Anyone have any experience moving abroad?

[Sweats]

31 minutes ago, Logic said:

Thanks so much for this.

It's fascinating to hear how provincial (pun somewhat intended) and protective the populations of some areas are. In the case of Quebec, its a little bit more easily understandable, as I've always perceived that they take fierce pride in their heritage and culture.

What you say about the Canadian government mostly wanting to make sure you'll contribute to society, and the biggest obstacle being the need to have a job lined up or prove your value in terms of professional experience and skillset, lines up exactly with what my perception of the immigration process is.

The part that has always seemed a little bit tricky to me is the "chicken or egg" of it all: That is, it seems like it might be tough to get hired at a job without having moved there or become a citizen yet, while at the same time the only way TO move there and become a citizen is to already have a job in place. I don't have a modern, work-from-home, computer-based job like many who move abroad seem to. I work in hospitality. Currently doing accounting for a major hotel chain. My wife is the COO of a cannabis company. Somehow I don't imagine hospitality accounting or cannabis work to be desirable enough to the Canadian government to make them want to open their arms to us, but maybe I'm assuming too much and overthinking it.

In any case, Saguenay (which I wasn't very familiar with) looks beautiful. It's nature, gorges, and water features remind me a lot of the pacific northwest, where I live now. You've chosen a beautiful place to live!

Anyway...thanks again for your replies and congrats on your successful relocation. 


 

 

Interesting you should say this. My wife and I just vacationed in Portugal for the first time this year and loved it. We didn't get outside of Lisbon much, but we felt more or less right at home there. I had a hell of a time adjusting to the language (we had just been to Spain, and I wasn't prepared for how different Portuguese is from Spanish).

Anyway...thanks for the reminder. I'm gonna research the immigration process there.

 

 

 

 

Interestingly enough, my wife and i have been coming to Saguenay on and off for the past 40 years to visit her family, so when we moved up here, we definitely knew what we were walking into.......we just didn't expect the difference between once in a while vacationing here and actually living here.

 

True story......there were a few times where drivers have tried to run me off the road when they saw the Ontario license plates. To combat this, i put a local union sticker from my Ontario union on the back of my truck and never had a problem ever again (Quebec is huge into their unions).

 

Saguenay is the "gem" of Quebec, and they know it.

They hold onto their traditions and heritage hard and won't allow anyone to interrupt their way of life.......it's a whole other world up here, man.

Think about it like this, if people had no reason to ever come up here, they would never have a reason to ever come up here. Most "outsiders" make it as far as Quebec City and that's it......that's the way the Saguenay people like it, that's the way they want it.

The region tried to re-populate the area by sending immigrants from Montreal to Saguenay and it didn't "take"........1) the people up here don't want immigrants around the area.........2) immigrants, not used to a casual average of -45 in the winter, ran back to Montreal (and who can blame them).

 

As far as jobs wise, if you are in the hospitality business, Montreal or Quebec City would be your best option, as there is absolutely no hospitality in Saguenay, in any regard........up here, if you speak English or try to parlez vous in broken French, bonne chance, mon ami.......bonne chance avec ca.

 

 

[boyst]

Come to think of it... Find a US based company that has branches across the world. Look for job positions for that company abroad and see if there are prospects and apply to those and reach out to the company to see if you can apply in this manner. 

 

A ton of our coworkers across the world, mostly Europe, are fighting to get into the US and doing this method. 

Edited November 8 by boyst

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

23 hours ago, Logic said:

*Disclaimer: No political crap in this thread, please. If you wanna talk about that stuff, take it to the PPP*

My wife and I have been considering moving abroad for years now. We previously lived in the U.S. Virgin Islands for a couple years, but that's a U.S. territory, so it was pretty easy and didn't involve anything special. As for this potential move, we've talked about various options including Italy, Sweden, Costa Rica, and Montreal.

I recognize that different countries have different immigration requirements, some more stringent than others, so I'm wondering if anyone here has ever moved abroad and, if so, what their experience was. Where did you move to and when? Was it difficult? Complicated? Easier than expected?

