I’m French (35f) and have been living in the United States for a decade, but I’ve recently started considering moving back to my home country. However, every time I speak to French people about this idea, I often hear the same thing: “France is in decline; don’t come back, stay where the money is.”

To understand this better, I posted on r/AskFrance and received very mixed responses. Some people echoed this sentiment of decline, and encouraged me to stay in the US for the opportunities and higher salaries. Many responses left me with more questions than answers.

Additionally, I genuinely love America, but after a decade here, I feel like I’ve never formed any deep friendships, it’s always remained at a surface level. So I would say my main issue with living in the U.S. is this lack of human connection. Is this universal or more of an expat experience? For context, I spent nine years in New York City and one year in Los Angeles. I know that living in a big city doesn’t help, but I’m really just a city person. I believe I have always been approachable and made real efforts to connect, but it never worked. My strongest friendships are in France.

So anyway, I’m turning to you for a different perspective. For those of you Americans who’ve lived in France, traveled there, or compared the two countries, what’s your take? I’d really value your insights, whether you’ve made similar decisions, considered an “AmerExit,” or simply have an opinion on what makes life better on one side of the Atlantic or the other. Yes the food in France is awesome, but a country isn’t just food.

Hei,

I am a 39 year old, single, Irishman, that lives in Norway.

I use dating apps, and I have seen a major uptick in interest the past month or so, especially from those in the US. To a certain extent I can filter this, but sometimes I just want to chat with people around the world etc, and date those somewhat local.

My opinion is, that unless someone is really moving over, under their own steam, I am not really interested. If they have a career, and a job for themselves, that would ideal. But, so many of the conversations are centred around the quality of life, and my relationship status, but they don’t have any other option but marriage from what I see in their backgrounds.

To me, it seems like an unhealthy power dynamic, and it looks to only end up in failure, if someone looks to only marry someone so they can get a visa somewhere, not because of that person.

I know that this is something that I should just avoid, but it is happening so often these days.

I think under different circumstances, if I was in America, and organically was in a relationship with someone, and we decided at a later date to move, then that would be something different.

But, can anyone explain to me what is going through their heads?

Has anyone emigrated outside of the country at these ages?

I'm childfree, so I will not have any help when I'm older. The murder of the health insurance CEO has also opened my eyes if I ever need expensive treatments.

My father did pass away from stage 4 cancer at 60. His mother also found cancer too late but at a later age. I want to prepare now and emigrate to a country where I can receive humane healthcare and if I do live to be old and need assistance - a place that is kind and respectful of seniors.

With that, what countries would it be possible to achieve this even though I would be emigrating as a mature adult?

I'm thinking of Denmark and Finland and am ready to start learning the language to prepare.

for people who did the canje in Cozumel, do you have to have a local address there for the process or no?

(using phone so sorry for the bad format) Hello! Hope you all are doing well :) I'm a 26 y.o who's got a masters in water science (water treatment (both drinking water and sewage), irrigation, dams, water resources protection, fluid machinery etc) in 2021. Due to my desperate need of money and being unable to get a job after graduation, I had to put my degree aside and work in trades (whatever came my way) which resulted in having no industry experience in my field. As the title says, I'm looking to move to the EU (locking on Germany for now but I'm open to the whole EU if it increases my chances) on a student visa. A skilled worker visa is out of the question because I know (or at least I assume) there's no chance in hell an EU employer would sponsor someone with no work experience. My plan is to 1. save as much as I can to secure the necessary €12k needed for a blocked account. 2. Get a masters degree in water science (2 reasons for that: 1. I wouldn't struggle with the subjects and 2. Germany requires masters degrees to be similar to bachelors as far as I know) 3. Get a job in Germany or whatever country I choose. My concerns are the following: 1. Main concern: Water science (or hydraulic engineering) may not be very relevant In Europe compared to other in-demand fields. 2. I'm giving myself a year to save up and gather info on where to move. But I also heard about how rough the job market already is in Europe so I'm a bit scared. Curious to know about the job market in my field tho. 3. Many of you will definitely mention the language. I speak English for now but willing to start learning the language of my target country asap. I'm making this post as a starting point to gather info on how to proceed and what country is more suitable for my degree. Expats in the EU, I need your help. Thank you very much in advance :)

We are considering applying for DAFT but if we go ahead, can't decide which approach is best (and what is not possible).

I have a W2 job and my spouse is self employed. Our options are:

• I convert to 1099 and use my current employer as my first client. I work on expanding my client base from just the one client. This is the basis for DAFT. The field is lucrative enough for consulting type work. My spouse can do whatever with no pressure.

