I’ve read a few threads on this subject but just looking for some new, refreshed info. Has anyone ever lived abroad and used their merchant mariner job to qualify for a digital nomad visa? It seems like it should qualify, even though its not a remote laptop job, but it seems like it should still fit the bill to live abroad in a more stable way than as a perpetual tourist having to make border runs every time your time expires. Anyone have any experience with this?
Your mention of border runs leads me to think you are talking about Thailand since border runs to renew visas were once a very common way of staying beyond the intended length of tourist and other short-term visas. If so, there are several Facebook groups that deal exclusively with this subject. Some of the members of those groups are quite knowledgeable. One of those groups would probably be a better forum to ask your question. I know that Thailand has within the last year or two begun offering a DTV or Destination Thailand Visa usually referred to as a Digital Nomad Visa. Whether or not being a seaman would qualify I can’t say, but my gut tells me it would be quite a stretch.
Got buddies all over Asia
Govs keep changing their minds about how expat residence works
Having a local marriage helps lots
I actually mentioned border runs because the last time this topic came up people mentioned doing that in Costa Rica. I’d recently heard some conflicting info that an American merchant mariner job might satisfy the requirements of a digital nomad visa in Spain and Portugal, maybe other parts as well. Figured I’d ask around before doing independent research that may or may not be accurate.
One can visit many countries for 30 days visa free, Usually can renew for 30-60 days. As long as you don’t work in the country there is no problem. Philippines allows you to stay 3 years without making a visa run but you have to pay to renew every 60 days, Stay out of the US for about 11 months and you avoid federal income tax but if you come back for even a day the clock resets.
I’ve known a couple of guys who traveled the world when off the ship. Instead of flying home they’d fly to another country and stay until next crew change.
Being on a US flag vessel in international waters counts as being in the US.
I’m not sure it’s correct to say that the “clock resets”. You’re allowed to be in the US for a certain number of days in a calendar year, something like 30 or 35 days.
What advantage would that give? You’re already leaving and returning frequently due to the nature of the job so what’s the point?
I really wonder about this. I hear of people staying away from the country to avoid taxes and it kind of baffles me. Are taxes really that burdensome that people are willing to design their life around avoiding them?
On some level as a U.S. citizen paying taxes is playing your part in this system, every bit as much, and perhaps even more so than voting. If a U.S. citizen told me they intended to never vote again I’d really question a concerted mindset to disregard a privilege and a right that people literally fought and died for and that millions of people across history and even today would love to be able to enjoy.
So to avoid paying any federal income tax you are basically saying the U.S. troops are on their own, they don’t deserve my money, and I’m refusing to provide any financial support or participation in the greatest country the world has ever known.
We’ve got so many people trying to come and be a part of the U.S, some at great risk and peril. I just don’t understand the mentality of a U.S. citizen who wants to retain their citizenship but put concerted effort and planning to try and provide zero financial support to protect and preserve this Great Experiment.
I didn’t factor in US flag vessels of course.
I think it is 35 days which is pretty sad compared to other countries’ mariner policy.
So I could bring my wife along without having to bother with border runs.
If you are working on a US vessel, but inside the EEZ of a foreign country (Brazil , Angola, Iraq, etc.) then you can avoid taxes on that income up to about $100,000 (the limit goes up a bit every year).
You’ll still have to pay taxes on your US source income, and the amount over $100,000 earned overseas.
You can be in the US 30 days per years and claim the $100,000 exemption.
Years ago, it was possible to fly into Canada on your US Passport, and the just show your passport card crossing into the US. The IRS had no way of knowing how much time you spent in the US each year. Today, the facial recognition and computers of the US surveillance state make a good easily searchable record of every crossing.
I’m going with a “negative, ghost rider” on this one. My CPA shot me down real quick when I said that I might sail foreign.
He wrote out a bunch of "no"s. Here’s a link to the IRS. US flag vessel is America… need to have a tax home outside the US. Can’t be “living” in the USA, but just absent. The list goes on…
The government is going to get that dollar…
I thought that, as a US patriot, you would be happy to pay your taxes and rake in the benefits that goes with it? 
For what its worth, tax avoidance isn’t the only reason to live abroad nor is it the reason for the topic. Although sensible tax strategy is worth considering I suppose.
Agree!!
I have lived and worked outside my country of birth most of my life, but paid taxes where i lived.
PS: There is only two certainies in life; taxes and death. (not v.v.)
There is a lot to be said for living some place nice, new, and different that is much lower cost than the US, and without the constant barrage of divisive politics.
As for taxes, you’ll have to pay some. Get good advice from a CPA or tax attorney that specializes in expat and overseas worker taxation, not your ordinary CPA, that frankly knows less about it than you do.
I did ex-pat work in Korea overseeing the construction of a series of ships. I was there long enough to get the income exclusion as far as US taxes go. I should note that I did have to pay Korean taxes and prove I did when the IRS questioned the exclusion.
Several countries dont tax their seaman.
In Singapore foreign income is exempt.
North or South?