What are some of the things someone permanently relocating away from the US should be aware of?

Submitted ⁨⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago⁩ by ⁨zlatiah@lemmy.world⁩ to ⁨[deleted]⁩

Assume that this is not a wannabee, but someone who, for example, already has a solid job offer from an EU country, and some cash for the relocation.

source

Comments

Sort:hotnew top

DankOfAmerica@reddthat.com ⁨11⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
Well, as a European (i.e. good person), let me welcome you to the developed world. We’re not snobby or greedy pigs like most Americans. In fact, no country in Europe has ever looked down upon another country, continent, or people. We’ve also never colonized any countries nor do we conduct joint military exercises and operations with the US, and we definitely do not benefit from the US’s foreign policy and interventions. All of our luxuries are home grown and have never been the result of our brutal exploitation of other countries that resulted in horrific dictatorships, genocides, and ongoing conflict. If I remember correctly from my free history class, we have never even been to war at all. Btw, we have real history over here. Yours only goes back 200 years and has nothing at all to do with ours. What do you guys even talk about in history classes? lol!

There is absolutely no crime here in Europe, only healthcare. I actually get a free diagnosis every morning. I have like 78 km of diagnoses written on superior A4 paper. We’re also very cultured as we speak several languages, all European but still very cultured. There’s absolutely no racism or oppression. All of my roommates have been Roma, Arabic, or African. My neighborhood has scheduled to protest for more minarets all week since the government makes sure we have enough vacation days to blow.

Our food is so organic that it’s only composed of only carbon. That’s it. When you go to a restaurant, the waiters pick their most European customers every hour and gives them money. That’s right; our waiters tip us. We recycle everything and have never contributed in any fashion to climate change.

It’s about time you leave the US, who is 100% at fault for everything in the world and absolutely not an ally that serves as a scapegoat to compare ourselves against in order to distract from our bullshit.

source
untorquer@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
You have 180 days visa free to be in the schengen area(most of EU).

It may be better to apply for your Visa in host country rather than through a US consulate. It’s often much faster, and there’s no third party which imo is safer.

It’s a one-way trip for your pets. At least last i looked into it the US doesn’t allow you to import house pets. So changing your mind will mean losing your pet. Speaking of bringing pets, that process is insane.

You WILL get homesick no matter how awful you feel about the US, it will take at least a year to go away.

The anxieties you bring with you from living in the US will take years to resolve.

You’ll need to get good at saying where you come from by referencing either New York City or LA.

FOR DIVERS:

Divers license discerns between automatic and manual transmission, trailer weights, and motorcycle displacement. There’s probably not a direct exchange so you’ll need to research for your discussing country. Your US license may be valid for a limited period after establishing residence.

use your turn signals at roundabouts. Yes, if you’re exiting left, signal left, if you’re exiting right, signal right. Always signal right when you exit. (Opposite for left hand driving) Optional if you’re diving a BMW.

Priority roads are a thing and right of may be different.

Right-turn on red may not be legal.

source
- HasturInYellow@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  I brought 3 cats to the USA from Thailand, with little problem. There was a bunch of tests and paperwork, but compared to human visa and such, it was easy. Idk where you got the idea that it’s not legal to bring pets…?
  
  source
- r0ertel@lemmy.world ⁨9⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  Tell me more about the roundabouts and exiting. Are there left exits from a roundabout? Don’t they all circulate anticlockwise (when viewed from above)?
  
  There’s a new roundabout in my town and nobody knows how to signal. I see people enter with left signal flashing and then they’ll take the 3rd exit (out of 4 total). I’ve always entered without a signal, then exit right with a signal.
  
  Also, I’ve seen many people go around backwards. That’s a fun surprise.
  
  source
  - ChairmanMeow@programming.dev ⁨9⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    
    I see people enter with left signal flashing and then they’ll take the 3rd exit (out of 4 total).
    
    Pretty sure that’s how you’re supposed to signal. In most places it’s not a legal requirement but it is recommended and taught by most driving instructors.
    
    Although I do assume they switch to their right signal before taking their exit. If they don’t, then yeah that’s wrong.
    
    source
Varyk@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
it’s much easier than you think it’s going to be and is practically all upside.

