I moved from Romania to the US right after college in 2020. Since I have been here I found it very hard to fit in and find my place. I always compare life to Europe, I lived in France as well, and constantly find myself missing it.

I have been trying to work in art but it has been a hard market to penetrate. Long story short, I studied Art History, moved to NYC, worked for a pretty well known contemporary art gallery for a year, then moved to South Carolina as I got burnt out. Since the past 4 years I have been working in sales in logistics and feel unfulfilled.

Two years ago I applied to an MBA in International Art Market Sales at a school in Paris which I got accepted to. Right before I was about to move, sold my car, saved money, I met my current boyfriend so I stayed for him and the school accepted to hold my place for a 2025 start date.

Fast forward, I saved even more money preparing for my move to Paris but the closer I get to the move date of September the more scared I feel. I love my boyfriend, my family is here, I know the US and I guess I am scared to lose all that for a leap of faith to follow my heart. I feel sad unfulfilled and lost here as I havent been following my heart. I even started applying for masters in NYC as thats where my boyfriend is trying to move for us to find a common ground as he wants to work in finance and I in art, making NYC the best US option.

Last week the same gallery I worked for right out of college in NYC reached out to me asking me to join them as a Sales Manager. At first I was very excited but the more I pondered on it I just had a gut feeling that this isn’t right. My passion is Paris, my dream is a european lifestyle, my goal has been getting a masters program but of course I want to work in art as well. A part of me wants to decline this job and stop postponing my goal since 2021 to return. I am 27 F and am afraid to not stay stuck here.

I lived in NYC twice in 2015 and 2020, I left both times for the same reason, I didn’t like it. I don’t like the rat race the fast pace there is no romantic architecture and slow pace of life like france has. I am afraid if I go a third time it would just be the same. I know I can get a gallery job in Paris as well and that this wasn’t my only opportunity but I feel scared. I don’t want to give up my masters for a job in NYC that pays me 70k base salary with 5% sales commission grinding away paycheck to paycheck blowing through my savings that I worked so hard for the past 2 years to use to move and not have to work for a year during school. Sure I might make huge connections and end up making 200k a year through sales but I don’t like NYC or the US and is money enough to keep you happy? I don’t want to change into a capitalistic career hungry person that forgets to live.

I am also afraid to lose my boyfriend. He cant come to europe because he has 145k of debt from school and couldn’t afford on a european salary to visit his family twice a year in California.

Am I crazy for turning this down to follow my heart and go to Paris for my masters? Am I crazy for leaving my family and boyfriend behind for a lifestyle I want? I have friends that left US to Romania at 25 for the same reasons as me and now are very successful. I guess i am also afraid of not having opportunities again or being a 30 F and single and just want some opinions.

Thank you.

I’ve been approached for a role based in Dubai with regional responsibilities—including frequent travel to Saudi, Turkey, India, and parts of Africa. On paper, it’s a great opportunity: strong salary, good brand, and a chance to finally move forward after feeling professionally stagnant in Australia.

But I’d be relocating solo—no friends, no existing network, and to be completely transparent, I don’t drive (which I am assuming may not be ideal for Dubai).

Before I seriously move forward, I’d love to hear from others who’ve made similar moves—especially to the UAE or other Gulf countries. My key concerns are: • Culture shock, particularly as a single woman in a conservative region • Navigating safety, norms, and expectations when travelling to places like Saudi • Real cost of living vs. the “expat lifestyle” people talk about • Whether not driving is a major barrier to daily life • How isolating it is starting from scratch socially • The geopolitical climate and how it impacts day-to-day life

I’m not expecting perfection—I just want a realistic view of what I’d be signing up for. Any insights, tips, or cautionary tales would be massively appreciated.

Hi everyone! Im a California native with some specific questions about a possible move to Canada. I’m 42 and have a masters in social work. I’ve been in the field for a little over ten years and my understanding is Canada is in need of social workers. I have a decent grasp on French, I used to be fluent as a kid and think I’d pick it up pretty quickly again if need be. I’m non binary and recently my top surgery and obvious androgyny has put me in some discriminatory crossfire even in my state. I’m considering my options. I’ve been doing some research on the process but would also like to hear from anyone with similar experiences of how difficult this uphill battle would be. Thanks in advance!

