5 Easiest Ways to Leave the United States

Okay, so we all know that the US hasn’t exactly been the easiest place to live in recently. We’ve been overwhelmed with the number of questions about how you can leave the US for good and set up an expat life in another country. I hear you. I’ve got you. I’ve put together a list of the easiest ways to leave the United States.

There are a few ways you can leave the US for good, but most of the time there are a lot of hoops to jump through or requirements to make the move permanent.

Tourist visas are great, but they’re temporary unless you plan on jumping from place to place every three to six months. So, here are the easiest ways to leave the US:

1. Study Abroad

If you want to spend anywhere from six months to four years in another country without having a job or marrying someone for citizenship, studying abroad is one of the easiest ways to leave your home country.

Many colleges and universities keep places aside for international students and often have scholarships and funds specifically for overseas students if you need the support. A lot of the time you can also work alongside your student visa.

For example, in the UK, you can work up to 20 hours a week on a student visa to help support yourself. Once you’ve graduated, you can also convert your student visa into a two-year graduate visa which gives you the opportunity to find a job that’ll sponsor a more permanent visa.

2. Work at an International Branch of Your Company

If you work for a bigger company or organization, then chances are that they have multiple offices around the world. If this is the case, see if you can transfer to another office within the business. Check the vacancies on your internal job board and see if there’s anything suitable or anywhere you’d like to try living.

It saves the company a lot of money in recruitment costs if they can hire internally, so use this to your advantage to get a sponsorship agreement for a working visa. Most big, multinational companies will have a process in place for this kind of thing, but make sure you ask at the interview.

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3. Take a Sabbatical

Are you an academic or work for a company that offers flexible sabbaticals? Take advantage of the opportunity and move abroad for a couple of months to a year. If you’ve got a research paper that you’ve been wanting to work on in another country, take the opportunity. If you just need a break and want to learn a new skill or culture, do it. There’s no time like the present.

The beauty of a sabbatical is that your job is there waiting for you when you get back. It gives you the opportunity to learn something new, expand your professional horizons and just generally press the reset button.

4. Teach English

This is a classic way to leave your home country and live abroad. As a US citizen, it’s likely you’ll be a native speaker of English, something that many countries will pay a premium for. Especially if you have a degree, you can have your pick of countries and cities to move to.

girl teaching English in China — Me teaching English in China

Obviously different countries require different things. Some need a degree, some want experience, some just want a native speaker. Do your research and find where works best for you. There’s always a need for English language teachers, and a lot of schools will pay for accommodation and flights in addition to your salary.

5. Digital Nomadism

Following the pandemic and the rise of remote working, many countries around the world have launched digital nomad visas. So, if you work for yourself as a freelancer, or consultant or are able to work remotely for your existing job, this is a solid option.

Most digital nomad visas last 1-2 years and have income requirements that vary from place to place. I’ve seen them as low as 800 euros a month all the way up to $10,000 a month, so it’s best to see which countries are suitable for you.

So, there you have it. Some of the easiest ways to leave the United States. Of course, some of these might not be viable options for all of you, but if you really want to move abroad, people do it every day. Do your research, make a plan, and go for it!