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A blog about relocation, business and life abroad

Jurisdiction breakdowns, step-by-step guides and real cases — no filler, no sales pitch.

Migration2 October 2026
A political map of the world

Residence permit costs in 2026: 51 countries in one table

Income and investment thresholds for residence permits in 51 countries: remote work, passive income, business and investment, from official programme terms.

Migration27 September 2026
The silhouette of the Statue of Liberty at sunset

US green card for Russians in 2026: all the routes

Routes to a US green card open to Russians in 2026: marriage, EB-1 and EB-2 NIW, asylum. What the petitions cost and where the immigrant visa pause stands.

Business27 September 2026
A business meeting at a table

C-Corp or LLC in the US for a non-resident

C-Corp or LLC for a non-resident: 21% tax and 30% on dividends versus an LLC with no income tax, Form 5472, state payments and electing corporate tax.

Business27 September 2026
A mailbox with a red flag

A Delaware company: the $400 tax, report and agent

Keeping a Delaware company in 2026: the $400 LLC tax by 1 June, the corporate report and franchise tax by 1 March, penalties and the registered agent.

Finance27 September 2026
A laptop and mouse on a desk

EIN or ITIN: which number a US non-resident needs

An EIN is for a company, an ITIN for a person without SSN eligibility. Who needs which, how to get an EIN without an SSN and how long an ITIN takes.

Finance27 September 2026
Papers, a pen and a calculator on a desk

Form 5472 for a non-resident's LLC: a $25,000 penalty

Who files Form 5472, which transactions with the owner go on it, how to send it with a pro forma 1120 by fax or mail, and what the IRS fines $25,000 for.

Life abroad27 September 2026
A newborn's feet in a parent's hands

Giving birth in the US: a child's citizenship in 2026

On 30 June 2026 the US Supreme Court upheld birthright citizenship. What it gives the child and the parents, and why a tourist visa to give birth is refused.

Migration27 September 2026
The Lincoln Memorial in Washington

Green card after asylum in the US: after one year

When an asylee can apply for a green card, which documents the I-485 needs, how to include family and which documents to travel on before and after.

Migration27 September 2026
The US Supreme Court building in Washington

Asylum in the US in 2026: deadlines, fees and new rules

US asylum in 2026: a $100 filing fee and an annual fee, evidence due 14 days before the interview, rescheduling only in exceptional circumstances.

Finance27 September 2026
The US flag on a flagpole

How much a US visa costs in 2026: all the fees

US consular fees in 2026: $185 for tourist and student visas, $205 for work visas, $315 for E and $265 for a fiancé visa. Plus SEVIS and USCIS fees.

Guides27 September 2026
The Capitol in Washington

US visa refused under 214(b): what to do next

What a 214(b) refusal means, how it differs from 221(g), when to apply again and what to change in your documents and answers before the next interview.

Guides27 September 2026
A brick college building with a lawn in front

Language courses in the US on an F-1: 2026 rules

When a language school qualifies for an F-1 visa: 18 class hours a week, the $185 and $350 fees, where Russians interview and why language courses give no OPT.

Migration27 September 2026
An aircraft wing above the clouds

Advance parole in 2026: when a trip is risky

Advance parole lets you leave the US while a green card is pending. Who needs it, what an I-131 costs and why a trip since 13.08.2026 can block your return.

Guides27 September 2026
Seattle with the Space Needle and Mount Rainier

US work permit: EAD categories and fees

What codes c08, c09, c03 and c11 mean on Form I-765, who doesn't need an EAD, what the permit costs in 2026 under the new law and when to file for renewal.

Migration27 September 2026
An airport seen through a terminal window

Overstaying in the US: the 3- and 10-year entry bars

When an overstay in the US brings a 3- or 10-year entry bar, who doesn't accrue unlawful presence and why advance parole trips became risky in August 2026.

