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Lisa
This forum appears to be a quality operation and I hope to contribute where possible.
Curious about tax liabilities in PR.
I have been told one could protect major income from IRS if established as legal resident in PR for at least 6 months.
Any one have any information?
Offline22
PR has it's on tax system. If you are an official resident of PR you are not subject to US federal income tax but if you are a W-2 employee you are subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes.I don't know the PR income tax rate, perhaps someone else can jump in here.
I'm quitting my job this January in order to spend the next 1-2 years developing a handful of various personal and job-related skills, two of which are fluency in Spanish and fluency on the electric guitar (primarily blues and rock style). I won't be working. I'll be going alone. I'll be renting, not buying, a small apartment. I have intermediate Spanish proficiency (I'm currently reading a short novel in Spanish) but am not conversationally fluent. I want someplace cheap, safe, warm and where I can stay as long as I want without having to worry about my time expiring. PR seemed like a good choice, although not as cheap as some other countries. My ideal location would be a small beachfront apartment where I can blast an amplifier during the day without neighbors complaining, close to a gym (a real gym with Olympic free weights, not a Planet Fitness), close to people, bars, and nightclubs so I can socialize at night, and with a good grocery store nearby.
BUT, I want to tackle my questions one at a time, to keep things focused. My first question is about health insurance.
I envision moving myself in this order (it may change slightly, but let's use this scenario for now):
(1) Quit job in early January 2015.
(2) Stay in Massachusetts until at least mid-February (there are some things I need to do here)
(3) Do a one month Spanish language immersion program in Antigua, Guatemala (http://www.ixchelschool.com)
(4) Return for a week or two to Massachusetts to tie loose ends
(5) Move to PR and stay for 1-2 years. So in 2015, I would be living in PR either Apr to Dec, May to Dec.
Given that I will be in Massachusetts, then Guatemala, then PR, what do I do for health insurance in 2015?
Bupa Latin America does not cover PR for new subscribers. I'm not familiar with other international health insurance providers. Puerto Rican residents are not eligible to purchase a health plan through the Obamacare marketplace.
Should I extend my current employer-based health insurance (Blue Cross Blue Shield) from January until I leave for PR, and then switch to a different health insurance for my time in PR? Is that even possible? What health insurance options are available in PR?
You can certainly refine your Spanish in PR but it wouldn't be my first recommendation. This is because many people in PR speak English and like speaking English to native English speakers. I found Panama a much better place to learn Spanish because few people spoke English. But, like you said, you'd run into visa issues eventually in a Spanish speaking place other than PR.
I don't see how you could practice your electric guitar in a beachfront apartment without generating some complaints.
Wanted to say thanks to this site and the various contributors on this board as you all were an invaluable resource as I researched my decision to move my family to PR (Humacao). I made the move a few days ago and love being here and my family is joining me this week. Look forward to finding more great info here and maybe someday I'll be able to help others too :-)
I read a lot of things that scared me a little, but I came here twice in July before moving and did a lot of research. There are still challenges, like there are anywhere, but so far, we've loved it. As with most places, there usually are ways to get around some of the challenges. Still trying to find a good way to repel mosquitos though; they like to hang around the front door, but otherwise they don't seem to be that bad.
HelloMy husband and I, and our two small-sized cockatoos, will soon be living in San Juan, and for only a few months.
A concern we have right now is for the safety of our dogs.
What are the best safety practices for making sure our dogs will be safe and well?
Other than that, we look forward to being of some helpful service to the community.
Thank you.
Thanks for the tip on providing enough water for the dogs NomadLawyer. Is there anything else? Does anyone else here have safety tips for expat dogs? I'm doing what I can to learn elsewhere on how to protect our dogs. For instance, today when I called the South San Juan Petsmart, two clerks (one English-speaking) were unable to answer my question of "What are the leash laws in San Juan?"
Who will best know the safety situation there for expat dogs, and what is their contact information?
Other safety concerns include:
1. How safe will our dogs be from being poisoned or killed? What can we do to prevent this?
2. What about how to prevent heart worms, which are caused by mosquitoes?
3. What areas or neighborhoods of the island are the most "dog-friendly", and have the least amount of mosquitoes?
Anything else?
