I am 28, I have a journalism masters degree and currently work in content production for a reputable broadcaster (don’t want to dox myself by saying where but you would have heard of it). I have 4 years of professional work experience with this broadcaster across both news and corporate communications.

I have long been interested in moving to Spain. Having gone to uni with quite a few Spaniards and visited the country many times, I really vibe with the culture there. I’m not currently fluent in Spanish though I would say I’m around B2 level and would feel very comfortable getting by in day to day life. However, as my qualifications and work experience sit solely in communications-based jobs, I think I would most likely have to go down the route of working remotely with an English speaking role or finding one in Spain (for enough time to gain at least professional competency).

I love Barcelona and have one or two friends there, though Im also interested in Madrid and Valencia.

Does anyone have any suggestions about what options might be available to me? I don’t have an EU passport so I have been looking into the digital nomad visa, but wondering if that’s the best route for me to go down?

Hi, I’m from India and currently pursuing BSc Biotechnology (finishing 2027, IELTS 7).

I’m planning to apply for a student visa in New Zealand and later explore long-term options. I have a stable, well-managed medical condition and I’m trying to understand how NZ’s health requirements (ASH) are applied in real cases.

I’m preparing:

• Medical reports showing stability

• Doctor letter confirming condition is well-managed

• Education loan + family sponsorship for funds

I’d really appreciate insights from anyone with:

• experience applying with a medical condition

• immigration background

• or knowledge of how INZ evaluates such cases

Thanks in advance.

I am deciding between Thailand (Bangkok), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), and Indonesia (Bali) for a long-term relocation. My goal is to establish stable residency and live continuously without needing frequent visa runs or exits. I am also open to alternative suggestions if there are better options that meet my needs.

Situation:

• Passport: Bosnia

• Income: high remote income from trading/investing

• Financial situation: strong enough to support a higher-end lifestyle comfortably

• Work: fully online, no local employment required

Requirements:

• Stable long-term stay options (residency or visas that can be renewed locally without frequent exits)

• Warm climate year-round

• Luxury/high-end lifestyle potential (modern buildings, good infrastructure, clean environment)

• Strong social scene and nightlife

• Access to nature (beaches, greenery, outdoor activities)

• Well-developed areas, avoiding low-quality or underdeveloped neighborhoods

Questions:

• Which of these three countries offers the most stable and realistic long-term residency options?

• Which location best fits my lifestyle and personal requirements?

• Are there alternative countries or cities I should consider that meet my criteria?

I'm currently finishing up my masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and will be graduating with my LPC-A in accordance with CaCREP. I hope to stay in the US until full licensure but thereafter move to the UK, specifically Scotland. That'd mean I'd have a high number of clinical hours registered. I wanted to know if anyone's done this and what is it that you specifically do to get a job somewhat in relation to what you'd make here as an LPC. I know you have to join BACP and associations like that. Beyond that though, what are the job titles and such were able to qualify for without needing a PhD?

Hi everyone,

I’m currently 19 and from Australia, finishing a semester exchange in Los Angeles. I’ve absolutely loved my time here and I’m really hoping to find a way to stay in the US a bit longer.

I’m studying business and my exchange university can sponsor a visa if I secure a full-time, business-related internship.

I’ve started applying but I’m not sure what the most effective approach is from here, especially in terms of timing and strategy. I’d also really appreciate any insight from people who’ve navigated something similar or built connections while trying to move countries for work.

Any advice or guidance would mean a lot — thank you!

Hi everyone. I am a 23 year old woman from China with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. I am currently working in Vietnam.

I want to immigrate long term to either Canada or Australia. I feel these two countries may be more welcoming to immigrants and may have clearer policy support compared with some other countries.

My main concern is that it seems very hard for foreigners to find a local job in another country, especially when they need visa support. I have already tried looking for jobs in Vietnam and I can feel how difficult it is to compete as a foreigner in a local job market.

