As an American who currently lives in Miami who has travelled a lot and lived in other countries. I have the same view that America has deteriorated dramatically post covid. You can have a much better life in Asia or parts of Europe. So many people are moving to Florida and I’m getting out and living abroad soon.

I just returned from South Dakota with my new SD driver’s license. I was a resident of San Francisco until I moved to Mexico City last year. This video was immensely helpful. I stayed at the same hotel and went to the same DMV to get my SD driver’s license. Thank you Forrest!

Am also an immigrant and can 100 percent relate to this video of yours .. bailing out of California and can’t do it fast enough at this point. We’ve lived there since the 1960’s

Great move. I agree will all you say. Thanks for your honest thoughts. I moved from Illinois to Florida 3 years ago, and I have to say much better and significantly safer. The next stop is Thailand in November-till the next video.

Life long (50+ years) resident of CA's capitol city, you are 1000% correct Forrest about the vibe here. CA used to be a great place during the 70s and 80s, but sometime during the 90s things changed and its been going downhill ever since. I wasn't aware of S. Dakota as a domicile option, definitely "off the radar" compared to FL and TX which are getting more & more attention, its something I will look into. My plan is to relocate to SE Asia eventually, retirement is still a few years away. Financially the numbers aren't quite where they need to be, but its getting close. I hope the excrement doesn't hit the rotating oscillator too soon.

Great info Forrest. Thanks for sharing.

Some great information, thanks Forrest!!​

Thanks for this Forrest!!

I was born in China, since my childhood, the elders in my family have told me many stories about our family, from the Communist Party taking over our city in 1949 to the late 1970s. During this period, our family was scattered and struggled to survive under the rule of the Communist Party. They confiscated our assets, land, houses, and everything you can imagine. They labeled us as a "black five categories" family （landlords,rich farmers,counter-revolutionaries, bad elements, rightists) because we used to be wealthy. Some of our family members fled to Taiwan and Hong Kong, so we were considered "guilty" for having connections there. My grandfather was imprisoned twice during the Cultural Revolution, and they even placed him in a cowshed with animals, tortured him. But he remained strong and survived. In the mid-90s, we finally immigrated to the United States, Everything seemed wonderful… However, the reality now is far from the ideal place we had in our hearts. Seeing this great country deteriorate saddens me deeply. Two years ago, we decided to move to Thailand. Now, my family and I are living in Bangkok, cherishing every day here.

I moved to Nevada 3 years ago, or as I put it - I escaped from behind enemy lines. Just not paying Kalifornia state income tax pays my rent for a 2 bedroom, 2 bath house with a 2 car garage, which is less that what I paid for STUDIO in Santa Rosa. I got my CCW immediately as well. I still work for the same company and have to go to a couple of our offices there once or twice a month and every trip is a reminder on how great it is to NOT live there any more. I'll be retiring to Thailand in a few years and can't wait!

This is VERY VALUABLE INFO!!!👍 TYSM for sharing ❤

Thank you bro, this is one of the most useful pieces of information you share so far.

Man you are awesome. Love your videos. Thanks for sharing this and about your family.

You are doing a very important public service,sir... THANK YOU

Fantastic Information and a really good video. This video really touched home

Great move! I was in similar situation like you. Instead South Dakota, I bought a home in Florida in 2021 and sold my California home in the Bay Area in 2022. I quitted my tech career and moved to FL in 2022 as well. Since I have a home in FL, it was easy to break away from CA by filed a sworn Declaration of Florida domicile with the Clerk of the Courts and obtained Florida driver license. Year 2023 will be my first full year without paying California Franchise Tax, saving me more than 10% state tax. Btw, I did vote to recall Gavin Newsom in 2021. After he survived the recall, I had to plan my migration out of California. In a few years, my next adventure is to move to Puerto Rico for Act 60 to eliminate federal tax completely. "Go where you're treated best", quoted from Nomad Capitalist.

Awesome, thank you! I've been looking forward to this video. I was just watching news of a string of carjackings in Castro Valley moments ago. Stressed on purging 30 years of stuff, but ecstatic to finally be leaving San Francisco.

