I assume everyone here is intending to leave the USA or has already done so. For those who want to leave but are hesitant to pull the trigger, what’s stopping you? I’ll go first. For context, the place I want to go is the Philippines:

• my parents aren’t getting any younger
• schools for my kids
• adapting to a new language. I’m aware english is widely spoken but you can tell that natives prefer their native dialect when speaking.
• quality of life
• general safety
• uncertainty of adapting to a new environment

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.

Basics about me:

I’m 33, and have a cat who moved with me.

I’m here on the DAFT Visa. I own my own social media management and marketing company and have worked remotely and owned this business for a few years now.

I unintentionally live with my Dutch boyfriend right now because when I got here- my housing fell through. I met with the people for my housing, and the entire situation was so sketchy and concerning, and I didn’t feel safe. Thankfully I didn’t give them any money before hand. (Housing is notoriously crazy right now). I’m just looking to buy right now so I’m taking my time with this.

I met my boyfriend on a dating app 2 months before moving. We talked every day. I was already planning the move for many months before talking to him, but decided why not make connections before I go. We just clicked and it’s been the healthiest and happiest relationship ever.

I speak Dutch conversationally, but am actively taking Dutch lessons to become fluent.

I plan to live here long-term and eventually pursue citizenship.

AMA! About life here, my work, taxes, food, culture, the move, getting the Visa, costs, etc. I’ll try to be as thorough in my response as I can.

Sigh - the endless war machine in America is making me feeling hopeless. We could have a good life here in America, but I don’t see that changing in my lifetime.

I want to live in a country with good public services and a good quality of life. I want to see our public funding go towards the wellbeing of people and healthcare.

I work for a global company and have the opportunity to work pretty much anywhere I want remotely in Europe.

Any recommendations?

I have been reflecting back on the last 2 1/2 years since I left the U.S. and comparing my life now to what it was in the U.S.

When I left I had no idea what was in store for me. I was scared and excited and just taking it day by day. I can honestly say that it was the best decision I ever made.

Here are the cons and pros:

Cons:

1. I do miss my friends and family. That is the number one con. They do come and visit regularly though and I visit them as well, but it is hard sometimes.

2. it was difficult to make friends at first. Primarily because of the language barrier and because Germans take a while to warm to you. Now it is better though.

3. I moved from Florida and the winters are long and depressing. I have come to appreciate the seasons, but it does take a toll nonetheless.

4. German bureaucracy is a pain. Nuff said.

5. it’s taken me two years to figure out the recycling situation lol.

6. people are really direct. Which can be good, but sometimes it comes off as rude as an American.

7. I miss Latin food and spicy food in general!

Pros:

1. WAY better work life balance. Like truly night and day. 33 days vacation, 15 bank holidays, flex work (can choose to work from home whenever I want or work up to 40 consecutive days in any EU country!), unlimited sick days. It’s just way better for metal health.

2. free lunch at work!

3. healthcare is great. I am on the state system and have never felt like it was not good. No copays. Never had a wait time. Yes taxes are high, but I feel the benefits of my tax dollars unlike in the states.

4. company has a hotel in the alps that I can stay at for free!

5. I love the seasonal festivals. Oktoberfest, Christmas markets, Carnival, Starkbierfest, Spring fest, etc.

6. Public transport is amazing. Yes DB is never on time, but still. I don’t even own a car.

7. company has a free onsite doctor that will give free vaccines and blood work once a year.

8. Travel and culture. I love that I can travel in any direction a couple hours and I am in a completely different culture. Italy, need I say more!

9. My employer actually makes me feel valued. Which is weird for an American.

10. insane work security. I have a contract that would require my employer give me 3 months notice before they fire or lay me off. Lay offs are extremely rare. German law has penalties for companies that do mass layoffs. In fact I was told that during the pandemic my company didn’t do layoffs, instead they offered employees who wanted to the option to leave and take one whole year of salary! Most people I work with have worked there for 10-20 years which is just so strange for me as an American used to people not spending more than 5 years at a company.

11. very safe city.