I’ve been an expat for a decade and a half.

All the other commenters seem to be theoretical, and mostly wrong.

If you have a company offering you a job, they’ll be sponsoring your work visa.

If you want to open a bank account in europe, you’ll be able to with your work visa.

you will not be “on the hook” for US taxes if you are permanently relocating, living outside of the US for more than 330 days per year means that you still have to file US tax paperwork, but you don’t have to pay $125,000 USD of earned income per year.

as for American chocolate? its maybe the worst chocolate in the world. Americans have terrible chocolate.

American chocolate is to real chocolate what American cheese is to real cheese. an ersatz barnyard embarrassment.

there are no American goods you’ll want that you can’t get or find a substitute for abroad, Im galf convinced that comment is satire for using American chocolate as an example.

If you have any specific questions, go ahead and ask.

Good luck! whatever the deal is, moving out of that country is the right thing to do right now.

source
- bitwolf@sh.itjust.works ⁨7⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  For finding a work visa, is the avisa coach? Or like recruiter that specializes in expats? I’ve had a hard time finding jobs that will accept visas and I really dislike America.
  
  source
  - Varyk@sh.itjust.works ⁨4⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    there aren’t specific Visa coaches or recruiters that specialize in expats Independent of companies, although a lot of companies are looking for expats.
    
    but that’s kind of looking at it backwards if you really dislike America.
    
    I really disliked America 15 years ago and so I bounced.
    
    it was a very good decision.
    
    you can either teach English online or in person in the country you move to, which is very easy, or you can get any remote job that pays you $500 a month or more and you can at least get out of the states while you figure out if you want more money or what you’re really looking for.
    
    If you have any questions, ask me, I am a font of digital nomad knowledge and love to share
    
    source
- Woht24@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  The food thing is BS. There’s a lot of stuff you won’t be able to buy, even just turn to proximity to other countries.
  
  Good luck finding proper Mexican or Jamaican food, even southern BBQ in most parts of the world.
  
  Not a reason to not do it, but I think you’re looking through rose coloured glasses there and I’m not even a yank.
  
  source
  - Varyk@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
    are you replying to someone else? I didn’t talk about Mexican or Jamaican food.
    
    prequel:
    
    “There’s a lot of stuff you won’t be able to buy,”
    
    that’s absurd. go ahead and give me an example of something you can’t buy in Europe that is available in the Americas.
    
    also, since you brought up food, I should mention that you are you are completely wrong again.
    
    like you couldn’t be more wrong.
    
    especially with Mexican and Jamaican, two extremely popular cuisines.
    
    there are immigrants everywhere, and you can find “proper”(false category anyway) mexican and jamaican food in Europe.
    
    You’re obviously not a traveler, and are talking out your elbow, so you should probably sit this one out.
    
    source
  - heavydust@sh.itjust.works ⁨23⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    Why don’t you, I mean, I know it’s gonna be hard for you but, eat food from other countries or local food?
    
    source
- lordnikon@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  If I have a remote job in the US but also have dual citizenship with the country I’m moving to do I still have to pay taxes on that income or does my employer have to do anything for my move.
  
  source
  - untorquer@lemmy.world ⁨11⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    This is a complicated tax situation. Taxes tend to be based on place of employment. So if you’re working for a US company you’ll need to look into what tax treaties your country of residence has with the US, because your US employer will likely have to withhold taxes and provide a W2. Your host country will ask that you report your income. If the treaty allows, you can claim tax paid in the US as a credit. The reverse is often true in these treaties.
    
    This will often have consequences with things like pensions, Holiday pay, etc… For example, if your country has a lot of mandated vacation you may either not have that benefit, or your company will have to conform to the country’s rules which could cause friction, especially with American companies.
    
    source
    -> View More Comments
  - Varyk@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
    you always have to file taxes if you are a US citizen, you rarely have to file taxes as a digital nomad in other countries, but you’d have to check depending on the country.
    
    the taxes you pay in one country will offset the taxes you pay in the other, so you won’t be paying double taxes and you can choose the more favorable tax home for you.
    
    and If you are outside of the US for more than 330 days out of the year, you don’t pay earned income tax on $125,000(they update the number annually),
    
    your employer in the US doesn’t have to do anything with the country you’re moving to.
    
    source
    -> View More Comments
- TranquilTurbulence@lemmy.zip ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  LOL, you got me! The chocolate thing is pretty much satire. Totally forgot about the fake cheese though. That would have been even better. I don’t know if anyone actually eats chocolate or cheese to cure homesickness. I suppose some of the other products might be more appropriate. People can have memories attached to all sorts of weird things, so I guess technically any food could be applicable.
  
