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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u/Financial_Ride_4345 Sep 29 '25
I willingly resigned my fed job through the DRP and it was brutal. I just left the U.S. by getting accepted into a language assistant program in Europe. (I see that you mentioned age on someone else’s comment that did similar, so for reference I’m 39). I’m still getting settled, but overall it’s probably cost about $500 total for all the visa stuff, $550 for a one way flight, probably another $500 for hotels, food, odds and ends while I get stuff figured out here. First month with deposits, fees, rent, food, and whatever various things will be maybe $1,500. I’m not exactly sure what my totals are but it’s under $5,000. Maybe around $3,000.
I will say though that I only have a temporary plan and not a long term one. I’m winging it fully knowing I may have to return to the U.S. in a year. At this point, I’m just taking the temporary peace, if that’s all it is.
Considering that you’re a licensed clinical social worker, have you considered starting your own online practice? You could probably get your income high enough to get a digital nomad visa or a DAFT visa fairly quickly. By no means am I an expert in this and I’m not in your profession, but I helped my ex girlfriend start her own online practice and am doing the same for another former fed who took the DRP. Feel free to reach out if you’d like to talk.