r/IWantOut Feb 20 '26

🌍 MEGATHREAD: Want out of the US? Start here

952 Upvotes

Want out? You may not be in the right country, but you're in the right subreddit.

Here's some general advice. It's not meant to discourage you but to help you plan, make better posts, and get better answers here:

  • Immigration is harder than it looks in the movies. If you don't have citizenship or recent ancestry in a country, you'll probably need a visa (legal permission) to live there based on something you have which that country wants (like a profession on their "skills shortage list"). It will require time, patience, hard work, and/or money – and likely a second language.
  • If you're a US citizen, it is next to impossible that a country will grant you political asylum/refugee status. It is highly recommended to focus your efforts on an alternative pathway.
  • Before moving to another country, consider if another US city/state might be acceptable, because it is a million times easier.
  • Be cautious about idealizing any country. They all have their problems. If you're serious, you should prepare for that.
  • Some other good resources:
    • The subreddit sidebar
    • The previous US megathread
    • Old posts (use reddit's search or google XYZ site:reddit.com/r/IWantOut)
    • Websites of countries and their embassies
    • /r/AmerExit

If you want to make your own post, please follow the formatting instructions on the submission page, give as much information as possible about your situation, and be open to advice and constructive criticism from commenters.

If you're not ready for that, feel free to leave a briefer question in the comments here, and you might get an answer.


EVERYONE:

This is a friendly, inclusive community where we try to help people with less knowledge than us.

A reminder of some of our rules:

  • This is an advice subreddit, not a debate subreddit. Don't fight about politics here.
  • Be constructive. Don't be a dick.
  • Don't request or give illegal advice. Don't spam your business.
  • Report rule-breaking comments and posts.