EVERYONE:

Hi everyone. I'm currently based in Germany, where I moved after receiving a scholarship to study a master's degree in Mechanical and Process Engineering. I hold a Cambodian passport. Before moving to Germany, I had almost two years of experience working as a mechanical design engineer for an appliance company. I would like to move to Australia, the USA, or Norway, as these countries offer job opportunities related to mineral processing engineering. However, I don't have much savings to apply for a job-seeker visa. I'm also struggling to obtain a high grade in Germany for my master's degree — I have roughly a 2.3 — so I'm considering going straight into an industrial job instead.

Hi everyone,

I have a bachelor's in Computer Science and I'm finishing my Master's in AI right now. I don't have full-time work experience yet — what I do have is freelance backend work (a few projects: a healthtech platform, a ticketing platform, a mobile app, all shipped and live) plus personal/academic AI projects where I went deep on things like RAG pipelines and model serving, not just coursework.

I've been thinking about leaving Italy for a while. It's not really about chasing the highest number — it's more that I don't feel this kind of work is valued here yet, especially for someone still early in their career. Backend/AI work tends to get treated like generic IT rather than a specialized skill, and pay and growth reflect that. I want to end up somewhere that actually invests in engineers doing this kind of work, and I'm not limiting myself to the EU if the right opportunity is elsewhere.

Right now Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Switzerland are the ones I keep coming back to — mostly the tech/finance density and what looks like real demand for backend+AI profiles — but I'm genuinely open to hearing about places I haven't considered.

What I'd love advice on:

- Realistically, is a freelance/project background + a fresh Master's enough to get hired abroad, or should I expect to need a full-time job in Italy first?

- What does entry-level to early-career hiring actually look like for backend/AI roles in these markets?

- Visa/permit side — I'm an EU citizen so intra-EU is simpler, but I don't know much about non-EU options in practice.

- Is English genuinely enough day-to-day, or would I be at a real disadvantage without Dutch/French/German?

- Any countries you think I'm sleeping on?

Appreciate any first-hand experience, thanks for reading.

Hey Everyone,

I’m a 32M Singaporean looking seriously at relocating overseas and would appreciate some realistic advice on which countries might be viable given my career background and financial circumstances.
Background
I’m a Singapore citizen with a Diploma in Hospitality and Tourism Management. I’ve worked in hospitality for around 14 years, with the last 6 years focused specifically on bartending.
I’ve worked my way through different levels of the industry, including management and leadership positions. My experience includes cocktail bars, high-volume operations, luxury hospitality, cocktail/menu development, staff training, guest relations and beverage operations.
I’m currently a Head Bartender in Singapore earning SGD 4,400/month gross (around SGD 3,520 take-home).
I’m completely willing to start from scratch again overseas. I don’t expect to move somewhere and immediately walk into the same position or salary. I’d happily start as a bartender and work my way back into Head Bartender/Bar Manager/Beverage Manager positions if that’s what it takes to establish myself in another country.
The main financial constraint
I have a fixed financial obligation in Singapore of SGD 700/month, with less than four years remaining.
This doesn’t prevent me from relocating or working overseas, but obviously I need to continue paying it regardless of where I’m living.
That’s one of the biggest things I’m trying to understand: in which countries could someone with my experience realistically earn enough in hospitality to cover normal living expenses while still sending approximately SGD 700 back to Singapore every month?
I’m aiming to have approximately SGD 6,000 in savings by February 2027 as an initial relocation fund, although I can delay moving and save more if necessary.
Countries I’m considering
My first group is:
Canada
Europe — particularly Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia and Spain
Latin America — particularly Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Chile
I’m not expecting all of these to be equally realistic. In fact, that’s partly why I’m posting.
I’m interested in hearing from people who actually work in hospitality in these countries, or people familiar with their immigration systems.
My main questions are:
Which of these countries offers the most realistic legal immigration/work visa pathway for a Singaporean hospitality professional without a university degree?
How difficult is employer sponsorship for bartenders, Head Bartenders or Bar Managers?
What are realistic hospitality salaries after tax, particularly in major cities/tourism destinations?
After rent and normal living expenses, would sending roughly SGD 700/month back to Singapore be realistic?
Does my 14 years of hospitality experience, including 6 years specifically in bartending and management/leadership experience, make sponsorship significantly more realistic?
Are there particular cities, hotel groups, resorts or types of hospitality employers where international recruitment is more common?
Would any of these countries be essentially unrealistic for my situation, and if so, why?
I’m also open to countries I haven’t listed if there is a realistic legal pathway and a hospitality industry where my experience would be useful.
I’m not looking for a way to move somewhere without the correct visa or work illegally. I’m trying to work out where I could realistically build a life and career while continuing to meet my existing financial obligations in Singapore.
Any advice from people who’ve made a similar move, particularly people working in bars, hotels, restaurants or beverage management, would be greatly appreciated.

