{"id":1943,"date":"2023-09-04T13:37:14","date_gmt":"2023-09-04T20:37:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coldstreams.com\/travel\/?p=1943"},"modified":"2026-01-24T12:57:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-24T20:57:09","slug":"the-media-myth-that-americans-can-just-move-abroad-for-a-better-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coldstreams.com\/travel\/2023\/09\/04\/the-media-myth-that-americans-can-just-move-abroad-for-a-better-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Part 1: The myth that Americans can just move abroad for a better life"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Start Here – Read this first<\/a> – including data analysis and findings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Annotated Bibliography of the Stories<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Part 1: Immigration: The media myth that Americans can just move abroad for a better life<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Part 2: The myth that Americans can just move abroad for a better life<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Part 3: Part 3: The Fake \u201cI moved abroad\u201d stories<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Part 4: The myth that Americans can just move abroad for a better life<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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CNN: This American family opened a restaurant in Italy | CNN<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

VISA: Existing Dual citizenship<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Category: Family<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dalip, who is originally from the UK<\/span> but has lived in the US for nearly 30 years, was able to obtain Italian residency<\/strong> (the sale went through before Brexit was finalized), which would allow the family to stay in Italy for extended periods of time.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

One of the two already had EU citizenship via UK citizenship when the UK was part of the EU.<\/em><\/strong> They still live in the U.S. and visit Italy on a part time basis because they do not all have long term stay visas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

CNN: This family is moving to Italy because they\u2019ve had enough of the US | CNN<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Visa: None yet, but will be right of descent <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Category: Family<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starts off with the headline – America is awful!!!!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But details matter – she has Italian ancestry<\/em><\/span> <\/em>which, if they can document it, may make her eligible for Italian citizenship. In the interim, they haven’t really moved to Italy – they go part time, due to the 90-day visa limit restriction.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“But one American family has done it to start a new life far from the United States. In 2019, the Dawkins family \u2013 Nadine, 59, her husband, Kim, 61, and their children Lorenzo, 29, and DeNae, 27 \u2013 bought a charming home in the town of Latronico. In the southern region of Basilicata, the town of 4,000 inhabitants is located within the pristine Pollino National Park and surrounded by hot springs.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Nadine’s great-great grandfather was from Italy and due to Italy’s “right of descent” program, she may qualify for citizenship. For now, they abide by the maximum of 90 days out of 180 days that a U.S. citizen can stay in the EU and are splitting their time with their home ….in<\/strong> Panama<\/strong>.<\/em> Panama is one of very few countries that encourage Americans to move there: Panama introduces attractive retiree visa program for immigration \u2013 Coldstreams Travel and Global Thinking<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CNN: This couple bought a rundown farmhouse in Portugal. Here\u2019s what happened next | CNN<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Visa: Dual citizenship, marriage<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Category: Gay<\/strong> couple<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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They were originally looking for a vacation home, but Alan Andrew, originally from Pennsylvania, and his Belgian husband Vincent Proost<\/em><\/span><\/strong> found themselves relocating to Portugal full time after purchasing an abandoned farmhouse in the region of Alentejo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The couple, who met on a blind date in London in 2006, had been living in the UK together for around two decades<\/strong> when they began searching for a new home in Europe. One already had EU citizenship.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Insider: Family Moved From US to Portugal so Kids Could Be Safer in School<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Visa: D7 passive income visa<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Category: Family<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

America is awful, so this family moved to Portugal. You can find out more about him (he’s from Chile) and her here<\/a>. NOTE – the story in Insider is a bit misleading, saying “the family” had only ever lived in Austin, which may be true – but her own web page says she had lived in both Mexico and Chile, previously, and he was born in and grew up in Chile. She did extensive global travels before this<\/em><\/strong>. They have a<\/a> Portugal D7 visa<\/a> which requires a minimum passive income (pensions, investments, etc, not income from working).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CNN: This family bought a cheap house in Italy because the US is too expensive<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Visa: Tourist visa, but eventually right of descent<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Category: Family<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Right out the starting gate: America is awful!!!!! Too expensive!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Being able to reconnect with his Italian heritage was also a trigger for change for Chris, whose great-grandfather migrated to the US at the end of the 1800s from a village near Latronico<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Once that ancestry is documented and Chris learns Italian, he will qualify for Italian citizenship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But for now, they don’t have visas<\/span><\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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He\u2019s recently embarked on a search to prove his Basilicata origins, with the help of Castellano, in order to apply for Italian citizenship by descent. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

They acknowledge that they thought they could get long term stay visas easily but discovered – after buying a house – that they could not do that, so for now, they live in both the U.S. and Italy, commuting back and forth to avoid exceeding the 90-day limit in the EU<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CNN: “This US couple bought a house in France for $36,000 and it completely changed their lives<\/a>“<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Visa: Tourist visa, does not have residency visas<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Category: Family<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

