most of us 'adventurers' that have ended up in Bali are debating from the same page. Bali is no longer 'the magical place' that I first visited, but then, where is?
I'm on another forum where we discuss the pros/cons of life in Panama where I'm told US citizens are leaving because they can no longer shield their tax obligation to the IRS. Maybe now a good place to re-visit.
Costa Rica was a favourite for Canadians but...boring!
Cuba is being re-vitalised due to the thawing of relationship with Obama...maybe worth a look?
I've already posted about Penang but forgot to mention the Iskander developments in Johor...but been told it will take years for the place to be finished.
Many parts of USA are OK like Florida/Hawaii.... but expensive. I lived in Scottsdale AZ for a number of years and loved the winter but summer in the desert like Arizona or Palm Springs...forget-it!
Southern Spain used to be a haven for Europeans but I'm told crime is nasty and even Greece/Portugal, with austerity programs, is problematic for taxes etc.
So...does anyone have any ideas where an exit from Bali will introduce a 'new paradise'?
I'm on another forum where we discuss the pros/cons of life in Panama where I'm told US citizens are leaving because they can no longer shield their tax obligation to the IRS. Maybe now a good place to re-visit.
Costa Rica was a favourite for Canadians but...boring!
Cuba is being re-vitalised due to the thawing of relationship with Obama...maybe worth a look?
I've already posted about Penang but forgot to mention the Iskander developments in Johor...but been told it will take years for the place to be finished.
Many parts of USA are OK like Florida/Hawaii.... but expensive. I lived in Scottsdale AZ for a number of years and loved the winter but summer in the desert like Arizona or Palm Springs...forget-it!
Southern Spain used to be a haven for Europeans but I'm told crime is nasty and even Greece/Portugal, with austerity programs, is problematic for taxes etc.
So...does anyone have any ideas where an exit from Bali will introduce a 'new paradise'?
Interesting site which compares various data between countries: https://www.numbeo.com
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Thanks for the advice smoke but I checked and the only way to stay in Cayman Islands is with a work permit and Turks and Caicos require the following....
Persons wishing to retire or live here long term might consider obtaining a Permanent Residence Certificate. A PRC grants the holder permission to reside here for their lifetime. Making an investment in real estate or a business in which you are not working, may qualify for a PRC. The minimum investment required is $500,000.00 on Providenciales and $125,000.00 on our other islands.
That's a bit pricey and compares unfavorably with MM2H which can be assumed with a foreign pension plan or, if over 50, a simple MM2H lien on a fixed deposit in a Malaysian bank of MYR 150,000, with interest accumulating to the holder......which I have.
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never looked at long term stay at either .
Malaysia is way less expensive to be allowed to live there perminently.. real estate similar to RI but more expensive land may be able to be purchased by non locals.When my friend and I purchased a 2 bedroom apartment in Penang last year we still had to use "nominee" for it . Malaysia does give its people a great incentive and rate on their first real estate purchase.
Malaysia is way less expensive to be allowed to live there perminently.. real estate similar to RI but more expensive land may be able to be purchased by non locals.When my friend and I purchased a 2 bedroom apartment in Penang last year we still had to use "nominee" for it . Malaysia does give its people a great incentive and rate on their first real estate purchase.
Co-incidentally I just received the following 'teaser' from a magazine I used to subscribe when I lived in the USA/Canada.
Dear International Living Reader,
The near-perfect weather, the healthy lifestyle, the low cost of living, and the natural beauty… those things have lived up to our expectations," reports one of many pleased retirees in the country that wins our 2015 Global Retirement Index....
So this number 1 pick has a lot to recommend it, no question… yet it's just one of the 25 top retirement havens ranked in our 2015 Global Retirement Index, our 24th annual Index.
It is a hard-copy magazine delivered.....so no point to subscribe as I now live in Indonesia.
If any member still receives this Global Retirement info it would be greatly appreciated if some of the relevant content was copied here.
