Americans are leaving the U.S. in record numbers and spending hundreds to learn how to do it - CNBC

[BlueWavePsych]

A record number of Americans are leaving the U.S.: The country saw a net negative migration of between 10,000 and 295,000 people in 2025, according to research from The Brookings Institution. The widest estimated range was among people who left voluntarily, with Brookings estimating that between 210,000 to 405,000 people did so last year.

It’s the first time in at least 50 years that more people moved out of the country than moved in. Restrictive immigration policies and deportation efforts play a role, according to Brookings. Some U.S. citizens are emigrating for school, work, raising a family, retirement and everything in between.

A majority, 89%, said they want to leave the U.S. for political reasons, according to a sampling of 218 of the weekend’s attendees, per Barnett. Others say they hope to move for adventure and growth (73%), as well as to save money (57%). Roughly two-thirds of respondents hope to move within two years, they have an average monthly budget of $3,856 to work with, and hopeful movers are split among 44% individuals, 39% couples and 17% families with kids.

Conference guests paid between roughly $500 to $1,000 for tickets to the weekend’s events, which included two days of programming from over 50 experts. Guests filtered into dozens of breakout sessions to learn the ins and outs of different visas, taxes as a foreigner, immigrant health insurance, and specifics on how to move to hot spots like Portugal, Mexico, Canada and New Zealand.

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/17/americans-are-leaving-the-united-states-in-record-numbers-spending-hundreds-to-learn-how.html

[Johnny2X2X]

1. I think millions of others would if they could

I am in a better spot than most, but I can't leave family or my career right now. If things don't back on track with our democracy, I will retire out of country though. I'm genuinely fearful for the safety of Democrats if things don't take a turn for the better this Fall.

[RetiredParatrooper]

2. Conference guests paid between roughly $500 to $1,000 for tickets to the weekend's events

I smell a grift.

[Ziggy Beans]

3. I have no use for this n/t

[sinkingfeeling]

4. Didn't need a conference. I did my.own research.

[Mr.Bee]

5. I Have a Better Idea

Exile the trump administrone to Russia! Or Israel.

[Easterncedar]

6. We need to stay and fight

[Cirsium]

23. History

Many people fought against the fascists during WWII as expats.

[Easterncedar]

24. Indeed

[nuxvomica]

25. We are so close to prevailing, though

For the next few months, the state of the country will be getting worse before it gets better. But when I think of what my ancestors struggled through to achieve their dreams, guided only by a strong belief in this country and its aspirations, my challenges today don't seem nearly as great.

[mn9driver]

7. Yep.

It’s a good idea to have something in place. If you wait until the need is immediate, it might be too late.

[mountain grammy]

8. My grandparents knew when it was time to go

they emigrated to America from Poland in 1911. Anti semitism was the reason. my grandfather was a rabbi and a tailor...they saved every penny to get out. My mom was born in the USA. She always said, be aware. Don't ever think it can't happen here, it already has and still is... she learned that being stationed in the south.

I've told my granddaughters.. time to go!

[BonnieJW]

16. my grandparents came here

from Russia in 1909 for the same reason. My grandfather was a tailor too!

[mountain grammy]

18. My uncle escaped Russia.. he was 6

He and his two teenage sisters after their parents were killed in a pogrom.

It feels like our people have always been on the run.

[Prairie Gates]

9. "Spending hundreds"

Oh.

[Wounded Bear]

10. Wonder what the demographics are of those leaving?

Dollar to a donut it's mostly the white folk the MAGAts say they want to be in the majority.

[AverageOldGuy]

11. My daughter is leaving in August

52, single, law partner, going to Great Britain, not returning.

Spent the last two years researching GB, France, Italy, Canada.

Two other partners in her firm - wife and husband - split for Italy in January, bought house there last Fall.

My wife is very ill - diabetes, heart, kidney failure. I hate to talk like this but when she’s gone and if I’m still mobile, I’m out of here, probably Europe.

[SpankMe]

12. Seems like an attractive option at first

But, leaving the US because of Trump is like moving to Mars because of overcrowding on Earth.

So much has to be done to Mars to make it livable that it's easier to try and fix our problems on Earth.

Most other countries with similar freedoms and qualities of life to the US are hard to get into for the long term. The US has (until Trump, anyway) a generally easier path to citizenship than these other countries.

When people were fleeing genicodes and literal daily threats to their lives, they could come to America. But as Americans, there's really nowhere else for us to go. This is it. This is the top. The end of the line. There is no more. At this point, we have to stay and fight.

[Ms. Toad]

20. By many accounts, the US is one of the top 5 hardest places to obtain citizenship.

That has been true since I started paying attention to immigration in the 90s.

