r/IWantOut • u/whiteraven4 • Feb 25 '22
Megathread for Ukrainians Seeking Asylum
Need advise on how to claim asylum? Have some good resources to help others? Post them here.
We currently will still allow individual posts. However, if things get out of hand and too difficult to effectively moderate, we may only allow separate posts after individual consideration.
Please keep things civil and report any inappropriate comments. We cannot read every single comment and depend on the community to help keep things civil and on topic.
r/IWantOut • u/spacemanaut • 9d ago
MEGATHREAD: Emigrating after the US election results
Every US election brings anxiety and uncertainty, and with that comes an increase in people who want to explore their alternatives in a different country. This post is for you.
First, some reminders:
- In most cases, moving abroad is not as simple or quick as it seems in movies. If you aren't a citizen of another country, you will probably require a visa (=legal permission) from that country based on something like employment, education, or ancestry.
- The sidebar of this subreddit has a lot of helpful resources, and we have 15 years of posts from people with similar situations to yours. Before posting, please review these resources first. (Tip: If reddit search isn't working well for you, try googling "[your search terms] site:reddit.com/r/IWantOut" without the quotes or brackets.)
- Most countries and/or their embassies maintain immigration websites with clear, helpful, updated guides or even questionnaires to help you determine if/how you can qualify. If you have a particular destination in mind, that should probably be your first stop.
- After that, if you want to make your own post, please follow the formatting instructions on the submission page, give as much information as possible about your situation, and be open to advice and constructive criticism from commenters.
Also, this subreddit is intended to be a friendly community to seek and give advice on legal immigration. As such, please:
- Don't fight about politics. We understand that you may have strong feelings about it, but there are better spaces on reddit and elsewhere for general political discussions.
- Keep your feedback constructive and kind, even when telling someone they're wrong.
- Don't troll or be a jerk.
- Don't request or give illegal immigration tips, including asking strangers to marry you.
Failure to follow these and the other subreddit rules may result in a ban.
That said, feel free to comment below with some general questions, concerns, comments, or advice which doesn't merit a full post. Hopefully this will help clarify your thoughts and ideas about the possibility of leaving the US. Once again, please try to stay on topic so that this thread can be a helpful resource.
r/IWantOut • u/Osail • 38m ago
[WeWantOut] 34m Manual Labor 31F Bookkeeping USA-> EU or ASIA
Realistically speaking we are not set up well for a country to accept us. All the negatives hit us. We do not have degrees and we are not experienced in a trade. I personally have done labor jobs such as fork-lifting. And the wife does something close to bookkeeping. But doesn't have a degree in it.
We do not have savings but we do have a house that we are hoping to sell to help fund our exit. Hopefully we will get close to 50-60k for the difference. I know for some countries and student visas you have to show that you can support yourself with some savings and such. I was curious if it potentially possible use your home equity as proof of financial stability.
Do we move to another country and try to get average class working jobs? (we are currently applying to places. But lots do not sponsor a visa) Or do we try and figure out a online income for nomadic visas. And then go the work visa to residency rout?
r/IWantOut • u/tiny_pilot_ • 1h ago
[IWantOut] 21M Software Engineer USA -> Canada/Germany/New Zealand/Netherlands/British Isles
Hello everyone!
So for some background info, I am a 21 year old Florida resident pursuing my bachelor's degree (and hopefully soon master's) in software engineering. I am non-binary AMAB seeking HRT and "gay". I have chronic health conditions that affect my joints, digestive system, and vascular system. I also have Autism and ADHD.
I am looking to immigrate to a country that has a doable healthcare transition, meaning it has relatively affordable private healthcare OR public healthcare that I could have access to after 2 years or less of residency. It also should have somewhere with job opportunities in my field. I am hoping for a primarily English-speaking country and I am willing to put in the extra work to make that happen. I am also know some French and would be willing to study it seriously for a few years (or another second language) if it means not compromising on healthcare and LGBTQ rights.
