Do you want to leave the US for political reasons? Avoid these common beliefs. They’ll trap you in the country that you’re trying to leave.
I left the US in 2010 partly due to its political strife. That strife has gotten worse, and apparently more people want to leave. At least, that’s what a USA Today report says.
I see the change online – more Americans are asking for help in expat groups. Unfortunately, they often get ignored by experienced members. That’s because the wannabe expats clearly have beliefs that set them up for failure. There’s no helping them until they let go of those beliefs.
Here are some common limiting beliefs.
“The US is the most…”
The US is the worst, the best, the most fascistic, the most free, has the worst healthcare, has the best healthcare…
The US is supposedly the most whatever compared to all the other countries in the world. If you grew up in the US, this belief has been pushed on you since birth.
It’s based on assumptions, not facts, and it severely distorts how Americans see the rest of the world. Progressives and conservatives both suffer from this.
If you believe any version of this “most” fantasy:
- You won’t see other countries clearly.
- You’ll throw away many good options.
- You’ll struggle to get useful advice from experienced emigrants, because they can see that you’re wearing massive blinders.
The “America is the most…” blindness shows up in statements like the following. They’re common on expat forums.
- “I want to leave the US, but I’ll only consider Canada, the UK, Australia, or western Europe.” Everywhere else is too primitive compared to the most developed country, the one with the highest standard of living, the US. Instead, here’s a big list of countries that are often more welcoming and can give you a good or better life. And to see a really developed country, visit Singapore.
- “Of course my life will be better in Europe” because the US is the most heartless / racist / workaholic / dangerous… Maybe your life will be better in Europe, and maybe it won’t.
- “If the wrong party governs the US, there will be genocide / fascism / communism / civil war. Help me escape!” Forum members won’t help, because the poster has just insulted all people who have escaped actual genocide, fascism, communism, and civil war.
Make sure you have a clear picture of the issues in the US before you decide that leaving is your best option.
This “US is the most…” belief has an even stronger effect if you haven’t traveled much. Don’t try to expatriate without traveling to at least a few places that the “most” fairytale tells us are backward or scary. If all you can do right now is watch videos, look for videos from Americans who are living in those countries. If you grew up in the US, you have a lot of deprogramming to do.
“Only rich people can move abroad.”
Some Americans want you to believe this. Maybe that’s because it gives them an excuse to complain about the US without seriously trying to leave.
Of course every country wants immigrants to support themselves and not use welfare that they haven’t paid for. But this doesn’t mean you have to be rich.
- Get a job there.
- Get a remote job that lets you work from other countries.
- Create an online income with your own business.
- Work hard and live cheaply in the US until you build a pile of money, and invest it in a way that supports you abroad. No inheritance required.
- Sell or rent out your US house and use those funds.
- If you receive Social Security, use that.
- Become a perma-tourist and avoid the visa issue entirely.
See How to leave the US for lots of details.
Each country sets the entrance bar at a different level. The bar is highest in the countries that the “America is the most…” people see as the only habitable ones. They’ve chosen the most difficult goal.
Some of those Americans have also been programmed to think the world consists of oppressors squashing the oppressed. So when they learn that they can’t move to Germany with their anthropology degree and barista experience, they say it’s not fair, it’s all rigged against the little person.
And then they give up, which I would argue is the goal of the oppressor-oppressed story.
Meanwhile, a scrappy digital nomad with no college degree and a few web design clients is loving life in Bangkok.
“I shouldn’t have to make many sacrifices.”
No one says this outright. But it’s lurking behind many posts by Americans. This one is fictional but typical.
“Which country should I move to? I want it to be in western Europe. It should have clean air, free medical care, and affordable housing. I’ll be bringing my boyfriend and four cats. I only speak English, though I’d be willing to learn another language if I really had to.”
This is often followed by, “Why are the people in this forum so mean?”
If you have questions for other expats, you’ll get the best help if you ask about a specific country or visa. Show that you’ve done some research and understand that you’ll have to put in effort, maybe a lot of effort, and that you can’t just move somewhere.
“I can magically control the US with my mind.”
No one actually says this, but I’d swear they believe it.
While they’re in the US, many Americans talk and post about how upset they are about something. Energy that could help them escape the Titanic is wasted on trying to turn it around using just their emotions.
Even after they’ve left, some Americans continue to get upset about things “back home.” They seem to think that their outrage will somehow affect that far-off country. They think that you should be outraged, too, as if that would help.
The cool thing is, once you leave and stop checking American news, the US becomes irrelevant. It has nothing to do with your daily life. You don’t get upset about the latest outrage because you don’t even know it happened – unless you get cornered by an obsessed American at an expat gathering.
Don’t get sucked in to the outrage machine.
If you’ve spent decades in the US trying to change it with volunteer work, campaigns, donations, and votes, you have every right to say, “I give up. I’m out.” Then shift your focus entirely to getting out. Tune out the outrage and focus on freedom.
And even if you didn’t try to change anything and are just tired of the drama, you have the right to leave and shut the door behind you. The US doesn’t own you, despite its bizarre belief that it should control your finances until you die.
You own yourself, and if you fit better in another culture, then go and build your life there. Don’t let anyone shame you for not being outraged or for leaving.
Photo at top: Granada, Nicaragua