How to Move Abroad

Hi and welcome to the forum schiphol!

It would be easier to help you if you had an idea on where you want to go.

Regards
Armand

Thanks for your response, Armand. I am looking ideally for tips on moving to French speaking countries such as Belgium, France, or Switzerland. French is my first language but I grew up in the U.S. and it is pretty poor now but I am re-learning. I have a legal background, and an IT business background.

For those people who have made the move, have you secured employer sponsorship first or just showed up on a visa and looked for work? How crucial is French or Dutch-speaking abilities? Thanks.

How and when to get visas depend entirely on where you go.  I've heard some people say they moved and then got the job & visa.  I got the job & visa then moved.

Isn't there a large French population in Tunisia?  I bet they need lawyers right about now.

When I decided to leave the USA I already had several online businesses.

So it was a matter of finding relatively safe offshore banking and I looked at countries that did not tax offshore income and did not have tax exchange agreements with the USA.

I set up the business corporate structure and arranged payment systems to handle sales. My companies pay for any work permits needed or I just use a tourist or investors visa.

When I need money I just transfer it into a local account and pull out money as I need.

The way my businesses are set up, I can live anywhere in the world.

Thanks for the responses thus far. I don't know if my law degree will be much use overseas. It'd be easier if I had a cushy lawyer job and transferred (which isn't happening).

I'm thinking that going the teach English route in Asia might be a stepping stone. And then try to head over to Europe? Has anyone tried that?

teaching English in Asia isn't much of a stepping stone into Europe, and English teachers here are a dime a dozen. I know an American woman teaching in Nurnberg and she said it was extremely difficult to find the job she has, and that was even after going to a pretty well-known TEFL school in Europe.

Based on my experience, networking and specialized skills are a much better entree into expat life than teaching English in Asia (unless Asia is your destination of desire)

Well I do know several expats who teach English in Asia. Some of them without a university degree.

Having a degree gives you an advantage.

But as far as the EU, you are going to have a real hard time getting a work visa.

BTW: You do know there are US law firms with offices in Asia and in Europe?

From what I've heard too many English teachers have flooded Asia in the last few years.  10 years ago the teacher could pick & choose schools because they were rare.  Now the schools get to pick & choose because there are so many teachers.

HaileyinHongKong wrote:

From what I've heard too many English teachers have flooded Asia in the last few years.  10 years ago the teacher could pick & choose schools because they were rare.  Now the schools get to pick & choose because there are so many teachers.

I am sure you are correct. My friend got a job in China recently and he did not have a degree. He was willing to be paid peanuts so he actually got the job. Seems the experience was worth more to him than the money.

From what I've seen the only people who make a lot of money in China are the people who could probably make more money elsewhere.  I read somewhere that the average salary for foreign English teachers in China was US$1000/month.

I seriously doubt he makes that much.

After he finishes his TEFL he will be sent to a very remote area. He is not going to be in Beijing or a big city,

I cannot wait to hear from him.

Tell him to write a blog.  I'd read it.

HaileyinHongKong wrote:

Tell him to write a blog.  I'd read it.

Already suggested that to him. Waiting to hear from him.

I imagined it really wouldn't be a stepping stone but I figured that I would at least get experience. Plus I have heard so much about Korea in particular.

Europe is the ultimate destination of choice though. As for the law firms: I'm really not interested in being a lawyer. I'd much rather use my legal education in another capacity. I think I'd have an easier time finding a job in Europe over becoming a lawyer at an overseas office.

So, it seems that my strategy is wrong, right? Going to Asia and getting experience won't really mean anything when I decide it's time to try the EU? I was hoping to build up my credentials and then network like crazy to move to another job in another country.

schiphol, the way I see it you have 4 or more options. There may be more.

Volunteer and work with a charitable organization. Volunteer visas are easier to get.

Go to school in Europe, student visas are also easier to get. Plus you might be surprised how reasonable to cost is at some schools.

Build an online business that gives you cash flow and then set up a corporation and go there to open a subsidiary and work for your company.

Visit and find the love of your life and get married. Once you are married residency is easier.

Now you can strike down all these ideas and give up or you can find a way to make it work.

If you want it bad enough, trust me, you will find a way,

I started with nothing and made my life what I wanted. No one did it for me. If I can, so can you.

I like your 4 ideas, ericwt. I wouldn't mind going to school in Europe. I am concerned that I will have a bunch of debt after I finish law school and will have 3 degrees. A fourth in International Relations is very appealing but I don't want to incur even more debt especially in a foreign country.

I am also planning on travelling with my significant other and I don't think she'd appreciate me trying to find another lover in Belgium. Ha!

I do want it bad and I am networking like crazy to see what I can do. Someone mentioned getting some sort of specialization. I can think of IT specializations. Other than those, what other specializations are in demand in the EU?

schiphol wrote:

I like your 4 ideas, ericwt. I wouldn't mind going to school in Europe.

I am also planning on travelling with my significant other and I don't think she'd appreciate me trying to find another lover in Belgium. Ha!

I do want it bad and I am networking like crazy to see what I can do. Someone mentioned getting some sort of specialization. I can think of IT specializations. Other than those, what other specializations are in demand in the EU?

Okay what you should try to do is ask the last question at the page I am going to refer you to. On the right is a post new topic. Click it and go.

Here is the link.

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewforum.php?id=66

That is the European Area. Please note there are sub forums and blogs for each country.

But the general Europe area would be the most visited for the question.

LOL! On the wife, I did not know your circumstances. Just tell her to keep an open mind.

There is always a way to make something happen. I bet you will find it.