Easy countries for US citizens to get residence in?

[TheMetetron]

I am thinking of picking up a second residence outside of Sweden. I am trying to see what my options are. The main criteria is that I'm not going to get killed and that online poker is legal. The nicer the country (wealth-wise) the better, but I'm not counting on much outside of the 3rd world. Africa is pretty much out, as it much of asia. Europe or the Caribbean / Central or South America are looking like the frontrunners.

I've been sorely disappointed by the immigration policy of many of these countries. Super easy if I have a pension (Panama/Costa Rica/Mexico), nearly impossible without it. All I would need is $1,000 in pension but I obviously don't have it. The alternative is to invest some obscene amount ($50k+) in real estate or a business. There are has to be some country where a self-employed American can be a resident.

Obviously the lower the taxes the better. Anyone have any ideas? I'm trying to just look at the immigration pages via google that I can find, but it's pretty hard.

[BluffTHIS!]

As a swede you can travel and live freely in most other EU countries (except UK/Eire I think) so that is the easiest course. And the next easiest course is to marry a citizen of a country you want to live in [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img].


*this isn't really a legislation thread and probably belongs in OOT

[TheMetetron]

Crap, I so placed this in the wrong forum. No wonder I couldn't find it. I thought I posted it somewhere else.

Someone want to move it to where it's appropriate, that'd be great.

Also, I am a US citizen, not a Swedish citizen. I don't have EU free-movement.

[monkeytales]

Argentina is the best place. Excellent!

[BluffTHIS!]

Why can't you find a hot blonde swedish girl to marry if you are currently living in Sweden?

[TheMetetron]

[ QUOTE ]
Why can't you find a hot blonde swedish girl to marry if you are currently living in Sweden?

[/ QUOTE ]

My Swedish permit is permanent if I so want it to be. I don't need to find a way to stay in Sweden. I need to find a way to get a permit elsewhere IN ADDITION to my Swedish permit.

[Lawman007]

According to Barat, Kazakhstan is a great place to live if you like camel meat and really hairy women.

[BufordD]

Many countries let you get a long tourist visa, and then just leave for 24 hours every 6 months. Belize and Argentina might be the best choices. In Belize, all you have to do is spend a weekend in Cancun every 6 months.

[BluffTHIS!]

Then seek permanent residency in Sweden followed by an application for citizenship which will enable you full EU privileges.

Or what about Canada? I think you can stay for a year without a visa/work permit. I don't know how long of absence you would need to comply and then do the year thing again, but if you are going to keep a residence in Sweden anyway, then that should be easy to alternate between same. Just live light on possessions in Canada and get a new apartment everytime you come back and wharehouse any stuff you want across the border to bring back later.

[Olds1997]

My parents live in St. Maarten when the first frost hits Wisconsian and come back when it is Spring. They only had to prove financial support which required a deposit with a local bank or branch of a international bank that has a office on the island which they used First Caribbean. I'm not sure what they put up, but I think the minimum was around $20k.

They had just gotten wireless broadband last winter when we went down for x-mas.

They did vacation/scout on about 10 islands before they picked St. Maarten. Most of the Carribean countries have the same requiements.

Here is a link to a good website for this kind of info:

http://www.escapeartist.com/

Cheyne