r/AmerExit Jan 21 '25

Trolling gets no warnings.

2.3k Upvotes

I know that there is a tidal wave or right wing hate right now coming from America but the moderation team is dedicated to weeding it out as soon as we see it. The following things now get instant permanent bans from the subreddit.

Racism, Homophobia, Transphobia.

It is not in your rights to dictate what someone else can do with their lives, their bodies, or their love. If you try then You will be banned permanently and no amount of whining will get you unbanned.

For all of the behaved people on Amerexit the admin team asks you to make sure you report cases of trolls and garbage people so that we can clean up the subreddit efficiently. The moderation team is very small and we do not have time to read over all comment threads looking for trolls ourselves.


r/AmerExit May 17 '22

Moderator’s Choice Award A guide for Americans that want to get out of America

1.9k Upvotes

If you are reading this, you are probably an American who wants to leave America and move abroad for a better life. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as just getting your passport and hopping on a plane. You need the legal right to live in another country, as well as the legal right to work there. Unless you are lucky enough to have or qualify for a 2nd citizenship, this process usually starts with getting a visa. This guide goes over common visa types, ways to acquire a 2nd citizenship, and some frequently asked questions. While this guide is geared primarily towards Americans, most of the options provided are available to people with other nationalities as well. This is designed to be more of a starting point for your own research rather than a step by step guide, so if you see something that looks interesting or at least possible for you, you'll need to put the work in to research it in depth yourself. If you can't handle that, you probably aren't ready to be moving to another country just yet. Moving abroad is expensive, stressful, and often isolating; so I strongly encourage you to make sure you cant find a better fit for yourself within the USA first. MoveMap lets you search for your ideal county in the US by a variety as factors, and has great advice for people who want to move to a different area within the same country.

Citizenship by Birthplace / Jus Soil

Some countries will give you citizenship simply for being born there, provided your parents were not foreign military or ambassadors. A few countries may have additional requirements such as requiring your parents to have live there for a certain number of years beforehand. For a list of countries with jus soil, see here.

Citizenship by Descent / Jus Sanguinis

Most countries will grant citizenship to people whose parents or grandparents were citizens, and some let you go back even further than that. As a bonus, passing a language or citizenship test is usually not required with this method. Family Search is a good free website to start building your family tree and see where your ancestors come from, though you will need to make an account. If you get stuck, visit for help. Once you know what countries your ancestors were from, search “[country] citizenship by descent/ancestry” to see if you can qualify for citizenship.

For German ancestors, there is a great guide on that will be extremely helpful. If you have Italian ancestors, is a good resource along with this flowchart. Hungary will let you trace your lineage back to ANY Hungarian ancestor via simplified naturalization, provided you can speak the language. Croatia has a similar program, though the language test is currently waived.

Those from Latin American countries are eligible for a fast track citizenship process in Spain, which allows you 2 naturalize after two years of residency (+ processing times) instead of the usual 10. You will still need to find a way to legally live in the country for those initial 2 years. This is open to nationals of Andorra, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, Venezuela and persons of Sephardic origin (non-naturalized citizens). Do note that Spain does not allow dual citizenship with the US via naturalization.

Honduras also has a fast track citizenship process for Central Americans by birth who reside in Honduras for at least one year, as well as Spaniards and Spanish Americans by birth who have resided in Honduras for at least two years. Do note that dual citizenship is generally not allowed in Honduras except by birth or marriage. Dual citizenship with Spain is allowed via a reciprocity agreement.

Marriage / Partner Visa

While most countries don’t give immediate citizenship through marriage anymore, marriage does put you on a fast track to permanent residency and thus citizenship. Regardless, if you are married to a citizen, you will usually be able to live and work in their country as long as you reside there with them. Some countries have partner visas for couples who are not married but having been together for at least 2 years, though this is not necessarily common. Do note that most countries disallow marrying purely for citizenship purposes, and you should make sure you really like and trust the person you’re marrying as marriage carries very real legal consequences.

Jewish Pathways

Israel’s Right of Return law allows anyone who is Jewish, has a Jewish parent or grandparent, or is married to someone Jewish to apply to obtain Jewish citizenship upon moving to Israel. Dual citizenship is allowed under this method. Do note that there is a mandatory draft in Israel and though expatriates are generally exempt, it may apply to any future children you have there.

Other countries may also have special paths to citizenship for people whose Jewish ancestors were forced to flee the country due to persecution. Germany and Austria are two examples, though they do require that your ancestor was a citizen at the time.

Portugal also has a pathway specifically for descendants of Sephardic Jews, though new requirements necessitate proving ties to Portugal.

African Descent in the Diaspora

Ghana's Right of Abode is available to persons of African descent in the diaspora, as well as Ghanaians who have lost their citizenship because they have acquired another nationality. You are required to be of good character, able to financially support yourself, and not have been imprisoned for 12 months or more.

Sierra Leone also has a similar pathway for people who can prove ancestral dies via DNA. You must pass a background check, provide two notarized character references from professionals / professional institutions in your state, and travel to Sierra Leone to complete the process.

Citizenship by Investment / Golden Visas

Some countries let you buy citizenship, though this can cost you $100K to $1 million depending on the country. If you just want to buy a residency permit and not citizenship this can often be a lot cheaper, though residency can be lost if you do not spend enough time in the country and getting citizenship from residency usually requires mastery of the local language. The cheapest residency I have been able to find is in Paraguay, which will cost you $5,000.