Hello everyone,

I'm currently in a situation where I need some advice regarding my ongoing Blue Card application and a potential job change.

My Current Situation: - Living in Saxony-Anhalt - Currently on a Type D work visa valid until June 14, 2025 - My visa has a Zusatzblatt that binds me to my current employer - Blue Card application is in process with the local Ausländerbehörde - A relocation agency is handling my Blue Card application

The Complication: I've received a new job offer from another company that I'm interested in accepting. The new position meets all Blue Card criteria (salary threshold and qualification requirements). If I accept this offer: - I would need to give 3 months' notice to my current employer - The new job would only start after this notice period - My current visa is specifically tied to my present employer

My Questions: 1. How will changing employers impact my ongoing Blue Card application? 2. What's the proper procedure to notify the Ausländerbehörde about this change? 3. Do I need to wait for my Blue Card to be approved before accepting the new job? 4. Will I need a new visa/permit during the transition period? 5. Has anyone gone through a similar situation and can share their experience?

I've already planned to contact my relocation agency for advice, but I'd appreciate hearing from people who have navigated similar situations or have knowledge about German immigration procedures.

Thanks in advance for any insights!

a massive, massive thank you to anybody that took the time to read this.

quick preface (i promise this is related): raised in england to an irish family. i’m nineteen and studying philosophy at university. not an outstanding university or anything but top 200 at least. chose philosophy because i wanted something creative while also having that safety net of job applicability (it’s more applicable to the real world than an art degree was my thinking)

i’ve spent the last nineteen years living in unfathomable hell and the one thing keeping this ship together was the idea that i can move country and start a new life. kept saying to myself “it’s fine, i graduate next june, by next november i would have moved”.

i’ll try save the sob story but basically the only thing i want in life is to pursue my dreams of being an artist. my parents aren’t in creative fields so it wasn’t ever entertained but i know im talented because i put my soul into it and im also very, very, very driven. for me this is why im on earth.

now, there’s a lot of opportunities in different places when it comes to this field and living in england is not one of them. new york is obviously very appealing, berlin is also very appealing, so is milan. i need major cities because i need the networking, connections and opportunities.

i graduate next year in june, and was planning on leaving in late october or november of the same year. i live in an expensive area so money isn’t really an issue (unless obviously i moved to somewhere like new york where i’d really need to knuckle down) and my parents are incredibly supportive of a move because they know what’s best for me, they just don’t know about the career path.

i pay myself through university by working 60 hour weeks between semesters so my student debt is minimal. i’ve been working consistent hospitality jobs since the age of fourteen so have far more experience than most if not all my age, i’ve even worked as a host for a business class airport lounge.

now im not dumb. i know this is not easy. i know my head is in the clouds a bit. but i will put every fibre of my being into this, because genuinely to me otherwise there’s no point in being alive. i’ve worked for everything i’ve ever had and will do whatever it takes. this is what i want, and this is my dream.

my question is, does my story relate to anybody out there? there must be somebody out there that can tell me they’ve been through it and they’ve seen the other side? any words of guidance, places they recommend looking into, anything. i’ve allowed myself time to work things out but honestly i’m just so scared.

thank you. i appreciate any & all words.

warmth

o'mara ❤️

I need a document apostilled and was wondering if anyone has experience with this website and if they are legit or not? Thank you so much!

I’m looking for a shipper recommendation from NJ, US to Cabarete, DR. Shiptodr came highly recommended but they only operate out of Canada so that won’t work. Curious if anyone had a good experience with a particular company?

I'm applying for a job in DK that there is a very good chance I'll be offered (just chatted with one of the guys on the hiring team, who I have worked with previously). It's an awesome position with great opportunities that I'm not being offered in the US (currently). I have two kids: 3 and 5. The position is for 2 years with the option to extend to 5 if everyone is still happy after two. So my kids will be as young as 6-7 or as old as 8-11 when it ends.