I moved to California in 1976, went to UC Berkeley, and worked and retired from UC Berkeley in 2011. I’ve seen the changes in California over the years. Living in CA over the years was good to me but I retired to Thailand in 2017. I didn’t have any complaints about CA. I just found Thailand and Bangkok to be a more interesting place to be. I get that people may not like what CA has become but be sure you really want to be in the place that you are going to. It is not all about money though the favorable exchange rate is nice whatever your income. Moving overseas is not for everyone. Don’t come here expecting it to be like the US only better and cheaper. Be willing and ready to adapt to a very different culture. I continued to maintain my ties to CA, including paying CA taxes, for my first 2 years in Thailand just in case things didn’t work out. I stopping paying CA taxes 3 or 4 years ago. The CA FTB lists the type of ties it considers as personal ties to the state of CA for tax purposes. I have no property in CA and plenty of evidence that I have been retired and living full time in Thailand for over 6 years. As a retiree I don’t feel a need to do as Forest did but if you are of working age it makes a certain amount of sense to consider the tax state you reside in whether you move overseas or not. As a Boomer I take the perspective that you should build a career and earn your American $$ and wait until retirement to move oversee. America is still the best place in the world to make money. However, I realize it is a very different work world than went I went to work in 1980. And I do feel a touch of envy at the young people exploring the world that I only saw on the occasional 2 week vacation. Good luck out there.

Great info. Thanks dude.

Love your work. Keep it up.

Very good video and info Forrest! I know exactly what you are talking about because I’m a current Bay Area resident who is ready to escape. I always thought of TX, NY, and FL but never SD. But after watching your video and doing some research about domiciling options in other states, I have to admit you found a gem with SD. SD was on my radar for years in regards to setting up a business, they are one of the best options in the USA. Like you I will relocate internationally and I am beginning to see there is a very good and cheaper option than the more popular domicile targets. Thanks for the enlightenment!

Okay, you’ve motivated me and beyond!! Everything you said is 100% true, plus worse if your here longer!!! On my way to SD!! Thanks buddy!!

I totally agree with you Forrest. I too lived in Cali but would never go back. Now I live in Thailand and I love it! In my humble opinion, Thailand is how America (in general) used to be. Thai people grow up appreciating a good education and a good job. I wish America and California could be like Thailand is now. Keep up the great work here on your channel. Thanks

Im still here and you are 💯

This was very helpful thanks.

Thank you for this 💫

I fled the Bay Area to Houston in 2021. Thai husband loves the southern hospitality and hot summers, though this one is brutal. I agree with you completely about the direction CA is heading. Awful. I miss my people. I miss the landscapes. Nothing else.

Bay Area native here, Santa Clara to be exact and I have literally seen this state become worse than a third world country and it is absolutely appalling!! Back in the day, I would go to the City just about every weekend to enjoy everything it had to offer and it was a place you can be proud of. Today? You couldn't pay me to go there and it's a damn shame what was once a beautiful city has become, a total disaster riddled with crime, theft, drug abuse out in the open, homelessness, gargabe everywhere and yes, human feces to a point where they literally have an app to tell you where to avoid feces! There are no words to describe the horrific condition this city/state is in and unfortunatlely, it will continue to decline even more so if these radical, leftist lunatics are in power and people continue to vote them in!

Great information! Thank You! I also appreciate your perspective, and your story! Cheers, from a former Bay Area resident, and prospective US expat/Thai resident. 😊🙏

Thanks for your honesty.

Good job and very informative video.

Thank you for this. I am thinking of leaving Cali. Hoping to retire to Thailand and have been following you and some others. This is very useful info . Thank you much🙏🏼

I just saw where California has Renounced Forest Lee ! Wow!

Great! Love the honesty…

Great Video! luckly I already from a state I don't have to worry about. Good info and very informative!

Hey Forrest , thanks for your video about your change in state residency to South Dakota. FYI, you don’t need to use all the profanity to impress people

Forrest. Thank you for this video. I am a New York State resident and will be moving to Thailand in a few months. One of the things that I've been researching is that when you do your US taxes you have to declare a state of residence.... even as an expat. I had thought of changing my residence to Florida, but South Dakota sounds perfect. I think I'm going to make a side trip to SD while visiting family before I head off to Thailand. Thanks again

Thanks! I’m not planning on moving just yet but I’ll definitely keep it in mind when the time comes.

Thanks for your words man !!!!

Thanks for this video and tips, Forrest. I'm in SF right now and will move over to SE Asia in a couple years. Will look into making SD my state of domicile as well.

Very clever brother! I respect your decision!!

I visit California (Northern and Southern) alot with work. In the late 80's it was great. After that i noticed Cali was in decline. Crime, insane regulations for business etc. My friend has a Delivery Service with 10 Vans(gas powered and customized) and now Cali tells him he can only drive them 100 miles per week or replace with electric. He told them he normally drives each Van 150 miles per day. They said "too bad, sell your Vans and buy electric". He said "who is going to buy my customized Vans with these Regulations"? They said "thats your problem and try selling them out of State". He doesnt have the capital to replace with all electric and says he will most likely see his 15 year old business fail. I have nothing against electric but not everyone can afford to switch over, especially the Mom and Pop small delivery businesses. I think the plan is to get rid of the little guys so the big guys can thrive

Good intel there - Gobro where your treated best ! - The new modified 60’s song is now titled “California Leaving” ! I was living there in the late 70’s when it was a paradise and went back recently to visit and I will sum it up as parasitic. 🤮