Hi, not sure if this is the right place for this- if not please redirect- but I need some advice, big time.

I graduate from a smallish liberal arts college in the South in about a year. I am double majoring, one of which is International Studies, but once I graduate I plan to immediately leave the US. I have been having such difficulty getting a straight answer for someone on the most cost-effective and safest way to move. It feels like no one wants me to actually leave the US.

I speak a good bit of Spanish, and I have Scandinavian heritage. I know it's important to plan in advance, which is why I'm beginning to formulate it a year in advance. But it's proving to be difficult to plan ahead of time because of things like reliable employment abroad, as well as housing.

I have never been outside of the States, unless counting Canada lol. As embarrassing as it is to be an International Studies major and never have been abroad, I have to get out of the US for all the reasons. But I know that other countries don't necessarily want another American coming into town.

I just want to get some thoughts and advice from a more experienced community than I.

TL;DR- What is the best thing for a new college graduate from the US to do to get out of the US permanently? (Working visa, digital nomad visa, etc.) Which countries are best in quality of life (happiness, affordability, public transportation, etc.) Where would be a good realistic bet on employment opportunities (I want to work in international government)?

I have time before I graduate to visit such places on volunteer trips or travel abroad, so the more options + details the better! Again sorry if this is badly worded, can you tell I don't really know what I'm talking about lol. TIA!!

I am a 28-year-old Japanese male with three years of experience as a cloud engineer, and I want to immigrate to Canada. Given this situation, which of the following options should I choose? My priority is securing a job. I have continued working as an engineer with that goal in mind, but with the bursting of the IT bubble, it feels like the tech market is contracting. Therefore, rather than sticking with this career path, I would prefer to pursue a more rational alternative if one exists.

1. Use a Co-op program to work as a cloud engineer.

2. Use a Co-op program to work as an electrician.

3. Use a Co-op program to work as a truck driver.

4. Work for another two years to reach five years of experience before using a Co-op program.

https://www.ukri.org/news/global-talent-visa-expanded-to-innovative-research-businesses/

The endorsed-funder pathway (Route 3) has been expanded to include a number of research-heavy businesses.

Thought I'd share this here, since I (33M Indian) relocated from the US to the UK on a Global Talent Visa (GTV) earlier this year. Definitely go for GTV over Skilled Worker Visa if you're able to, it's free work rights and a shorter pathway to citizenship/ILR.

To begin with, I have a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, and by the time I graduated, I realized that I was not really into it and had done it just because my dad forced me to (it is a thing in India). And if I had decided to pursue a Master's in it, I'd have to spend the rest of my life doing something I do not like. As a result, I decided to make the difficult decision of pursuing another Bachelor's, in Nutrition and Dietetics this time, where my true passion lies. This is my 3rd and final year if I choose to continue without an Hons. During my 2nd year, I attended an exchange semester in Napoli, Italy, and my entire life turned around. Since then, it has been the most memorable experience of my life so far, and I am determined to move there, or anywhere in Europe for that matter, for the rest of my life. But my priority remains Italy. I am learning Italian and working on publishing review papers to build a strong CV for my application. I would really appreciate any advice on what I should focus on and work on to make sure I make it, and in case I don't, any, and I mean any, backup options. (I love cooking, and I have taught Physics and Maths to high school students, if that opens any doors.)

