Login
You're viewing the io.mwl.io public feed.
  • Michael W Lucas :flan_on_fire:mwl
    Jul 5, 2026, 1:36 PM

    Researching countries to reliably emigrate to, where I can work as a writer and I can provide an way station for friends who must leave the US in a hurry. (I know, I know, "the midterms will fix everything," but I want to prepare.)

    Many countries that are advertised as expat-friendly require resources I lack.

    I keep winding up with the same list: Netherlands and Thailand.

    I have friends in the Netherlands, but housing is challenging and Dutch is notoriously difficult to learn. I could probably manage it financially, but am concerned about those who would follow me.

    Thailand is cheap and they welcome anyone but the weather... holy crap, the weather.

    "Just leave the US." Ha!

    ETA:

    Canada, NZ? Hard to emigrate to.

    Ireland? I don't make enough money.

    Portugal? Running a business is more complicated there.

    If I was a more successful writer many of these issues would vanish, but that same barrier would block friends seeking shelter from following.

    💬 36🔄 26⭐ 61

Replies

  • 💬 2🔄 0⭐ 0
  • 💬 1🔄 0⭐ 6
  • Quixoticgeekquixoticgeek@v.st
    Jul 5, 2026, 1:48 PM

    @mwl I have a lot of friends who have moved here via Daft (hence the link to the useful guide), I'm not from the US, but any questions you have about life in .nl, happy to try to answer.

    💬 0🔄 0⭐ 1
  • 💬 0🔄 0⭐ 1
  • LarryQuoidian@mstdn.ca
    Jul 5, 2026, 1:41 PM

    @mwl
    I assume from that, Canadian gelato is not good enough?

    💬 0🔄 0⭐ 0
  • Xavier Ashe :donor:Xavier@infosec.exchange
    Jul 5, 2026, 1:43 PM

    @mwl I tried to find a way to get my family out for about 6 months after the election. It would have meant supporting two households for a while, but most my kids are too old now.

    Its not easy. I hope you find a way!

    💬 1🔄 0⭐ 1
  • 💬 0🔄 0⭐ 4
  • Adam Trickett :debian: :kde:drajt@fosstodon.org
    Jul 5, 2026, 1:45 PM

    @mwl In the Anglosphere, Canada is supposed to be nice and you should have easy access to from the US.

    Ireland and the UK are easy to get to from the US too, but you probably don't wan the UK at the moment given the way its travelling - which is why I left...

    Plenty of stupidity in Europe too, but so far no one has managed to get the same grip that Trump has managed, so be careful where you go...

    💬 1🔄 0⭐ 0
  • 💬 2🔄 0⭐ 2
  • gorgeous georgeousgeorgieboy@toot.cat
    Jul 5, 2026, 4:32 PM

    @mwl @drajt Agreed wrt Canada. Not that I've tried for obvious reasons, but we're becoming pretty anti-immigrant too. As you say, problems tend to disappear with money, but yeah. I wish it were otherwise.

    💬 0🔄 0⭐ 1
  • Adam Trickett :debian: :kde:drajt@fosstodon.org
    Jul 5, 2026, 4:58 PM

    @mwl it's easy to forget that I could move to Ireland very easily for historical reasons. And for Europeans it's easy to move from place to place.

    Sadly I'm no longer an EU citizen because of right wing fruit loops, but I left the UK & moved to France before the door closed, so I'm a guest of France now with indefinite leave to remain.

    Within the EU there are cheaper and more expensive places to move to, & while some have a high degree of English speakers, it always helps to learn local lang.

    💬 0🔄 0⭐ 0
  • 💬 1🔄 0⭐ 0
  • 💬 1🔄 0⭐ 1
  • 💬 0🔄 0⭐ 0
  • Ólafur Jens Sigurðssonojs@c.im
    Jul 5, 2026, 2:00 PM

    @mwl have you looked into countries on the southern hemisphere? New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Argentina?

    Personally I recommend Scandinavia but might be to expensive just like Ireland, and also difficult languages. But then again, close to all speak English, not much need to learn the local language right away.

    💬 2🔄 0⭐ 0
  • Michael W Lucas :flan_on_fire:mwl
    Jul 5, 2026, 2:01 PM

    @ojs Yep. There's issues with all of those.

    If I was a more successful writer many of those issues would vanish, but those issues would also preclude me offering shelter to friends.

    💬 0🔄 0⭐ 1
  • Jason Tubnor 🇦🇺tubsta@bsdlab.au
    Jul 6, 2026, 12:37 AM
    @ojs @mwl Australia is hard, but easier if you are happy to be regional like some of us. Most come in via NZ. As an Aussie, I'd happily have MWL as one of us but I do understand the bullshit uphill battle that our government puts up.
    💬 0🔄 0⭐ 1
  • Dima Pasechnik 🇺🇦 🇳🇱dimpase@mathstodon.xyz
    Jul 5, 2026, 2:07 PM

    @mwl as a naturalised citizen of the Netherlands, I can tell you that the hardest part of learning Dutch is to find a group of Dutch-speaking people to immerse in.
    At least for me it was the case.
    With my humble language abilities I still was able to learn enough to naturalise and be able to conduct all sorts of bureaucracy.