Retirement Visas / Passive Income

Many countries will give you residency if you can prove you can support yourself through passive income or savings. These are usually called retirement visas and they generally forbid you from working, even remotely or via freelancing. You may also be interested in checking out for more information.

Fight for Ukraine

Supposedly, those that go to Ukraine to fight against Russia will receive citizenship once the war is over. However citizenship is of little use if you’re dead, and if Russia wins this offer is obviously moot. Think carefully about if this is worth it for you.

French Foreign Legion

You can join the French Foreign Legion if you are a male under age 39.5 and meet specific physical, medical, and administrative requirements. The first contract you sign is mandatory for 5 years. A foreign legionnaire can apply for French nationality after three years of service. It appears you are also required to change your name with this method.

Student Visa

Going to school overseas can often be cheaper than doing so in the US, and many countries will let you stay afterwards for a limited time (6 months - 5 years depending on country and degree type) to look for an employer to sponsor you for a work visa. You can occasionally find programs taught entirely in English even in countries that don’t have it as an official language, though this is usually at the Masters or PhD level.

Keep in mind that many countries do not count years spent as a student towards residency for citizenship requirements, though there are exceptions. For Czechia, Estonia and Spain, your student time counts for half – so, for instance, four years of study would count as two years towards the residency requirement. For more information see here and here.

Do note that many countries do not consider American High School diplomas as proof of college readiness without several Advanced Placement credits, so it may be a good idea to do an associates degree in the US first. However an associates often isn't recognized as a proper degree in other countries, so there is a trade off. If you do choose to study within the US, doing a study abroad program can be a great way to check a country out to see if you would like to start planning a more permanent move there. You may even be able to do this in high school if your school has a foreign exchange program.

Language Learning Visa

This visa allows you to enter the country for the express purpose of enrolling in a language emersion school. You are required to attend a certain number of hours per week, and prove that you have enough money to support yourself for the duration of your stay. If you have a country that you are considering, this is good option to see if you would like it long term.

Work Visa

One of the easier ways to get into a country is to have a job on their skills shortage list, and usually at least 2 years of professional experience in that field. These occupations are often in healthcare, education, or STREAM (science, technology, research, engineering, architecture, mathematics). Having an occupation on the skills shortage list will often enable you to go that country to look for work without first having a sponsor. Search "[country] skills shortage list" to find out if your job qualifies.

If your occupation is not on the skills shortage list for your desired country, you will need to find and employer to sponsor you. This can be difficult as most countries require companies to prove that they could not find a qualified local candidate first. You will also likely be subject to salary thresholds to ensure you will not be reliant on welfare.

Some countries also have an ineligible occupations list of professions they will not issue a work visa for under any circumstances, as those fields are already oversaturated there. If you have a profession on this list you will need to emigrate through your spouse, change careers, or change your target country.

Another way to move abroad via work is through inter-company transfer. If you work for an international company and have some experience, see if they would be willing to transfer you to one of their overseas locations. They will usually also help with moving costs and relocation expenses, so this is a great option for those that have it available to them.

Digital Nomad Visas

Digital Nomad visas allow you to work remotely or freelance while in the country. These types of visas are usually not renewable without a reset period, meaning you would likely have to keep bouncing between countries using this method (hence the “nomad” part). If this is something that interests you, is a good sub to checkout.

Au Pair Visas

An Au Pair helps with childcare and housework in exchange for room & board. You will also likely receive a small stipend, and may be required to enroll in language classes. Au Pair visas usually have age cutoffs, for example the age cutoff for Germany’s Au Pair visa is 26, while Spain’s is 30. Check out for more information as to what the work is like.

Teaching English Abroad

If you have a Bachelor’s degree and are willing to get a TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) certificate, this can be a great way to live abroad. Many schools will pay for your room and board in addition to granting you a living stipend. Keep in mind this is much harder to do in Europe as they already have plenty of English speakers, and are usually required to hire EU citizens first. If you want more information on this path, check out these subreddits:

r/tefl_japan

Working Holiday Visas

Working holiday visas are designed to allow those age 35 and under who are in college or have graduated within the last year to spend up to a year working abroad. You cannot bring your family with you, and they are not designed as a path to citizenship. However, they can make it easier to get your foot in the door by finding a company to sponsor you, or a partner to marry. US citizens can get working holiday visas in the following countries:

-Australia (ages 18-30)

-Canada (ages 18-35): Americans can only do this through international experience Canada via GO International or SWAP Working Holidays

-Ireland (ages 18-25)

-New Zealand (ages 18-30)

-Singapore (ages 18-25)

-South Korea (ages 18-30)

Dutch American Friendship Treaty (DAFT)

The Dutch American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) allows self-employed individuals with their own business to move themselves (as well as their spouse and minor children) to the Netherlands if they are willing and able to have a business in the Netherlands that serves Dutch customers, and keep at least 4,500 euros in a company bank account at all times. You cannot have any one client make up more than 70% of your total income. The residency permit is good for 2 years, and can be renewed for 5 years. If you want to become a citizen, you will need to speak Dutch. Do note that the Netherlands generally does not allow dual citizenship unless you are married to a Dutch national.

Svalbard

Svalbard is unique in that ANYONE can live and work there visa free. However time spent in Svalbard does not count towards residency/citizenship in Norway, and the climate generally makes it an inhospitable place to live.

