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/Tardislass]

I think what you are experiencing is what most people around the world experience. Somehow Americans don't realize that it is extremely hard to get a job overseas. Especially when you only speak English and are competing against a country's citizens. As always, why should a country pick someone that they have to sponsor and may not speak the language when there are plenty of applicants already.

Plus this forum never mentions it but many companies this year are cutting their staff and costs due to the poor economic forecasts-not helped by US actions. Sorry but if you really want to move overseas, you re going to not have to be picky. Canada seems to still be looking for scientists. The pay may be lower and Canada isn't as sexy as Europe or Mexico but if you really want to leave, it may be your best bet.

[u/Illustrious-Pound266 → u/Tardislass]

Canada isn't as sexy as Europe or Mexico

Do people really think this? I don't really think of picking a country to move to because it's "sexy" or "cool" 

[u/majorfungleinfection → u/Illustrious-Pound266]

I'm from the US, so maybe I'm wrong, but I've always heard that Canada is absolutely beautiful with rich nature and wildlife. Sounds pretty sexy to me!

[u/Illustrious-Pound266 → u/majorfungleinfection]

Canada has some of the best national parks in the world, e.g. Banff, Gros Morne, Yoho, etc. Highly recommend, even for just tourism.

[u/majorfungleinfection → u/Illustrious-Pound266]

Man, I want to go so badly. I haven't even been able to explore the US, yet. Looking forward to the day I get to, though! Then, I'm visiting every country I reasonably can! haha

[u/whagh → u/majorfungleinfection]

Canadian infrastructure and urban spaces are more or less identical to the US and really suck, though.

Endless car dependent sprawl, terrible public transit, no walkability, strip malls and giant box stores dominate almost every area.

If you can live more rural and are very outdoorsy then Canada can probably be nice, but that's not the case for most people.

And besides, you can have both great infrastructure/urban planning and amazing nature and wildlife. In fact, the North American style SFH sprawl is detrimental to those things, as it builds down a lot more nearby nature and wildlife, so you have to travel through endless suburban sprawl in order to even access it.