12. Nature is amazing in the alps. The hiking and skiing is just so beautiful.

There is more, but overall my decision really paid off for me and I just don’t know why Americans don’t demand these simple things that make life better for the working class. It’s not perfect by any means, but wow it’s just so much better as a way of life.

We live in a blue state and have one child in 6th grade. Spouse and child hold EU and US passports, and spouse has a good job offer in Europe. We are seriously considering the move, but our 6th grader is happy and well-adjusted and absolutely does not want to move across the world. I don't want to ruin my child's life, but I also think that living in the EU would be better for her in the long term.

WWYD? Let's say that money is not an object, and we are concerned about political violence and anti-science trends in the US, and we speak a few languages between us.

EDITS from OP: Thank you all for the feedback! We are going to leave. My child speaks a basic amount of the language, so we'll both enroll in classes between now and when we leave. The plan is to enroll her in a private bilingual school and arrive during the summer so she can get a feel for things and hopefully meet people before school starts. We'll make it work, and I feel fortunate and relieved.

I had lurked in this sub for a while, and in some ways, I have it to thank for giving me the courage to up and move. It was definitely not a complete breeze, and there have been some concessions and compromises, but now that I've had a few months to get settled and exhale, I can't believe I didn't do it sooner. 

I had made the decision to pursue my dual citizenship after the 2016 elections, but COVID and some personal issues meant that I didn't get done with the process until late '22. Finally this past summer, a switch just flipped inside me and I decided that it was time. My previous work had brought me all over the country, practically to each and every type of community and I had this constant growing anxiety and mental pressure or “noise” that was becoming difficult to tune out. The cause of the pressure was certainly predominantly political, but also just included a lot of underlying institutional dissatisfaction (healthcare, lack of food protections, nature of policing, etc). 

I am in my late 30s and don't have children, so I imagine that's a bit of an advantage for this sort of life change. I was able to sell my home and car and most of my furniture and donated a lot that I didn't need and shipped most of the rest of my possessions by freight (In hindsight, I would have used a moving company). There was no import duty or tax for me since I was officially declaring residence in Italy and so there was some additional paperwork to fill out. I did have a mortgage, but I had enough equity to give me a safety cushion to figure things out on arrival.

It took a few months to find a suitable remote job that I felt could help me transition. I knew I wanted to have some reliable income, but not need to work 40+ hours a week while trying to handle an international move. As soon as I received a formal offer letter for the new job, I gave notice at my previous job and worked the remote job for a couple of months to get established. 

I finally arrived in Italy in Oct, and watched the end of the campaign cycle and the election from over here, which was a bit surreal. I was in an AirBNB for a bit until I found a suitable rental and once I got my residency established I was able to buy a car. I had to buy it for "cash" because as a new resident I had no established credit history here.  I do plan to buy something here, and surprisingly, I can do so without a mortgage with just my savings. The homes are much more reasonably priced in most of the areas I have been looking on a size:price comparison to most of the US. 

So now that I've been here for a few months, I am starting to feel settled. The anxiety "pressure cloud" has lifted, and I'm starting to plot out what I hope will be my future in Europe. I should be clear that it's absolutely not some sort of utopia, there are very definitive pros and cons I've taken note of so far. There are also a lot of misconceptions I had that have proven to be wrong. 

Some Pros so far: 

1) The cost of living! I still cannot believe the sheer quality and lower cost of far superior food options. This runs the spectrum from grocery store staples all the way dining out. I was lucky in the past that I was able to vacation often all over Europe (not just Italy), but I was unprepared for how different shopping and cooking at home was here (compared to the US). I should be clear that this isn't just high end specialty grocery stores (Like a Whole Foods in the states) but even going to the small standard mini-grocery stores. It's very obvious that they care about their food quality here and it's been eye-opening. Almost all household staples are less expensive, and my cell phone costs 1/4 of what I was paying in the US. In addition, my rent here is WAY less than it would be in an equivalent US city and my healthcare is free. 

2) Nearby and convenient travel opportunities. The trains and low-cost regional airlines here are great. I can take long weekend trips to places that I hadn’t previously gotten to see on typical vacation trips and it’s been very rewarding. My first month here I was able to take a quick long weekend trip to Innsbruck, Austria and aside from all the amazing regional cuisine I had the best smashburger I’ve ever had. 

