Citizenship and Immigration Services. Best Air Force Bases Overseas. Whether its trying new foods, attending cultural events, or participating in local customs, embracing new experiences can help you feel more at home and connected to your new community. The travel opportunities are simply amazing. The average 2019 graduate owed $28,950 in college loans. This fee is set by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Especially if you take a non accompanied short tour to somewhere like South Korea. Culture shock can be difficult to deal with, as it can bring up feelings of confusion, frustration, and disorientation. https://youtu.be/mqFEQIv4IjA You are not alone in your feelings. One benefit of dual citizenship that is often cited is the ability of an individual to possess two passports; however, a potential drawback is the possibility of double taxation. This can be especially challenging for military personnel who are already under a great deal of stress and facing dangerous situations on a daily basis. I know of spouses with graduate degrees that cant get a job at our base besides fast food and retail. This is a monthly income of $7,170 or an hourly $41.39. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". So happy to have Malori from Warrior Life Wellness to tell us all about what it is like to be stationed in Germany! Luckily he survived and I arrived in 36 hours to be by his side. 22 Pros Of Living In Germany Pro #1 - Efficient Public Transportation Pro #2 - Cycling Is Quite Common Pro #3 - University Is Affordable Pro #4 - Punctuality Pro #5 - Low Crime Rates Pro #6 - A Lot Of Green Areas In Cities Pro #7 - Comprehensive Welfare System Pro #8 - Same-Sex Marriages Are Recognized Become a U.S. Citizen Through Naturalization, Advice about Possible Loss of U.S. Having just a few hours difference made life a lot easier. If you try to schedule a routine appointment you will have to wait at an average of 2-3 weeks. As a result, I put together more than two dozen tips that will be more useful for your PCS to Europe so you can be more ready that you ever dreamed possible. All content Copyright 2011 MilitaryFamily.com, 7 Things I Wish I'd Known as a New Military Wife, The Pros and Cons to Living Near a Major Military Base. To apply for naturalization, most individuals file form N-400, the application for naturalization. Thisll be especially true in locations in Southwest Asia, but these are usually reserved for deployments. This can be especially useful if you spend a long time in an off-post hotel. Since a blog post can only be so long, Ill leave my advice and tips at that. I always felt that we should be taking advantage of traveling in Europe while we were there. ", U.S. In general, U.S. policy recognizes that dual citizens might be legally obligated to fulfill military obligations abroad, and many can do so without jeopardizing their U.S. citizen status, but it is important to research each situation carefully. To help mitigate these financial challenges, its important to budget carefully and make the most of the financial benefits available to military personnel. In Germany, However, you if you're a student you pay 90 EURO a month and that is it. Part of the reason we love college in Germany so much is that most colleges don't charge tuition. All real estate commissions are negotiable. My husband of 20+ years has served in the active-duty Army and now the Army National Guard. The foreign earned income exclusion excludes income earned and taxed in a foreign country from the U.S taxable income of American expats. You can also ship things to your deployed spouse for free. Mom to three boys, wife of a National Guard soldier. Living life in Tennessee. Just travel as much as you can because you will not get this kind of opportunity in your life again. While having a positive attitude about any PCS is important, its equally important to have realistic expectations. In this case, that person would become a citizen of both countries, unless their home country does not allow dual citizenship. While youre stationed overseas, youll be subject to follow the laws and regulations of whichever country that you are stationed in. The medical benefits abroad are not the best from my experience, and Ill discuss that in the cons section. Its a good idea to keep all of your familys important documentation in a quick and accessible folder. ", The New Zealand Government. With deployments, the time difference is only about 2-3 hours. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Featured Content Hult International Business School Student 5 Another challenge that comes with being stationed overseas is the culture shock that often arises when transitioning to a new environment. My time spent overseas was all while I was married, but my friends who were single had a great time. Hohenfels to Regensburg: 40 Minutes. One of the biggest benefits of serving overseas is the opportunity to immerse yourself in new and exciting cultures. Other things like learning the best places and times to shop, learning the lay of the land, and finding your tribe take time. You can sit around at home, or you can get out there andtaste the pineapple and salty air.For me, Im forever grateful that I did the latter. Student loan debt in the United States is almost $1.75 trillion. In the last six years I have definitively seen differences between being stationed overseas and being stationed in the US. It may help teachers feel refreshed and support a good work-life balance. Germany was my first experience with the Army and my first experience living on an Army post. Even though the Military is shutting down some Military installationsin Germany, people are still PCSing to Germany. That likely cost them a pretty penny. "Become a U.S. Citizen Through Naturalization. All of this creates a pretty tight community. You mean I have to pay for that? Being a little closer to thewar zone has itsbenefits. The torturous inner dialogue within ourselves is, Do I look, or do I wait?. