# Leaving USA for someplace saner- easier said than done? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 6, 2024, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-usa-for-someplace-saner-easier-said-than-done/1009810 "2024-11-06T20:05:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2024, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-usa-for-someplace-saner-easier-said-than-done/1009810/41 "2024-11-14T23:15:05Z")
My ex music Teacher and friend is now in Thailand. His girlfriend had lived in Arkansas for several years. She returned home for family. He missed her and eventually followed her to Bangkok. He’s already playing gigs at bars that cater to Europeans. He posted a photo playing at the Blarnery Stone Bangkok. Their website is a FB page. Bangkok sounds like a welcoming place for Expats. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-usa-for-someplace-saner-easier-said-than-done/1009810/42 "2024-11-15T03:25:41Z")
I’m considering this in Pattaya Thailand; I’m selling my house Aptos, CA, to buy a townhouse in Capitola. Going to pay down the mortgage on the new place from the old house, then find a place to rent in Thailand for about the sum of what I was paying on the expensive place. I should clear \>$550 on the old place, townhouse is $899k. Lotsa room to play around. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-usa-for-someplace-saner-easier-said-than-done/1009810/43 "2024-11-15T03:38:48Z")
And when you come home you’ll have nothing. I wish you all the luck in the world. There are just too many variables to make this viable for 99% of Americans. So many things. We haven’t even thought about what these countries are gonna say about an influx of disgruntled Americans. I have a suspicion they’ll soon stop giving visas. There’s no Casablanca and a nice saloon owner named Rick, for Americans. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-usa-for-someplace-saner-easier-said-than-done/1009810/44 "2024-11-15T03:51:49Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > There’s no Casablanca and a nice saloon owner named Rick, for Americans. But if there was, then to slightly paraphrase Rick in that scenario, “Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, they’ll walk into mine.” ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-usa-for-someplace-saner-easier-said-than-done/1009810/45 "2024-11-15T05:53:58Z")
> [@Charlie\_Tan](#): > > I don’t know if @Cervaise has picked up the utterly weird Luxembourgian language••, and I’m sure English serves him well, but my guess is that if he and the family know some German or French, their lives are a lot easier. Yes, we have begun active study efforts, because it’s a prerequisite for the passport. I came in with a little German and my wife came in with a little more French, and this was useful day-to-day for getting around, but a few years of student-level language is not sufficient for the sort of technical writing you find in official correspondence. We still spend a lot of time pointing Google Translate at the letters our kids bring home from school. And _even with_ these adjustment headaches as immigrants (which is what we are: not expats; we are immigrants), we find life here dramatically superior. > [@](#): > > ••Luxembourgian is this really weird mix of French and German where, if you know some of either language, it sounds as if you should be able to pick out some stuff, but soon realize that no. No you cannot. First, it’s Luxembourgish, not Luxembourgian. And there’s more Dutch in it than French (which makes sense if you know the history; just look at our flag). I’d say it’s about 10% French, 30% Dutch, and 60% German, with the German having kind of a drunken-mushmouth quality (“das ist” → “dat ass”). But I do agree that if you’re a fluent German speaker, you listen to Luxembourgish and think you might be able to follow it, but find you can’t. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-usa-for-someplace-saner-easier-said-than-done/1009810/46 "2024-11-15T05:59:40Z")
I wish the winning half of the US was sane but it’s not. I’m also approaching 70, But as much as I like living without this stress I love my country and I’m determined to outlive the insanity. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-usa-for-someplace-saner-easier-said-than-done/1009810/47 "2024-11-15T13:07:35Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > There are just too many variables to make this viable for 99% of Americans. So many things. If you’re any kind of traveler, then you’ve met no end of expats all around the world. They make it work just fine. It just shouldn’t be done on a whim. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-usa-for-someplace-saner-easier-said-than-done/1009810/48 "2024-11-15T13:23:12Z")
Actually, Ireland are one of a number of countries that offer a retirement visa. You just need to prove you have an income of E50k per year (as a single person) ---
**Author:** ![Raza](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raza/32/213_2.png) [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-usa-for-someplace-saner-easier-said-than-done/1009810/49 "2024-11-15T15:42:23Z")
Oooo, that’s interesting. Me great grandfather was from Ireland. Have you by chance a link handy? ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-usa-for-someplace-saner-easier-said-than-done/1009810/50 "2024-11-15T15:43:47Z")
Ireland has a housing shortage and it’s very expensive to live there. But it’s a lovely country. ---