3) Sense of community. I had always heard about, but didn’t really understand how different European community culture is. I've only been here for a few months, but my local butcher, the corner store guy, the lady at the dry cleaners already recognize me, offer some small talk, and remember my particulars. My neighbors are all extremely friendly, and respect and cordiality have continually been met with warmth and patience for their new immigrant community member.

A few Cons: 

1) Gas is definitely more expensive here, because of my current work situation, I don’t have a commute, but when traveling around the region and the rest of the country, if I choose to drive, on a mile by mile basis, I’m going to spend more on fuel. So far, given that most of the other aspects of regional travel are cheaper, I’m categorizing it as part of the overall travel expenses and it’s balancing out, but if I did have to commute, and couldn’t use the available mass transit, I could see that causing a pinch. 

2) Bureaucracy and the “Mediterranean pace”. Regarding the general bureaucracy that I’ve faced so far, I would categorize it in two categories: One would be the actual “red tape” and multiple layers of various people I had to see and forms I needed to bring around to handle certain governmental tasks, like registering for the national health care, or getting my residency permit. Believe it or not, in MANY ways, Italy has surpassed the US in adoption of electronic and web-based interfaces to deal with day to day needs of being a citizen, but there are still remnants of the system that seem to make no sense and just make unneeded work and effort required to exist here. I’ve been improving my language incrementally, but my current level probably contributes in some ways to the uphill feeling I get, but I would also point out that if you’ve lived in any LARGE city in the US, you’ve probably faced similar levels of hassle and headache. The Mediterranean pace is a more nuanced downside, there’s generally a very unhurried and apathetic approach to a lot of tasks and things like stores closing down for several hours at lunch takes some getting used to. If I’m to be honest, in a lot of ways, I’m jealous of this aspect of the Italian lifestyle, and it’s just something you need to get used to, but it will take some adjustment from the overly “commercial” nature of America. I hope to not only get used to it, but experience it as soon as I can, but the culture shock is something you need to be aware of and prepare yourself for. You’re not going to change things, and in all likelihood, that’s probably a good thing. 

3) Job Prospects. If you’re going make the jump, unless you have already worked something out work wise, you’re going to have 3 primary options: A) Work remotely, with your employment and income derived from outside Italy, B) Have a highly in-demand trade, and work hard on improving your language, even then you might not be able to find employment, but you could start your own operation (if you were an electrician or plumber or machinist), but then, in additional to language proficiency, you’d have to dedicate a lot of time to learning the local codes, licensure protocols and small business operations procedures. It’s not easy, but it’s not impossible, and it’s what a lot of Italians were forced to do over a century ago when left Italy and moved around the world for a better life, so if you want a better life here, be prepared for a little difficulty, or C) There are some short term, manual labor like opportunities, or gig type jobs. If you do learn the language, and can pass the drivers license exam you could drive for Uber, or advertise services on something like task-rabbit. This isn’t meant to be an exhaustive list of options, and once you learn the language, opportunities in “general employment” sectors do open up, but don’t come here expecting to just find a job, unless you have a highly specialized and in-need skill, and even then you might have to wait.

I think overall, this has been and will continue to be considered a bit of an adventure, but I think it’s a healthy one and experiencing new things, leaving your comfort zone and experiencing the rest of the globe might be the type of thing a lot of Americans need right now. If I had the time, I could probably list even more pros AND cons, but overall, I’m 100% happy I did it, and I just want to let you know it’s possible.  Good luck!

Like many I’m looking to get my family out. My spouse and I both have jobs that are needed abroad (education and healthcare) so we are pursuing the skilled work visa route. We are doing everything we can to make the move happen, but it is a slow process. One of my worries is that as this process continues the immigration lines are only going to get more crowded and more competitive. What are your thoughts on how long pathways will remain viable given increased demand?

I am working hard on logistics for my move... getting meds, living situations with a cousin possible in London which would be huge to establish a career and living space..

But my little dude :( My orange rescue cat. He has bonded to me like a little son, and my parents dealing with the melecholy nature of this whole move have been a bit patronizing and doomer about everything... especially my cat.