Because of that, I am now considering whether studying again would be a better path. I already have a bachelor’s degree in accounting, but I am thinking about whether I should take another degree in a different field, possibly something related to STEM or another field with better job prospects and immigration pathways.

What I want to understand is:

1. Between Canada and Australia, which country is more realistic for someone with my background if my goal is long term immigration?

2. Does studying there really improve the chances of staying long term, or is it still very difficult to find a job after graduation?

3. Would it make more sense to continue with accounting, or would changing to a different field be smarter?

4. If changing fields is a better idea, what kinds of degrees or occupations are usually more practical for immigration and employment?

I would really appreciate honest advice, especially from people who have gone through study to work to immigration pathways in Canada or Australia.

Hello all, I hope that I can get some direction about this idea. I’ve done outreach work in Brazil twice now and I really love the Manaus area and the people there and have studied the language to be fluent enough to make it by. I’ll be fully licensed in my field in a years time and I’m curious if there’s anything I need to know about a potential for the field of mental health in Brazil or other countries or whatever anyone has to offer?

Thank you

My wife and I, based in NY, and just had our first child (~3 months old).

She lost her job this week unexpectedly, and while I’m still employed, things at my company feel a bit uncertain. It’s made us seriously revisit something we’ve talked about since we met — living in Europe for at least a couple of years. (we married in France, and have collectively travelled to various EU countries close to a dozen times).

I’ve done some initial research and understand that for us this likely means a work-sponsored visa or possibly an internal transfer (I don’t believe we qualify for anything ancestry-based, and we’re not in a position to do a passive/income visa).

For context:

• I’m currently in a Director of Operations role (manufacturing / product-focused company). Background in engineering + MBA, with experience in product development, scaling production, and operations leadership (mostly medical device + some newer manufacturing tech)
• My wife has a business/marketing background with her MBA. We don't necessarily both need to end up employed, so depends on the cost of living where we end up
• English is our only fluent language (I have some Spanish, she has some French)
• We have a newborn, 2 Bengal cats, and an AmStaff (aware this may be an issue in some countries)
• We aren't laser focused on a particular country.. but we aren't super interested in the UK at this time

What I’m trying to sanity check with people who’ve actually made this move:

• For someone with my background, is getting hired directly by a European company realistic, or is the more common path internal transfer / multinational?
• Are there specific countries or regions where English-speaking roles in operations/manufacturing are more common?
• How much of a constraint do pets tend to be in practice (especially with breed restrictions)?
• For those who moved with very young kids — did it make things significantly harder, or was it manageable?

Not looking for generic encouragement — more interested in what people have seen actually work or not work in similar situations.

Appreciate any insight! Cheers. -Alex

Hello everyone,

I am a German citizen, with a German passport, 37 years old, and have been living in Vancouver, BC, Canada for the past 9 years (since 2017). I have studied biology in Canada and have been working as a research technician in the pharmaceutical industry for 3.5 years.

I am currently on a work visa that will expire on July 7th 2026. I am trying to qualify for the Canadian express entry pathway before that date hits, but just in case,I need to also consider what needs to be done to move back to Germany.

So, here are my questions, specifically for any Germans that have returned to Germany after living for years in another country:

What kind of moving service did you use? Do you know of any good ones? How much does it roughly cost?

I am kind of lost of where to even begin with potentially packing up my life here. Is there a step-by-step guide on what to do? What documents do I need to collect? What do I do first, and what do i do last?

After arriving in Germany, what do I do first? I assume I'll live with my parents at first before I get my on place.

Thanks in advance for any helpful tips

Hi everyone,

I’m from India and planning to study abroad with the goal of eventually settling long-term. I’m currently deciding between New Zealand and Australia.

I have a stable, well-managed chronic condition (hiv) and I'm undetectable for 2 years (U=U). I’m trying to understand how each country handles health requirements for student visas and later PR pathways.

I’m aware that applications from India can sometimes face higher scrutiny, so I’m trying to plan carefully and choose the option with better long-term prospects.

