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[-] communism@lemmy.ml 3 points 12 hours ago

Dollars are worth a disproportionate amount compared to currencies in the global south. "Little to no money" in the US is a decent amount of money in other parts of the world. If you're trying to leave the US rather than enter it, you're at the relative advantage to most immigrants.

As for more specific advice, it really depends on where you want to move to. If you are a US citizen, your passport will take you almost anywhere in the world.

[-] hansolo@lemmy.today 21 points 19 hours ago

OP, it's not about a lack of money, it's about what are you bringing to somewhere else. Play to your skillset and what you can tolerate.

In strict terms, if you're a US citizen, both the Peace Corps and military service are right there. The military will take you if you're a warm body. Peace Corps is competitive and demands actual experience doing stuff. Both are accessible to someone with little to no money - you might need to pony up a bit for things like medical checks, but you get plane tickets from your home of record to a new life. Also relatively free, you can take the foreign service test and join the State Department and work for Marco Rubio. The options where you don't get shot at usually take a year or so to get from application to something real - if anything happens.

Australian Cattle Station jobs are intense and squirrely. Not sure if they fly you out there or if you have to pay that part yourself - you might be able to pay it back from pay you get there, I'm not sure. Friend I knew did it for a year or two and only had a drunk Assuie threaten to kill him and bury him out in the desert a few times. But he got therapy later and was fine. Big adventure, high-risk, mid-reward, tons of fun stories.

Jobs in Antarctica are a thing. Can't get penguins to refuel a plane.

Jobs on cargo ships are real and many require no experience. US passports are good because then you can actually leave the ship in most ports. Join the Merchant Marine Today!

Similarly, if you have sea legs, you can work on a cruise ship.

Close to that, but definitely requires some sort of experience, is work in the hospitality industry. Actually, you could see about getting a massage therapy license (yes, $$$), and then applying to work at Bon Voy group or Marriott hotels, etc. Depends on your actual skills. I know Marriott hires a lot of third country nationals for their hotels, so it's possible.

WWOOFing, as suggested, demands you get to the place somehow. So if you want to go WWOOFing in Greece, first you need to get to Greece. That's a lot of money just to do labor for free food and lodging. Same for workaway. You're also basically working under the table for someone and can get kicked out of the country if you doing labor is discovered, so there's a rick you're going to be just SOL. Seems outside of what you want.

Not sure about English teaching abroad, but I've heard from JET (Japanese English Teachers) that JET might pay your way to Japan. You seem to English OK - might as well apply and give it a shot. Everyone I've known that did it loved their time. Lots in China as well.

Also look at international schools and what they have as options. Without a teaching degree, it's a hard sell, but you never know.

If you're asking here, then a job at a multinational company is a fantasy. If you're smart enough to be working for KPMG in Hong Kong, you're not asking this question on Lemmy. My guy, you didn't even search DDG for "jobs aborad no experience." No judgement, but let's be honest here, multi-national companies expect highly-motivated, highly-educated, energetic people with company loyalty to live for them and do that living somewhere else. Your life becomes the company because your life overseas and work permits are tied to it.

This is the same for NGOs, which it's nice they're suggested, but between literally thousands of unemployed former NGO staff around the East Coast right now, and also the thousands of people that used to work at USAID who are also out of work, it's a rooooough time to not be anyone other than Mr. or Mrs. DAI (For profit, but did a lot of USAID contracting), or Mr./Mrs. Save the Children or Oxfam. I used to work in this industry. It's entirely done, and limping to its death right now. My LinkedIn is a cringetopia of people desperately trying to be relevant with no money to pay anyone to do anything. I know people that used to live amazing lives overseas that work at Trader Joe's now.

Missionary work is a real thing, and some of the most airy-fairy idiots I've ever seen have been sent to places they had no idea about just to go do things like bribe people with bread to come to church. Also seen some hard-line super-conservative Islamic missionaries in already 99% Muslim countries, so hey, anything's possible.

That's about all I've ever heard of or people I've met overseas, so it's probably not everything, but it's at least a list of real options. Good luck, OP!

[-] Routhinator@startrek.website 7 points 16 hours ago

I hate to admit this, but it is about money. Canada at least will not allow Americans to immigrate unless they have enough savings to live for two years with no supports.

[-] hansolo@lemmy.today 1 points 15 hours ago

Oh, it totally is. Golden visas are how of you want to sink $1 million, or even $100K, into a place, they'll give you residency.

[-] kuiskaaja@lemmy.ml -3 points 18 hours ago

absolutely vile encouraging someone to join the military while they're bombing children in iran

[-] hansolo@lemmy.today 10 points 18 hours ago

Hey, facts matter, right? They asked what the options are. I'm not encouraging anyone. I'm just listing it as something that will send OP's body outside the US who will accept literally anyone. Explain, in detail, how any word encouraged them to join the military. I'll wait.

I also list missionaries... You're OK with that? FFS.

