How to Move Abroad

Podcast by Mistelle Godlewski

How to Move Abroad

Welcome to How to Move Abroad (because Google is not a plan) — the podcast for Americans who are done “considering it” and ready to actually make the move happen. I’m Mistelle. I’ve moved abroad three times, I don’t have a magic second passport, and I’m not here to sell you a fantasy life on a cobblestone street. We’re talking the stuff that actually decides whether you can move: visas, budgets, timelines, jobs, kids, healthcare, paperwork, and the emotional chaos that shows up the second you try to do this with a partner (or a bank account that’s already tired). If you’ve been doom-googling, panic-saving Reels, and ending every research session with “well… that was horrifying,” you’re in the right place. Because moving abroad isn’t a vibe. It’s a project. And I’m here to help you build a plan that works in your real life.

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Latest episodes

23 February 2026

Visa Appointments and Processing Times: How to Plan So You Are Not Screwed Later

Appointments and processing timelines are the part of moving abroad people avoid until it is too late.

In this episode, I break down the difference between document timelines, appointment timelines, processing timelines, and your real life move timeline. I explain why appointments are often the real bottleneck, how to plan backwards so you stop getting surprised, and what to do when you cannot get a slot.

I also share my Austria appointment adventure and the lesson it taught me about building buffer time and backup plans.

Weekly task included: the Appointment Map.

Grab the PreparedAF timeline

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20:28

16 February 2026

Paperwork First: The Documents That Decide Your Moving Abroad Timeline

In this episode, I break down the documents that control your moving abroad timeline, including passports, certified birth and marriage certificates, background checks, income proof, and when apostilles and translations matter.

I also explain the three ways people get delayed (wrong document version, authentication requirements, and expiration windows) and I give you a simple weekly task.

Grab PreparedAF to make your document checklist SIMPLE!

Follow me on Instagram @iammistelle

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18:26

09 February 2026

DIY vs Pay to Move Abroad: How to Stop Wasting Money and Actually Get Out

Moving abroad is not expensive in one big way. It is expensive in dozens of small ones. In this episode, I break down what you should DIY, what is worth paying for, and where people waste money out of overwhelm instead of strategy.

We talk about how to decide based on risk, timeline, and complexity, which parts of moving abroad are safe to do yourself, and when paying for professional help actually saves you time, money, and stress. I also share common traps like paying for country selection before knowing your visa and buying courses without an action plan.

You will leave this episode with a simple pay vs DIY framework and a weekly task to help you stop panic spending and start making real progress toward moving abroad.

Free checklist

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24:16

02 February 2026

Proof of Funds Explained: What Counts and How to Plan for It (Without Spiraling)

Proof of funds isn’t a personal attack... it’s a stability check. In this episode, I explain what proof of funds actually means in plain English, what typically counts as “proof” (income, savings, self-employment, combinations, and sometimes insurance), why the requirements change depending on your visa lane, and how to make a plan if you don’t meet the requirement yet, without turning it into a crisis.

What I cover

Proof of funds, translated into normal human language
The youth hockey analogy: “Can you cover the season?” (that’s the whole point)
What typically counts as proof
Why your visa lane controls what proof-of-funds looks like
What to do if you don’t meet it today: the levers you can pull (timeline, lane, documentation, country shortlist, buffer strategy)

Follow me on Instagram @IAmMistelle

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18:21

26 January 2026

Pick Your Visa Lane (Before You Pick a Country)

If you’re choosing a country before you know your visa lane, you’re not planning—you’re sprinting at Platform 9¾ without the Hogwarts letter. In this episode, I break down what a “visa lane” actually is, why it’s the first decision that makes everything else easier, and the most common visa lanes Americans use to move abroad (yes, some don’t require a job offer).

What we cover

The Platform 9¾ problem: why “dream country first” keeps you stuck
What a visa lane is (the legal reason you get to live somewhere)
The most common visa lanes Americans use:
- Work-sponsored
- Student
- Freelancer/self-employed
- Proof of funds / non-lucrative / financially independent
- Family/ancestry/partner
- Special programs (digital nomad, working holiday, etc.)
The biggest mistakes I see:
- Falling in love with a country before checking eligibility
- Treating visas like a personality quiz
- Thinking a job offer is the only way
- “Researching” without producing a shortlist
How to pick a lane without spiraling

Free visa checklist

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17:12

19 January 2026

Moving Abroad in 2026? The 47-Tab Spiral Is Why You’re Stuck (Do This Instead)

Welcome to Season 2... and yes, the podcast has a new name. ABROADly Speaking is now How to Move Abroad. Same show, same feed, same me. I just got tired of pretending we’re here to “chat about life abroad” when what you actually need is a plan that works in real life.

In the new format, every episode ends with one weekly task because collecting information isn’t progress, and we're done with 'next year' energy.

In this kickoff episode, I’m talking about the thing that keeps most people stuck: the 47-tab spiral. It feels productive, but it’s usually just overwhelm in a trench coat.

This week’s task: the One-Page Move. You’ll pick 3 non-negotiables and 3 deal-breakers, and choose one next action to do in the next 7 days.

Follow me on Instagram @iammistelle

Grab our free checklist.

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13:09