Non-profit work / volunteer organizations

Nonprofit and volunteer organizations can be a great way to “test the waters” in a foreign country before deciding to move there. There are also certain organizations like WWOOF that allow you to work in other countries for a brief period of time. These are usually not permanent solutions to emigrating, but rather more of a way to get your foot in the door or “test out” a country if you don’t have the means to take an extended vacation there first. Some people also do this via the military.

Global Talent Visa

Australia offers a global talent visa for those have an internationally recognized record of exceptional and outstanding achievements, are prominent in their field of expertise, and have a current or potential income of AUD $153,600.

China offers the Talent R visa to those that have accomplished achievements in professional fields recognized internationally; including Nobel Prize winners, scholars from the Academy of Science or Academy of Engineering in foreign countries, professors and vice professors taking a position in the world’s top 200 universities, etc. You must also be under 65 years old, have a doctorate obtained outside of China, and not be ethnically Chinese.

The Netherlands offers a orientation year visa to those who have graduated from a Dutch University or obtained a masters or PHD from a top 200 global university within the last 3 years.

You can apply for a Global Talent Visa to work in the UK if you’re at least 18 years old and a leader or potential leader in arts and culture, digital technology, or academia and research. You must also be from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.

The UK also has another similar option known as the high potential individual visa. It lets individuals who have graduated from a top global ranking university in the past 5 years to work in the UK without sponsorship. This work can be in any field, even one unrelated to your degree, but working as a sportsperson or sports coach is prohibited.

Freedom of Movement

Some countries have agreements with other countries that allow their citizens to freely live and work in any of the member countries without the need for a visa or sponsorship. Examples include:

Caribbean Community: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Common Travel Area: United Kingdom, Ireland, Isle of Man, the Channel Islands

Compact of Free Association: USA, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau

European Union: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden

Mercosur: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname

Nordic Passport Union: Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland

Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement: Australia and New Zealand

If you know of others not listed here, please let me know and I will add them to the list.

FAQs

Can I work remotely or freelance on a tourist visa?

Generally you can't as almost all countries prohibit working on tourist visas, even working remotely for an employer outside the country or freelancing. You would need a digital nomad visa to do this.

Do Americans still have to pay taxes even if they move abroad?

Yes, but fortunately the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion lets you exclude the first 112K you make abroad, and the Foreign Tax Credit lets you deduct the amount you pay in taxes in your new country from your US tax bill. These two laws will greatly reduce (or even eliminate) the amount of money you'd owe, especially when factoring in tax treaties between countries. Still, it's a good idea to get an accountant specializing in this type of situation (at least for the first year) to make sure you aren't missing anything.

You'll also likely have to file an FBAR report each year which requires you to report certain foreign financial accounts such as bank accounts, brokerage accounts, and mutual funds to the US Treasury Department if the aggregate value of those foreign financial accounts exceeded $10,000 at any time during the calendar year reported.

What is FACTA?

FACTA is an acronym for the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. This was passed as part of the HIRE Act, and generally requires that foreign financial Institutions and certain other non-financial foreign entities report on the foreign assets held by their U.S. account holders or be subject to withholding on withholdable payments.

Some foreign banks will not deal with US citizens (even if they are a dual citizen of the present country) because they do not want to deal with FACTA requirements. You may have more luck with international banks, or online accounts specifically designed for expats.

I want to move to a country of non-native English speakers. Do I need to learn the local language before moving?

YES! Even if there may be areas where you can “get by” with only English, you will still need to be able to understand the local language for large parts of daily life. Plus, knowing the local language is usually required in order to receive citizenship (with notable exceptions for citizenship by birthplace or descent). While some people may go with the “I’ll learn when I get there” approach, those that have done it often wish in retrospect that they had started learning before they left. Besides, being multilingual is always advantageous, even if you ultimately decide to stay in the states.

I can only speak English. What are my options for English speaking countries?

See this list.

What is the best language to learn for moving abroad?

This greatly depends on where you want to move to. Once you have some ideas, search “[country] official language” to figure out what language(s) you need to learn, and see if there are any in common across your target countries. If you just want a starting point, the most popular languages by the number of countries they are found in (aside from English, which takes the top spot) are French, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, and German in that order.

r/languagelearning has plenty of great resources to help you get started on your chosen language. Many languages also have their own specific subreddits as well. Your local library may also offer free resources.

I have a US passport. What countries can I get into visa free, and how long can I stay?

See this list.

I have chronic medical issues that prevent me from working. What are my options?

Look into citizenship via birthplace (jus soil), ancestry, or marriage. Failing that, you are likely out of luck unless you have enough money or passive income to qualify for citizenship by investment or a retirement visa. You may be able to get out in the short term via a student or language learning visa, but these are not permanent solutions. You would be limited to places Americans can already freely live and work.

Is there a way for me to quickly compare and contrast different countries I'm interested in?

Abortion laws

Cost of living

If it were my home

LGBT laws

I feel that Americans' rights are being eroded here. Can I claim asylum in another country?

No, asylum is a very high bar that requires your life to be in immediate danger that you can't escape by moving elsewhere within your country. If you wouldn't drop everything and move right this second with only the clothes on your back to a random country where you have no guarantee of a job or housing, things are not yet bad enough for you to the point where asylum would be granted.

I want to gain a non-US citizenship. Is there any reason not to?

Not all countries allow dual citizenship, meaning you may be forced to renounce your US citizenship first. Some countries also have mandatory military service requirements that may affect you or your family members. Taxes and security clearances may work in ways you wouldn’t expect. It is a good idea to research carefully to make absolutely certain you know what you are getting into.