• My spouse creates a business plan and we apply under that umbrella. I convert to 1099 and work quietly without any pressure for more clients sooner than later.

• We do both. That is, we start two businesses and include them both in the application (is that a thing?) where only one needs to take off (or would both have to?)

Or, let's say we go route #1 (my business), my spouse starts another business since he's eligible to do so, and his business takes off. When we renew DAFT or before, can we "switch"? Basically say that my business isn't doing as well as his, or vice versa?

My concern is building out a more diverse client base vs time required to do so, though I could also hire people in the Netherlands to help. Is there a concept of hiring as a 1099 type for short term projects, say students on a part-time basis, or do I have to become a proper employer which I assume has to guarantee a certain number of hours as well as the various social program registrations?

Thank you!

Hello everyone! I was hoping I could come in here and get some general opinions/advice about my thoughts of moving to Europe in the future.

Some context about myself: I'm 21(f) about to graduate with a Bachelor's in International Studies looking to pursue a Masters degree in Funerary Archeology in either England or Scotland (looking at the University of York). Afterwards, I'd like to consider moving to Europe as a means to make my life a bit more manageable due to some specific issues I have with the United States.

While there are some things I do genuinely love about my country (the incredible diversity, the general friendliness, and the nature) it's getting harder for me to consider living here long-term. I'm someone with multiple disabilities (fibromyalgia, endometriosis, IBS, potential epilepsy) and the healthcare system in the US is infamously a nightmare. It's just too expensive and inaccessible for someone like myself who constantly needs to be able to see specialists within reasonable time periods. It was a 5 months waiting period for me to see a GI doctor while I was losing +30 pounds due to severe gastrointestinal issues, and there was nothing I could do to speed up the process because they were so fully booked out. The growing aggressive perspective legislation is taking towards women's health in the US is also making it more difficult for me to receive endometriosis care; I'm having to travel multiple hours out of my state to see a specialist because all of the clinics in my area are focusing on women who are trying to become pregnant (which I am not). So needless to say, healthcare and general quality of life as it pertains to wellness is a big deal for me.

I would like to move to a place that is relatively friendly, but they don't have to have the immense open-ness that Americans are known for. I'm aware that my salary will take a cut due to taxes and general job market differences, but I signed up to never be rich when I decided to go into archeological/museum work in the first place haha. I just want to live in a place where I can reasonably rely on a healthcare system, have the reassurance I won't be shot when I leave my house, and be able to live reasonably within my means so that I'm not constantly having to decide between food or medical bills. Of course since I'm still rather young, I'd like to live in a place with decent amounts of things to do, but overall I'm just tired of being tired. I'm more than open to learning new languages, and would of course integrate myself into local cultures as someone immigrating into a new country.

There isn't a perfect country, but I'm hoping that you all will be able to give me some ideas about where I can look to find a safer home!

Looking to move to the UK, but friends told me it took them 8 years to get a credit card since when they moved there, they had no credit history. They are on work visas. I'm wondering if it's easier to get a credit card if you are a citizen? I'm working on getting dual citizenship through my grandfather who was English. I have excellent USA credit. I've also heard it's hard to move funds from USA accounts to UK accounts. Anybody have any thoughts/advice/experience with this stuff? Thanks!

I’m exploring a move to EU, and I’d need to establish my current consulting business wherever I land. I already do about half of my work with EU, so no problems on that front.

Looking for perspectives or resources on tax and other implications.

In it matters, I speak some French (used to be fluent), some Mandarin. I generally love languages and pick them up quickly. I can follow most of the Romance languages, even if I can’t speak them all.

Thanks!

I’m 30 and have a bachelor’s degree in communications. I’ve worked in marketing for a little under 3 years, but I’m not that dedicated to it/like it very much. I’ve thought about switching to become a radiologic technologist for some time, but here in the US, it only requires a 2-year/community college degree, which I know isn’t “good enough” to work as a rad tech in many countries. I would like to move out of the US and anywhere, really, just to experience more of the world, but would it be a bad idea for me to switch from marketing to rad tech, then?

Our experience may differ from the average person on here wanting to leave the US, but how’s it going for you so far?

I’m currently in Poland and while it’s nice here. I miss my people and culture.

Hi, everyone. My UK boyfriend and I are facing a tough situation, and we’re hoping to get some advice or hear from anyone who’s been in a similar position. Our baby is due in February, and we were not expecting my boyfriend’s visa to the US to be denied. Now, with time running out, we’re exploring all of our options to ensure we can be together for the birth and the first months of our child’s life.