[2na fisherman]

13. The Slow Boiling of Frogs

By the time full-fledged fascism in the form of MAGA becomes the law of this land, it will be too late to leave. We are just beginning to feel it heating up. So if we do not defeat the MAGA forces starting with the 2026 midterm elections, this country will be on a steady decline. And if the Dems take the House and Senate, every bit of what Trump and Trumpism has done must be repudiated and reversed and democracy restored with new legal and institutional guardrails to avoid this kind of thing from repeating. I'm too old to leave the country but a lot of very knowledgeable people have already. This includes a couple of famous professors who wrote books on fascism. It speaks volumes that they decided to leave. I once had an anthropology professor who was fond of stating a basic biological rule. It was, adapt, migrate or perish. So since I'm staying, I'm wondering what fighting back looks like in an age of AI mass surveillance. And the world's greatest military might turned against me. If there is to be another Civil War, it will not be a set piece bunch of battles but a protracted guerilla war of ongoing skirmishes with small arms and improvised weapons used against rockets, aircraft and drones. If blue states form unified militias in solidarity and form alliances with some remaining friendly foreign allies, the outcome might lead to a stalemate and the partitioning of the country like North and South Korea. I feel sorry for the young people who must deal with this bleak future. But what we do now matters so much for its avoidance. Yet, I fear the waves of apathy may defeat democracy if too many can't be bothered to care if their government controls every aspect of their lives and promises them bread and circuses or fast food and video games. They will have already adapted to their surrender without even noticing there was something worth fighting for.

[misanthrope]

17. Well said

Yet, I fear the waves of apathy may defeat democracy if too many can't be bothered to care if their government controls every aspect of their lives and promises them bread and circuses or fast food and video games. They will have already adapted to their surrender without even noticing there was something worth fighting for.

This part is already achieved. People need to wake up.

[sdfernando]

14. I did it already

Took early retirement and moved to Spain. It wasn't as easy as you might think......and the spanish consulate in LA "misplaced" my application. Once I got a Spanish immigration lawyer involved, who got the consul general involved I had my visa within two weeks .....but the whole thing caused a 4 month delay in me getting here.

[Farmer-Rick]

15. Is the US government still letting citizens escape?

The Soviet Union, Putin's Russia and China, especially in the Tibet region learned early that when you institute a brutal fascist dictatorship, you have to put the breaks on emigration. You may hate your own citizens but that doesn't mean you can let them get away from the psychotic abuse you want to inflict.

[Passages]

19. That cartoon says it all..a dark time it is.

[Ms. Toad]

21. It is unlikely I'll leave anytime soon -

I have to elderly parents and a spouse to care for. But my daughter and I are in the process of having our Canadian citizenship by descent recognized. (Great grandfather on one side and great& great- grandfather on the other side quality me for citizenship be. Descent under the new supreme Court decision - and Bill C-3.). So once I no longer have to obligations here, I may well move with my daughter.

[pfitz59]

22. Keep you passport current

have a stash. get dual citizenship, if eligible. invest in a small apartment or home in your country of choice. learn the language if rusty or illiterate.

[Old Crank]

29. Good advice

If you are near or retired the rules usually change.
Research the tax system. The country and the US will have a tax treaty. That determines how your income will be taxed. In Europe, generally, the tax rate is higher and goes up faster. If you can withdraw savings from a US tax advantaged account without penalty, it may be in your best interests to do so. Part or all of your stash.
If you can get a headstart on the country's language, do it. If you can, find a country American group. Many will speak the language and might help. Perhaps able to give tips on the culture also.

[rambler_american]

26. My wife

has been working for over a year to get Canadian citizenship based on her parents having been Canadian citizens. We have not decided just what we will do with it once she gets it. We're both in our 80's and starting over in another country is a little daunting. Still, it's good to have options.

[BarbD]

27. My mother was born in Canada. Her German parents settled there.

If I weren't 88, I'd seriously consider moving to Montreal. I'm suggesting to my grandchildren they should check out Canadian options.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

28. Wish I could leave

I’m disabled , trans,pagan, leftist, and anti authoritarian to my core ,furry,and even worse I am a big cat lover.

Fascist fuckwads look for people like me to kill off first.

However I am poor. SSI gives you existance money. Passports cost money
I have been disabled since I was 18.
Besides other countries do not welcome disabled people who can’t work.

[Old Crank]

30. We left pre T I.

Not for political reasons. We didn't have any real expectations of staying. Then along came Trump. The door to returning opened a bit with Biden but was slammed shut by Trump again. I also hold Canadian citizenship. The chances of returning to the US are dwindling.

[Old Crank]

31. For a quick overview of some country options

You might look into the magazine, International living. They used to have reasonable information in their articles. I did a 6 month trial and that was enough to give you a starting base to look further. Another source of information is from the county's website. You can see if there are expat groups in the countries of interest, they may be of some use.

If anyone is interested in Germany or just our experiences PM.
Disclaimer. All advice that I give is worth every cent you paid for it.