    But you don't need to speak the language - for the daily life English suffice.

    You can also look at Finland or Estonia (their languages are next to impossible to learn), but English suffices, and in particular in Estonia conducting business is very easy.

    💬 1🔄 0⭐ 1
  • viqviq@hackerspace.pl
    Jul 6, 2026, 10:21 AM

    @dimpase @mwl on the other hand, Estonia has a problematic neighbour that may decide to start trouble at some point...

    💬 0🔄 0⭐ 1
  • 💬 1🔄 0⭐ 1
  • 💬 1🔄 0⭐ 3
  • JimmyChezPants 🇨🇦jpaskaruk@growers.social
    Jul 5, 2026, 4:11 PM

    @mwl I had an ex who was obligingly imported for me by a friend who then broke up with her after going through the whole rigamarole. She outlined the process, and that was quite a while back.

    He was hoping she'd go back, she was like, fuck that and became best friends with his previous/current girlfriend (who had left the city and then returned) because they are... very similar. :>

    edit: other than one is an elf and the other (the one I dated) a hobbit like me.

    💬 0🔄 0⭐ 1
  • 💬 1🔄 0⭐ 1
  • 💬 0🔄 0⭐ 3
  • like jam or bootlacesidlestate@toot.cat
    Jul 5, 2026, 2:10 PM

    @mwl

    I commend you on your intention to provide a pathway to others. I do not wish to discourage you from that as a criterion so much as to urge a shift towards prioritizing helping yourself sooner. You are already carrying so much.

    💬 1🔄 0⭐ 0
  • Michael W Lucas :flan_on_fire:mwl
    Jul 5, 2026, 2:12 PM

    @idlestate :flan_blush:

    I must take care of myself to care for others.

    If I was fleeing urgently, I'd have different considerations. But I'm a straight white guy, they'll come for me when they're done with others.

    💬 0🔄 0⭐ 6
  • Basbeyondexcess@deds.social
    Jul 5, 2026, 2:29 PM

    @mwl Dutch may be difficult to learn, but Thai is even harder! In NL everybody also spreaks English though.

    💬 1🔄 0⭐ 1
  • 💬 1🔄 0⭐ 1
  • Basbeyondexcess@deds.social
    Jul 5, 2026, 2:40 PM

    @mwl Ah, yes, I see, good point. TH may have other requirements. Thai partner or work reasons, I'm told.

    💬 1🔄 0⭐ 0
  • 💬 0🔄 0⭐ 2
  • Su-Sheesushee@ohai.social
    Jul 5, 2026, 2:30 PM

    @mwl while I don't quite recommend DE at this moment - it has a very useful social security construction for writers and artists which I have used myself and it is easily to get into with a "proven body of work". (health, pension).

    Other than that - all of the languages aren't easy to learn - doesn't make much of a difference if dutch, portuguese, german, french, spanish.. :)

    Keep it to the actual EU if you are thinking long term would be my recommendation.

    💬 0🔄 0⭐ 1
  • Charlie Strosscstross@wandering.shop
    Jul 5, 2026, 2:41 PM

    @mwl Wrt. Netherlands, they're nearly universally bilingual in English, and Dutch is a Germanic family language, so not impossible to puzzle out text. Notable problem is the rightwing swing in politics in recent years (anti-immigrant sentiment is significant, and while it won't be in your face it may affect your interactions with government services).

    💬 1🔄 0⭐ 1
  • 💬 1🔄 1⭐ 7
  • Maxmax@toet.dnzm.nl
    Jul 5, 2026, 4:04 PM

    @mwl @cstross Not to mention the right-wing fuckery wouldn't apply to you *too much*, given your skin colour...

    I wish they'd collectively sod off, though (the right wingers, that is).

    Housing, yes, that'll be your biggest issue. Housing is a bit of a shitshow. Steer clear of the "Randstad" area (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, mostly) and it's (very) slightly less problematic.

    💬 0🔄 0⭐ 1
  • Steve Atkinslluad@mastodon.ie
    Jul 5, 2026, 2:57 PM

    Ireland is expensive, but the basic income for artists scheme has the potential to make it more affordable for some artists. €325/week is enough to help.

    Getting residency is a whole other problem.

    💬 0🔄 0⭐ 0
  • *sigh*Ber nardbrnrd@bsd.network
    Jul 5, 2026, 3:05 PM

    @mwl Not sure if Dutch is difficult to learn...
    I'm damn sure we won't grant you the privilege of learning the language. As soon as we detect the merest hint of someone not being a native Dutch speaker, we'll switch to English.
    I've worked with English, American, South African people all my working life. One of 'm accused us of described behavior.
    All to say that language is not a barrier.

    💬 2🔄 0⭐ 1
  • 💬 2🔄 0⭐ 2
  • *sigh*Ber nardbrnrd@bsd.network
    Jul 5, 2026, 3:32 PM

    @mwl hmmm turns out I'm thinking of people on work permits...
    Apologies.
    Some are working on their inburgering.

