Are you really thinking about leaving the US? I did it.

[ramedy]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Emile (a host of the The DU Lounge forum).

It can be done, and in some cases pretty easily. Here's my story...

Disclaimer: I was close to retirement age, able to retire a bit early, and was able to meet the minimum financial requirements for obtaining residency in the country I came to. (Spain)

In 2016, the election was pretty emotionally distressing for my wife and I. We were dismayed that a moron like DJT could be elected. (We are a million times more dismayed today...) We envisioned the chaos that would eventually surround the idiot and criminal conman and decided to seriously pursue the idea of leaving the country. We have always been attracted to Spain and started to travel here and look around. In 2017, we purchased a small property here. (Foreigners can own property in Spain with no restrictions. We could also have rented long term, but we had an opportunity.) We applied for and received "Non Lucrative Residency Visas" (read "retired people" visa) from Spain. We are now residents of Spain and love being here. We still keep connected to the US, but spend the majority of our time here. So...it can be done, and watching the insanity from here is much less depressing that being up close.

Like other countries, Spain has a variety of visa types. The NLV visa does not permit one to work in Spain, and we are retired. However for those who may be able to work remotely, the Digital Nomad visa may be attractive. There are several requirements to obtain it, minimum financial requirements, length of time with current employer, time in vocation, etc. But they are not completly onerous, and if one meets the minimum requirements I understand that they are typically granted fairly easily. Student visas are also available.

A quick Google search will fill in the details.

If anyone has questions I'll be happy to try and answer them based on my personal experience.

[Think. Again.]

2. Thank you for starting this discussion...

I believe a lot of us are very interested in exploring truthful and realistic ways that may exist to move our allegiances and day-to-day lives to more agreeable nations.

[ramedy]

5. You are quite welcome! n/t

[10 Turtle Day]

3. You are courageous to make the move!

I recently read an article about moving to another country because of the orange felon. It said one of the first things to do is hire an immigration lawyer in the intended country to help navigate the move. Did you do this? And how does one go about hiring a foreign lawyer anyway? I don’t know whether I have the courage to move away from all my family and friends but that option is looking more attractive every day. Like you, I retired and have a decent nest egg in IRAs.

[ramedy]

4. No, I did not use (nor do you really need) an immigration attorney.

All the information I needed was on the Spain Consulate web site. The actual process is quite inexpensive if one is able to be organized and accumulate all of the documentation needed. There is a bit of a paper chase and the Spanish bureaucracy is notoriously frustrating at times, but we were well organized and were granted the visa within a month. Of course, some will choose to use an attorney, and a good attorney is invaluable if one is not confident negotiating the application process. Incidentally, the various (Spain) visas can only be applied for in the US.

It does take a bit of courage, but we do keep a connection to the US because of family grandchildren, etc., and travel back to the US when we want. It also helps that my wife is fluent in the language, and I'm getting better everyday. The best thing is the freedom from all of the MAGA assholes who seem to be proliferating in the States over the last few years. It is also quite safe here, other than petty crime. There are virtually no guns in private citizens hands. Possession of one is a severe crime.

Not too long ago I was walking down the street and noticed a line of children in their school uniforms waiting to enter the school with their teachers. It sickened me that the first thought that came to me was, "not one of these kids fear being shot to death in their classroom". The US unfortunately is a very sick country. I have doubts about it's survival.

It's good to be here. It's a lovely country full of lovely people.

[10 Turtle Day]

23. Thank you for all the information in your reply!

And in the replies down thread. It’s daunting, but I have a passport so that’s a start. I’ll check out the Spanish consulate website.

[ramedy]

24. Best of luck to you!

😎

[LucasD]

6. Soon?

I just started having this discussion with my wife. The timing isn't great, as I'm 57 and she's 48, our parents
are still alive and need assistance, and we also have a lot of pets. I REALLY want to get out though

Panama would be awesome, but we might be around for another 30+ years and I'm not sure that Panama will.

Spain, Portugal, and France are at the top of my list. I really like what France has to offer, but it isn't friendly
to digital nomads at this time, and my wife would likely have to continue to work for a while.

I've been doing a lot of research over the last two months. It isn't easy, but as you said, it can be done.

[ramedy]

7. We love Europe.

France would be a great place to live, too! If you can qualify for a Digital Nomad Visa Spain would probably fit you. Unfortunately if one is not an EU citizen or not employed by an international company based in Spain, employment here is impossible unless it's a highly skilled job that cannot be filled by a Spaniard or an EU citizen. So it's mostly a DNV or a NLV.

BTW, we brought (and travel with) our 3 dogs. No problem at all.

Good luck!

[Native]

11. What was the process you went through to bring the dogs?

[ramedy]

14. Current rabies vaccinations,

Health certificates and some paperwork through the USDA. Done. Any good vet knows the paperwork . Once in the EU, get a pet passport. Easy peasy.

[Native]

17. no quarantining required?

[ramedy]

20. No.

At least not in Spain and most EU member countries.

Great Britain is different almost impossible to bring a dog in and I do believe there might be a quarantine requirement. You can’t even fly thru GB with a dog.

[Native]

21. That is great to know! Thank you so much for this.

[ramedy]

22. No pasa nada!

Bueno suerte! 😎

[Elessar Zappa]

8. I doubt Europe will be any kind of safe haven.

They’re already moving far to the right and there’s no reason to think it won’t continue.

[ramedy]

9. I'll take my chances.

And here I pay a lot less attention to politics. Cheers! 😎

[mopinko]

10. i need to get off my ass and get my irish passport.

i had to renew my u.s. 1 1st, but they lost my renewal. got it ready to go, need to get it in the mail.
hoping that i wont b part of a rush to get out of the country. dont plan on leaving, but sure do want a door to walk through if i have to.

[Native]

12. I'm currently in the same situation. My US Passport expires in february, and my Irish passport in March.

I'm doing both online, but I need to get my picture taken. If I recall correctly, I will not have to turn in my existing passports.

[Native]

13. Forgot to ask, have you decided on a country yet should you leave the US?

[mopinko]

16. def ireland.

i think i cd fit in. i know the history, i know the songs, and my lineage is, well, impressive.
and i sure look the part.

if i sold off everything i own here, i cd live like a queen in some little town.

[ramedy]

15. Irish passport is golden

In the EU.

[mopinko]

18. my kids r mad i didnt get it long ago.

tho they arent entitled, they can apply and it’s usually granted. my youngest esp wanted me to do it in 16.
1st looked into it in 04, as i had 2 draft age sons.

[Native]

19. It's also a golden ticket for your spouse

[Emile]

25. After an alert and discussion with the hosts, locking.

No politics allowed in the Lounge.

Feel free reposting this in General Discussion.