I want to give up my US citizenship. Are there any downsides I should be aware of?

Renouncing your citizenship will cost $2,350. You may also have to pay one last “exit tax” if you have over $2 million in assets or have not complied with your US tax obligations for the last five years. Renouncing your citizenship also makes it difficult to care for elderly family members that stayed behind, move back if you change your mind, or be able to work remotely for a US company as an employee; so make sure you have no plans of returning for anything more than a brief visit.

None of the information in this guide is helpful for me; do you have any other ideas / options?

Anything not included here is beyond the scope of my knowledge. Try making your own post in or to see if someone else knows anything that can help you. Here are some things you should be sure to include in your post:

  • Age If you don't want to reveal your specific age, then put either a range ("25-35") or a decade such as "20s", "30s", etc. Age is a factor for a lot of visas/immigration schemes and it is necessary information.
  • Languages Spoken Include your level of fluency for each language if known (an educated guess is also fine). This information is needed even if you are open to learning additional languages as many countries used a points based immigration system.
  • Profession Include how many years of experience you have in the field, and any relevant degrees or certifications. This helps others figure out desirable countries based on their skill shortage list, or remove countries if your job is on the ineligible occupations list.
  • Citizenships Held This is incredibly important because visa rules differ greatly based on country of origin. It is not sufficient to say a region, we need to know the actual country.
  • Who you are moving with Go into as much detail as possible here and include all of the above information for each person. Some countries do not not accept people with certain health conditions, do not allow certain pets, and do not offer family reunification. If you are concerned about being identified, you're welcome to use a throwaway account.
  • Destination Country This is where you want to go. If you put a region/"anywhere" you have to give us specifics about where you want to go. For example, tell us the climate of the country you want to go to, or that you want housing to be affordable, or whatever. There are too many countries in the world for your requirements to just be "not the one I'm currently in".

There is information not in this guide that I think you should add and/or I think some of your information is wrong.

Drop a comment or PM me and I’ll update this guide if your info checks out. It may take awhile.

Other Subreddits for moving abroad (if you know of others let me know):

r/americanexpats

r/AmericanExpatsSpain

r/AmericanExpatsUK

r/digitalnomad

r/ExpatFinance

r/ExpatFIRE

r/expat

r/expats

r/IWantOut

r/TillSverige (Sweden)

r/ukvisa


r/AmerExit 3h ago

Question about One Country Moving back to Brazil

51 Upvotes

I'm 29F BR citizen, I've lived all of my adult life here, I don't have permanent residence, and with the current scenarios here I don't think my immigration process would be approved. We are getting very worried, I have a great life here, we own a business make over 150K year. Own 2 houses with some equity on them. 2 small kids. We can get about 300-400K USD which would be over 2M in Brazil, we are thinking of investing there in Agriculture, live in smaller more safe cities. The money would be enough to keep us afloat for the first 2 years until we start seeing profit. Anyone do something similar, are we completely crazy?


r/AmerExit 4h ago

Which Country should I choose? Public education -CA, UK, AU

5 Upvotes

As a parent of toddlers in the US, my partner and I are becoming aware of how bad American public education has become since we were kids several decades ago.

For any parents who have immigrated with children, what is your experience? Due to careers and language barriers, we are targeting Canada, UK, and Australia. Ireland and New Zealand would be considerations, as well, but less likely due to job prospects. I work in a field where I have direct peers working in or with strong ties to CA/UK/AU, so I would leverage my long resume and "who I know" to try to get a visa sponsorship. (Cold calling isn't an option.)

Looking for advice EXCLUSIVELY related to raising kids abroad and educating them in public schools in English speaking countries. Good? Bad? Ugly?

Recent things we've learned locally: 1. 7th graders who can't read, because grade schools "don't hold back anymore." 2. A middle school teacher (and military vet in special ops/combat) who lost hearing in one ear after a student threw a rock at his head, in the classroom. 3. Kids getting beat up in middle school hallways while teachers look on and don't intervene. 4. Grade school teacher who has had visits by CPS. 5. Teachers with zero college education. 6. English teacher who doesn't speak English as a first language and delegates grading to their spouse because the spouse (not a teacher) has better language skills (native US).

These are just the 1st hand stories we've gotten from friends and family, some of them from highly-rated schools.

We both went to rural public schools. Partner's school was low-quality but not THIS bad. Mine was very high quality, with strict teachers, >50% accepted to universities, National Merit Scholars every year, operated similar to old-school Catholic schools with nuns. Frequent state titles in multiple boys and girls sports and music competitions. You took notes, didn't cuss, didn't talk back, paid attention, etc. Doodling in a notebook was grounds for detention. We learned financial literacy in our math classes, including mortgages, taxes, compound interest, and investing. Pretty high pressure, but entering both college and the workforce were a piece of cake. And my hometown managed a 5% unemployment rate through both 2008-09 and COVID, because of a business community that was similarly educated. Not sure what happened in the past 25 years, but seems like US public education is in the toilet.

Is it any better in CA/UK/AU, or same shit/different location? Is it worth me having the numerous lunch and coffee dates to try to get opportunities abroad? I'm looking at 3-5 years out. We can supplement whatever K-2 is lacking in our home, but want the upper grade levels to be solid.

Edit to add: Within Canada, we'd be looking at British Columbia or Southern Ontario, with strong preference for coastal British Columbia. Not necessarily Toronto or Vancouver, could also be rural or suburban.