Just subscribed after watching your videos since March 2020. I watched this video when I was in Singapore last week after a direct flight from Newark NJ. I arrived at Bangkok yesterday and trying to setting in for the next 6 months in Bangkok to see if I want to retire in Thailand. My family situation is closely to yours. My parents (born in China), my sister & I emigrated from HK to the South Bronx, NY in December 1970. My parents owned a Chinese/Spanish restaurant in the South Bronx for 28 years until they retired. For me, I sold my retail business & now I'm here in Bangkok. Hope we can touch base in the near future. I can say I'm the old Grumpy Chinese uncle. By the way, I contacted Sophia after your last video with her but didn't get a response. In addition, realtors do not like to work with 6 months rental, min 1 year rental. I got mine thru Airbnb.

Thank you for information

Great video. Your wrap up at the end (the last 3 min) was terrific for life in general. (Bless your Dad too.)🙏🏼 Thanks for being you Forrest and telling it like you see it. Peace in man. ✌🏼

Forrest Great topic as we doing that exact process you just did. Living and doing business in California it has become a heavy burden on us. We are actually on our way out to Philippines/ Thailand as we will split our time between the two countries. My hat goes out to you. Keep up the great work. Happy Travels !!! E

Nice heads up thanks

As a Canadian I can say very similair things happening up here. Our westcoast area (Vancouver etc) we call them canadas California the policy’s, affordability, crime etc. are all just about on par Looking forward to be able to find a new country to call home one day.

I'm glad to hear you to explicitly express your view point. Fortunately US is large and there are places to escape into.

this info is so GOLDEN on the "how to do" process. I appreciate videos like this and hope you can dive in more with other expat tax stuff if we make money overseas while living in Thailand.

Great video! I hope more people take action and follow your advice!

Thanks for the info, it's a lot easier than what i was planning to do😅🤙

Personal income tax is even higher than the US but you do not get anything in return. Less than 6% of Thai pay personal income tax. My wife's uncle returns to Thailand after retirement, he has pension 1,500 USD/Month which is enough to live peacefully here.

The last minute advice is the best. I agree and do the same.

I am planning to leave this state soon. Great video.

Yup I feel you 💯. Moved out 2 years ago. I do miss California but all I need to do is take a look at the current affairs there and see what home prices are. NOPE, no thank you. It’s a great reminder why my wife and I left. We are in South Carolina now. I’m not in love with this place but at least we can buy a home if we so choose and our taxes have been cut more than half. Believe me South Carolina has its share of problems but nothing like the scale of California. At this point, California is it’s own little communist country.

thank you, i will do this asap

I have been out of the U.S for 25+ years. When I go back to the U.S, I count the days to return back to Asia. Thank you for the South Dakota information. I will switch from Texas. Cheers Stay safe. I love Thailand. 🙃

Yo Fellow Cali Native living in Thailand. I left in 2011 and Have never been back!! Screw the Politics, Gangs, Drugs, and Homelessness. Inmates running that whole Asylum.

Great information. I am a Chinese American from San Francisco living in pattaya for 18 years. I agree with everything your saying.

Amen, brother!

thank you for your thoughtful analytic perspective on my home state. i accepted a high tech job in a utility company in the san francisco bay area in in 1985. at that time, if 5 people were laid off, the story was a front page headline in the san francisco chronicle newspaper business section. in 2010 after some national mergers, management took aim at california employees and removed every job from the state and sent the work mostly to india. the san ramon corporate headquaters, a massive bldg with 4 X wings 1/4 mile long brim full of employees in its heyday is now empty. interesting while that evacuation of employment was occurring, i did not see ONE story iabout this in the newspaper. in fact, the san ramon newspaper had an achievement award for the most productive businessman. the winner was, you guessed it, an indian immigrant who was offshoring those jobs. yes, indeed. the times have changed.

Great video

Got a coworker who moved all out of Cali to the east coast. Quality of life for him and his family have 100X

I 100% get you growing up in OC things have changed a lot the last time I was there.

Imagine moving to Thailand, keep your properties in California as a safety net/passive income and the state says give us 20% of the value of your property to help pay all these reparations back to the slaves we never had. 🤦🏻‍♂️ yikes that’s me 😮

I'm in SF. It's unbelievable. I'm too g to retire in Thailand and SE Asia. Thanks for the video.

Hello Forrest, I am currently in the process of finishing my working life here in Northern California and Thailand is seriously on my radar. Q1) Have you encountered ANY static at all from The Franchise Tax Board of California by your changing your domicile to South Dakota? Q2) Can you recommend a town for a retired expat that is looking for a "soft landing" spot to get acclimated with the new environment? I would like to add that my immediate needs would be several different types of nearby budget restaurants that offer a variety of different cusines. I want to feed my face without a lot of hassle. I also don't want to be up north where the burning season is worst. Any thoughts or opinions would be greatly appreciated.

