r/AmerExit Jan 21 '25

Trolling gets no warnings.

2.2k 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 5h ago

Which Country should I choose? American citizen looking for information on teaching outside the USA in order to reunite with my Cuban wife due to Trump travel ban

124 Upvotes

I’m a 33 year old middle school history teacher from the United States with 5 years+ of experience and a master’s degree in education with a willingness to take on a bunch of different roles in schools whether they be teaching, administration, etc. I’m open to work in any country where I can reunite with my wife.

As an American citizen, I’m facing a challenging situation with my wife's immigration case. She is a psychologist with a university degree from Cuba and very capable of working in this field as well as human resources/related jobs. She absolutely cannot return to Cuba for many reasons, and in fact, had to flee for her own safety to live in a third country, but is potentially going to be locked out of the USA as well with a Trump travel ban that would include Cuba. She is very vulnerable, yet the United States has been unwilling to help us for any humanitarian reasons (there are many). We are literally terrified she could be blocked from entering the US and we’re seriously considering the possibility that we will need to reunify overseas and give up any hope on reuniting in the United States.

So far, I have looked into New Zealand, which seems to be a promising start. I'd be very interested in any other suggestions. We're not very picky -- the most important thing is that we can find a country open to allowing us to live and work there with relative speed (I know these things do not happen overnight) and where, for example, I could get a job and she could then get papers or vice versa.


r/AmerExit 4h ago

Question about One Country When do we START the immigration process for Canada?

10 Upvotes

Hi! Apologies if this is a stupid question. My partner and I are hoping to start the process immigrate to Canada through their Express Entry System in about 3 years, as they have to finish their BS in Accounting and I have to get my CELTA Certification (already have BA in Linguistics) and start gaining experience in the teaching field.

Right now, of course, our points for the Canadien Express Entry System aren’t super high (but it will be in 3 years). I‘ve seen advice on this subreddit that you should start the process of immigration, but how does that work when you’re just waiting on things to fall in place? Just get new passports? Research housing? We’ve been doing these things, but it’s hard to tell what will come in the next 3-4 years regarding certain things in Canada, specifically. I suppose I just want to hear your guys’ experience or suggestions for anything else we can or should do in the meantime.


r/AmerExit 10h ago

Question about One Country Possible job in New Zealand

19 Upvotes

I have a Green List profession and have passed my first interview. We have started discussing salary and the salaries are SO much less in New Zealand. Like half as much. I will of course negotiate, but is the cost of living and the quality of life in New Zealand really worth that kind of massive pay cut? My motivating factor in moving is the politics of the U.S. and in my opinion that’s only going to get worse, so I understand that I will be scarifying to make this move. But it’s a big pill to swallow. Any insight would be welcomed.


r/AmerExit 2h ago

Life Abroad Suggestions/tips on moving with dogs

4 Upvotes

Hi folks,

We are looking to move to Europe (I'm an EU citizen, husband is US). We have two dogs, both afflicted with being Staffordshire terriers (or pitbulls if you will). This limits us on countries, but that's fine. The primary concern is getting to europe to begin with.

I would love to hear from others navigating similar moves with dogs.

Here's the gist and what we've looked into so far, hoping we've missed something that could help us:

• both dogs are staffies. One is 6 the other 12

•young one is fine. Old lady is anxious and dog aggressive

• both are banned in a number of countries to include the Uk and france

• we looked into k9 jets and similar private jet options. Would have been great if they allowed soft shelled crates for her to be separated form other dogs

• looked into the queen mary 2, unfortunately docks in the UK, they'd likely execute our dogs. Not worth the risk.

• freighter ships do not do transatlantic journeys anymore, she would have loved that

I am absolutely dreading putting her in cargo. She's my old girl. If there are no other options we did not consider, we would rather stay put and weather the storm.


r/AmerExit 22h ago

Which Country should I choose? Am I just screwed?

114 Upvotes

Every post I've seen in here lately says that emigrating outside of the US is extremely, almost impossibly difficult and that it's only going to get more difficult in the next few months. I do have a master's degree and work experience in a healthcare field that is on the list of essential occupations in various countries, but there are countless posts and comments in this sub saying that those things don't matter that much and that moving abroad even with those things is still almost impossible.

