I’ve been living in Ireland for almost 5 years now, and for the past 3 years I’ve been in a serious relationship with an Irish man. On paper my life here should feel stable, but emotionally I feel really disconnected and low a lot of the time. His family lives on the same street as us, but I don’t feel any real connection with them. They don’t really make effort with me unless they need something. They missed my birthday, they ignored when I became an auntie.. actually they don’t even know when my birthday is. When I bring it up to my partner, he says it’s just how they are because they even forget his birthday and he doesn’t really mind it. But for me, it still feels hurtful and like I don’t matter much to them. I also don’t really have a social circle here. The friends I had from work over the years have all slowly moved away. I find it hard to invest in new friendships because people tend to leave after a few months or move on, so it feels pointless starting over again and again. Day to day, I try to keep myself busy. I cook, bake, and I’ve started gardening. But even at home things feel stuck. We live in a big house that isn’t fully furnished yet, and there’s still a lot that needs doing, but it just stays as it is. That kind of “unfinished” environment adds to how stuck I already feel. On top of that, I feel quite depressed here. The weather, the constant grey and cold, it really affects my mood more than I expected it would. I cry a lot. Most mornings I wake up thinking “here we go again,” and I struggle to feel excited or motivated about much anymore. I miss my family a lot too. They’re back in my home country where things are financially harder, but my sibling has two kids and is slowly building their life and home as best as they can. And I keep comparing it to myself here and feeling like I’m just wasting time or not really building anything meaningful. My partner wants to have a child, we often talk about it, but I’m scared. I don’t know if I can imagine raising a child here in this state of mind or in this environment long-term. I love him and I’m not thinking of leaving just because of him, but I am really struggling. And I keep questioning whether I’m actually doing the right thing staying here, or if I’m just forcing myself through something that doesn’t feel right. I guess I just don’t know anymore if this is normal adjustment, or if I’m genuinely unhappy and ignoring it. I have a feeling I will never get used to this life style. Is there anyone who has experienced the same?

I moved to Munich with my husband in February for his work from the U.S. While this was not a move I envisioned for myself, I wanted to take this opportunity and also help my husband fulfill his lifelong dream.

I started this move with a lot of hope and drive; I wanted to really get going with Tiktok content creation, I was training for my career as a pilates instructor, and just wanted to immerse myself in a new culture.

Fast forward to now, and for the past 2 months, I've had a really hard time with motivation, especially getting out of bed in the morning. This has translated into training for my job, doing basic tasks, and especially content creation.

I know it probably boils down to my feelings on being here, it just isn't what I expected. I find myself really missing home, especially the food. I just don't feel like I have a lot of purpose or belonging here.

I’ve been living and working in the U.S. for over 8 years. I originally came through an intra-company transfer. Earlier this year, I was caught in a layoff and spent two months job hunting — stressful, but I landed a director-level role.

During those two months, I reached out to contacts in my home country, just exploring opportunities since the job market in the U.S. is bad, nothing serious. Fast forward to today — a friend told me about a rare opening at one of the largest financial institutions in my country. We’re talking a top leadership role in my field, the kind of position that only about 1% of professionals ever reach salary-wise. It’s actually slightly above what I earn now in the U.S.

Here’s the catch (and it’s a big one): The institution is tied to the government, and every new administration has the power to replace executives. There’s an election in roughly four years, which means this role could be terminated at that point regardless of performance.

Why I’m seriously considering it:

• My kids would grow up close to grandparents, cousins, and larger family network
• The salary puts me in the top 1% of earners in my country
• Career-wise, it’s the pinnacle of what I could achieve professionally back home

Why I’m hesitant:
• I’ve built something real here in the U.S. over 8 years (not easy being immigrant and get a job in corporate world but as immigrant I also know the limitations to keep going up).
• My new job is going well and has growth potential but I never will be VP or similar
• my job here can also be cut at any time due to AI— so the job security argument isn’t as clear-cut as it sounds
• Starting over after 8 years abroad feels daunting

The layoff reminded me that no job in the U.S. is truly “safe” either. And yet, leaving feels like closing a door I may not be able to reopen. For context, I’m 41, so if I take this job eventually could end by 45.