Dear International Living Reader,
The near-perfect weather, the healthy lifestyle, the low cost of living, and the natural beauty… those things have lived up to our expectations," reports one of many pleased retirees in the country that wins our 2015 Global Retirement Index....
So this number 1 pick has a lot to recommend it, no question… yet it's just one of the 25 top retirement havens ranked in our 2015 Global Retirement Index, our 24th annual Index.
It is a hard-copy magazine delivered.....so no point to subscribe as I now live in Indonesia.
If any member still receives this Global Retirement info it would be greatly appreciated if some of the relevant content was copied here.
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Well searched smoke...I was almost going to subscribe again when I noted they send the magazine and I just wanted the information that your post has provided. Many thanks...you've saved me US$49.
I'm going to print the info and take my time to read. I already note that Panama is 2nd and Malaysia 4th on the list and Indonesia/Bali doesnt appear.
Sorry to my pals in the pub...this afternoon/evening I'll be reading about my new retirement venue and see if there are people in pubs there that will be more attentive to my soapbox diatribe...:lemo:
I'm going to print the info and take my time to read. I already note that Panama is 2nd and Malaysia 4th on the list and Indonesia/Bali doesnt appear.
Sorry to my pals in the pub...this afternoon/evening I'll be reading about my new retirement venue and see if there are people in pubs there that will be more attentive to my soapbox diatribe...:lemo:
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This thread is already lively and heading who knows where, but I have some questions from your original story.
So, your friend is on a retirement KITAS and used and agent to get it?
I take it that immigration approached your friend directly, not via the agent?
Did you friend consult with the agent before attending the meeting?
Was the interrogation conducted by Immigration people, or police?
I'm just trying to build up the picture of what was happening. Thanks.
@ronb...good point.
Our agent is the sponsor of our retirement Kitas and he ordered us to refer all issues with immigration to him....no matter what!
We wanted to make a sign giving our villa a name but he advised that would only bring suspicion that we were professionally renting out our villa.
We often have friends stay in our place when we are back in Jakarta...they are doing us a favor as it provides security and our maid and driver earn extra from them.
I'm afraid this could could be assumed by Immigration to be something like Markit's friend is accused of.
Our agent is the sponsor of our retirement Kitas and he ordered us to refer all issues with immigration to him....no matter what!
We wanted to make a sign giving our villa a name but he advised that would only bring suspicion that we were professionally renting out our villa.
We often have friends stay in our place when we are back in Jakarta...they are doing us a favor as it provides security and our maid and driver earn extra from them.
I'm afraid this could could be assumed by Immigration to be something like Markit's friend is accused of.
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Friend has finally seen the light and gotten the assistance of a lawyer I found for him. Since I have (luckily) no personal experience of this situation and found the lawyer on the advise of someone that had similar immi problems sorted by this brief.
Watch this space all you Expats in Bali-lali land that might need same.
I'm hoping that immigration are following this thread and perhaps thinking "Do I really want to piss off the richest group of people on this island?" and that the richest group of people on this island finally start to understand that we either start working together or hang alone.
Well that might explain a few things. On one hand I wonder if immigration is acting over the top and on the other are they blatantly trying skirt around the laws here. It is not like you would go to any country around the world and open some kind of accommodation business without getting the appropriate licences. BTW, I know a good lawyer :icon_eek:
I read somewhere that Yemen is on a list.....something to do with the location for the resumption of nuclear weapons testing...:ghost:
They couldn't give a **** and anyone who believes they ever will is kidding themselves. Another plane full of idiots with stars in their eyes and rose coloured glasses arrives every ten minutes or so and regardless, tourists keep the money generator running, not expats. Aside from a few who we make close relationships with, the majority don't want us in Bali. They'd be happier if we just sent the money and stayed at home. Don't get me wrong, I plan to make Bali (or at least Indo) home as soon as the time is right. But I shan't be investing any more than my time and some pocket money in the place. I find it madness to do anything but.