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I was born in Hong Kong (hold HKSAR and BNO nationalities), immigrated to the US as a kid with family (also naturalized US) and am now currently resident in Germany. For various reasons I'm curious about relocating to the UK (staying in Europe, but back to an English speaking country) and am wondering if the BNO might come in handy, even though I'm no longer in Hong Kong.

I work in architecture, so at first I was considering the normal route of finding a job and going the skilled worker route, but would it be more straightforward to temporarily move to Hong Kong (despite my having absolutely no connections there) then turning around and applying for the BNO visa? Or are there other avenues I could take advantage of?

Hello to everyone reading this, I’m Faris—a 15-year-old from Pakistan with a ton of logistics and sales experience (trust me, I never thought I'd say that at 15!). I'm here for a little guidance—and, honestly, a lifeline.

My family situation is really tough. Domestic violence is a daily reality, and it's been taking a toll on my mental health. My mom, who’s an English teacher with over 13 years of experience, is stuck in an impossible situation. My stepdad is incredibly violent, and because of cultural and safety issues here in Pakistan, leaving just isn't an option for her or my younger siblings (a toddler and a 3-year-old). We all have passports, and she’s tried finding jobs abroad, but without visa sponsorship, nothing has worked out.

So, I’m reaching out to you all. If there’s any possible way—whether it’s finding a high school, a support network, or even advice on where I could work to support myself abroad—I'm ready to jump in. I'll go anywhere: Vietnam, Japan, Philippines, wherever there's a chance for a fresh start. Any path, suggestion, or bit of advice would mean the world to me. 🙏

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. If you have any advice or ideas, I'm all ears.

EDIT: Whoops... title should read USA -> UK/Netherlands/Germany/France. (Although, while I would prefer living in these four countries due to language abilities, affinity for the culture, and personal ties, I'd honestly be happy living in almost any UK+EEA+EU country.)

Hi all! I've been planning to move out of the US for years now, but... recent events... have caused me to move up the timeline from "once I'm a little more established in my career" to "as soon as realistically possible".

Quick background: I have a degree in physics, and my previous job involved providing technical support to a consulting team that performed feasibility studies for products developed by major US engineering firms. I quit my job due to burnout a few months ago. Since then, I've been trying to make a career shift into technical communications.

So my question is: do I have any chance of securing a visa for a job in technical communications in any of the above countries? (Complicating things, I am currently only fluent in English. Though I do speak several other languages, I'm not fluent in any of them to the level I'd feel comfortable taking a communications job in any of them.)

If the answer is no, I could try to go back to my roots and find another purely technical job to get my foot in the door. I would prefer not to do this, but if getting a visa for a technical communications role would be hard or impossible, I'd be okay doing so.

Thanks for your help!

I am currently a high school student and planning to do a Bachelors in Pharmacy next year.
It is a 4 year course and I am willing to learn the language required to move to one of the mentioned countries.

I plan to do a Masters or the equivalent studies in one of the countries before getting a job and citizenship. and would love to know any specific requirements, exams, pay grade of job, challenges etc.

From the research that I have done, each country has its own curriculum and exams required to become a registered pharmacist.

I first want to move alone, and later bring my mother to Europe after settling.

I will be grateful general advice, or other country suggestions too.

Thank you

Graduate studies in Ireland

Hi all!

Due to recent events in US (beyond just this election), my partner and I are pursuing opportunities to work and live abroad. We are aware of the difficulty and know that nowhere is a utopia. We have genuine, well founded concerns for America’s future and want to eventually start a family in a country on a different path.

We are both in our early 20s with Bachelors of Arts from a high ranking university. While we both have a little work experience (internships for me, 2+ years of broadly applicable work exp for her), we haven’t really broken into any particular career path quite yet.

Currently, we’re considering graduate studies in Dublin, with hopes for eventual job prospects. We are enthusiastic about Ireland because my family owns a flat just outside of Dublin, eliminating the worry for housing. We are also relatively comfortable with savings, so the fees and expenses are less of an initial barrier. Additionally, we’re from the PNW, so the rain and grey will be quite familiar.