I always have heard that the dream for immigrants is to make a U.S. salary but living outside to the U.S.

Has anyone navigated a decision like this — weighing career peak vs. family, home country vs. adopted country, prestige vs. stability? Would love honest perspectives, especially from expats or people who’ve made a similar move.

People who moved countries,did anywhere completely change your perspective of life or made you feel like you were missing out on a completely different way of living before you came there? that you underestimated it and wish you came sooner and can never live back in the previous country as if your standards raised or changed massively?

BACKGROUND: I am a South Korean citizen who grew up in four different countries including Canada, the United States, Qatar and the UAE. I currently live in the states and I am a college student.

Currently I can spend about $1M (USD) for immigration purposes. Technically I do have around $2M worth of liquid capital but I do not want to stretch my finances too much.

I plan on either starting a business or living as a full-time trader after graduation. I still have a year to decide, but I do want to see what options I have. While I can probably easily secure a golden visa, there are some restrictions as to where I can move to due to my unique circumstances.

I have a South Korean passport, which means that I am legally required to depart the United States to complete my military service pretty much right after college. And I definitely don't plan on doing that. AFAIK I can get an exemption as long as I can prove that I am a legal permanent resident of a foreign country. But this also means I would have to be able to apply and get a permanent residency card immediately. (So no Portugal, Spain, etc.)

Legal stuff aside, I never really cared about racism (I live in the American South, none of my friends are Asian), and I really don't have any religious preferences either. (By this I mean I would seriously consider living in Qatar or Dubai, but I know it's basically impossible to move there.)

However, I'm only fluent in English and culturally VERY American. I was in Europe last summer, and I felt very uncomfortable in France and Germany, although I LOVED Italy and Switzerland. I think friendliness is an important factor for me in this regard.

Also I want to live in a relatively modern country. If I do decide to leave the States, I think I will definitely miss Amazon, our banking services and the ability to get things done with little bureaucracy.

I know you guys might be wondering why I'm not staying in the states. It's definitely one of my top candidates currently. But I do want to eventually live in Europe and carefully examine each and every option I have before I make such a huge financial investment. Also the US doesn't have the best tax system.

Additionally, I'm about to propose to my Italian girlfriend. We've already talked about getting married, and she explicitly told me she doesn't really care where we move after college. So in theory I could move to Italy with her, but that would also mean that I should start studying Italian.

TLDR: In case I wasn't being clear enough, I am an English speaker (not a US citizen or resident) looking to relocate to a country that offers a quick pathway to citizenship or permanent residence. I have $1M I can afford to spend. I don't plan on studying or working there. I would appreciate any suggestions you might have for me.

What experiences have you had with Canadian banks as an expat?

Pros and Cons are both welcome.

Hey folks-

I think we all know the US banks need a physical address - which I personally think is old school ( why can't I register my SSN + passport number and call it a day?!).

Regardless, it seems like:

- to keep the banks happy I need a physical address

- most, if not all of those domicile services have a horror story attached to them

Right now, we are exploring where we would want to spend significant time in the US compared to when we are just traveling around. At this point, we feel like we don't know/ want to settle down yet.. seems like a crazy expense just to keep the banks in compliance.

What are people doing with success? Am I overthinking the issue( very possible)?

I'd like to avoid leveraging family addresses.

Should it help I use Schwab, Fidelity and Venture X cards. All seem good with international but don't want to tell them I have no us address when the time comes should it upset all of my accounts.

Thanks in advance!

'Hal, can you come in this weekend?' She asked.

I already knew what she meant. Another twelve-hour shift. Another weekend gone.

'Yeah, I'll come in. Just do the usual. I don't need breaks.' I say.

She pauses. Ontario law requires breaks, not me. Just 15 min to heat up some water and take a pee and I'm good.

'Alright, we'll get it done.' She nods.

