Expat, short for expatriate, is a person who lives outside their native country, either temporarily or permanently.

After many sleepless nights, I have decided to relocate to the Philippines. I have spent the last 6 months deep-diving into the pros and cons of moving out of the United States.

The pros outweigh the cons, and I have a great opportunity being ex-military. The pros are many. The people are great. The Filipino community is one of the nicest I have met. Religion is diverse, and Catholicism is the main religion. The visa I am eligible for is one of the best available to foreigners. Healthcare is affordable, and the quality is excellent. The cost of living is very low, and depending on your lifestyle, it is cheap for most retirees. The country is beautiful, and there are many opportunities to spread goodwill if you choose to.

Some of the cons are that, depending on the visa you obtain, leaving the country takes more than just buying a ticket. In most cases, you will need exit clearance. This can cause problems if you need to fly back to the United States for medical reasons. Even though healthcare is affordable, some expats choose to fly to the US for major surgery. Personally, I will use Philly Health for minor problems and plan on visiting my doctors when I see my family and friends. The visa I qualify for does not require an exit clearance, so flying back to the US for emergencies will not be an issue. Not being close to my family is the biggest con. Yes, I can video chat with my adult children, but my granddaughter is another story. Another con for me will be trying to find clothes that fit me. If you are over 6 feet tall or have a shoe size over 11, finding suitable clothes can be challenging. By far, the pros are overwhelmingly positive versus the cons.

I am very excited and will make my final move when I finish liquidating my belongings, which will be another post for a later date. I have found abundant information that has helped me prepare to move to the Philippines. YouTube and some of the Philippines’ forums on Facebook have been the best sources of information. There are many things to consider, and educating yourself is necessary if you want to be successful on your journey.

If you are considering moving from the United States to another country make sure you contact the proper government agency for the host country. The immigration policy for most countries is not as flexible as that of the US in previous administrations. There are a lot of scammers out there who are waiting to take your money. I will say it again, take the time and educate yourself. If you have any questions, please contact me.