For the first time in history, more Americans are moving to Europe than Europeans moving to USA. What are your thoughts on this?
Posted by Substratas@reddit | AskBalkans | View on Reddit | 149 comments
Harmalin@reddit
Go back where you came from lol đ (joking)
ShadeStrider12@reddit
Well⊠they took in European Immigrants for generations.
Either way, Immigrants do contribute and pay taxes, which could honestly be a net benefit, especially since weâre generally skilled labor.
opretogues@reddit
doubt that's the case in Portugal and Spain
Lucifer_893@reddit
Guys, donât be bigots, they are people looking for a better life.
opretogues@reddit
they made lisbon and the whole of algarve completely unaffordable for locals bro
AccomplishedQuit6535@reddit
Mostly American retirees moving to Portugal or Spain for lower cost of living.
Mysterious-Put1459@reddit
But notably also students, educators, and researchers after Trump's crackdown on higher education institutions
sludgesnow@reddit
source?
Mysterious-Put1459@reddit
You don't have access to the internet in your country or what?
gorat@reddit
Digital nomads also. If you can get paid US salary but live in Greece or Portugal you are a king.
I bet many may also be Israeli double citizens.
AccomplishedQuit6535@reddit
It's true. The cost of living in the US is just out of control. Especially food and services.
No-Theory6270@reddit
But the US is very big. You could live in a remote and cheap area I suppose
gorat@reddit
You could live in Mississippi or a Greek island. Idk
No-Theory6270@reddit
LoL
No-Opposite-5445@reddit
Cheap areas in US are shitholes
Dull_Cucumber_3908@reddit
You can live in Alabama if you want to work remotely. Europe is not a good choice because of time difference.
CataphractBunny@reddit
They are freeloading and taking our jobs. Also, I hear they eat cats. Europe should build a wall across the Atlantic and make America pay for it.
Special-Performance8@reddit
And teach the Americans about this new word 'groceries'. What a beautiful word. đ€
wolfy994@reddit
Just like everyone else: If they want to naturalize and blend into their new society, then there's no problem.
If they want US part 2, then I hope they suck a fat one in every country they go to and don't bother to learn the language.
United_Boy_9132@reddit
The problem is, basically all of them are allergic to naturalization.
MAGAs think they're superior, while liberal and leftist American find any pressure to obey the rules "racism".
Expensive-Swan-9553@reddit
I know like 3 European languages and my aunts and uncles are all EU citizens what r you on about? Are you expecting red necks or liberal elites to move?
One group has no money, the other has no incentive to leave - they are incredibly rich and live with impunity despite not liking the singular president
CataphractBunny@reddit
Maybe he's expecting the far-leftists (not liberals) to move. They were the ones crying the most after the last election and screaming about leaving and getting passports, after all.
Krinder@reddit
I mean I wouldnât take a handful of insufferable celebrities to mean a lot of âfat-leftistsâ are realistically making this move rather than just complaining out loud and doing nothing.
CataphractBunny@reddit
We weren't talking about celebrities, though.
MegaMB@reddit
That's the dumbest take on american liberals and leftists I've seen in a while.
Genuine question, from which country are you? You have hidden everything...
CataphractBunny@reddit
Republic of Common Sense sounds like.
Obvious-Desk4573@reddit
CroGamer002@reddit
Look at this enlightened centrist schizo.
chobolicious88@reddit
Centrists are glorious
ShadeStrider12@reddit
I donât want the US part 2. It means horrible hyper individualism and privatized healthcare
rogomatic@reddit
I don't think anyone is breaking their legs trying to move to nonEU Balkan countries, so there's that.
CataphractBunny@reddit
Not even the EU Balkan countries. Which is great. :)
pastorok21@reddit
Some are attracted by low cost of living
Critical-Bread-3396@reddit
A fresh college of mine is a recent immigrant from the US, and it really sounds like a large portion of educated women and LGBT+ people are seriously considering a move to europe to keep their rights. So typically people on the left in the US who first and foremost believe in normal human rights.