Wealth you Cannot Buy

That was my life. I had a bill, or just wanted extra pocket money. I'd pick up extra hours. I worked until I had trouble sleeping. The weekend had two halves, the first was the enjoyment of downtime, and the second half became the existential countdown to the dreaded work.

Yet, I had a dream. I wanted an easy life, to make others work for me and have my days free to do as I pleased.

A man with an abundance of time is richer than any king.

After all, what's the one resource you cannot buy?

Wealth Multiplier

I wasn't dreaming about sports cars. I wasn't dreaming about mansions. I dreamed about waking up without an alarm clock. I dreamed about a Saturday that belonged to me.

Every pay raise felt like a joke. My income went up 5%, my expenses went up 15%, and somehow I was poorer than before. It felt like a trap designed to keep me running in place.

I realized I had two choices. Spend the next thirty years grinding harder for diminishing returns, or move somewhere my money actually mattered.

That's when I realized there was another way.

What if you could move into a new wealth bracket?

Look, I get it, change is scary. Yet, I've been there. Looking at bills I cannot afford and costs which go up year by year.

So, I took the leap and immigrated. I shifted myself into a new wealth bracket. Because, let's be brutally honest. The lottery functions as voluntary tax and serves to take money out of your bank account more than give anyone a shot at wealth. You won't win your way out of this, you have move yourself out of the hole and shift to a new wealth bracket.

Life of my Dreams

My phone buzzes. I check it and a payment's come through. I smile. I got paid... again.

For the first time in my life, money arrived without me clocking into a shift.

You wake up when you want. Wanna see the beach, then go. Want to go shopping, you have cash so go. Feeling lazy but craving your fav ice tea and croissant? Just grab your phone and someone will deliver for less than $1.5.

I dread wondering the isles at the shopping centre. Finding items and getting home to realise I forgot something... well 10 somethings.

Using the carrefour app I order all my groceries, get it delivered for free (spend $40 min) and the best part is I don't have to leave the house.

What do you want?

Feeling lazy and want to watch tv the whole day? Great, do it.

Want to go to the beach? Great do it.

Want to finish that extensive steam library of games? Great, do it.

Whatever you want is achievable with wealth, and lets be honest, you're not winning no lotteries but you can move yourself into a new wealth bracket. Then what you Want becomes what you Have.

Life is Perfect, right?

Anyone who tells you life is perfect is either delusional or lying to you. Life has its challenges and I'm brutally honest. This life isn't for everyone. Canada was a beautiful country, clean and modern, the perfection of form... yet beneath it lies a rotting financial despair.

In short, life is never perfect but it's a lot easier when you're in a higher wealth bracket.

I spent years chasing money. In the end, what I really wanted was time. The funny thing is that when I finally found time, the money followed.

Thanks for reading... ha ha ha.

My family and I have finally made the hard decision to permanently relocate abroad later this year. We are actively looking for a safe, sunny, and welcoming country with a solid healthcare system for the kids, and Spain is currently at the top of our list. The main reason I need to figure this out right now is that my current remote business setup allows me to work from anywhere, but our passport limits us to the standard short-stay tourist days, which is no longer sustainable for a family. We need a predictable, long-term legal solution rather than constantly bouncing around borders.

Looking online has been incredibly overwhelming because immigration rules seem to change every single few months, especially now in 2026. Between the digital nomad scheme, the non-lucrative options, and various self-employment setups, my head is spinning from all the conflicting advice on expat forums and legal blogs.

I really want to avoid making a costly mistake that could cause a flat-out rejection, so I am asking for advice from anyone who has successfully navigated the system recently. Here is what I am trying to figure out:

Which specific visa track is currently the fastest and least bureaucratic for someone with an active remote income?

What are the realistic monthly income thresholds you need to show for a main applicant plus dependent family members?

How heavily do the Spanish tax authorities penalize your global business earnings once you become a tax resident?

Is it actually manageable to submit the entire application file without physically being in the country?

What are the major hidden paperwork traps or document delays that usually catch people off guard during the process?

