Question for Admin(s)

I float around a few of the other Country sections on this site and my impression is that the Bulgaria one is one of the most active, despite the number of foreign immigrants here being rather lower than in many other EU countries. Am I right in my feeling - or am I just being parochial? - @JimJ

It's only recently that Bulgaria has been active, let's say in the last year. Belgium and Hungary are quite active. Countries do have their peaks. But recently, countries have been tightening up visa rules. Like The UK, Germany, etc... so folk are less interested in asking for advise to move.

I float around a few of the other Country sections on this site and my impression is that the Bulgaria one is one of the most active, despite the number of foreign immigrants here being rather lower than in many other EU countries. Am I right in my feeling - or am I just being parochial? - @JimJ
It's only recently that Bulgaria has been active, let's say in the last year. Belgium and Hungary are quite active. Countries do have their peaks. But recently, countries have been tightening up visa rules. Like The UK, Germany, etc... so folk are less interested in asking for advise to move. - @SimCityAT

And Bulgaria's still handing out "residents" cards like they're smarties; I guess that will also be tightened up when Ursula finally notices that Europe's been at war for the last two years.... 😎

@JimJ

Bulgaria is desperate for investment, and I forgot Portugal, which has a lot of interest, mainly from Americans.

And Bulgaria's still handing out "residents" cards like they're smarties...
- @JimJ

I wish! That's not my experience at all. 477 days to go till I can apply for my D visa.

The "Smarties" are likely to be available only for those with plenty of Euros to invest to buy residency. 

And Bulgaria's still handing out "residents" cards like they're smarties...
- @JimJ
I wish! That's not my experience at all. 477 days to go till I can apply for my D visa.

The "Smarties" are likely to be available only for those with plenty of Euros to invest to buy residency.
- @janemulberry

Jim means that you can still get visas quite easily. If you want to go to the UK it's quite different.

The required income for a UK visa varies by visa type, but for a Skilled Worker visa, the general requirement is the higher of £38,700 per year or the specific "going rate" for the job. There are exceptions, such as for certain health and care roles or if you have a relevant STEM PhD, which can lower the requirement to £25,000. For family visas, the minimum income requirement is £29,000 per year for first-time applicants.

There is no retirement visa anymore.

I think there's still something of a jump between "it's possible to get Bulgarian residency relatively easily compared to the UK" to "they hand them out like Smarties"!  😆

I think there's still something of a jump between "it's possible to get Bulgarian residency relatively easily compared to the UK" to "they hand them out like Smarties"! 😆 - @janemulberry

Indeed so - to be honest, things have been a bit quiet in the BG section lately, so I thought I'd see if being contentious would bring a few replies from some of the "lurkers" that I'm sure are out there....😎

Sorry it didn't work! You only got the usual suspects!

@JimJ

Hello Jim,

I have noticed the same thing, too and I mentioned it to the team as well.

The activity level has increased... not by a lot, but enough for us to notice and feel it.

Cheers,

Cheryl

Expat.com team

@janemulberry

If people want to settle in the UK, they must be able to integrate and contribute to society.

Migrants must now demonstrate an A-Level equivalent standard in speaking, listening, reading and writing in English.

Thank goodness you dont have to do that in the Bulgarian language.

@janemulberry
If people want to settle in the UK, they must be able to integrate and contribute to society.
Migrants must now demonstrate an A-Level equivalent standard in speaking, listening, reading and writing in English.
Thank goodness you dont have to do that in the Bulgarian language. - @SimCityAT

Thank goodness the UK locals don't have to either.....😁

@SimCityAT

I've been informed that this is only the requirement for those that intend to work......

And in all honesty, you would need to have that as the basics, if that was the case.

@JimJ

I was thinking the same!

Bulgaria for the win!. Let's all have some rakia and juice to celebrate.

@Zooldrool

"rakia and juice"? 😥

How many working people born in uk have a level english.

I failed, forgot capital letters lol.

@mickg

https://www.expat.com/en/forum/europe/e … in-uk.html

Do the YouTube test at the bottom,

How many working people born in uk have a level english.
I failed, forgot capital letters lol. - @mickg

Define "working people" - I'd suggest that most of us are/have been working.  More to the point, one doesn't need to have an A-level in English to speak and write correctly; that's a skill that comes well before secondary school..

@mickg
https://www.expat.com/en/forum/europe/e … in-uk.html
Do the YouTube test at the bottom, - @SimCityAT

Not much of a "test", is it? 😂

@mickg
https://www.expat.com/en/forum/europe/e … in-uk.html
Do the YouTube test at the bottom,  - @SimCityAT
Not much of a "test", is it? 😂
- @JimJ

Not really, but you will be surprised that so many won't be able. I'm severely dyslexic, so I have to think a bit, but I was brought up old school; the whole family were teachers.

@SimCityAT

Nope, I'd be decidedly unsurprised: the British invented the bizarre concept of "reverse snobbery", so nothing surprises me...😁

@JimJ

i don’t know but my experience of most forums is that I left them pretty quickly due to excessive bitching and bullying which fortunately doesn’t seem to happen on this one.

@JimJ
.....excessive bitching and bullying which fortunately doesn’t seem to happen on this one. - @jeanmandredeix

Sorry about that - I'll try harder in future ....😎😁

@JimJ

I went quiet as I was busy trying to get Visa paperwork together and got pretty stressed with waiting for responses. Our very well made plan has had some major hiccups mostly to do with transport.

Jean, I'm so sorry your plan isn't unfolding as you wanted. I hope you find the solutions to the issues.