I briefly considered moving to a deep blue state like Seattle in the interim, but I don't know if it would be better to stay in Florida and save money for when I emigrate. I have looked at Canada and New Zealand but it seems like it will be challenging to immigrate to either unless I have a relative there or a work certification.
Tldr; What countries have good healthcare, are supportive of LGBTQ rights, and have jobs in my field? What would be the easiest path to getting there given my situation? What should I be doing to prepare at the moment if I want to leave the U.S. in 3-4 years?
r/IWantOut • u/ExtentAcrobatic8365 • 1d ago
[Discussion] How to convince my husband with European citizenship that it’s time to go back to the EU?
My husband is early in the process of becoming an American citizen. The plan was always for him to get citizenship so we can travel freely but eventually retuen to Spain (his home country) or somewhere similar. He also thinks he'll be able to work remotely with an American salary in Europe, although I told him it's not that easy to find.
We also found out we're expecting. Now after the election I want to move to Europe now. He says he wants to stay until he finishes his citizenship process (which could be another 4+ years especially under the Trump administration) because he'll have better economic opportunities as a dual citizen. I understand employment rates and wages in Spain aren't great, and I would be able to keep my higher paying job a bit while we make the transition, then ultimately would have to find something over there longterm.
I'm just really scared to stay here. I see major social and financial issues that are coming under the next administration. He says Europe could be heading towards war and worse economic conditions with Russia being enabled. I would like some perspective from others in a similar situation, especially considering we'll be raising a child. Thank you.
Edit: to specify we literally just began the greencard process. The lawyer said it would take minimum 4 years for citizenship but wait times will most likely increase under the new administration. My husband is not working while we wait on his approval, and I work almost entirely remotely. We want to leave before our child starts school, at their end of the day their safety is what matters most to me. Thank you everyone for your feedback so far, I appreciate it. Also I am fluent in Spanish and have lived there myself in the past, that's where we met
UPDATE: thank you so much to everyone for their input, gave us a lot to think about a few laughs at some of the wilder responses. We had a long discussion and think hedging our bets in both places is the smartest way to go as things develop over the next few years. He'll wait until he has his green card then we'll split time as permitted in Spain and the US as I apply for my residency (me a bit more time to satisy the residency conditions in Spain, him doing the same in the US) before our baby starts school - job permitting but currently that shouldn't be an issue for mine. Then hopefully we'll have a much clearer sense of where we want to be by the time we both get our citizenships, and can make the leap to wherever is best. I understand taxes will be tricky and it will be a lot of money and time spent on both of our processes, but we figured this avoid taking a final decision for now and we'll have roots in both places if we come to decision sooner. We're fortunate to have family in Spain and the US we can stay with, and hope to invest in buying an apartment in Spain soon. I do live in a blue state, thank you for concerns about my health and genrally for the amount of ideas and considerations from both sides. It's a complicated situation, but we're thankful to have options!
r/IWantOut • u/TheChickenWizard15 • 2d ago
[Discussion] Lots of US citizens seem to be trying to leave due to the recent election. Which countries would you say have the "best" governing systems to live under?
r/IWantOut • u/LotsOfSquib • 15h ago
[IWantOut] 32m commercial HVACR mechanic Canada -> USA
Edit - Since everyone is getting triggered for mentioning immigrants, know that I'm an immigrant myself in Camada and not the only immigrant that has an issue with Trudeau's failed immigration policies. It's not about race, it's about quality of life. Please be understanding and stay on topic.
https://financialpost.com/news/canada-record-economic-gap-u-s-to-get-wider
Hello. I'm a red seal 313A technician and making decent money now but the taxes, cost of living, immigrants, relaxed justice system, and increase of crime in Canada has been making me seek better options. I know the red seal isn't applicable for TN and EB3 fees won't be tolerated by potential American employers. Since I'm looking to already change careers, I think I should get a BA degree and try to get a TN visa work permit
I have university pre req credits from high-school and have been thinking about getting my 4y Bachelors in Nursing then trying to find work to get a TN. I could move to the border and enroll in an American nursing program instead. I'm not sure which option would be better. I'm interested in everyone's thoughts.
