Sorry for the late response and I understand your concerns about finding Americans with common interests. In my place in Binan Laguna there is a very big International community. You can’t go to the supermarket or malls without running into a few foreigners. My move to the Philippines is for reasons that I would want to avoid many things in my home country so although I enjoy having coffee or beer with my fellow expats every once in awhile I am wanting to live the Philippine experience more.

do your research before you move to the Philippines. I’m sure you can stay without getting a resident visa as long as you want. As far as a forwarding address there are ways to deal with that too. Thanks for reading my blog!

If you do a little Googling you will see that there are court cases and legal summations on this subject. The rulings have always determined that for anyone to lose their U.S. citizenship they must appear before an official and VOLUNTARILY give it up. Here’s more info: Advice about Possible Loss of US Citizenship and Dual Nationality

I can speak from personal experience here because I got my first pair of contact lenses in the Philippines back in 1980. I had only worn eyeglasses prior to that and I believe that the transistion would not have been so easy in the states. All of my kids started their contact lens wearing in the states as well as my wife and I could tell you about some real horror stories by the supposed trained people in the Malls in the U.S.

I thought I would also mention that I also wear contact lenses and when I arrived in Bohol I had some saved up but regardless they eventually ran out and when I needed more all I had to do was to bring the box of my lenses in and they just gave me more without any required exam. I opted for an eye exam later which was real cheap just so I could make sure my eyes haven’t gotten any worse over time but I just thought I would mention how an actual prescription wasn’t even asked for at least on my island.