This site has links to just about all the expat sites out there:
www.transitionsabroad.com...
patriatewebsites.shtml
You mentioned that you have a passport, but most countries require visas upon entry - you must apply well beforehand. As for buying a one-way
plane-ticket, I'd look into also buying a one-way refundable ticket for the return trip and returning it once you're in your destination country.
If you're looking to do a de facto immigration - i.e. skip the paperwork, go, and not leave - you definitely don't want to go a country that takes
immigration very seriously (like the US!
), which pretty much eliminates the entire EU, Canada, and a host of other countries which will treat you
like garbage if they find you (Mexico comes to mind).
If you have any time grab Rosetta Stone and learn the basics of the local language. If you become proficient you can get a certification in
TOEFL/TOESL - teaching English to students in another country. It's not strictly necessary to know the other language but you're facing
international competition from college grads, so it's a good idea. The job itself is supposedly lovely, and pretty much every country in the world
has some demand for it. If you happen to have a female companion, au pair (nanny) jobs are popular with the expat crowd.
Speaking of which, when you pick a place, find the online forums for that country's US expat community and sign up.
Save up as much money as you can, nothing beats having a cushion to land on when you're traveling. I'd also suggest getting a world-phone or a
cell-phone compatible with your destination's network. Most importantly, RESEARCH everything about your destination. Information and knowledge are
your best friends.
Some nations have Right of Return laws or programs, meaning that if you can show that you belong to one of the recognized ethnicities, you'll be
given assistance in immigrating. The most famous of these is probably Aaliyah, which basically guarantees people of Jewish descent citizenship in
Israel if they seek it. See
en.wikipedia.org.... I've considered
pursuing the Polish or Ukrainian programs, but the EU isn't easy to emigrate to and it's becoming more and more socialist. In more favorable
socio-econo-political circumstances, I'd be headed for Europe in a heartbeat. By the way, most of the EU is included in the Schengen Zone, which
allows relatively free international travel between member nations (you do get stopped at the border and ID'd, however). It's worth considering.
Another option, which has it's own set of dangers, is becoming stateless. Some places will still allow you to renounce your U.S. citizenship without
possessing any other citizenship, you are then eligible for a sort of resident-alien status. This is not a well-documented process, seeing as the UN
has been working for decades to eliminate statelessness, and not without good reason - stateless persons historically tended to be refugees.
One more thing, the French Foreign Legion has been extensively reformed since the Albanian conflict. They are now very selective with applicants, can
kick you out at any time during basic training for even minor things such as slow progress in learning French or lagging behind in PT, and do not
grant citizenship automatically. I believe they now offer citizenship in return for about 3 or 4 years' service. It's no longer like the popular
myth makes it out to be, except for the fraternity - it's still a life-long, hardcore brotherhood that affords its members special status around the
world. They say a legionnaire in need can call for assistance anywhere in the world and the Legion is oath- and honor-bound to provide it. Definitely
worth looking in to, if you're up to it. Additionally, there are some militaries which will accept non-citizens on certain conditions.
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In case you're wondering, becoming an expat has been a dream of mine for years. I've researched it extensively and am slowly working toward it. I
encourage everyone to travel as much as possible, regardless of their reasons.
[edit on 9-5-2010 by EtSolveMundi]
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