Can I move to a foreign country after filing bankruptcy? 21 Answers as of July 22, 2011

You can move wherever you want. However, you'll need to make a personal experience at the 341 meeting so don't take off quite yet

As long as you attend the 341 meeting of creditors your continued presence is not required. You are free to re-located anywhere in the world.

Yes, you can move to a foreign country after filing bankruptcy. If a chapter 7, you would likely not want to move, until the case was over. Sec. 343 of the Bankruptcy Code says that the Debtor "shall" appear at the Sec. 341(a) Meeting of Creditors. You could move after that, but creditors or the Trustee has 60 days after the first date set for your Sec. 341(a) Meeting of Creditors to object to the discharge of a debt, or the discharge or all of your debts, so you probably should not move until after that period runs, just in case your attorney needed you to testify. If no one objects, you usually receive your discharge very soon after the running of the 60 day period. Then you could go. In Chapter 13, once your plan was confirmed by the Court, I don't know of any reason why you could not move. You would have to continue to pay the payments required by your chapter 13 plan. I have clients that have moved to Panama, and the Philippines, to lower their cost of living.

Yes.

Yes.

You need to be available for the 341 hearing and anything else that might come up before discharge, but there is nothing in the bankruptcy law to keep you from going wherever you want to go.

I know of no reason why you can't move wherever you want as long as they will let you immigrate there. I have heard, but never actually had it come up, that there are a few countries that will not take someone who has recently filed bankruptcy because they believe that there is a greater likelihood that you will not be able to support yourself, so I would check with the country's embassy first to make sure there is no problem.

Yes.

No! You must remain in the United States forever now. Just kidding! After discharge, all things become possible. Bon voyage and thanks for tuning in!

After your discharge enters, move wherever you want. Obviously, if you move after you file and don't follow through and attend a 341 hearing, second credit counseling class and other requirements, you will not receive a discharge.