Guides27 September 2026
The Grand Canyon by day

How long you can stay in the US on a B1/B2 visa

Visa validity and length of stay in the US differ. The 6-month B-2 minimum, the one-year limit, where to find your I-94 date and extending for $470.

Migration27 September 2026
The Boston waterfront by day

Changing B2 to F1 status in the US: steps and risks

How to change tourist B2 status to student F1 inside the US: Form I-539 for $470, the $350 SEVIS fee, and why you can't study or leave before a decision.

Migration27 September 2026
The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco

K-1 fiancé visa or marrying abroad: which to choose

K-1 fiancé visa or CR-1/IR-1 marriage green card: who files, what it costs, where the wedding happens and what if you don't marry within 90 days.

Guides27 September 2026
A university brick building among lawns

US degree evaluation: how work experience counts

What a credential evaluation is, which US visas need it and how 3 years' experience replace 1 year of study. When a bachelor's plus 5 years equals a master's.

Business27 September 2026
The Empire State Building and Manhattan towers

Business plan for a US visa: E-2, L-1 and EB-2 NIW

What the consul and USCIS check in a business plan: a 5-year projection for the E-2, a first-year plan for an L-1 new office, evidence for the EB-2 NIW.

Business27 September 2026
The Miami coastline from above

E-2 visa for Russians: why it's refused and what to do

The E-2 investor visa goes only to nationals of US treaty countries, and Russia isn't one. Which countries are, how a second citizenship helps, what to invest.

Business27 September 2026
Downtown Chicago from above

EB-1C green card: a business owner's route via L-1A

How a company owner gets a US green card through their own American branch: the L-1A for a new office, the manager requirements and the EB-1C petition.

Migration27 September 2026
The Statue of Liberty against Manhattan

EB-1A or O-1: which US talent visa to choose

The O-1 is a work visa for up to 3 years through an employer or agent; the EB-1A is a green card with no employer. Criteria, 2026 fees and how to combine them.

Migration27 September 2026
The Hollywood sign on the hills of Los Angeles

US talent visa: which professions qualify for the O-1

Any profession can qualify for the O-1 if you are among the best in your field. O-1A and O-1B, bloggers, designers and craftspeople, and how to prove acclaim.

Migration22 September 2026
A historic building in central Bucharest

Romanian citizenship by descent: the 2026 conditions

Who qualifies for Romanian citizenship by descent, why law 14/2025 requires a B1 certificate, which documents are collected and how long the wait really is.

Finance22 September 2026
A person holding a bank card beside a laptop

A bank account in the UAE: checks and reasons for refusal

A UAE account needs an Emirates ID, a local number and proof of the source of funds. Timelines, bank requirements and the usual reasons for refusal.

Finance22 September 2026
A desk with a calculator and tax paperwork

Tax filing in Georgia: rs.ge deadlines and nil returns

A sole trader in Georgia files monthly by the 15th through the rs.ge portal. What to do with no turnover, how to pay the tax and when to hire an accountant.

Migration22 September 2026
The Dubai waterfront lined with residential towers

UAE golden visa for property: the AED 2m threshold

A 10-year UAE golden visa comes with AED 2m paid for property. Completed housing in Dubai gives a 2-year visa. Conditions, timelines and mortgages.

Finance22 September 2026
A view over central Yerevan from above

Taxes for sole traders in Armenia: 1%, 10% and more

Turnover tax in Armenia: 1% for activities on the high-tech list, 10% for other services, an AMD 115m threshold and fixed monthly contributions.

Finance22 September 2026
A view over the residential districts of Tbilisi from a hill

Georgia's 1% tax: who gets small business status

Small business status gives a sole trader 1% on turnover up to GEL 500,000. Who is refused, which income falls outside it and when the rate rises to 3%.

Business22 September 2026
An employer and a candidate shaking hands across a meeting table

UAE staff visas 2026: quotas and establishment card

You cannot hire in the UAE without an establishment card, a MoHRE file and a free visa quota. The order of steps, timelines and permits from AED 250.

