r/IWantOut

Hi everyone

(This is my second time posting here)

I’m hoping to come in contact with someone in the civil engineering/infrastructure and/or mining field. Please send me a dm if u want to help me out.

I’m a civil/infrastructure engineer from Norway with around 2 years of work experience, and I’m trying to figure out the most realistic way to work in either the United States or Australia.

Interested in mining/FIFO type roles and infrastructure/civil engineering jobs.

Thanks in advance for any insights

I just got into the idea of moving abroad, namely to the US because I have a dual citizenship with there and my birth country, which is where I currently live.

My heart is really split in three, because:

1. I have traveled to and even temporarily lived in lots of places (e.g Hawaii, Los Angeles, Florida, The Himalayas, Macau, French Polynesia, the Amazon rainforest, the Sahara desert, as my favorites) and would love to find an exotic place (again, probably one of the US locations) to settle down and live, as basically everywhere is more beautiful than my country which is famously ugly.

2. My education/work which I have worked tirelessly for in my entire young education and university requires a single set location that isn’t achievable in the USA

3. I also need to stay in my home country for my family, who would highly dissaprove of me moving away permanently

So my real options are to sacrafice either my life’s (so far) work, family approval, or desire to live somewhere that makes me happy.

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Basically, I am becoming less and less okay with living in the U.S., both personally and politically. And I am finding that I'm more of a "flee the country" vs "stay and fight" type of person.

I want affordable / free education and healthcare, and more so in the quiet countryside vs a city or other densely populated areas (I'm autistic and get overstimulated from those environments.)

I am strongly thinking about Ireland, because I have seen that they offer artist grants and housing, plus aren't pro-Israel from what I understand. (That and I have recent ancestry of Irish immigrants on my mom's side, although I understand if native Irish folks might find that laughable 😆!) I am wondering if Ireland is accepting towards American expats. I am both and artist and going to grad school for environmental studies / working in environmental protection, policy, & sustainability.

I am wondering if that'd be smart and realistic, and if there are other similar countries that could be a good fit for someone like myself, generally speaking?

I'm an UI/UX designer from Serbia with 10 years of experience in UI/UX and Graphic design and Master's degree diploma in Graphic Engineering and Design. I would like to move to any of these countries with my husband who is and iOS developer with 7 years of experience. We have a baby daughter, 6 moths old. We both want to find jobs in there, but we don't know anyone in a similar situation. What is the best way to achieve that? Should we first come in some of those countries, spend a few months and search for a job from there or start applying now and see if company can provide us working visas? What are possibilites for such a thing for non-EU citizens? What are the best websites for IT jobs (with relocation package)? To add, we know English only and understand Spanish quote a lot, but we are willing to learn language of the country when we move. Any advice is welcome!

Is it worth going abroad to give my children a head-start in their life?

I am 39 years old my wife is 37.Is it worth moving abroad to Finland to give our children a better life. We both have stable jobs in India. Is it worth moving abroad for the kids?

P.S. I have a job seeker permit in Finland. If I am able to find a job, I will take my family abroad. Otherwise, I will return back to my home country. I will not be leaving my job and going abroad. I will be taking a sabbatical leave instead.

Hello, first of all, please forgive me if I am misinformed or being ridiculous in anything I say in this post. I have tried to do as much research as I can beforehand, but I thought it would also be wise to ask here for advice and opinions.

To begin with, I hold two nationalities: those of the United Kingdom and South Africa. Education-wise I did go to school but never officially graduated from school so I have no diploma. I am an online freelancer, (I do different jobs online)

My reasons for moving are primarily financial. I also genuinely want to move to a much colder climate. A better financial situation would be a bonus.