I'm doing this before I move to BKK. Thanks a lot

Bear in mind that in the view of Californja taxing authorities, the state in which you have your DL is the least important factor in deciding whether you are no longer a tax resident. Owning property, where your children attend school, your employment (if you provide services to a California company, you must pay California income tax), civic organizations you belong to.....it is not so simple.

I could not agree with this video more. Thank god you got out before the REAL lunacy begins. I’m also in the process of leaving a less-than-desirable state.

Thanks for sharing about your family and past. Glad you escaped the Left Coast!

Thanks for the Great info and content. I will be retiring to the Philippines at end of 2023. I was in the Cebu, PH for 60 days May-July 2023. I have lived in the SF bay-area for over 35 years. How soon should I put the South Dakota residency plan into action prior to my move to the Philippines? I just found your channel.. Subscribed !!

Thanks brother

I couldn’t agree more. Thank you for putting it out there. Taxing the middle class to death! The policy makers are encouraging people to commit crimes.

yup i agree what you have to say

Thank you! The CA legislature is right now contemplating passing a bill that you are responsible to CA for 10 years post moving away. You're right "Action, Action, Action" Have a business in CA and it has become insane.

I’m glad you spoke on the bad liberal leftist socialist politics of California instead of glossing over it. Great to leave California but if people take their same bs politics with them to the next state they will ruin the next place too.

Yeah, more taxing is OK if we get good health care system like in Norway, Finland. Here, more tax, but we still end up paying crazy for health care or higher education.

Well said....I left too and only miss the weather and food....

I love how straight forward you are. South Dakota is a good choice for you not living in the country, but a bad choice for someone who needs work. South Dakota does not have many jobs and the pay is very low. Just go to Rapid City. You'll see the pot holes in the streets. They don't have much money.

Thank You for making this video. I just moved to Arizona from California a few years ago. I grew up in California from 1949 to 2016. And it "Was" a great State to live in but not anymore. Really like your video's on Thailand - plan on visiting this "Dry Season". I'm Thinking/Looking to move out of the USA. Looking at Mexico/Costa Rica that I've been to many times. My Niece has been to Thailand 4/5 times visiting her Cousin who has worked in Bangkok since 2004.She is very impressed with how clean , safe and easy it is to get around there. Again thank You for all your good and helpful information.

Nothing beats California weather.

Forrest thank you so much, I am also from CA. So do I have to live in South Dakota a certain amount of time to declare residency. I am also in Thailand. Thanks in advance.

Yup! I’m already out, and I can’t express how much I feel. 100% agree with you!

Hi, this is the first time I’ve seen your channel. I live in Los Angeles and plan to fly to Phoenix in a couple of days. I’m going to the Mexican consulate to try to get my temporary visa, so that I can retire to La Paz Mexico in Baja next year. I am looking into doing exactly what you did but in Nevada. My mother and daughter live there and it’s easy to get to. Any reason why you picked S. Dakota over Nevada?

I live in Concord, California, and I can't get out of here fast enough two more years, and it's Thailand for me.

"As long as you take action" - well said bro.

Hey Forrest. Just happen to see one of your videos of you going back to CA a few days ago and watched the one reuniting with your sister. Just curious of what your friends and family think because they do still live in CA.

After you go to the South Dakota dmv how long does it take to physically get your new license? I don’t want to hand out there for weeks waiting to get it

Well spoken

Forrest, I am a California resident and I have been following your channel for awhile and I am also fascinating about your move to Thailand which I see there are many benefit. What type of residency Visa did you establish in Thailand in order to stay long term (not month to month basis)?

Does the US driver's license you surrender have to be current and valid or can it be expired?

@ForrestLee - Good for you taking the action you did! Please let us all know how everything works out longer term. I know of a guy who did a similar conversion to a TX residence, and still had some issues with his investment firms due to his not having a TX based phone number or permanent address (can't remember which or perhaps it was both).

Did you have to turn over your California DL card at the South Dakota DMV, or did they just hole punch the expiration date on the CA DL?

hey there Forrest, good stuff on your vids...

Failafornia. I used to envy those from Cali, now I’m thankful to be from New England.

I totally feel that too... I'm online business owner and planning to relocate to Bangkok next year around April. I have a question, what you did also applies to Las Vegas? Cause I'm Las Vegas Resident but once I move to Bangkok next year, I won't have home address... how does that work? For the record, Las Vegas NV doesn't have incone tax so that's a good thing.

A half hearted effort on the topic at hand, basically this was a rant against the state of california and steps to establish south dakota residency, there 's a lot more to severing that CA connection you need to document than that