{"id":5428,"date":"2025-08-16T13:56:36","date_gmt":"2025-08-16T20:56:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coldstreams.com\/travel\/?p=5428"},"modified":"2026-04-14T10:06:02","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T17:06:02","slug":"part-4-the-myth-that-americans-can-just-move-abroad-for-a-better-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coldstreams.com\/travel\/2025\/08\/16\/part-4-the-myth-that-americans-can-just-move-abroad-for-a-better-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Part 4: 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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I moved from Chicago to Spain. It’s harder to be an entrepreneur here, but I work less and still have a great life.<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Visa<\/strong>: Digital nomad, dual citizenship<\/strong>, accelerated path to residency<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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“I’m a dual citizen of Mexico and the US<\/strong>, so I used my Mexican passport when applying for the digital nomad visa. Because Mexico was once a Spanish colony, Mexican citizens can apply for Spanish citizenship after just two years of legal residency, compared to 10 years for US citizens.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

I’m Canadian, and my husband is American. We chose to live in Canada even though salaries are often lower.<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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

Category<\/strong>: Married, BIPOC<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The answer is in the title. Both were born in India, she has Canadian citizenship since 2017. He lived in the U.S. and the title says he is an American. Marriage is not a guarantee of a residency visa in Canada but it opens doors to getting a residency visa.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I moved from the US to France. It took 4 years and one great piece of advice for the country to finally feel like home.<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Visa<\/strong>: Marriage “MRS visa”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Category<\/strong>: US female married a Frenchman<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oddly for this genre, she does not trash the U.S. and is grateful for growing up in the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moved From US to Buenos Aires and Have No Regrets or Plans to Return – Business Insider<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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

Category<\/strong>: Single, gay male<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He’s a freelance writer, of course and has done a number of interesting projects<\/a>. Like many of the writers in this travel genre, it seems he probably does not like the U.S. government<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was burned out at work, so I quit my job, sold my home, and moved to Spain. It was the best decision of my life.<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Visa<\/strong>: Student visa<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Category<\/strong>: Queer\/lesbian single woman<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. is awful, blah blah blah. So, she moved to Spain where she lives in a 900 sq ft apartment. Says she has Spanish ancestry so may qualify for accelerated residency\/citizenship,<\/strong> but that is not known for sure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

31-year-old moved from the U.S. to Portugal and only works 20 hours a week: ‘I’m much happier in Lisbon’<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Visa<\/strong>: D7 passive income visa (digital nomad)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Category<\/strong>: Single white woman<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Attractive successful young American woman moves from the awful U.S. and works as a “digital marketeer”. She has a lot of international experience starting at age 18 onward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I traveled to Toronto for a much-needed vacation from NYC and fell in love with it. I’m now moving to Canada for good.<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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

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

A global elitist who has traveled all over the world, she’s moving to Toronto. No idea what visa she <\/a>is using – her business<\/a> helps employers understand Gen Z and Millennial workers (hmmm… why didn’t we need these consultants for past generations?). Her PhD is in Leadership and Global Studies (a faith-based, theological perspective<\/a>). Yet she failed with her own first Gen Z intern<\/a> … She wants to live in a huge city but hates NYC and most American life – whereas, after a 2-month visit, Toronto is heaven on earth and Canada is much better than the U.S. and she plans to live in Canada forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She traveled to Italy to save her marriage. Here\u2019s how she ended up falling for her Italian tour guide | CNN<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Visa<\/strong>: Marriage “MRS visa”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Category<\/strong>: Married or single woman, depending on the time point for the story<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Attractive American woman divorces her husband, falls in love with her Italian tour guide and lives happily ever after. Another romance novel from CNN. They run a tour business in Italy<\/a> …<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I moved from San Diego to Southern Italy for a simpler, slower life, but the best part was that I fell in love<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Visa<\/strong>: Marriage “MRS visa”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Category<\/strong>: White woman<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another American woman marries her Italian tour guide. Yet another content manager and relocation coach<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After visiting every country in the world, I had a new perspective on life. I no longer wanted to be in the US and chose to live in Portugal.<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Visa<\/strong>: Assuming the D7 visa<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Legit story – an aviation industry consultant out of work during Covid, chose to travel. Now back working in the aviation industry, she has relocated to Portugal. She doesn’t entirely bash the U.S., but says Portugal is better across her metrics. Much of her global travel was free due to her airline industry connections.<\/a> In that article, she says Iceland and Norway are among favorites because of equality for women – but then later lists Afghanistan as one of her favorite countries. Seriously?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I moved my family to Thailand, and it was surprisingly easy. I set up our new life in less than a week \u2014 without spending a lot of money.<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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

I left Oregon heading to this beautiful country and it has been amazing: \u201cLife is slower and more flexible\u201d<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Visa<\/strong>: Marriage “”MRS visa”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Category<\/strong>: Married, white, female<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Attractive <\/a>and educated <\/a>American woman marries a Spaniard, <\/strong>does content creation<\/a>, and runs a business <\/a>to help “American mothers” migrate to Europe. Her business partner, Maggie Gavilan, is another American woman – with Spanish dual citizenship through her father.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The two struck up a friendship, and soon Gavil\u00e1n, who has a background in private equity, a partner in finance, and Spanish citizenship thanks to her father, saw a business opportunity. She told San Jos\u00e9 she had been developing a business plan for a company for young, affluent American moms like herself who want to relocate to Europe.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