Business5 September 2026
The Abu Dhabi cityscape

Abu Dhabi licences 2026: what a foreigner can get

The Mobdea licence in Abu Dhabi is open to Emirati women only and Tajer runs through a partner. Here is what a foreigner can actually get, and the fees.

Guides5 September 2026
A passport with visa stamps lying on a world map

A US visa from Georgia 2026: filing, waits and the bond

Interview booking in Tbilisi runs on a separate system, not ustraveldocs. Georgian citizens face a visa bond from 2026. What that means for Russians.

Business5 September 2026
The Hong Kong skyline

UAE or Hong Kong: residency for an entrepreneur

A UAE golden visa from AED 2m against Hong Kong: an entrepreneur visa with no threshold and an investment scheme from HKD 30m. Taxes and timelines compared.

Business5 September 2026
The towers of Dubai's financial district

A DIFC holding in 2026: rules, fees and the January deadline

DIFC dropped the qualifying criteria for holding companies on 24 July 2026. Existing structures have until 24 January or face a fine of up to $20,000.

Life abroad5 September 2026
The Batumi seafront with new buildings at sunset

Buying property in Georgia: checks and risks in 2026

The residency threshold for property in Georgia rose from $100,000 to $150,000. How to check encumbrances, why farmland is closed and what registration costs.

Business5 September 2026
The business district of Dubai

Opening a company in Dubai in 2026: steps and prices

A licence in 5 minutes for AED 1,370, the Invest in Dubai single window and what the Unified Licence really is. The real steps and the ones needing a trip.

Finance5 September 2026
The Dubai skyline seen across the city

UAE taxes 2026: 9% corporate tax and relief until 2029

UAE corporate tax: 0% up to AED 375,000 and 9% above it. Small business relief now runs to 2029. The 15% top-up only touches groups above €750m.

Migration5 September 2026
A street sign in Tbilisi pointing towards the House of Justice

Work permits in Georgia 2026: who needs one and who doesn't

From March 2026 a foreigner in Georgia needs a labour right: a fee from GEL 200, employer turnover from GEL 50,000 and a GEL 2,000 fine for working without it.

Migration5 September 2026
The Burj Al Arab tower on the Dubai coast

A UAE visa for freelancers: Golden or Green in 2026

There is no Golden Visa category for freelancers. The real route is the 5-year Green Visa: a MOHRE permit, a degree and AED 360,000 income for two years.

Migration4 September 2026
A startup team working together at a laptop

Europe's startup visas: France, Spain, Portugal, Estonia

Four startup routes compared: who assesses the project, how much money to show, how long a decision takes and where Russian citizens are not accepted.

Migration4 September 2026
A view of Paris with the Eiffel Tower

France's start-up visa: the talent card — porteur de projet

Three routes on the French talent card: a company from 30,000 €, a project recognised by the ministry, investment from 300,000 €. Fees and timelines.

Guides16 July 2026
Signing registration papers at a desk

Georgia or Armenia: where to set up as a sole trader

A sole trader in Georgia from $170 with 1% tax against Armenia from $450 with a bank account: taxes, timelines from one day, remote registration.

Guides16 July 2026
An evening view over Tbilisi

What Georgian residence costs in 2026: prices from $170

Real prices for Georgian residence in 2026: business and work from $170, property from $340. What's included, timelines and state fees.

Migration16 July 2026
A video call with an expert on a laptop

12 questions for a relocation expert: a checklist

What the price covers, realistic timelines, licences and the red flags: prepayment before a contract and a promised “100% guarantee”.

Guides15 January 2025
A Schengen visa close up in a passport

A Schengen visa to Spain from Armenia: a step-by-step guide

From personal experience: a Schengen visa to Spain from Armenia without residency — documents, the social card, BLS booking, timings and fees.

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