Can You Work Remotely From Another Country? What Americans Need to Know First

A client this week is living the digital nomad dream in Spain. Remote contract, digital nomad visa, the whole thing. And he came to me because the contract could dry up at any moment and he has no idea what happens next.

This episode is for him. And honestly, for a lot of you.

Remote doesn’t mean portable. Your US employer saying “you can work from anywhere” almost certainly means anywhere in the US, and there’s probably a location clause buried in your contract that proves it. Add return to office mandates that show up with zero warning, layoffs, restructuring, and the very real possibility that your income, your visa status, and your right to stay can all disappear at exactly the same time — and suddenly the remote plan looks a lot shakier than Instagram made it seem.

This is not a “don’t do remote work” episode. It’s a don’t do it with a blindfold on episode.

I’m walking you through what to check before you book your flight, why a savings buffer isn’t optional, and what a local job gives you that a remote one never can.

If you’re remote-or-bust right now, come find me on Instagram @iammistelle.

I’ve got a local job challenge coming and I want you in it.