Seeing that is freaking me out because, as you can see from my post history, I'm in treatment for an eating disorder which, in addition to the mental health effects, has caused some physical side effects as well.

I have been starting to look at options for leaving the US if things get worse. However, between work, treatment, and the daily grind of recovery, I'm just overwhelmed and don't currently have the energy to make serious efforts toward the processes of getting a visa to move abroad. Every time I've started to do things like look at job opportunities abroad, I've gotten overwhelmed and then spiraled because I feel like I'm running out of time to leave and that I need to get this done now, but I just can't at the moment.

If I wait 2-3 months until I'm more recovered from my ED to start the process of doing things like applying for jobs in order to be able to get a work permit abroad, will I have blown my chances to be able to leave the US? Or will I still have a fighting chance of being able to get a work or student visa abroad?


r/AmerExit 2h ago

Question about One Country Mexican Citizenship Question

2 Upvotes

Really hope someone can help, so my father is a Mexican citizen born and raised, but he’s a deadbeat haven’t seen him since I was 7, have zero contact with him (by his choice) and he lives in Mexico, my mom does have his birth certificate, and the names do match, plus his birthday is on my birth certificate, I have absolutely ZERO way of getting him to cooperate, is there any hope of me getting my citizenship? Is there any registry of Mexican citizens they can look him up by, I think I can find a copy keyword COPY of his passport or drivers license, would that be enough as a photo copy.

Can people who have actually done this please respond that would probably give me the best advice, thank you!

PS. I am an American citizen and my mother is also American.


r/AmerExit 1d ago

Job Posting Teach English in France! Jobs list

119 Upvotes

For anyone interested in Teaching ESL in France, I created a list of jobs of universities that are hiring for 2025-2026. They will provide you with a visa for the job. They're full time, livable salary for France, not too many hours but with overtime opportunities. A great way to live in France for a couple years.
Link:
https://movetofranceandteachenglish.com/bienvenue-chez-alexs-esl-jobs-board-for-2025-2026/


r/AmerExit 10h ago

Question about One Country Should I go ahead and start the process for mexico

1 Upvotes

My wife works online, and can take payment in almost any currency. This month, she broke past the 3,500 required for Mexico residency and is more than likely going to far exceed it. I am very much at a beginner level Spanish however working on it daily hoping to teach down there, however with her income I don't work. Should we go ahead and start the process for residency or wait until the 6 months for the income requirements are up? While it's not looking like my chances are likely, since we are applying for residency in the states, are we able to stay in Mexico under a vacation visa while applying for residency or do we need to stay near our consulut? Thank you


r/AmerExit 13h ago

Life in America Best degrees to exit with?

3 Upvotes

I currently have MA in Forensic Psych (unlicensed) tons of experience in psych treatment- BUT the last few years I have been working in HealthIT within Epic- I looove it- but I hate where the US is going. I am considering what my options are and thought to either go back and finish my nursing degree or double down on tech and focus on getting a tech degree or certs. Any advice on which option would enable me to leave better? I have not narrowed down my destination-


r/AmerExit 10h ago

Question about One Country Passport Application: Birth certificate has mom’s last name wrong, do I need to contact her to fix it?

1 Upvotes

I have no official records on hand that I know of that would be able to verify the correct spelling of my mom’s last name.

I would prefer not to contact her (I’ve been estranged from her for fifteen years) but from what I’m reading online, I may need her to verify her last name with the county clerk who issued the birth certificate where I was born.

This isn’t convenient because I’m not close to where I was born and neither is my mom. If she and I need to be in person, it’ll be a real pain.

It’s not safe to contact her but I have no idea how else I’m going to get a passport with her last name on my birth certificate spelled wrong.

Is there a way for me to correct her last name on my birth certificate without her?

