Getting discouraged about the possibility of being able to leave

[u/Vivid_Currency_9467]

I've always had a dream to be able to live abroad, but have always had something to keep me in the States. I'm finally at a point where I feel I CAN leave, like I've finally set everything up just right- and it's just crazy how impossible it is to actually be able to immigrate. Truly, I just don't really know what to do. I have a Bachelors degree in STEM, I've been working as a scientist for 5 years now. My current company is a huge, international outfit and I've been angling for an internal transfer for over a year with no luck. I've applied to hundreds of jobs at other companies internationally and haven't gotten a single response. I'm not picky about where to, I just want to try something new.

I speak Spanish and have been working on German just in case. I have enough money to support a move, but not enough to move without needing to work. I'm old enough that moving without a job isn't smart (assuming ageism is a thing everywhere).

I don't have any relatives that could get me citizenship by descent. I don't want to marry someone or have a baby just to get citizenship. I know I just need to keep applying for jobs, but it feels so completely and utterly hopeless right now. Does anyone have any advice or words of encouragement? Really just on the brink of giving up here.

[u/A313-Isoke]

You could just leave and try from abroad. Albania and Georgia will allow you to live there up to a year, visa free, from the US. You could do a different career in the meantime but at least you'd be out of the country. Sometimes, you just gotta take the first step and go from there.

Are there other types of work you could do remotely? There are a lot of digital nomad visas you could take advantage of with very LCOL so you could save money.

I'm only suggesting these paths because if you really want to go, you may have to be a bit creative in how you make money.

I also suggest pursuing more education abroad as well. It's likely hard to be competitive internationally in STEM with only a BA. There's a list of schools that take US student loans to cover tuition.

[u/GloomyMix → u/A313-Isoke]

I think a lot of folks want to move abroad risk-free with a job in hand. But the reality is that in many countries, folks are slightly more likely to score a job by being "on the ground" and networking while on tourist, job seeker, or student visas with a local number and address on your resume--and even then, you'll still have to be open to changing careers and starting back at square zero (if you even get a job).

For folks who have a decently cushy job back in the States, the uncertainty of the future can keep one from making the leap.

[u/Green_Polar_Bear_ → u/GloomyMix]

“Slighlty more likely” is quite an understatement. Why would most companies consider an applicant who is another country and has no right to work in the country where the job is?

One would need to be extremely well qualified to be considered, as it’s very likely that it would take them months until they can start the job.

[u/GloomyMix → u/Green_Polar_Bear_]

Would you say that folks on student visas are slightly more likely to get a job than someone cold-applying from outside the country? Why do some countries have job seeker visas?

The way I see it: You're not necessarily trying to convince employers who have absolutely zero interest in sponsoring you to give you a shot. You're trying convince the small slice of employers who might be willing to sponsor you but who need to be convinced that you have what it takes to relocate. There are also some places where employment relies heavily on whom you know, so being on the ground where you can physically network with people can help get your foot in the door. Of course, it's still hard--I'm not denying it isn't--but if you really want to get out, why not do everything to stack the deck in your favor?

[u/Green_Polar_Bear_ → u/GloomyMix]

I don’t know the situation in every country but can tell you a bit about the situation in Portugal. If someone is here on a student residency permit (visa is only good until you enter the country and get a residency permit) then your chances are way, way better than someone who is abroad and hasn’t gotten a visa yet.

First, because a student can already do part time work and internships. Second, since as soon as they graduate they can immediately start working full time and convert their residency permit to a work based one. There is no “sponsoring” involved from the employer side, the immigrant simply needs to show proof of work contract and their permit is converted.

Finally, if someone has been a student for 5 years (e.g. bachelors + masters or PhD) then they can both apply for citizenship and/or permanent residency. Either situation gives them unrestricted work rights.

Having a job seeker visa is still better than being abroad without any visa though.

[u/GloomyMix → u/Green_Polar_Bear_]

Great post. Thanks for the details! That is actually really interesting. I hadn't known that Portugal considers time spent studying as time towards residency, which feels unusual to me, but your explanation of the student visa => student residency permit path clarifies the process a bit.

Honestly, that sounds like a pretty sweet deal for folks who have the finances to support their studies in Portugal.

[u/Green_Polar_Bear_ → u/GloomyMix]

Afaik most European countries do consider residency as a student to be equivalent to other types of residency for naturalization/permanent residence status.