One option we’re seriously considering is traveling to Canada for the birth. We understand we’d have to pay out of pocket for the delivery, but being together as a family during this time is worth it to us. We’re thinking of staying in Canada for 3-6 months so we can be present for this crucial time in our baby’s life.

Does anyone have any advice or suggestions on how to navigate this? Has anyone heard of families choosing Canada for similar reasons? Any insight on logistics, legal requirements, or costs would be greatly appreciated.

We’re feeling a bit lost and overwhelmed but are determined to make this work. Thank you in advance for any help or ideas you can offer!

This version is concise, respectful, and opens the door for advice and personal experiences. Let me know if you’d like to tweak it further!

So I’ve been trying to get my Italian citizenship through heritage for the last three years, but with the new minor ruling that’s made it very unlikely to happen. My family member told me that I could establish residency and then only wait like 3 to 5 years before I could apply for citizenship because I at least have the Italian paperwork. So I want to get started in Italy, but I don’t have the ability to get a skilled worker visa so is there any opportunity for me to get a regular work visa and just start working. I have heard different things about what’s possible.

hello, I am a 20 year old college sophomore currently studying mechanical engineering in Florida. I am currently considering switching schools to study industrial engineering in hopes to eventually go into human factors engineering. my question is, is this an in demand field to go into? would it be better to stick with mechanical and still do the field then switching to industrial? I want to move out of the USA within 5-10 years and want a field that will be easier to move out with. what do you guys think or do you have any related stories? I do not have a country in mind I want to move to but I know that it will be in Europe. I do not know a foreign language if that means anything. let me know if you need more info!

This is a long shot and I’m looking for literally any advice. I’m sincerely not doing well and really have no clue what to do. Typing on mobile, so ignore bad grammar and sorry for long read. NSFW bc bad thoughts mentioned.

I’m a 34F, have a BA in computer science, with a 8 year professional background as a software engineer and technical writer at a major US software company. I’m currently living in Sweden as a student pursuing a MA in Language Tech. I also have graduate certificates in Project Management and Copyediting, but these are just certs so not too much significance to them.

I am 110% miserable. I’m approaching my last semester, which is essentially doing my thesis, but I just can’t. I hate this field and I fucking hate computers. I did this MA purely to get out of the US and thought it wouldn’t be as intense as an MA in CS, but it’s still too much. I originally started with CS for money reasons because I was nervous about being unable to pay off my student loans. I’ve managed to do that, but now I can’t escape this field.

My current mental and physical health are so bad. I feel constantly ill at the thought of doing any homework. It’s gotten to the point where I open my computer and just start immediately crying. I feel I’ve aged 5 years in the last 3 months mostly from being overstressed and major depressed.

I really don’t think I can continue, and I seriously can’t do another software job to sponsor a visa or something. My preferred field would be tech writing for something that isn’t software or editing books or similar. I wouldn’t mind being a freelancer, but I don’t know how I would start with my skill set. I’m also very skilled with cooking and hiking if that’s somehow useful as an alt (writing a travel or cook book would be cool for instance). I just can’t stand the thought of looking at more code ever in my life. It’s made me feel like unaliving would be better for me as I really feel I have no other out.

I am only fluent in English. I can mostly read Swedish but can’t speak it well, so I cannot say I’m fluent in it.

I want to stay out of the US because I genuinely don’t feel safe there. I am a gay woman and despite living in liberal US cities, I never truly felt safe, along with the fact I have a bit of a stalker ex and am scared he’ll find me one day. I also have major PTSD from a car accident and feel uncomfortable in cars, so living in a car-centric country is miserable. There are also many other reasons, but those are the biggest. An ideal country for me is basically a lower crime country with gay acceptance and not horribly overpriced, like Sweden. I am willing to move anywhere that just feels overall safe.

I need some sort of plan to keep me out of the US that isn’t what I’m doing, but I have no clue what to do. I’m so done I can’t even research how to escape this stuff. I really cannot fathom doing my current program or do any software job any longer so I’m desperate for any advice.

And no, please don’t suggest some sort of mental counseling. This is 100% related to my current work field and fear of having to live in the US again. I’m looking for logistical advice to stay abroad long-term to hopefully get EU citizenship someday.

TLDR: majorly depressed to continue with software stuff, but desperate to stay out of the US.

Hello everyone, I am considering moving back to Canada (dual citizen) temporarily for some personal reasons. Question I have is what to do about US brokerage accounts?

From what I gather, if I intend to go back to the US later, I should just keep my 401k in the US and deal with those at my later retirement date which sounds great. They’re all in index funds and I’m planning to just keep it that way.