Regarding Canada,

My idea was to go on an IEC visa and consider doing a pre-apprenticeship—a program of less than 6 months because, from my understanding, you don't need a study visa if your program is shorter than 6 months. (Please correct me if this is incorrect.) The plan is to obtain a certification and then find work (it doesn't have to be high-paying) or an apprenticeship just to gain work experience. Combined with the certification, I hope to accumulate enough points in the Express Entry system to qualify for permanent residency. I believe this plan is feasible despite some constraints, though I am aware I might be overlooking many factors that need to be considered. I'm not particular about which trade I pursue.

Regarding the United Kingdom,

Being a UK national by birth, this is very easy for me legally. My problem is that I lived there for a while and have heard many stories about how the UK has declined. Because I lived there a while back, I fear I will be disappointed by how much it's changed. I’m aware it's probably the same situation in Canada, but I never lived in Canada, so any decline will probably not be noticeable to me. I would prefer Canada, but I'm not sure it's feasible for me.

Hi dear friends,

I’m a 30 female, I come from Asia and for the past 5 years I live in the Netherlands. I’m about to get the permanent residence this year, and I can get a Dutch passport if I want it (but I’m not very eager about this idea).

My background: I studied economics/laws and have master degree. I’m currently working in a bank in the Netherlands as a KYC officer (anti money laundering). It is a quite tranferrable profession and has a general universal rule

Reason to leave the Netherlands: well, first the country is getting more and more expensive and crowed. 5 years ago when I just came to this country, I remembered clearly the price of a dozen of eggs is 1.99€, now the price is 3.79€.Everything is getting unaffordable anymore. Meanwhile, there are more and more people coming here, while there are fewer and fewer job opportunities. The security has also deteriorated, my friends, also myself have been harassed multiple times which rarely happened before . Second, Netherlands has a huge issue of housing so almost everyone that I know struggled or is struggling with finding a place. Third, Netherlands is not a immigration country after all, so no matter how good their marketing is about open/diversity, as a Asian I feel discriminated or neglected on weekly basis, if not on daily basis, and that makes me very uncomfortable. I knew some friends who have traveled to Canada, and according to their feedback, their diversity is much better. If I ever had a child, I would want my daughter to live in a country where she feels being accepted and lives her life like an average citizen, not a minority. And in long run, I don’t want to learn Dutch - this language has 0 attract on me and the culture of Netherlands, IMO, is far less than in France or Italy or Germany.

Things that I’m hesitated: I have a stable life and career in Netherland, my salary is not the top tier but is able to allow me have a comfortable life, I have checked the salary in Canada and is like 1/3 less than my current ones. Second, I can’t drive, which will become a huge issue in Canada (but I’ll go to the driving school for sure). The holidays are also my concern as we have 20+ holidays in Netherlands.

Plan: I’m learning French now and plan to take the TCF exam then go with the EE track according to Canada immigration policy. I have a friend who has passed TCF in January and had already been invited.

Question: I would like to know what the daily life in Canada is like, especially compared with Netherlands/Europe.

Thank you for the time, and hope you have a nice week!

So I am an Indian working as operations executive. I have total of 3 years and 11 months of experience I have worked in automobile ( tubular car parts) and fabrication ( precision work with designs) industry. I am planning to work in London or anywhere in UK. But I don't know what should I do what should I master and how much experience should I gain before applying and how and where to apply. If anyone can help please do.

My reason for leaving is looking for somewhere LGBT tolerant to start fresh and explore my gender identity.

Portugal is LGBT tolerant but not when at 27 you realize you are the T part coming from conservative social circles.

It has unlocked many different kinds of hell for me and I am very close to taking my own life.

Gender dysphoria has been horrible, realizing 75% of my social circle and everything I've built would disappear instantly has also been a special kind of hell. I work in software consulting sales (not a technical background) so not exactly compatible.

I am privileged to have an EU passport and I speak portuguese, spanish and English fluently I lived in Spain already for 1 year. I also took German up to a b1 level a long time ago. It would take me years to be fluent but it wouldnt exactly be starting from 0.

No drivers license or car. I can get a drivers license quickly without spending any extra money so I can probably do that in a few months. Making some ajustments I think I will be able to save 500€/month.