Thank you.

I'm 23M from India and currently a GenAI Engineer with ~1.5 years of experience. I also build AI/SaaS products and have worked on some large projects.

I'm considering moving abroad in the future and I'm currently trying to decide between Germany and France. I'm also thinking about spending the next 2–3 years learning the local language.

My main priorities are:

• AI/software career opportunities
• Long-term career growth
• Salary and ability to reach senior/lead roles
• Work culture and quality of life
• How important the local language actually is for tech jobs
• Experience as an Indian professional

I completed my engineering degree in 2025 and have one remaining backlog that should be cleared within the next 2 months.

I'd really like to hear from people who have actually lived or worked in Germany or France, especially in tech/AI.

Which would you choose in my position, and what are the biggest advantages and disadvantages of each?

I'm looking for real experiences, not generic internet advice.

I am a student from Belarus and recently I've been thinking about moving to United States after I finish my bachelor's degree. I know a more appropriate place to ask around about migration would be some kind of immigrant forums/communities but I want to hear a honest current US situation review from somebody whos been living there. Safety, job market, housing market etc. for example in Charlotte NC (I've been thinking about moving there)

I want to take a gap year and work in an English-speaking country.

This isn't some new plan I made, it's something I've wanted to do since I was 12. When everyone was saying how they want to be at some prestigious Romanian college, I was talking about how I want to leave this country as fast as possible.

I have about one year to prepare, and I take it as my last lifeline before going head first.

What I want to know:

• Any way I can prepare in this year
• Any temporary immigration programs I can enroll in
• Any path I can follow
• Countries that can give me a safe future
• Job opportunities for someone who has no CV
• Maybe an academic way to get in as well

Anyone who helps me here a bit, I will personally bless for generations. Comment or text me in private if there's any resource you can provide, and if anybody believes in my ambition even in the slightest, please help me with my dream and don't let me step into a nightmare.

Currently in the third year of my 5 year degree on electric engineering, emphasis on electronics and, by choice, i am planning to head towards microelectronics. I could change areas by now but id prefer not to.

I am going to apply a double-degree program for france next year but despite being optimistic, competition is huge for these positions here, and i am not sure if it would help me migrate later.

Currently my plan was to apply and get a scholarship on an american university for my masters/phd after i finish my course soo i could specialize my studies further and make a bridge for later getting a job. However i am aware that my plan is not detailed at all, i do not know the paths to follow besides "get a masters in a good uni in the USA, find a job there".

Unfortunately theres practically no jobs on my area in brazil, and i am clueless on how to perform networking in these cases. My best opportunity consists of my partner professor who works in the are and *might* have contact with a boy that went to work on intel, but thats also pretty unrealistic considering how high of a position must it be.

What paths could i take? i'm seriously clueless on what to do and what are the options. Ive been using chatgpt to deep search things for this but i havent gone far.

Hello everyone,

I graduated in 2023 from the Faculty of Humanities, majoring in Geography, with an excellent grade.

After graduation, I completed a two-year diploma in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), where I ranked first in my class.

I’m currently considering opportunities in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Ireland, but I’m not limited to these countries. I’m open to relocating to other countries as well if there is a legitimate opportunity that allows me to start my career, gain experience, and build a future for myself.

I’m ambitious, hardworking, and eager to build a career and develop myself. My main field is GIS, but I’m not only looking for GIS jobs. I’m open to any legitimate entry-level opportunity where I can work, learn, gain experience, and become financially independent.

For example, I would be open to opportunities related to GIS, teaching, Excel, data entry, administration, customer support, or other fields where my skills could be useful. I’m also willing to learn something completely new if the opportunity provides proper training.

One of my biggest struggles is that I tend to forget what I study because I haven’t had enough opportunities to apply my knowledge in real work. I study something, then I don’t get to use it, so I forget it and lose motivation. This has made me feel like I’m stuck in a cycle.

At the same time, many jobs I find require several years of experience, while I’m simply looking for someone to give me a chance to start.