**Author:** ![Raza](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raza/32/213_2.png) [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-usa-for-someplace-saner-easier-said-than-done/1009810/51 "2024-11-15T15:45:20Z")
That’s an important point. In our favour, being retired, we don’t need (and may prefer not to) live inside a major city. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-usa-for-someplace-saner-easier-said-than-done/1009810/52 "2024-11-15T16:17:13Z")
Here you are. Looks like you also need an additional lumpsum of rainy day savings: > **[I want to retire to Ireland - Immigration Service Delivery](https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-live-in-ireland/i-want-to-retire-to-ireland/)** > > In This Section Introduction > Eligibility > Submit an application > Non visa required people Required documents > Renewing your permission > Processing times > > Introduction > > If you wish to retire to Ireland you must be financially... Spain and Italy also have retirement visas, which would certainly be my preferred choice. More sun for the old bones. ---
**Author:** ![Raza](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raza/32/213_2.png) [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-usa-for-someplace-saner-easier-said-than-done/1009810/53 "2024-11-15T16:34:48Z")
Excellent, thank you. Assuming the requirement to have savings equal to a residential property isn’t for a large home, that should be doable for us. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-usa-for-someplace-saner-easier-said-than-done/1009810/54 "2024-11-15T16:36:37Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Here you are. Looks like you also need an additional lumpsum of rainy day savings: > [I want to retire to Ireland - Immigration Service Delivery](https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-live-in-ireland/i-want-to-retire-to-ireland/) > > Spain and Italy also have retirement visas, which would certainly be my preferred choice. More sun for the old bones. My problem would be finding health insurance with pre existing conditions at my age. Just too much risk. Plus I have no plans to leave - just travel. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-usa-for-someplace-saner-easier-said-than-done/1009810/55 "2024-11-15T17:39:51Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > I came in with a little German Sorry about this … ![](https://media1.tenor.com/m/8WCH2hQ3txoAAAAd/i-know-a-little-german-sprechen-sie-deutsch.gif "I Know A Little German Sprechen Sie Deutsch GIF - I Know A Little German...") ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-usa-for-someplace-saner-easier-said-than-done/1009810/56 "2024-11-15T17:41:11Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Spain and Italy also have retirement visas, which would certainly be my preferred choice. More sun for the old bones. My wife and I have been cross-shopping Spain, Italy and Portugal. We put those plans on hold a couple years ago due to a health scare, but we’ve started looking again. We have friends in Portugal and Spain, but I prefer Italy. Portugal and Spain have recently tightened up their golden visa programs but I recall we had some other options too. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-usa-for-someplace-saner-easier-said-than-done/1009810/57 "2024-11-15T19:30:38Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > You can get a visitor visa to just about any country, and renting someplace long term to live doesn’t usually require showing a passport. Not sure about other European countries, but Switzerland’s pretty strict about having a passport and a residence permit. There are plenty of people without papers, but they are living with friends, family or their employers, not on their own. > [@Mk\_VII](#): > > Also many banks are now refusing to provide banking facilities to US nationals, because of the FATCA requirements, and closing the existing accounts of US persons. Not just now, It’s been years. As an American there are only certain banks that will do business with me. As soon as I leave the country, every single account I have here has to be closed. Of course, most people aren’t going to choose Switzerland - it’s too expensive. And Swiss German is really not the same as German, which makes learning the local lingo extra challenging. And we got lucky - hubby’s company wanted him here. We had very little difficultly coming here. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-usa-for-someplace-saner-easier-said-than-done/1009810/58 "2024-11-15T20:20:58Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > There is no _perfect_ place. Never been on the East shore of Tahoe, have you? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-usa-for-someplace-saner-easier-said-than-done/1009810/59 "2024-11-15T20:21:47Z")
I sponsored my (then-)common-law spouse in 2010. Piece of cake. There were hoops to jump through and expenses and it took some months, but we did it ourselves, from California. I had never lived in Canada. We are now both Canadian citizens and residents and happy here. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-usa-for-someplace-saner-easier-said-than-done/1009810/60 "2024-11-15T22:14:17Z")
What would happen if a retired US citizen were to sneak over the Canadian border, get a cheap apartment, and not leave? The bank wouldn’t know you’re not supposed to be there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-usa-for-someplace-saner-easier-said-than-done/1009810.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-usa-for-someplace-saner-easier-said-than-done/1009810.md?page=4)