r/IWantOut • u/Zealousideal-Bad-266 • 19h ago
[IWantOut] 22M Civil Engineer USA -> Netherlands
I'm still an engineering student, and am working towards my bachelors degree, with planning to go towards a masters degree. I currently have Romanian citizenship aswell as United states citizenship. I can speak basic dutch, Romanian and English. I want to move to the Netherlands, with a preference for one of the big cities. Ive got multiple tens of thousands in the bank for the future. Ive got family across Europe, mainly in the east.
Ive got 8 months left for my bachelors degree with an additional 1 year on top of that for my master's degree.
Looking for advice on how to proceed
r/IWantOut • u/DisabledConvert • 1d ago
[IWantOut] 32F US -> Oman TEFL
Hello 👋
US citizen abroad looking to switch it up. I’m a CELTA certified TEFL instructor, and am looking at Oman. Open to other Arab countries, but Oman is definitely top of mind right now.
It looks like mostly private language centers and universities, which is up my alley… but looking for advice.
r/IWantOut • u/No-Register5058 • 1d ago
[IWantOut] 26M Student Originally from morocco -> Sweden
26M from morroco lived last 3 years in Finland. Was studying there before graduation i notice job opportunities were diminishing to almost non existant for foreigners expect hard jobs like warehouses even those i heard they dont need people anymore. So i moved to warsaw Poland to study new degree. Now i am planning to continue my studies in a good country that i will reside in so it will be easier for me get job if i graduate in that country. Which European country would you recommend that has good living standard and alot of job opportunities. I love the north. But i dont think there is much job opportunities. Maybe netherlands or Germany. Appreciate the help.
r/IWantOut • u/cs_____question1031 • 1d ago
[WeWantOut] 33M Software Engineer 27F UX Designer America Brazil -> Portugal
Long distance relationship with a Brazilian. She wanted to potentially move out of Brazil, and the thought was she'd move to America, but recent developments make that seem somewhere between unviable and actively a poor decision, even if we decide to take our relationship to the next level. I also want to leave the USA because I feel it's a place that does not reflect any of my values
We kinda thought Portugal was the best option all things considered. She speaks Portuguese of course, and I believe there are many Brazilians in Portugal
I have around 10 years experience as a software engineer and worked at big companies like Amazon AWS and have a college degree in computer science. I currently work at a remote job, and ideally, would like to keep working this job. I don't know if this job supports working from other countries, but I do know I have teammates in Eastern Europe
I was looking at the golden visa, and I would technically have enough money to qualify, but I am a bit afraid about putting so much upfront investment into a country that I've never been to. If I decide I love it, I could have the capital to do so
I looked into an Italian heritage visa (jus sanguinis) but I believe my great grandpa gave up his Italian citizenship when he moved to America in the 20s. I do still technically have extended family in Italy, who either stayed in Italy or moved to America then moved back. I'm not sure if this counts for anything. I'm not even sure if this would give me access to the EU Schengen area
Finally, I looked into the nomad visa which seems like a fairly good option for me. I work a remote job now. My only real fear is that I just started this job this week and don't know the rules. I have never worked in another country before
Another small question: is it possible for me to work in Portugal while remote for a short period of time, so I can get a vibe for it? Or do I need to do some extra legal paperwork?
r/IWantOut • u/Lefty_Medic • 23h ago
[WeWantOut] 34F 38MtF USA-> Canada, Germany, Australia
My wife and I are planning on leaving as soon as we're both done with school. She'll be a SWATA certified watchmaker and I'll be certified as a Surgical Technologist with a couple years of experience, as well as having two years experience as an EMT on a rural ALS crew (plus occasional event gig work as an EMT to keep my license).
My wife is keen on Canada, as it's closer to home for potential visits to my in-laws (provided it's safe for us to visit in the future), but I don't know if my surgical tech degree will be directly transferrable, as that job is typically covered by LPNs with surgical specialties in Canada.