Spain doesn't really have the psychological distance for me to feel comfortable. I have 3.500€ to my name which is by no means enough to do anything.

I could also sell a bunch of stuff.

My original idea was new zealand, it is very LGBT tolerant and it is exactly on the opposite side of the world. It would be perfect but very difficult to get a Visa and very expensive to fly there. Iceland is another option although I despise cold weather, not that I'm in a position to make those kinds of decisions. Im also considering Denmark and Sweden.

Any ideas/insights are heavily appreciated.

Thank you.

Hi! I’m 23F. I recently graduated from a state university in Manila with a degree in Psychology. I’ve been working in insurance industry (sales) for about 5 years now and I currently earn around ₱30k–₱150k/month (commission-based, no fixed salary yet).

I qualified for a trip to Spain last September and I honestly fell in love with it. It inspired me to start learning Spanish. I’m now at A2.1. Lately I’ve been seriously thinking about leaving my career here and my family (I’m very family-oriented) to try building a life in Spain.

I’ve done quite a bit of research and read both good and bad experiences from expats. I’m aware of the challenges like unemployment and the high cost of living especially in big cities like Madrid and Barcelona.

I feel really torn. Do you think it’s worth uprooting my life in the Philippines to start over in Spain, considering the quality of life and government there?

Would really appreciate honest (but kind) insights. I feel a bit stuck right now. Thanks in advance!

Hello. I lived in the states for 2 months as an au pair but sadly had to quit since the host family was abusive.. I am back in Argentina and I am doing great with college but I do love american life (as weird as it sounds). Many of my friends recommended me to go on a tourist visa, shift to student and study there but seems VERY hard, I would have to work without permission and I just want to do everything legal. Also, I dont come from a rich family so studying college doesnt seems like a possibility. Any ideas of how could I come back to live there? Maybe not forever but for a couple of years...

If it helps, I study English Education.

Please, just nice recommendations.

Hey r/IWantOut,

For the past two years I’ve been living independently in Bucharest, making my living as a freelance composer for theater productions. It’s been workable, but the income is unstable and the work is emotionally exhausting. On top of that, I’m increasingly frustrated with Romania’s infrastructure, from pollution and corruption, the general sense that things are moving in the wrong direction.

About me:

21, Romanian citizen, currently enrolled in university (music)

Self-employed as a composer/sound designer for theater

No coding background, but two years of hands-on experience building AI automations, workflows, and tool ecosystems — I’d describe myself as a serious AI practitioner on the no-code/low-code side

Fluent in Romanian and English

What I’m looking for:

The title says Belgium but anywhere in Western Europe; the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, ideally somewhere quieter rather than a major capital. Good quality of life, clean air, functional institutions.

Questions:

1. What visa/residency routes make sense for a self-employed creative/AI freelancer from Romania? (I’m EU citizen so free movement applies, but curious about what to actually prepare)

2. Are there specific cities or regions that are good fits for the kind of work I do?

3. Any Romanians who’ve made this move and want to share their experience?

I'm looking for advice and personal experiences from people who've navigated similar situations.

My background:

- Japanese citizen, currently based in Tokyo

- Working in fashion e-commerce (analytics, lifecycle marketing, tools like GA4, Looker Studio, Marketo)

- Currently employed at a large multinational fashion company with a US headquarters

- My company has a office in New York

Pathways I'm currently researching:

1. L-1 Intracompany Transfer — My company is a qualifying multinational and has a New York office. I'm trying to understand how realistic an internal transfer is, what the typical timeline looks like with premium processing, and whether my role (analytics/marketing) qualifies under L-1B (specialized knowledge).
2. H-1B Specialty Occupation — I understand this is lottery-based and highly competitive. My background in e-commerce analytics feels like it could qualify as a specialty occupation, but the randomness of the lottery is a concern. Has anyone with a similar marketing/analytics background had success with H-1B? And is there any way to improve your odds beyond just entering the lottery?
3. F-1 Student Visa — As a backup, I'm looking at a STEM MS program (Information Systems / Data Analytics) at a NYC school that offers STEM OPT, which would give me 3 years of post-graduation work authorization. Has anyone gone this route as a career professional rather than a fresh grad?
4. E-2 Treaty Investor Visa — My father owns a restaurant business in Japan. There's a possibility of co-owning a new US location as the principal investor (50%+ stake). Japan has an E-2 treaty with the US. Has anyone structured an E-2 around a family-owned restaurant expansion?