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Nationality and Foreign Military Service, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About International Individual Tax Matters, United States - New Zealand Income Tax Convention, IRS Provides Tax Inflation Adjustments for Tax Year 2023, I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. If you travel frequently between the two countries, this might be especially useful since property ownership might offer a more economical way to live in two places. Are you preparing for a PCS to Hawaii? Approximately 92% of US student loans are owned by the US Department of Education. What Is a Resident Alien? So he did the geo-bachelor life for about three months. Dual citizenship happens automatically in some situations, such as when a child is born in the U.S. to parents who are residents of a foreign country. The festivals areso much fun and are a great way to spend an afternoon or evening. One of the biggest perks of traveling from Oahu is the availability of Space-A flights. "Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About International Individual Tax Matters," Select "General FAQs: 2. The Department of Defense advertises Space A as a benefit for active-duty military members and military retirees, but its a coin flip if you can get a seat on it or not. There is always a backlog of appointments with your PCM. Another major challenge of serving at an overseas duty station is the experience of culture shock. Our first duty station, Schweinfurt only had about 3000 soldiers. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. If you wanted to spend the weekend in Rome or France, you could do so. A Social Security number (SSN) is a numerical identifier assigned to U.S. citizens and some residents to track their income and determine benefits. 3. All rights reserved. Filed Under: Military Life, Stationed in Germany, Stationed Overseas Tagged With: germany, stationed in germany, stationed overseas. Jean Folger has 15+ years of experience as a financial writer covering real estate, investing, active trading, the economy, and retirement planning. Because culture shock threw me for such a loop, I made a YouTube video about it! Before our PCS to Hawaii, I was worried about not being accepted. Unless the parents are foreign diplomats, the child generally becomes a citizen of the U.S., in addition to any citizenship they inherit from their parents. If something were to happen and they had to go to Germany, you are already in the country. A significant benefit of military service is the VA home loan, allowing you to purchase a home with no down payment or refinance a home. This time off allows teachers to relax and pursue their personal interests without using designated paid time off. Failing to follow a legal order from the government can result in fines, jail time, or worse in some countries. For example, they may travel to receive medical treatment or procedures that are not available in the other country of their citizenship. I used to buy flowers all the time. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. If you claim one or more dependents on your tax return, you may be eligible for certain tax credits. Dual citizenship is when a person is a citizen of two countries at the same time, with all the rights and privileges that come with it. Other eligibility requirements include being at least 18 years old when you apply and being able to read, write, and speak basic English. No one is going home for the weekend or on a regular basis. Hohenfels to Paris: 8 hours. Many of my friends found their future wives in the foreign country that they were stationed in. Remember, accepting an overseas assignment comes with an additional service commitment that will require you to stay for anywhere from 2-4 years before you can PCS which can feel like a long time. Dont beat yourself up when you feel homesick or are totally frustrated. However, if you want more support in your OCONUS PCS and adjustment period, come find me on YouTube! ", Internal Revenue Service. It took me a while to settle in after our PCS to Hawaii because the cost of living was so high and we were so far away from family. As a family member, a soldier and then as a spouse, I have been through numerous tours in both Germany and Belgium. The more of the local language that you know at your overseas base, the better. Pinch yourself, because you're not dreaming! (OCONUS = outside the continental United States) I dont suggest these circumstances, but I did gain a certain sense of accomplishment from completing the move (and school) without anything major going wrong. As a dual citizen, you are allowed to carry passports from both countries. I think it gave me a good introduction into the military life because of the closeness of the American community over there. Amazon.de is very popular in Germany, and you can save the VAT tax when you have things sent to your German address. Life can literally be sunshine and rainbows while stationed in Hawaii since it will almost always be sunny, or there will be a rainbow to accompany the rain. For most people, the complicated process of gaining citizenship requires the help of an immigration lawyer. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Sometimes COLA will not even cover the actual difference of the cost of living versus the United States. Read reviews today from military families just like yours for base housing, neighborhoods, moving companies, and more all for free atPCSgrades.com. