5 ms·

That's exactly what I did. I spent a lot of time and money on immigration lawyers trying to find a way to immigrate to the U.S. only because I don't have a degr

That's exactly what I did. I spent a lot of time and money on immigration lawyers trying to find a way to immigrate to the U.S. only because I don't have a degree. After years of trying without any success I started looking into other options, only to find that it's significantly easier to immigrate into other countries (like Canada). Two months ago I got an offer from a Dutch company (even with them knowing about my degree issue), and I'm moving to Amsterdam next week. Last month I spent two weeks in California, and, with this new reality, saw the whole place with new eyes. After the glamour wears off, you realize that the other options might be even better, specially after you see that some countries are much more welcoming to immigrants.

simplexion 11y ago
Can I come to Netherlands with you? I am sick of Australia and I enjoy riding bicycles.
- yellowapple 11y ago
  Can I come to the Netherlands with the two of you? I am sick of America and I also enjoy riding bicycles.
  - yetanotheracc 11y ago
    Can I have your apartment when you leave?
    - yellowapple 11y ago
      Sure, if you don't mind living in a place where cost of living is inflated to Bay Area levels.
      - tripzilch 11y ago
        That's mainly a problem for people that can't look further than Amsterdam. Which is not by far the nicest place to live (or visit) in the Netherlands, anyway. It's not the worst place (that's Emmeloord), but randomly picking another spot won't hurt.
        dagw 11y ago
        Any recommendations? Based on the little I've seen of the country I'd say Rotterdam is my favorite place to visit, but if I was moving there I'd probably settle on Utrecht
        tripzilch 11y ago
        Utrecht is indeed great and really pretty. It's where I usually take people visiting NL, cause I always feel like a tourist myself when in Amsterdam, plus it's only 15-20 minutes by train. Rotterdam is so huge that it really depends where you look :) I've heard an equal amount of love and hate stories :) And other recommendations ... as I try to think of some, I realize it's pretty much a list of the rest of medium-large cities in the Netherlands. Unless you don't like cities, in which case maybe check out a tourist or bicycle guide. Try the province of Friesland for some real pretty non-city places? But there's so many others, just pick a spot, any spot, then Google it. The Netherlands isn't that big ;-)
  - speeder 11y ago
    Can I go with the three of you? I am from Brazil and want to go anywhere but here (or countries like here...) I even did some interviews for companies in Amsterdan but they didn't went well :(
    - Thiz 11y ago
      Can I go with the four of you? I am Venezuelan and let me tell you, this country is the anus of the world and we don't even have toilet paper. Please be compassionate.
      - mettamage 11y ago
        When you four arrive I'll give you a tour in the city! Disclaimer: I'm from Amsterdam ;)
    - lagadu 11y ago
      I suspect the easiest way for you would be to get a job in Portugal. Once that's done live/work there for 6 years for the naturalization. At that point you can just use your Portuguese ID card to live and work anywhere within the EEA; visas, immigration laws and work permits will never be a concern again.
      - speeder 11y ago
        My sister is trying to figure that out I believe. I have a portuguese grandpa (as in, actually from Portugal), my family even owned stuff in portugal, but somehow all the documents proving it disappeared. My sister and some cousins will try to figure it out, if that fails option B is travelling to portugal in person to ask for a copy of the documents there, if that fail, then getting a job in Portugal and hope they will give a citizenship... But seriously, most of my family that are portuguese descent are retretting that their ancestors left Portugal and want to return to Europe, even with all the crisis there, it is still better than Brazil (or most other south-american countries).
        lagadu 11y ago
Domenic_S 11y ago
> my degree issue This is interesting. Must you have a degree to immigrate if you have a strong work history?
- blinkingled 11y ago
  The H1-B=>GC route to immigration does require a degree - 4 yr one is preferred but in some cases 3yr + ton of experience gets you buy. It's not guaranteed though.
  - qqg3 11y ago
    Where I'm from pretty much all degrees are 3 years? Does that mean you need some form of post-grad (Masters?) on top?
    - blinkingled 11y ago
      Depends on the evaluation of your degree - if the degree is job relevant and evaluates to a 4yr equivalent then you might get through. Where I come from most candidates have 4 year degrees and the ones with 3 years generally have trouble if it is not directly job related and if they don't have sufficient job experience to make up.
mercer 11y ago
Hit me up for a coffee, beer, or other beverage once you're settled, if you feel so inclined. I like meeting new people, and I've lived here for much of my post-high school life.