Obviously I can google various countries' policies, but I'm more so looking to just hear firsthand accounts from people that have actually done it. Any insight would be much appreciated.

out of curiosity, any reason you wouldn’t go back to the USVI? At least as a vacationer, I absolutely love it down there! 

[Logic]

1 hour ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

out of curiosity, any reason you wouldn’t go back to the USVI? At least as a vacationer, I absolutely love it down there! 

How much time do you have? Hah.

The short answer is: culture and variety. 

We loved living on St John, but it's a very small island with limited opportunities for novelty and variety. Going to the beach to snorkel, then going to the bar for happy hour is an AMAZING way to spend a day or a week, but when it's ALL THERE IS, it does get old. I liken it to ice cream: an ice cream sundae is undeniably delicious. But if all you could eat 24 hours a day was an ice cream sundae, its appeal would wear off quickly. After a year and a half there, my wife and I began to long for changing seasons, museum trips, a night at the movies, a trip to a botanical garden, a farmer's market...in short, "beach, bar, beach, bar, beach" is less charming after 18 months than it is after one or two weeks.

I also try to explain to people that one of the main reasons they have so much fun on vacation is because they're, well...ON VACATION! When you actually LIVE in a place like St John and you have to deal with daily realities like less-than-friendly natives, sky-high grocery and utility costs, obnoxious and inebriated tourists, a dry water cistern with no rain coming any time soon and the cistern refill truck not scheduled back for another week, and the basic reality of having to work 40 hours a week instead of getting to go to the beach every day...it's very different than being there with "vacation brain" and a pocket full of disposable income.

St John is/was amazing. I'm incredibly glad I lived there. It was one of the most amazing chapters of my life, and I'll go back to visit any time I can. I still have friends there who are lifers. I can't even guarantee that I would NEVER live there again But for my wife and I, with where we are in our lives right now? We crave more variety, more options, and more culture, and that's why Europe or Central America sound more appealing at this time.

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

4 minutes ago, Logic said:

How much time do you have? Hah.

The short answer is: culture and variety. 

We loved living on St John, but it's a very small island with limited opportunities for novelty and variety. Going to the beach to snorkel, then going to the bar for happy hour is an AMAZING way to spend a day or a week, but when it's ALL THERE IS, it does get old. I liken it to ice cream: an ice cream sundae is undeniably delicious. But if all you could eat 24 hours a day was an ice cream sundae, its appeal would wear off quickly. After a year and a half there, my wife and I began to long for changing seasons, museum trips, a night at the movies, a trip to a botanical garden, a farmer's market...in short, "beach, bar, beach, bar, beach" is less charming after 18 months than it is after one or two weeks.

I also try to explain to people that one of the main reasons they have so much fun on vacation is because they're, well...ON VACATION! When you actually LIVE in a place like St John and you have to deal with daily realities like less-than-friendly natives, sky-high grocery and utility costs, obnoxious and inebriated tourists, a dry water cistern with no rain coming any time soon and the cistern refill truck not scheduled back for another week, and the basic reality of having to work 40 hours a week instead of getting to go to the beach every day...it's very different than being there with "vacation brain" and a pocket full of disposable income.

St John is/was amazing. I'm incredibly glad I lived there. It was one of the most amazing chapters of my life, and I'll go back to visit any time I can. I still have friends there who are lifers. I can't even guarantee that I would NEVER live there again But for my wife and I, with where we are in our lives right now? We crave more variety, more options, and more culture, and that's why Europe or Central America sound more appealing at this time.

makes total sense.

 

When you said USVI, I almost assumed St. Croix, because it strikes me as having more to offer beyond the beach and just more basic stores and things. I probably like it least of the three, but have always thought it was the one island there that would be easy to live on.

 

I absolutely love St. John, but I get your point. Probably would lose its luster after a while. 
 

 

[Logic]

Just now, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

 

I absolutely love St. John, but I get your point. Probably would lose its luster after a while. 

 

It also -- as you may have noticed -- has its share of expats with Peter Pan Syndrome. People who really have no desire to anything other than party, drink, and swim. Which...yeah, I totally get the appeal. But we just got to a place where we...wanted more, I guess.