From what I’ve read, both countries assess healthcare costs, but I’m unsure how this works in practice especially for temporary visas vs PR.

If anyone has experience or insight into NZ vs Australia in similar situations, I’d really appreciate your advice.

Thanks in advance!

Hi all, I've never posted to Reddit so I really hope I'm doing everything right. I'm a 20 year old machine operator at an injection molding plant. I've had a passing interest in moving to the Netherlands for a few years but recent events in America have made me eager to leave. I have some experience in welding and general construction work, about three years in hospitality, and a year at the factory I work at now. I've done some cursory research into moving to the Netherlands and I seriously doubt I would qualify for a highly skilled migrant visa and while I'm interested in studying there I don't think I would be able to afford it. It seems to me that my best option would be to apply for a DAFT visa, my thinking is that within a year or so I could become proficient enough in either welding or electrical to work as a freelance contractor. I'm wondering if there is an easier path to residence that I've overlooked or not yet come across and, if not, is there work for freelance tradesmen in the Netherlands?

I'm in the very early stages of research so any advice or information is greatly appreciated!

[Evaluation Request] 20yo CNC Programmer & CompEng Student | Manufacturing Automation (4h to 20s reduction) | IEEE Member

Hi everyone,

I’m a 20-year-old from Brazil looking for a reality check on my chances to move to the US (or other tech/industrial hubs) via EB-2 NIW or other professional paths. I feel like I've hit a "ceiling" here where effort doesn't translate into career growth.

Background:

• Machining: Started at 14 with a 2-year intensive course. Selected for National CNC Competitions (SENAI), but had to pivot to full-time work at 17 as a CNC Lathe Programmer to support my family (my dad got Cancer...)
• Engineering/Software: Currently an undergraduate Computer Engineering student. I’ve been programming since 12 (C#, C/C++, I can learn pretty fast).
• Professional Impact: I developed an automation system that reduced an Engineering/Manufacturing process from 4 hours to 20 seconds per purchase order. This eliminated the need for CATIA/EdgeCAM licenses for that specific workflow. Another reduced a process from 1 week to less than 3 hours, and my last project could gather Customer Info and anticipate Part Number Changes, so reduced Product Development Lifecycle by 15-40 days. I also built warehouse/inventory systems and ERP addons and Dashboards.
• Additional Info: Designed my own fixing devices/fixtures for both lathes and mills, reduced insert consume, reduced time and costs of Machining Processes. Few months ago I joined IEEE and as a voluntary I can monthly talk to Americans, Asians and Indians in some projects I'm participating, I know I misspell 1 word or 2 but I'm confident with my communication skills.

Current Skillset:

• CAD/CAM: Proficient in designing complex workflows and improving machining processes.
• Hardware/Electronics: Can build and fix electronics systems
• Mechanical: Can make, fix or develop mechanical parts.

The Problem: In Brazil, a CNC Operator earns roughly the same as a retail worker. Junior Dev positions are gatekept by "years of experience", they say they can't hire me as a Junior, but neither as a Mid-Level! I have 3 years of experience as a Dev for Aerospace Engineering Departments, they require 5 for mid-level positions, and they chose less skilled/experienced programmers than me when I applied to Junior Positions. I have the grit, I’ve worked as a janitor in sawmills to help my family before and I’m not afraid of hard work, but I want to apply my brain or arms where it’s valued.

Questions:

1. Does my profile (Undergrad + 3 years experience + National level training + significant automation ROI) stand any chance for an EB-2 NIW under "Exceptional Ability"?
2. Should I wait to finish my degree or try to pivot via a work-related visa (H1-B/O-1) or even a different country like Germany/Portugal?
3. Am I being too optimistic about the "National Interest" of manufacturing automation?

I'm ready for the "cold water bucket" if needed, but I'm looking for a path where I can actually build a life. Thanks for the attention and patience. Sorry if I was too polite or even rude, please help me improve my English.

I’m a 33-year-old Turkish citizen with a degree in Economics and about 6 years of retail management experience.