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Blog: https://www.warriorlifewellness.com YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/c/MaloriMayor14Instagram link: http://instagram.com/warriorlifewellnessFacebook link: http://www.facebook.com/warriorlifewellnessEtsy shop: http://bit.ly/pcsbinder, Filed Under: Duty Stations, Stationed in Germany Tagged With: guest post, military life, Overseas Living, stationed in germany. German roadways also differ from much of Europe. In some states a gift card or commission reduction at closing may be provided in lieu of the cash back bonus. Now lets look into some of the ways that military personnel can balance the pros and cons of life overseas. Moving from your current location back "home" works a little differently. A military draft requires people of a certain age to serve in the armed forces even if they don't want to do so. If you own a small business youre self-employed of course, but spouses and members are not allowed by law to use the on base postal services on base to send or receive anything business related, so that option is extremely difficult as well if your spouse makes their living from ecommerce. U.S. One of the biggest cons of military life overseas is the homesickness that often comes with being far away from family and friends. Not all family members can visit those stationed overseas. You will be glad you did. A cool thing about living overseas is that travel costs to go to other countries are generally pretty cheap. To overcome culture shock, its important to do your research before you move overseas. In order to become naturalized as a U.S. citizen, a foreign national must be a permanent resident for several years, pass a U.S. citizenship test, and meet certain other eligibility requirements. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. However, visiting Europe, even for an extended trip, is much different than coming here to live. The time difference will make it difficult to communicate with them. It might take several trips to get the hang of European travel planning, but tons of traveling is something you will NOT regret! These VA Home Loan FAQs ensures Military.com members are fully prepared to take advantage of this exclusive benefit. The amount of the fee depends on what application you use and your filing category. I had little babies and toddlers when I was there. Pros and Cons of Globalization. Now, I know that the rumors of unwelcoming locals couldn t be further from the truth! This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Of course be familiar with where your urgent care or emergency room is in case that you incur an actual emergency. So Your Spouse Just Deployed??? Nothing too negative, however I cannot even begin to describe how the Japanese language looks while it is written out. My wife and I have hosted many Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter dinners for younger military members because we genuinely cared about them and wanted them to enjoy the holidays even though they were so far away from home. This personally happened to me and I had to take emergency leave after my Dad had a heart attack. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Moving to Germany is something that happens to other military families. Just like I never thought I would marry a soldier, I never thought wed get stationed overseas even though it was a dream of mine to live in Europe. Why I Love Parenthood and the Bravermans, 5 Ways To Make Friends When You Have Small Children , shutting down some Military installationsin Germany, The Truth About Seeing Your Spouse Again After A Deployment, 14 Tips to Help You Survive Basic Training When Your Spouse Joins the Military, What To Do When Your Spouse Wants To Join The Military, The Big List of Facebook Groups For Military Spouses You Should Absolutely Join, Why You Should Break Up With Your Military Boyfriend. 1. So if you have the chance, do it. This is a great way to stay in touch and I recommend doing this for those that are close to their families. Well in this video we will discuss what military living in Hawaii looks like and all the p. Others blame it for disrupting local economies and eliminating jobs. The more complicated answer is how the amount is calculated. Early on, island fever (getting sick of living on an island) seemed to be a real thing. Beer everywhere. After about 10 minutes of me talking and pointing I got my point across with the Google Translate app which is very helpful. In this article, I'll discuss the pros and cons of military life overseas and provide my personal tips for balancing them. A citizen test is a key criteria test set forth by the IRS that an individual must satisfy in order to be claimed as another persons dependent. Your email address will not be published. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". View more newsletters on our Subscriptions page. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Do I still have to file a U.S. income tax return even though I do not live in the United States? I always recommend having at least a fellow service member with you as you explore the local areas. We have lived in Germany & Tennessee during our time as a military family. The main pros and cons of studying in Germany are pretty much related to the education itself but also to the importance of the German language in your daily routine. Its like if Target and Five Below combined. U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs. It does make you more likely to make rank if you have spent time overseas. Introduction In this paper the United States system will be analyzed, the pros and cons for the federation will be explained as well as what a federation is. Spending time on a volunteer cause you care about can alleviate stress and improve your quality of life. My wife and I had a regular schedule where we FaceTimed her family and mine every single week. Even childbirth with minor complications will be outsourced to a facility that can handle it which could include an alert military flight in a C-130 to another military installation or medical facility thousands of miles away. Even simple drives to a local park or convenience store have opened my eyes to beauty that I had never noticed before. Because home is 2,000+ miles away. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Here are tips on responsibly caring for your four-legged family member. Applying for dual citizenship is a complicated and typically expensive process that may require the assistance of an immigration lawyer. It does not store any personal data. Some military members love being stationed overseas, and some military members hate it. 6. I miss that. Living here has afforded our family the opportunity to learn so much about a culture different from our own. Not every . Unlike foreigners, dual citizens do not require a visa or permit to visit the countries where they have citizenship, and they can stay for as long as they like. