Crossing Borders: Why More Americans Are Choosing to Live Abroad
Ian Rathmell with his Australian partner, Brando, in front of the Sydney Opera House
Some Americans consider making a move to a new country.
As the American political and cultural landscape becomes more polarized, and income inequality widens, a growing number of Americans are contemplating relocation abroad although a smaller fraction follows through on this idea.
According to Gallup International, 16% of Americans expressed a desire to permanently move to another country during the Biden administration, an increase from 10% in the Obama era. The Association of American Residents Overseas estimates that approximately 8.7 million Americans reside abroad, with distributions as follows: 40% in the Americas, 26% in Europe, and 14% in East Asia and the Pacific.
I am one such individual. By the age of 36, I had already spent 17 years living outside of the United States. For the past three years, Canada has been my home — not just my third immigration destination but also where I intend to secure my fourth citizenship. I was drawn to Canada for several reasons: the strong social safety net and social cohesion, reduced income inequality, and a higher level of safety compared to my experiences in the U.S. and South Africa. Moreover, the culture war feels less intense here, which offers a more peaceful day-to-day existence.
Heading North
Interestingly, Gallup found that Canada stands as the preferred relocation destination for one in four Americans. This preference contrasts sharply with U.S. immigration policy, which predominantly focuses on family reunification; Canada tends to prioritize economic factors more. Initiated in 1967 and now known as Express Entry, Canada’s points-based immigration system facilitates the acquisition of permanent residency even without prior Canadian visits or job offers.
This system favors individuals in their 20s or early 30s — granting no points to those aged 47 and above — with a strong command of English and French, higher educational qualifications and in-demand professional skills. Every two weeks, an Express Entry draw occurs, sometimes highlighting particular occupation groups or emphasizing French language proficiency, enabling individuals who meet or surpass the designated minimum score to apply for permanent residency.
Despite the U.S. passport being ranked the seventh strongest in the world according to the 2023 Henley Passport Index, it does not grant Americans the privilege to move abroad freely. Daniel Mandelbaum, a Toronto-based Canadian immigration attorney, divides prospective economic immigrants into two groups: “fortunate” individuals and “economically enabled risk-takers.”
According to Mandelbaum, “fortunate” refers to those who, by circumstance, meet the criteria of an immigration program. He further explains that individuals with considerable savings and a willingness to take risks might “take a significant risk to move to Canada as a temporary resident, spending substantially to facilitate permanent immigration through routes like education or business investments.” He notes that the complexity of Canada’s immigration system can catch clients off guard, including the unexpected language assessment requirements.
The United Kingdom
Newton, Massachusetts, native Matthew Feczko, 36, works as a product manager in tech and currently lives in London, UK. “Growing up Orthodox, the prevalent expectation was that you’d naturally progress from childhood to adulthood, then marry and have children,” he said. Like many young Bostonians, he had initially envisioned moving to New York City.
Matt Feczko, founder of Lunges in Leggings, an LGBTQIA+ fitness community in London.
In 2014, an opportunity arose through Feczko’s employer to relocate to the UK. However, the immigration process proved to be anything but straightforward.
“The experience became stressful when Microsoft shut down the London office I was working at, prompting me to find a new job and secure sponsorship,” he recalls.
Looking back, Feczko regards the experience as manageable, but acknowledges the challenges he faced at the time due to a lack of necessary information. The immigration office became a frequent call in his bid to understand the process better.
“I landed a new job, but that company eventually folded, necessitating another search for a sponsor, which happened a total of three times,” he says.
Following these sponsorships, Matthew applied for Indefinite Leave to Remain, a status granting him permanent residency, and British citizenship a year later.
According to research by the OECD, Americans work 1, 811 hours per year, nearly seven weeks more than Brits, three weeks more than Canadians and two and a half weeks longer than Australians.
“There’s a heightened appreciation for the separation of work and personal life in the UK. We have a generous allocation of holidays here; I personally get around 25 days by default. Plus, being located centrally allows me to travel to fabulous places like Spain or Italy within a few hours. It’s much more convenient compared to the U.S.,” Feczko observes.