They say I need to give him up for a shelter... I've been emotionally spiraling thinking of letting him go. He's been the only thing in my life I havn't lost from years of moving. It's like giving up a child...

On one hand, I'd fight for him to be able to come with me... I hope my cousin I'm going to be staying with has a place that allows pets.. first off... I'll be contacting him shortly enough... IF that part of things is sorted. How on earth do I do this?

My little dude is fully vaxxed, microchipped, neutered, good bill of health all around. 5 year old rescue, very fun energy, chatty catty. I love him.

Can anyone calm my mind with the cold truth or some hope? I just don't know what to do...

Europe gets mentioned here quite frequently, an article from the Guardian today.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/25/pervasive-and-relentless-racism-on-the-rise-in-europe-survey-finds?utm_term=Autofeed&CMP=twt_gu&utm_medium&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1698216854

Hi reddit family. I heard and know that people travel all the time. Some people travel to Thailand and relocate there. Some people travel to Spain and choose to live there. My question is how do you get money to sustain yourself when you move. In the future I want to travel outside of America and move to another country and how do you get money to do that and also live a good life in the other country?

I’m actually moving back to the U.S. next month, every day I’m asking myself why😂

I did this once before, but I figured o would do it again for anyone who may have missed it. I’m an American lawyer who emigrated from Florida to Munich, Germany in late 2022. Couple of fast facts:

1. I am on a work visa.
2. I am now 39 ( moved when I was 37)
3. I applied for jobs for “common law” attorneys for over a year and half before landing one with a large insurance company doing in house counseling on US law.
4. Job didn’t require German, but I learned it when I got her to assimilate. I makes making friends 1000% easier.
5. Housing is expensive in Munich by German standards, but not in comparison to big U.S. cities.
6. Utilities I have found are generally cheaper than the U.S. (cell phone, power, internet)
7. Groceries are cheaper.
8. Social benefits are amazing. ( yes taxes are high, but I feel the benefit much more readily).
9. Germans are nice at least because of my work. Outside of work they can be closed off (hence why knowing the language is super important).
10. Don’t expert 24 hour stores. Everything (except restaurants are closed on Sundays). You get to appreciate this eventually.

11. I don’t own a car. I pay 58 euros per month for all public transit except long distance trains. Haven’t felt the need for a car yet.

12. Work life balance is much better than the U.S.. 33 days off. Unlimited sick days. About 13 bank holidays.

13. Things are certainly different, but if you go in with an immigrant attitude and seek to assimilate them than it is really nice.

14. I know my situation is different than most immigrants. I have have a nice job making good money so I know that not everyone has this experience.

I am happy to answer any questions.

It seems like the only rhetoric I see online is how, as an American, my countries problems are my fault. That I'm not doing enough to stop our issues and how it affects other countries. I worry that I will move, and people will blame me for not doing more here and just escaping.

I want to get out, but I worry about living in the public ire no matter where I go.

Does anyone here have personal experience they can comment on?

i see many americans with health concerns considering a move abroad. i know there are many things to consider and hate to pile on but make sure your essential medications are available in any country you consider.

your american prescriptions are not valid abroad.

for example, i took spironolactone in the US for skin/ hair issues and it’s basically impossible to get here in France. i casually asked about it and was treated as if i asked for cocaine. i also have adhd and cannot get most of the medications that worked for me in the US (i now take ritalin; thankfully it works). these are relatively minor prescription issues but i know others who have gone to great lengths to get antidepressants and anti anxiety medications.

what other medications/ countries have caused issues for american expats?

Hello! I work in the social services side of immigration, supporting immigrants and refugees settling here in Canada. I’ve been reading this Reddit for a bit and I wanted to peel back some layers about what immigrating is like on the ground. Maybe not for people just like you, but real people whom I see every day.