So I don't think it's so hard for them to integrate.
CataphractBunny@reddit
They could just move to California.
Think_Beginning1166@reddit
â educated â woman lol. You mean brainwashed, right ? Those woman are not even close-to the European educated woman. Not only brainwashed, but they donât have any culture nor morals. So they can stay in USA
Sakky93@reddit
When USA sends its people, theyâre not sending their best. [âŠ] Theyâre sending people that have lots of problems, and theyâre bringing those problems with us.[âŠ] And some, I assume, are good people
TheLeopardMedium@reddit
nice very clever, but in reality the Americans who are fleeing the US are leaving because of the man who said that. The enemy of my enemy
m4sl0ub@reddit
Well the same thing usually applies to other immigrants too?Â
TheLeopardMedium@reddit
The people emigrating out of America have never been against others immigrating to America.Â
The Trumper Americans who are anti-immigrant are scared of the world and would never dare move abroad.
CHNSK@reddit
Of course not. They are here take our jabs and wahmen.
trisul-108@reddit
This is what Trump says about immigrants to the US, you should be ashamed to echo his decrepit mind.
Take Yann LeCun, who developed much of the current AI tech ... and left Meta to setup a company in the EU to develop the next generation of AI because he finds the US too much invested in short term profits.
Weirdo9495@reddit
I figure that was intended as sarcasm.
But even if it is sarcasm, it is really dumb to attack Americans for electing an anti-immigration president and then emigrating themselves, not just because those people are usually different groups, but because Balkan people themselves do the same thing (emigrating while being anti-migration) much more than Americans.
Sakky93@reddit
So when talking about Americans you have to distinguish different groups, but it's ok to paint Balkan people with a broad brush?
FYI, I didn't emigrate, and am not anti-migration.
But, I am pro making fun of the yanks :)
Sakky93@reddit
It's just a joke bro, relax, just like the datacanter you mention.
SansBouillie@reddit
Like those westerners who complain that their countries are fucked up because of migrants and then they want to move to countries in the east because they're "more conservative". Nah brah, stay in your own country and roll in the shit you've created.
Mountain-Aardvark-89@reddit
Indians replacing Americans
Ill_Chicken550@reddit
I live in the US and I know like 4 people my age who moved to Europe. It's mostly due to political reasons since Trump has tanked this country. But one of them is a hardcore Trump supporter which is ironic.
Anglo-purishnein@reddit
Europeans were a disease in the Americas for 500 years.
MiserableDude66@reddit
Close borders
NateInEC@reddit
So ... okay for Balkans to move to America.... but not okay for Americans to move to Balkans?
Dull_Cucumber_3908@reddit
of course! we can go where ever we want. Other people also can go where ever they want except our country /s
MiserableDude66@reddit
Iâm from Bosnia going to Americađ¶đ”đ
the_TIGEEER@reddit
Tbh Americans who wanna leave the USA so they aren't one of the brainwashed ones are probabbly the #1 best non European imigrants to have.
MiserableDude66@reddit
How about they stay home and try to change something
the_TIGEEER@reddit
You don't live in Austria or Germany right? Just to be sure..
Substratas@reddit (OP)
The ones here in Sweden are amazing, actually.
NateInEC@reddit
I am sure you represent the best character .... đ
Substratas@reddit (OP)
Holy shit, Nate, stop being so funny!!
NateInEC@reddit
Substratus is hilarious đ đđ€Łđ đ€Łđđ€Łđ ... thanks for the laugh.
NateInEC@reddit
Sorry... in one ear, and out the other đđđđ.
NateInEC@reddit
đđ€Łđ đ€Łđđ€Łđ
CataphractBunny@reddit
Yeah, no. We should turn back everyone with a nose ring and green/purple/blue hair.
the_TIGEEER@reddit
Wait.. is this you??:
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNRgDSmFY/
CataphractBunny@reddit
I ain't clickin' that brainrot, sorry.
merdeauxfraises@reddit
I wish their precious wall kept them in as well.