My questions:

- For the L-1 route: how much does it actually depend on internal advocacy vs. HR/legal processes? Any tips on making the case internally?

- For H-1B: is an analytics/marketing role realistically approvable as a specialty occupation? Any tips beyond just hoping you win the lottery?

- For F-1: is it weird/difficult to apply as a mid-career professional in your early 30s? Any stigma or admissions challenges?

- For E-2: what does the consulate really scrutinize most — investment amount, business viability, or your personal role?

- Are there other pathways I'm overlooking for someone with a digital marketing/analytics background?

Happy to answer follow-up questions. Thanks in advance!

Hi! I’m a student from Romania coming to Stockholm for a 2-month internship this summer in medical engineering Python IT.

I found a room in Bergshamra for about 830€/month (private room, shared kitchen, near the university). The internship location is in the center of the city Norrmalm

• Is Bergshamra a good area for a student (safe, social, transport)?
• Does the price seem fair for Stockholm?
• Anything I should watch out for?
• Other interesting facts

Also, would you recommend Airbnb for the first weeks or going directly for long-term rent?

Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I am looking for some advice and a reality check regarding immigration for myself and my partner, as we have slightly different career paths and timelines.

My Profile: I am a 20-year-old (turning 21 soon) and currently in my 3rd semester of Computer Engineering in Iran. However, my main goal is not to study abroad. I want to get a job offer with visa sponsorship, and I am completely fine with dropping out of my university here if I secure a job. I have been working as a software developer since I was 15. I know it sounds unusual to start that early, but I began by learning React Native as an intern at a small company owned by a family friend for about 6 to 7 months, and then transitioned into freelance work. I am now a Full-Stack Developer, mostly working with React, Flutter, and Django. I have a very solid resume and portfolio. I took the IELTS a while ago (it's expired, but I am ready to retake it).

My Girlfriend's Profile: She is 20F, currently in her 4th semester of Psychology. Unlike me, she must finish her Bachelor's degree here in Iran before moving. Her ultimate goal is to move abroad, continue her studies (Master's/PhD), and work either as a child therapist or a neuroscientist.

Our Dilemma & Goals: We definitely plan to get married, but we are unsure about the timeline because our current situations are so different. We initially considered the Netherlands, but realized it's very difficult for psychology/therapy due to language barriers and strict licensing. Right now, Canada seems like the best option, but we are open to anywhere that fits our goals.

We are trying to figure out the best strategy: Plan A: I try to find a job sponsorship now (without a completed degree). If I get one, I move first, and she joins me later once she finishes her degree in Iran (and we get married so she can come on a spousal visa to do her Master's). Plan B: I stay in Iran, finish my Bachelor's degree at the same time she finishes hers, and then we apply together (me for jobs, her for Master's programs).

My Questions for the Community:

1. How realistic is it for a Full-Stack Dev (React/Flutter/Django) from a third-world country to get a work visa sponsorship with roughly 5 years of experience but no completed Bachelor's degree?
2. For my girlfriend, what is the best pathway for an international student wanting to become a child therapist or neuroscientist in Canada or Europe? Are there specific countries that are better for this?
3. Logistically, regarding visas, does it make more sense for us to wait, finish our degrees, get married, and apply together? Or should I start applying for jobs right now?