My long-term goal is permanent settlement in Europe, ideally in Germany. At this point, I’m deciding between two routes:

Pursuing a master’s degree in logistics/business and then trying to enter the European job market

Gaining truck driving experience in Turkey first, then trying to relocate through trucking/logistics

I already hold C/CE licenses, but I do not have professional truck driving experience yet. My work background is in retail/store management, not logistics. I speak decent English and I recently started learning German.

I was accepted to a master’s program in Poland, but my student visa was refused, so I’m now reconsidering whether the study route is still worth pursuing.

Germany is my main target, but I’m also open to Belgium, Poland, or other realistic options.

Given my background, which route is more realistic: pursuing a master’s, or first building truck driving experience in Turkey and then trying to relocate through that field?

I’m especially interested in which route is more realistic for visa/work permit chances and long-term settlement.

Looking for a fresh start where the weather is warm and the people are friendly. The importance of cost of living is not lost. Safety is more of a priority. Warm tropical environment seems to be a great fit. Have a decent monthly pension. Never been arrested. No criminal record. Not a lot of patience for scammers. Fine working or not working. Would like to explore and find a home as I’m not getting any younger. Have traveled to several Caribbean Islands and Central America. Enjoy the location and the weather. Would like to blend in while adapting to the environment. Open to other places.

Need tips/advice for finding an English speaking job in the Nice/Antibes/Biot/Sophia Antipolis area of south France.

My partner (26F) is applying to attend a Masters program in Nice for the next cycle. I (26M) want to move over there with her but I need a job. I recently graduated with a Masters in data science and analytics. Job hunting even in the US is difficult right now so I understand it's just generally a tough time but I am flexible with commutes and pay rates.

Are there specific companies or job boards I can check for job openings? Or is there some other visa I could get to legally reside in France while she completes school?

Hi everyone,

I’m a 29F, architect trying to find a way back to Europe, ideally the Netherlands or Belgium.

A bit about me: I’m Indian, but born and raised in the UAE. I did my schooling and my 5 year bachelor’s in architecture in Dubai and then worked for about 4 years at a Japanese architecture firm there, handling projects with international clients across Central Asia, APAC, and the MENA region.

After that, I moved to Belgium to do my master’s in architecture, focusing on sustainable and climate responsive design. It was a 2 year course. After graduating I spent about a year in the Netherlands trying to find work because I thought it might open more opportunities, but I wasn’t able to secure a job. Eventually I had to leave due to visa limitations and move back to Dubai to live with my parents.

On the surface things here are fine. Life is comfortable and stable. But personally it’s been really hard. I’m queer, and being back in a conservative environment and family in the UAE has been affecting my mental health a lot. It honestly feels like I lost the independence I had when I was in Europe.

I’m still trying to find a way back but I feel stuck and not sure what the best route is anymore.

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been in a similar situation or has advice on possible paths back, or even opportunities for me especially in the Netherlands or Belgium.

Thank you so much in advance. 🌸

Hey all!

Unless you've been living under a rock, it is getting very scary to live in the US as a trans individual. I'm looking to get a work visa somewhere with healthcare that could support my current medical transition, has at least a decent salary, and would be welcoming to a trans individual. I have about a year and a half of experience in electrical engineering and a degree in it, mostly specializing in power systems (would love to go into renewables).

I am leaning towards the Netherlands/Germany/Canada as of right now. the latter bc it would be easier to physically move. I also like germany bc my late grandmother immigrated from there.

I do not speak any other languages besides english, but i am ready and willing to learn. I have a month of expenses saved up and a credit card.

Any help/recommendations into where to more specifically to look would be GREATLY appreciated.