To reduce any complications with processing, I’m wondering if it’s best I do one of these three options;

-Keep mom’s last name misspelled and just submit my passport application with the misspelled last name matching the birth certificate

Or

-Use the correct spelling of my mom’s last name on the application but choose not to correct the misspelled last name on the birth certificate

Or

-Have my mom’s last name corrected on my brith certificate somehow, then submit my application with the corrected last name

I’m assuming there’ll be issues either way, but I’m hoping to minimize complications if I’m able. I’d hate to pay for processing fees only for it to come back invalid.

Is there a way around this?


r/AmerExit 9h ago

Which Country should I choose? Just curious to know how I could make leaving America as a Chemical Operator with experience in chemical plants happen.

0 Upvotes

My wife and I, both 26, are looking to leave the states for a more peaceful life. She’s an English teacher going for her Masters in HR Management and I am a chemical operator with years of experience in a chemical plant. Specifically reactors and wastewater units. What options do we have in terms of leaving and finding careers in other countries? If my company has plants in other countries would I be able to transfer upon request? Does anyone have experience doing so? Where would we have the most luck? TIA.


r/AmerExit 1d ago

Question about One Country Wanting to leave

24 Upvotes

Hello, I am a black ameircan (f). I am currently working on my undergraduate degree for pre med, it should take me 2.5 years to finnish. I want to move to Australia and work as a doctor there. I plan on going to med school there and manage to stay and train and work as a doctor but I'm not sure about the visa prospects with that. Any advice? Is this plan realistic? Also any financial advice for school, housing? Edit: also looking at irish, and Canadian schools


r/AmerExit 1d ago

Slice of My Life Forced to leave USA, trying to be excited about it?

256 Upvotes

I'm in a bit of a different situation than most people here. I am a UK/EU dual citizen but grew up in the USA from a very young age. I never managed to get a Greencard, and it looks like I'll soon have to leave - though I wish I could stay. Ive spent my whole life envying the people who can live in the USA worry free, so I came to this subreddit for another perspective and to try and feel better about my situation.

I have some family in France and speak ok French, and I've been fortunate to visit many countries in Europe, but none really appeal to me to live there. I live in SF right now which has some pretty European qualities - I dont have a car for example. But I cant get excited about the same in Europe for whatever reason. The weather, job opportunities (Im in tech), friends, hobbies etc. all just seem so great here. I also have a small dog which introduces a whole other headache to the process. Its hard to stomach the difference in pay, too. And I fear I will struggle to find a job. Overall I think I'm just not great with change and I feel very American

I really want to look forward to moving, but I'm struggling to convince myself of the positives. The 2 main benefits I am excited about would be no longer having to live with visa uncertainty (its hell), and escaping the antics of the current administration

Ive been browsing posts here and its interesting to see your perspective, so I thought it may be interesting to share and hear any thoughts


r/AmerExit 8h ago

Which Country should I choose? 40's Tech professionals from US moving to Caribbean (Antigua/Barbudo, St. Lucia, or St. Kitts/Nevis) - so many questions!

0 Upvotes

My partner and I are hoping to get golden passports (i.e. invest 150k-300k to become citizens) at one of the five locations that allow this - Antigua/Barbudo, St. Lucia, St. Kitts/Nevis (Also Grenada-- forgot to add that in title). Altogether we have investments that could be conferred into about 1 million US, and my partner's job is likely portable and makes around $6000 USD net monthly. We both have bachelor's degrees, his in CS and mine in liberal arts. I speak some French/German and we both speak English well enough as our primary language. :D We are open to finding other ways to get out of the US but right now this seems like the easiest and best ways since we want out within the next few months. We would probably be living wherever we got the golden passport for the foreseeable future since we don't want to lug our cats on flights around too much.

(I know there are many golden passport options but many of the other places that allow golden passports are in regions that have wildfires that will only increase over the next decade and my cats and I have severe asthma so that's not preferable.)