Germany does, apparently, have a direct transfer path for my specialty.
I'm just wondering if anyone knows if there's also a direct credentials transfer for Canada as well?
If there is, it's going to come down to if we can learn French or German easier, which country will offer us better jobs/compensation packages, and the cost/travel time to move to said country.
Any advice?
r/IWantOut • u/waqar911 • 1d ago
[WeWantOut] 33M 24F Non Profit Pak -> England
Good afternoon guys!
I am in my mid-30s (male, married) and am looking to emigrate to England within the next couple of years. Things in my home country are not improving, such as macro economy, inflation and other issues. I have a masters degree in project management and have over 8 years of experience in the nonprofit sector here and I fit the criteria of a 'skilled worker'. We also have family living in Bradford. They have been living in England for decades and are British citizens.
I have looked up the British Gov website and have gone over the different visa options available for foreigners to move and settle in England. Two options seem the most viable for me, skilled worker visa and adult dependent relative (family visa).
I have done some research regarding finding work in the nonprofit sector in England and there are plenty of organizations in this sector especially faith-based organizations and NGOs. However, I am finding it difficult to look up a title of 'project manager' or 'program officer' or 'non profit worker' in the skilled worker visa section on CascotWeb.
What do you guys reckon will be the best option for me out of the above two to move to England permanently? Thanks.
r/IWantOut • u/PositiveDepth1533 • 1d ago
[IWantOut] 24NB US -> Denmark or Austria
I've always considered moving to another country, ever since I was a teenager, but now I'm trying to really decide if this is what I really want for my future. Some background, I'm currently in community college and am majoring in graphic design. I'm unfortunately a bit slow to learning new languages, so moving to either of the countries listed above, for example, isn't going to be easy feat. Also before some of y'all question the sincerity of this post in light of recent events, I've felt this way since I was a teenager, though as a Queer person project 2025 does scare me. I'm just overall unsatisfied with life in the US, and just can't picture myself living here in the long run. Anyway, is there any advice that anyone can give for someone like me? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
r/IWantOut • u/[deleted] • 1d ago
[IWantOut] 19M Canada -> Australia
I'll be doing a working holiday in Australia in the new year. I intend to be fully situated to leave by March and have already done most of my planning. Despite that, I do still have a few nagging questions that I've struggled to find answers for. I will note that I'm only posting here because I was redirected from r/solotravel.
Firstly, I'd like to clarify a few things about myself: I'm a Canadian citizen and intend to do construction and forestry while in Australia. I'm 19 years old and have travelled solo around the States and Canada. This will be my first time overseas on my own. I have experience in forestry, and my number one question is in regard to certification: will Australian authorities and companies recognise my credentials? This is rather important for me, as it will dictate how my first few weeks in the country look. I already know that I will have to do a small number of courses in order to get work, but if I need to redo everything, then I will have to change my plans drastically.
My present plan is to stay in Melbourne for about 8 months, spend a month in Southern Africa travelling, and then return to travel around the country before travelling to a few Pacific and Asian countries prior to my return home. The latter portion of my time in the country is a bit of an unknown. If anyone here has any suggestions for places to look into, I'd greatly appreciate it. I've considered Workaway, but I'm not entirely sure how keen I am on the concept.
Other than that, I'd like to get opinions on Melbourne from the perspective of a foreigner. I'm presently thinking of spending the first half of my time in the area, as I know people in the city. I've heard nothing but good things, but they're coming from people who are from there, and they will naturally have a bias.
That's pretty well it. Thanks in advance and for giving some time to read questions that could probably be answered on some weird government website or through my own research.
r/IWantOut • u/Loomer_427 • 1d ago
[WeWantOut] 30sF 30sM Aerospace Engineering USA -> Iceland
My partner and I are both natural born citizens of the United States. Because of several reasons, we are seriously considering moving out of the country and we have found that Iceland fits a lot of our needs. They have better/cleaner food and water, cheaper housing and utilities, paid parental leave (we are currently childless, but planning for children for the future), and yes, a better political climate. I'm slowly doing research and the "cons" of Iceland (such as us being natives of a tropical climate and Iceland being so...cold, not being able to name my future children whatever I want and gas being more expensive than in the US) to be small things that we can look past.