I've done a lot of research, but I feel like I'm hitting a wall. Any advice on the best pathways or a harsh reality check would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

Hi, I’m a law graduate from a good university in Singapore, but I decided I want out of the Singapore corporate world and the system here before I even began.

Since graduating last year I’ve worked as a tutor while I sat the bar. Now I’m still a tutor and I just got back from a trip to France (my 3rd time visiting, first time in Spring) and I’ve decided I’m in love with the country, and the language, and Europe in general and want to explore more of it. I like French culture and its pace, I appreciate the food, the people and I have friends and family there.

I’ve applied for a Masters Programme in Paris, so far at Paris School of Business and ESCP. so far I’ve gotten into PSB, I just applied ESCP today. Both are in Paris the city not the suburbs, like HEC or INSEAD/ESSEC. Business was never really “my thing” but I know realistically I want to make money for other pursuits and passions, and I wouldn’t mind working for a company where I don’t feel like a cog in the wheel and I actually have decent work life balance. I feel that France and the EU in general provide that.

I’m wondering if anyone can give me advice on moving there as an expat permanently, after?

Thanks in advance !

Hey everyone, my partner and I are both in our second year of university in Iran. I have around 6 years of experience as a software engineer, so I’m planning to apply as a skilled worker once I get my IELTS done. My path seems pretty clear, but we’re trying to figure out the best route for my partner.

We’re looking for a country that:

• Doesn’t have complicated visa processes for Iranians or Middle Easterners
• Has realistic pathways to permanent residency and eventually citizenship
• Offers decent work life balance (we’re not looking to work ourselves to death)
• Is welcoming to immigrants and has good integration support
• Has opportunities for both of us to build careers
• Ideally allows us to stay together through the process

I know I can probably get in through skilled worker programs, but what about my partner? Should she finish her degree first? Can she come as a dependent and then transition to her own work permit? Are there countries where student visas lead to better post graduation work opportunities?

We’d really appreciate hearing from people who’ve been through this, especially:

• Which country did you choose and why?
• How was the actual immigration process compared to what you expected?
• Any surprises (good or bad) after you arrived?
• If you came as a couple, how did you manage both applications?
• Knowing what you know now, would you pick the same country again?

We’re in the research phase and trying to make smart decisions. Any real experiences, tips, or warnings would be incredibly helpful. Thanks in advance!

Background

• Financial Economics Bachelors Degree
• 6 years of experience in paid media/digital advertising, 5 of those at a consulting firm related to a former U.S. President where I completed projects for international NGOs/civic tech companies, plus one project in person in Asia. I do also have an interest in getting into Trust and Safety and data privacy.
• In terms of skills that matter for visa purposes, I am the same as anybody else with advertising experience and that's not a skilled occupation anywhere except maybe Australia but I'm too old, which is my dilemma.
• Im considering enrolling in a radiography/radiation technology program (the people who do x rays at the hospital), getting certified, and moving to either country on a skilled occupation visa that way. The entire world has a healthcare shortage and rad tech can transfer abroad to either countries with a short equivalency course once you're there. Executing this plan will take me around 6 years, so I'll be out of the U.S. by the time I'm 40. If there's somehow a better way for me to leave, I'm open to your thoughts.

Germany

• I already received a KMK bachelors degree evaluation from Germany. I paid for it in December, received it in March.
• I considered the grad school route because I'm interested in Human Computer interaction, but all of the programs in Germany require either a bachelors in computer science or something related to it, or German fluency. All I have are A1 language skills. The only school I found that might accept me is the University of Siegen, it's very affordable.
• I also considered simply applying for an opportunity visa and trying to get a job there once I land, but this is a huge gamble and pretty much insane in Germany's current job market. I understand what's going on there right now.

Canada

• Toronto is my target here due to the type of work I do and the companies that are there. I wanted to apply for a work exchange program (open to adults up to 35 years old) where they help you get a job at a coffee shop or something, and then once I get that job start applying to jobs in my field to see if I can get a sponsor. I figured the worse thing that could happen is I enjoy living in Canada for a year and come back home. Unfortunately, by the time I even found out about this program, the applications had already closed for this year.
• I can't afford grad school here.