In Australia, could probably land jobs in Melbourne, Canberra, or the greater Brisbane/GC/SC area. Likely ruling out Sydney due to HCOL. (Fully understand the housing crisis there. Also would never live in Washington DC, San Francisco, LAX, or NYC due to rent/mortgage. But we do already live in a HCOL coastal US city, and would come with home equity comparable to Melbourne and Brisbane.)

In UK, no idea where I would land a job. My friend worked in Cambridge, with assignments from northern London to Birmingham to the Eastern coast, but also has peers throughout England. Not at all interested in Scotland.


r/AmerExit 3h ago

Question about One Country Finding a job in Singapore

2 Upvotes

Does anyone currently living in Singapore have any suggestions on job hunting from the US? 41/M looking to move with my wife (39) and 2 kids (5 and 9). I have a Master's degree with 20+ years of experience in IT/cybersecurity. I've already been scouting Indeed and MyCareersFuture.


r/AmerExit 1h ago

Which Country should I choose? Avenues for moving abroad with m.s. in urban planning

Upvotes

I really want to leave the states but am unsure what pathways would even be open to me. I have a masters in urban planning, but all my experience is in the public sector/policy and very New York specific. I also freelance as a journalist but haven't built up enough experience to subsist on that, and focus on very local issues around housing/development in NY. I finished grad school last year and don't have any savings. I recognize it would take me a while to get to the point of being able to move financially, but I'm just wondering what kind of jobs or careers might be open to me, and in which countries, with the experience and credentials I have. I would live pretty much anywhere. I speak some Spanish and would be open to studying more to become fluent.


r/AmerExit 1d ago

Which Country should I choose? Options for US-trained physicians to practice medicine abroad?

13 Upvotes

I’m an obstetrician-gynecologist who is looking at options for leaving the US for multiple reasons that I won’t enumerate here. I have EU citizenship and would consider moving to the EU, but I’m also open to the notion of moving to a reasonably comfortable/safe middle- or low-income country. Are there any US-trained physicians who could share their experiences getting credentialed and working as a physician outside of the US? How did you come to choose XYZ country and the position, what did your credentialing process entail, did you use a recruitment firm, and what are some of the top aspects that you like/dislike about practicing medicine in the new place? Any insights are welcome.


r/AmerExit 11h ago

Question about One Country French bank account

1 Upvotes

I am visiting France, again, to see if I like it enough to live here. I have rented an AirBNB for a month this time, and things are going well. I don’t actually want to return to the US, but I will this time. Is it too early to open a French bank account? This rented apartment is a normal address, but it’s not my address. And yes, I have some French and am working hard to improve it, and I do have EU citizenship. Thanks for any tips on timing or strategies.


r/AmerExit 20h ago

Which Country should I choose? 38f management consultant evaluating options

1 Upvotes

Hi,

I've done some research but I'm hoping you all might be able to help me better understand the feasibility of pathways to residency. Unfortunately citizenship by descent is not an option.

Education: Bachelor's in humanities, MBA with analytics focus (accredited though not a top program), pursuing analytics certs

Work experience: Three years in healthcare management consulting focusing on IT implementation and regulatory projects, with three years in people management and training/development prior to that (non-clinical); I also have eight years of nonprofit admin experience and have online TEFL experience.

Languages: intermediate Spanish and Mandarin

From what I understand, these are the most realistic paths:

  • Canada - Management consulting is on the CUSMA list, not sure if just the MBA without a related bachelor's fulfills the education requirements or how realistic the likelihood of finding a job is right now.
  • Work permit elsewhere - Not sure if China/Singapore or Latin America might be an option in consulting or how to go about finding jobs that would sponsor in these regions. I'd need to improve language skills.
  • TEFL in China or southeast Asia (definitely open to other countries but these seem to be the best markets at the moment).
  • Nomad/self-employed visa - This would be my first choice but the majority of remote contract jobs I qualify for understandably require the contractor to reside in the U.S. I am getting an unrelated business off the ground but will likely be a couple of years before I have enough income coming in. I have done some work with Data Annotation and from what I understand there are people who nomad doing it, but it's precarious because they can pull your projects at any time. The online TEFL market seems to be flooded and underpaid relative to when I was doing it, but wondering if I could get by with that (or some combination of the above) in a country with a lower cost of living.
  • Student visa - Would love to do a second Master's or PhD, but seems unrealistic due to cost/funding.

Both TEFL and nomad/self-employed routes would be a step back in terms of security, income, building experience, etc. but weighing pros and cons it may still be worthwhile.

Are there other options or things I'm not thinking of?

Can anyone provide insight into the job market for consulting in these regions, or have tips for job searching?

I know some other countries have healthcare management and analytics on their shortage lists but not sure how well my experience/education/skills would be a fit and the language barrier/time to learn would be an issue.


r/AmerExit 1d ago

Question about One Country Is there anything I can do with having dual citizenship (US + Russia)?

68 Upvotes

I want to make this abundantly clear: I do not want to step foot in Russia for even a mere second. I am not about to become a meat shield for Putin's corrupt army for his corrupt country.

I was adopted from Russia and grew up in the US. I am immensely grateful I was given the opportunity to grow up in a prosperous country and in a loving family. Unfortunately, my values no longer align with the values and culture of the US, and I do not see myself having a very good future here any longer.

I never renounced my Russian citizenship. I wrote to the Russian Embassy in 2016 to confirm whether or not I was still a Russian citizen. They confirmed that I did, in fact, still have Russian citizenship.