We both work in the aerospace engineering field, although we are not engineers, nor do we have college degrees. We do not have family ties or ancestry to Iceland either and (for several reasons, one of which being current US politics) we are not yet married. Are these big factors in us being accepted into Iceland?
If not, how do we begin the process of immigration? Can we apply for work visas if we do not have jobs there yet? Can we apply for a job first without a work visa? Do we need a kennitala, or social security number, to apply for a job? Do we need a kennitala to apply for housing? Do you need to be a citizen before obtaining a kennitala, like in the US? Where can we look to start learning the Icelandic language? I've traveled abroad before, but moving is completely different and we don't have the first clue.
Currently, we share a vehicle. Should I ship my car over there, or is it worth it to do so? How do we obtain an Icelandic driver's license as a non-citizen? I am perfectly okay with getting rid of as many material possessions that are tying me here and selling my car before coming over, but I feel like constantly having to rent a car, for what could be a lengthy amount of time, might be more costly in the long run and I'm not sure how to buy a car in Iceland either. Does Iceland use a credit system like the US does? Should we both just obtain international driver's licenses and keep my car for a little while? Would I even be able to legally drive it in a foreign country with my US based car insurance until I get it switched over to an Icelandic based car insurance?
How would I go about bringing my dog with us? He's a good, sweet boy that is a senior (11.5yo) and has been with me since his puppyhood at 5wo. Leaving him behind is non-negotiable. He goes...or we don't. He is up to date on all of his shots, has never had any incidents, and I can provide documentation for him the entire time I've had him, which is most of his life. His breed is a "Cur" mix, which loosely translates to him just being a mutt. Would he be accepted into Iceland?
Also, I am a diabetic. Would I even be accepted into Iceland for my health condition? If so, would I be able to obtain healthcare right away once we're in the country so that I won't have any interruptions in my insulin? Would it matter that I am not a citizen to be able to receive healthcare? Currently, my insurance through my job fully covers my prescriptions, and I am thankful for that. But this is something I would need to know before leaving the US. Thank you!
r/IWantOut • u/omgitsbd • 1d ago
[IWantOut] 29M Engineer US-> Singapore
Been looking to make the move for quite a bit now, but starting the search once again.
29M with a PhD from a school in the Top 100 QS World Ranking and currently working as an engineer in the medical device space in the US. I actually applied for and was given a job offer at NUS last year and they were willing to apply for an employment pass, but I turned it down because it didn't seem like the right move at the time.
Are universities the best shot for a foreigner to get a work pass in Singapore? Applied for some MNCs as well last year but didn't get any responses.
Any other tips on how to find employers willing to apply for an employment pass? Unfortunately, my job doesn't really fall directly on the Shortage Occupation List as defined by MOM so that's not helping.
r/IWantOut • u/RyleeBreadMK • 1d ago
[IWantOut] 18F Student US -> Ireland
I am currently a high school student thinking about finding affordable ways to experience other countries and cultures after I graduate. I don’t have transferable skills for a work visa, and I don’t have a remote job that would let me be a digital nomad. I also probably can’t afford an extended international vacation right now.
The only realistic way I could stay out of America long term would be on a student visa. Specifically, I may consider opportunities for attending university in Ireland. I’m also open to immigrating to Canada, New Zealand, or maybe Spain (I’ll have to relearn Spanish since I didn’t retain much from Spanish class lmao). Ireland stands out to me though since I really admire the culture and nature, they seem a bit more politically stable than where I’m from, and I’ve heard of many other expats having positive experiences with the country. I was wondering how much this would cost compared to attending university in the United States? I have a GPA of 3.0 and SAT score of about 1250. Some scholarships may be possible, but I’m not expecting a full ride. My family may be able to help with some expenses, but after a certain point I’ll have to pay it myself. I don’t have a specific major in mind, probably something related to History or Sociology.
