How to Emigrate

Guide Note: If you're hoping to emigrate from your current home country, read our guide, How to Emigrate, to learn what you'll need to know to make the switch.

Table of Contents:

Introduction

You'll need more than just a passport to emigrate. (Creative Commons photo by Chris Corwin)
You'll need more than just a passport to emigrate. (Creative Commons photo by Chris Corwin)
  • Throughout history, many people have emigrated from their homeland for a host of reasons: to seek religious or political freedom, to be with a spouse from another country, or simply in search of better weather. Though emigration will require some logistical planning, if you are organized it can be relatively easy to leave one country for another, depending on where it is you choose to go.
  • Our guide to emigration is a general overview of the steps you will need to take to prepare to emigrate from the United States. Before you begin the emigration process, be sure to research carefully the rules and regulations of your planned destination so there are no surprises upon your arrival. Health care, education, citizens' rights, political climate and employment opportunities are all major considerations when choosing to emigrate to a new country.

Step 1: Research Your Destination

  • Knowledge about your intended new home is essential to a fluid transition.
  1. Things to consider before launching your emigration effort include:
    1. What cultural, religious or language barriers exist?
    2. How easy is it to obtain citizenship or permanent residence?
    3. What are the employment opportunities?
    4. What fees might you be required to pay to apply for a visa or citizenship?
    5. What is the system of health care? Education? Government? Travel?
  2. Many countries will have a website that, along with providing information about immigration, will offer advice on employment and what it's like to live there. Australia's "Settle in Australia" page is an example of a terrific resource of this type.
  3. If you don't have local contacts, try contacting the U.S. Embassy there to speak with someone about the process of emigrating and what it entails.

Questions to Ask

  • You'll need to determine before embarking on the emigration process exactly what status you hope to achieve.
  1. Do you want to be a citizen or permanent resident of this country? In Canada, for example, permanent residents enjoy all the benefits of being a citizen (health care, legal protection) but cannot vote or ever run for political office.
  2. Each country will have its own set of regulations for citizens versus permanent residents.
  3. Do you want to maintain dual nationality, or dual citizenship, between the U.S. and this new country? (Note this means you will be required to follow each country's laws, pay taxes in each place, and even serve in the military in each place if required.)
  4. The United States is a country that allows dual citizenship, but not all countries do, so you'll need to make sure this is an option for you before presuming you may obtain dual citizenship. Contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your host country to find out.
  5. Note, however, that by applying for foreign citizenship, it is possible to lose your U.S. citizenship, so make sure to follow U.S. policies carefully if you want to maintain your citizenship here.
  6. Will you only be living in this place temporarily, therefore requiring a visa instead of an application for residence or citizenship?
  7. Many countries allow tourist visits of up to three months without a visa, so depending on the length of your stay, you might travel to a place to see how you like living there before starting any applications for an extended stay.
  8. Once you've determined the status you seek to obtain, you can approach the application process more efficiently.

Step 2: Follow Your Country's Procedures

Perhaps you will be emigrating to South Africa. (Creative Commons photo by Danie van der Merwe)
Perhaps you will be emigrating to South Africa. (Creative Commons photo by Danie van der Merwe)
  • Each country maintains its own unique application process for any extended stay. You'll need to research carefully the information your intended new home provides and follow the general steps, below.
  • Be sure to contact your country's immigration offices to determine the exact requirements for a visa or application for immigration, depending on your plans.

Emigrating if You Have a Job

  • It can be easier to emigrate if you have already acquired a job.
  1. In Canada, for example, which operates on a point system for its citizenship applications (each applicant is awarded so many points for language proficiency, work experience, etc.), you can garner a number of points if you already have a job in Canada, whether you are working there currently on a temporary work visa or if you have been offered a full-time position before arriving in Canada.
  2. In Australia, if you are a "skilled worker" filling a need for labor that cannot be met within Australia, you qualify for a permanent visa that grants you healthcare and social security benefits, allows you to bring dependents into the country as permanent residents, and makes you eligible for citizenship.
  3. In South Africa, the type of work you do will play a role. Skilled workers like industrialists or entrepreneurs are in high demand and thus more likely to be granted immigration.
  4. In some cases, your future employer will be the one figuring out the visa details, so you will communicate with their human resources department to determine your status.