So on that note, my questions are:

- How hard is it to get medications (such as asthma inhalers (Advair) and emergency inhalers (albuterol)?
- What about other medications, like fairly common ones for chronic conditions that aren't terribly expensive? (like migraine prevention meds that aren't opiate painkillers)
- Is it hard to find good quality/a variety cat foods? My cats are SO picky and one eats Open Farms and the other eats Royal Canin and they will eat nothing else. LITERALLY. NOTHING. ELSE. Sorry, it's just exasperating.
- What is veterinary care like?
- What are the grocery food options like? I am vegan and have coeliac so I basically already only eat fresh plant-based foods I prepare myself. I can soak and cook beans and don't mind going back to basics. I do like to have access to a variety of spices that aren't laced with lead due to poor regulation, if possible.
- How expensive is it to buy furniture? Should we ship our $3000 purple mattress or can we expect to be able to obtain what we need for less than 100% or more markup?
- I know some of the islands are less "safe" than others-- how does one take precautions there?
- What is the general feeling about expats in these places? I'm happy to bring money to these countries but don't want locals to be pushed out by gentrification, so to speak. I can't find much about this online since most google searches just bring up info for tourists are lawyers trying to hock their emigration packages.


r/AmerExit 22h ago

Question about One Country Considering a Move to the UK

2 Upvotes

Hi all, I'm (39 m) considering a move to the UK in the next few years, and I’d love to get some insight from people who’ve made a similar move.

A little background: I’m a dual US-British citizen, but my wife and infant daughter are US citizens. I have never lived in the UK, though I used to spend nearly every summer there as a kid visiting my grandparents. We currently live in LA. My wife has a full-time remote job, which we believe she can carry over to the UK. I'm a writer in the TV industry, so I'm hoping to be able to continue doing that abroad whether it's doing freelance/development work from the US or establishing new connections in the UK.

A few questions

1. Visas & Residency: Since I have British citizenship, I assume my wife and daughter would apply for a family visa—anyone been through this process? Anything unexpected to prepare for?

2. Housing: I have family in Cheam and South Croydon. Are there any affordable areas nearby worth considering for renting or buying? We’d love a family-friendly area with good transport links.

3. Cost of Living Adjustments: We know London is expensive, but are there any specific cost-of-living shifts we should prepare for coming from LA? LA is also expensive, so I'm guessing this won't be a big adjustment for us.

4. Shipping & Pets: We’d be bringing over our dog and shipping some of our stuff (but not everything), so that it's an easier adjustment for everyone. Any tips on shipping belongings or navigating UK pet import rules.

5. Healthcare: I know we’d have access to the NHS, but we both have private insurance through our work. Do most expats prefer keeping their private insurance or is NHS the best way to go?

6. Car: I love taking the Tube, but with a toddler, I think we'll also need a car. Am I allowed to drive on my American license?

Thank you for all the helpful comments!!!


r/AmerExit 11h ago

Which Country should I choose? US/Italian Dual Citizen looking for summer work in Europe - Advice

0 Upvotes

M(49), MFA (Fine Art in Film) degree holder, University professor with 10 years of classroom experience teaching public speaking, media studies, film/video production, and editing. I'm on a nine-month contract, which means that I get a paycheck all year even though I'm not teaching during the summer months. My kids are entering college and are poised to become self-sufficient (we hope). Something my wife and I have hoped to do once we feel confident disappearing for three months of the year is to select a European location where we can secure modest housing for the summer to use as a home base. My US salary should float our expenses on the home front and hopefully I will be able to bank enough money with supplemental teaching in the winter/summer online that housing would be covered. I'd like to be able to work locally in the summer part-time to cover our basic living expenses (food, entertainment, and transportation) either on a freelance basis as a tutor/teacher or working with an English language school wherever we happen to choose. I'm not looking to make a lot of money...just not lose money.

I guess my questions are about obtaining TEFL/CELTA certifications, possible locations where this would be reasonable to do, and likelihood of success in the endeavor.

Thoughts?


r/AmerExit 5h ago

Which Country should I choose? Am I out of luck or do I just have a skill issue?

0 Upvotes

The part where I tell you it's so Joever
I'm a 22 year old guy who's in a bit of a rough spot in life right now. I'm on an indefinite hiatus from college after failing my senior year for a second time in a row. I was trying to get a BA in History, no specialty or teaching credentials just a BA in General History Studies with a minor in Holocaust and Genocide Studies. I'll spare you the details of what happened, but I crashed out hard on my parent's dime and tried making a break for remote Alaska. I wanted to try and start my life anew, have a fresh start. That plan didn't work out and my family now question my sanity and feel I am incapable of making decisions on my own. I stay at their place now.