  However, the thing about prices is entirely factual, at least in my area. Everything in there is so expensive, that you would have to be really curious or desperate to try them out.
  
  source
  - Varyk@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
    hahah! That’s so funny, as soon as I read “homesick for american chocolate”, I was like something’s not right here.
    
    source
skullgiver@popplesburger.hilciferous.nl ⁨22⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
Welcome to Europe! I hope you’ll have fun over here. Lots of things can or will be different, but not necessarily in a bad way.

Laws are different. Sounds kind of obvious, until you learn that some countries have serious sentences for things like littering or chewing gum in public. Read up on the basics just in case. Knowing things like the fact that several EU countries demand that anyone can show ID at all times, so carrying an ID card or passport is mandatory, can save you from an awkward fine. Your foreign drivers license is NOT valid ID!

The legal system may work differently. The “you have the right to remain silent” thing may not apply. Lawyers may work differently. The country you’re relocating to may not have juries as part of the legal system. You’re probably not going to need that information, but you’re better off reading up on the basics just in case, you don’t want to get surprised.

Police violence and racism still exist in Europe, though it usually manifests in a different way. The difference will probably depend on your background and where exactly you’re coming from, but there’s no direct need to be nervous around police officers. Most of them don’t have guns, and if they do, pulling them out at something as banal as a traffic stop will get them in trouble. However, if you’re awfully nervous for no reason, they may start to get suspicious.

Some countries offer some social benefits to only their citizens, not to legal migrants. Make sure you know what you are and aren’t entitled to so you don’t find yourself footing a massive medical bill. Also check for any mandatory insurances that may not apply to you now.

Not every American credit card is widely accepted. They’ll work in things like hotels, but maybe not for parking infrastructure. In some countries, credit cards barely work in grocery stores, for instance, especially in debit card-first countries. Taking out money abroad also costs quite a lot, so look into if you need to get a local banking account.

Your driver’s license is likely valid, but needs to be converted to an international driver’s license for it to be recognized as such.

If you get a mobile phone subscription from an EU country, mobile roaming charges are basically non-existent. However, if you’re traveling, make sure you remember what countries are EU or not. Unexpected Swiss data charges from driving along the border can ruin your week.

If you’re between 18 and 21: the drinking age is lower. Please don’t drink yourself into a coma. Additional alcohol laws may apply: some countries only allow selling alcohol at government run facilities, for instance.

Smoking rules and practices differ per country and region. Some countries ban smoking in public outright, others still very much smoke everywhere.

Some things will be a lot cheaper (healthcare), others will be a lot more expensive (alcohol, cigarettes, fuel). If you’ve planned ahead on your finances, make sure to use local prices.

Many American brands have identical packaging for differently flavored products. We have coke and Fanta and Pepsi, but they may not taste like you expect. Same goes for a lot of food: many foodstuffs are still filled with sugar, but from what I’ve heard American food is even more sugary somehow, so food may taste a bit bland when you first get here. If you have a healthy diet, that should correct itself in a few weeks.

I’ve never seen those mythical free soda refills mentioned in American movies in Europe. An expensive four euro glass of soda probably doesn’t come with a free refill.

Housing may work differently. Every country has their own rules for social housing and who can apply under what conditions. There are huge businesses out there that make money off scamming rich expats because of this. Make sure you’re informed of the local housing situation ahead of moving, unless your company arranges (temporary) living arrangements for you. Some expats in cities like Amsterdam find themselves struggling for months to get a basic apartment, wasting a lot of money on hotels despite their lavish income.

I’d recommend learning the local language, even if everyone you interact with at work will speak English. Quite a lot of expats find themselves socially isolated because the local populace doesn’t want to speak English when hanging out with friends. Europeans, especially the younger half, generally understand English to the point where you can make yourself clear, so you have time, but if you want to make friends, you need to integrate.