We are very aware of how difficult it would be to land a job here afterwards, but the idea is to at least get an experience of Ireland first before either really committing to finding a job there/finding a way to move there permanently. If all goes well, either of us lands a job and we are able to stay, otherwise we return to the US, continue building wealth/career with plans to eventually return.

We are considering the occupations listed on the Critical Skills list as a guideline.

Obviously, this is a response to recent events, however, this is not merely a reactionary plea for free passage elsewhere. We’re both highly tuned in to domestic affairs and sincerely believe that America is, and will increasingly become, a place that is antithetical to our fundamental beliefs and, more importantly, will be governed in manner that does not represent the people.

We understand the immediate and long term implications of embarking on this process. We’re under no false impressions that this process will be easy or a given. We are searching for a new place to live, work, and spend. We’re prepared to invest in this process and take the necessary time to make this possibility a reality.

I would love to hear any concerns we may not be considering, any angles that we may have missed, or any perspectives on this process. Additionally, we’re open to exploring other potential pathways in other countries. Our key priorities being climate resilience, women/lgbt rights, abortion access, English/Spanish speaking, and generally left leaning politics.

We appreciate any and all feedback.

Hi everyone,

I'm an Italian girl who recently graduated in English in an Italian university. I've been wanting to move to the UK for about 10 years now, I've been there a few times and I'm absolutely enchanted by it. My problem is Brexit, though.

I've been thinking about taking the Student Visa path and do a Masters there, but since I'm aware my degree is very generic I have low chances of finding a job after, so I had an alternative idea: taking a certified course in my country that specialises in one of the eligible jobs to get a Skilled Worker Visa, for example data analytics or UI/UX design. Could it realistically be a good idea? Is there a high request for these jobs in the UK? Or should I work towards moving to Ireland instead?

I really hope I'm not Out Of Topic and thank you to whoever is willing to help.

Currently working as a prison/corrections officer in the UK. I only have a few months experience, but exploring the option to relocate to New Zealand.

From my research, I’ve read mixed reviews about the current job market. However, I’m hoping my experience as a corrections officer (called prison officer in the UK) would place me at an advantage to securing a job, and then eventually a permanent visa.

Corrections officer is on the tier 2 green list and there are jobs advertised on the Prison’s website. Initially, my plan is to be on a WHV for 36-months, and hopefully secure employment and experience for the tier 2 green card visa.

Couple of questions:

How likely is it that I’ll secure a job as a corrections officer, given I’ll be competing with New Zealand residents?

Does anybody know of or have any direct experience with a similar situation?

Any other information is appreciated.

Thanks

Hey guys, I want to get straight to the point. My partner and I are trying to move out of the U.S. We have one child and work in different sectors.

21f speaks french (between good and fluent), has a biomedical bachelors degree, has experience in cell culture labs, and has some uncompleted graduate school.

29m has a maritime certification and 1.5yr of experience in insulation.

We have done a lot of research so far, but are having trouble locating job boards for 29m and not sure what jobs we should find for 21f. We are also thinking of having 21f continue her education overseas and 29m work.

We have found recruitment agencies in Belgium, such as actris, does anyone have any experience with contacting them?

In Denmark, we have been looking on jobindex, but all listings are in Danish. Our strategy may be to just apply to all listings in our sector that we think we qualify for (we do not speak Danish, but know a Dane that is happy to help, thankfully).

Does anyone have general advice for any of these places about finding housing as a family, general living, or finding a job?

We have loosely thought of somewhere like Thailand. 29m’s current job may have direct relocation to other areas, but doubtful permanent positions are available outside of the U.S. We are looking into this, but not counting it as a viable option yet.

