You want get taxed. That’s not income.

@Stephen *******

insurance is priced by tiers. You may only have aged a year but you could have passed into the next age tier.

I looked at medical insurance for an OA visa. The price was more expensive than my health insurance policy in the US and that takes some doing.

@Brad ******

you wouldn’t joke about this if you knew how desperate people can be to attempt such a dangerous undertaking.

@Jon *******

the markets have dropped about 14% since he became president. I’m talking about 20% from here.

@Jon *******

just wait until the bond market gets really spooked. That’ll cause a 20% drop in US equities.

@Jon *******

in that case god help us.

@Nongnuch *******

I’m only speaking geographically.

This is a universal issue. In I spent 6 months in the UK where everything, from a mobile phone to utility billing, requires a direct debit, i.e., a bank account. To rent an apartment the estate agents won’t deal with you if you haven’t got a bank account. There were many impediments to opening an account: you need a visa (according to some banks) but for a six month stay (American) you don’t need a visa. Catch 22, what?

I still managed to navigate my circumstances without a bank account for 4 months. Finally HSBC declared their willingness to open an account but by then i only had two months left in the country so I passed on it.

Being an American is another hazard because of the IRS’ overzealous reporting requirements on foreign banks that allow Americans to open an account. Lots of banks will have a blanket refusal to an American passport.

@Nongnuch *******

the keyword is Western.