Emigrating if You Do Not Have a Job

  • If you've married someone from another country or are searching for a job, you have additional options.
  1. Many countries see marriage as an exception to their immigration policies. In Ireland, for example, if you've been married to an Irish national for 3 years, you can apply for citizenship.
  2. In France, marriage of 1 year will qualify you for citizenship.
  3. New Zealand has created a category for family wishing to emigrate there. Partners, children, parents, even siblings can join another relative already living in New Zealand as a citizen or resident.
  4. Many Americans hoping to live in another country for a year or more consider teaching English abroad. If you are hoping to teach English in another country, familiarize yourself with the TESOL site, which helps place English teachers abroad and will guide you through the requisite applications.
  5. You may also consider working for a company in the U.S. that has offices abroad you might be able to work in temporarily.

Acquiring a Temporary Visa

  • If you're simply hoping to leave the U.S. for a while but not obtain citizenship, you will still need a visa for most destinations.
  1. For any extended stay (usually longer than 90 days), you will need a work visa, student visa or tourist visa.
  2. Students studying abroad will almost surely need a visa, but this will depend on the duration of your stay. In New Zealand, for example, if your course is shorter than three months, you can simply enter the country on a tourist visa.
  3. The application process for a visa differs by country, but usually you will need your passport, valid for at least 6 months from date of travel and passport sized photos for your new visa.
  4. See the U.S. State Department's list of embassies and consulates to determine what your country will require.
  5. Note that some countries do not require a visa from the United States for visits of up to three months. A list of these countries can be found at the State Department's page on visa waivers.
  6. The amount of time you are allowed to stay in your host country will also vary; be sure to research the possibility of extending your visa if you feel unsure about the duration of your stay.

Basics of Emigrating to Specific Countries

Many Americans emigrate to the United Kingdom. (Creative Commons photo by Bobby)
Many Americans emigrate to the United Kingdom. (Creative Commons photo by Bobby)
  1. To emigrate to Canada, you'll need to meet certain requirements that cover education, work skills, language, and age.
  2. You'll also need to prove that you have enough funds to support yourself once you arrive in Canada.
  3. You can learn all aspects of an application for immigration to Canada at the country's official immigration page.
  4. To emigrate to Australia, first determine what category of migrant you fall into: worker, family member, student, etc.
  5. You'll need to look at the online application for citizenship and be sure you can pay the relevant fees.
  6. To emigrate to the UK, your application will be evaluated on how you might contribute to the economy and whether your relatives were born in the United Kingdom, among other factors.
  7. If you hope to move to Mexico, you'll need to obtain a visa first; immigrants must live in Mexico for 5 years before they can apply for citizenship.
  8. You can begin your application for citizenship or permanent residency to a new country online in many cases:
  9. Also be sure you can afford all the relevant fees, some of which can easily reach a couple thousand dollars for visa applications.
  10. You may need proof of employment, funding, age and education, so be sure you leave yourself plenty of time to procure these documents for your application.

Step 3: Organize Travel and Documents

  • As with any trip, you'll need a travel plan.
  1. Coordinate your flights or other travel according to what your intended host country has told you after submitting your application.
  2. When you know you have been approved for a visa, book your flight.
  3. Leave yourself plenty of time to get a new passport or renew your current one.

Locate Key Contacts

  • You'll want to identify your contacts before arrival.
  1. If you will be working for a particular company, be sure to have its information with you and the contact name and number of your new supervisor.
  2. If you will be a student, bring contact information for your school and an administrator who can help you once you arrive.
  3. Practice language skills if you will need them so you can better communicate with your new contacts. See Mahalo's guides to:

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Resources for How to Emigrate

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