I work remotely full-time and make low six-figures (USD). I speak B2 French and would love to bring that up to C2. I've visited all three countries and enjoy them, though I struggle with the québécois accent as I studied "Parisian French" (and if I moved to Canada, I would want to go to Québec). Canada is probably the natural choice otherwise, but it seems as though it might be headed towards social tension with the severity of the housing/healthcare/immigration (I get the irony) situations.

I'm single and gay and hope to one day settle down, so gay dating options are important though I don't think they would vary much. I do worry about rising homophobia in all three countries, but that issue seems worse in Europe.

I am politically center-left and while I'm not happy about recent elections in the US, that isn't at all the driving factor; I've been considering this for awhile. I understand Canada will likely elect a comfortable CPC majority next year, and that Macron's party suffered heavy losses recently.

I prefer France's climate. The Canadian winter is unideal, but it's not a dealbreaker.

I would apply through Express Entry for Canada. I did the points estimator and while it's far from guaranteed, I think I'd have a decent shot at an invite, especially since I'm comfortable being patient. For Europe, I am eligible for Italian citizenship through jure sanguinis, though I haven't started the process yet.

I'm considering working remotely for a few weeks in each country next spring and summer. I'm just looking for some general thoughts and feedback. Much appreciated!

Hello! So i'll get straight to the point, I want to move from the U.S to Canada. and me and another sibling are trying to get our passports to Canada (especially since she has friends there.)

We both live with our parents. my father bought our house last year and doesn't like the idea of selling it.

The main problem i am facing is how i am gonna become a permanent citizen of Canada when i am mentally disabled (i am under SSI and get 600 a month).

I know that beggars can't be choosers. so I don't expect my options to be too pretty. but i'd like to atleast live my life without all of the guns and high medical bills for starters.

I want to live in any small and cheap apartment and be ready to move in one around spring time of 2025 and apply for permanent citizenship.

My mother helped me and my sibling get our paperwork. and I've been trying to learn French (even though the language isn't as prominent as in other parts of Canada.)

Is there anything else i should do? any tips are appreciated.

Originally posted on New Zealand sub but it was removed for contentious content 🤷🏻‍♂️

This is still a very abstract thought process. My family is at the very least considering no longer living in the US. I am a pediatric pharmacist at a children’s hospital and my wife is a registered dietitian (she also has a masters in public health). We have a 7 year old son. Not really asking questions on how to do it or the process, just sort of thinking through what we’d have to give up vs what we’d gain from the move across the globe. Anyone made a move that can give us thinking points? Anyone work as a pharmacist or dietitian in NZ that can sort of comment on their job descriptions (I understand that we will likely make less money and that’s ok.) Thanks!

So me (28f) and my husband (33m) are considering moving to the Netherlands. While doing our research, we are noticing that there are a lot of exceptions for US citizens, like no need for a MVV or Civic Integration Exam.

I am not a US citizen. I am here in the US on a work visa and we married very recently so no green card either. My question is, if my husband gets a job offer to sponsor his TEV, what happens to me? Would I, as his spouse, also get it? Would I have to get a MVV and take the Civic Integration Exam since I am not a US citizen or no because I’m his dependent?

I am struggling to find any information on this, so if anyone knows anything, I would really appreciate your help!

I (31F) and my husband (32M) are looking to move out of the US. I hold US and EU citizenship, while he holds US and Canadian. I work for a Canadian company, so we feel that moving to Canada would make the most sense. My question is this - should I apply for a spousal sponsorship or should I try to get my company to sponsor a skilled worker visa? The reason I ask is because I've heard that spouses can't work for their first year in Canada, and I'd like to keep the job I currently have. Any advice would be appreciated!

Im a US citizen considering moving to NZ, likely Auckland area with my live in girlfriend, our dog and 3 cats.

The Entrepreneur visa is my bet. I already looked through how to apply and made sure I would qualify. I am more interested in hearing personal experience from locals about the area and from any ex-US people living there.

What are things you'd tell to a new arrival planning on living there? Things to do/avoid?

What are the most striking differences from the US? I'd love to hear what you learned from your move as well.