[-] whoisearth@lemmy.ca 2 points 17 hours ago

Get a job in healthcare and apply in Canada. We are hiring!

[-] LarryBetraitor@lemmy.world 2 points 15 hours ago

For real? So like I'd have to get a healtchare job here in America first, right?

[-] whoisearth@lemmy.ca 2 points 12 hours ago

Yes for real.

https://freshstartcanada.com/healthcare-worker-immigration-to-canada-2026-express-entry-category-guide/

Just be open to where. There's tonnes of info on social medias about it. Say what you will about our governments and there's lots of valid grievances but we have adults at the wheel.

[-] lepinkainen@lemmy.world 82 points 1 day ago

Get a job in a company that pays for relocation

[-] 9point6@lemmy.world 43 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

This is probably the most practical solution as long as OP is open minded about the destination

I'm not so sure what it looks like these days but if you're young (or not too old) and smart, look into teaching English somewhere abroad, there are several schemes around the world that support this kind of thing. If you're young and physically able, look into various work away schemes on farms or for charities.

If you're older and in a professional career, try to find a market where your skills are in demand

[-] NotSteve_@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 day ago

Not American but my cousin did the teaching English thing! It was a while back and I'm struggling to remember where she went exactly but I think it was Korea or China, and it seemed like a great gig. I don't think I could do it myself but if you're an outgoing, adventurous person then it's highly worth it imo

[-] Tiral@lemmy.world 4 points 22 hours ago

Did this in China for 3 of my 10 years there, don't go there. Korea 100%.

[-] SpruceBringsteen@lemmy.world 13 points 1 day ago

The Peace corps is still a thing.

Not lucrative, but you also likely won't have to worry about making rent.

[-] agentTeiko@piefed.social 12 points 1 day ago

If you are trying to leave the us getting tied to an US agency is probably not the best idea.

[-] breezeblock@lemmy.ca 70 points 1 day ago

You don’t.

[-] TheReanuKeeves@lemmy.world 50 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

You could walk up to an ICE agent and tell them you could beat their ass. I can't guarantee what exactly will happen but there is a non-zero chance you won't be in the USA anymore though!

[-] happydoors@lemmy.world 3 points 15 hours ago

That’s just a free trip to a federal prison.

[-] DidIReallySayThat@lemmy.world 21 points 1 day ago

Actually, they could end up in an American concentration camp.

Or actually end up being sold from the concentration camp to an African slaver in a country with a language you don't speak.

[-] Tiral@lemmy.world 3 points 22 hours ago

But it's free, and not in America? Everyone wins right?

[-] TheReanuKeeves@lemmy.world 2 points 15 hours ago

You just have to phrase it differently

"a company reached out to me with a very aggressive contract. After a short period of training, I was fortunate enough to be transferred to a new country where I was given the opportunity to learn new skills such as language and mental fortitude."

[-] Cricket@lemmy.zip 1 points 13 hours ago

Sounds like a perfect LinkedIn post!

[-] wjrii@lemmy.world 31 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

It's not really a thing, at least legally at any statistically significant scale. Economic migration is one of the great issues of our time because it's hard to do that anywhere.

It's gotten more difficult in many places since the tiny percentage of Americans who say they'd move out of the country has turned into a slightly less tiny percentage, but you can do your family history to see where your most recent immigrant ancestors came from, and then see if that country's laws permit you to get a passport or otherwise have an easier path. That doesn't really make it cheap, but it does mean you might have somewhere to go where being broke won't get you sent back to the US. The process itself is also usually only "cheap" compared to arranging some other means of immigration.

If you are fairly young and have a somewhat neutral North American accent, there are still programs of varying respectability across east Asia that will let you get work as an ESL teacher.

Then, they're hardly the type of places that will make you miss the US, but the gulf states have had their guest worker economies rocked by the Iran war, and work permits for jobs worth doing might be easier to get than usual.

If you think the French military would be better than your current situation, and you are a man under 40, and you can physically make it to France, you can still join the Foreign Legion like you're a side character in a damn Tintin comic or something.

If things are really bad, you can try to claim asylum somewhere, but unfortunately most of the places willing to accept that someone is politically oppressed in the great and free USA to the point of permitting an asylum claim are likely to be tough places for an American to make a new start.

Finally, I suppose there's always just buying the cheapest international ticket you can find and overstaying your visa, bringing us full circle to undocumented economic migration. Imagine the desperation one must feel to take those risks.

[-] garth@sh.itjust.works 24 points 1 day ago

Join a foreign military.

Join the Peace Corps.

Work for an NGO that does overseas work.

Teach English abroad.

If you are fluent in Spanish, work at a resort in Central or South America that caters to US/Canadian tourists.

[-] hansolo@lemmy.today 16 points 1 day ago

UN volunteers is also a thing.

Work for an NGO that does overseas work.

Most were funded by USAID, so that's a job market that's beyond saturated right now.

[-] Aeao@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

I think the French foreign leagon is still a thing. You can get a whole new life.

