90-Day Protocol, Checklists & Timelines

Week 1: Select target country and confirm visa pathway with a local immigration attorney.
Week 2: Gather and apostille documents — this takes longer than you expect.
Week 3: Engage immigration attorney in destination country (not just a facilitator).

Required documents for most programs:

• Passport — minimum 18 months validity remaining
• Apostilled birth certificate
• Apostilled FBI / national police background check (can take 6–8 weeks)
• 2 years of tax returns (US: 1040 + all schedules)
• Bank statements (3–6 months showing consistent income)
• Employment letter or self-employment proof
• Proof of health insurance ($50K min coverage for most visa programs)
• Passport-size photos (6+ copies)

Banking stack to set up before leaving:

• Schwab Investor Checking — unlimited global ATM reimbursements
• Wise account — multi-currency, best FX rates
• Revolut — backup card + crypto
• IBKR or Tastytrade — keep brokerage accounts (notify of address change)

Emergency fund: 6 months of living costs in liquid form (accessible without FX conversion).

Insurance: $50,000 min health coverage required for most visa programs; global health insurance (SafetyWing, Cigna Global, Allianz) recommended.

Notify your US bank of your move before leaving to prevent account freezes. Schwab is the most expat-tolerant major US bank. Open local bank: Do this in Week 1 after arrival — most programs require a local account.

Engage a US expat CPA before you leave — not after. Pre-departure tax planning saves significant money.

Key actions:

• Formally establish domicile change (some US states — CA, NY, NJ — aggressively pursue departing residents)
• File a final state tax return + domicile change documentation if leaving a high-tax state
• Determine FEIE strategy: 330-Day Physical Presence Test vs. Bona Fide Residence Test
• Check US tax treaty with destination country
• Set up FBAR tracking system for all foreign accounts opened
• Review retirement account rules (401K, IRA contributions allowed while using FEIE)

FEIE 2024 exclusion: $126,500 earned income; requires Form 2555 with 1040

Housing strategy: Book a 30-day furnished rental in your target neighborhood before committing to a 1-year lease. Day 30 will feel very different from Day 1.

Shipping: Most experienced nomads recommend selling or storing everything and rebuying locally. International shipping is expensive and slow. Bring only carry-ons + one checked bag for a 1-month trial.

Mail forwarding: Earth Class Mail, PostScan Mail, or Traveling Mailbox — pick one for a permanent US address.

US address: Maintain a real US address (family member or mail forwarder) — needed for banking, IRS, brokerage accounts.

Other logistics:

• International Driving Permit (get before departure from AAA)
• Unlocked phone + local SIM plan
• VPN (US content, banking portals)
• Check CDC vaccination recommendations for destination

First 48 hours:

• Get a local SIM card
• Register with the US Embassy via the STEP program (free, critical for emergencies)
• Complete in-country visa application if not done remotely

Week 1: Open local bank account, find a local doctor, set up recurring bill payments.
Week 2–4: Biometrics appointment if required by visa program, complete residency registration.
Day 90 review: Compare actual monthly spend vs. budget. Decide if city/country is long-term vs. base for exploration.

STEP registration: step.state.gov — free, allows US Embassy to reach you in emergencies and natural disasters.

Verified government processing times as of July 2026. Plan your move backward from your target visa approval date.

Program	Country	Processing Time
LTR Visa	Thailand	4–8 weeks
Golden Visa	UAE	2–4 weeks
Digital Nomad Visa	Panama	30–60 days
Investor Pass	Paraguay	4–9 months
D7 / D8 Visa	Portugal	2–4 months
Non-Lucrative Visa	Spain	4–8 weeks
Freelancer Visa	Germany	6–12 weeks
Temporary Resident	Mexico	2–6 weeks
Category F / Non-Dom	Cyprus	2–3 months
e-Residency	Georgia	1–5 days
Nómada Digital	Colombia	30–60 days
Second Home Visa	Indonesia	4–6 weeks
DNV	Greece	8–12 weeks
DE Rantau Pass	Malaysia	4–8 weeks
Temp Residence Card	Vietnam	5 working days

Documents:

• ☐ Passport valid 18+ months
• ☐ Apostilled birth certificate
• ☐ Apostilled police background check
• ☐ 2 years tax returns (original + copies)
• ☐ Bank statements 6 months
• ☐ Health insurance policy ($50K+ coverage)
• ☐ International Driving Permit (AAA)
• ☐ 8+ passport photos

Banking:

• ☐ Schwab checking account open
• ☐ Wise account active with debit card
• ☐ Revolut backup card
• ☐ US bank notified of move

Tax:

• ☐ US expat CPA engaged
• ☐ State domicile change filed (if applicable)
• ☐ FEIE test strategy chosen (330-day or Bona Fide)