They retired in their 50s and bought a house in France. But their visa limits them to 180 days per year in France<\/span>, so they commute between their other home in California and France.<\/em><\/strong> They also “both spent time in France during their younger years” – and since 95% of their new friends are French, they likely spoke French already. Just your everyday American couple. But again – reality check – they do not have residency visas<\/em> and their residence is California.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CNN: They bought a house in France for $20,000 without seeing it. Here\u2019s what happened<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Visa: “long stay” 12-month visa<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Category: Family<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

They still have their homes in California and New York. She had extensive experience traveling in France, for decades, before they chose to move to France using a “long stay” visa. A long-stay visa for the purpose of retiring in France requires you demonstrate sufficient assets – the more assets and passive income you have, the greater the chances of having your 12-month visa approved. Once settled in France, after one year you can apply for a residency permit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The story headline is also FALSE – US$20,000 was the original asking price, but they paid about US$14,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A comment to that story explains these stories:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Once again we have aspirational nonsense short on critical details for people who are not wealthy. Many countries to which Americans are trying to escape now see them as a source of hard currency, and there are minimum requirements for liquid assets and other impediments that CNN and similar outfits should mention in these articles. Some countries such as New Zealand are making it impossible for people with less than a $1 million in income to live there as permanent residents, and there are also age requirements, meaning that if you’re not filthy rich and\/or young you can forget it.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The comment is true and a point the media misinformation omits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CNN: \u2018My money goes a lot further here\u2019: This woman moved to Italy because the US was too expensive<\/a>“<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Visa: Elective Residency Visa<\/strong> (via having sufficient assets)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Category: Single Female<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As always, the U.S. is an awful country. She has an Elective Residence Visa<\/a>, good for 1 year, but renewable for 2 years. This visa is available to those who have purchased a home in Italy, or have a long-term lease agreement, and are not working but are self-supporting, financially (such as a retiree). <\/em>As the link explains, this visa is for those with a stable passive income,<\/em> or a retirement pension. This visa does not permit remote work but opens access to benefits of living in Italy including their health care system. After ten years, the visa holder can apply for citizenship. The woman who did this has visited Italy frequently since the 1980s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her “money goes a lot further” due to the strong U.S. dollar and currency conversions. Americans who make their money in the U.S. economy and in dollars find everything cheaper in many countries – most things are not really less expensive in the local currency earned at local wages. It’s the currency exchange that makes these options cheaper for Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CNN: “Italy’s Ponza island and its cave homes are drawing Americans to live in them<\/a>“<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Visa: Right of descent ancestry<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Category: Family<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This story has only limited U.S. bashing. A family that is descended from recent immigrants from Italy, has returned to ancestor owned properties in Italy. They have traveled between the U.S. and Italy for many years. Obviously, they have right of descent residency or dual citizenship in Italy.<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CNN: Two strangers moved into an apartment in Prague. Then they fell in love | CNN<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Visa: EU citizen, marriage<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Category: Single Female -> family<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A romance story but without the America-bashing. Young woman from Texas moves to Prague to teach an English class, falls in love with her Finnish roommate, and a few years later, they get married and move to Helsinki. Marriage to a European resolved the immigration visa problem<\/em>.<\/span><\/strong> Of course, her degree is in communications\/media (journalism aka writer) and she works as an online “community manager” which is a blend of marketing and …. writing<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The above article, like most on CNN, is written by Francesca Street, CNN’s UK based romance writer (all of her stories are 15-20 page romance short stories) – always told from the woman’s point of view. All she writes is romance stories – every story is literally the same romance storyline.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CNN: These Los Angeles-based lawyers renovated a 16th-century Tuscan farmhouse into a luxury villa. Here\u2019s how they did it | CNN<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Visa: Right of descent ancestry<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Category: Gay, Family<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has right of descent citizenship immigration privilege in Italy:<\/em><\/strong> “For Scali, whose grandfather is originally from Reggio Calabria in Italy, the idea to buy a property in his family\u2019s homeland had been percolating for a while….. But in early 2020, the pandemic put a dent in their plans, since Lewis \u2014 who was not an Italian citizen \u2014 wasn\u2019t allowed to enter” the country to join Scali, who in 2019 was granted citizenship through his family<\/span><\/strong> (i.e. right of descent via ancestry). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

CNBC: Why Americans are relocating to Mexico City for a better life (cnbc.com)<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Visa: Unknown<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Category: Single female<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

America is awful – everything is better in Mexico.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When Aborisade lived in Texas, she had a 3,623-square-foot house and a $2,612-a-month mortgage<\/strong>. Rent for her 861-square-foot apartment in Mexico City\u2019s Narvarte neighborhood costs 13,000 pesos a month, or about $728.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