NateInEC@reddit
đ€Ą
HuckleberryUpbeat518@reddit
Build a wall along the Atlantic coast! A very great, beautiful wall!!!
Lord_Gobbledygook@reddit
And the molester will pay for it!
elgarlic@reddit
Ahahah
ElLoboTurco@reddit
build a wall and make them pay for it
Lord_Gobbledygook@reddit
Amen
Dull_Cucumber_3908@reddit
It makes sense, because the stock market the last 6 years (since covid) has gone crazy, so many people have made a shit tone of money and are retiring in EU, just because it's way cheaper than the US.
I'm retiring myself at the end of 2026 (I'll be 55) and return to Europe. Greece initially, but I'm considering also Kosovo (I need to visit it however and stay for some months in order to decide)
kvnstantinos@reddit
Oh no
coleto22@reddit
I can't believe it took so long. USA sounds so dystopian...
pastorok21@reddit
Escaping Trump
PaintSad8795@reddit
We don't want Americans. Their bullshit culture destroyed our youth enough. They can retire and die in their own bullshit continent.
showerhandles@reddit
Probably not a fair comparison when its more difficult to immigrate to the us from europe than vice versa. Plus getting the green card is much tougher. It seems like this is finely crafted statistic to push a narrative
ImpressiveMud9539@reddit
Americans are mostly ex european colonists, i don't think they're seen badly even by AfD lovers
HuckleberryUpbeat518@reddit
They made the USA a complete shit show and are now coming to do the same in Europe. Not that Europe is that much better currently.
Time_Trail@reddit
the ones moving here aren't exactly trump supporters
Fil4oZv@reddit
Europe IS much better currently, and the best place to live. Sure it has issues, but tell me which country/region is better.
Psychological-Dot-83@reddit
According to the human development index, the top five best places to live are:
1.) Iceland (0.972)
2.) Norway, Swizterland, New Hampshire (0.970)
3.) Massachusetts (0.968)
HuckleberryUpbeat518@reddit
Better - yes. Much better - no. The European Commission is just as corrupt as Trump is. They try to be just as authoritarian as him by pushing legislation like chat control. And they are willing to sell the interest of the EU to whoever pays the most.
Early-Show2886@reddit
Many of them are evangelicals who want to proselytize in the Balkans, especially with success among the Roma population. In Bulgaria and Romania.
https://www.christianitytoday.com/2024/12/divided-balkans-evangelicals-tiny-number-mighty/
NateInEC@reddit
đ€Łđđ€Łđ€Łđ ... comic profile
Inevitable_Motor_685@reddit
Among the Roma population of all peoples?
Calivivaldi@reddit
If I remember corectly, the biggest roma slave owner in Romania was the Romanian Orthodox Church so it kinda makes sense for them to not want to be orthodox
Early-Show2886@reddit
Look:
https://agwm.org/en/stories/roma-revival/
HuckleberryUpbeat518@reddit
The Roma believe in whoever is giving them money or other material benefits. They will take up any religion with sufficient funding.
merdeauxfraises@reddit
It's a good population to scam. Generationally low education numbers and lots of hidden wealth that can be fished.
Dependent_Guard903@reddit
Yeah there gonna be received with open hugs I'm sure XD
Early-Show2886@reddit
I have seen that evangelical Roma despise other Christian, Catholic, Orthodox, or Muslim Roma.
Dependent_Guard903@reddit
Evangelical christians view every other sect like they are not true christians in no way I've heard (they also fully support for religious reasons israel). Still its better than the alternative for roma to have no moral structure, some religion ethics are good to keep.
Early-Show2886@reddit
yes I know, unfortunately.
I myself have Roma heritage, 13%, but I can't call myself Roma. No connection to it. My grandfather (on my father's side) was supposedly a Turkish Roma. But he never lived in a mahala (Roma community), only spoke Turkish, not Romani. He was a regular Sunni Muslim. His father also served in the Ottoman army in World War I and was killed in Ăanakkale.