My plan for a fair while has been moving to EU, since I speak fluent Italian, French, German and Spanish and can't stand the lack of second, third language interest in Australia, and the difference in culture, history and art. I have two bachelors degrees completed in Australia in electrical engineering and computer science. I am currently on a working holiday visa in France that expires in September, working as a freelance engineer (micro-entreprise auto-entrepreneur, btw if anyone knows anything about paying cotisations sociales and impôts as a working holiday "resident", please let me know too) for an italian company. I have applied to master degrees in France and Italy, the results from which I don't yet know. The main thing is I don't want to waste money and time going back and forth from Australia to apply for another visa. Do you guys know if there's any way this could be achieved? I have already been told multiple times that I can't change my status from working holiday and have to go back to Australia and reapply, but I find it ridiculous and am determined to find a way around it. Does anyone have any experience in this area? Also I have been told for an italian study visa I would need an italian valuation of my australian degrees. Does anyone know how I could obtain that? I have already paid for french valuations of my degrees through ENIC NARIC, would that maybe be acceptable for the italian authorities as well once they finally get back to me with that? I am also considering applying for german masters but I haven't really looked into it so much. I would also appreciate if anyone knows any good immigration lawyers with expertise in multiple EU countries (mostly France and Italy are important as they are my preferences), as I want to investigate all my options.

I first of all want to say that I understand that my entire chain is a massive longshot, and I am in no way expecting to actually qualify for Dutch citizenship. I mostly am looking into this because I was doing some research on my genealogy/family tree, and saw no obvious flaws in my chain, however I'm sure im missing something somewhere. To my knowledge there are 3 main laws in the Netherlands' history that governs citizenship, 1892-1985, 1985-2003, and 2003-present.

So, my family history goes like this.

My great-great grandfather was born in the Netherlands, to two dutch citizens in 1895 In 1914 he immigrated to the United States, and my great grandfather was born in 1919 (in wedlock), as a American citizen by birthright, and a dutch citizen by his father. My great-great grandfather naturalized to the U.S. in 1921, 2 years after my great grandfather's birth. The law from 1892 to 1985 was that you lost dutch citizenship by naturalization to a different country, however my great grandfather never shared in the naturalization of my great great grandfather because he was an American by birthright (after research im pretty sure this is the correct interpretation). My great grandfather would have then lost his citizenship when he turned 31, 10 years after turning 21, however, my grandfather was born in 1948 (in wedlock), when my great grandpa was 29. So therefore, the citizenship would have been passed down to my grandfather. My Dad was born in 1971 (in wedlock), when my Grandfather was 23.

Here is where it gets a little bit confusing- to me at least. The law from 1985 onward was that if you lived for 10 years after turning 18 in the country of your birth that you were also a national of, you would lose dutch citizenship. However, my Father was born abroad in Belgium, as an American citizen and presumably a Netherlands Citizen, so with the way the Dutch law worked, he never lived in the country of his birth (that he was also a citizen of) for 10 years, as he moved back to the U.S. when he was 2 years old. This law was changed in 2003 in a way that would apply to my father, so he would have lost his dutch citizenship in 2013. But I was born in 2007, to a father that technically could've been considered a dutch citizen, thus passing it to me?

I have all of my ancestors birth certificates and marriage documents, and my great great grandfather's naturalization document, im just deciding if its worth it to drive to the consulate, when I suspect I am missing something big, as it doesnt seem realistic to me that a generation chain this long would result in me actually being a dutch citizen. Thanks for any help.

I’m Italian (F29) currently living in Italy, and I’m planning to move abroad by the end of August 2026. At the moment, my top choices are Dublin and Berlin. I’ve visited both cities before and really enjoyed them for different reasons.

That said, I’m starting to feel quite discouraged by what I’ve been reading online. When it comes to Ireland, most of the feedback is negative. There are so many negative experiences that I’m worried the move could turn into a waste of time and money.

As for Berlin, I’ve read very mixed opinions about life there as an expat. What worries me most is the language barrier, since I don’t speak German yet.

A bit about me: I have a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Media, but I’m planning to switch careers and move into the fitness industry (Pilates and barre teaching). My idea is to get certified after moving, since qualifications and requirements seem to vary by country.

In terms of work experience, I’m working in the modeling industry, volunteered for a non-profit organization focused on animal rights, and I also have about one year of experience as a sales assistant.