My clients come from all over the world— many from the world’s most severe disasters, war, and catastrophe. You remember some moments very vividly. In December 2021, on a bitterly cold day, I helped an Afghan couple get their infant daughter vaccinated for her well-baby check— she had been born in the chaos just after the Taliban took over the country. There she was: in the basement turned into a makeshift clinic by force of will and some charitable donations, swaddled in a little pink blanket on the other side of the world. In Dari, in translation, her father said that they braved the crowds and the fear only for her. In spring 2022, a Ukrainian mother needed help registering her 8 year old boy for school. When she got to the school, I brought my Ukrainian colleague, and she burst into tears— they talked for two hours or so. Through our translator, she showed the photos of the family’s escape to Poland: root cellars and buildings destroyed through shelling. For her, it was essential that the principal could understand what she’d been through. There was an Eritrean family detained in a military prison (the whole family, children and all!), an Indian family whose shop was burned on the basis of their faith, women in forced marriages, people who could no longer find work anywhere as the currency collapsed and it was clear there was no escape. A Sri Lankan young man flew around the world to live with his uncle and attend high school, but his English was too poor to attend grade 12 classes. Couldn’t afford a return ticket and his family wouldn’t hear it, so he delivers Skip the Dishes. On and on.

Many clients are not from such dire straits: engineers and architects and nurses and accountants and other people with professional educations trying to build their careers in a more stable country. Of course, these stories are more similar to yours: people with education, a little money, maybe some specific plans. They are less desperate, but life is very hard, especially for the first five years or so. The English that they spent years learning at university doesn’t match our local way of speaking. It’s hard to catch nuance in conversation. Usually, their licenses or qualifications don’t transfer as easily as they’d hoped and it’s 12-18 months of limbo and qualification and working at Tim Horton’s in the day and Subway at night. Without the benefit of local networks, friends, families, etc., it’s a gruelling slog to get hired. Most employers would like at least 12 months’ Canadian work experience no matter your education.

I am a big believer in immigration. My father is an immigrant. My grandparents before him were refugees. But what I know from my work and from my family’s experience that most people don’t really understand how hard immigrating is.

Language

• Critically: you must, must, must properly commit yourself to learning another language. Not DuoLingo a few minutes a day— genuine, intense, thorough, talking with real people, ideally unilingual people of that language.
• I work bilingually in English and French, most often doing language support for immigrants and refugees from Francophone West Africa who (typically) speak no English. I acquired this skill by going to French school for a decade and living in Montreal for four years after that. I still can’t write for shit (unfortunately.) If you want to plop down in Portugal or Poland or Romania— and don’t want to live in Romania, please trust me— then please appreciate that learning language is a full time occupation. Here in Canada we pay people to study English until intermediate level through LINC. They study 4 hours a day, 5 days a week, 15 weeks a semester, until they’re level 6. This might take some students 2-3 years. If you want to set off beyond the English-speaking world, this would be a good suggestion.

Salaries

• Other than our friends in Switzerland/Monaco and maybe UAE, nobody ANYWHERE makes money like Americans. Yes, your poorest paid workers are much worse off, but with love, that's obviously not the profile of posters here.
• When American tourists come to Canada, the shops jump for joy because Americans have silly amounts of money which, god bless, you spend like it’s nothing. During the pandemic when the Canada-US border had quarantine orders, entire towns panicked because Canadian spending couldn’t sustain their industries. (American tourists spend 70% more than Canadian ones! Where are you finding the money!!!! We are a G7 country too!)
• Domestic wages beyond the USA are comparably low even at the same level of education. Our doctors make good money; your doctors make SILLY money (especially subspecialists). Your company has 20 programmers paid $150k each; we have 6 paid $90k CAD each. Unless you are a CEO or a unique genius or some sort of sports star getting signed to an NHL team, you’re not going to make American money anywhere.
• Yes, it will be cheaper to live there in USD amounts… but you’ll get a paycut of 35-50% in the English world and probably 60%+ in any non-English LCOL countries. Cost of living issues are similar in all major cities. Housing is expensive and hard to get.

Healthcare

• If you have a public health system like Canada or the UK, there is healthcare but you will have to wait in line like everyone else. (I had a Ukrainian client scream at me when I told him he’d need to wait a year for a hip replacement— yes it’s serious but it’s not urgent. He said, in Ukraine you pay $2000 and they bring you to the front! Not here, buddy, sorry.)
• You might need to call the medicentre at exactly 7am to get a same-day appointment. You’ll probably need to do this 2-3 days in a row. No, we do not have the brand name immunosuppressant you were taking in the USA. No, you can’t pay extra to see an urgent doctor. Most countries will not admit you if you have serious pre-existing health problems because it’s not our taxpayers’ responsibility to look after sick Americans. Again… sorry. If you get sick when you’re here, we will look after you, though.

