Hey all,

Most expat events has turned to dating clubs I understand that. However there's also rise of "networking people" recently. Surface level sincerity, shallow attitude and they're introducing themselves as "entrepreneurs" and trying to scam people. 🤣🤣 Buddy if I wanted ads I would just watch Youtube. People recommend meetups, board games, expat meetings etc. but there's no way to connect with these people.

I've been an expat for around 10 years and previously there were great events (gatherings, picnic, discussion clubs etc.). You could meet someone interesting

Now there's none, all AI talk events and all related to work or money.

Almost every sane expat that I know only has a few friends except their SO, SO's family and SO's friends. Most are lonely too.

Honestly these days it's really hard to meet people that you can actually have fun

It might be a country thing too. What do you think? I'm located in Poland.

Hello, as the title mentions, let me know your thoughts! I'm moving to Austria in about 2 weeks from California and still need to figure out phones. I've done some research, but I'm still deciding between the two options because I see a lot of opinions on both. I have an iPhone 15 but want to switch to a Samsung S25 Edge. My mother really wants me to have two phones, but I think I'd prefer a dual SIM. I believe she's only hesitant about that because years ago, when she went abroad for vacation, (10+ years ago) she had a really bad expereince with dual sim and I suppose because I'm moving there long term, shes weary. I get it, but I don't want to carry two phones and technology from years ago is really nothing compared to how it is now. Let me know yopure thoghts and the best way I can go about that option! Thank you.

Hi all! I'm looking for advice on 401k custodian choice as a non-citizen green card holder permanently relocating back to my home country Italy.

I'm planning to leave my 401k in Fidelity untouched until I retire. But I've read that some major custodians like Fidelity and Vanguard can be problematic for non-US residents: restricted trading, account freezes, or forced liquidation after updating to a foreign address. I want to set this up cleanly before I leave while I still have a US address.

Has anyone had issues with Fidelity specifically as a non-resident alien?

If you recommend to move to an IRA, what options do I have? Any gotchas with the rollover itself I should know about?

I've already got a cross-border CPA lined up but just want to hear real experiences before I make the move. Thanks!

Stuck between the UK and Norway right now? I’m an Irish electrical engineer trying to weigh up my options for a future move, and I'd love to get some honest perspectives from people who know these markets.

Just to give some context: I'm in no rush to leave right away, so I'm just trying to map things out long-term. Thanks to my Irish passport, I have the freedom of movement for both, but they are completely different playing fields.

For the UK, the big pros are the zero language barrier and familiarity. The engineering market is active, but I keep hearing mixed things about the economic vibe and cost of living.

For Norway, the energy, renewables, and industrial sectors are massive, which sounds amazing for an electrical engineer. However, I have zero knowledge of Norwegian right now, and while I know many Norwegians speak flawless English, I assume not knowing the local language would be a major roadblock for engineering roles.

If you were an electrical engineer looking at these two with plenty of time on your hands, how do they compare? Is it even realistic to look at Norway with 0 Norwegian, or is the UK a much safer bet long-term?

Hey folks,

I’m posting this because I’m getting very close to the deadline and I could really use help from people who have been through something similar in the Netherlands.

I’m (32 M, Indian) currently living in the Nijmegen area. My zoekjaar residence permit expires on 5 October 2026, so I have roughly one month left to find a way to remain in the Netherlands legally. I came to the Netherlands for my Master’s in Philosophy at Radboud University (graduated cum laude).

Over the last two years, I’ve built quite a deep personal and professional life here. I’ve learned Dutch, have a Dutch social circle, live in a Dutch woongroep.

Professionally, I’m a generalist having 4-5 years of experience across programme & project management, learning & development, teaching and instructional training, curriculum and content, research (politics, ethics, climate & sustainability, and science & technology policy).

For the last 6 months I put all my eggs in one basket and focused on developing my proposal for NWO funding, which, after multiple rounds of revisions and interviews over these months wasn’t selected for the funding. Although my professors were really helpful throughout the process, even they can’t secure any funding to help me do a PhD. Times are tough in academia! So, now I’m trying to move quickly into employment.

I’ve been applying through LinkedIn, Indeed and company websites, but I’m struggling to find an efficient route to employers who are genuinely willing to sponsor internationals.

What I’m hoping to learn from people here

1. How do you actually find HSM-sponsoring jobs?

I know about IND-recognised sponsors and the reduced salary criterion but practically speaking, how do people find these jobs? Are there recruiters or recruitment agencies in the Netherlands that are genuinely good at placing internationals who need sponsorship? I’ve found a lot of generic recruiters, but very few who were able to help.

Does the lower salary threshold make me relatively attractive to employers, or does the fact that I need sponsorship still significantly reduce my chances?

For reference, I’m open to roles in programme/project management, L&D, training, coaching, research, policy/research consulting, facilitation, curriculum/content design etc.

2. Has anyone successfully used an EOR / umbrella / payroll company for this?

Suppose I find a normal job with a company that pays above the relevant salary threshold, but the company itself isn't an IND-recognised sponsor.

Can an Employer of Record / umbrella company employ me and sponsor the residence permit on my behalf?