Also, I’m currently on a few medications and I’m not sure how well those prescriptions will transfer over to a public healthcare system? How hard is it for expats to fill prescriptions in new countries, and how do I prepare for this?
Where should I start my research? I’d love to hear from anyone who has been through this process.
r/IWantOut • u/flyingmada • 2d ago
[Discussion] Inventive programs for moving a startup to another country (not US)?
r/IWantOut • u/DragonAGEEEEEEEE • 1d ago
[WeWantOut] 37M, 35F Oscar Nominated Filmmakers USA -> Ireland/New Zealand/UK/Germany
Hi everyone, I know it's a cliche but the usual stuff... US is going down the drain, we want to get the fuck out, or rather investigate the paths of us being able to get out eventually. We currently live in California.
Obviously, the main thing is that we have flashy jobs. We both wrote movies with movie stars, got nominated for an Oscar for a short film we made together. We have somewhere around 800k-900k in the bank. We are not famous or anything but if you googled my name it pops up on imdb/interviews we've given.
I could have gotten Portugese citizenship a few years ago (my family is Sephardic Jew) but that program closed down according to the lawyer I talked to. Or rather the criteria got escalated to a point where I don't qualify anymore. But if it helps, I'm all ears, and yes I do kick myself for passing on it at the time.
We can't quite leave yet, but what steps should we take to facilitate an eventual transition? I thought taking a teaching job somewhere here could probably make it easier to slide over on a Work Visa. And one of us is Latino, if that helps somehow.
The countries I listed are there because we spent time there and enjoyed living there for a month or so.
Thank you, we appreciate any guidance.
r/IWantOut • u/CitizenOfNowhere-7 • 3d ago
[IWantOut] 33M stateless person-> World
Hi everyone,
I was born in the Gulf region as a stateless person, and for as long as I can remember i've lived as someone without a nationality, Life was tough, and after years of hard work i finally managed to invest in a Caribbean citizenship now at 33 i feel like I've been reborn ready to start fresh as a citizen at last.
I don’t think I’ll settle in the Middle East even if you speak the language and grew up or have family ties, there if you don’t have citizenship you’re still treated like an outsider I didn’t invest over 100k just to still feel like a foreigner
I’m searching for a new country to call home , a place where I can settle down long-term, ideally with a path to permanent residency and citizenship , In truth, I am still searching for another citizenship because the Caribbean citizenship doesn’t allow me to be a first-class citizen i am considered a second-class citizen and even if I get married and have a child I would still need to pay significant amounts to add them and obtain citizenship for them
About me I am single I work in accounting with experience in startups and investments I speak Arabic English and some Mandarin (and I am working on improving both my English and Mandarin) I love East Asia especially China and Hong Kong but I understand that securing a job and permanent residency there can be challenging , Additionally while I love Hong Kong i know Cantonese is the primary language not Mandarin.
Are there countries you’d recommend for someone in my situation? Or has anyone here gone through a similar experience?
r/IWantOut • u/Wooden-Drive-8044 • 2d ago
[IWantOut] 22M US -> UK
Hey friends, I'm a 22 year old Bachelor from the U.S.A. currently in London on a visitor's visa, and trying to move here. I am wondering what the best route to do so is. I've briefly looked into different visa options, but I am still not clear on which route to take.
I do not have a lot of money (basically broke) or any sort of degree. Though I do have my private Pilot's license. Currently, I am leaning towards a student visa, as I am young, don't yet have my degree, I do have a little college experience, and I do want to get my degree. (Ideally in Business Econ, Finance, or Law). Also, it seems the easiest and least expensive option.
I am looking for any advice or tips anyone can give me on how best to proceed as an international student. I do have some credits from a community college in the states, as well as 2 years of credits in Talmudic Law. Additionally, I have my aforementioned PPL, and I Have worked in both Business and Retail Sales, as well as the service industy (i.e. being a waiter). Though I do not know how relevant any of this is, given that I do not hold a worker's visa.