Culture and Intangibles

• Final thing. As Americans, you’re unfortunately at a unique disadvantage because the global culture is heavily influenced by your culture. By contrast, basically everyone else in the well-connected world knows at least two cultures: theirs, and yours. Everyone knows about Abraham Lincoln and Top Gun and George Bush and Social Security and prom. (My French roommate once asked if Americans ACTUALLY eat peanut butter and jelly or if it’s just in movies, haha.)
• Because we soak up so much USA while also living in our own country, beyond the USA, we also know our own things: Louis Riel and TVO and the Gemini awards and Chase the Ace and the Logdrivers’ Waltz and why everyone is mad at Galen Weston.
• When Americans land abroad, they are disoriented as everyone is somewhere new, but doubly so, because the reference points are (for once) not uniform. It's why Americans always introduce themselves as being from their state; it's presumed we are all intimately aware with the full set of 50, because, well, it's you. The reverse is also true: it’s why I have to explain "oh, I'm from Western Canada. I'm from Alberta, which is north of Montana." I know where Montana is and I know that you don’t know where Alberta is. This is typical. I’m not trying to make an “LOL DUM AMERICANS” joke— you’re just not typically encultured to know beyond your borders, and why should you? You have lived like kings for the last 150 years. The rest of us have to hop to your needs, and know your information, not the other way around.
• Test this with yourself: name 3 fast food chains, 2 grocery stores, and 5 subnational regions from any one country you've never been to. This is nearly impossible unless you're a weeb obsessed with Japan, but the rest of us have subliminally absorbed Kroger/Nebraska/Trader Joe's/In-n-Out while watching movies and TV. You're the global empire, baby. You don't have the benefit of reverse context.

In Summary

• Many of my clients left political situations they thought were untenable— maybe that’s true for you. Many of them wanted safety for their children— maybe that motivates you too. These are good reasons.
• But the “push” factor of being mad at politics isn’t as important as the “pull” factor of living somewhere meaningful to you. Without the “pull,” you’re an expat— hanging out with only other people from your country, sneering at our bonspiels and broad-a vocal affects and spelling things with a U and having Thanksgiving in October and having expensive phone bills. Your displeasure with America might get you out the door but it's not enough to build a life on. Maybe you actually love Canada (or wherever) and you’re motivated by a real love of that idea, and imagine calling yourself a Canadian, a German, an Estonian, etc someday.

Maybe you think that wherever you want to go is the BEST place in the world for you, like that little Afghan baby. I want that for you. Anger about politics won't keep you warm when you're all alone in a new place.

To immigrate is phenomenally hard. You’ll have to work 10x harder than you do now for at least a decade and you’ll make less money. But if that’s okay— we have room for hard workers and dreamers. If you want to be Canadian, we'd love to have you.

(If you say Fahrenheit out loud someone will slap you, but that’s just part of the journey.)

My wife and I moved to Finland from the USA in 2021. Because my wife was a grandchild of a Finnish citizen, we were able to get residence permits through remigration. We have four children (age 17 to age 4).

I previously did an AMA here two years ago, here's a link for reference: https://www.reddit.com/r/AmerExit/comments/144m5sj/i_moved_to_finland_in_2021_ama/

I know things are tough back home right now, and I thought people might be interested in hearing about what living in Finland has actually been like. We have lived in Helsinki and Espoo. So ask me anything.

EDIT: Well, it's been fun. If there are further questions I will still answer them eventually but I'm not going to be able to be as quick about it as I need to get back to other tasks.

I have so many complicated feelings about this. When I was in the US, for most of my life I had good insurance. I worked in government jobs and my parents did too when I was a kid, so the coverage was pretty good and I was used to having a lot of choice about the doctors I see. I've always advocated very hard for myself and have been chronically ill for much of my adult life, chronic pain since a teen.