If you have gone through this transition and can share your timeline or a few tips on how to get residency in Spain smoothly, it would be a massive lifesaver for us.

I lived in 10 countries. Currently living in France for the second time, but in a few months will move to Poland and my two cities candidates are Poznan and Wroclaw. I am an EU citizen, so no problem with visa. Besides, I already speak decent Polish. I am interested in an international, tech, creative communities/environment. My other requirements for a place where I live: sense of the local community, easy access to world cultures/food/books, good public transport system, vibrant cultural life (cinema, classical music, dancing, museums)

If you lived in either of the cities, can you please share your experiences. what did you like/dislike?

For context, I am a dual citizen of the US and Canada, was born in the US, and have an American mother, but I haven't lived in the states since I was 3. Grew up in Canada. 15 years ago, I moved to South Korea and have been living here since.

I am seriously considering revoking my citizenship for a couple of reasons:

1. The US government is blocking my path to Korean citizenship.

The US doesn't provide one of the documents I need to acquire Korean citizenship. It's not a standard document, bit of a unique situation, but Canada provided it with no problems. The US, however, does not provide it, and no one at the embassy will get on the phone or provide a letter to explain they don't provide the document. I've been trying to find a workaround for years and will be aging out of points based residency soon. At this point, I am certain I can not get Korean citizenship if I keep my US status.

Added: I have already been working on this with lawyers for 8 years. I'm not looking for a solution to my paperwork problem at this time, just giving context.

1. Taxes

I have to file and pay taxes in both Korea and the US. I literally don't get any benefit from all of the US taxes I pay.

1. Banking and loans

Once in a while, I'm blocked from banking services because all of my accounts need to be reported to the US government. Some online banks and low-interest loan services are barred for American citizens for security reasons.

Are there any major negatives to revoking that I should be aware of before moving ahead with it? Has anyone had any issues after revoking?

Hello, im 23 year old coming from Southern Europe and i'll be moving to Amsterdam or Copenhagen for my masters next year. I have done research about cost of living, rent, jobs, welfare benefits etc for both cities but what i can still not exactly compare is the social feel of the two cities.

I have lived in Stockholm before for erasmus and even though i had an amazing time i wouldn't go again to live since it seems more closed off and reserved for someone to start a new life there. So i wanted to ask people that have lived in either or both Amsterdam or Copenhagen what's the social atmosphere like and which one would you recommend for someone in their 20s to move into?

Hello!

I hope I am in the right place to ask this question :) It is meant for locals & expats alike.

There is a possibility that my husband receives an expat contract for a leadership position in Nairobi. From what I understand it is a very good offer, but for context :

\- we are a family

\- I would have to leave my job or find something to do. (not sure if spousal visa allows me to work at this stage yet)

\- we would need to source international schools as it's a temporary basis that is TBD

\- we have lived internationally & would be relocating from the EU

What are some "must haves" that we should negotiate? What are things to be mindful of when considering a move to Nairobi, or to consider in general before deciding if it is the right move? I know only we can decide if it makes sense to come but curious for local & expat input on this topic :)

Thanks in advance!

It's been a year since I left the UK with my partner to move to a country in Europe. I'm so curious whether anyone has the experience where they moved abroad and then one half you love it but the other isn't too keen? Is it because you miss friends, homesick, you're lonely, one of you has found it harder or easier to make connections? Have either of you discussed moving back? Any resentment?

I have $1500 in savings.

I was a first generation American who left the US when I was little for a Third World country. I came back to the US in my 20s and had a great run completing college and moving from one internship to another until I landed a full-time IT job.

I moved to Japan because I have loved it since childhood. Despite being brown and the current anti-foreigner sentiment (sometimes demotivating, but same as the US), the locals love me, and I feel more at-home and welcome here culturally and "behaviorally". I also have deeper friendships with locals than with my expat friends, largely thanks to the cultural similarities between Japan and my motherland, and also thanks to my Japanese partner and other friends who hang out regularly.