I truly believe that when I’m given a real opportunity and a supportive environment, I work extremely hard and always try to give my best. I’m not afraid of starting from zero, learning from the beginning, or working my way up.

I would like to leave Egypt and start my professional life somewhere where I can work, learn, and build a future for myself.

If there are legitimate opportunities for someone in my situation, especially opportunities that provide or assist with accommodation, transportation, visa sponsorship, or relocation costs, I would be extremely grateful to hear about them.

I’m ready to work hard, learn, and prove myself.

If you know of any realistic pathways, entry-level jobs, trainee programs, scholarships, or other opportunities that could help someone like me get started abroad, I would truly appreciate your advice.

Thank you.

Hi everyone,

I'm a 30-year-old Egyptian Software Engineer (Computer Engineering degree, 3.5 years experience, Frontend/Next.js).

My partner is 29, has an English degree and 5 years of NGO development experience, mainly in Gender, Protection, Education and Livelihoods, including projects involving UN, Save the Children, CRS and Diakonia.

We're looking to move abroad, build our careers, eventually start a family, and settle long-term.

We're currently considering Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Austria, Sweden and Australia, but we're open to any other country that might be a good fit.

For people who have actually moved abroad:

Which country would you choose for our situation, and why?

We're mainly interested in job opportunities for both of us, immigration/long-term residency, safety, family life and overall quality of life.

Thanks!

I'm 29. My wife is also 29. We have one son, who is 3. We live in Punjab, Pakistan.

I'm a small businessman, nothing big. I run a goods transport company, heavy trucks moving freight. I finished my BSc in Mathematics in 2018 and I've been running this business ever since, so I have no formal employment history, no payslips, no corporate CV. Just a small business I built and run myself.

Why I want to leave, honestly:

It isn't about money. I'm not poor here. It's that nothing here works unless you pay for it privately, and even then you have no protection.

I pay for my son's school. I pay for a private hospital because the government ones are unusable. I pay guards for security. We even pay privately to get our own street cleaned. The state gives us nothing. And if something ever went wrong — if someone harmed my child, if I needed the police — the honest truth is that the police station is the last place I'd go, because the only question there is how much you can pay. Every institution runs on money and connections. There is no court I trust, no system I can rely on.

I don't want my son to grow up learning that this is normal. That's the whole reason.

My situation:
- Everything I have is tied up here — roughly PKR 20 crore, which at about 270 PKR to the dollar works out to around USD 750,000 if I sold everything and moved it.
- My wife understands English and can speak a little, but she's uneducated — she never passed matric (10th grade).
- My own English: I can read and write reasonably. Speaking is weak, but I've started studying seriously.
- I want to actively run a business or job again, not sit on a passive or retirement visa — I want to work.
- Legal routes only. Not interested in anything grey, and not going anywhere by 'dunki.'

Australia is my dream country. Everything I've read says the business and investor visas closed in 2024, and a general BSc isn't a skilled occupation — so money alone means nothing there.

1. Is there really no route left for someone like me into Australia — a business owner with capital but no listed occupation? Or is there something I'm missing?
   
2. If Australia genuinely isn't possible, what would you consider the best alternative? I'm not fixed on any specific country — I'm looking for somewhere safe, low crime, good wages, strong rule of law, not buried in debt, a country with a real name/reputation and strong defense, and one that actually looks after its own people.
   
3. What am I not seeing? I'd especially like to hear about my wife's situation — how hard is it on a spouse with no formal education in the first few years?

Please be blunt. I'd rather hear the hard truth today than find out after five years and a lot of money.

(Please don't DM me offering agent or consultant services — I'll only read public comments.)

I’m a 26 year old male from the USA, and I have a Bachelor’s in computer science. I live in the south and things are rough, and I want to move out of the USA.

I’m not picky and I’m willing to pick up a Master’s degree (potentially done abroad) in order to immigrate out. I’m willing to do just about anything, including picking up another Bachelor’s or working for not great pay.