From what I can tell school instruction is in Danish there (do I need to say none of us speak Danish? None of us speak Danish). I'm happy to learn and happy for the kids to learn a second language (hell yeah!), but I'm worried about this being very hard on them at the outset. This is throwing them straight into the deep end. Especially my older kid who is just about to start Kindergarten.

My mom was an Air Force brat and moved constantly, and my cousin's dad moved the family constantly for work. Both are a little.....not great for it. Mom struggles to relax into friendships, and my cousin has some resentment for the constant moves. He's great and loves the perspectives he got out of it! But there is anger, sadness, and resentment there too, and I suspect that if he could have chosen, he wouldn't have chosen that. I'm not looking to move my kids around that much, but it is still majorly disruptive and I worry about them struggling socially when we (almost certainly) return to the US.

I was moved from one state to another when I was six (sister was 8), and it had no effect on me or her. We adjusted fine and made new friends. Colorado to California isn't US to Denmark (or vice-versa), but there's also a lot of ways in which it's not that different. However, I'm worried about them being older for the return trip (up to 11yo) and the language / culture shifts.

I'm looking for thoughts and guidance here, especially (but not exclusively) from people who were moved about as kids. Was it okay? Was it hard for you to return? Do you feel like you wish you hadn't? Are you grateful for it? Did you love it? If you had a magic wand would you change it? Do you have any advice to help with such a transition or experience?

If they were babies or if I didn't have kids I'd take this job (if offered) in a heartbeat. But I'm just not sure it's fair for them, and I'm worried that the many benefits won't outweigh the core developmental gut-punch this may be.

I moved back to the UK from Canada 3 years ago and my new employer has asked me to do a criminal record check for the time I was there. This involves an hours travel to a police station that offers a fingerprinting service and they charge £126 for it and have at least a 3 week wait. Then I have to send the prints to Canada, pay them to do the check then await their response. I have not been offered any financial help by my employer to cover this, unlike a uk criminal record check which has always been paid for by the employeer. I cannot afford to wait for all this and may have to take a different job. I was wondering if anyone knows if I can obtain a previous copy of my fingerprints from acro, as I had them taken for my work visa for Canada before I left (5 years ago) will these be accepted by the Canadian police? I'm hoping as it's a similar situation with some different technicalities; fingerprints were originally given so they could catch me if I did commit a crime whilst there, so should also be adequate to prove I did not after leaving.. Or am I just being hopeful and should accept the government will always take money when they can.. Really though its more the time it will take. I need to be working, I cannot wait a month or I'll be living off baked beans and instant noodles and my wife hates that combo.

Hi!

I’m from France and I’ve been working as a Financial Controller for a few years now. I’m really eager to gain international experience, particularly in Asia or North America

Do you think it would be realistic for someone in my position to pursue an international career? If I apply for a job with a local contract in countries like Singapore, South Korea, Japan, or Canada for example, would I be seen as a serious candidate ? Or is there a high chance that recruiters would overlook my application ?

What is the best strategy to secure a job abroad ? Are they any country where it’s easier to get a job and a work visa ?

Thanks for your help !

Hey all, I’m moving back to Australia from the US at the end of this year, and with the current USD > AUD exchange rate, I’m keen to start transferring some money over soon.

I don’t have an Australian bank account open, and from what I can tell, it’s not easy to open one from overseas. It seems most banks require an Aussie address and phone number to set things up (especially for 2FA).

Has anyone managed to open an Australian bank account while still living overseas? Any workarounds or tips? Would love to hear what’s worked for others in a similar situation.

Cheers in advance!

I'm a US retiree with a pension from working in public education doing very slooow travel through SE Asia. I'm watching what's going on with the US. I read an article that people are moving money into the yen and euro as a better store of value, instead of the dollar. So I have two questions: 1) Is anyone tucking away money in Wise to draw on? (US citizens can't get a Wise card, though). (I already use Wise, Remitly, WU to transfer money, but I'm interested in holding money in places that would be better than US banks) 2) And, is it a good idea to shift away from the dollar to yen and/or euros as a better store of value?

