Americans are Lucky in terms of work on the Internet
By winterose
@winterose (39887)
Canada
December 16, 2008 5:14pm CST
They say that the Internet belongs to everyone, and yes people from countries from all over the world, use it and even work with it.
I am a freelance writer, and I write stories or join sites to make a little money like all you guys are doing here.
But not all sites are open to paying people from all over the world like mylot or ciao does.
I belong to gather.com and they haven't started paying non americans yet,
I joined epionions and haven't done anything with the site because I have to have W8 form for foreign residents, for the IRS,
and now I have I reached the final round for one of my stories to get into an anthology, I will be paid $200.00 for it but before I will know if I have finally completed the all steps and if I am excepted or not, I must sign a release form, that is normal, but because I am not american I must sign a W8 form for non american residents, I will admit this is the first place that actually sent the form.
this is a lot of extra work involved when you are not an american citizen, this is why I say Americans are lucky yes you fill out your on form for taxes,
but I have to fill out that W8 form declare my income with the american government and then again with my canadian government, I only hope I will end up with some money at the end of this lol.
has anybody else had any similar experiences for writing on the net?
7 people like this
12 responses
@jeanniemay (1798)
• Philippines
17 Dec 08
Hi mommy Rose,
how are you? It's been a while since I got in touch with you. Hope you are well.
yes, I've written few online but because of my geographical location not all of my published writings were paid. I guess and I agree with you that truly Americans are lucky with regards to access to the internet. Not everyone in my country can even have access to the internet.
@ClassyCat (1214)
• United States
17 Dec 08
Sorry to hear of the problems of non-Americans
Maybe things will change one day - let's hope so.
I have wanted to do some writing to earn as well.
But I don't know where to do that, and have a
handicap being vision impaired. Some websites are
really tough to navigate.
I don't need enough to make a living at writing,
but would like to be able to earn maybe $200 per
month to help with bills, and personal spending
money - - And from time to time, it'd be really
nice to have some extra to spend on a friend
in need as well.
Have a good week.
C. C. 
@easterangel (139)
• Philippines
17 Dec 08
Actually you can look at it in both ways.
The internet favors the Americans, since there are sites that only pay Americans. One other writing site will be ehow.com and a friend says that he is making good money there but that site only pays those in the United States as residents or citizens.
On the other side of the coin, there are projects offered on the internet that Americans will not touch since they are low in price from their perspective due to a higher social living.This is way the internet can be called an accelerator of outsourcing as well. There are lots of medical transcription, data entry and web programming jobs that wouldn't be enough for an American to live on and they can't match the low price offered by people from the Philippines and India.
So it kinda balance things out in the end for everybody.
2 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
17 Dec 08
I don't see where you make a living on ehow, I have looked at that site, of course it is not good for me, but I don't see anyone making a living from that site,
most of all these little sites everyone I know including all my other american friends must do several of these sites,
now actually writing for serious money that is quite different americans and Canadians need the same amount of money to make a living, it is not different. That would go for England too, of course the equivalent would be in pounds but it takes a lot of money to live in these countries, and our money is worth more than a most of the countries in the world, england's money is worth more than canada and the usa by the way,
I am not sure about the euro dollar though. Maybe somebody else here can answer that.
1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
14 Jan 09
I am sorry they are making things harder for you. I am just glad you are bale to make payout. No, I have not had a similar problem like this before. One day it will be different hopefully. Maybe with the change it will also change a few other things.Like instead of checks that you have to wait 4-8 weeks for that they will pay through Paypal, SO we will be getting our money sooner and easier and not worry about the checks in the mail. Our mailboxes are at the end of our holler and I can't see my mailbox.
1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
15 Jan 09
Well, maybe if we all pray and cross our fingers and toes..it will be selected..I hope that it is..HUGS...
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
14 Jan 09
I haven't heard if my story was selected or not, oh well, I will assume that it wasn't.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
18 Dec 08
the 600. is american taxes, does not apply to other counties,
I have to fill out a w8 form for foreigners
regardless how much I make,
this is for one story because I get paid good when I get paid for my stories and they are paying 200.00 just for the one story if they accept it.
@CharRay7 (1549)
• United States
17 Dec 08
Hi Carol,
I am really sorry that people like you who are not an American have so much trouble making money on the internet. It's such a shame. I don't see what all the big hub bub is.
