New dilemma.  I have put off opening a bank account here until now because, well, like everything else, it's complicated.  Sooooooo.  This month I opened an online account.  Or I have been trying to for the past three weeks.  Firstly, opening any bank account for anyone here entails a huge amount of documents and certificates and other paper products, (proof of residence, proof of employment, proof of identity, tax ID number etc.).  Then there is the issue of being American.  It has become increasingly difficult for Americans to open accounts here because of the new laws that say that all overseas incomes, investments and holdings have to be reported back to the IRS.  The U.S. doesn't want to miss out on their taxes due.  Double taxation.  Joy.  Secondly, banks charge exorbitant fees for every move you make.  Putting money in, taking money out, the air you breath...whereas the online account is fee-free.    Anyhow, all of this aside, I applied for my account in the beginning of the month.  Filled out all of the online paperwork, took in all the documents to their city "space" used just for that "need a human to check ID's and such" occasions, and was told my account would be up and active within a week.  Well it took about ten days for me to be able to access the account online but I am still unable to access my money because as it is a virtual account there is no physical bank to go to to take monies out of.  Of course I should be able to do so with my free ATM card, debit card and/or credit card but therein lies the biggest issue.  They still haven't sent it.  I have been calling and occasionally actually speaking to humans for the past two weeks and they hadn't, until this morning, been able to give me, (or us because GP has taken control)(it's that loss of independence thing again), a definitive answer as to where the card is.  This morning they said they were having bottleneck issues because so many people had applied for accounts in January.  They are sure the card will be sent out on Friday, (which means Monday at the earliest).  In the meantime I have been having my salary, huge as it is, directly deposited into this new account because that's one of their stipulations and it insures me I will have money at my fingertips at all times!  Uhhhh.  Not exactly.  xxoo me