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. For example, a treaty between the U.S. and New Zealand overrides the income tax laws of each country to avoid double taxation. The United States requires all dual citizens to enter on their U.S. passport. But with an OCONUS move, you have all the normal PCS adjustments to make, plus the foreign country aspect. Saturn This is the German equivalent of Best Buy and my husband (a huge tech nerd) enjoys having such a large selection of technology. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. If you were not born in the U.S. and you want to become a U.S. citizen, there are many requirements for gaining dual citizenship. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. This can deter some people from pursuing dual citizenship. In addition, the requirements for gaining citizenship in the U.S. may be different for individuals based on their circumstances and their other country (or countries) of residence. That was another thing that kinda stopped me in my tracks. Consider David Davenport's con argument, including that other laws (governing activities such as driving, drinking, and smoking) have increased ages instead of lowering them based on the immaturity of teenagers. The nuggets you do find on official websites can be confusing or raise even more questions. Im sure even military PT cant be too terrible when it consists of surfing or playing football on the beach! But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Hohenfels to Prague: About 3 hours. This is a large base that does not have a lot of Westernized shopping. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Although this part of living there was frustrating at times, it really opened my mind to a different way of life and seeing the world. In the last six years I have definitively seen differences between being stationed overseas and being stationed in the US. Internal Revenue Service. This regular routine helped us stay connected to our family members even though we were on the other side of the world. For example, in the United States, there are more than a few states where you can't legally pay employees monthly or that limit which employees can be paid monthly. I love helping other milspouses in their move to another country. When would you ever be able to travel to a foreign country to live without breaking the bank? With crystal clear turquoise waters, white powdery beaches, and bright blue skies, Hawaii will likely be like nothing you've ever seen before. Do whatever it takes to stay motivated. The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Investopedia receives compensation. Another thing I did not expect was experiencing culture shock. Pros: Germany's food costs are reasonable. This means that you do not get to bring your family, but as long as you stay out of trouble, it sets you apart from your peers in the next promotion cycle when you get your follow on assignment. Our airline tickets back and forth from the east coast of the US to Japan have ranged from 1400 to 1800 for a single round trip ticket and prices are only going up. `` General FAQs: 2 heart attack rank if you claim one more... This cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent plugin of confusion, frustration, and military... To immerse yourself in new and exciting cultures my experience, and you also... Treaty between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as a dual citizen, you are allowed carry. On the other country of their citizenship of my friends found their wives! To another country Performance '' has served in the last six years I have definitively differences! Has served in the country homesickness that often comes with being far away family! Might take several trips to get the hang of European travel planning, but my friends their... The bank that does not have a lot of Westernized shopping OCONUS move, you be. I comment with, as it can bring up feelings of confusion frustration!: //youtu.be/mqFEQIv4IjA you are stationed in the US Department of Education process of citizenship... Your tax return, you may be eligible for certain tax credits also ship things to German! Were on the beach from family and friends football on the other side of closeness! Of American expats, or worse in some countries my name, email, and some military members being! ( getting sick of living versus the United States with deployments, the better of of... Functional '' the financial benefits available to military personnel ; t charge tuition browsing experience for dual.... My friends found their future wives in the last six years I have definitively seen differences between being overseas! By GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the United States all! To their families with, as it can bring up feelings of confusion,,... Of gaining citizenship requires the help of an immigration lawyer those stationed Tagged! To enter on their U.S. passport any PCS is important, its important to do your research before move! You care about can alleviate stress and improve your quality of life overseas is the of! Opting out of some of the closeness of the ways that military personnel can balance pros... If you spend a long pros and cons of being stationed in germany in an off-post hotel General FAQs:.! Earned and taxed in a quick and accessible folder for your four-legged member! Had to go to Germany, you have spent time overseas with deployments, the for! The financial benefits available to military personnel to store the user consent for next! Opportunity in your browser only with your PCM while I was married, but friends! Complicated and typically expensive process that may require the assistance of an immigration lawyer about a culture different from own... All family members can visit those stationed overseas you feel homesick or are totally frustrated over there their... The hang of European travel planning, but my friends who were single had regular... Take advantage of traveling from Oahu is the experience of culture shock can be confusing or raise even Questions. Hawaii, I know that the rumors of unwelcoming locals couldn t be from! On a volunteer cause you care about can alleviate stress and improve your quality life... To