I appreciate any advice, tips, etc! Don't feel obligated to reply if you are busy.

For some background, my husband's mother, grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins live in Incheon, SK.

My husband is an American citizen (military baby). He works in Healthcare based IT. I have a bachelor's degree in graphic design with experience managing social media for multiple clients. We have 3 children. Two teenagers and one baby.

What would the likelihood be of being able to relocate to South Korea, especially given that my husband has familial ties?

My husband knows some of the language but I know very little despite trying to learn. I do know bare minimum and think exposure would help me pick up the language.

Any advice on what we would need to do to prepare? We are looking at possibly 3 years before we could move.

I’m an 18 year old from London (in my final year of highschool/sixth form) and I want to move to the US Next year, I’m sure you all see posts like this all the time and before you ask, yes, I’m aware about how difficult it is to move to the us. I’ve researched extensively about how I can achieve this, and will consult with an immigration lawyer before I make my move final.

I want to go To university in the city I move to, (so it will be a permanent move I want to stick in the same city) and as of now the cities universities I am considering are:

• Los Angeles, Ca- UCLA
• Atlanta, Ga - Emory & Georgia state
• Houston - Rice university
• If you have any other suggestions I would like to hear!

I’m mainly interested in moving to a warmer climate I’m tired of winters in the uk LOL so that’s why I have not factored in cities like Chicago and New York.

Some more information about me to help:

• I will be moving by myself and I have no family there
• I will be driving in all the cities apart and I make roughly $8000 a month from my e-commerce business, and I have money saved up for my first car there I’m thinking of a Jeep wrangler. I have factored in paying for my tuition, accommodation food and any emergencies
• I would like somewhere relatively safe, I would not like to live in fear
• Also I’m black so I would like somewhere relatively diverse!
• Somewhere with good culture,
• I would love to hear the good and bad!

Thank you for any help!

First, we are retired and have means, so ability to work is not a factor. And we are not looking to move right away; we have one more kid in high school so would wait until he is away at college.

We understand that every country has issues, but feel that more and more, in the US there is a lack of respect for others and for law and order. We'd love to find a place where people care about others and at least somewhat care about the greater good. We will likely at least move to a different state where we already own a house, but I'm not sure that is enough when it's a nationwide issue. We have traveled around Spain and love it there (and are learning Spanish and will qualify for the NLV visa) but I'd like input from this group on whether you think Spain fits this requirement.

We've thought about Scandinavia but have heard it's hard to make friends there, and a community of others is important to us. We've thought about Belize or Mexico City but would are again concerned about the law and order bit. NZ/Australia are too isolated. We'd like better weather than the UK. We are also planning to stay for 2-3 months in the possible destination to try to assess fit before we permanently relocate. Any other destination suggestions for us?

First things first. We are fine with the lower pay, higher taxes, and issues with housing for the peace of mind avoiding the cacophonous nature of what the USA has become. We want some place where my wife isn’t going to potentially be treated as a lesser citizen simply because she is a woman.

Now for the details.

I (35M) would likely lead the charge in an effort to search for employment, though this doesn’t need to be the requirement.

Details of Myself

• Age: 35M
• Education: BSc in Chemical Engineering
• Work: 3 years as a Technical Manager at a small manufacturing company. The past 8 years, now as a Senior Program Engineer, at one of the world’s largest tire manufacturers.
• Languages: English - Fluent, Spanish - Somewhat Conversational, French - Not much beyond the basics.

Details of Spouse

• Age: 34F
• Education: Masters of Dietetics & Nutrition
• Work: 2 years as assistant dietitian at a retirement home, 1 year as a Food & Nutrition Manager at a retirement home, 7 years as a Health Care Facilities Surveyor for the state we live in.
• Languages: English - Fluent, Spanish - Somewhat Conversational, French - Not much beyond the basics.

Here’s what we don’t know and are looking for assistance with.