There are Roma and then there are Roma. Look, these are videos of Roma from Greece who migrated to Turkey in 1923. They are no different from Turks.
https://www.facebook.com/hurriyet/videos/m%C3%BCbadil-romanlar%C4%B1n-az-bilinen-hik%C3%A2yesi/275629496686164/
Substratas@reddit (OP)
The exact same is happening in Albania.
I met a guy at my University who told me he was travelling to Albania with his american-albanian friend. Turns out this American-Albanian guyâs parents are evangelican missionaires and have started to travel to Albania regularly to proselytize Albanian people.
I was rolling my eyes, like, wtf đ
Early-Show2886@reddit
yeah I agree with you. I find the Eastern Orthodox churches, Roman Catholics, Lutherans, and also the traditional cultural Muslims of the Balkans, whether Sunni or Albanian-Bektashi, to be acceptable.
But anything radical, be it Arab Islam or Evangelical Christianity, is a sect and doesn't belong in the Balkans.
Substratas@reddit (OP)
Agreed. I see more and more hijabis in Tirana lately (u can see theyâre Albanians just by looking at their faces despite many Albanians on Reddit lying & denying it).
And while I have nothing against hijab personally, it is a clear sign that Albania is becoming more & more islamized.
Early-Show2886@reddit
Yes, also in Bosnia and North Macedonia... Interestingly, in North Macedonia, many Roma are strongly influenced by Arabic Islam, they build mosques, hold dersija (religious services) in Romani language, many you tube channels and dress like Arabs: the men wear long robes and beards, the women are completely veiled.
Yep.
It's strange that Roma, in particular, switch back and forth so quickly.
Substratas@reddit (OP)
Albanians are exactly the same as Roma.
Just look at us through history & notice how rapidly and suddenly we converted from one religion to another.
romananger94@reddit
Imagine a Roma Megachurch. This scam will be the biggest scam known to the world.
Dependent_Guard903@reddit
XD
Early-Show2886@reddit
A significant growth of Evangelical Christianity, particularly Pentecostalism, has occurred among Roma people across Europe and beyond since the mid-20th century, often described as a "Gypsy Revival". This movement is characterized by indigenous leadership, where Roma pastors lead churches to evangelize their own communities, resulting in thousands of autonomous churches.
Impossible-Demand-58@reddit
Check out pastor Maxim. This guy has dark energy.
NateInEC@reddit
Escaping trump?? Read up.
Happy-Hour88@reddit
They make property prices balloon, see Portugal.
Aeon_Return@reddit
I wish them the best and hope they are coming with the right intentions and outlook
Exciting_Pen_5233@reddit
CLOSE THE BORDERS. DONT LET THEN IN. We donât want Europe to become an undeveloped region like the US.Â
chobolicious88@reddit
Are they taking our jerbs?
Brilliant-Repair-215@reddit
We need to kick out all the immigrants, close our borders and increase our native population.
CocoonNapper@reddit
No way - go to any US Embassy in the EU and look at the line of people waiting for a work visa/greencard, with the intention to go and stay.
Empty-Assistance-375@reddit
Well I can't blame them, have you seen their administration?
TheSlav87@reddit
And Canadian are moving out of Canada to US and other countries đđ€Ł
Substratas@reddit (OP)
The way Canada collapsed so fast needs to be studied.
Weirdo9495@reddit
How did Canada collapse if their prime minister is still quite popular?
Psychological-Dot-83@reddit
Canada's GDP per capita is now $10,000 lower than Alabama's now.
Weirdo9495@reddit
If we compare just by GDP per capita, almost all of Europe is then in an advanced state of collapse.
PunchTheMonky@reddit
The current prime minister is new and popular. Heâs a Harvard & Oxford grad and the first foreigner to Govern the Bank of England.
Our last prime minister (2015-2025) was a highschool drama teacher with the ever so famous approach and quote of âbudgets balance themselvesâ
IdleMelikor@reddit
Must be nice to have a passport where you can just decide "I'm moving here now, thanks"
Substratas@reddit (OP)
Wait until you find out that their passport doesnât allow them to âmoveâ just like that in Europe. U canât live in the EU without an EU passport or a EU residence permit.
ruber_r@reddit
With one exception. Czech republic. We grant US citizens free entry into our job market and with that comes authomatic residency visa.