Feczko notes that this emphasis on work in the U.S. also influences social interactions, with most interactions feeling like an interrogation about one’s profession. “Here in the UK, the approach is more relaxed, with casual starters such as comments on the weather. It fosters a slower, more natural development of relationships.”
He remains undecided about the possibility of returning to the U.S. in the future. Being content in the UK and holding German citizenship, which grants him the freedom to reside in any EU country, broadens his residential options. While acknowledging the hardship of being separated from friends and family, he has found considerable advantages in living abroad.
“My time overseas has revealed how American-centric my understanding used to be, to the point that I failed to fully appreciate the rich diversity of people and cultures,” he shares. “Residing in London has allowed me to recognize the privileges I had back home while also valuing the work-life balance and multicultural environment that the city offers, particularly given its historic role as a focal point in the English-speaking world.”
Down Under
Another favored destination for Americans is Australia. Phillip Yip, a seasoned immigration attorney based in Sydney, notes the complexities of the nation’s immigration framework.
“Our immigration system is managed by the Department of Home Affairs, and we usually have about 190,000 migrants each year. Roughly 70% of these are skilled workers, and the other 30% come for family reasons,” he says.
Yip adds that Australia is ideally looking for immigrants younger than 45, with good education, strong English and at least two years of relevant work experience after their education.
Ian Rathmell, 34, was born to a multi-generational Southern Jewish family in Birmingham, Alabama. “Growing up, I never really envisioned living outside of the U.S. In the South, international perspectives weren’t readily accessible,” he recalls.
Despite feeling grounded in the region, the allure of experiencing more of the world led him to seek opportunities abroad. While working in finance in Austin, Texas, he pushed for a transfer to a global office. In 2016, his request was granted, offering him a chance to move to the company’s Sydney, Australia, branch.
“There was a deeper desire to explore and see more, driven partially by Sydney’s progressive landscape. Being a gay Jew, I was also drawn to the open-minded approach to the LGBT community in Sydney,” Rathmell shares, highlighting the importance of inclusivity in his decision to relocate.
In Australia, Rathmell finds a political climate more in tune with his personal values, appreciating the universal healthcare system and a heightened sense of safety compared to the U.S. “The safety here is notable. Yes, we have guns, but they are regulated appropriately, avoiding the extreme scenarios witnessed in the U.S.,” he observes.
Furthermore, Rathmell praises the Australian lifestyle that aligns well with his preferences, “In America, it’s hard to find a city that ticks all my boxes — being near a beach and the mountains, having public transportation, walkable and great weather. Sydney checks so many boxes, and Australia just has so much outdoor adventure and so much to explore and see,” he adds.
Author Dan Brotman in front of Canada’s Parliament in Ottawa
As more Americans entertain the idea of relocating, their choices are motivated by a complex interplay of factors including work-life balance, safety and a desire for broader cultural experiences. For American Jewish millennials like Rathmell and Feczko, it is evident that the move abroad has ushered in a period of self-discovery, offering a refreshing deviation from the expectations set in the U.S. They have found countries that align more closely with their individual values, where the approach to work, politics, and even casual interactions offers a breath of fresh air.
Moving abroad is a significant step, filled with complexities such as ever-changing immigration laws and the inherent challenges of building a life in a new country. Many Americans contemplating this path might feel overwhelmed by the hurdles that lie ahead and ultimately decide not to follow through with an international move. Yet, for a considerable number, the prospect of a life more aligned with their personal values and aspirations, coupled with enhanced safety, might very well outweigh the challenges.
Dan Brotman is the executive director of the Windsor Jewish Federation and oversees its J Welcome Home immigration program. In addition to this role, he is the founder of Rootless Mobility, a consultancy that guides clients who are unsure about their emigration options.
Original article can be viewed at https://www.thejewishnews.com/community/crossing-borders-why-more-americans-are-choosing-to-live-abroad/article_915a62c6-65db-11ee-8e2b-3f3da0fd1185.html