I currently know my company is not offering any jobs that would fit my experience in their Canadian locations. As outsiders looking in, what is the best way to find potential employment opportunities for non-Canadian citizens? Is it job agencies? Is it Indeed? Or is this even the appropriate way to to start the process of trying to start some type of residency?

Bonus: We have a pet dog.

Ive been trying to get to Portugal for several years. I have a tax ID set up and a bank account. However I can't go until I have employment lined up. I've been using Linkedin job boards with no success. Is there specific job boards in Portugal that I can utilize? I work as a project manager and casino gaming machine manager.

I was brought to the US when i was 3, my parents were both teen parents they had my sister at 16 and grew up in a little village with less than 1000 people. They had nothing and knew nothing. My mom tells me a story every christmas of their first holiday season here. One of her coworkers had told her about the salvation army and to get presents for us from there. They knew so little, they went to an actual army base. I think that sets the tone for our life here in the united states, we’ve been navigating torrential currents with a broken compass, trying our hardest to survive with nothing, knowing nothing and no help from anyone. Our hometown was soon overtaken by the cartel, and is completely unfit to live in now. My brother is a citizen, he was our anchor that would fix me papers for my future, but after $10k (my whole life savings) ive been told i would have to wait 35 years for a visa to become available to me. In the stead of this news ive tried my hardest to create something for myself and have a business as a contractor. It was working but it feels like every step i take is met with more boundaries i have to climb over, more walls i have to break through. Its been twenty years of having this fear in the back of my head, this election has cemented the fact that i am not wanted here, and now my only comfort is the hope of going to Mexico. Is there anyone who has made the move or who is in the same boat? Im looking to go to merida or cancun, im fluent in both spanish and english and have my global seal of biliteracy for both languages. I have my own nail business here in the us and the funds to start one up in MX. Realistically would i be able to make it as a full time nail tech and part time translator/interpreter more working in tourist areas? My boyfriend is 28 and an American citizen we are planning on getting married this upcoming year, i know i would have to file for a visa for him to come with me, but he has experience in IT and is planning on getting some certifications. Any advice?

I'm from the US, but I have dual citizenship (USA and Italy)

I'd like to move. This is just a general advice thing, doesn't need to be very specific.

I speak English and Italian. I have an MPA degree and also a BS in Psychology. I've worked in ordinary administrative/clerical positions.

I'd like to move somewhere in the E.U. where I can function properly with just English (or Italian).

I'd also like to move with my mother (Also a dual US/ Italian citizen) or at least have her visit for months at a time. So maybe somewhere that is decent for elderly women in some way.

Somewhere nice and a bit chill. Maybe a beachy town in Spain or Italy. Italy is great, but it's a bit unorganized and chaotic in most of the places I've been there. Maybe there is some area in Italy that is more calm and organized? Places like Switzerland are lovely, but I think there's more strings attached to be able to live there.

I like some of the Microstates too. How is Luxembourg? Are there any microstates that I could easily move to in the EU? Maybe even somewhere like Copenhagen? Any suggestions? I'd like some advice that could help me to decide.

Hi,

I'm trying to move to United States from Canada. I'm a Canadian Citizen. By profession I'm in IT and work as a System Analyst. I hold several IT certifications. I have a BA (in useless subject) and an associates in IT. Around 8 years of IT experience overall.
I know about TN visa, and that I qualify as System Analyst/NAFTA approved profession and I've been applying with custom resumes per position without any success.

Unfortunately current company does not have US office so can't relocate to an US branch.

The reason I want to move to the US is because:

The availability of jobs, and also because the same position I hold pays at least 30% more and in USD.
I'm pretty much open to anywhere in US. I'm even willing to work for free part time remote for now if it means eventually getting the opportunities to move..
I just don't know how to move to US. Is anyone able to point me to right direction? I also want to leave Canada because of the political situation.

