Another huge spike in the coffin for US citizens!
Ever since I can remember I’ve been an advocate about the importance of owning an offshore bank account along with a second passport. For over five years beginning with the www.drescapes.com website I’ve been promoting the urgency that every person capable, in other words every person who has the funds should spread their holdings into several places and in several countries. Over that same time period, I’ve attempted to pound these urgent facts into some of the thickest sculls one could ever imagine and yes as with all things it comes at a price. However the good feeling that comes from knowing you’ve played a small part assisting several to a better way the price you have to pay seems worth it. The child never willingly goes to the dentist.
I’ve met so many good folks from almost every part of this world so I know where I’m coming from when I say this. Westerners have been chipped, birth chipped. Over past decades they’ve been hoaxed into believing something that’s not going to prove true. When this comes to reality when it actually occurs for most will be the most unpleasant lesson ever experienced in their entire lives.
Throughout my life I felt fortunate to have met multitudes of folks originating from all four corners of this planet. Similar to us all some relations have been great and others not so great. But here’s where it may differ from most. I do try to takeaway something positive out of all meetings. One of my oldest mentors continued to say “you never know the pain a person is in”. Over the years that statement evolved down several paths. A key path at least for me was in understanding that the opposite holds true. No other person knows the pain that you are in. By first walking down several of these paths then gather the information and finally studying that information is what finally led me to what I believe was the root or most important path. Down that path is where I uncovered the ultimate treasure, I discovered how to never judge only make choices. At times we’re right and other times we’re not, the ultimate quest still remains. Do you want to be right or do you want to be happy?
Back in June of 2016 I made mention of changes for US citizens wishing to open an offshore account in the DR. The changes were additional forms that had to be completed before processing would begin. Here’s what interesting. These forms originated from the IRS and the others were dealt from FACTA but still most ignored the first shot across the bow. Seems egotism runs parallel for those who possess what I like to call a “birthright mentality”. This mind virus is what caused countless US citizens to ignore the importance of the above two facts and place them on the back burner. I’ve paid witness to it so many times that I can still here it now “Never going to happen” rang into my ears faster than the beat of a minute waltz. Well it did and something even bigger just came to my attention which is the reason I’m writing this post!
As of a couple of weeks ago All US CITIZENS now require a lengthy contextual check before they will be granted access to opening an offshore account in the DR. I can already hear those same misguided thick sculls “but I’ve got nothing to hide” another phrase I’ve heard nearly as much as the pre-mentioned. The good little sheep of the west have once again completely missed the point. It’s not about hiding it’s about your rights to privacy and unlike the previous example is actually a birthright! For those who took our proposal and acted by opening an offshore account while on tour I say good for you and the same can be said for the opposite. But either way you should understand this is another major red flag that’s been waving for quite some time now. I along with others have been warning this will be arriving. That waving red flag recently fell. Now a reality it fell to its demise it’s done and over with. How many others still remain?
I recently found myself shooting some B roll for future videos. I spent much of the afternoon doing it with a family from Canada. We had a few good laughs and a lot of good conversation developed. I didn’t care about the fact I left the audio on since it was only scenery and the audio portion is always eliminated later on so I failed to shut down the audio while recording. During one of our conversations my young friend happened to mention something so well put I remembered it word for word. He said “comfort zones are comfortable but nothing grows in them” and that’s spot on reality! This holds true for so many circumstances, feelings and beliefs. The velvet handcuffs never seem uncomfortable but you’re still just a prisoner. You’re not growing merely regurgitating the same circumstances, feelings and beliefs. I’m not going to dwell on this any further. It’s futile to ponder the existence of what is already a reality. It is what it is.
Look IN JUST 24 DAYS the new President has completely changed his views about military spending and of his previous evaluation about Russia. You the thick sculled are still questioning if the neocons retained control and in fact are still for the most part running the nation? If you’re still confused on what’s really happening let me clear it up a bit for you. We’re currently witnessing the unfolding of fascism nothing less. The gauntlet’s dropping simultaneously as I write this post! Until next time. Barry in DR.
Before coming to see Barry in the DR, I remember introducing myself as a realist that was not swayed by the events reported on the evening news. I explained that we were not ‘doomsday preppers’ and that we were only looking for a nice location to consider for vacation/retirement property. Our goals were simple, 1) See if we liked the place, 2) Look at property to consider investing, 3) open a bank account, and 4) Start the process of looking at a DR passport.
We assumed that we would be in love with the place before we even got on the plane. Once we met up with Barry and Jonny and started driving towards Cabrera, we started to feel that things were different. The people we saw were all talking to each other, or waving, and smiling. I remember being told that the people were content and happy…but this is something you truly must see to fully appreciate. That moment made me think about how poorly things have become back home…far from the days of Andy Griffith. We quickly fell in love with Cabrera, the people, and the surrounding communities, so our next goal was to look around at properties…and that went just as well. The country is truly rich in resources and beauty as well as affordable. We had no problem finding properties that we liked in the area.
As the week went on, we decided to open a local bank account so we could invest and move money as needed. Jonny took us to a local bank and introduced us. When he explained that we wanted to open an account with them, they looked at each other and then told us that we would need to go through a background check before we could apply. They took our personal information and made copies of our passports and then said it would take 48 hours to complete. The banker was very apologetic and said that this was a new step for American citizens but was a requirement. That put a damper on our banking hopes, since in 48 hours we would be on a plane headed home.
After returning home, we discussed purchasing a property and contacted a lawyer we had met in the DR. When the time came for us to wire funds to the lawyer, we hit yet another snag. Our two credit unions and our online bank would not do an international wire transfer. They say that the service is no longer something they offer. Our small hometown bank said they could do such a transfer…but we do not keep many funds there. After more than a week of transferring money and waiting for checks to clear—the local bank then told us that they could not complete the wire for a reason they could not explain.
The lawyer agreed to go to a Western Union office and pick up the payment if I wanted to use that route, so I opened an account. Western Union then approved me to wire up to $1000…needless to say the property in the DR is affordable but not THAT affordable. I then linked my bank accounts (a prerequisite) and requested a limit increase. I soon received a call from Western Union, on a recorded line, asking for a phone interview. They asked what my purpose was for wiring money, how often I would expect to make transfers, and who I was wiring the money to. After the interview, they requested a copy of my driver’s license and a utility bill be sent to them. When I finally made a transfer, the form asked again for the purpose of the transfer and if I was wiring money for someone else to hide their identity.
Needless to say, my eyes are wide open now and we have begun the process of getting a couple offshore accounts and DR citizenship. We are still not ready to pack our root cellar with canned goods yet, but I am not delaying our Plan B strategy for my ‘DR Escape’.
Thank you Barry,
Matt & Michelle Bergum