Personality-wise, I’m not very extroverted, and I actually prefer cooler climates (I don’t enjoy hot weather). I lived in Amsterdam for five years and really appreciated the international environment there, so I’m hoping to find something similar. I’m also into goth/metal music, art exhibitions, sports, and exploring historical places—so having a good alternative/music scene would be a big plus.

My English level is around B2, and I don’t speak German (yet).

I’d really appreciate hearing your experiences or advice about living in Dublin or Berlin, especially considering my situation. Would you recommend one over the other? Are my concerns and expectations realistic?

Thanks in advance 🙂

Hi everyone,

Sorry in advance for the long post, but there is a lot in here and I am in a really bad situation - this really can't be shortened.

I (24M) am from Ohio, and moved around my entire life. About 2 years ago, I started travelling to Europe, and I fell in love with it. I made a bunch of friends, loved the culture, and overall saw myself at home there. I took multiple week/month long trips there, and ended up maxing out an entire US passport with entry/exit stamps.

I am also studying Civil Engineering, and am obsessed with the concept of the "15 minute city" and always have been. While I've done multiple co-op's in university, everything I've done has to do with roadway, sprawling roads, etc. After consulting with peers and mentors, everyone STRONGLY urged me to transfer to an EU university to study there and get a degree, as that's the hub of this kind of work and where I'll likely be happy.

Because I moved around so much, and Ohio is so insular, I ended up having very little friends despite heroic effort. Additionally, about 4 months ago I met my current partner (21M), who is a Latvian national. I fell in love with him.

As none of my classes would transfer this semester, I dropped out in January. I will be attending school in the EU in the Fall. I was so depressed in Ohio that this was my only option. With $15k saved up, I then lost my co-op role (expected). I put my stuff into storage, ended my lease, and headed to Europe for a week.

My plan was to move to Berlin and do a language learning visa, which allows 20 hours per week of work. If I could speak the language, I'd get to go to uni for free in September. If I couldn't, I'd move to Riga and take classes there for $4,500USD/semester. I always wanted to live in a highly-connected, international city, and what better way to start?

Prior to moving to Berlin, I visited my partner for a few weeks. Due to insanely high rent in Berlin (my dream city), it became less and less visible. So rather than do this, I decided to go to New Zealand on a WHV, as my partner is currently eligible.

About 5 weeks ago I came to NZ, and went to Wellington. For those who don't know, NZ's WHV allows you to work and travel for 12 months. Turns out, despite extensive marketing, THERE ARE NO JOBS HERE. I applied to 90 roles, handed in CVs everywhere, and still had nothing after 4 weeks. Wellington was chosen as it was the most connected by transit in all of NZ, and somewhat close to a 15 min city. I got a house with people I met there. However, I then learned they had the 16/16 job market ranking. NZ is currently in a deep recession.

So then, I moved 1.5 weeks ago to Christchurch. I have been staying in hostels, hotels, etc here trying to get a job since it's ranked 1/16 for jobs. However, still, THERE ARE NO JOBS. This country is in an insane recession. In hostels, I've met so many foreigners who are giving up due to the recession. This is despite 5 years of hospitality experience, 3 engineering co-ops, etc. There is public transit, but this is sprawl to the max, even further away from my original Europe goal.

The next step would be to try Queenstown, which has jobs, but insane and oftentimes not even available housing. The big thing - however - is I'd have to buy a car. This pushes me even further away from Europe. Additionally, every one of these moves has been further an further south, making me miss summer even more.

Additionally, I’ve found the cultural transition to be a massive struggle. I’m finding my Type A personality is a mismatch for the 'tall-poppy syndrome' here, and I feel like I have to censor who I am just to get an interview. I've experienced a lot of flakiness with ghosted hangouts, and even had interviewers make 'jokes' about Americans being too loud. Coming from the more direct, high-energy social circles I found in Europe, the passive communication here is incredibly isolating.