Made a fresh account so no one I know irl finds this. Pretty sure you can tell why I want out. I’ve been thinking about studying overseas for a while now, mostly as an inside joke with friends, but I’ve been more seriously thinking about it lately. My first thought was to go for an English speaking country as I’m not fluent in any of the European languages besides English. I know it‘ll be hard to permanently move and I don’t expect to be able to, but I’m hoping I would be able to at least get through college overseas and if I can’t stay, I’ll be back in the US after this stuff has settled. A cousin of mine suggested the University of Bristol in England, as they said it’s known for medical science and I already have a goal in mind for some kind of medical science future.

I’m currently a junior in high school, so my main college planning starts next year. My place has juniors take SAT along with the PSAT, but SATs haven’t started. Based on my past PSAT scores though, I can expect at least 1100 or higher. I’ve already planned on taking the ACT whenever my school starts opening up the signup thing. My current GPA at the moment is a 4.4.

I’m very passionate about science, especially medical sciences. I’ve gotten As in all of my mandatory science classes and in my science electives. I adore science and can definitely see myself having a future in a science field. I unfortunately couldn’t take any AP science courses this year as my school requires Physics I before that and I couldn’t afford to do it over the summer. I also participate in few science clubs this year.

I currently don’t have any paid work experience, but I have spent the last 2 summers doing a volunteer at a hospital. Hoping on getting my first paying job soon in the last few months of 2024 or in early 2025.

What are my chances of getting accepted into University of Bristol? And what other schools would align with my interests in English speaking countries?

EDIT: added context (since people are getting angry after only reading the first paragraph), I’m a recently homeless trans woman they’ve stated they’re going to pass policy to imprison for life, not some random rich American. I’d appreciate if you read to the end before commenting

ORIGINAL POST: Real answers… is seeking political asylum after the US election an option? I’ll be more specific about my situation below — I’m anonymous on Reddit/no real identifiers on my profile (so I’m comfortable sharing all this).

I’m a trans woman living in the US, though I’m not “out” publicly — if providing that information is necessary for any kind of visa approval (or if I should say M since I’m not out), I’m willing to do that — after the election I’m seeking to leave, because pretty soon it’ll literally be illegal for me to ever come out. No, I’m not kidding. Nor am I exaggerating.

Specifically, pages of Project 2025 state the Conservative Administration wants to declare “pornography” illegal as a felony, punishable by life imprisonment. They also specifically state they want to legislate the term “pornography” to legally encompass wearing drag, and “verbal or visual documentation or acknowledgments” of trans people… putting the two together (and yes, they’ve stated they FULLY intend to make that possibility reality), this would allow them to literally imprison trans women for life for… literally just publicly existing. Like, legally that would be an act of “pornography.”

So given that, I’m wondering if this would legally allow me to declare asylum when seeking to immigrate somewhere. I’m looking a lot at places like the Netherlands (EDIT: I’ll own up to it, in a desperate and anxious state of being concerned for my survival, I didn’t really properly research this one before frantically saying it) or Norway, since their human rights track record as far as I can tell would be safer for me, and I know they have a large English speaking population (will learn the local language if I stay). But really, I’m open to anywhere.

As far as my recent circumstances, I’m coming off some hard times financially. Won’t be too “grim,” but after leaving an abusive living environment in Dec 2021 I spent two years homeless (not anymore), and only recently started working again as a maintenance technician at a cinema about two months ago. Before that, I’d worked in film for 10 years, mostly as an independent writer/director/composer before COVID and strikes wiped out a lot of the freelance job market here. I’ve also done video editing, audio mixing, and some voiceover work as well (though I recognize this probably isn’t a trade other countries are looking for as far as granting a work visa).

Via this industry, I have a lot of transferable skills with tech support (linking computers to hard drives/softwares for video editing work). Have a high school diploma (3.78 GPA), went to a Vocational school for performing Arts (mostly acting, directing, writing), and have a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature with a minor in International Film (3.67/4.00 GPA, consecutively made Dean’s List 15 out of 15 semesters).