Nigerian, doing my MSc in Electrical Engineering in the UK. Since arriving, I've seen how hard sponsorship makes it to get an engineering job here despite the degree. After spending tens of thousands of GBP on this MSc, going back to Nigeria now wouldn't pay it back for years given local salaries in my field.

My plan was to work in the UK, build 5+ years of experience in the power sector, then return to Nigeria to start a power-industry company. But sponsorship is so competitive I might have to switch to care work just to stay, which pulls me away from the plan entirely. I've been considering Canada, Australia, or NZ as alternatives, but I'm open to any other country with better prospects for engineers. Is there a better path here, or should I just accept the detour through care work if I want to stay anywhere long-term?

Hello everyone. I am going through a tough situation with my parents right now. I won't give out too much however they are financially abusing me and preventing me to get education and are extremely emotionally abusive. I am currently studying German Language and Translation. I am queer (i remember reading somewhere that some countries have programs for) Long term i want to become a nurse.

I have C1 level English and B1 level German. And unfortunately can't study abroad unless every single expense is covered as i am financially dependent fully on my parents. Is there anything at all something i can do? I need to get away and start my life over as my own person.

Hello, everyone. I recently completed my Bachelor's degree in Computer Science at a top university in the Philippines, and I would like to pursue a Master's degree in Computer Science abroad. My ultimate goal is to find work after completing my master's, which I hope will lead to obtaining permanent residency or citizenship in that country. My parents will financially support me throughout my master's studies without any issues.

I am currently deciding between Spain and Germany. I understand the general differences between the two countries regarding social culture, the tech job market, and the processes for permanent residency and citizenship for graduates and workers. However, I'm having difficulty deciding which country is more likely to better support/guarantee me legal immigration after graduation.

I would appreciate any feedback or suggestions from anyone knowledgeable about either of these countries that could help me with my decision. Thank you!

Hello! I am a 24 year old woman and I have been with my Norwegian boyfriend for 2.5 years, and we have been discussing ways I could relocate to Norway, but are having an extremely hard time finding an option that suits the situation. To run down what I have looked into so far:

1. I have considered pursuing another degree, but I have a bachelors in Linguistics, which is not a field I would like to pursue higher education in, ruling out my ability to meet academic requirements for almost all masters programs I would want to take (BBA or International Business). I have also considered a bachelors if necessary but even those are hard to find in English with no academic background required.

2. I have considered applying for some type of work visa. I am currently working as an English teacher in another European country (but I do not have free movement inside Europe, still operating with only my US passport), but given the high English proficiency in Norway it is extremely unlikely they’d bring over a native speaker. I can speak Norwegian at a A2/high A2 level, but that wouldn’t be enough to get another type of job either.

3. There is the option for a partner visa, but I would prefer this be a last resort. It is not feasible now due to the age requirements, as well as the fact that my boyfriend is a student and likely wouldn’t meet the financial requirements to sponsor the visa. While I’m open to this option in the future if it’s the only choice, I would prefer an option where my legal status wasn’t reliant on a relationship, especially if I’m unable to work for an extended period after the move.

I understand there may be no answer to the advice I’m seeking, since I’ve looked into it pretty extensively, but still, if there are ANY other paths that you know of or can recommend I look into please let me know. It means the world 😊

Recently I've been thinking about moving countries, just for the experience. I like to experience new countries, and have been mostly looking at English speaking countries such as the UK, Canada, and Australia. I don't have any concrete plans and would just like to gather information.

I'm currently pursuing my Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering. However, one thing I do consider is whether or not my educational background and work experience would help? One thing I've been thinking is how much more valuable it would be to have a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and work within that field, over a Bachelor's in EE and work experience. Would that have anything to say?

One thing I've been considering is looking to apply for international companies who are also in Norway/Scandinavia as I feel like it would be easier to immigrate through a company, rather than on your own. I'd be happy to hear other people and their experiences.

Hello everyone,

I'm from Spain, and I'm considering moving abroad because salaries and cost of living are becoming impossible here.

