Moving out of the U.S.

Over the past few weeks, my fiance and I have talked about numerous places that we would like to live and buy a home to begin our future. At first it was like Florida, California, and New York. However, after doing a ton of research non of them gave us the choices and kind of lives we were so desperately seeking. At that point we began to talk about countries outside of the U.S. that we could be truly happy in and still afford to actually live. That list came down to two options England and Scotland. We took an afternoon and focused on research such as job opportunities, housing costs, laws, and finally what it would take to not only get visas but also citizenship within both of these countries.

Within minutes of looking into visas and citizenship, it became very clear that due to some choices of President Trump, The United States has become extremely cut off from most of the world, especially in Europe. Although England is known for taking in citizens of other countries, the United States is not one of them. To obtain a visa for England we would first have to move to a different country such as Canada or Ireland and then apply to move to England. Both countries of course have their own list of requirements. Canada being are northern neighbor is easy unless you are a felon. Ireland is still in agreement with the U.S. and routinely gives out holiday visas that can last anywhere from 6 months to a year. Both of these routes allow you access to both Scotland and England by proxy.

Once you have made it to England or Scotland, you must prepare to fight for the right to stay. This can be done in one of three ways. You can pay a donation to the country and every country has a minimum that they are willing to accept. You can get sponsored by an employer. However, keep in mind that a work visa only lasts as long as that employer continues to sponsor you and you continue to work for them. Or you can prove some kind of ancestral right to be a citizen of that country.

Although a donation is the easiest and fastest way to gain citizenship, it is also something that most people can not afford to do. Both other options require effort and a set amount of time before you are able to even apply for permanent citizenship.

This time requirement can be anywhere from 2 years to 5 years and during that entire time you have to prove that you are not only a resident of the country but that you have also been in the country legally the whole time. Which means keeping up with visas on a steady basis.

I remember as a child how families just up and moved to a different country looking for a better life and how any American citizen could drive across the border into Canada for a day of fun. This is not the world that we live in anymore. The need to fight for where you want to go and live has become definite. I was born in the United States and although I could get a passport and a travel visa for a set amount of time, unless I suddenly become a millionaire or the world flips upside down I will be doomed to live the rest of my life in the country that I was born in.

Despite all of this it is not a dream that my fiance or I have given up and we will continue to look into it. In the mean time if anyone knows any tips or hints of how to make this a more realistic option please comment and let me know.