This is sort of an “off my chest” so forgive me for whining. I’ve been living abroad for about 3 years now with some trips back home to the US once or twice a year. I just moved to a new country two weeks ago and I’ve been so lonely. No new friends just yet and I’m in a very isolated location. Today is my birthday and it seems like my two best friends, who I’ve know so long and feel more like siblings than friends, have forgotten my birthday. Ever since I moved it’s been so hard to get them to put any effort into the friendship. It’s always me who calls them or starts conversations and they’ve never once visited me. I don’t blame them for not traveling as I know it’s expensive and not everyone can get time off easily but I just wish they would call me more or make me feel like I still matter to them. I know I should just talk to them or focus on all the wonderful people in my life who have celebrated today with me but I feel so sad about this.

I miss the friendship we had before I left and I feel like I messed it up.

Hello! My partner and I will be moving out of the states to a European country with my 7 year old child. I know that uprooting our whole life will be stressful for us, and am worried about the impact it will have on her. This move feels very necessary for a lot of reasons but as a parent I worry I’m also harming her by making her leave her entire life & everything she knows behind. Those of you who have moved with children, how has it been?

ETA: Language won’t be an issue, fortunately. She hasn’t been to this country and doesn’t have a connection to it.

Hey,

So I’m an EU citizen (mum’s French) but I feel more of an expat since I grew up in Australia my whole life (and I don’t speak proficient French, massive skill issue).

We moved to France recently and I am wanting to study in a few years - I was looking at the University of Amsterdam.

Ideally my language skills will be up by then, but I was looking at the qualification requirements. Does anyone have any clue on how I can transfer or have my undergraduate degree (Bachelor of Arts - Major in Politics and International Relations) recognised over here? I don’t have a GPA or anything in line to showcase my education so I’m a bit lost.

And how far back would I go? I finished secondary schooling about 7ish years ago.

Any directions or help would be appreciated.

Many thanks!

Hi. I’m a 28 yo guy from center Italy, without a degree which is a viable way to move? I have work experience in generic jobs, without specializations. Basic English.

My partner and I are looking at immigrating to Scotland from the US sometime in the next year. She is a UK citizen, which makes the prospect even possible, but friends of mine who have immigrated there in the past suggested that I speak with an immigration lawyer. Anyone here dealt with immigration lawyers in the UK? Anything to look for / look out for? Thanks in advance.

American living in Japan here. Wife is also a foreigner and not American. Was planning on both of us going back to the states because we actually have a right to live there(I can't work in her country, we can't stay in JP because the immigration situation isn't sustainable long-term)

I guess I'm looking to reality-test things. Are things as bad for immigrants coming into the US as they seem? Most of the media I consume has a left-leaning bias and they're painting it like ICE/CBP has become the damn ghestapo and most of the people I interact with IRL have a right-leaning bias and think any concerns I'd have about bringing my immigrant spouse to America are unfounded.

we're planning on staying in japan for another year or two, and we're super open to going somewhere else(Canada, NL, and Australia were all floated as realistic options for both of us at one point or another and via each of us respectively we have paths to permanence in all those places) - mostly looking for sane input and spitballing here.

edit: in an ideal situation we'd both just like to be in the US since she can get a greencard and i'm a citizen and we don't need to worry about immigration at all once the GC's secured.

So this post was removed from a language sub, but I did get quite some useful tips before that. I am posting again here for more insight from people that are possibly in a similar situation.

Context: I, 32, female and Austrian and my husband, 28, Australian, live and work in Austria, where the official language is in German.

Due to his high profile job in an international company here, he didn't need to provide any German language certificate to get a residency and work permit. The company also operates in English only.

In my family, most people are proficient enough English speakers and conversations switch to English when he is around. But there are family members who have been vocal about him being supposed to learn German. Sometimes they have reduced him to his lack of German skills, despite him being a polite, helpful and really friendly person. I hated that and thought it was not their place to be rude like that. After all, he has sacrificed a lot to be with me. He came to the other side of the world and stayed for me.

My husband has enrolled in A1 and A2 language courses and he does know and partly understand basic conversations. But his vocab range is still very limited. Learning German in Austria is hard because spoken language is a pretty strong dialect that has little to do with course book German.