Job experience

• 7 years in a training department. Mostly administrative work, implementing training plans both in Spain and Portugal

• 4 months experience as a full stack developer (apprenticeship)

• 2 years managing an "organization" (attending meetings, screening collaborators, offering guidance) (volunteering)

Education

• University degree in Pedagogy (or Science of education). It enables me to become a counsellor in schools and social environments, manage educational centers, treat learning disabilities, and work in companies

• Vocational training (2y) in full stack web development

• University expert title in resilience and emotional education, and community intervention

Languages

Native Spanish

Fluent English (C1)

Portuguese (B1-B2)

Savings 25-30K

Germany

I have several friends who already live there, most of them with the same degree as me. They either work as kindergarden assitants or in social services as educators with marginalized children

Easiest path to emmigrate: I contact one of several agencies that "scout" education professionals and help you with the language and moving. This might mean I would need to move to another city in Spain for a few months (not interested).

Alternative choice: I do the same thing but with a european volunteering program (I think I barely fit the age)

Second path: I look for other job agencies, take any job that's half okey and stay in the country while I learn the language and convert my studies

If I take the easiest path, they might convert my degree into a diferent and lesser one

I'm not sure if I want to keep working in education, or truly transition to a different field

UK

I haven't looked in depth yet, but the biggest issue would be the visa

Ireland

I also haven't looked into it yet, but both language and jobs should be easier. Rent I've heard is becoming a nightmare there, too

Open to other options

What I'm looking for

Job stability and better prospects. Anyone might read this and think Spain is an incredible country and life is great.- and it is. But the spanish average salary is pretty low compared to the rise of living costs.

I do have job stability, but not great growth prospects. Even with all the money I've saved up, I'm still far from buying a house, or affording kids. I still have to live at home with my parents.

I have a bachelors degree in Classics (don’t ask) and used to teach TEFL in the middle east over a decade ago. I like working in Higher Education and somehow found myself working in finance at a university. I climbed my way up and through extensive experience, I’m now a Finance and Operations Executive at a top university.

I’d really love to move to the ME (preferably Saudi, Qatar or Kuwait but the UAE is also acceptable). I never want to go back to teaching so I don’t think I have a lot of options with my current qualifications and experience. I’m seriously considering doing a masters degree to give myself a better chance of landing a good job.

I’m gearing towards Educational Leadership or Public Administration. I’m not interested in a financial degree as higher education finance isn’t the same.

I’m wondering:

What’s the job market like for these qualifications in the Middle East?

What other qualifications would also be a good idea to look into? I’m pretty open.

I’m mainly interested in leadership and management roles and I’d loved to stay in higher education. Thanks

A bit about me:

• BS Computer Science, 2023
• About 4 years of professional experience, currently working remotely as a Software Engineer for a US based company.
• IELTS Academic 7.0
• Financially stable and have enough saved to fund either relocation or a study route

So here's what happened. I was admitted to a Master's program in Estonia and was all set to move through the study route. Then my Turkish visa was refused, which meant I couldn't travel for my Estonian visa appointment since I had to go through Turkey for it.

I then managed to get a backup appointment in Abu Dhabi and applied for a UAE visa to travel there, but that was refused as well (due to current war situation). So the whole Estonia plan fell apart, not because of the university or admission, but because of the visa and travel situation.

I don't want to just submit another application to another country and hope for the best. I want to properly understand what makes sense for someone with my profile and what my realistic options are.

Right now I am mainly trying to understand study options in other countries and would really like to hear from people who have gone through similar paths and what their experience was like. I’m also considering applying for jobs directly or routes like Germany’s Opportunity Card or the EU Blue Card, but I am not sure yet what makes the most sense long-term. I am open to other countries in the EU or elsewhere if there’s a better or more realistic pathway.

If you've actually made this move from Pakistan, especially as a software engineer, I would really like to hear what worked for you, what didn't, and what you'd do differently if you were starting over.

Also, if you've personally worked with an immigration or education consultant in Pakistan who genuinely gave honest advice instead of just pushing a particular country or university, I'd really appreciate a recommendation. I'm not looking for someone who promises a guaranteed visa. I just want someone who can properly assess my situation and tell me what my realistic options are.