I just realistically want to know… like, is there anything I can do with this? I know this may seem entitled and desperate, but peers of mine have already contemplated or committed because of the results (listen, >!I wrote a draft of a note, it took all my strength to throw it in the trash!< ). This could literally be the end of human rights for us in this country, and this administration has the votes to fulfill that promise. I’m willing to assimilate to any country’s norms I should be expected to, follow any legal procedure I have to, I’m willing to comply with anything.

I’ll happily provide any further information people may need to respond to this. Thank you to anyone who takes the time to respond or help.

Hi everyone. So I have been a nurse for 4 years and currently still working full time as a nurse in a hospital (Med-Surg). I am in the middle of the Masters program to become a FNP I'll be done in 2 years. I am single with no kids. I am fluent only in English. I have a house in my name. I am looking to move countries. Its been on my mind awhile and have decided to really pull the trigger officially. I am looking for liberal leaning countries with strong policies that support healthcare and are welcoming to immigrants. I want to stay to finish my Masters but once I'm done I'm fine to work as a nurse in whatever country will have me. I know a lot of countries don't have NPs working in their healthcare system. I'm also contemplating working online as a NP and moving abroad if possible once I'm done school. Any advice to get me started would be great or maybe a point in the right direction for more information would be great.

So for background my fiancé and I have had leaving the US as a goal for a while but due to the recent events we've been given a real push to find a way out. He's going to work on getting a GED and finding a trade and I'm going to apply for college and get a bachelor's ASAP to help. We plan to get married before we leave so that will hopefully help too. I've looked into teaching in Japan and I'm thinking we can start there and either stay if we like it or find another county. The Netherlands are also a contender for us. If anyone has advice on this process, or the easiest countries to immigrate to from the US and what trades bachelors would be the most beneficial for this, it would be greatly appreciated!

Hi! I am looking into working in the tech industry and would like to move to Spain after graduating in 2026, but would like to see how plausible this is given my background and young age. I currently am a college student and am living in the U.S. I have both U.S. and Colombian citizenship.

In particular, I am looking at Spain's Highly Qualified Professionals (HQP) visa, but I have a few doubts and concerns. From my understanding, data analysts and those who work in the tech industry are considered highly skilled. However, how skilled is "skilled." Does this imply post-bachelor's education? Are entry-level positions included? Should I work a few years post-graduation?

I am not opposed to the idea of getting a Master's Degree in the EU, I've been looking at a few programs within Spain, but also in Estonia (well known for their master's in tech fields). I've also considered applying to scholarships offered by the EU to non-EU citizens for master's degrees. I also know that, at least in Spain, after getting my master's I could qualify for a post-study work visa that allows me to find a job within a year that could sponsor me.

For context, I speak English (C1), Spanish (C1), and German (B2). I will graduate in 2026 with a degree in Data Science. I've currently been working in clinical health research for over a year and will continue doing so until I graduate. This job, though, is not data science-related. I have created my research project highlighting public health issues within the community I live in. This next summer, I'll be working in a tech-related field using what I have learned from my educational background.

I am also not opposed to other EU countries, though I realize it would be harder given the language barrier. Another reason why I chose Spain is because, as a Colombian, the residency component to gain Spanish Citizenship is dropped to two years for being a citizen of a Latin American country, making acquiring citizenship more accessible. I don't have any family or direct descent from any EU country so citizenship by descent is not possible for me.

And yes, I do understand salaries in Spain are much lower compared to U.S. counterparts. However, I don't mind being paid less as what I am looking for is quality of life.

Any advice on how I could get this process started or how I should plan for the future?

Hi! So I’m wondering if it’s possible for me (after my parents) to gain dual citizenship in Portugal or the Netherlands. Based on what research I’ve done, I think Portugal is the better option, but there are things I have questions about. I’d love the flexibility of having an EU passport so that I can have the option to work at European universities in the future (I'm a classical archaeology Ph.D. student), and also my parents and I would love to be able to get out of the US in the wake of recent events. Here’s my situation:

My mom was born in the U.S. to a father from a Portuguese family who was the first of his siblings to be born in the U.S. Both of his parents (my great grandparents) were born in Portugal; my mom is looking into whether they ever lost their citizenship and what documentation we have (it seems pretty clear that they have to have kept it for this to work). Based on Portugal’s naturalization website, it could be possible for my mom to get citizenship after meeting a language requirement and demonstrating connection to Portuguese culture.