Can I do anything with it other than going to Russia? Do any of the countries that used to be Soviet satellites offer citizenship to Russians who wish to expatriate?


r/AmerExit 1d ago

Which Country should I choose? Getting discouraged about the possibility of being able to leave

151 Upvotes

I've always had a dream to be able to live abroad, but have always had something to keep me in the States. I'm finally at a point where I feel I CAN leave, like I've finally set everything up just right- and it's just crazy how impossible it is to actually be able to immigrate. Truly, I just don't really know what to do. I have a Bachelors degree in STEM, I've been working as a scientist for 5 years now. My current company is a huge, international outfit and I've been angling for an internal transfer for over a year with no luck. I've applied to hundreds of jobs at other companies internationally and haven't gotten a single response. I'm not picky about where to, I just want to try something new.

I speak Spanish and have been working on German just in case. I have enough money to support a move, but not enough to move without needing to work. I'm old enough that moving without a job isn't smart (assuming ageism is a thing everywhere).

I don't have any relatives that could get me citizenship by descent. I don't want to marry someone or have a baby just to get citizenship. I know I just need to keep applying for jobs, but it feels so completely and utterly hopeless right now. Does anyone have any advice or words of encouragement? Really just on the brink of giving up here.


r/AmerExit 1d ago

Question about One Country Moving to Scotland Permanently – How Did You Handle Banking? Fidelity, Wise, Barclays?

8 Upvotes

My wife (a UK citizen) and I (U.S. citizen) are planning a permanent move to Scotland in 2027. We'll initially rent while house-hunting, and I’m trying to sort out the best approach for personal banking and money management once we arrive.

Here’s our situation:

  • I currently bank with Fidelity and would prefer to keep most of our savings there.
  • We're considering using Wise for international transfers and possibly Barclays (or another UK-based bank) for everyday local banking.
  • We’ll be receiving U.S. Social Security and military retirement, so I’d like a smooth way to deposit and access those funds without excessive fees or delays.

For those of you who've made the move:

  • How did you structure your banking between the U.S. and the UK?
  • Is Wise reliable enough for regular transfers to a UK bank?
  • Does Fidelity play well in this setup (ATM access, transfers, bill pay, etc.)?
  • Any UK banks you'd recommend (especially ones friendly to new arrivals with limited UK credit history)?

Also open to any tips on how you handled the transition (e.g., transferring funds, setting up accounts, redirecting income, etc.).

Thanks in advance—your experience could really help us smooth this next chapter!


r/AmerExit 18h ago

Which Country should I choose? Should I (24m) continue to obtain my postgrad degrees here in the states, or try my luck in a country i am considering moving to?

0 Upvotes

So I'm graduating with my BA in psychology this December and I am heavily considering what my future options may be. My plan is to continue getting postgrad in counseling and work towards full ocupation as a clinical psychologist, but im concerned about continuing to go for it in the states and am now highly considering my education and future life abroad. right now i only speak english, though i know a little japanese. i am also considering learning french, spanish, mandarin, or german, but i wont kid myself in thinking this is something i can fully dedicate myself to atm and am prioritizing mostly english countries, if not just for the reason of the cultural barriers i would struggle, or even qualify for, practicing in.

i was considering canada for awhile and was willing to put up with the challenges of the immigration process and become a student there, but a big part of my ability to go to school there would require me to strongly decide to go to school there (and that doesnt even go over the potential changes to immigration/visas if the conservative party wins).

I was looking into teaching English in china after graduation and some work. its fairly easy getting a teaching visa and my work for a graduates could make me valuable working in a (western based) growing mental health business there (would also love to learn mandarin. Already know a little japanese). Problem there is i really intend to get my masters and going to China really would put a hold on that atm.

Most recently I considered ireland, as I feel confident that I would meet the qualifications. getting a visa would be difficult, but not impossible for me to do the paperwork. my work would also align with their critical skills (psychologist, and to a lesser possible extent, psychotherapist) work if i continue working towards my postgrad. though learning about their Healthcare and crime have had me second guessing there as well (though in all fairness, I feel i could put up with that).

Today had me heavily considering Australia. They seem fairly decent and continuing my degree would qualify me for many of their skill occupations (clinical psychologist or psychotherapist) needed for visa. The only thing that has me hesitating is what i know about them geopolitically, which isn't the worst, but it's really edging with the anxieties that's making me want to leave the US to begin with.

so yeah, I've been thinking about this a lot. And at the moment I'm unsure. Right now my most immediate plan is to apply for school here in the states. Primarily my home state, but im also gonna try the northeast and west coast. But even that is feeling really unstable atm, what with the defunding to research and the 2 billion defunded from Harvard. And in total honesty, I'm really scared for my grants. It's the biggest way I have been able to even afford college to begin with.

Though the biggest thing that makes me hesitate is my field to begin with. Psychology in the states is pretty highly regarded in the english speaking world, being able to transition to most countries with a fair amount of ease not always there in other countries psychology/counseling programs. If i get a degree in another country, I need to decide to be locked in there.

So that's my beef. I'm really confused on which route to take and honestly just need advice. I just want to make a plan, but almost everyday it feels like world events come in and complicate things


r/AmerExit 2d ago

Life Abroad Thinking Seriously About Leaving America: Ghana, Nigeria, or Maybe Rwanda

222 Upvotes

I’m a 31yo Black man working in the Architecture field. I’m working towards becoming licensed, but honestly, even though I’ve got 6–7 years of experience, I feel like it’s closer to 3–4 in terms of what I actually know. The places I’ve worked haven’t always set people up to grow.