I'm aware that too much worry is not helpful, but my questions and concerns are reasonable.
In a town or city make sure to clean up after your dog so you don't annoy neighbors.
Where I live there's somebody who is poisoning dogs and cats. I think I know who it is but I have no proof.
Also, many people here think it's funny to try to hit a dog or a cat with their car.
So, to keep my little sata dog alive I always have her on the leash (I don't know and don't care about laws, always on the leash is safe) as soon as we're out of the gate. She can go outside whenever she wishes - the yard is gated and big enough and she can come in when we're home since there's always a door open. At night she sleeps inside.
Most of the day time she sleeps on my lap when I'm working in the office. My wife says: that dog lives on you.

Thank you Gary, for the information, and for your care of your sata dog
My husband and I are wondering about this ~ is a fenced-in yard recommended when we have dogs living with us? But even then, is it common that a neighbor will harm or attempt to harm dogs who are on their own property? If so, and even not, what are the laws that help prevent this? And what ARE the most dog-friendly areas in San Juan, if any?
When we leave our cars and home here, we're already in a good habit of keeping the dogs on a leash at all times; and we always carry bio-degradable poop bags and use them. Until the 1980's we had stray dogs, and plenty of poop we stepped in, but that changed with the new leash and 'pick up the poop' laws. We rarely step in dog poop and see a stray dog now, and when one is spotted, the police get plenty of phone calls about it, until it is returned home or is taken to a humane animal shelter.
Gary, is there a way to secretly video tape who is poisoning dogs and cats in your area?
But what effective use is this kind of proof if it cannot be used to stop and provide justice for the poisoning?
When anyone is seen hitting a dog or a cat with their auto, can their auto license number be anonymously reported to the police, and or animal control? If not, why not? Perhaps there are 'regulars' that routinely murder and maim animals this way and they can be stopped when enough people complain about them?
It's August 2014, and from what I understand, in my informal online research, nothing is effectively and professionally being done by the Puerto Rican people, that takes proactive and humane action, in regards to controlling, and taking care of an ever-increasing dog and cat population.
Is this current and accurate information? If this is still the case, why is this so?
I wondering if any credible research or studies been done that help explain why the people of Puerto Rico have not solved this problem by now? And I'm wondering if there are any genuine solutions happening in Puerto Rico right now. Please let me know what they are. Please also provide links with accurate and informative research and solutions, when or if any can be found.
Mynhusbandbis beginning to train him on walking using a lease but he us still young..
One way to prevent poisoning , is to train your dogs not to eat from anyone beside yourself. We are training our dog not to take any food from anyone beside us.
Best of luck on this new venture of coming to PR.
go on FB... we are all involved in dog rescue... There are many sites you can volunteer and donate to.... they all need help. My Sato was rescued from the garbage of Pueblo... there are LOTS of good people here who care for dogs but you only need one nut who doesn't lke the dog barking: I have an idiot neighbor ( I live in a condo) who complains my dog barks day and night: interesting since he works all day and the dog sleeps with me --- he must be sleep barking since i don't here him!! MORONS are MORONS in any language...only here hot tempers and DRAMA prevail.... You need a Ph.D. In psychology to figure out WHY some people here treat dogs the way they do; get involved... we can't save them all but was CAN make a difference.
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Thanks for the information about Walgrens and Walmart, yet I'm not clear on how it pertains to dog welfare in Puerto Rico.
In regards to businesses in Puerto Rico, I'm aware that there are tax incentives, as mentioned in online financial resources like this one called "Forbes": http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertwood/ … void-irs/.
Thanks for tips on behalf of dog welfare in Puerto Rico, please continue to share them.
The misunderstanding with your fellow condo neighbor is unfortunate. When hearing another dog barking inside your complex, would you feel comfortable taking your quiet dog to the neighbor? Would showing them that it's not your dog that is barking resolve this?
Check FB.... we are HUNDREDS of volunteers rescuing dogs every day... the govenmnet does NOT support anyone. the government shelters are generally KILL shelters....
All Sato rescue is one, Save a Sato, San Francisco is another. dead dog beach project... Christie Bickles,....Alma Febus.... Gloria Marti.. Glenn ..... these are the Heros of rescue here.
