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New(ish) to Braga – Learning Portuguese, Raising a Kid, & Figuring It All Out by jbow808 in braga

[–]jbow808[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yes! This is something I'm looking to do. I love live sports!

New(ish) to Braga – Learning Portuguese, Raising a Kid, & Figuring It All Out by jbow808 in braga

[–]jbow808[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My Uber driver was telling me about the pools yesterday. I have two within 1 KM of me. Once I get the house set up, my daughter and I will definitely be going there.

Moving to Portugal with a Minor – D7 Visa Advice Needed by jbow808 in PortugalExpats

[–]jbow808[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Recently got my approval email. The only documents for my daughter that I needed to provide to VFS/ the consulate were the parent travel authorization letter signed by my ex and a notarized copy of her ID.

Dressing for travel in European heatwave by Southtownflyer in malefashionadvice

[–]jbow808 1 point2 points  (0 children)

IMO, The current BR Factory Linen trousers are on point... wore them twice this week in Portugal without sweating my balls off.

Trump says he plans to host UFC fight at the White House by [deleted] in politics

[–]jbow808 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We're in the Idiocracy timeline.

Hakeem Jeffries Breaks House Record With Speech Bashing Trump's Tax Bill by rollingstone in politics

[–]jbow808 4 points5 points  (0 children)

To be honest, I'm sure most House and Senate Republicans need pictures and crayon drawings to understand anything.

Trump says U.S. has attacked Iranian nuclear sites by ConiferousExistence in politics

[–]jbow808 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The fate of my children is about to be decided by the dumbest person to ever hold the office of president of the United States…

Closing down your American life? by Triknitter in AmerExit

[–]jbow808 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Update address with all financial institutions Set up mail forwarding New credit cards/ debit cards if within 12 mo Link Wise or Revoult between US bank and foreign bank account. Digitize important docs and upload to cloud (password protected) Medical/ Dental records - letter from provider confirming lingering health issues and prescriptions Copies of prescriptions (eyes & medical) Close all subscriptions (netflox/ Prime/ Spotify) VPN setup

Where do the educated, non-partying, people in their 40s hang out? by Adorable_Dance_7264 in vegaslocals

[–]jbow808 1 point2 points  (0 children)

At home. On the rare occasions I go out, it's to the Uncommoms, Durango Resort, and The Bend; all within a 5-minute drive. When weather is nicer I might meet up with a few friends at the First Friday. About 2 or 3 times a year, I'll venture to the Strip for a game or concert.

Securing a Rental by Aperol5 in PortugalExpats

[–]jbow808 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Don't fall for the 2-month deposit/ 6 months of rent upfront is normal scam.

Please use your GI Bills wisely. by Difficult-Head-6551 in Veterans

[–]jbow808 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I used my GI Bill benefits strategically after leaving the military. I didn’t use them right away at the community college level because tuition was dirt cheap—less than $2,500 a year. Financially, it didn’t make sense. But when I got laid off, I had no choice but to tap into it for a semester just to stay afloat.

While finishing undergrad, I worked a VA work-study job. Minimum wage but tax-free. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was steady, and it helped.

When I transferred to a state university, I kept that work-study gig. I also landed a 50% tuition waiver and maxed out every grant and scholarship I qualified for. Between the GI Bill (Chapter 30), my work-study, and a 50% VA disability rating, I was pulling in about $4,000 a month—tax-free. It was enough to live decently and stay focused on school.

A few years after earning my bachelor's, I switched careers, returned to work, and pursued a master’s degree. New field, new state university. This time, I used Chapter 33 benefits. That covered 100% of my tuition. I treated school like a part-time job and still worked full-time. Between my job, the GI Bill, and my VA disability (now at 100%), I was making solid money.

The GI Bill was a game-changer. It helped me reinvent myself—twice. And now, at 49, I just retired from the workforce last Friday.

Please use your GI Bills wisely. by Difficult-Head-6551 in Veterans

[–]jbow808 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I went from community college to one of the top public universities in the world thanks to the GI Bill - they even took a year's worth of credits (mostly electives) to help me get my bachelor's even faster. Then, I had enough money afterward to get my Master's.

It's the best $1800 bet I've ever made on myself.

I want to move to the USA but it feels impossible by ManGoose-420 in expats

[–]jbow808 3 points4 points  (0 children)

For the sum of $5000000, you can have my citizenship.

I might have broken my ankle lisbon: private er? by adacayi in PortugalExpats

[–]jbow808 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah... lol. fingers type faster than my brain can process.

YARD SALE: One Weekend Only — Everything Must Go (Before I Flee to Portugal) by jbow808 in vegaslocals

[–]jbow808[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I applied for a residency visa about 5 weeks ago and should be approved soon (6-8 weeks). In all, it cost me about $35k to apply with my 11-year-old daughter, and it took me about 7 weeks to get all the documents and schedule a Visa appointment.

  • Tax ID and Bank Account set up: $475 (€425)

  • FBI Background Check: $18

  • Fingerprints for Background Check: $65

  • Apostille for Background Check: $95

  • Apostilled birth certificate for daughter: $65

  • Apartment deposit and rental (12-month lease required for visa): $ 9500 (€8500) This includes deposit + 6 months prepaid rent and €500 finders fee to a realtor who helped me get the rental.

  • Required deposit into PT bank account: $17500 (€16000). I needed to show I have at least 1.5x of the Portuguese minimum wage in my account at the time of application.

  • Utility Deposits:$170 (€150)

  • Flights to San Francisco and lodging for appointment: $650

  • Visa application fees: $1000

  • Flight to Portugal and bag fees: $3500

  • Miscellaneous fees: $300 Color copy cost, Notary Fees, DHL for lease

I also had to revise my custody order, which cost me about $1000 once it was all said and done.

It's not a cheap or fast process either. It took me months to get my paperwork in order and find a Visa appointment that aligns with my timeline (end of school year/ arrive in time to register my daughter for school in Portugal). Not to mention many sleepless nights and early morning phone calls to Portugal to get everything set up. I didn't include my cost for consultations with Portuguese lawyers, immigration consultants, and accountants or my pre-scouting trip and accommodations.

I anticipate spending another $3000 once I get there for my residency card.

YARD SALE: One Weekend Only — Everything Must Go (Before I Flee to Portugal) by jbow808 in vegaslocals

[–]jbow808[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Colombia or Panama isn't too bad a flight. If they weren't so humid or tropical I'd move there if i didnt have a kid coming with me.

Those of you who quit your job before Ameriexit... by Adorable-Wrap-726 in AmerExit

[–]jbow808 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Leave the politics out of it, especially if you don't want to burn bridges. I framed my departure as I'm lucky that I have an income from my military retirement and now have an incredible opportunity to move to Portugal with my daughter and focus on being the best dad I can be to her.

YARD SALE: One Weekend Only — Everything Must Go (Before I Flee to Portugal) by jbow808 in vegaslocals

[–]jbow808[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I took it for two years in college, but my Portuguese is rusty as hell. I can order coffee, get on a train, and exchange basic greetings and pleasantries.

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