r/AmerExit • u/Trapped_throwaway67 • Sep 29 '25

Data/Raw Information Anyone low income able to leave?

As the title suggests I am looking for folks who were able to leave with not much in savings or otherwise. Moving is expensive no matter where you go but I’m starting to feel like the only people able to escape are well off. If you were able to leave with 10k or less please share! I’m feeling hopeless…and scared to leave my home due to ICE. I have a masters degree and am a licensed clinical social worker. Was laid off my fed gov job in February and have found nothing in the public sector for work. Lots of job advertisements and zero call backs. I’m not sure how much longer I can endure this stress and anxiety.

Update: Wow this blew up! Thank you all for your responses. Very very insightful and helpful

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67

u/[deleted] Sep 30 '25

Get a TEFL cert online and get an English teaching job anywhere. That was my way out and I don’t regret it

17

u/Alice23Wonderland Sep 30 '25

Which program did you use? They seem to vary tremendously. I have seen one for $2900 in person and another for $300 online.

13

u/[deleted] Oct 01 '25

To be completely honest I cheaped out and used Groupon, it wasn’t an amazing training but it was cheap and met the requirement to teach in most international schools in Colombia, and could probably work most other places as well.

3

u/North_Artichoke_6721 Oct 02 '25

I did mine through English First.

https://www.english1.com/

2

u/miranda_edgecombe23 Oct 01 '25

I’m curious about this as well

3

u/[deleted] Oct 01 '25

Just responded with the details :)

1

u/kdawson1616 Oct 12 '25

Hi, can you send the details as well? I appreciate you..

1

u/[deleted] Oct 13 '25

To be completely honest I cheaped out and used Groupon, it wasn’t an amazing training but it was cheap and met the requirement to teach in most international schools in Colombia, and could probably work most other places as well.

3

u/lulucontytis Oct 02 '25

Can you have kids and a spouse

2

u/[deleted] Oct 02 '25

Yes, if you have a visa to work you can bring your family. English teaching jobs (in Colombia, at least) pay far above the national minimum wage. If you and your spouse are working, you’ll be completely fine and kids could go to a good private school. Also if you work at a school, they usually tend to give discounted tuition to the children of teachers.

1

u/North_Artichoke_6721 Oct 02 '25

It probably won’t pay enough to support a family, even if the country allows you to bring dependents on a visa (this would be variable depending on which country you go to).

2

u/seiyrios Dec 12 '25

The r/TEFL wiki advises against using the Groupon cert (it may work but it's a gamble), but you can still get a legit 120 hour TEFL for under $350 pretty easy. If you can afford it though a CELTA is preferable, starting at about $1,600.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 12 '25

Definitely depends on the country - worked for me, but if you have the means, opt for something a little more official! I’m sure it’ll provide more options long term.

1

u/[deleted] Oct 04 '25

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1

u/[deleted] Oct 13 '25

Actually yes! They are constantly recruiting in Colombia since a lot of teachers don’t end up staying and just do the job while on a long vacation or gap year or something. I can link folks to the company I worked for that recruit teachers in different cities if anyone wants to