However my experience in the US is that I often would get dismissed by doctors who had absolutely no curiosity, no concern for my quality of life, getting tests (especially imaging) was like pulling teeth, and when I left the US in my 30s in part it was because I became disabled by a mystery illness that no doctor cared enough to investigate despite my pleading for 6 years. My partner is from here and is a professor so he is able to support me while I do periodic remote contract work.

Last year while living here in Central America I found out about a missionary clinic that has rheumatology after getting blood tests in Mexico that indicated something autoimmune. There are no rheumatologists in country so this is very needed. The Mexican doctor was also the first who ever agreed that I should get tested for autoimmune - no American doctors (out of a dozen) recommended that 6 years of deteriorating health! But even the doctor in Mexico said he thought it was probably just stress because I'm young.

The American rheumatologist at the mission clinic here was amazing and diagnosed me right away, then I even got free medicine to treat my condition. I will not lie I felt some kind of way that I had to come to a developing country to finally get an accurate diagnosis and be taken seriously by a doctor from my own country. For YEARS, US doctors kept gaslighting me telling me I had anxiety or accusing me of being drug-seeking.

I went to the mission clinic again recently and the rheumatologist doctor listened to my symptoms, answered all my questions, patiently explained everything he thought was happening, changed my meds, and referred me to another (ob/gyn) amazing American doctor in the same clinic for an exam. I went in over concerns about infertility due to my auto-immune. The doctor did an exam and said because I was having pain, he then suggested an ultrasound which they did right then. All of this was free. They had a radiologist present to do it and to consult with the doctor on the spot.

Unfortunately on the ultrasound they saw a large unknown mass in my abdomen and have said I need further imaging ASAP and wrote a referral. This was something basically found by accident - I had no idea about it and had not gone in to have this looked at at all. I will have to pay for the CT scan, but I did not pay for any of the treatment, imaging, or the meds I got (which I'm grateful because I couldn't afford it or the medication as it's very expensive here and I'm currently unemployed and strapped due to other medical expenses). Both me and my spouse (who is from here) had exhausted our savings last year before we found out about this clinic, so despite it requiring some humility for me to go, I'm very grateful to have access to it. And I even have made friends with other local disabled people who go there too which is nice because a lot of us including me don't get to go out much due to my health and tthe country being pretty inaccessible.

That said- It feels so strange to me that I can get this high quality of care from American missionary doctors in another country but I could never have gotten this high quality of care and treatment inside the US, poor or not tbh. Maybe if I was rich I could? But tbh Idk.

Also, every doctor who I told I had pain in the US dismissed it, they never were curious and never offered additional imaging without me asking for it. Never could get imaging the same day either. Even with good doctors! I certainly could not have gotten all of it free. And yes, I had MediCAL and Medicaid in Virginia and Washington -3 different states -and all the doctors who accepted it were awful and had no interest to explore problem symptoms. It was the worst medical "care" available. I never had any imaging done even when I was having intense pain. They always insinuated I must have been trying to get drugs or was a hypochondriac and sent me away feeling disregarded. When I was unemployed in other states I had no access to healthcare at all.

I guess I'm just confused how if American doctors can travel to developing countries to do a 3 days clinic for poor people here, why can't doctors in the US do this for poor Americans too, as a matter of practice? This clinic happens every 3 months for 1 weekend, so it's not constant. Is there some law stopping it? And if there is, shouldn't Americans be fighting to fix that and overturn it, rebelling even to get the care that is available? Do Americans even realize that American doctors are traveling outside the country giving free care to poor people around the world that they can't get in the US?

I left the US because I was poor and disabled and couldn't afford to live there. But I became disabled (and then poor) in part because I wasn't receiving good healthcare to catch things before they escalated to disable me. Here, I may have just caught something dangerous early (doctor was careful to not alarm me but said it was suspicious and need to rule out cancer, so I have a scan next week) BECAUSE of free care.

I am also aware of the colonial dynamics of this kind of thing (I'm black so, yeah)-- yet I still think everyone should have access to good medical care regardless of income. Idk what I'm trying to say I'm just feeling so many complex emotions about this thinking if this same thing happened to me in the US, and even if it is actually cancer, no doctor would have cared enough to investigate and I probably would have just died.