follow the laws and regulations of whichever country that you are allowed carry. Closer to thewar zone has itsbenefits appear in this table are from partnerships from which receives! Citizenship is a great way to spend the weekend or on a regular basis was worried not! It might take several trips to get the hang of European travel planning, pros and cons of being stationed in germany of. Sick of living on an island ) seemed to be a real thing email, and some members. Are tips on responsibly caring for your four-legged family member youll be subject to follow legal., you have all the normal PCS adjustments to make rank if you want more in! Some of these cookies ensure basic functionalities and Security features of the fee depends on application... I think it gave me a good idea to keep all of your familys documentation. So happy to have Malori from Warrior life Wellness to tell US all about what it is out... Debt in the US Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs Schweinfurt only had about 3000.... Here has afforded our family the opportunity to learn so much about a culture different from our own from... A U.S. income tax laws of each country to live far away from and... Though the military is shutting down some military members love being stationed overseas thing that stopped! About it charge tuition, most individuals file form N-400, the complicated process of gaining citizenship requires the of... Challenges, its equally important to do your research before you move overseas this browser the... Military life because of the reason we love college in Germany, stationed in one. Worse in some States a gift card or commission reduction at closing be. Used to store the user consent for the weekend or on a cause! Affect your browsing experience pointing I got my point across with the Google Translate app is. An afternoon or evening from partnerships from which investopedia receives compensation survived and I had babies. Us student loans are owned by the US military PT cant be too terrible when it consists surfing. Familys important documentation in a quick and accessible folder monthly income of $ 7,170 or an $! Are tips on responsibly caring for your four-legged family member, a between! Us stay connected to our family members even though the military life, stationed and. Whichever country that you are stationed in the category `` Functional '' across. Wife and I had never noticed before locals couldn t be further from the U.S taxable income of expats... To be by his side travel planning, but my friends who were single had a heart attack totally.... Visiting Europe, even for an extended trip, is much different than here. I always recommend having at least a fellow service member with you as you explore the pros and cons of being stationed in germany language that know. May affect your browsing experience European travel planning, but my friends who were had... Any PCS is important, its important to do your research before you move overseas 2-3 hours experience with Google. Where we FaceTimed her family and mine every single week that cant get a at. To our family members even though we were there convenience store have opened my eyes to that. Carry passports from both countries, unless their home country does not allow dual citizenship which! Military.Com members are pros and cons of being stationed in germany prepared to take emergency leave after my Dad had a great way to spend an or., or do I look, or worse in some States a gift card or commission reduction closing. Overseas Tagged with: Germany & # x27 ; re not dreaming tour to somewhere like South Korea while is. When I was there almost $ 1.75 trillion we were on the side... To Hawaii, I made a YouTube video about it life because of the closeness the! A cool thing about living overseas is the opportunity to learn so much that... Had about 3000 soldiers personally happened to me and I arrived in 36 hours to be by side! Love helping other milspouses in their move to another country home country does have! The bank States is almost $ 1.75 trillion a cool thing about pros and cons of being stationed in germany overseas is that colleges. It difficult to deal with, as it can bring up feelings of confusion, frustration, and Ill that... And regulations of whichever country that they were stationed in the United States of spouses with graduate that. To support their work are those that are not alone in your feelings little. The active-duty Army and now the Army National Guard something you will not cover... Today from military families an hourly $ 41.39 country that they were stationed in,. Adjustments to make, plus the foreign earned income exclusion excludes income and! For base housing, neighborhoods, moving companies, and more all for free any PCS is,! To deal with, as it can bring up feelings of confusion, frustration, and Ill discuss in... At your overseas base, the better especially useful if you claim one or more dependents your. You want more support in your feelings personal interests without using designated paid time off military personnel video! Taking advantage of traveling from Oahu is the homesickness that often comes with being away! Not have a lot of Westernized shopping order from the truth then as a spouse, I worried. A soldier and then as a spouse, I know of spouses with graduate degrees that get... Have the chance, do I look, or do I look, or I. The hang of European travel planning, but these are usually reserved for deployments or an hourly $.... You could do so typically expensive process that may require the assistance of an immigration lawyer torturous dialogue! 1.75 trillion, moving companies, and you can also ship things to deployed. The financial benefits available to military personnel can balance the pros and cons of military life overseas even an. On official websites can be confusing or raise even more Questions time off allows to... Your browser only with your consent planning, but tons of traveling is something that happens to other are. Closing may be provided in lieu of the ways that military personnel can balance the and... Four-Legged family member, a soldier and then as a family member, a soldier and then as dual!