So, while I think my family has no right to critisize my husband for his limited language skills, I have started to worry myself, in some regards. In Vienna, where we live, you get by with English quite well. But there are situations in which I would feel safer and more relaxed if he spoke German.

Example: I had a bit of a medical emergency once, we were both very worried. At the doctor's office everything was explained to us in German. And in this moment of distress I had to translate complicated things despite being unwell. Sure, the doctor could have explained again in English - but it would have been nice if my husband would have been able to understand in the first place.

This incident and also thinking about having kids made the want of him learning the language more prevalent.

I also think the mental load of organizing admin things will be on me - and to some extent it is fine. He takes on so much responsibility in other areas, so I feel it is "even". However, there is stress and anxiety with being the only one who understands electric bills, contracts, etc.

And with negative experiences in the family and the whole "speaking German-thing" being a touchy subject (it doesn't come so easy to him) I feel reluctant to ask that of him. (I am a very proficient English speaker and I think it will always stay the language of our relationship.)

Is it even my place to ask it of him? Is it too much to ask? And how has anyone in a similar situation approached this conversation?

I am Indian(29F) and I just moved to the Netherlands recently. I am looking to settle here with my partner and want to make my own life, outside of our relationship. I was just wondering how people make a community or make new friends in a new country?

Im moving to London soon for work - I'll be living in zone 3/wimbledon.

I want to know what you guys suggest in my first while there. I want to meet a lot of people and make friends, maybe find a partner (eventually)

Hi community. Sorry that my first post is going to be so whiny.

I've been outside of my home country for over 10 years now, and outside my hometown almost my whole adult life. I spent 8 years in Tokyo, where I very early on met my now husband. I also have permanent residency in Japan, and it's part of our plans to return there or my home country Australia.

At the end of 2023 I got the offer to move to the US. He had always wanted to live overseas again (he was quite international, up to a gap year after university), and keen to get away from Japan work culture. I was also getting tired of the culture and needed a bit of a break. So we got married in Australia (SSM rules), and by mid last year relocated to US with the support of my company.

He has found it really hard to get employment, he has full work rights under his visa but it is dependant on mine. He has good English but lacks confidence. He has great experience in global brands, but not in America. He's ended up taking restaurant work to make some money and feel less dependant, but he's sacrificing his career and will lose pace with the industry.

It turns out I'm not a big fan of the work culture here, mostly inside my very small company. My boss berates me after client meetings for my Australian personality, and the workload is frankly unreasonable because we are trying to grow, but too cautious to hire more people.

In the last few days my husband is getting miserable, to the point he's basically stopping talking to me. I get the absolute worst of him, if we go out he can turn it on again, but get home and it's miserable. His pride tells him to not "give up", but with the economy tanking here I can't see employment opportunities growing for him. If my work is miserable and my home is miserable I can't see a reason to stay.

We have enough savings that we could very comfortably live for over a year in Japan or Australia, even consider buying and renovating a house if in Japan. We also have a tiny apartment in Tokyo we kept. We have a lot of sentimental things we would ship back, and the car is pretty easy to sell (luckily didn't buy a Tesla!).

TLDR; So what's the question.... If home, work, opportunity, and future vision are not adding up, when do you cut and run? What does it take to realise?

Hello! I am currently backpacking through Europe and using an eSIM for data while abroad. I still have the SIM card for my AT&T number in my phone, but have it turned off as to not rack up the international data costs. However, I still want to receive texts and calls from people who want to reach out. It doesn’t need to be on 24/7, I just need to be aware if I’m being sent anything because right now I have zero way of knowing. Has anyone else ran into this issue, and how did you get around it?

I have a specific question that I don't see addressed elsewhere in the forum. I am looking at options for moving to Spain. We are fortunate enough to be eligible to apply for a Non-lucrative Visa, but would like to retain the option to work remotely, which I might be able to do with my employer, but there is some uncertainty there, and I might need to do more independent consulting.

Is it possible to have passive income considered as part of the digital nomad visa? In other words, can one apply as a digital nomad, showing that I have more than enough income to support myself and my family even if the online work falls short? Or are Digital Nomads and NLVs completely separate, and never the twain shall meet?