At the time of this writing, there are numerous nice, luxury 2-4 bedroom apartments available in Austin, TX for less than $900<\/a>. Leaving the U.S. for a smaller apartment in Mexico is not the only way to reduce housing costs in the U.S.! She could have downsized in the U.S.- from a huge house to an apartment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just 10% of new homes built in the U.S. since 2000 were 3500 square feet or larger, and about 5% of all homes in the U.S. are possibly 3500 square feet or larger. That context is important to understand regarding her housing costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now in Mexico she says she is no longer fixated on “having stuff”. It’s possible to reach that same point in the U.S., and I get what she is saying – the week I wrote this was the insanely promoted Amazon Prime Days, matched by other vendors, pushing you to acquire stuff you probably don’t really need. The U.S. culture pushes many to buy over-sized homes, large SUVs, and the latest “stuff”, which needs to be upgraded to the next model, every year. The U.S. has a consumerism culture that acquires excess stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is an issue about Americans, who have money (one of the examples in the article is someone day trading investments) to live in lower cost parts of the world – an opportunity that most of the world does not itself have, to move somewhere cheaper. A side effect of Americans and Europeans moving to less expensive countries (in terms of the US $ or the Euro) is to drive up the costs of living in these countries, making life more difficult for those who are natives of the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Historically, it has been relatively easy for Americans to obtain virtual residency in Mexico via a renewable temporary visa. However, in 2022, the rules changed and it is now up to the discretion of the border and immigration officials as to whether they approve or deny one’s stay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CNN: Why this US couple swapped California for Spain | CNN<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Visa: Dual citizenship<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Category: Family<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

America is awful. This couple visited Spain, fell in love with the country over two days and decided to move there because, you know, everyone does that – never mind the dual citizenship:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As Luban has dual US-German citizenship, he didn\u2019t need a visa to live in Spain<\/span><\/strong>.<\/em> However, Medlen was required to obtain a residence permit.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Everyone in America can pack up and move to Europe because everyone in America has dual citizenship or right of descent ancestry or married a citizen of the destination country …<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Business Insider: Disillusioned by the American Dream, I Bought a House in Italy (businessinsider.com)<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Visa: Potentially dual citizenship, but likely a work visa for now<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Category: Single female<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The subject of the story was born outside the U.S.<\/em><\/span><\/strong> and began traveling when young. Italy is a popular destination, in part, because Italy’s fertility rate has collapsed and the population is shrinking. Italy is actively recruiting young adults to immigrate to Italy and makes residency easy for many<\/a>, plus Italy has a generous “right of descent” immigration program that enables people to qualify for citizenship by virtue of having an ancestor born in Italy from the late 19th century onward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Business Insider left out that the young woman<\/a> has a law degree<\/a><\/em> and now runs a business assisting in purchasing homes in the EU (good for her!) Many countries, and especially Italy, actively seek inbound immigrants who are young, with advanced degrees or specialized “in demand” training (think health care).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Business Insider: Surprising Things About Moving to Germany With Family, From American – Business Insider<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Visa: Married an EU citizen<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Category: Single female -> marriage<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

America is awful, unsafe, healthcare is expensive, blah blah blah. She moved to Germany. As usual, she is a freelance writer<\/em> (isn’t everyone?) and left out of her many stories on this and related topics – from the U.S., she attended NYU but married a Czech (EU citizen) husband, giving her visa options in Europe<\/a>. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CNN: What it\u2019s like to be an American living in Paris | CNN<\/a><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Visa: Dual citizenship<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Category: Single female -> marriage<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Already a Polish (and therefore European Union) passport-holder, Dietz had easy entry into France<\/em><\/strong>, and then received her residency by marrying her Italian [boyfriend]<\/em><\/strong>.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

and: “For Tramuta, swapping Philadelphia for Paris wasn\u2019t so much following a dream as a natural progression. Having studied French from the age of 12, at 21, she crossed the Atlantic to study there. A student visa allowed her to stay until she met and married her French husband, becoming a naturalized citizen in 2014<\/em><\/strong>.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

and: “\u201cI didn\u2019t know how to [move back to Paris] on my own, so I married a man with a French passport, had kids and only moved when my husband\u2019s company finally transferred him here<\/em><\/strong>,\u201d she says.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CNBC: 30 year old teacher packs up and moves to Denmark for a better life<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Visa: Marriage to an EU citizen<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Category: Single female -> marriage<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

30-year-old American teacher moved to Denmark and pays $2,100\/month for this luxury apartment\u2014look inside (cnbc.com)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

America is a terrible country – Denmark is way better. She had a privileged life in the U.S., attended Vanderbilt University, and did a study abroad in Denmark in college<\/a>. After working her first year in the U.S., as a teacher, she took advantage of having 3 month vacation privilege (just like everyone in the U.S. has!) and traveled to Denmark. There, she met her future husband – who happens to be (surprise!) Danish.<\/em> She had immigration privileges most do not have<\/em>. <\/span><\/strong>This is not journalism, but content mill fluff lifted from her social media posts<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CNBC runs the same story multiple times, often over many years:<\/p>\n\n\n\n