simplexion 11y ago

Can I come to Netherlands with you? I am sick of Australia and I enjoy riding bicycles.

yellowapple 11y ago
Can I come to the Netherlands with the two of you? I am sick of America and I also enjoy riding bicycles.
- yetanotheracc 11y ago
  Can I have your apartment when you leave?
  - yellowapple 11y ago
    Sure, if you don't mind living in a place where cost of living is inflated to Bay Area levels.
    - tripzilch 11y ago
      That's mainly a problem for people that can't look further than Amsterdam. Which is not by far the nicest place to live (or visit) in the Netherlands, anyway. It's not the worst place (that's Emmeloord), but randomly picking another spot won't hurt.
      - dagw 11y ago
        Any recommendations? Based on the little I've seen of the country I'd say Rotterdam is my favorite place to visit, but if I was moving there I'd probably settle on Utrecht
        tripzilch 11y ago
        Utrecht is indeed great and really pretty. It's where I usually take people visiting NL, cause I always feel like a tourist myself when in Amsterdam, plus it's only 15-20 minutes by train. Rotterdam is so huge that it really depends where you look :) I've heard an equal amount of love and hate stories :) And other recommendations ... as I try to think of some, I realize it's pretty much a list of the rest of medium-large cities in the Netherlands. Unless you don't like cities, in which case maybe check out a tourist or bicycle guide. Try the province of Friesland for some real pretty non-city places? But there's so many others, just pick a spot, any spot, then Google it. The Netherlands isn't that big ;-)
- speeder 11y ago
  Can I go with the three of you? I am from Brazil and want to go anywhere but here (or countries like here...) I even did some interviews for companies in Amsterdan but they didn't went well :(
  - Thiz 11y ago
    Can I go with the four of you? I am Venezuelan and let me tell you, this country is the anus of the world and we don't even have toilet paper. Please be compassionate.
    - mettamage 11y ago
      When you four arrive I'll give you a tour in the city! Disclaimer: I'm from Amsterdam ;)
  - lagadu 11y ago
    I suspect the easiest way for you would be to get a job in Portugal. Once that's done live/work there for 6 years for the naturalization. At that point you can just use your Portuguese ID card to live and work anywhere within the EEA; visas, immigration laws and work permits will never be a concern again.
    - speeder 11y ago
      My sister is trying to figure that out I believe. I have a portuguese grandpa (as in, actually from Portugal), my family even owned stuff in portugal, but somehow all the documents proving it disappeared. My sister and some cousins will try to figure it out, if that fails option B is travelling to portugal in person to ask for a copy of the documents there, if that fail, then getting a job in Portugal and hope they will give a citizenship... But seriously, most of my family that are portuguese descent are retretting that their ancestors left Portugal and want to return to Europe, even with all the crisis there, it is still better than Brazil (or most other south-american countries).
      - lagadu 11y ago

Domenic_S 11y ago

> my degree issue This is interesting. Must you have a degree to immigrate if you have a strong work history?

blinkingled 11y ago
The H1-B=>GC route to immigration does require a degree - 4 yr one is preferred but in some cases 3yr + ton of experience gets you buy. It's not guaranteed though.
- qqg3 11y ago
  Where I'm from pretty much all degrees are 3 years? Does that mean you need some form of post-grad (Masters?) on top?
  - blinkingled 11y ago
    Depends on the evaluation of your degree - if the degree is job relevant and evaluates to a 4yr equivalent then you might get through. Where I come from most candidates have 4 year degrees and the ones with 3 years generally have trouble if it is not directly job related and if they don't have sufficient job experience to make up.

mercer 11y ago

Hit me up for a coffee, beer, or other beverage once you're settled, if you feel so inclined. I like meeting new people, and I've lived here for much of my post-high school life.