The longest thread ever

This weekend’s activity is disaster preparations. I’m also looking into citizenship in another country. It’s terrifying where we are as a country…
If you want sun there are several places in the Caribbean. If you have the money Malta for citizenship quickly, Ireland after 3-5 years. If you have a lot of money Austria. If you have a mobile job Portugal for a Nomad Visa and eventual citizenship. If you want to play the long game Northern Macedonia (before they get into the EU). If you got relatively resent ancestry: Germany, Italy or Greece. Not that I’ve spend eight years researching this or anything. Thanks Brexit.
 
If you want sun there are several places in the Caribbean. If you have the money Malta for citizenship quickly, Ireland after 3-5 years. If you have a lot of money Austria. If you have a mobile job Portugal for a Nomad Visa and eventual citizenship. If you want to play the long game Northern Macedonia (before they get into the EU). If you got relatively resent ancestry: Germany, Italy or Greece. Not that I’ve spend eight years researching this or anything. Thanks Brexit.
Golden Visas are a thing as well for those able (basically, buy a long-term visa with certain investment like buying a house). Not sure if this is paywalled:


If so, here is their list which one could use to Google their specific plans:

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Golden Visas are a thing as well for those able (basically, buy a long-term visa with certain investment like buying a house). Not sure if this is paywalled:


If so, here is their list which one could use to Google their specific plans:
You go down the rabbit hole and you will soon realize that some are straight up money for visa/citizenship in the guise of "donations." Most of the visa/citizenship investments in the EU have eliminated the easy route of buying property to qualify. They have also increase the minimum investment and/or the residency requirements. The residency isn't a problem is you are actually moving instead of looking for an additional passport. Lativa has the system down. Lowish payment gets you residency across the EU with no physical attendance requirements. In the event that one does decide to move there the requirement for citizenship is living 4 or 5 year in country and passing a proficiency test for Latvian. That's a difficult language to learn for adults.
 
If you want sun there are several places in the Caribbean. If you have the money Malta for citizenship quickly, Ireland after 3-5 years. If you have a lot of money Austria. If you have a mobile job Portugal for a Nomad Visa and eventual citizenship. If you want to play the long game Northern Macedonia (before they get into the EU). If you got relatively resent ancestry: Germany, Italy or Greece. Not that I’ve spend eight years researching this or anything. Thanks Brexit.
A real eye opener for me was when a friend made a serious attempt a few years ago to move to Canada. He's in his mid fifties, has a lot of money and serious skills as he designs microprocessors for some very large companies. Canada would not accept him....evidently they fear further burdening their already taxed health care system with an influx of aging Americans. Would they have been more receptive had he been in his forties? Dunno, maybe.
 
A real eye opener for me was when a friend made a serious attempt a few years ago to move to Canada. He's in his mid fifties, has a lot of money and serious skills as he designs microprocessors for some very large companies. Canada would not accept him....evidently they fear further burdening their already taxed health care system with an influx of aging Americans. Would they have been more receptive had he been in his forties? Dunno, maybe.
There are different types of immigration.
  • Birth/ancestry are the easiest. Like if you wanted British citizenship, they would have to take you because of your mother. No if, and or buts. Pre-Brexit I would have encouraged you to get it just for the travel benefits.
  • The next easiest are investment schemes. Follow the rules, pay the fees or "donations," make the investments, get your residency and eventual citizenship. The EU is cracking down on them and there is a lot of internal pressure in countries (Spain, Canada, Ireland) because people think it pushed up housing costs. Buying property was the most popular "investment" and many of those ended up as rentals. They've eliminated many and made others harder. Strangely enough, the US has one of the most lenient (but expensive) residency by investment. It use to be $500,000 investment and employ 10 people. You would have syndicates pool money and buy hotels, apartments, golf courses, etc. I think they've bumped up the mins to $800,000 (impoverished area) and $1,000,000. There's still demand but well interest isn't quite the same and the US isn't as desirable as it once was.
  • The hardest is the traditional method. I'm guessing that's what you friend was trying to do. Both Canada and Australia have high rejection rates. The best way to get ahead of that is through an employer. Generally that applies anywhere. If you work for a multi-national and they have offices elsewhere transferring has the least friction. For Canada even that it not an easy path and a PIT for the employer but easier and quicker than the normal route. Having a work permit or employment lined up makes it easier.
 
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Hah hah. Get off my space lawn!!!
Ackshually, Pluto is well outside the so-called "Goldilocks zone" that is close enough to a planet's star to support liquid water and thus carbon-based life forms. Some planetary astronomers have speculated that Pluto's warmer core may contain a liquid water ocean, but its surface is believed to consist of a permafrost of frozen methane and nitrogen, with an average surface temperature averaging between -375° and -400° F.
As such, it would be impossible to maintain any sort of lawn on Pluto's surface.
 
Ackshually, Pluto is well outside the so-called "Goldilocks zone" that is close enough to a planet's star to support liquid water and thus carbon-based life forms. Some planetary astronomers have speculated that Pluto's warmer core may contain a liquid water ocean, but its surface is believed to consist of a permafrost of frozen methane and nitrogen, with an average surface temperature averaging between -375° and -400° F.
As such, it would be impossible to maintain any sort of lawn on Pluto's surface.
Gives a new nuance to the term astro-turf. :)

Here's a helpful guide to laying sod in winter.
 
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