As you’ve probably heard, tipping is different. Tipping differs from “optional, but very welcome” to “insulting because of associations with bribes” depending on where you go. Read up on local customs if you’re not going out with locals.

Advertised pricing is almost always including tax. Don’t add the 19-21% VAT in your head like you would with some American taxes, expect to pay the price as advertised. There are some exceptions (bottle deposits, for instance, but you can get that money back by handing in bottles at the right places) which will differ per country, but those shouldn’t break the bank.

Some countries are moving towards becoming cashless in practice. I use cash about five times a year, plus about a third of the times I visit Germany. Some stores may not accept cash. If you combine that with the “not all stores accept American credit cards”, you may find yourself in a pickle. Luckily, things like Google Pay and Apple Pay use a universal protocol of sorts, so you can try setting that up as a backup.

Check out how public transport works. Some countries let you travel for free, others will require paper tickets, and there are countries where your credit card can act like a travel pass. Some places sell tickets inside trains, others will demand you buy a ticket before entering.

Traffic will work differently. Traffic signs are usually quite universal (stop signs even say STOP in France, unlike in French Canada!) but there are additional traffic indicators that probably work differently. Think painted lines on the ground to indicate right of way, special asphalt colours to indicate bicycle paths, but also traffic light placement. A quick read up before venturing into traffic would be wise. Some countries have a system where traffic coming from the right in an unmarked, unprioritised intersection will have right of way. If you’re driving or taking a bike, better check up on when you need to stop! Also, crossing the road is generally not illegal (“jaywalking”), but use common sense when to use that freedom.

Lastly, the tax thing: unless you earn serious bank, you’re probably not paying extra taxes in the US. However, you are obligated to fill out tax forms. How the tax situation works depends on the country you move to. Some will have you pay American taxes and subtract them from local taxes, others will work the other way around. Either way, you’re probably not paying extra; despite what some people claim, tax pressure within the EU and America is actually quite similar. You will end up with extra paperwork, though. Speaking of, check the pension situation for the job you’re working for. If you don’t check, you may end up paying into a foreign pension plan you won’t have easy access to when you retire.

source
- Waraugh@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨10⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  Well you had me until the very end. Guess it’s Myanmar or Liberia for me.
  
  source
merc@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
If you go somewhere where the main language isn’t English, you should make an effort to learn the local language. Yes, there are places like the Netherlands where virtually everybody speaks English well, but not putting in the effort means you’ll always be an outsider.

Things are smaller outside the US: vehicles, apartments, kitchens, refrigerators, etc. It can take a while to get used to not having the same space you’re used to. Also, some devices like clothes driers are rare.

Europeans take recycling seriously. In some places you have to pay to throw away garbage, while recycling is free. But, recycling is sometimes a real effort, like there’s not a “glass and plastics” box, you have to take the clear glass to one place, the brown glass to another, etc.

Tipping mostly doesn’t exist. That means that if you go to a restaurant you don’t normally have one assigned waiter. Whoever is free will help you, which tends to speed things up a lot. OTOH, since they’re not working for tips, the waitstaff don’t feel the need to fake a smile, pretend to be your friend, etc. Some Americans think that comes off as unfriendly.

Electricity is more expensive (part of the reason for the smaller appliances) so sometimes will completely unplug things that an American would just turn off (like a TV).

Businesses don’t have the same convenient hours as in the US. In some places, like Switzerland, they almost completely shut down on Sunday. 24 hour places are much more rare.

The European take on freedom of speech is different. You are simply not allowed to say certain things. Some things, like libel laws, are much more friendly to the person who is the target, rather than the “free speaker”.

Oh, and smoking is still much more common in Europe, and it can be pretty disgusting. In the US it has been largely eliminated from public spaces, and smokers are confined to small smoking areas. Even in private homes people will often smoke outdoors either to be considerate or because their landlord doesn’t allow smoking indoors. In Europe, smoking is still common indoors in many places, and… ugh.

source
JASN_DE@feddit.org ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
You’ll still be on the hook for US taxes.

source
- count_dongulus@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  If you plan to return
  
  source
  - Venator@lemmy.nz ⁨9⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    Maybe also check your current countries extradition treaty 😅
    
    source
  - untorquer@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    If you pan to keep and use your passport*
    
    source
  - mkwt@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
    Even if you never plan to return, you are still (legally) on the hook to file a 1040-NR form with the IRS every year.
    