[-] Burn_The_Right@lemmy.today 1 points 15 hours ago

It is not easy to be accepted into a foreign legion. Most who are accepted have military experience, a high level of physical fitness and limited family ties in their country of origin.

Ukraine's foreign legion is an exception in that they currently accept people willing/able to help build drones. If going the foreign legion route, I strongly recommend considering Ukraine first, as they currently have the widest availability of job categories.

I've seen a lot of suggestions to join NGO's. Ukraine also has a lot of NGO options, but those jobs can be significantly more dangerous than building drones. NGO's are frequently targeted by invaders as NGO's often operate in active areas to serve locals where the help is most needed.

[-] skeezix@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

Yes teaching is an option but you can study a broad too.

[-] Nastybutler@lemmy.world 11 points 1 day ago

I've been studying a broad for 18 years. Still finding out more about her daily

[-] Tiral@lemmy.world 3 points 22 hours ago

You lucky devil.

[-] scytale@piefed.zip 14 points 1 day ago

Like others have already mentioned, get a job at a multinational company that has offices in other countries and ask to be relocated. The advantage with a company- sponsored relocation is that they will pay for and process your immigration paperwork, which can get quite expensive and complicated. If you’re lucky, they’ll also pay for your first month of housing so you hit the ground running.

You can also get English teaching jobs in Asia which I hear is easy if you’re a native speaker, but the pay isn’t that great. You’ll be able to live comfortably but won’t have much savings.

[-] VitoRobles@lemmy.today 8 points 21 hours ago

Good luck with sponsored relocation.

Unless you have some serious credentials or history with the company - they're not going to shell out money for your move. You're disposable.

[-] scytale@piefed.zip 1 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago)

Yes, not everyone can, but it’s not impossible. I did. At that point I was 3 years working in that company. I was fortunate that my boss and his boss were very supportive and happy to help.

If OP is willing, it will be a bit easier to relocate to a lower cost country. Most people moving for work go the opposite way, but OP seems to just want to escape, so maybe they can go for a developing country.

[-] Tiral@lemmy.world 11 points 22 hours ago

I don't think this person is getting a job in a multinational office if they're asking this.

[-] scytale@piefed.zip 1 points 18 hours ago

That’s fair. But the point still stands that getting a job in the destination country is the most practical legal way outside of applying for refugee/asylum, which is hard to get approved for.

Check wwoof or workaway or similar.

You can generally live free in a country as a tourist for 3-6 months doing workaway then hitchhike or ride a bicycle to the next country. Repeat.

[-] cattywampas@lemmy.world 31 points 1 day ago

Not easily. Developed countries tend to have pretty strict immigration requirements.

[-] terranoid@lemmy.cafe 19 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

If things got really really bad, money would stop being an issue in this discussion and people would be leaving on foot, illegally, North and South. The question is whether you'd rather risk being there with no opportunities than the US. Usually it takes civil war for people to get that desperate.

But whenever someone talks about "moving being too expensive", I always find it a little amusing because it's both very true and very false. It just means things aren't so bad where you believe you still have a choice. Leaving on foot and immediately becoming homeless with your life in a backpack is a choice many people have had to make for centuries. It sucks, but it's always an option. It's just shitty and extremely dangerous.

Right now, i would be asking, how's your Spanish? Can you start networking about jobs in Mexico city today?

And, really, how much is money a factor? Are you low in funds but have skills that countries want, like cybersecurity type of experience or some technical degree that few have? It's worth checking if Canada or Mexico want whatever skills you might have. Sometimes it's easy to immigrate if you're young, healthy, and easy to employ.

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[-] HubertManne@piefed.social 5 points 1 day ago

Biggest thing would be to get a job whereever you are going. Its technically the second easiest position to be in. If your really have cash its easy but if you have mortagage and retirement savings and such it becomes much more of a headache. someone here did manage to go to england with their kid and im not sure they had a job lined up. If your young enough you could try to get into an academic program to. That might mean taking out loans but would give you a chance to find jobs in the area. That being said the us going facist is a problem for the world so you can fight here or fight elsewhere if we lose.

[-] schwim@piefed.zip 16 points 1 day ago

Moving out of this shitshow is reserved solely for the wealthy that created it.

[-] Jiral@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago

If you plan for mid to long term, have a look at the job market, if you can work for a foreign company with presence near you in the US. If you have a qualified enough job there, it may be possible to relocate to another company location. If a company wants you there, it can resolve many of the biggest hurdles and also enable you to go towards permanent residency permits. The readiness to relocate abroad might be even a bonus in a job interview.

[-] Kintarian@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

Don't, stay and fight

[-] Melobol@lemmy.ml 6 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

If you don't have schooling to get actual career going on - you might as well stay.

If you don't like the job opportunities right where you speak the language and has full legal status - I guarantee you won't like the jobs where you could get to.

[-] DioramaOfShit@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

Walking? rowing a boat? Ride a bike?

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this post was submitted on 23 Sep 2026
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