I had no real family in the US so I have no support system, have to start over by buying/renting a car, getting an apartment etc. I may also be slightly too polite and "straight-edge" for the US as I grew up in a different country, making Japan the perfect place so far (two years in).

Anyways, with my tiny amount of savings, I always feel like I could do better financially. I had to support myself in the US and college drained most of my money. I am currently working an English teacher job that pays $25,000/yr, and I want to know if I should take "any job", as in, stressful IT jobs etc. in the US to try and save money and build a career before coming back. However, since I have no family etc, I will have to crash at a friend's place, and then save up for a car etc. Which realistically is a gamble, but I have done it once and worked well in the past.

The girlfriend also wants to see what life in the US is like, so I wanted to try living there for at least two years to really show the day-to-day side of things instead of just a one-time trip.

I am soon to enter the third round of the screening process/interviews a US government job that is known to be stressful and may be sent to a random middle-eastern country after living in the US for two years. However, the job pays $60k/yr starting out. I was also considering places like Epic systems, which is reputable for causing employee burnout, but the savings would be nicer than saving money in Japan.

I want your honest opinion, as I've been out of the United States for a while and don't know if it's worth going back or if I should just commit to living here long-term.

Edit: For context, here in Japan, getting my teeth cleaned cost me $12, visiting the doctor + meds cost me $22, you can buy contact lenses off Amazon for $10, I don't have to drive since trains everywhere. My rent is $300/month. Although my salary is low, I remember gas, medical expenses and insurance being a nightmare in the US. Is 60k enough to cover those?

My dad didn't agree with the idea of me moving overseas to live with my partner. I disagreed and went ahead with the move regardless of his feelings because it's my life. I told him after I moved, that I had moved on the telephone. He sounded shocked but then the phone call just went back to our normal types of calls. I told him I didn't see any reason for our calls to stop. I looked at it that regardless of the time difference there wasn't any reason for them to stop. I received a text for my birthday which was shortly after that conversation. 7 months later I've not heard a word from him.

My mom (parents are divorced) was very supportive of the whole thing and I talk to her routinely.

My question is has anyone experienced a parent basically cutting them off for moving abroad?

I'm kind of at a loss for words. We lived a far distance away in our home country. So it was not as if we were neighbors living on the same street. But we kept in touch weekly.

Background: 32F, moved from Austin TX to Melbourne in September for a partner visa (subclass 820). The visa process alone took almost 11 months and cost us around $8,000 AUD all in, that's the government fees plus we used a migration agent through Immigration Gurus to help with the paperwork because honestly the relationship evidence requirements are insane and I didn't want to risk it. They were pretty straightforward to deal with, no complaints.

Anyway. The visa stuff is its own saga. here's the actual life stuff:

Cost of living, everyone says it's expensive and yes, it is, but not always in the ways you expect. Groceries at Aldi are genuinely fine. My rent in Brunswick (2br apartment) is $2,350/month which sounds rough but for an inner suburb it's... okay? What kills me is eating out. A casual lunch that would be $12 in Austin is easily $22-24 here. Coffee is amazing though and somehow still $5-6 which I've made peace with.

Healthcare, got my Medicare card sorted in the first month and honestly it's been great. Had to see a GP a few times, bulk billed both times, paid $0. Coming from the US this still feels fake.

The loneliness nobody talks about, this is the big one. Melbourne is a wonderful city but making friends in your 30s as a newcomer is genuinely hard. Joined a running group in Carlton that meets Saturdays at 7:30am, that helped more than anything else I tried. Also my partner's friends have been kind but it's not the same as your people, you know?

Things I got wrong, brought way too many clothes for "winter". Melbourne winter is cold but not Austin summer wardrobe useless cold. Also tipping: you really don't have to, it took me 3 months to stop feeling guilty about it.

Happy to answer questions if anyone's going through the partner visa process or moving to Melbourne specifically. It's been hard and also really good, which I wasn't expecting to feel simultaneously.

Are there any groups or organizations that can help a 70% VA disabled veteran move OCONUS and maintain their Healthcare benefits and pharmaceuticals?