    There’s a foreign earned income tax credit: this reduces your US tax bill by any income tax you paid to your residence country. For many expat working stiffs, this means they don’t have to pay anything to Uncle Sam, but they still have to file a tax return.
    
    source
    -> View More Comments
  - merc@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
    Even if you plan to renounce your citizenship, that’s a long (and often expensive) process and you have to keep filing and paying taxes until it’s done.
    
    source
- merc@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  The US is one of only 2 (?) countries in the world that does citizenship-based taxation.
  
  source
  - iii@mander.xyz ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
    Is there an exit tax when you leave the US? France for example has that, and the new Belgian government wants to introduce it as well.
    
    source
    -> View More Comments
iii@mander.xyz ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
There are other languages than English here

source
- Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  That’s no big deal. As long as you KEEP. REPEATING. YOURSELF. SLOWLY. AND. REALLY. LOUD, they’ll figure it out.
  
  source
leds@feddit.dk ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
Opening bank accounts can be difficult due to the reporting/spying requirements banks have on US citizens. Actually not just citizens , I think it is called US persons of interest or something like that. Anyway not all banks want to deal with that and will not allow you to open an account.

source
- kambusha@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  FATCA. You can usually search based on that.
  
  source
  - Jimmycrackcrack@lemmy.ml ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
    Can’t believe they couldn’t find a way to include one more t in that acronym, I mean come on, at this point you’re just obligated to.
    
    source
breadsmasher@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
you cant own a gun easily. no one just carries guns around either

source
scytale@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
You need a work visa. You can’t just accept a job offer and move. The company would have to sponsor you and there’s paperwork involved to allow you to legally work in that country. Some countries have limits to the type of jobs they allow foreign workers to take, and it’s usually the ones they are lacking labor locally.

source
neidu3@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
This depends on your destination, but you may need to unlearn the habit in tipping, as wait staff salaries are reasonable. Where I live it is common to enable the option for various services, but you’re never really expected to. I might tip if something was far beyond expectations with staff going above and beyond what is expected of them, but I usually don’t.

Extremely simplified/rounded metric: 1 meter = 1 yard or 3 feet

1Kg = 2 pounds

1 gallon = 4 liters (a standard serving of beer is 0.5 liters. Sometimes 0.33)

Almost everything carries some sort of tax. This is usually included in the price tag.

50mph = 80kmh

most intersections don’t have a stop sign. Held for anyone entering from your right hand side (unless you’re in the UK or Ireland, where it’s opposite)

Learn the difference between Europe, EU, EEA and Schengen Area. In most cases you may be safe presuming they’re the same, but there’s a difference that may be relevant if traveling between European countries.
source
xmunk@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
Unless you formally revoke your citizenship you’ll be required to file for taxes for the rest of your life.

source
TranquilTurbulence@lemmy.zip ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
When you get homesick and want to eat some American chocolate or whatever, you won’t find it just anywhere. You’ll have to go a special American store for that. You know, like one of those Asian markets, but for American stuff. Everything in there is also really expensive, so don’t expect to visit every day.

source
- HeyJoe@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  Honestly, since being introduced to the other side, I probably would never care to have it again anyway. It just tastes so much better to me. Give me a mars bar or Maltesers anyday over milkway or whoppers.
  
  source
lath@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
In general, the country in question should have a government (approved) website giving some information on what one should be aware of if planning on living there for a while or permanently.

There is an EU related website (don’t remember which) where one can be provided legal counsel in regards to their right in EU specifically. You might want to search for it in the Europe oriented communities.

Don’t expect the magical land of Oz. Each country developed in a different way, but we’re all tinged by the darker elements common to the world at large.

Scalpers will try to take advantage of you. They love naive foreigners.

source
Blaze@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
!AskUSA@discuss.online

source
DragonsInARoom@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
You can’t bring your gun

source