Substratas@reddit (OP)
They still need to apply for a visa.
This-Wall-1331@reddit
No surprises considering that the USA are now a third-world country.
For comparison, in the past lots of Europeans immigrated to Brazil or Argentina. But now it's Brazilians and Argentinians immigrating to Portugal and Spain in high numbers.
Psychological-Dot-83@reddit
greekscientist@reddit
Colombians, Peruvians, Venezuelans too
Kenichi2233@reddit
People leaving because of trump it is temporary
Psychological-Dot-83@reddit
Trump didn't become president until 2016.
tkchrist@reddit
Say bye bye to homeownership for a few decades
Early-Show2886@reddit
I bet the pro-circumcision (RIC) cut after birth, which is standard in the USA for hygienic (non-religious) reasons, will also spread to the Balkans.
greekscientist@reddit
Decolonisation is coming
PVanchurov@reddit
Janosh_Poha@reddit
I'm American and I know a few people who have done this. Ironically the ones I know that have moved to Europe (Portugal, Slovenia and France) are all Republican voters. They are also older in their 60s and it's become too expensive to retire in the USA. That's the main reason people are moving. The older generation can't afford to retire in the USA and the younger generation can't afford to move to Europe. I'm sure there are people also moving because of political issues, however I think that is a smaller number, but I don't think they understand how polarizing European politics can be.
Substratas@reddit (OP)
Oh, the irony!
Pepedroga2000@reddit
It is more important to know how many return, how many Europeans and Americans return to their countries, and that the average European is older than the average American.
Great-Slice-3509@reddit
makaveddie@reddit
Fleeing idiocracy.
Welcome them and take advantage of their skills, discipline and experience. Show them what they've been missing!
Incha8@reddit
yikes
kotakoabrat@reddit
They took our emigrants for generations. Itâs time to pay back the favor. Not all Americans are what you think of here. Some really good and clever people who donât like seeing whatâs going on with their country. Add cost of living, healthcare, political and other violence and can you blame them?
Ambitious-Dog-1232@reddit
about damn time
MasterpieceVirtual66@reddit
Send the Americans back immediately. Europe is already a mess currently, and should not turn even more into a hyper-idividualstic, money-worshipping, immoral melting pot.
Odd-Organization-740@reddit
The Americans should be polled on why they chose to leave for Europe...because I can think of 5 different good reasons happening at the same time.
I can see many people leaving because of Trump's corruption, but also many people leaving because of misguided progressive policies going out of control and destroying their communities.Â
DVMirchev@reddit
Let them spend their money here :)
Citaku357@reddit
Are they coming to the balkans or in western countries
Substratas@reddit (OP)
Some have moved to Albania too bc they have 1 year free stay, although most of them prefer EU countries (duh).
This American girl talks about it.
ZingFreelancer@reddit
The first ones to run are the ones that has no capacity to tolerate hard times, in most cases, they are the one responsible for creating said hard times. We don't want them here, they fucked up their own country, they will do the same here.
VisibleReport5008@reddit
the money is still going there thoughđ€·đ»ââïž
Strange_Status_7690@reddit
EU will get stronger. After Orban is gone there is a message for everyone. However the prices are getting higher everywhere like rents and daily costs.
crivycouriac@reddit
Was about time
Substratas@reddit (OP)
Source: Benjamin Wolf - an Austrian Journalist, Historian and analyst
In the twitter comments, he describes the source as:
DHS Yearbook of Immigration Statistics (green cards) + Eurostat migr_resfirst (EU residence permits) + US State Dept visa issuance data (H-1B, L-1, O-1, E-2). Some categories estimated where country-level breakdowns arenât published
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/MIGR_RESFIRST__custom_173590/default/table?lang=en (Eurostat)
https://ohss.dhs.gov/topics/immigration/yearbook (US sources)