Expat news
Work
Will the Omicron variant be the gamechanger for Biden's administration's massive "infrastructure" plan, which would mean millions of jobs and another opportunity for foreigners to live the American dream? While number of professional visas is on the decline, medium-sized cities are facing labour shortages.
A survey conducted by Expat.com with over 8,000 expats and future-expats from all around the world reveals that the spike in cost of living has been a real game changer for expatriation. It has pushed 30% of expats to move back to their home country but it is not all gloom and doom. Here's what we found.
Everyday life
Has the UK come a long way? 2020 has been a dark year with the pandemic and Brexit, leading to an expat exodus. But the British government reassures that 2021 has marked a slow return to normal, according to official figures.
Everyday life
With the new pandemic wave worldwide, vaccination against Covid-19 remains a major concern. The booster dose adds to the ongoing debate. States are stepping up their vaccination campaign, with some considering making the booster dose a mandatory entry condition. Others prefer to reserve this third dose for vulnerable categories of people.
Work
The United States administration recently settled a new police guidance for spouses of immigrant visa holders, clearing them for work. H1B, E-visa and L-visa holders spouses are allowed to have up to 180 days auto extension on work authorization.
Everyday life
Who would have thought that Covid-19 would strike back so brutally this year? November 2021 sounds like a sad reminder that the virus is still omnipresent. The recent discovery of the new Omicron variant is shaking the planet. Caught in its 5th wave, Europe is tightening health and sanitary restrictions.
Everyday life
Named "Omicron" by the World Health Organization (WHO), the new Covid-19 variant revives the traumas of 2020. According to experts, the 5th wave of the Delta variant, which is likely to be more severe and to last longer than the previous ones, could be even more tragic with Omicron.
Everyday life
Xi Jinping is determined to impose his vision on the world. Economic, political, diplomatic leader, or of the future according to Xi Jinping. Utopia or realistic project? Still cut off from the world with its zero Covid policy, does China still have the means to achieve its ambitions?
Work
The Quebec 2022 Immigration Plan, the call for foreign talent in Canada, the United States, Australia... The biggest economies are opening their doors to qualified foreign workers. And there is nothing new here: many are lands of immigration and rely on foreign talent to boost their growth, and do so with success. What about France?
Work
After an economically difficult 2020, 2021 seems to be putting most countries on the road of economic recovery. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects global economic growth of 5.9%. The recovery will be driven mainly by the major powers: the United States (+6%), Canada (+5.7%), the Euro zone (+5%)... In this race for competitiveness, countries are competing for international talent.
Work
The latest edition of Africa's Pulse, a World Bank report, is optimistic. With an estimated growth of 3.3%, Africa is officially emerging from recession. This is still less than in other continents (5.9% in Latin America, or 6% in Asia), but it is happening.
Tax
To prevent the relocation of big companies and corporations to countries with low tax rates and stop the offshoring of their profits to tax havens, America's 46th president, Mr. Joe Biden, advocates a global minimum corporation tax of at least 15%. The Group of Seven has also backed Biden's proposal. The finance ministers of the G7 agreed to battle tax avoidance by making companies pay more in the countries where they do business.
Visas
Oman, an Asian country in the Arabic Peninsula, rich for its unique heritage, ancient history and culture, has been drawing attention lately for its easy immigrant regulations, as the Sultanate government grants special residency to expat investors and their families.
Work
Are things finally improving for the United Kingdom? Mass hiring is picking up again and is likely to break records. The current economic situation suggests a better winter than expected in 2021. Does this mean that 2022 will be even better for the UK job market? Is this a new opportunity for expats to consider a career in London?
Everyday life
On October 27, the US dollar was depreciated compared to the Canadian dollar, the euro and the yen. The announcement was made by the Bank of Canada. Tiff Macklem, the governor of the Central Bank, announced a series of measures, including keeping its key rate (short-term interest rate set by a central bank) at 0.25%. How do these fluctuations affect expats plans?
Everyday life
The end of the US Travel Ban means the reopening of borders. The United States is thus working on a return to normalcy. The White House clarified its new policy on October 15, with strict controls to avoid a new Covid-19 surge. So here is what expatriates and international travellers should expect.
Visas
Everything has changed since January 1, 2021, when Brexit came into effect. While some have simply given up their plans of relocating to the UK, others were cooled off by the new administrative procedure. Yet, others are still keen on moving to the UK. So how do you go about it from now on?
Everyday life
On October 3, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), a non-profit organization, released a damning new report on global tax evasion. The same organization is behind the Panama papers (2016), which shook economies and political systems worldwide. In 2021, the Pandora papers scandal reveals that the promises of 2016 were far from being kept.
Other Types
Work
Labor shortages in some sectors are playing out alongside unemployment rates that, depending on the country, remain stubbornly high. Young people are particularly at risk of failing to find work in their field or anywhere else. So, how are young professionals thinking about moving abroad in this climate?
Argentina
As an expat who has made South America's Southern Cone my home, I explained last year why Latin America is the new frontier and how to get residency here. This year, I've been spending a lot of time in the new Land of Opportunity: Argentina. After taking a chainsaw to inflation, President Milei is now wielding the magic wand of citizenship by investment to foreign investors in Argentina.
Everyday life
Expat life is often seen as an exciting adventure: a new country, new opportunities, and a rich cultural experience. Moving abroad represents, for many, a major life project — one filled with hope and the promise of a fresh start. When you make that move as a couple, it can feel even more reassuring. You're not going it alone; you have each other, with the shared belief that this change will bring you closer and create lasting memories together. And it truly can. But living abroad also brings profound upheaval: the loss of familiar landmarks, constant cultural adjustment, distance from family and friends, and sometimes a complete professional reinvention. All of these factors can unsettle not only your individual sense of balance but also the foundation of your relationship.
Everyday life
In an interview with French newspaper Le Figaro, Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), stated that the current energy crisis is "worse than those of 1973, 1979, and 2022 combined." Compounded by the war in the Middle East, the crisis is pushing governments to fast-track their energy transition policies, from fuel taxes and vehicle use restrictions to incentives for remote work. Should expats brace for lasting disruptions to their daily lives? And how can they adapt to this new reality?
Costa Rica
It is the 4th-happiest country in the world. For the first time, Costa Rica has broken into the top 5 happiest countries on the planet, and it is the first Latin American nation to reach the upper ranks of the list. This strong showing mirrors Costa Rica's reputation among expats: the country consistently ranks among the best places to live abroad. So what makes Costa Rica so appealing? And how do you go about settling there as a foreigner?
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