With that said, St John is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Its beaches, to this day, still haven't been matched or beaten by any other place I've been. Absolutely beautiful gem of a place, and again, so glad I lived there. I would easily recommend spending a season or two living there to just about anyone that's curious or loves the place, but it takes a special kind of salty barnacle to make it a permanent home.

[\GoBillsInDallas/]

On 11/7/2024 at 2:22 PM, Buffalo716 said:

Parlez vous Francais? Because Montreal is French Canadian right

 

23 hours ago, Logic said:

Oui, tres bien.

 

Tu es gros, tu es moche et ta mere t'habille etrangement. 

 

8 hours ago, Sweats said:

Ontario and Quebec don't like each other.

 

 

7 hours ago, Sweats said:

I have a long extensive nuclear background

 

 

1 hour ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

out of curiosity, any reason you wouldn’t go back to the USVI?

 

I don't think he's a virgin anymore.

[sherpa]

11 hours ago, Logic said:

How much time do you have? Hah.

The short answer is: culture and variety. 

We loved living on St John, but it's a very small island with limited opportunities for novelty and variety. Going to the beach to snorkel, then going to the bar for happy hour is an AMAZING way to spend a day or a week, but when it's ALL THERE IS, it does get old. I liken it to ice cream: an ice cream sundae is undeniably delicious. But if all you could eat 24 hours a day was an ice cream sundae, its appeal would wear off quickly. After a year and a half there, my wife and I began to long for changing seasons, museum trips, a night at the movies, a trip to a botanical garden, a farmer's market...in short, "beach, bar, beach, bar, beach" is less charming after 18 months than it is after one or two weeks.

I also try to explain to people that one of the main reasons they have so much fun on vacation is because they're, well...ON VACATION! When you actually LIVE in a place like St John and you have to deal with daily realities like less-than-friendly natives, sky-high grocery and utility costs, obnoxious and inebriated tourists, a dry water cistern with no rain coming any time soon and the cistern refill truck not scheduled back for another week, and the basic reality of having to work 40 hours a week instead of getting to go to the beach every day...it's very different than being there with "vacation brain" and a pocket full of disposable income.
 

 

I think that's pretty much a standard response.

During my career I have known/worked with many folks who moved to foreign countries.

Belize, Costa Rica, Mexico, Colombia, Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil, Dominican Republic to name a few.

 

It is easy to talk oneself into it because it seems attractive.

More value, OK healthcare, decent tax law etc.

 

But there is a lot of downside, and they generally returned.

Questionable governments, missing family and the cultural things in the US, a potential language issue, unreliability of contractors, very obvious sexism, a bit of resentment in some places and on and on.

If one is serious, it makes much sense to take a year to live there.

 

Speaking of the USVI, I wouldn't do that. St. Thomas is the only place someone intentionally tried to run me over.

In St. Croix I needed to mail something and when I got to the head of the line at the Post Office the woman told me to go back to the end.

There are anti white racial tones there if you have any deeper involvement than tourist observations.

Get hit my a hurricane there and find out how well the gov works and cares about expats.

 

[HIT BY SPIKES]

On 11/7/2024 at 2:30 PM, Logic said:

*Disclaimer: No political crap in this thread, please. If you wanna talk about that stuff, take it to the PPP*

My wife and I have been considering moving abroad for years now. We previously lived in the U.S. Virgin Islands for a couple years, but that's a U.S. territory, so it was pretty easy and didn't involve anything special. As for this potential move, we've talked about various options including Italy, Sweden, Costa Rica, and Montreal.

I recognize that different countries have different immigration requirements, some more stringent than others, so I'm wondering if anyone here has ever moved abroad and, if so, what their experience was. Where did you move to and when? Was it difficult? Complicated? Easier than expected?

Obviously I can google various countries' policies, but I'm more so looking to just hear firsthand accounts from people that have actually done it. Any insight would be much appreciated.

 

I lived in Anguilla, B.W.I. for a full year in 2009 and 2010.

 

I was recruited to manage a law firm there.

[stuvian]

A lot of countries will have occupations for which there is a labor shortage that they will have a fast track immigration process to fill. You may want to research from that angle to see if your skills are a match.

[Just Jack]

Well this popped up my news feed today, how do you feel about Norway?

