Taxes Better to be illegal in USA than stay here?

[SerchMinm]

A friend is successful here with his own business but on the verge of a breakdown due to all the stress coming from regulations, taxes, controls, restrictions, etc. He's actually thinking it might be better to be illegal in the US. Any advice?

 

[Dexter]

If your friend wants to avoid stress, being an illegal in the US is not a good way to do that. It's extremely stressful to live as an illegal in the US right now, as they've really been cracking down on illegal immigration. However, if he really wants to live in the US, he can try the green card lottery (which is not as crazy or difficult as you think!), or he can start a business (actually quite easy for a foreigner) in the US, and every six months leave the country and then return. I know some Argentines that live here illegally and are doing well for themselves, but they can't really leave the country because they won't be able to come back for ten years since they let their visa expire without leaving. That's another thing--let your visa expire without returning home and they don't let you come back for another ten years.

 

[earlyretirement]

If he is successful he should have plenty of options vs. living illegally anywhere but especially the USA. Maybe he has relatives originally from Europe and can get an EU passport? Admittedly, Europe is a total mess but there are more opportunities there with a higher quality of live vs. Argentina, IMHO.

If he is from Argentina he should have a fairly easy time moving to another Mercosur country in South America. There are PLENTY of opportunities if he is smart and successful in building another business in South America in a more pro-friendly business environment (which pretty much includes any other country in South America vs Argentina).

Living illegal in the USA is NO way to live. If he gets caught, it will pretty much blow his chances of ever legally living in the USA in the future or even visiting it.

Much better options out there for someone "successful".