The only thing we Americans might have trouble with is if we make over $600 from any one source, we have to report it to the government so they can take taxes out of it. And if you are on disability, it's even worse. I think that if you make any money from an outside source, that it can be deducted from your disability income, which I think stinks. I haven't had that problem yet since I haven't made that much in one year from one source, but I might in the future. (it would sure be nice)
Happy MyLotting!
Char
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
17 Dec 08
It is exactly the same way here, worse because I am supposed to report all my income no matter how little it might be.
2 people like this
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
17 Dec 08
are you having to fill out forms for everything or just the 200 dollar one?? that must really suck!!
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
18 Dec 08
it depends the site,
places like mylot don't care,
some sites would send you any money period if you are not american
and this place wants to purchase my story at 200.00 and I have to fill out the form for that, if they buy another story down the line I have to fill out the form again so it will be for everything that I do.
1 person likes this
@ClassyCat (1214)
• United States
20 Dec 08
Where are you writing that you have
earned $200? - or did I misunderstand you?
Maybe some of the folks in other countries can start
some sites by contacting the admins of these that help
folks make $$$ online. Of course, I have no idea
what the cost involves. But I'd think getting ideas
from admins would at least be a good way to start.
That's one reason that I think America is a blessed
country - in that we've got a lot of people that want
to create, and make 'their own way in the world.'
So - they get nosey, and start looking into what
they can find, and they don't give up easily (well, at
least many of them don't.)
Like my statement on my profile here says: "Better to
have tried and failed, than not to have tried at all."
Good luck to all of you.
C. C.
@SHAMRACK (8576)
• India
17 Dec 08
Dear friend,
I too had experienced a few like you, that resulted me in not able to join, But people like you who could do better contributions are not able show your talent in those American accepted sites. I hope soon you would get a better option may be that option would give a better side for all those internet users.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
18 Dec 08
Yep it is a struggle trying to find the places, but I do, I just wish I didn't have to look so hard lol
@hotsummer (13835)
• Philippines
17 Dec 08
truly non americans, can't find much opportunities to earn well on the net as the amercians do as of the moment. but i am quite happy for the americans that they have lots of ways to earn online. since that their economy is in the slump and there many americans losing their jobs. hopefully the opportunities on the net will help the americans still live a normal life and live on their high standard of living. and for us non americans. we should just learn which sites will benefit us and which way to earn online will suit us best.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
18 Dec 08
You are write and that is what we do do find the sites that good for internetation business.
@cameo22 (200)
• India
17 Dec 08
may be americans are more lucky on internet works.coz there i have seen more oppertunity which we didn't get from our country.some of the programs are for US and canada those programes might be better and reliable but we can't join.so i feel US are lucky on this.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
18 Dec 08
yes Cameo
I am from Canada and I do get a lot of work just that many sites are not open to be because of american tax laws
zuch,
I just think there are more americans who have started the sites that is why, which canadians would start more. But the enterprise in America is bigger because it is a bigger country in terms of people.
@zukichucha (991)
• United States
17 Dec 08
I agree that Americans are luckier making money online. It might be because we are a super power or because other countries might feel we are more educated or reliable. This is not my opinion by the way. I just feel that people treat America like we are so great and I don't think it is fair because every country has something to offer.
1 person likes this
@myskina (182)
• China
17 Dec 08
yeah , really so luckly for the Americans , such as the Youtube and many others buxes , some just have the ' only for USA ' buttons , you really luckly , my USA friends `
that's good condotions , you can use it very well , that's the naturals around you , you can use it to do sth `
1 person likes this
@ujjwalbatra (446)
• India
17 Dec 08
hi dear,,,,
ya you are right that americans are lucky in terms of internet jobs,,,,,i live here in india and in india we dont have any such big earning facility through internet,,,,i have joines a number of freebie sites and in them also maximum number of offers are only for the american residents,,,,,,,
1 person likes this
@vikeyshuy (284)
• China
15 Jan 09
i think americans are really lucky to work from home by using of internet.that is what i look forward to!i have to go to my office everyday, takeing bus is very boring,and even though there is nothing to do with the office i still have to stay there.how i hope that i can arrange my time according to my wishes.
1 person likes this