    💬 0🔄 0⭐ 1
  • 💬 1🔄 0⭐ 1
  • 💬 0🔄 0⭐ 1
  • Abdelkader Boudihseuros@bsd.cafe
    Jul 5, 2026, 3:34 PM

    @brnrd @mwl

    Dutch people don't switch to English because your Dutch is bad. They switch to prove they know what a space bar does. meervoudigepersoonlijkheidsstoornis isn't a personality disorder. It's a spelling preference.

    💬 0🔄 0⭐ 1
  • GeoWendGeoWend@kosmos.social
    Jul 5, 2026, 3:05 PM

    @mwl Have you glanced towards places like Costa Rica? (I like it...we are finishing up the needed things for our first temporary residency here. I know someone selling a place...(chuckles)(not me)

    💬 1🔄 0⭐ 0
  • 💬 1🔄 0⭐ 0
  • GeoWendGeoWend@kosmos.social
    Jul 5, 2026, 3:11 PM

    @mwl It may depend on how you go about it. We bought a house here, which counts for the investor residency. We used a lawyer for both getting the house, and for doing the paperwork. Admittedly, it took about 2 years after we submitted our paperwork for it to get through the system to this point.

    My brother and his family just renewed theirs...another year-two years, they can apply for permanent residency.

    (honestly, if anyone decides to do Costa Rica...Use a lawyer

    💬 0🔄 0⭐ 1
  • Carl Craven@fedi.raventhemaker.com
    Jul 5, 2026, 3:09 PM

    @mwl That, "Sure, come on over, so long as you have $20k in the bank!" can be a blocker. Though I was looking at early retirement and not self-employment. (The financial assets isn't a problem for me... it's I can't take my adult child under the same rules, and they aren't self-sufficient yet.)

    💬 0🔄 0⭐ 1
  • Ryan O'Neillryanoneill1970@hachyderm.io
    Jul 5, 2026, 3:38 PM

    @mwl a countryman of yours I follow made the move to The Netherlands for what I think are similar reasons. May I introduce you to @shawnwildermuth who might be able to reassure you about the language barrier?

    💬 0🔄 0⭐ 1
  • Monica Rooneymonicarooney@cosocial.ca
    Jul 5, 2026, 5:12 PM

    @mwl @superball Canada loosened its ancestry requirements recently. If you have *any* Canadian ancestors then you qualify. Worth a look if you haven’t checked lately.

    💬 0🔄 0⭐ 1
  • 💬 2🔄 0⭐ 1
  • 💬 1🔄 0⭐ 1
  • 💬 0🔄 0⭐ 2
  • Elias Mårtensonloke@functional.cafe
    Jul 6, 2026, 11:37 AM

    @HCBunny @mwl Singapore is also full of monitor lizards. They're very calm and really quite cute. It's the cobras you have to be careful with (I'm pretty sure you have them i Thailand too). 😀

    💬 0🔄 0⭐ 1
  • technomancytechnomancy@hey.hagelb.org
    Jul 5, 2026, 5:47 PM

    @mwl my research an this found that Uruguay had notably friendly criteria for permanent residency, and Taiwan's gold card visa was surprisingly good as well if you haven't looked into those yet

    Malaysia has some good options but their lgbtq stance is maybe the worst in the region (mostly in ways that don't concretely affect immigrants, but would still probably result in feeling unwelcome)

    💬 0🔄 0⭐ 1
  • 💬 1🔄 0⭐ 1
  • Jacob Torreyjacob@mountaincommunity.co
    Jul 8, 2026, 10:19 AM
    Everyone in NL speaks English, and Dutch language knowledge is not required for permanent residency. It's well-connected to everywhere in EU.
    💬 0🔄 0⭐ 1
  • Johnny Ryall's Stylisteviljarred@infosec.exchange
    Jul 5, 2026, 7:30 PM

    @mwl I moved my family to Portugal in 2022. It’s the hardest thing we’ve ever done. But there’s not a day that goes by that we aren’t confident it was the right move. And we love our life here even though it’s challenging (Dutch is almost certainly more difficult than Portuguese especially if you know Spanish but it’s the hardest of all the Latin languages and as someone who never spoke a second language and who came here at 40 it’s not easy mode).

    That said immigrants have strained the Portuguese system. We’re not the only reason prices have gone up and people can’t afford to live - but we’re part of it. And I struggle with that reality internally every day.

    I run two businesses - one US based and one Portuguese based. Feel free to DM me on signal if you have questions.

    💬 1🔄 0⭐ 1
  • 💬 0🔄 0⭐ 2
  • Stuart J. Whitmorestuart_j_whitmore@about-the-author.online
    Jul 5, 2026, 7:59 PM

    @mwl

    Palau?

    I think there will be significant obstacles everywhere, though. If you're concerned about others being able to reach you if they leave promptly, affordability could be a key factor. Any flight across the Pacific could be out of reach.

    "Just leave the US" is like "just get a job" - easy to say, difficult to do, and often used to oversimplify and trivialize problems faced by other people to deny their reality.

    💬 1🔄 0⭐ 1