One of their relocation clients:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Katherine, a new Mother Euro member, is planning her relocation from Texas to Europe with her husband and twin 4-year-olds. She hopes to arrive in early 2026. \u201cObviously, the political situation helped force our decision along,\u201d she says. Her husband has German citizenship due to a special provision for people whose family members had their German citizenship revoked during the Holocaust<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Unless you are an attractive, educated American woman who marries a foreigner, or you have ancestral roots by direct descent or right of ancestry, moving abroad is going to be hard. Stories like this and the zillion other ones misrepresent the ability to move abroad – as documented on this blog, the overwhelming majority of these fluffy fantasy stories involve people with prior citizenship or are attractive women who married a foreigner. These stories are not much different than selling a snake oil dream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This headline says it all – “rich, progressive” and out of touch – it costs US $1500 per year<\/em> membership fee to access their services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Of course, America is awful, Trump is in office, blah blah blah. America is the worst country in the history of the world: Why More American Mothers Are Choosing Europe For A Better Life<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

34-year-old American in Berlin: I earn 6 figures working from home\u2014and I feel so ‘safe and secure’ here<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Visa<\/strong>: Marriage “MRS visa”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Category<\/strong>: White, female<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another American woman marries a foreigner:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I’m originally from Los Angeles, but I’ve lived in many places: I’ve gone to school in London, where I got my master’s degree, was an emergency aid worker in Turkey, and taught English in China, where I met my German husband, Marcus.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the last five years, we’ve lived in Berlin, Germany. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Like most of these stories, she lives in a small apartment where life is wonderful. Many of these people could have found attractive living options elsewhere in the U.S. – but many have never been outside downtown SF, NYC, etc and think that defines the U.S. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This couple dreamed of leaving the United States for a new life in France, but things didn\u2019t turn out how they expected<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Visa<\/strong>: Marriage to EU citizen “MRS visa”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“As the wife of a European citizen<\/strong>, Jennie was able to enter on a Carte de Sejour, a French residence permit allowing foreign nationals to remain in the country.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I Had Everything I Was Supposed To Want. I Gave It All Up To Travel The World In A Sailboat.<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Visa<\/strong>: Working holiday visa for young people, likely, at first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Highly attractive young American woman<\/a> graduates from college, travels to Australia, meets an Australian guy. She acknowledges she has a lot of privilege; they work hard and saved up to live on a sailboat. Mostly a legit story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I quit my job as a lawyer and moved to Spain for a slower life. Now I run a business helping other Black women move abroad.<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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

Category<\/strong>: Single BIPOC woman<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She <\/a>moved for a sense of adventure after burning out on the long hours as a lawyer. She has many practical comments about the experience. Mostly legit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This OpenAI engineer left her dream job and San Francisco home to move to Stockholm\u2014all because of Trump 2.0<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Visa<\/strong>: Triple citizenship<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Category<\/strong>: Married, transgender (MtF), white, lesbian relationship (complicated)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She was born in Poland so already has EU citizenship; she <\/em><\/a>grew up in Australia, then worked in the U.S. <\/strong>Since she <\/em>ran for CA Governor<\/a>, (more here<\/a>) it appears she <\/em>has American citizenship. Has worked in the US for about 18 years. Her <\/em>six-year-old daughter likely has US, Polish and Australian citizenship. She <\/em>hates Trump and feels she <\/em>must leave the U.S. “She<\/em>” is also transgender. Just your typical “I moved abroad” story – in fact, it is your typical “I moved abroad” story -> Another elite, high income, highly educated, triple citizenship global elitist with victim status. Sigh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I moved to the US for the American dream, then decided to leave it behind. It’s too painful to stay.<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Visa<\/strong>: Education, OPT<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

The reverse migration, a global elitist Brit<\/a> returns to the UK because the U.S. is the worst country in the history of the world. “Alice Lassman is a policy expert with a focus on the global economy and gender. Her forthcoming book explores how AI’s influence on gender and emotions is reshaping economic life.<\/em>“ She is an expert on men<\/a> and tells us how men should be in 2025. [Imagine if a male studied gender studies and was an expert on women and told us how women should be?] “I think of my friends: one who can’t leave without fear of detainment on re-entry, another whose asylum application was voided, leaving him stateless. The century of the American dream is over<\/a>. Now, not a single friend without a US citizenship remains in America by choice, all leaving quietly, with no fanfare.<\/em>” America is, without question (in her mind and most of those on these pages) the worst country in the history of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I Thought I Was a First-Gen American; at 58, I Learned I’m German – Business Insider<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Visa<\/strong>: Right of descent dual citizenship<\/strong> – her Dad was a German citizen <\/strong>which gave her German citizenship at birth (and US citizenship as she was born in the U.S.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Category<\/strong>: Married white woman<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another American with immigration privilege. She discovered at age 58 that she was already, technically, a dual US\/German citizen and her own children are also, therefore dual German citizens. She has not moved to Germany, however, although she has a college degree in German.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018I would not feel safe\u2019: Americans on the sorrow \u2013 and relief \u2013 of leaving Trump\u2019s US for Europe | US news | The Guardian<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Visas<\/strong>: Various<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wealthy, privileged and highly educated Americans – hate America yet benefited immensely from being American, now flee the US for other countries<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who these people are (very much not like most of us):<\/p>\n\n\n\n