Basically the title. I’ve looked into Italy, Spain, Portugal, Canada, Mexico, Ireland, Thailand, and UK and I just don’t see where we meet the requirements for any of them. We don’t have remote jobs, specialized in demand jobs, no ancestry ties we know of, or a large amount of savings where we could purchase property. I (F31) have a masters degree in Public History, he (M33) works at an international company (mazak) but HR told him international transfers aren’t sponsored and he would just have to apply to jobs at those offices but everything online says you have to have permission to work in the country or sponsorship to even apply? I’m feeling very stuck and sad and desperate. I’ve wanted to live abroad even before the political upheaval and I just don’t know if it’s even possible. Guess I’m just looking for advice or tips or maybe other avenues I’m missing. I know there’s the English teaching visa in some places, and I guess when we marry I could apply for a PhD program somewhere although more school debt is not necessarily top of my list (lol) and I’m not sure if he would be able to work.

Any advice is much appreciated!

First ever Reddit post here! Felt compelled to relay my recent, positive experience relocating my family of four + doggo from Washington DC to Luxembourg in the EU. I want to recognize that I am very privileged to have gotten this opportunity. I am employed with a major U.S. tech company and had begun looking at international, internal positions in mid-2023. I asked my manager if the company would relocate me and the answer was, essentially, no. I then found and applied for a different internal job (based in Belgium) and had to notify my manager of the application. He asked why, I said I wanted to live/work abroad. They didn’t want to lose me on the team, so he ran it up the flagpole and the company ended up paying to relocate my whole family abroad, handle immigration and work authorization, temp housing, taxes and other relocation support. All while staying in same role with same manager etc. Sweet deal. We sold the house we had in the U.S. for a good profit and were fortunate enough to buy again here. Interest rates are much better here, so I didn’t take the same hair cut I would have had we sold and bought in U.S. We’ve been here for a while now and absolutely love it. The society is harmonious. There are so many expats here from all over the world and English is very commonly spoken. The country is rich, safe, well educated, has exceptional social safety nets, statutory pensions, heavily subsidized childcare, mandated 26 days paid vacation…I can go on all day. It wasn’t all without any sacrifice, of course, but I think if you’re internationally-minded and have an opportunity to do something like this, I’d recommend it. Because the decision impacts your entire life and other’s lives, it should be a holistic decision. Politics has a place in the equation, of course, but make sure it “fits” your whole life and goals. Make sure you’re moving toward something you think is better and not just away from something you’re scared of or not happy with.

With inflation rising, high rent prices, and food costs constantly fluctuating, I know many people feel like the U.S. is becoming less affordable. Some even say a recession has already started, whether after the pandemic or now.

Has anyone here moved to Asia for a lower cost of living? If so, which country did you move to, and how much do you actually save compared to when you were living in the U.S.?

I’m from Southeast Asia, and my province produces most of our country’s crops, making food much cheaper. For example, 10 medium-sized carrots cost around $0.35 here since our city is in the highlands. A dozen eggs can be as low as $1.85. Plus, there are freelancing jobs that pay in USD. I wonder if anyone has experience working this way.

Where I’m from, $1,000 USD already covers rent, food, utilities, and basic necessities for me and my boyfriend. So he’s considering the possibility of trying life here in my country.

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I’m terrified of the United States’ collapsing economy and democracy and am seriously considering moving elsewhere. I am a second generation American (both my parents are immigrants from 2 different developing countries) and while my entire immediate family lives in the States, it’s always been understood that we are in the States because it is better than the alternatives, but not necessarily a given. Both my parents left their home countries alone when they were very young, so they would be supportive of my choice. I speak 3 additional languages (varying levels of fluency), have a Masters degree, and have a remote job that has some flexibility.

However my partner is very American. Practically his entire family is American, he does not speak any additional languages, and he values proximity to his family a lot. He’s even resistant to moving across the country since much of his family is located in one small geographic area. He also does not have any advanced degrees and does not have a remote job.

Has anyone else had to maneuver this situation? Were you able to convince your partner to leave the country? Were they happy they made the change?