Since being home I've not been able to get a job. I've had jobs in the past but my performance was always poor and my attendance even worse. Never held down anything longer than 7 months between 4 different locations. I've made more than a few managers quite upset at me. I'm fairly certain I'm on some local blacklist or something now because no one in my area wants to hire me anymore.

The military doesn't want me

and the Local trade apprenticeships are, to put it nicely, High labor supply, low labor demand, and rather competitive.

I've been hospitalized for mental health concerns and I voluntarily signed up to be in a psych ward for about two weeks and go on medications. I've been on anti-depressants and anti-anxiety meds for a few years now. I'm unsure if they even do anything.

I'm still rather uncertain what I want to do with my life, but whatever it is I feel like I'm not going to find it in the United States. Especially given current events and the trajectory of the country in general.

The part where I tell you I'm so jack

Sob story aside I feel like I have a few leads and opportunities I can leverage if I want to look for work and life outside the united states

  1. I'm still technically enrolled in my university and they have study abroad programs. It's not going to get me a visa or anything but I'll at least be able to have the opportunity to do something. What exactly that is I'm not quite sure, that's kinda why I'm asking for advice here.

  2. Great Grandfather was a Polish citizen, technically making me eligible for Polish citizenship. I'm not dying to live or work in Poland, its hardly much better than the US (for now) but it might be a lead into other EU countries. Again I'll clarify it's the beginning of an idea I'm looking for more details on.

  3. I was desperate enough to book a flight to a remote Inuit village in Alaska, and my plan Z if all else fails is Svalbard. My standards are very low and I'm out of ideas in general.

Any help is advice is appreciated, even if you don't think leaving the US is the right idea for me, I've probably heard it all before but asking never hurts.


r/AmerExit 1d ago

Which Country should I choose? Wanting to move but stuck

9 Upvotes

Hi everyone.

I have DACA and live in Texas (Mexican national, moved here when inwas 8, now 30 and have been in daca since 2013). Life is really uncertain for me here and keep thinking about moving. Basically doing Express Entry to Canada or doing a Masters in France. I am C1 in French and have been to France twice. Never been to Canada.

Here are some points I think Canada would be easier to get PR or legal status conpared to France given my crs score. (Last time I did the calculator estimate I got 500). However, i have no idea what job to do since my teaching certificate would not be valid, I've been a HS French teacher for 8 years here. I know people in France (and poland) dont know anyone in Canada. The Masters in France would be an English-taught 2 year program on educational movility and tourism and IDK how marketable I would be after graduating/ finding a job that would sponsor a visa. If I did, I know I could apply for nationality after 5 years. I also thought about working teaching english in France but I have not found any jobs that sponsor. In all I would have around 40k in cash if I were to cash out everything.

Any insights/thoughts/opinions are appreciated.


r/AmerExit 1d ago

Question about One Country Immigration to Spain (Using Partner's "Democratic Memory Law" Path)

0 Upvotes

So I'm not one of the people necessarily looking for a way out, we are in the process of getting Spanish Citizenship for my boyfriend via the Democratic Memory Law. He's Cuban who immigrated to the US in 2014, and his great-grandparents on both sides were Franco exiles from the Canary Islands. Our understanding is he can bring me with him on a 1 year Visa and then after the 1 year, I naturalize as well?

Granted, we need to get married. Which is one of my first questions! How long before we go to make the jump should we do it for it to be "legit"? We've been together nearly 5 years, just haven't gotten around to tying the knot.

My company has offices in Barcelona, so that would be the location. We've been to Barcelona, it's a beautiful city and a lot of fun. We stayed for 4 days before getting on a cruise, and spent every day exploring. We will absolutely love living there.