Other countries Ive considered

• Netherlands: Not possible, almost zero change of getting a sponsor when there's a ton of people who can do the same work I can do and they're already there, although it would be a great place for the work I do. Grad school is more expensive there than Canada, though.
• Spain: poor job market
• Malaysia: competitive job market there, maybe possible but I wouldn't bank on it.

If anybody has any advice about how I could pull off moving to Germany or Canada in less than 6 years, that would be awesome. Thank you in advance.

I'm 29 male and from New Zealand (Currently living in Auckland). I work for a multinational company that has offices all over the world so I can transfer anywhere as soon as a role is available.

I love the South Island of NZ - mountains, hikes, biking, canyons etc. On a day to day basis I motorbike/road bike to work, spend a lot of time at the gym/powerlifting.

I bought a house in Auckland but life feels boring and comfortable now and I need to do my travel before it's too late (and hopefully find a wife 😅).

Looking for something with more people, outgoing, wouldn't mind a bit of snow and change in scenery. Would be cool to get a 4WD and actually use my winter gear.

Vancouver: Whistler for snowboarding/mountain biking, BC looks beautiful! Weather probably similar to Auckland. Similar size to Auckland.

Toronto: way bigger than Auckland! More people, potentially easier to make friends etc? Different experience overall? Less mountains nearby but closer flights to Europe.

London: weather trash, not sure if brits are the most friendly but easy travel all over Europe. So many people from NZ go there so I imagine it would still be easy to build a community.

Sydney: nearby, have visited a few times - it's Auckland on steroids. Everyone is fit, attractive and my hinge has never had so many likes haha. It's too hot for me but the city itself is awesome. Downside being too similar to Auckland and maybe I should go for a bigger change while I'm younger.

Thoughts please!

Am I crazy to want to leave Canada ASAP?

My wife and I are both high-income earners, so this isn’t about housing affordability or struggling to get by.

What’s really killing my motivation is the feeling that the system increasingly penalizes people who are trying to build something and improve their situation, while a lot of that money is redistributed inefficiently.

We’re paying roughly ~40% effective tax, with marginal rates around 50%. Then add ~15% sales tax, plus additional taxes on things like higher-end vehicles. At a certain point, it feels like every extra dollar earned just doesn’t translate into a meaningful improvement in lifestyle.

What makes it worse is that public services don’t seem to match the level of taxation. Roads are in rough shape, healthcare access is getting worse, and the overall system feels strained. It’s hard to see where the money is actually going in a way that improves day-to-day life.

There’s also something off about how support programs are structured. I fully agree with helping people who genuinely can’t work (health issues, etc.), but for others, the system doesn’t seem to push strongly enough toward re-entering the workforce. It feels like there should be some kind of cap either on consecutive years or total lifetime years for certain benefits (excluding disability cases), just to keep incentives aligned and the system sustainable.

At the same time, it feels like people who’ve contributed for decades (retirees, for example) aren’t always prioritized in the way you’d expect. The balance between contribution and support just doesn’t feel right.

Another thing I’ve been noticing: more high-income individuals and business owners are starting to look elsewhere places like Florida or certain countries that actively attract entrepreneurs with lower taxes and simpler systems. It’s not something that’s heavily talked about, but if that trend picks up, it could become a real issue long-term. We’ve already seen examples of this in places like Norway after tax changes pushed some wealthy individuals to relocate.

Lately I’ve been asking myself what the point is working 80–100 hours a week in a high-stress environment, just to feel like the marginal reward isn’t really there.

My wife and I have been talking about pushing hard for another 5–7 years, then stepping back and moving somewhere quieter (maybe Costa Rica or Mexico) and just living a simpler life.

Curious if anyone else feels the same, or if I’m missing something here.