Bit of background: my husband and I are European and currently live in western Europe. We are in our mid 30s, don’t have, or want kids, are educated and are in well paying jobs. My husband has been contacted about jobs in America in either Virginia, North Carolina or Indiana and we are seriously considering relocating.
However, is it crazy to move to America right now?? Everything I’ve seen in the news etc recently seems pretty scary, especially for women and it looks like it will only get worse.
I really like the idea of relocating except for the current political climate, so please share your experiences so I can see if this is a super bad idea or not!
Comments
it’s going to vary by person and what you think is too far but the American South is getting really bad. If you don’t want kids, you risk being forced to carry an accident to term by backwards abortion laws that are only getting worse. God forbid that kid turns out gay or trans
Yes it is crazy to move here – so many people are trying to find a way out
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Do not come here. Things are about to get really bad.
Yes.
Since you don’t want kids I’d get permanent birth control (tubal ligation/vasectomy) in place before moving, if you decide to. But make sure you check employment law in the area, workers’ rights in America are fairly non-existent compared to a lot of Western European countries e.g. limited sick days, at will employment, etc.
With all the human rights violations, yes it is crazy.
As an immigrant? I would definitely stay far away.
Do NOT move to Indiana. It is a shithole.
We’re trying to move OUT of here because things are only getting worse here
Pay attention to the news, it’s a bad idea to move here
Yep UK (and I live in the UK) and US are two of the western countries I would not move to atm if I wasn’t already there.
Yes. The president seems as though he’s trying to start a civil war. His followers (at least the ones I know of in my area) are giddy at the idea of killing people with different beliefs than them.
Yes, it’s nuts.
Why would you move INTO a country on the brink of civil war
Yeah, unless you want to be there for the rest of the “Handmaid’s tale” process a move there is not the best idea right now.
I would wait until the next election to see if they have one and who wins it.
Yes. I wouldn’t live here if I had a choice. Especially after recent events.
Those aren’t even good states.
Have you factored in the cost of healthcare? For us, even with good health insurance, medical debit is a thing. You’ll even run into larger charges if you’re fairly healthy. I got routine blood work done via a fingerprick test. It cost me $250 + office copay and that’s with insurance.
yes.
Source=yikes
In particular those states lean right. If you were looking at Massachusetts or New York, it’d be a bit better, but over all, no don’t come here, it’s a mess.
Yes.
Stay where you are. You could end up in a foreign prison for “taking jobs from American citizens.”
If you like having reasonably priced health care and mandated vacation time, I’d stay in Europe. It’s kind of hell here right now and I think you’d be crazy to seriously consider it.
The cost of healthcare in many states is 30% of folks income. Please factor that in if you are coming from a country with socialized health systems. And, no there is no quickness or speed in getting in with providers here unless you are actively dying.
Indiana is a terrible state. Cornfields, religious extremists, and racists. There’s a cool auto race there once a year and thats about it.
Virginia and North Carolina are slightly better, but depending which areas, I think you would be absolutely shocked and appalled by the narcissism and lack of empathy in the American south these days.
I wouldn’t. Especially to those states as a woman. I live in the US, and if someone offered me an opportunity to move out of the country, I’d do it tomorrow.
Please do not move here. It’s not safe.
Yes. Even if they were offering 500k.
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I wouldn’t in the near future, things are getting uncomfortably spicy over here.
Why would anyone even consider this? 😂😂
There are some places you could go that might not be as scary or terrible. I personally would not move to any of the three on your list right now. Indiana’s politics are terrible, North Carolina is so gerrymandered that IIRC some experts don’t consider it a full democracy anymore, and I would assume Virginia means the DC metro area which is also a bad place to be right now.
Look at what happened to the South Koreans who worked at the Hyundai plant in Georgia recently and then ask yourself if you want to live with the possibility that it could be you. https://thehill.com/policy/international/5504110-south-korea-probe-human-rights-ice-raid/
As an american (several generations) and formerly very proud to be a citizen of the US, I would not look at moving here right now, as others have said. It is pretty scary how fast the economy seems to be going to crap, and how fast we are moving towards dictatorship and oligarchy rule. If I could afford it(and my wife was onboard), we would probably leave, but right now that is just not possible.
As to the areas you mentioned if you do come, I would stay far away from Indiana. We moved to NC from Iowa last year (not quite as bad as Indiana) and would not want to go back. NC is very nice, with beautiful scenery and tons of things to do, so if you were coming, that would probably be a decent place.
ICE is detaining people who have completely valid visas with no rhyme or reason. You would be insane to go there right now.
I have a son with dual citizenship (Japan and U.S.) and even I, a U.S. citizen, am unwilling to travel back with him.
Decades ago my grandfather was offered a fantastic job in America. My grandmother was furious when he turned it down. When a family friend accepted a different fantastic job to take their family to America she was even more furious. She was British and loved America and American culture and couldn’t believe how much more money he’d been offered.