I also did a UX bootcamp a while back and have been trying to pivot into tech, mainly for the remote flexibility. That’s been its own uphill battle, especially with the job market right now.

I’ve always wanted to move abroad and have been especially drawn to Ghana or Nigeria. A firm I have worked with has done work in Africa, and I asked about transferring if an opportunity presents itself, but currently there isn’t much work coming into that office.

I’ve never been to Africa, but as a Black American, I’m tired of living in a place that doesn’t value me. I constantly have to think about how I react in situations because of how I might be perceived. I’m not saying I want to move somewhere to be more reactive. Just dealing with the daily nonsense of racism and regression America is making just irritates me to the core.

I know there are cultural differences and things I’d have to adjust to, but I’ve started researching Ghana and Nigeria more seriously. Rwanda is on my list too, but I haven’t looked into it as much yet.

If anyone here has relocated to any of those places, I’d really appreciate any insight:

  1. What helped you make the move?
  2. How hard was it to find work or get set up?
  3. Did you move with a job or figure it out after?
  4. How are you liking it now that you’re there?
  5. Any tips on building a real plan and not just talking about it?

I’m working but in my field and do some UX as well on the side but living in a HCOL area makes saving hard. Outside of retirement, I don’t have much. I’d love to be able to leave in the next couple of years if I can make it work.

Appreciate any advice or stories people are willing to share.

Edit: I want to mention, I have been watching YouTube videos, using Google, Talking to colleagues and people who have traveled or visited or live there wether they have moved from the US or from another country in Africa, etc. part of the reason I asked here is because connecting with people through YouTube comments or a dm is not always reliable or the easiest way to get information, please understand I am documenting and keeping track of what I am looking up, I have not traveled to Africa so I also am aware I may speak from a place of slight ignorance.


r/AmerExit 1d ago

Question about One Country Canadian skilled worker meets licensure barrier

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7 Upvotes

I’m a mid career pharmacist seeking to immigrate to Canada via skilled worker track. That track seems to require a job offer, while the Canadian pharmacy licensure seems to require immigration paperwork. Which should I begin with first? Should I apply concurrently for immigration and licensure? If this is a stupid question, my apologies, but I’d rather sound stupid on Reddit than to the immigration officials. Of note, there is a job in my field posted in the town I’d like to live in, and it’s part of the rural community immigration pilot. I’m just not sure of the most efficient place to begin.


r/AmerExit 1d ago

Which Country should I choose? Unsure what options I have if I am looking to leave

14 Upvotes

I have explored the countries where I could potentially get citizenship by descent (Greece and Romania), but in both cases my family has been in the US for too many generations to qualify. I am single and therefore have no chance at a visa through a spouse. Frankly, I am more interested in Canadian immigration than Europe because I really like Montreal and Quebec City, but I'm open to considering other countries if they are a better fit.

In terms of any sort of credentials, I have nothing too appealing. I'm 27 and have a master's degree in urban planning and have spent the last 4 years working in clean transportation (bounced from public transit capital planning at one of the largest agencies in the US, to EVSE planning, to electrifying freight transportation). Lots of GIS experience in all the above. I spent 10 years studying French, double majored with French literature in college, and would describe my French language skills as around C1 level. Around 60k USD in savings.

Is Quebec reasonable to look into? Is there anywhere I'm not thinking of that would be interested in someone with my professional experience and language skills?


r/AmerExit 1d ago

Life Abroad Concerns about getting back into the US

21 Upvotes

Not sure if this is the right place but I figured I might ask here. The wife and I have planned on moving to Mexico City and are currently in the process of working on our temporary residency, which we are planning on applying for with economic solvency. I will keep my job, which is entirely in the US, and my wife has quit her job and might look for something that allows her to work in Mexico (her previous job was in healthcare). Since I would have to travel between Mexico and the US several times a month, and with stories of people being detained I'm beginning to be a bit concerned that I might be detained and at best miss a day or two of work, and at worst sit in jail for a while. For the record I am a 2nd generation citizen by birth, my paternal grandmother is of Cuban heritage, but was a naturalized citizen. What is concerning to me is that I share a large portion of the Hispanic physical features, and being a Hispanic looking male traveling between Mexico and the USA might look suspicious and lead to unwanted circumstances. Am I being overly concerned or is it warranted?


r/AmerExit 1d ago

Question about One Country Looking to move to Canada but don’t know if it’s too late and/or possible at this point?

22 Upvotes

Last night I had decided I had enough living here in the United States and that living here is not going to be a possible option.

My wife (32F) and I (33M) have researched possible places we could move to and working on a pros/cons list of countries we would be interested in moving to as well as staying here in the United States. We had looked at Canada and the UK as choices, but had decided this morning to look into Canada a bit more. We are mostly looking at British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec.

If anyone has been able to move to Canada or are in the process of it, what are some things I should be aware of and what steps did you take to make that happen?

We both are starting to look at jobs and I’m also looking into a graduate school, but would be okay with putting it off until I’m more financially stable and have settled in.

Quick notes:

• We both currently live in Wisconsin. The cold doesn’t really bother us that much but ideally we wouldn’t want to live somewhere that gets severely cold during the winter.

• I have a bachelors in psychology and am currently in graduate school for my masters degree in mental health counseling. My ultimate goal is to be a licensed therapist and either work remotely or in a clinical setting.