• How rigorous is the language requirement? I’ve found sources that say “basic proficiency”—how basic is that really? B1 or so? I’m not really intimidated by this but I think my mom is and I want to assure her it’s doable.
• What kind of connection to Portuguese culture needs to be demonstrated? We’ve both been very engaged with the Azores diaspora community in central California and done stuff like attending the Festa every year, my mom went to a majority-Portuguese Catholic school, etc., and we do have contact with living cousins in the Azores. Do we need to actually visit Portugal regularly/be involved with activities in Portugal? Both of us have only been once, only for a week.
• Is there a problem if both of the grandparents are deceased? I’ve seen conflicting information online about whether they need to be alive or not, and they are both long dead.
• Will I be able to apply once my mom gets citizenship? I haven’t been able to find any information about what the procedure would be for me.

My dad was born in the U.S. to a Dutch mother (also now deceased) in 1965 (it seems like the year might be relevant because of changes in Dutch law?). She grew up in Indonesia, and I’m not sure whether she was born in the Netherlands, but she was a Dutch citizen. She moved to the U.S. after WWII, married an American, and had my dad; my dad is looking into whether she ever lost her Dutch citizenship, but it seems like in the case of the Netherlands it only matters whether she was a Dutch citizen when my dad was born. There doesn’t seem to be a language or cultural requirement, and I have found information about what my procedure would be after my dad gets citizenship. The bigger problem seems to be the Netherlands’ strict rules on dual citizenship—I’m not sure whether we would be able to keep our American citizenship. Many online sources I’ve found say that we would have to renounce it, but Wikipedia says that a law went into effect in 2010 that would allow people in my dad’s exact situation to keep their original citizenship. 

• Am I right that my dad should pretty easily be able to apply assuming that his mom was a Dutch citizen when he was born?
• Would he be able to be a dual citizen? Would I be able to be a dual citizen after him?

If you’ve read all of this thank you so much! I appreciate your help.

Hello, I am a 19 year old born and currently living in Ireland. Once I finished school here I set my mind on moving away to work as a carpenter in the future as that is the career I want to enter, I do not want to stay here in Ireland long enough to complete an apprenticeship and get qualified, I recently made a post here focusing on moving to the USA but I have decided to broaden my horizon to Canada as I realise USA is limited in terms of getting in, so I want to weight up both my options.

From the research I have done so far Canada is also hard to enter from my position but it seems less limited than the USA. My main goal in the future for my career is carpentry, that is what I want to go into and I am trying to find out if there’s a viable way to enter Canada on a visa and complete an apprenticeship, and with that experience possibly get PR? I have seen there is an IEC visa for Irish residents which allows them upto 2 years on different visa options, could this be an option for me?

Studying in Canada as a way of getting PR down the line is not something I am completely opposed to but with the costs I would be edging more towards getting in through employment to gain PR down the line.

I am looking for advice on getting into Canada, that is my main focus, I am more than happy to put the apprenticeship on standby for a bit if it means studying or working in a different field, to eventually gain a right to stay there long term, if anyone has any advice around this and my situation, I would really appreciate it. Thank you

[IWantOut] 36F Canada to UK

Hi all,

I'm looking for advice.

After this election, I'm fearful about staying in Canada due to the proximity of the States and as our own government is leaning Conservative. My family is originally from Wales going back a few generations (great-great grandparents) who immigrated and settled in Canada. I really want to move to the UK but none of the visas seem to apply. I'm 36 so just outside of the youth visa and my job (Library Assistant/Librarian) isn't a skilled job they accept. Does anyone have any advice on what would be the best visa route to take?

I'd greatly appreciate it thank you.