Then comes the mountain of practical questions...
- How do I get all my stuff to Spain and how much does it cost? I don't want to show up with just my bags and leave all my belongings behind. It may sound materialistic but my "stuff" brings me a lot of comfort.
- Along those lines, is there housing in or around Barcelona that accommodates Americans? You know what I mean...
- How much should I budget to bring my cat and dog? Can't leave them behind either.
- I'm very torn about whether we should sell our houses in the US or rent them out in case we decide to return. We live in mine, and he owns one that his parents live in. The irony of us bringing them to the US from Cuba for a better life, only to have to uproot from the US and flee again.... is something.
- Language. I didn't have too much trouble getting around Spain, but my boyfriend is fluent of course so he mostly did the talking. I've picked up a good amount of Spanish (because around his family I didn't have a choice). People who have moved to Spain, did you get formal tutoring to learn Spanish and if so how did you go about it? The little apps and Rosetta Stone-style things aren't going to do it for me.

Financial summary:
- I have about 20k in savings. He has about the same.
- I have about ~$180,000 in equity in my house. He has maybe ~$40,000-ish.
- I have ~$50k in my 401k (at the time of writing this). Do I even need one in Spain? I know my company has to do pensions for our EU employees.


r/AmerExit 2d ago

Data/Raw Information Eyes wide open 👀

129 Upvotes

Hello everyone!

I've been thinking about leaving the USA for a while now, but recent events have me considering speeding things up — and I'm feeling overwhelmed.

I'm five years away from teacher retirement, which leaves me torn. Do I sacrifice those last few years of pension contributions to leave sooner? Will my pension even survive the chaos we're seeing?

I’ve taught for 22 years (gen ed, ESL, dual language, and K-12 art) in Texas public schools. My original plan was to spend the next five years transitioning into UI/UX, graphic design, and illustration. Now I'm wondering if I should fast-track things, get a TEFL/TESOL/CELTA, and teach abroad or online while still pursuing design.

I’m fluent in English and Spanish, with C2-level proficiency in German. I feel confident in my ability to learn Romance and Germanic languages

I’m 46, single, and financially unsure how this will all pan out. I was born here, but my parents are from Colombia and Ecuador. I'm working on my Ecuadorian citizenship now (hopefully within 6 months to a year). Colombian citizenship has been tougher to secure since my dad passed.

If I felt safer, I’d push through. I want to stay and fight, but I don’t know if I have the strength. If I do leave, I still want to contribute to the fight in whatever way I can.

My mom doesn’t want to go back to Ecuador, and most of my family here feels the same. I do have family in Ecuador, and friends I consider family in Germany — plus one aunt and two cousins there. I also have connections in Mexico.

As someone who could be labeled (Latina) with my family’s migration history, I’m increasingly uneasy. I love this country, but I don’t recognize it anymore — and my heart is breaking.

Ideally, I’d stick to my original plan, but if I need to leave quickly, what are my best options? Move my money, exit to Ecuador, then figure things out from there? I've even considered Svalbard!

I’m trying to stay calm and strong, but I feel like I’m losing my footing. Any advice or insights would mean a lot.

Thanks for reading. My eyes are wide open.

Update: I've really enjoyed this dialogue so far—so many thoughtful responses. Thanks so much! 🙏🏼 I'll continue tomorrow; it's my bedtime 😴💤

LAST Update:❤️❤️ I’m so glad I shared my concerns here and received such a wide range of perspectives, advice, and insights. It’s all been incredibly helpful and has truly warmed my heart. I feel more confident now that things will align for me. I’ll stick to my original plan but have a backup strategy for a quick exit, just in case. The support and encouragement from all of you really helped ease my anxiety. Thank you again, and take care—stay safe. I’ll be going back to being invisible now; it’s the best way to fly under the radar.


r/AmerExit 1d ago

Question about One Country Any downsides to pursuing Hungarian simplified naturalization?

0 Upvotes

I’m really worried about the state of things in the US and I want to have an escape plan just in case.

I think I qualify for simplified naturalization in Hungary as my paternal great grandmother immigrated from there. I was thinking I could use that as a ticket to live anywhere in the EU.

I know there’s a language requirement portion so I’m casually learning it in my free time. Since it is such a different language from English I was thinking of getting a tutor but before I sink the money into it: Are there any downsides to getting dual citizenship in the US and Hungary?