The rift ended when the family friend’s son was shot to death in a convenience store robbery. They never forgave themselves. Their son was a teenager who died in a pointless crime that made the news because of the friend’s job.
There’s more to quality of life than your job. Look into how legal immigrants are being treated, included the most recent story with the Hyundai workers. That’s what you’re facing at the minimum.
I would not recommend it.
Yes. Double yes for those states you’re mentioning. Quadruple yes for Indiana.
People in the comments will mention how it’s not so bad, don’t listen to the internet, blue cities are fine. All of that is, frankly, willful ignorance. America is descending fast into an authoritarian state and most of it’s people are too scared for their lives to do anything about it.
Europe is also on that path, but in your home country you have friends and a support network that will make things infinitely better. There’s also a lot more cultural resistance as this is not the first time this authoritarian slide is happening to them.
Aside from all of that, you are almost guaranteed to absolutely despise the work culture here. Take it from a European that moved to North America a couple of decades ago, the money is not worth it. I’ve been fighting really hard to completely avoid the corporate grind here. You have to fight for time off, the hours are usually crazy (especially for new hires in well paid positions) and some people literally look down on you if you try to suggest that work life balance should be a priority.
And the car culture is downright oppressive. If you plan on living in North America for the rest of your life, maybe you can get used to it in a large metropolis like Chicago or New York. But in a glorified giant suburb like Indianapolis, it can get pretty bleak having to drive absolutely everywhere.
The only reason I’m still in North America is because I moved when I was young, and I was to poor to move back before I managed to luck into a decent lifestyle. And I’m in Canada, where it’s a bit easier than America.
Don’t do it, our economy is about to collapse and cost of living is going to skyrocket.
Personally, if my husband wanted to move to the US I would see it as a huge red flag.
Perhaps in Western Europe, you see the jokes but not the real darkness. I’m in Canada and it’s a real worry being this close. Absolutely no way I’d even be going as a vacation.
>My husband has been contacted about jobs in America in either Virginia, North Carolina or Indiana
Just think a little why it might be that other people are not taking those jobs.
The best options in America are probably still worse than the worst options in Europe right now. Our political climate is currently speedrunning trying stripping every possible protection women could have for family planning and birth control, they’re currently pushing contraceptives as equivalent to abortion procedures. Basically everything about Project 2025 is coming true and all the idiots saying that was just a fearmongering not-real thing are Pikachu Facing about it. The administration is committing every manner of hypocrisy there is to own the liberals. Trying to move here right now for any reason is frankly insane. STAY IN EUROPE.
Yes, don’t come here right now. It’s too unstable.
Um…I wouldn’t, not even on a work visa.
If you or your spouse are POC I would not consider it.
Yes. Stay away. It’s hell here.
>Virginia, North Carolina, and Indiana
Yikes. Yeah, I wouldn’t. Unless your dream is to buy a home and have some land, I wouldn’t move to America.
Signed,
Indiana resident with a home and land (and love it, despite the horrible politics in this state)
I wouldn’t. None of those states are worth moving to, and we’re currently in a fascist dictatorship.
You’ll lose your healthcare and be subjected to bigots. Do not come to the US. It’s not even worth visiting right now.
No, you do NOT want to be an immigrant right now
Trump has just rolled back the Biden admins emergency abortion protocol for hospitals meaning if you accidentally get pregnant not only can you no longer get an abortion (in some states) but if it fails and starts to kill you they will likely let you die or save you after permanent life long damage and disabilities are done. That’s something as a woman you have to know.
Is it bad, yes. Is it going to get worse, probably. I live in the south, I love it here, I love my blue bubble friends, but it’s undeniably dangerous right now for women and POC. As a history and political science major I cannot recommend you move here right now. I hold onto hope that we will turn things around and that we are simply going through an extinction burst but the reality is even if that is the case it will be decades before we can undo the rot and total destruction that has befallen our nation.
Now, that’s the perspective of a US citizen. I have no idea where you are from or what things are like there politically for you. It may be better here than there, it may not. You’ll have to decide what’s best for you and your family. As bad as the immigration shit is right now it is directed at only certain groups, for now. Most Americans love foreigners moving here, even Hispanic folk, despite what the news says. There are hateful people everywhere but where you are looking at there is certainly a higher concentration of potential violence and bigotry. Please keep in mind that rural America can be dangerous right now. Stick to a major city if you come to any of those states. Do your research, pick a blue bubble, find local friends, have an exit plan, and know when it’s time to leave if it comes to that.
Absolutely crazy to even consider right now. In comparison to Western Europe?? No job is worth it.
We have an actual fascist government trying to destroy the people’s rights. Probably would not move here unless you simply didn’t have other options. Whatever career/pay benefits you may see from moving to the US will be completely negated by a decrease in quality of life.
Canadian here. We won’t even travel to the US now. They’re going through the biggest shift in generations and not the positive kind. Stay out for now or look at other countries.