 

Move to Svalbard? How to migrate to this visa-free region in Norway

[Logic]

On 11/10/2024 at 7:50 PM, Just Jack said:

Well this popped up my news feed today, how do you feel about Norway?

 

Move to Svalbard? How to migrate to this visa-free region in Norway

High housing costs, low job opportunities, frigid temperatures, and 84 nights of uninterrupted polar darkness. What's not to love?!

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

On 11/8/2024 at 6:29 AM, \GoBillsInDallas/ said:

 

Yes - I have helped my wife move all four times that we have moved into new homes.

 

Lieutenant Frank Drebbin needs to see you downtown.  Coming quietly?

[Simon]

Yeah, I've moved a few broads. It's mostly about leverage and timing...

Ok, now that that's out of the way.....

 

If Canada is still in play, you might want to look West before you consider East (Montreal).

Mild winters down by Vancouver Island, Victoria, etc.

Or stunning scenery up through Banff/Jasper.

Cost could be an issue in some places but I don't think you'd have to worry about being bored if you like living much of your life outside. 🤙

 

[Logic]

28 minutes ago, Simon said:

Yeah, I've moved a few broads. It's mostly about leverage and timing...

Ok, now that that's out of the way.....

 

If Canada is still in play, you might want to look West before you consider East (Montreal).

Mild winters down by Vancouver Island, Victoria, etc.

Or stunning scenery up through Banff/Jasper.

Cost could be an issue in some places but I don't think you'd have to worry about being bored if you like living much of your life outside. 🤙

 

Yeah I'm currently on the west coast, so western Canada has been a consideration for me at times. The thing that has stopped me from more seriously investigating it as a possibility is the cost. I learned recently that Vancouver is the 3rd most expensive city in North America! I knew it was expensive, but not quite THAT expensive. That's wild.

Have always wanted to visit Banff and spend some time in Calgary. Even if I don't move there, I damned sure plan to drive up there in the next couple years. 

[Sweats]

29 minutes ago, Logic said:

Yeah I'm currently on the west coast, so western Canada has been a consideration for me at times. The thing that has stopped me from more seriously investigating it as a possibility is the cost. I learned recently that Vancouver is the 3rd most expensive city in North America! I knew it was expensive, but not quite THAT expensive. That's wild.

Have always wanted to visit Banff and spend some time in Calgary. Even if I don't move there, I damned sure plan to drive up there in the next couple years. 

 

 

 

You are correct that Vancouver is costly. The problem is that a lot of BC is migrated from the Asian countries and most particularly, China.....we are having a HUGE problem with China laundering their money in Canadian real estate presently, which in turn drives the property values up. Hence the 3rd most expensive city in NA.

Toronto is having the same problem; Montreal is on its way to getting there.

 

Alberta is nice.....a lot of wilderness and outdoor things going on.

[Royale with Cheese]

I saw this Instagram short where in Thailand, you can living in luxury.  Very nice condos are like $60,000.

Maybe I will move there.

[WotAGuy]

Moving abroad?  Don’t you just pick ‘em up under the tlts?

[Jauronimo]

22 hours ago, Royale with Cheese said:

I saw this Instagram short where in Thailand, you can living in luxury.  Very nice condos are like $60,000.

Maybe I will move there.

Our game plan is retirement in Indonesia.  Thailand and Malaysia would be 2nd and 3rd choices.  Definitely somewhere in southeast asia depending on stability and safety once we get into our 50s.  My wife is indonesian and I loved what I have seen of the country to date, so thats the leading contender.

 

USD goes very far in that part of the world.  Most of these countries have strong property laws as well.  Of course having my assets nationalized is a threat. 

Edited November 15 by Jauronimo

[GoBills808]

5 minutes ago, Jauronimo said:

Our game plan is retirement in Indonesia.  Thailand and Malaysia would be 2nd and 3rd choices.  Definitely somewhere in southeast asia depending on stability and safety once we get into our 50s.  My wife is indonesian and I loved what I have seen of the country to date, so thats the leading contender.

 

USD goes very far in that part of the world.  Most of these countries have strong property laws as well.  Of course having my assets nationalized is a threat. 

get one w a guest house so i can plan my surf trips plz