After today's trading, I am very optimistic about the future. I am now completely satisfied with my chart setups and the process of interpreting the corresponding graphics (and hope to only get better at it). If things continue to go well, I seriously think I might be moving to Uruguay one day, and am therefore going to begin collecting as much information on the place as I can between then and now (based on the chance that "then" may actually arrive one day).
It looks to me like normally a flight to Uruguay can be had for under $600. But with COVID-19, to get there today (if at all) one would have to take several flights and it would end up costing at least three times as much.
What requirements would you have to fulfill to get a visa for Uruguay? I don't mean a visa for tourism, but one that allows you to stay for a prolonged period of time.
From a previous post, copied and pasted from Invetopedia... While it may be small in size, this coastal country is a big hit with retirees from around the globe. In fact, "International Living" magazine ranked Uruguay in the "top 20" as the world’s best places to retire in 2019. According to some estimates, the average retired couple could live comfortably in this South American country for as little as $2,000 a month.
From immiguides.com... If you are visiting Uruguay as a tourist, you will be issued a 90-day temporary visa when you pass through airport immigration (or when crossing the border). If you wish to extend the visa for another 90 days, you can do so at any immigration office for an additional fee. When leaving the country by air, you’ll be charged a departure tax of around $30 USD. Anyone wishing to change their visa status from temporary to permanent can file a request with the immigration department as long as they haven’t exceeded 180 days in the country. Rentista Visa: one of the most common visas issued to foreigners moving to Uruguay. As of now, there is no specific income requirement to be met upon application, but the generally accepted amount is around $1,500 USD per month for single applicants. With a rentista visa you are able to ship in your household belongings duty-free. Retirement Visa: just as with a rentista visa, you are able to ship in household goods duty-free. In addition, you can also import a vehicle and apply for a Uruguayan passport. The requirements for retirement visas are extremely lax in comparison with neighboring countries, but have been changing in recent years. Make sure to check with an immigration lawyer or the nearest Uruguayan Embassy for the most up-to-date information on retirement visas. Note: you must have all required foreign documents legalized by the Uruguayan Consulate. In most cases, these documents will have to be translated into Spanish. A public notary or an accountant must certify any proof of income. Once your visa request has been given an application number, you can apply for your cedula (Uruguayan ID card). Once you’ve been issued a cedula, you have all the rights of a resident even though your application is still being processed. Permanent Residency and Citizenship In order to obtain residency in Uruguay, you must fulfill the following requirements: Submit a letter to the government notifying them of your intent to immigrate. Provide a birth certificate that has been legalized by the Uruguayan Consulate Provide a marriage certificate legalized by the Uruguayan Consulate (The submission of a marriage certificate is optional, but when submitted only one spouse must provide proof of income.) Provide proof of steady monthly income (such as pension stipends, dividends, rental income, or a work contract) Go through a medical exam (akin to a routine check-up) by an authorized clinic in Uruguay. Prove that you hold an Uruguayan address (this can be done at a local police station by bringing your passport and two witnesses that will verify where you live) Just as when applying for a visa, all foreign documents must be apostilled in the country of origin. Some applicants may be asked to engage in a brief interview for verification purposes. Residence applications are usually processed in 1 – 2 years. Once you’ve obtained your residency, there is no requirement as to how long you must remain in the country. The only way your residency will be revoked is if you are outside of the country for three consecutive years or more. Citizenship: married couples that have resided in the country for at least three years and have been granted residency are able to apply for Uruguayan citizenship. Single residents must have been in Uruguay for five years before they can apply for citizenship. Unlike in other South American countries, the countdown for citizenship eligibility begins from the day you set foot in Uruguay, regardless of when your residency is approved. From nomadcapitalist.com... The road to Uruguay citizenship starts the same way the road to other Latin citizenships does: getting second residency and letting the hourglass sift away. Second residency in Uruguay is relatively straightforward; anyone with a decent monthly income can qualify, although the minimum amounts are higher than in Central American countries due to the higher cost of living. Once residency is obtained, you are expected to relocate to Uruguay. Uruguay immigration officials are more strict about this than other countries like Panama; they actually want to see you living there. Married couples are at an advantage when obtaining residency in Uruguay, as “families” are invited to apply for naturalization as soon as three years after residency is obtained. Single residents must wait five years to apply. That puts the Uruguay residency program on par with Panama, Nicaragua, and many European countries in terms of wait time for single filers, and on par with Paraguay for those who are married or have families. In fact, Uruguay is among the fastest ways to get a second passport. But no so fast. Uruguay imposes steep physical presence requirements that countries such as Paraguay do not. My contacts who have Uruguay residency tell me that they were expected to spend at least 9-10 months in the country in their first year. That means any business trips, trips to see family, or leisure travel must be jammed into two months in the first year. On an ongoing basis, Uruguay Immigration expects you to be physically present in the country for at least six months. Applying for Uruguay citizenship requires that you show proof that the country is your center of life. This proof can border on the arcane, as judges and immigration officials have requested library cards, receipts from doctor appointments, or proof of country club memberships. In short, Uruguay is NOT the place to fly in, get a cedula, and come back every once in a while before applying for naturalization. In fact, it may not be the place to obtain a second citizenship even if you’re willing to live there. There is no doubt that Uruguay has some beautiful cities and is a charming place to live, but recent accounts have suggested that not even those who have obviously made the place their only home can become Uruguay citizens. I know of two accounts in which families have spent several years in country – foregoing leaving for worry of having their citizenship prospects diminished – only to be turned down by judges and an immigration system that used circular logic on them. Sadly, Uruguay is not the best country to get a second passport. Yes, the requirements are relatively straightforward and anyone of even modest success can meet them. The challenge is that Uruguay has started to develop a reputation for not naturalizing foreigners who ask for it based on the guidelines. And if you’re Chinese or Arabic, forget it; you’ll never become Uruguayan. I frequently tell people that you can’t view any residency program as a guarantee of future citizenship. Countries can change their laws at any time. They can also do what Uruguay appears to have started doing, which is to simply not enforce their law in a way that works against you. If South America is a place you’d like to live, but you want the comforts of home, obtaining residency in Uruguay may not be a bad idea. It is possible to live there full-time and still pay no tax on worldwide income for your first five years, making it a great flag to plant as your primary residence in many cases. If you’re seeking a passport, however, you’d be better off in Chile if you’re willing to spend time on the ground, and Panama, Paraguay, or elsewhere if you’re less flexible.
If not, it would probably be easy enough to work around. A highly successful trader can easily branch out into other areas. For example, I have an online store that provides me with some monthly income, so I could start promoting it (which I currently don't do) especially after enhancing it via a renewed focus on my product line, which I could easily maximize without any additional financial investment. Other things I've done in the past that I could start doing again (but even better) in the future include providing online education, renting out surplus space, reselling fast-moving high-demand products on eBay, etc.
The Spanish I've learned was for communicating with folks from Mexico, not Uruguay. So, I will be looking for outlets that will help me get used to the difference. News: Montevideo https://www.elpais.com.uy/ https://www.elobservador.com.uy/ https://www.lr21.com.uy/ http://www.brecha.com.uy/ https://www.busqueda.com.uy/home Paysandu https://www.eltelegrafo.com/ Television: https://www.canal4.com.uy/ https://www.canal10.com.uy/ http://www.tnu.com.uy/ https://www.teledoce.com/ Uruguayan news in English: https://en.mercopress.com/uruguay Hmmm...I just discovered an alternative USA news source... https://federalnewsnetwork.com/ (I get most of my news from sources other than ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, and FOX because these guys simply repeat the same old nonsense day after day.)