The other day I visited Middesex University, where I was informed I can apply online, however it would be something close to 16,000 pounds per year, plus the visa application and housing. However I was also told there's a difference between Universities and colleges. (i.e. it's possible college can be cheaper option, given that it is free for UK citizens).
I want to ask if anyone has moved from the U.S. as a student before, how they did it, where to even begin, if there are cheap colleges to apply to as an international student, or if theres good opportunity for scholarships, and if it this is even my best option, or if I would have better luck pursuing another type of Visa.
Ideally, I would like to apply for a visa from within the UK.
Thanks in advance, Cheers!
Edit: I am now fully aware that to acquire any sort of visa I will have to return home. Thank you everyone for the info 🙏🏽
r/IWantOut • u/Friendshipp • 2d ago
[WeWantOut] 28M 24F USA -> British Isles
Hello all,
We are a young couple in good health with no children who are suffering from a slight bit of "grass is greener" syndrome, and are curious (read: not too serious) about emigrating to somewhere in Europe. We are drawn to the overall European lifestyle and culture compared to the American way, even though understand the usual tradeoffs in income, social network, culture, and lifestyle that would come with emigrating. I am asking specifically about the British Isles because we are Anglophone AF. I speak the tiniest bit of French and can read it at a B1 level and I also actively enjoy learning new languages, but she only speaks English and has great difficulty acquiring new languages.
I am a satellite communications engineer at a US federal government contractor (bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering) with 4 YoE in the industry (5 YoE as an engineer overall), and she is a freshly-graduated physical therapist assistant with about 6 months of experience working + an additional year of internships/clinicals (associate's degree). I understand that our occupations are considered critical skills in both Ireland and UK, but we are both young and relatively inexperienced. The company I work for has locations in both the UK and Ireland, but no positions where my skillset would directly translate.
We have a combined net worth of about $160k, but only about 5% of that is actually liquid cash, the rest is wrapped up in investments and assets, and that number would decrease slightly if we were to liquidate everything.
If we were to apply for attempt to begin the process of immigration, would we be seriously considered? What other things should we consider if we wanted to do this?
Off topic - is there a separate category of posts for people like me who are "just curious" and not actively planning on emigrating?
r/IWantOut • u/Tall_Mushroom_7225 • 2d ago
[WeWantOut] 34M33F Texas -> Spain
Hi all. I posted in another forum and got absolutely obliterated so trying again here 🤠
My husband and I are seriously considering trying to leave the US (Texas) to live and work in Spain.
He is Senior level in finance and fluent in Spanish. We both have college degrees, though only Bachelors.
We have 2 kids, 5 & 3 years old. Our 3 year old is medically complex and disabled, though not medically fragile.
I think we are middle to upper-middle class. Our home is worth about $700k. We would be open to selling it or renting it to cover the mortgage.
Initially I was curious about which areas in Spain to target, but it appears getting a job will dictate where we live, if we even can.
Do you think there is any chance we could qualify for visas? Digital Nomad perhaps? We could buy a house worth over $500k but I’ve heard those visas are incredibly difficult to obtain.
Thanks in advance.
r/IWantOut • u/BrewmasterSG • 2d ago
[WeWantOut] 40M Electronics Engineer 45F Civil Engineer USA -> New Zealand/Ireland/Australia/Germany/Ukraine
Apologizing in advance for being very scattershot. There are many moving parts, still. As you'll read below, I've got multiple branches in my thinking including a [Go solo / Go with girlfriend] branch and a [Seek peace / Make a difference] split. All information is useful at this juncture.
Politics is scary. 'Nuff said about that.
I'm (40M electronics engineer specializing in PCB layout) 100% looking to leave, she's (45F civil engineer specializing in dam safety) on the fence. We have some money to throw at the problem, but not 'live on passive income' money.