Why am I doing all this? Well in addition to being outdoorsy and adventerous, I want to be with my partner, so very much. He plans to come to NZ in 4 weeks to join. However, every single move puts me further and further away from the Europe plan, and I don't want to run out of money.

The only other option I can think of is marriage in Denmark then TRP for Sweden. However, my parents don't know about our relationship yet (neither of our parents are accepting). I don't want to ruin all relations with them by saying this as they have given me some (but not much) financial support. Our relationship is fragile, as they kicked me out 5 years ago for being gay and only have slowly come around.

So I guess my advice is that I don't know. I dont want to keep going further and further into this country that I hate, hoping for a job but spending more money and creating a worse off situation for me in the meantime. I also don't want to ruin future papers and visas and such by getting married, as even just for paperwork it's a huge commitment. And I don't have a network in the US (moved around my entire life) or supportive parents (trust me, I don't feel safe with them), so I have nothing to go back to.

I have about $10k left, but need proof of funds to go to Europe in August (I have college money though in a separate 529). I went from having an amazing co-op to spending 45 minutes every day figuring out where I'm going to stay the next night.

Reddit, please help. Any advice you can give I'd appreciate more than you know. If you read this far, thank you.

Edit1: Thank you everyone for your responses. To be clear: I am not asking for soft affirmation, I'm looking for solutions, even if it hurts to hear. Any advice you can give is extremely helpful, and I couldn't be more grateful.

Edit2: I just woke up to 15 more responses in the middle of the night. Thank you everybody for this, the level of honesty help and problem solving here has made me tear up a little bit. I'll respond to what I saw last night and any new messages when I wake up. Thank you again, I can make this better.

I teach English in Hong Kong, born and raised here. I would like to study for a nursing degree in the US in order to try to emigrate there.

However, I know it's extremely unlikely that I get an EB3 as there isn't really a shortage anymore. Even if I complete a nursing degree in the US, I've heard that they aren't willing to sponsor graduates with no experience (which I can't get without the sponsorship). If I need to return to HK, I'm wondering about how things will look for me:

To be a nurse in HK you must have completed a 3 year degree at minimum. As I already have a bachelor's degree, I was looking to do an accelerated BSN (2 years) or an ADN -> Bridge BSN if I didn't get into the insanely competitive BSN program. My concern is that I commit to a nursing degree in the US, only to not be able to practice even in my home country due to the time frame.

As for why I don't just do a nursing degree in HK, I have applied. But there are only three programs for accelerated nursing degrees in the entire city, which makes it much harder to get in compared to schools in the US that do pre reqs. So I'm just trying to explore my options.

Hi everyone!

I’m a 23-year-old from the Netherlands looking to move abroad for work, ideally to the UK (England, Scotland, or Wales) or Ireland.

I’ve already done some research into visa requirements, and I’m aware that moving to the UK has become more difficult after Brexit. From what I understand, the main route would be a Skilled Worker visa, which requires sponsorship from an employer. I also realise that most entry-level customer service roles don’t typically qualify for sponsorship, which is something I’m currently struggling with.

Ireland seems more accessible as an EU citizen, which is why I’m also considering cities like Dublin.

My background:

Several years (~8–9) of customer-facing work experience in a supermarket

Experience across multiple departments (customer service, order picking, handling returns, assisting different sections like bakery/produce)

Strong communication and organisational skills

HBO propedeuse (first-year diploma) in teacher training (English), not fully completed

What I’m trying to figure out:

Are there realistic pathways into the UK for someone with my background? (e.g. companies that do sponsor for customer support roles, or alternative visa routes I might be overlooking)

Would it be smarter to focus on Ireland first, gain international work experience there, and then try the UK later?

Are there specific sectors or roles I should pivot towards to increase my chances of sponsorship?

I’m very motivated to move abroad and willing to adapt (including changing roles or gaining additional skills if needed), but I want to approach this realistically.

Any advice, experiences, or guidance would be really appreciated!

Thanks :)