Fearful of Trump, some Americans look to make a life in Europe

I left the US and renounced my citizenship 24 years ago, after Dubya shat out the USA Patriot Act and I knew the US would turn into a full-blown Nazi state some day.

Best thing I ever did.

Where did you go?
- When I left, I went to Canada. Then the UK - which was in Europe back then. Then I lived in a bunch of countries in Europe. Then Australia. Then back to Europe. That's where I am now.
- Were you able to get citizenship somewhere, or just permanent residency? I admit idk exactly how that works in terms of citizenship renouncement
- Out for a pack of cigarettes
it was apparent when thier minds broke when obama became president, "how dare a black person become one over white one"
How do you visit family? You have to get a visa every time?
- I haven't been back. I never want to set foot in that godforsaken country ever again. And even if I wanted to, I have no intention of surrendering my electronic devices, disclosing my online activities or being frisked by the ~~Gestapo~~DHS.
  My family comes here to visit - which they're glad to do anyway because the place in live in is much nicer and much more peaceful than their depressing corner or American suburbia.

In this matter, Europe can not only regain credibility with regard to our value system by granting refuge to politically persecuted US citizens. It is also a real chance for Europe, because I assume that many Americans who want to leave the country are rational people who can create a counterweight to the stupor that is unfortunately spreading like a disease here too.

Just yesterday I spoke to a physicist from the US who has been working at the university in my home town for four years. Unfortunately, his employment contract is temporary and will soon expire. He still doesn't want to return to the States because he simply doesn't see a future there. He will stay in Europe instead, which is a real gain for us.

I’m an American leaving for Canada and I am very proud to be taking my hard work, tax paying, and consumption somewhere else. I work on the PM side of cell tower projects, and I look forward to expanding BC’s services.
America is going to lose all its best workers. And they deserve it
- That sounds great! I wish you all the best and much success!
  Yes, I also think that Trump and his MAGA people are doing long-lasting damage. But that's also true: they and all the idiots who voted for them had it coming. I still feel sorry for the decent US citizens.
  As a German, I'm most afraid that the AfD, a terrible party very similar to the MAGA-GOP, might come to power in our country at some point. Fortunately, this is somewhat unlikely, but if it happens, it will probably be the same for us.
- Same here! I'm both a skilled engineer and an artist. I'm happy to leave this shithole behind and contribute my efforts in a better land. I also have a ton of Canadian friends who are thrilled to have me back in the community.
  My next steps once I get there are to get all my money out of the US
- especially its stem advantage, now its not feasible to move to the usa as a stem major.

Easier said than done for a lot of us. Being over 40 and with a family, even in tech, makes it hard as hell.

But god speed to those who can make it out because America is just going to get worse even if Trump crashes and burns.

41, and only one sellable skill that only has a 50/50 chance of getting me into Canada. My issue is both my parents are elderly and need me around to take care of them, and will under no circumstances move anywhere. So I couldn't in good conscience leave.
I'm not married, I have no kids, my plan is just keep my head down, take care of my parents, and once they're gone sit back and wait for death.... which will probably be from a disease thanks to the gutting of the CDC and NIH.
- I'm in the exact same boat as you. I don't have any funds to leave, nor any specialized skill(s) a country might want, just military, and care taker work. I'm burnt out as fuck. But just like you, I can't bare to leave my aging parents alone. I took care of my grandad for 3 years, alone during Covid while his dementia worsened. Worse thing I ever had to do in my life, but I don't regret giving my grandad the best care I could give him. I wish you good luck tho and hope your parents appreciate what you are sacrificing.
  Don't stop being nice to people, still try to be genuine and humble and look at things objectively and this sick world won't get you down as much. I don't see any future and it's fucking depressing, but I'll be damned if I let dipshits in Congress destroy all my happiness. I try my best to stay happy or content out of spite. Good luck my guy.
- I’m in a pretty similar position. 41, no kids, not married, around for elderly parents (missed work last week due to mom having a surgery), and the plans are pretty bleak for once they’re gone.
  I’m not really interested in leaving the country even though I have some in-demand skills. My plan at this point is to be as big of a pain in the ass as I can to fascists. I’ll escalate once there’s no longer the responsibility of being around for my folks.
Programmer in 40’s. Applied for one job. Immigrated. A lot of people just assume it is too hard and use that to excuse not trying. Perhaps you are, but those who aren’t, go for it.

As time moves forward, I think more and more frequently about trying to get out of this shithole counry.

Do it before the trickle of migrants becomes a torrent and your dollar's in the shitter.
The mental illness of MAGA won't be removed with logic. It'll be removed with bullets. The number of anti-vaxers who switch back to accepted science is insignificant. Trump will commit every crime before facing consequences.

It's not even Trump really, it's the whole movement that has been building around him and will live on after him. No one knows what the future holds but I'm willing to bet whatever comes after Trump will be worse.