Debroah, Latin tempers are NOT to be reasoned with especially when liquor is involved.... people are jerks and you dont' go visit them to "explain" NOT a good idea....you just glare at eachother....
NEWS is my Business is a good source for local busines in English as is Carribean businees news PR....
Check FB.... must better info...
Thank you for the information.
My sincere and best hoped-for wishes for the cold climate-loving and love-to-roam-and-run sled dog husky. May this pup's life be a long and happy one.
This information I'm going to share next, may or may not pertain to the husky pup, and you may or may not know what I'm about to share.
My daughter and her family live on the Oregon coast and have a Siberian "wolf dog". He is part wolf and husky. To help keep this cool-climate wolf dog physically feeling cooler, in the sometimes 80 + degree summers, she has his coat shaved short. The close shave does help him pant less.
This very intelligent family wolf dog LOVES to roam and run, and forages and eats just about anything, like a wolf can do. He is big enough to reach up high, and he is smart enough to open the refrigerator door. When not closely watched, he's been known to eat an entire loaves of bread, including the plastic bags the bread was in; and he often will eat my daughter's family meals on the dining table, or when the meals are stored inside the refrigerator.
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Our two cockapoos feel the most physically comfortable themselves in cooler climates, than like what Puerto Rico continually has. They can even most comfortably enjoy running and laying in snow. So for the warmer climate in Puerto, we'll be bringing plenty of "gel pads" for them to lay on, and we'll keep their coats cut short.
If you or anyone has tips on how to keep dogs physically feeling cooler, please share them.
It is an unfortunate reality that a dog could be harmed in the dog's own yard.
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One of the protections we'll be using is having our dogs wear dog collars with a Puerto Rican design, like the ones available at this online store:patriapet.com/dog-collars-and-leashes-puerto-rican-s/29.htm. This tactic may at least help distract maybe even one patriotic Puerto Rican person from even considering harming our dogs.
I pray for his safety and I feel pretty good about my surrounding neighbors.
This past week I've been studying dog welfare at the online places that you have kindly recommended. It has warmed my heart to know that so many do care about animal welfare in Puerto Rico.
Thanks also for reaffirming that my research is going well. This research is better protecting our dogs, and our hearts, for what is or may be in store for us. We do however look forward to creating many happy memories while in Puerto Rico, and we hope that our presence in Puerto Rico will add to the feelings of happiness that are present there, despite the suffering that can be found anywhere.
In response to how it is better to avoid inflaming short tempers, I can completely understand this, and especially when there is absolutely no reasoning with a defensive, drug and/or alcohol induced state of mind. Some people will easily become defensive & attack when they do not know how to successfully handle being made wrong, and this is how even an alcohol-free and drug-free, but a pumped-up and pride-filled person could behave, as well.
Thanks again for the heads up and all the information you and others are providing here. We will remain optimistic, yet realistic and wise, about the environment we are choosing to place ourselves and our dogs in within San Juan.

Thanks so much again GreggK for all the tips. We have the dogs ready to be officially accepted at the airport in San Juan.
It's a great reminder of yours to protect the dog's paws from being burned. We even make sure that our dogs walk AROUND gas and oil pavement too. This way, their paws won't be soaking up more toxins.
I'm interested in your comment about how central A/C may not be affordable. We plan on making sure we will have air conditioning. If you know about this, what is an average difference in price between central and non-central A/C in Puerto Rico?
Our dogs, if they knew you all here, and could understand what you are doing for them here, they'd sure wag their tails and grin.
We're moving WHERE? wrote:I know this is called the Expat.com but please remember this is NOT another country even though it feels like it sometimes...... trust me, go to the DR THEN you will know what it means to be an expat. We have more WALGREENS and WALmarts than any other state in the union. CVS is here as well.... IT's AMERICA with a Spanish accent.
We've been here before...
The majority of the people on this part of the expat-blog forum may be US Americans but that doesn't mean that there are no real expats (like me) in Puerto Rico. Apart from that I would bet that many of your fellow US Americans here on the island may feel they're in a different country, even although that's technically wrong because PR is a US "protectorate".
Then, AMERICA includes South America, Central America and North America (of which the USA is a part). So Puerto Rico already was part of America even before it was handed over to the USA by Spain after the Spanish-USA war. 