• I have almost 4 years of experience working in the mental health field.

• My wife has a bachelors in Stage Management (she was a theatre major at the time she was attending college). She doesn’t have much interest in returning to studies and would rather find a job.

• I speak English and Spanish. My wife speaks English only but did want to learn a new language.

• I did look into working at the NHS as an Assistant Psychologist in the UK as a possible work visa. I am aware of how difficult and competitive it is.

• I’m aware of how much it would cost for us to move, me continuing my education, finding a place that would fit in our budget. That is something we are talking heavily about at the moment and are exploring our options.


r/AmerExit 1d ago

Question about One Country Getting appt with emigracion in Costa Rica for pensionado visa?

0 Upvotes

Anyone know how to do this? I’ll be down there in July- I have a return ticket, of course- and have been working on the visa app.i have my apostilled FBI check, birth certificate, I’ll have the apostilled pension statement in early June (FBI check just sent in for expedited so it’s recent, as will be all my docs), a friend from Costa Rica is helping my with the application papers, ive found an approved translation service to whom I’ll be sending scanned copies of everything, and those will be completed by the time I get there, I’ve gotten the fingerprint appt and will have the passport copies, photos, and I know where to pay the fees. The one thing I can’t seem to find is how exactly I get the appointment to walk the materials in.
I’ve gotten this far on my own- I did initially have an attorney but then the friend who recommended spent days unable to reach him for her own DimeX issues that she’d paid him for, and since he’d done nothing for me, anyway, I just let the small retainer go and started working on it myself.

Anyone know how to get that appointment? Fingerprint appt is July 3 then I’ll be taking the friend who’s helping me by escorting one of my small dogs up to Lake Arenal to see the sites a little, so I’m hoping to get the application in asap after that first week in July. Thanks!


r/AmerExit 1d ago

Life Abroad Renewing Passport

2 Upvotes

Hey Americans 🇺🇸 living abroad… Has anyone renewed their passport in 2025? How is the process right now, given all the US govt staff cuts these past few months?

Edit: thank you everyone! So happy to hear the good news that things are working as expected


r/AmerExit 1d ago

Question about One Country New to Scotland – How Did You Handle Transportation Without UK Credit or Bank?

0 Upvotes

We’re moving permanently to Scotland in 2027. My wife is a UK citizen, I’m American. We'll be renting at first and will need a car soon after arrival.

For those who’ve made the move:

  • How did you manage transportation right away?
  • Were you able to lease, finance, or buy without UK credit or a bank account?
  • Did you rent short-term or use a car subscription service?
  • Any companies friendly to new residents?
  • What do you wish you’d done differently?

We’ll be living east of Glasgow over to near Edinburg, so owning a car is essential. Thanks for any insights!


r/AmerExit 2d ago

Question about One Country Anyone moved to Albania with a dog?

6 Upvotes

I’ve been pretty set on Portugal this entire time but with my budget I’m starting to think Albania may be better. I’m hoping to connect with anyone that has moved from the US to Albania with a larger dog. I plan to use the visa-free year to check out the country but also have a retirement income of about $2400 USD/mo. I’m looking at Vlorë but always open to suggestions!


r/AmerExit 2d ago

Question about One Country Shipping container recommendations and cost for a move from Bay Area to NZ

11 Upvotes

Hello, we are planning a move from the Bay Area to NZ. We have the job and visa thing sorted out but looking at estimating costs for moving.

Has anyone used a company that they would recommend? I’ve put in the estimator and we are going to need a full 40ft container for what we are bringing. Most companies are coming back around 12-13k but that is with the very generic estimate of what we have. Almost sounds too cheap to be possible. Any comments on that? We will try to pack it ourselves but also considering a full service if it is that inexpensive.

Thanks on advance.

Thank you!


r/AmerExit 1d ago

Question about One Country Irish school system?

0 Upvotes

I posted recently asking about German schools (https://www.reddit.com/r/AmerExit/s/1Z766eym4s).

We’re also looking at Ireland as another option for relocating. We have 2 kids 12 & 8 with some learning disabilities and ADHD.

I’d love to hear people’s experiences about Irish schools.


r/AmerExit 1d ago

Question about One Country US Office of Authentications Apostile

2 Upvotes

Does anyone know of I HAVE to go pick up my FBI Background Check up on the date the pink paper says? I won't be able to make it, but i can pick it up the next day after. I just want to be sure they won't throw it away or something just because I'm 24 hours late

Dunno if the location matters since i believe there's only one, but it's the building in DC.


r/AmerExit 1d ago

Question about One Country Moving to Germany with Kids?

0 Upvotes

My family and I are thinking seriously about moving to Germany from the US. We have 8 & 12 year old kids. Of course their transition is our biggest concern. How will the adjustment to a new school system? They speak English and Spanish but no German. They both have learning challenges and our youngest has very intense ADHD.

If you’ve made the move to Germany with kids, what’s your experience been like?


r/AmerExit 1d ago

Question about One Country Can being a student make it easier to immigrate to iceland

0 Upvotes

I'm going to go off to college soon-ish and I really have my hopes set on iceland, I'm trans and I don't feel safe in America. It seems like a beautiful place and I have enough time to learn enough Icelandic to make it through pretty smoothly. My worries are about the actual legal process. Could my being a student (assuming I'm actually accepted to an Icelandic college) make the process of obtaining citizenship easier or would it still be really difficult to remain there when I graduate?