An article from The Economist, 28 August, 2023.
[quote]More Americans are moving to Europe lately, and many are fleers rather than seekers. The statistics are messy, but in some countries the trend is clear. In 2013-22 the number of Americans in the Netherlands increased from about 15,500 to 24,000; in Portugal it tripled to almost 10,000; and in Spain it rose from about 20,000 to nearly 34,000. In other places, such as France, Germany and the Nordic countries, the number grew moderately or held steady. Britain thinks the number of resident Americans rose from 137,000 in 2013 to 166,000 in 2021 (the latest estimate).
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 11 | October 1, 2023 11:33 PM |
Their reasoning seemed pretty hollow to me. The problems they claim to be running from exist in the countries they're going to.
I would have rather have the article focus on 3 people and tell how they were able to move from the US to whatever country they went to. I'm talking about logistics, dealing with immigration, finances, and handling remote work if they work remotely or finding work in whichever country they're in.
I have friends that move to various countries in Europe. They had good paying jobs and/or married someone from the country they went to. All of them had traveled abroad frequently and extensively. They had time and money to figure out where they wanted to live. Most of them don't have children.
| by Anonymous | reply 1 | October 1, 2023 1:55 PM |
Gee I can’t imagine why.
| by Anonymous | reply 2 | October 1, 2023 2:10 PM |
The whys and the consideration factors seem the least interesting part. I agree, R1, stories of those who have made this change (and for tine enough to have some reflection) would be more interesting.
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | October 1, 2023 5:31 PM |
From the sporadic research I've done about immigrating to another country, it seems much more difficult for an American to move and work in a foreign country (European) than vice versa.
Are they on 6 month tourist visas and working remotely? I don't understand how this happens easily as you're not considered a resident or eligible for most government (e.g. health) services?
| by Anonymous | reply 4 | October 1, 2023 5:36 PM |
I've considered it. We have a place in Canada that is wonderful but may not be far enough. We travel quite a bit and there are a couple of places in Europe (Italy, France) that are possibilities.
Everyone says that Trump will drive them out or that Biden will, if they're insane. This time that may actually hold true. America isn't safe for LGBT people with any MAGAT Republicans in power. This country isn't reliable anymore and they want us all dead. We're better off in Europe and specifically in EU countries if Dump steals another election.
I presume the MAGAT Rethugs would prefer Turkey, Russia, Saudi Arabia and North Korea if sanity prevails in the United States.
| by Anonymous | reply 5 | October 1, 2023 5:43 PM |
R4, all things are possible if you have enough money. Europeans don't want freeloaders on their healthcare and other services and who can blame them? They want people who will buy property, contribute to their economy and so on. In France they'd love it you have money and have/will have children.
| by Anonymous | reply 6 | October 1, 2023 5:48 PM |
R6 - yes - well, almost every country around the world changes the immigration rules for wealthy people. But I don't buy that there are all of these wealthy people moving to European countries as stated in the posted article.
| by Anonymous | reply 7 | October 1, 2023 5:50 PM |
[quote]it seems much more difficult for an American to move and work in a foreign country (European) than vice versa.
It depends on many things. A European country with labor shortages is typically more welcoming than one with high unemployment. Non Lucrative Visas and various financial self-sufficiency requirements attached to different types of visas weed out would-be Europeans who stand to drain more than to contribute to their new home.
Marriage or domestic partnership with an EU citizen typically simplifies things significantly, but the extent depends on the country. A U.S. citizen might have to demonstrate some low standard of solvency and provide for private health care insurance for one year (often at shockingly low rates); other countries allow the same process but with more strings.
A U.S. citizen seeking to have a European spouse ir partner live in the U.S. has to spend a much larger sum of money and invest at least 2 years. It's not easy just to have a spouse fly over and live as an American - leaving off the larger time frame for becoming a citizen (EU countries tend to grant more rights to residents and withhold fewer for full citizenship status.)
The change in recent years is that some EU countries have welcomed freelancers, NLVs, and others whose income is from outside the EU on the basis that they will invest through real estate (buying or renting), and day to day spending without straining health and other systems. Income is taxed differently, or not, by country. As with Portugal, some countries are dropping those incentives as well as Golden Visas because they have become too popular and have out pressures on housing costs, for example.
| by Anonymous | reply 8 | October 1, 2023 6:47 PM |
Yes, please, please, PLEASE anti-America liberals move to Europe or wherever.
Leave America to the REAL Americans. You know, the ones who love the country and want to preserve it?
But liberals want a complete overhaul or else.
As my grandmother used to say, "You only want to completely change what you totally despise."
She also said, "The pendulum always swings back," so after the past decade or so of extreme liberalism, expect this decade to turn more conservative.
Starting in 2024.
As the liberals flee to Europe!
😂🤣
| by Anonymous | reply 9 | October 1, 2023 7:07 PM |
R5 um ... do you know who is in power in Italy right now and pretty popular, too?
| by Anonymous | reply 10 | October 1, 2023 7:11 PM |
No dear, R10, would you like me to look it up for you? The Italians have had crazy Left and Right politicians trading power since I was a child (and long before that). I'm sure if you're pearl-clutching it must be someone awful. It doesn't really matter, one simply ignores them.
Anyway, the president is someone named Mattarella, he's allegedly a center-right politician but that could mean anything and nothing. The prime minister is someone named Meloni, she seems like a nasty piece of work (and her two brothers who run things are evidently horrors).
This is why those who move to Italy for even part of the year need lots of money and a firm commitment to stay out of Italian politics. They're crazy, there's no point in getting involved. If you stay out of trouble and spend freely you won't have any problems with most Italians.
| by Anonymous | reply 11 | October 1, 2023 11:33 PM |
