TexasCHLforum.com

There is more than one type of VPN. The one that you are describing is of the client/server type meant to hide traffic. This explanation does not apply to a site-to-site VPN which we recently discussed in a separate thread.

You VPN service has an entry node and an exit node. The entry node is the server that you connect to. The exit node is the one that communicates on your behalf with the final destination. The service may or may not route your traffic through multiple nodes between the entry node and exit node, in order to better disguise where it come from.

The exit node might be anywhere in the world. VPN's frequently use exit nodes in foreign countries so as to avoid US jurisdiction. This forum blocks a lot of foreign IP addresses. I have been blocked myself while I was in Europe. I had to use a VPN to get back to the US to use this forum from Denmark. You are being blocked here most likely because your VPN service is using a foreign exit node.

It is easy to see where your traffic is being routed. With your VPN enabled, go to:
https://speedtest.net
It will tell you the location your connection is coming from. BTW, avoid the dot com domain by the same name. It is infected with malware.

Some VPN providers allow you to choose the country of your exit node. If yours does, you can select a US site and not get blocked. You do not have the same degree of privacy if you do so.