How to move abroad in 90 days or less

by Michaela Franklin | Photos contributed by author

How to move abroad in 90 days or less –

There’s no getting away from it, the US is going to hell in a handbasket. Being a POC, aka a Blackity Black American is a safety hazard in itself. Between the inflation, economic turn down, racism, stress, more people are turning to being abroad as a possible and better alternative.

AS THEY SHOULD.

I’ve been an expat now for over 12 years. I’ve lived predominantly in the Middle East, (Saudi, UAE, Qatar, Oman) and more recently southeast Asia (Bali, Indonesia). My current home is in Oman. I’ve also traveled to over four dozen countries. Living abroad has literally saved me in so many ways. It’s given me respite. It has provided a peaceful place for my mother to transition. It allowed me a soft landing space to start my life over, and to build myself back up brick by brick.

So, how do I go about making the leap?

The first 90 days of moving abroad is literally making the decision to do so. Here’s the thing. There will ALWAYS be a roadblock. There will ALWAYS be a bill. A family member who is sick. Something. The difference between those of us who did it, and those of who didn’t isn’t always singularly about resources. It’s just that we took the risk. I’ve done this expat leap several times. I’ve done it married with dual income. I’ve done it solo. I’ve done it divorced with little to no support. I’ve done this with 50k in my savings, and I’ve done it with less than $500 in my bank account. The difference was MOXY. How uncomfortable was I willing to Be?

The Western World does come with lots of benefits. Clear systemic work and business guidelines that are enforced and followed. FDA approved medicine and food items. Developed Infrastructure.

But y’all. YALLLLLLLL. There is a whole, big, beautiful world out there. I’m going to keep it all the way real: The US raised me, but the quality of life is INFINITELY better outside of those borders. A hospital visit doesn’t cost a car payment. Maternity leave is 6 months. Fresh food is literally less than one US dollar. There are more efficient methods of transportation, that don’t require 2 to 3 hr one way commutes on the Beltway.

The other amazing part about all of this? Living and working abroad is now more standardized and open than ever. Dubai has a digital nomad visa for 2 years. Thailand, and Indonesia are offering 2-10 year residency. You can obtain residency for three years in Oman for less than 1,500 usd.

Okay sis, you sold me a little bit, but how do I actually live in this place? Can I have a license, can I rent a home? Do I have to give up citizenship?

A common myth is that to live in another country we must give up our citizenship. To become a resident and get a residency permit, does not require giving back your blue passport. However, if you want to apply for citizenship in your new chosen home country, some countries do not allow dual citizenship. Hence the term expat versus immigrant. An expat is someone who is living in a country that is not their country of origin, but does not plan on permanently staying there. An immigrant is someone who has planned to make a permanent exit from their home country and will eventually look to become naturalized.

I own a business here. So, that also makes me someone who is actively supporting the economic development of the country I’m in, and I’m also actively immersed and engaging regularly with the local population. My resident card allows me to have a driver’s license, own a bank acct, purchase commercial and residential property, obtain (VERY) cheap medical insurance and much more.

I’m tired of paying 2,000 a month for a 1 bedroom, what’s the cost of living looking like?

Let’s also talk about the cost of living. I live in a beautiful, gated community and villa. My car is fully paid off. There are luxury two bedroom apartments in my neighborhood that are 1,000 usd or less. Most come with amenities, such as swimming pools, gyms, housekeeping services, and concierge service.

My business is currently opening a brick and mortar training and retail centre. The cost of constructing our property from the ground up is a fraction of what it would have cost in the states. The US is extremely high and the prices are only getting higher, while the salaries stay stagnant. That’s not a way to live. It’s time to seriously consider the cost.

You deserve. I deserve. WE DESERVE

We deserve space, we deserve to be able to have breathing room in our finances. We deserve a place that doesn’t commit regular daily acts of voice against us just for simply existing. We deserve to raise our children in neighborhoods where they can stay out til dark. Where they touch trees and not be reported to the HOA. To be able to run freely outside, in fresh air that’s not laden with pollution. We deserve to grow gardens and live by the sea. To get even more deep,this is the life that our ancestors fought for. So many of us feel obligated to stay because our ancestors built the land. But in reality, our ancestors would smack us upside the head for purposely and voluntarily putting ourselves through trauma in the name of them.

We owe it to our grandparents, to the ones who are on the ships. To the aunties and uncles who worked 16 hr a day factory jobs, to put their kids through school but could never leave their home state. To our boomer parents who braced firehoses and biting dogs to learn at the same level as their white counterparts. We deserve Amalfi coasts. We deserve Costa Rican beaches. We deserve Bali sunsets. Dubai yachts and dune bashing. We are limitless people and it’s time we start embracing our free will and making that leap of faith.