I’m trying, but finding a job that’ll sponsor you isn’t easy. I could make it over there on some other visas but I’d need a job here that would let me be remote over there.

Its very easy if you are a highly skilled worker. I moved there first on a tourist visa and it took me 2 days to get a job offer.

As much as I'd like to move to Europe or elsewhere, and I seriously considered it in 2016, I found that I'd take a severe pay cut for my industry (regardless of taxes). To stay around my current compensation, I'd most likely have to stay in the western hemisphere for remote work in the US, but I also don't think Canada is far enough away.

I also really like my house and have invested a lot into it, so selling it right now for what it's worth will be difficult. I don't think I'd be able to sell it before the recession hits anyway. If it's a depression, I'll be screwed wherever I am.

I could go someplace in East Asia, but their companies have an awful work / life balance.

But I'm widely traveled and speak a second language at a functional level, so I feel I could live anywhere if I didn't care about my assets or maintaining my current cost of living.

It's a tough decision. I wish my blue region could just peacefully exit the union by vote, but I know it would only bring war.

As a kid, I used to wonder while reading history books why anyone who wasn't a Nazi would stay in 1930s Germany. I feel like I'm answering that question in real time.

This is why I moved to South America and kept my US job. Best of both worlds. And similar timezones

I can program and I have a mechanical engineering degree but I have super niche skills so I can't get hired abroad. I always read that there's a skills shortage in tons of countries but there aren't any actual jobs to take.

Niche is usually what does get you the job
Move there as a tourist first. I got a job within 2 days.
might have to work in a engineering or programming field not in your niche, or is that the only ones your seeing?

Welcome to the club Americans. We're too poor to give free drinks, but we can commiserate about rising prices and government corruption.

There will surely be lots of fleeing Trump voters too and idk if we want those. I guess they wouldnt be allowed to vote here anyways so it wouldnt have an immediate effect on our already worsening political landscape.

The rest of the world should do the exact opposite of American fascism; if an American tourist has anything pro-Trump posted on their public socials, reject their visa.
The MAGA mental illness is a threat to global security, and should be treated as such.
- the exact opposite
  It would be exactly the same thing they do tho... But yes we can not fight fire with water in this case.
One of the most selfish things I've ever heard was a trump voting coworker said Trump is going to make the US better for [List of reasons]. I said that Trump is actually just doing [List of obvious things he's actually doing]. She just replied that if he does ask the dictator stuff, she'll just leave the country.
Her implication wasn't that purple who don't like it should leave. She was literally saying that if trump fucks up the country, she has connections outside the US and will just dip out of the shit she caused.
- Yup yup. Trump voters are the biggest wusses there are. They are Trump voters specifically because they are so weak willed.
i highly doubt they will be fleeing, but mostly the ones grifting off of trump supporters will be fleeing.

Wish I could. I feel like as a woman in her forties I am not valued since I won't be having kids. When you're middle aged, less countries seem to want you even if you are a decent non-nutbag who makes decent money...

Are visas for childbearing a thing? I immigrated as a skilled worker, but I don’t remember any checkboxes for women willing to be broodmares.
The qualification requirements are based on your knowledge and field and their need to fill jobs in that field. Age and kids and genitalia are not part of the requirements

usually scientists have easier time moving there, than not. i dont have a PHD or MD,just had a degree in said bio/research, i know people that have similar issues even with a MS. found out through many job forums, now shut down. that it is extremely gatekeeped(2-4+years experience, with additional skills nobody has heard of), meaning the hiring pool is small so they can avoid hiring too many people lowering salaries of the scientists, being cheap.

also might difficult for people that hadnt renewed thier paspport in a very long time too.

Well this thread really made me grateful to be Canadian. Having said that though, I feel like we are on borrowed time and that my FOMO tells me to look for other possibilities (if not today, then eventually).

Yes. Donvict has not stopped his dementia patient babbling about "51st state".

We're gonna have to build a loooooooot of housing quickly... :/

Cowards. Stay and fight god damnit.

Fight for what? Hollywood and the propaganda media pushed you to consume hasn't rang true since I was old enough not to believe in Santa Claus. Many adult Americans unfortunately still believe in Santa. The fight is against America capitalism spreading it's nonsense elsewhere.
I think the US is a lost cause. The fact is, most Americans like this country the way it is. Sure, plenty of Americans don't like Trump, but, for most of those people, if they could replace Trump but keep everything else more or less the same, they would be perfectly content to do so.
- I mean, hardly any of the effects of the destruction wrought by Trump have been felt yet. Wanting to keep America the same as it was circa January is one thing; wanting to keep it how it's going to be circa next January will be another.
- the USA slow decline was a long time coming, simply its only because STEM graduates(with graduate degrees and MDs) have emigrated to the USA to keep ahead of other nations, oh and plus the abused labor from south america to keep many business afloat. usa being a right wing country from the start, hasnt helped it either way. HCOL and certain lack of jobs have made unpalatable in some fields.