Leaving the USA might feel like the right thing to do before the global collapse comes, but are you going out of the frying pan and into the fire? There are countries in worse shape than the United States and without some thought and preparation, you may be going to worse countries than the one you’re leaving.
There’s so many things to think about before making the decision to leave the country. Below is a short list of things you absolutely need to figure out before you go.
Where Are You Going?
Before you pack up and leave with passport in hand, think about where you might be going. It’s not easy to pick up and move to begin with, but now you’re moving yourself, and quite probably, your family and your preps. It’s not like moving across town or to another state.
We’re talking another sovereign nation with its own laws and own culture. There are mountains of paperwork required to move to any country, not to mention cost. In fact, you need a fair amount of cash to get moved and situated in your chosen digs.
Before you decide to move, you should plan on visiting the country several times to make sure this is the place you want to live — even if no catastrophe happens. It’s easy to say you want to live someplace in a SHTF scenario, it’s quite another to live there day after day when nothing happens.
That’s why you need to visit during all four seasons and even do a trial run of living there. Stay there for a few months to decide whether or not this is truly the place for you.
Do People There Like You?
Do you know anyone in your chosen country? If you have friends and family in the country, then you’re likely to have a great place to stay. It makes sense to go to a place where you have people who can help you get settled and get established.
However, what if you don’t know anyone who lives there. You need to know if this country is positive or negative toward your nationality or ethnicity. Maybe you’re a really nice person, but if the people in a particular country don’t like Americans, and you’re an American, you’re going to have a really tough time. You may become the target of crime or a victim in times of civil unrest. Forget getting fair treatment through their government. You’re likely to simply be ignored should something bad happen.
Do You Speak Their Language Fluently?
One of the big problems is whether you speak the language of that particular country. It takes more than a tourist phrase book to interact with people. And while you may be planning to not have a lot of contact with people, you’re still going to need supplies and to communicate with people in your chosen place.
This is where having friends and relatives who live in the country can help. Not only can they help translate but they can find people who will help you, even if you’re not fluent in their language.
What Will You Do For Money?
Unless you’re independently wealthy, you’re going to have to make a living somehow. That means either bringing your work with you or having a job there before you move. Planning on working in the US and living in another country will just cost more money and you’re unlikely to gain anything by it.
Also, what happens if or when we see a global collapse? It’s unlikely that your business will remain intact should something catastrophic occurs.
More Stability or Less Stability?
Sure, you don’t trust the current stability of the United States, but what about the country you move to? Some countries out there are already unstable and it’s unlikely that they will weather a change in global instability well. You may decide it might be better to take your lumps and ride out the storm in the United States.
Indeed, there are many countries where crime is very common. Mexico and several Latin American countries are good examples of crime-ridden areas. However, there are many countries with lower crime rates than the United States such as Iceland, so you may take that into consideration.
But stability isn’t just society. Is the place you’re planning on living in a low risk area when it comes to natural disasters or are you on ground zero when the volcano goes? Sure, every place has some natural disasters but some are less than others. Be sure to understand the risks before committing.
What Are the Firearms’ Laws?
If you’re a staunch believer in the Second Amendment to the US Constitution, you may be in for a shock when you find out that you can’t own firearms in certain countries or that gun ownership is highly restricted. The United States is the most heavily armed nation, followed distantly by Serbia, Yemen, Switzerland, and Finland, respectively. It’s likely that wherever you choose to live will have gun restrictions, as well as other restrictions to freedom.
Foreign Retreat
If you’re not crazy about living in a foreign country right now, maybe having a foreign retreat might be the way to have a great bug-out location out of the country but still have the benefits to living in the US. That way if something does go wrong and the SHTF, you’re completely covered.
The trick would be planning your escape route to your bug-out location. But with a little planning and a bit of foresight, you can have the bug-out location you need to keep yourself and your family safe.
Not a Light Decision
This is just a few things to consider when thinking of going expat. There are many more. Don’t make this decision on a whim, it’s one of the most important decisions of your life and it affects everyone you care about. Take your time and do your research. Talk to others that have done it, seek advice, and most of all, pray.
The editor of Resounding Earth, and pursuer of relatively interesting information, Simon has a Masters Degree in Creative Writing and Journalism from the University of Wales, and is a photo-journalist and writer whose written and photographic work has been represented by the AFP news agency and appeared in newspapers across Europe and Asia.