Moving to germany

[patrickshot]

I just retired from teaching languages in the midwest and im planning to move to Germany, probably to Bonn or Mainz. I studied there years ago and even taught for a year through a fellowship, so it feels like the right next step. Ive got a residency permit appointment at the German Consulate in Chicago coming up and would love any advice on what documents to bring or what the process is like. Also trying to sort out my finances, my pension gets deposited into a US bank, but transferring it to Germany every month comes with high fees. Is there a cheaper way to do this? Social Security said they can deposit directly into a German account, and Ive heard that income isnt taxed by the US if you're living abroad, can anyone confirm how that works in real life? Any tips would be appreciated.

 

[Panama-0808]

Sounds like a great move. For the consulate, I believe you need to bring proof of income, passport, and health insurance papers. Those are usuas. For the pension, look into Wise or Revolut for lower transfer fees. And yes, It ink you may qualify for the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, but it's best to ask a tax advisor who handles expat stuff.

 

[patrickshot]

Sounds like a great move. For the consulate, I believe you need to bring proof of income, passport, and health insurance papers. Those are usuas. For the pension, look into Wise or Revolut for lower transfer fees. And yes, It ink you may qualify for the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, but it's best to ask a tax advisor who handles expat stuff.

Appreciate the tips very much. Sounds like having those documents ready is key. I'll definitely check out Wise or Revolut too. Quick question though, did you have to show a certain income threshold for the visa, or was it more about proving steady income in general??

 

[Appa1]

If the U.S. taxes citizens abroad but provides them zero local services, isn't that just legalized extortion and why do we still accept double taxation as normal in a so-called free country?

 

[patrickshot]

If the U.S. taxes citizens abroad but provides them zero local services, isn't that just legalized extortion and why do we still accept double taxation as normal in a so-called free country?

I like how you think sir, i hope they all learn from you!