But what about the non-tax advantaged accounts? It looks like as a non-resident of the US, my accounts would be frozen in the US so best to move to Canadian brokerage, but if I don’t plan to sell anyway, can I just leave in US account and no harm/no foul? I would still have an address to use in the US. Has anyone had experience here?

I do plan on getting professional advice but wanted to see if any big implications I should be aware of.

I don’t know why I keep getting taken down I’ve put as much information as I can , I’m Currently in California ,US finishing my bachelors with no hope for the future , From what I’ve seen people commented how it’s all but almost impossible to move to another country if you’re American and it’s kind of freaking me out.Im nearing thirty but only have a bachelors degree I know I’m willing to learn a language or get skills if I need to but I don’t know how or what I’d need to do if it’s even possible(my family moved from china and I was born in the USA it’s getting too stressful living here )) .What do I do ? I want to leave the US to preferably somewhere in Asia but it feels nigh impossible.Ive been looking at Taiwan or china does anyone know what I need in terms of qualifications?

Currently have Medicare plans A&B, plus a Supplemental plan. The medicare B & Supplemental cost about $350/month.

My plan is to reside in France for approximately 10-15 years and then return to the U.S. because my children live here and I will be old! Very active & healthy now, but you never know. I know I will also have to get my own medical insurance for living in France.

My question is should I also keep the Supplemental Plan going? I ask because I know there can be paybacks for not being on certain plans, or needing underwriting to be approved.

Anyone have any experience with this?

To keep things relatively straightforward, I have been legally blind all my life and yet never did it limit me. I'm now in my mid 20s, for the first time in my life I've been unemployed for longer than 3 months and had to move back home, apply for SSDI.. struggling to find employment.

I hold a BA in political science and Hungarian citizenship, so I know that provided I have the money I can certainly move any time.. but the public health system in Hungary is in bad shape. I thankfully only need to see a doctor once every six months, which will only cost me $120 a year instead of the $800 I spent this year (excluding the thousands in surgery costs they wrote of as charity eventually). I am still on my parents' insurance, but they will both be retiring soon and SSDI processing times in my state leave me thinking I'll be without insurance for a year unless I find a job in 2025. My state has managed to build a 3 year backlog of cases.. which my dad refuses to believe is even possible "Because I got my Social Security retirement easily".

My gut is telling me that unless a hyper-speciic set of levers flip in my direction, my life in the US will be a meager existence, reliant on my parents and the inability to live a full life because they didn't want to (nor could we afford if I was able bodied and working, to be frank) to maintain our quality of life in the Northeast once Trump removed the SALT tax deductions. I can either live that meager life.. or emigrate. I'm starting to think emigration is the ticket.

I have “department of state report of birth abroad” signed by a consular officer and I have “certification of report of birth” signed by an authentication officer in Washington DC. Which document (or both) should I get apostilled?

Not sure if this is the place to post my query, and I'm a total n00b. If it's not allowed, I apologize in advance.

I'm wondering if Trump, et al. will start clamping down on our ability to 'leave if we don't like it here', when they realize just how many people want out?

Edit: The number of comments is a wee bit overwhelming, but I just wanted to say thanks for all the positive feedback. I'll be doing a lot of exploring thanks to all of you.

I was born in the US.My father is was born in Mexico.Im 19 and getting my Mexican citizenship and do I qualify for fast Spanish citizenship even if I wasn’t born in Mexico?

I'm 35 and have had a stable IT career for 10 years but I'm not impressive enough or have the network to pull a job in Australia or New Zealand. I want to find a university with a 2-year program there that can take my Bachelor's of Science and get me on the road to a permanent residence visa.

I think my next step is to reach out to universities? Trying to cross reference the jobs that a country finds desirable with the programs an institution offers is tricky. My undergrad school hasn't gotten back to me with assistance (probably because there's no money in it for them, maybe because of holidays) so I don't have an idea of what my old degree/credits can do for me.

Does anyone have advice on services I could employ or next steps? I'd like to have all my ducks in a row before just cold-calling universities. Thanks!

It seems that Trump is serious about buying Greenland and seizing the Panama Canal. Is there a possibility that this could affect how American retirees are treated there? Is Panama still going to be on the top of the list?

I’m hoping to find a well reviewed law office or similar to help assist with Portuguese citizenship by decent. I’m only finding multi national law offices that do all countries.

Hoping to find a firm in Portugal that has prior experience handling Portuguese citizenship by decent to hopefully streamline the process and be able to have the experience and connections to pull local archives etc

Any reccomendations would be greatly appreciated!