I left the US and don’t regret it. Here’s how you can make sure that you’re seeing your country’s problems clearly before you make such a big decision.

Are you being misled by divisive politics and a distorted media? Is there a simpler solution you should try first?

Problems that can be measured

If you’re concerned about specific laws, crimes, police actions, healthcare mandates, or other facts that are measurable by statistics, look at the actual statistics. You’ll probably find that your favorite social media accounts haven’t checked their figures or are using numbers that have been distorted. Also ask:

  • Is the issue local? Would moving to a different city or region help?
  • Is the issue temporary? Could my vote actually have an effect?
  • Is the issue clearly better in other countries? What do the statistics say, rather than the “You’ll love this country!” YouTube channels?

Less quantifiable problems

Maybe you’re tired of cultural issues, such as feeling like you’re supposed to believe things you don’t believe or say things that you think are wrong. Consider asking:

  • Would moving to a different city or region help?
  • Have I tried changing my friend group?
  • Have I tried getting off social media, or changing who I follow?
  • Have I always felt this way, or have I recently changed my opinions? Don’t move for a new belief.
  • Are there other countries that don’t have these issues?

It’s baked into the whole country

Is the problem truly national, meaning it’s the same problem everywhere in the country? Maybe your federal taxes are paying for something you don’t support, and you’ve been voting against it for years and nothing changes. Maybe fundamental elements of the national culture that have been present for generations just aren’t working for you.

Ask:

  • Could I find or create a sub-culture where I would be isolated from the problem?
  • Have I ruled out all the legal ways I could fix or resist the problem?

One side effect of emigration could be no longer having to pay taxes to support something that you disagree with. If this is appealing, make sure that your new country isn’t doing the same thing with the taxes it will require from you.

If you’re from the US, you’ll still need to file US tax forms but might not have to pay, depending on how much income you earn. Learn about the foreign earned income exclusion. Also, prepare to have the US government pay even closer attention to your finances and restrict your investment options once you’ve left.

Be choosy about other expats

If you decide that changing countries is worth trying, be selective about the friends you make in your new country.

If you don’t speak the language yet, you’ll want to hang out with other foreigners at first. In my experience, some of them will do their best to recreate the issues you’re trying to leave behind.

For example, if you’re trying to escape the judgy tribalism of the US, I regret to inform you that you’ll find it flourishing in some US expat communities. The same seems to be true of UK expats and Brexit. Try these tips to avoid getting sucked in.


Photo at the top: Sydney, Australia