Jingthing

Clear as mud is getting even clear as muddier.

Nice try. No cigar. Your idea would be: Gulf of the Americas 'Like the maga hat: Make the Americas Great Again Next ...

Feel the love.

Yeah, walk ins definitely not available. Even though they say expect 6 to 8 weeks multiple reports say 4 weeks is more typical. HOWEVER, due to the change in the U.S. government many federal workers will be leaving one way or another, and that will include embassy staff and passport renewal people. In other words, I would not be surprised if it's going to take much longer than 4 weeks going forward.

I was only speaking of the Medicare Advantage loophole which may or may not be fraud. it's kind of a grey area actually considering it is totally OK for sunbirds. It's only for emergencies and of course the non-US providers are getting paid for the services. If there are kinds of definite fraud going on that I am not aware, of course that bears investigation and action. But Musk's DOGE gambit is illegal and unconstitutional. There are legal and constitutional ways to address such matters.

Piranha? That's funny.

This is mostly of interest (but not only) to retired expat Americans particularly on O visas plus extensions. If you're in that group, I strongly suggest that you watch this video of Mr. Hart speaking to the Pattaya City Expats Club. Many others will probably find it of interest as well. Mr. Hart is an American lawyer based in Bangkok who obtained Thai citizenship. Mr. Hart suggests that MOST such expats should take a chill pill and just IGNORE taking any action on taxation, such as seeking a TIN and filing. If it ain't broke don't fix it he boldly says. Implying -- DO NOTHING. A reason he seems to vaguely account for this suggestion is because the USA left the OECD under Mr. Trump. He predicts Thailand will also reject OECD too. I don't pretend to fully understand some of the arcane economic issues Mr. Hart speaks about though or why exactly the USA leaving OECD should particularly encourage retired American expats to do nothing about tax. I suggest watching the video yourselves and to comment, as probably others will have a different perspective than I do on this matter. I do however feel it some ways he is somewhat speaking in RIDDLES and not specifics as far as what retired expats should actually do in terms of Thai taxation. You know like read between the lines kind of stuff. For example he's clear to say Americans only on social security, "savings" and modest pensions should probably go with if it ain't broke don't fix it do nothing mantra but he fails to get specific (indeed is adamant about refusing to get into specific cases) about his technical definition of "savings" and "pensions" as far as accessability or not under the Thai revenue with DTAs considered. He does cite interest and dividends on savings as a possible exception to do nothing though. Understandably as a profit seeking business (nothing wrong with that) he would like to sell his legal services so going into "too much" detail might be like a chef giving away his secret recipe. However, I am concerned that too many retired expats are going to take the if it ain't broke don't fix it slogan uncritically at face value without going deeper into their own specific situation.

I am less critical of Obama than Biden as far as the response to Putin's imperialism. Why? Because it was clear at the time that Europe was not excited by the theft of Crimea and I don't think there was any chance of a strong NATO response at that time. It was like, OK, Crimea specifically has a uniquely odd history with Russia, Europe isn't on fire over this, why should the U.S. light the fire? But under Biden a real coalition happened organically but Biden made the mistake of slow walking the response. Once Ukraine got through the first few days, he should have given Ukraine all they needed to win quickly and ignore Putin's nuclear fear mongering. That was the opportunity lost. It could have been over the first year with Ukraine clearly winning. But at least Biden helped enough with Europe for Ukraine to hold on. But Trump is now surrending to Putin at a time of weakness for Russia in their economy. That is evil.

A reminder to people. The topic here is described in the OP and video. I am not the topic here.

In my view there is near full bipartisan consensus that actual waste and fraud in government agencies should be looked at and corrected when detected. But the illegal unconstitutional methods of Musk's DOGE is not the legitimate way to address this. Address such things via proper legal methods involving CONGRESS (it's their job!) with full transparancy and debate and it's a total win win. But the Trump regime doesn't want bipartisan legal methods. They want to destroy destroy destroy everything and flood the zone with as they said - s__t. Their actions with USAID have already murdered people. This is not OK.

No time for trolls. GOODBYE.

It's all on Putin actually.

Snark Alert.

Opposing Putin is the right thing to do. Period.

Nothing to do with communism.

You don't understand. They make money off their promotion of Putin's Russia. Especially if you like and comment even negative comments. I choose not help the Z people Russian or western.

I could cite youtube channels of the most notorious western Putin propagandist in Russia but I don't want to promote them.

There is a loophole used by people who maintain.a US address for emergency Medicare services under Medicare Advantage via private insurance companies based on your US zip code. Its particularly popular in Mexico and Panama. It is legitimate for sunburds but in my opinion only it is fraud for real expats. To add many expats use Medicare services during visits in the US 100 percent legal. I doubt the Medicare Advantage possibly fraud reached the dollar levels from that press conference. I also doubt Musks big ball boys understand anything about these matters

Not really the topic here.

Then you missed the point of it. Any negative changes in policies towards American expats will happen at national levels.

But they did so now we're stuck with the momentous damage he's doing.

If I was a rich beyatch I'd hire him. He has specialized expertise for that demographic.

He already has but he's just getting started.

It isn't nonsense. You clearly don't understand it. I failed to mention his atrocious cabinet picks which are the most damaging and least qualified in American history. I get it though. You're in the camp of trying to normalize a maman. Learn from history.

Not the most but it's a good passport. Russian passport used to be a lot better. Things can change, even for Americans. Is it so hard to get the point of this topic?