DeborahMarchant wrote:
I'm interested in your comment about how central A/C may not be affordable..
In your profile you say you're from Seattle. From what I read online you pay something between 4 and 8 ct per kWh. Here on the island we pay almost 30 ct per kWh...
DeborahMarchant wrote:Gary, is there a way to secretly video tape who is poisoning dogs and cats in your area?
But what effective use is this kind of proof if it cannot be used to stop and provide justice for the poisoning?
When anyone is seen hitting a dog or a cat with their auto, can their auto license number be anonymously reported to the police, and or animal control? If not, why not? Perhaps there are 'regulars' that routinely murder and maim animals this way and they can be stopped when enough people complain about them?
Maybe I could do that but even if I gathered proof it wouldn't help a lot. The police wouldn't be very helpful (to help a foreigner to fight "one of their own") and even if I would be successful I most likely would have to sell my house and move out of the area.
Everybody knows everybody in the barrio, you know, and either you're part of the clan or not. My wife has been living here for a long time and many people in the barrio are (distant) family. They accepted me and in the mean time I'm part of the clan. That's worth a lot.
As long as I keep my "sata perra" under control, make sure she doesn't poo where she shouldn't and she's not loose on the street nobody, will hurt her. The poisoning is a (stupid and primitive) reaction on animals that come in the yard of the people I think who're doing this.
Lately a change in behavior is starting to become visible on the island. A well known tv personality, Susan Soltero, is doing a lot to fight animal cruelty, She's -next to her meteorologist job- an animal cruelty investigator for the PR dept. of health. Since she's well known people are listening to her. She also got people jailed for animal cruelty. Check out this site: http://www.amigosdelosanimalespr.org/whoweare.php
With all the sun in Puerto Rico, are solar panels being made more and more affordable for the general public, and easily accessible to install and use? Or is this solution still way off in the future?
The pets will benefit from us humans getting on the ball with this.
GreggK wrote:Too bad we aren't neighbors Gary. I think you and I would get along very well. I guess we are sort of neighbors since it's been pointed out ad nauseum that we are "Americans".. Well put reply by the way.
Should you guys ever decide to give PR a second change you should check out our area.
I think you're right - we would get along pretty good. Americans or not, we're cyber-neighbors 
That's Great News! to know about, how a well-loved, respected, and influential person in PR, who is also an animal rights activist, is being listened to, and followed, more and more.
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I can understand how turning in a neighbor for animal cruelty may be impossible to anonymously do, and that the poisoning neighbor, and-or their like-minded associates, may retaliate against you, if they learned it was you.
There is a genuine cause to be made, (beyond the compassionate need to protect vulnerable animals), for turning in those who are deliberately making animals suffer. After only just really making myself aware of the animal cruelty in PR, (it takes inner courage to confront this), I'm warning my family and friends about this, and I'll add the great news you mentioned too.
But.
I know that my sister will NEVER come to PR, because she does not want to have to witness, and subsequently be emotionally and mentally injured seeing sentient beings, like dogs and cats, deliberately being made to suffer at the hands of humans.
My animal-loving sister, and millions like her, abhor animal torture. Once they know about the reality of what is currently happening, if they don't already know about this, they will never think twice about putting all their money, time, and thought into placing themselves within such an unhappy, helpless, and emotionally and spiritually ugly environment for stray and abandoned animals.
The end result of such bad advertising is a loss in billions of tourist monies.
But the primary loss is not about money, for the souls who live, work, and govern in Puerto Rico.
Quite some people in the area where I live have guard dogs on a chain and they think it's completely normal. Others get themselves a puppy and spoil the animal when it's small and cuddly but put it out on the street when it gets bigger.
One woman I know sews clothes for her puppy, dresses it (complete with hat) and has a lot of fun doing that. When the puppy gets bigger she loses interest and kicks it out on the street. With a little luck she thinks of feeding the dog(s) who used to live in her house and stay around.
Dogs and cats that die on the street are not being removed but left there and nobody cares.
I'm sure that the people in the barrio think I'm not right in the head because I walk my dog several times per day, buy dog food, take her to a vet when needed and let her inside the house. Not that I care about what they think about me.

It's a different country, not only when it comes to the way people treat animals.
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