There is no good reason to move to the US especially given the anti-immigrant sentiment.
Do NOT come here!! It is not safe!!
DO NOT COME HERE
If I did not live in the United States, I would not even come here now, let alone move here. We are in the incipient stages of fascism. Also, many of the things you take for granted in Western Europe do not exist here such as universal healthcare, walkable cities, public transportation…
Yes it is crazy, for your own safety do not come here.
“we should move to indiana” words dreamt up by the utterly deranged
Have you missed uh… everything?
Whatever salary they’re tempting him with, look into the cost of healthcare and deduct the insurance and deductible amounts. Is the salary still attractive? Which visa are they thinking he will be able to get? Do you plan to try to work because that is also an issue. There are 0 guaranteed vacation days and 0 guaranteed sick days. Depending on the size of the company and the number of employees, your husband may be entitled to FMLA coverage if he gets sick after a year of employment. Don’t take for granted the social safety net of your country because it does not exist in America.
Do not move to America. Do you like having healthcare? If u do, do not move here.
Its a shit hole even for us lucky ones. Every moment is navigating shitty for profit EVERYTHING
I am a white Australian male who wanted to take a 2-3 month driving holiday through North America.
Since Trump won the election, I am now going to do so in Europe.
Personally I think your quality of life will decrease here. You will find it harder to afford basic needs and harder to access things you like unless you are willing to drive long distances (think 3+hrs to large attractions, even within your state). Political climate aside, America simply does not have the same conveniences as most anywhere in Europe. I recommend planning a 1-2 week visit to the place you might like to live in. Live like it is a normal week, go grocery shopping, cook, etc. see what the price is like.
If you see hella people frantically running in one direction, you don’t run towards the direction they’re coming from. that’s all i’m sayin 👀
Nope.
Jobs have no legal protection in most states, so you could be fired at any time for any reason.
Non-citizens are subject to deportation for breaking any law – yes, including jaywalking.
Civil unrest is getting worse. Do you like guns? Do you like them in and around your schools? Being carried openly in restaurants and at public events?
I’m British and have lived in the US since 2008. Going back to the UK would be almost financially impossible at this point. However, we’ve renewed our passports recently in case of political emergency.
Wtf would you even consider this?
This has to be a shit post. Idk why anyone from a developed country would even consider moving to the US right now
Just want to add that even without the current political climate, I wouldn’t recommend moving the US if you value work-life balance.
Depending on where you go, there will possibly be little to no public transport so add the cost and time of driving, getting and having a car, travel time etc.
The difference in the number of holidays and work hours is significant. Many jobs don’t even get paid holidays, let alone anything like what is normal in Europe.
If you have the chance to talk to someone IRL who has worked in the US, especially in your field, do it.
Everything everyone said, plus look into the natural disasters in those states. Climate change’s impact is getting wild on the eastern side of the US.
Jesus, the grass really is greener on the other side. I just read a thread about a couple from France thinking of relocating to Houston, Tx.
Most of us feel stuck and hopeless here. U.S. citizens(myself included) are getting their dual citizenships lined up with whatever country they have parents/grandparents from just to have a legitimate and legal escape plan. An escape plan for crying out loud! From the United States of America. The golden country that everyone wants to move to where all of your dreams will come true.
Please stay away.
Have you ever voted for the afd? Are you hoping to experience different flavours of fascism while impatiently waiting for them to gain electoral victories at home? Would you love to move to an afd stronghold in the east of Germany? Do you long for the chance to be more openly racist in your day to day life?
The answers to these questions will provide the answer to yours.
> currently live in western Europe
> is it crazy to move to America right now?
YES.
Geez people. Would you want to live in Germany in 1939?
Depends; would you like a front row seat for the rise of a new fascist state? If history books aren’t doing it for you there’s nowt like living through it to gain understanding…
As an American who DESPERATELY wants to move to Western Europe, why in the everloving fuck would you CHOOSE to live here? Don’t do it. Keep your freedom and hold onto it tight.
It is a state that recently entered a Facist Dictatorship. Boundaries of government control and corruption are still actively being pushed.
Noone should be traveling there let alone moving there for work. Your and your husbands jobs are not guaranteed. They can fire you without notice and without compensation for no reason. Entire companies can be shutdown for saying the wrong thing about the government.
As a foreigner your visas can be revoked at anytime for any reason and you can be deported to any country on the planet, and likely not your home country/europe.
Do not move to America.
Well could we swap homes? LOL
I’m 70 years old or I would leave the country.
Instead, I’m joining a protest movement.
Put the old ladies on the frontline.
Thugs are running the country. The capital city is occupied by the military. They’re chipping away at all our liberties. This is serious. No way would I expect peace here.
They’re lawless and bold.
It may come to civil war.
I hope that answers your question.
Yes, you’re insane for wanting to move to the US.