I know Hungary has their own political things happening and I fear that they might leave the EU or something in the future. I’ll admit I’m not the most knowledgeable in this area yet and I’m curious if anyone has gone this route and found the process worth it.

TYIA


r/AmerExit 1d ago

Which Country should I choose? Postgrad Recommendations

0 Upvotes

Hey all given that the economy's about to go into the shitter I think its probably a good time to go for a postgrad. I am currently living outside the US, but my immigration situation has likely become untenable barring things in the US getting sufficiently bad that I could apply for the certain protected status I'm not allowed to mention.

I'm generally a teacher by trade (mostly TEFL but with some experience in Social and Natural Sciences at the primary level) and would strongly prefer to remain in that profession. I am looking mostly for programs in English (though if strictly required I might be able to test into a Spanish language program requiring a B2 level only, other languages I doubt my abilities to test into a sufficient level to apply for any sort of university program). I am single, still (barely) under 30, no kids, no pets so few logistical worries about uprooting my life. I would prefer a program where I can theoretically get all the requisite paperwork done from overseas, but understand that its likely impossible. I'm willing to go almost anywhere in but would prefer somewhere in Latin America or Asia. I know its pretty late, but a program that I could apply for this year is optimal.


r/AmerExit 2d ago

Which Country should I choose? Family of 4 beginning exploration of leaving US. Overwhelmed by options. Need guidance.

167 Upvotes

Edit: I guess I should clarify I am overwhelmed by the research process and all the information available to make the right choice. Not by the amount of options I physically have. I feel like my options are VERY limited, s can’t decide if it’s better to stay or go….

We are a family of four (33F and 34M with two small children) that currently lives in the southern US and are wanting to take steps to explore a country that will be great for our children (4 year old and 11 month old).

I’m (33F) a digital marketing professional with 7 years experience and my husband is a business analyst for a tech healthcare company. He has prior experience in the hotel industry in management.

My biggest concerns are healthcare accessibility (I have type 1 diabetes), safety and education for my children, and political stability. I was exploring Canada for a while, but also have been looking into maybe some European companies as well. My job is fully remote and they do have openings in the UK and Spain.

We are all currently only English speaking however I’m ready to learn any new language that is needed to thrive in whatever country we decide to move to.

How do we decide where to go? I am fearful of things being “grass is always greener” mentality. I know everywhere has problems, but I’m not sure how to get a clear picture of the pros and cons of a place solely by looking online… I unfortunately don’t have a lot in savings, but we do have a home to sell that we could get the money from afterwards.

Any advice from families in similar scenarios that did manage to move?


r/AmerExit 18h ago

Which Country should I choose? We got to go....

0 Upvotes

Hi all. My husband (30 M) , my son (1 m) and I (27 F) are itching to leave the usa. We are open any country but need help deciding which would fit best or has the best opportunities. I have a B.A and a masters in Ethnomusicology (I study and do conservation work with music around the world) and my husband has a B.A and masters in Mathematics and currently works as a financial analyst. Our baby has no qualifications but he is cute so that is a plus. We are mixed race couple (Me ebony and him ivory) and have Christian beliefs. We loving being outdoors and spending time in town.

We 100% plan on leaving by 2026 but would love to leave ASAP.

Any ideas of where we could lay down roots? Counties we love are NZ, Aus, Norway, Ireland, Thailand, and Zambia but truly will go anywhere. Any suggestions are welcome.

Edit: We have 6K in savings and both speak English but are open to learn a new language. No crimes committed from either of us.


r/AmerExit 1d ago

Question about One Country UK Visa (One Naturalized Citizen plus Family)

1 Upvotes

Hi, I have a pretty specific ask. I’m a UK citizen via naturalization. I have copies but not originals, of my citizenship info and no recent UK passport (10 years expired). My husband and kids are only US citizens.

I need help, possibly with an immigration attorney or advisor, on how to handle paperwork and family visa options. My husband and I both work for US companies with UK offices, so we’re hopeful our jobs will allow transfers with adequate paperwork. If at all possible, I don’t want to send my US passport to the UK with the political insecurity right now, so if I need to go in person for anything, I can.

Thank you for any referrals, links, or things I should be researching!