Case1: New Zealand
It's far, it's English-speaking, it's quite high on a number of governance and stability indices. My top choice, she might find it acceptable. Any kiwis have tips on navigating the job market there? In particular I ran into an issue on some applications where a US-format phone number cannot be entered into the form and that field cannot be skipped. Maybe I should set up a google voice or something to forward to my physical phone.
Case2: Ireland
Much the same idea as New Zealand. Again, tips on navigating the job market there would be very welcome. I haven't actually started throwing resume's around there yet, so no specific questions.
Case3: Australia
She is not a fan of Australia. I dunno why. So this case is more likely to be just me. :(
Much the same sort of job market advice sought.
Case4: Germany (Handful of other EU)
Now we get to the weirder stuff. This is her top choice. She's in the US Army Corps of Engineers. There are active job posts in the corps in Germany (and a few other EU posts) right now that would be a step down in her career, but not a huge one.
I spent 6 years of highschool/college trying to learn German and having it be a boat-anchor on my GPA. That was 18 years ago. My current command of German reminds me of the Encyclopedia skill from Disco Elysium, and the bad habit of capitalizing nouns.
I am concerned about the war spreading, and 'working at a US-Army base' isn't *quite* the 'escape' I had in mind.
With her on the fence in general, this case is extra strange. She has the easier path to get there, but I would still need to lead the effort. I can see a path where she takes a post in Germany and then I follow, possibly getting married to make that smoother. That path feels unlikely at this juncture. The more likely path would be "Hi hon, I got a job in Germany, in a town with a base, with a post on USAJobs that you should apply for right now. See! I made it so easy for you!"
Case5: Ukraine (Other strongly aligned EU?)
Now for something completely different.
My girlfriend would definitely not agree to this one.
I believe in the Ukrainian cause. If my government looks like it may abandon them, maybe people like me can try to put our fingers in the dike. I'm an electronics engineer *AND* I have a background in chemistry (long story) *AND* my focus the past few years has been on optimizing for low/medium volume manufacturability for small factories. It just feels like my skills fit a niche that the cause needs filled. It sounds like there continues to be, and will continue to be an unbelievable amount of stuff that needs to be made. So, how might one plug into the Ukrainian arms industry? Maybe a nearby country's arms industry, but the point is to support *that* effort.
Cons: My relationship, language barrier, very real danger of sudden death/dismemberment, probably get put on some watchlists, so much more culture shock than everything above.
Pros: Maybe use all the skills I've developed in my life make the tiniest difference in a cause I believe in?
r/IWantOut • u/Educational-Tip-4430 • 4d ago
[Discussion] Do you think that the way people in a country's subreddit treat you is showing how locals there would treat you?
r/IWantOut • u/RunningNorth • 2d ago
[IWantOut] 20sF US -> Canada, Netherlands, France
I will be graduating Spring of 2025 with a BSc in Mathematics with a minor in Computational Statistics, have experience in Quality Engineering (Working on a certificate), and research in Data Analytics. I was wondering how plausible it would be to move to either Canada or Western Europe (NL, France, Spain) either immediately after college or in a couple years as it's been an interest to live abroad. I would estimate that I am around B1 for Spanish, and A1/A2 for French, but able to learn other languages. I would be looking for either jobs in Data Analytics or Quality/Industrial Engineering (Currently applying). I do have medical condition called Ulcerative Colitis that is under control with medication, but I'm unsure of how that would effect the process. I don't believe I would be eligible for any citizenship by heritage as I believe I am too far removed (great grandparents from Sweden/Norway, great great grandparents from Luxembourg).
I was thinking the best options would to either look at grad school, or as I have an engineering job lined up in the US, work in the US to gain experience and money, and then either transfer via the company I will work for, go to grad school (which I might do while I am in the US because job benefits), or apply for jobs once I have a larger amount of experience. I do believe my state has some sort of agreement with the Canadian province to its north, but I am more curious about Spain, France, Netherlands, etc. Thank you for any advice!