How feasible is this in practice for an HSM permit? Does having an EOR in the middle make employers more reluctant because of additional cost/administration?

I’m particularly interested in hearing from people who have actually done this, rather than just theoretical explanations.

3. Possible EU-partner route

This one is more complicated.

I have a housemate who has offered to help me explore whether I could stay through a partner/family-member residence route. We have lived together for around 8 months.

She is not Dutch, but is an EU citizen, and has lived in the Netherlands for around a decade.

I understand that EU free-movement rules can work differently from the standard Dutch partner visa rules, and that unmarried partners can potentially qualify in certain circumstances. But I also understand that there are specific requirements around the EU citizen's own right of residence and the relationship.

The complication is that she currently receives an uitkering/benefit, so I have no idea whether that affects the feasibility of this route.

I am absolutely NOT looking to enter into a sham relationship just for immigration purposes. I’m asking because we genuinely live together and she has offered to help me explore whether there is a legitimate route available.

Has anyone been through an EU-partner/unmarried-partner application in the Netherlands, particularly where the EU citizen was receiving benefits?

And does anyone know where I could get affordable, reliable immigration/legal advice without paying hundreds of euros just for an initial conversation?

I’m honestly quite stressed

I know I should have figured this out earlier. I’ve been trying.

I’ve spent months working on the PhD route while also applying for jobs, and now the clock is getting very close to zero.

At this point I’m looking for specific knowledge, introductions and practical leads.

If you’ve been in a similar situation (zoekjaar → HSM, sponsorship, EOR, EU-partner route, etc.), I would genuinely appreciate hearing what worked and what didn’t.

And if you know a recruiter, immigration lawyer, company, EOR provider, hiring manager or organisation that is particularly good with international candidates, please send them my way.

Even a small lead could make a huge difference right now.

My mindset kills me I believe

I am currently in Russia and I am kind of trying everything to leave, except of too risky options. Whole process is already taking too long, and I find my self in that loophole: try to continue to live like everything is okay, eventually got ragebaited and heartbroken when I face a reality, sprint of hardwork trying to change something and find a new way, burned out, repeat.

How do you solve the problem that you can't control without burning out, and maybe even having some moments of happiness?

My experience with SMILE procedue

I recently went to B&VIIT for the SMILE procedure and wanted to share my experience since I know a lot of people on Reddit look here when researching eye clinics in Korea.

Overall, I had a really positive experience. From the initial consultation through the procedure and follow-up, everything felt very smooth and organized. The staff were incredibly nice, welcoming, and accommodating, which made the whole process much less stressful.

The consultation was super thorough, never had that many eye tests in my LIFE. Even though I was a little nervous going into the procedure, the staff did a great job of making me feel comfortable.

The actual SMILE procedure itself was surprisingly quick and straightforward, weird sensation but absolutely no pain. Such a quick procedure and I was back to normal in 48hrs. keep in mind there are a lot of "restrictions" post operation that might limit your ability to properly VACATION.

Happy to answer any questions about my experience if anyone is considering the clinic or SMILE in Korea.

Hi everyone, hoping to get some real-world experience/advice here.
Background: I’m a Vietnamese national, currently a legal resident in Belgium (residence card from an Erasmus Mundus mobility programme). My card expires on 31 October.
I’m applying for a long-stay Spanish student visa (visado de estancia por estudios) to attend an intensive Spanish course in Barcelona, submitting my application at the Spanish Consulate in Brussels (since that’s where I legally reside).
The consulate confirmed my Belgian card needs to be valid, but I’ve gotten two different answers by email on when exactly: one reply said “only at the moment of submission,” another said it “must be valid during the application” (i.e. throughout the whole processing period). Processing can apparently take up to a month, sometimes longer.

My timeline: I should have my complete file ready by late September, and I’m aiming to submit in late September/early October. Given my card expires 31 October, there’s a real risk it could expire WHILE the visa is still being processed.

My questions:
1. Has anyone been in a similar situation, submitting a visa application when your current residence permit is about to expire, and it wasn’t renewed by the time a decision came?
2. Is there any kind of interim document (like a receipt of application / proof of ongoing procedure) that keeps your stay “regular” while a decision is pending, in this kind of situation?
3. How risky do you think this actually is in practice? Would you submit as early as possible anyway, or wait / find another solution first?

Any first-hand experience, even from a different consulate or a similar visa type, would really help. Thank you!

Looking for recommendations on international pension plans for someone that does not know where they'll retire.

I am Brazilian, living in different countries in Europe for many years and started to realize I'll have a shitty pension as the years I worked in my home country are worth almost nothing.

Have looked around this sub and asked copilot, but now asking here: what things should I be aware/be careful before closing an international pension plan? I don't want to contribute for 20 years to find out later it's worth nothing...

Hi all, Im italian and I have lived outsde of italy for 13 years and 6 month (as my mum today reminded me. I wasn’t counting, but someone was). I’ve lived in Japan for 6 years and in the UK for 7 years.

This year I changed job, which was financially a bit challenging, but then, 4 months in, I was left home by the new job. I looked for a new one for 3 months, but London is not affordable without a job, so I had to start packing my stuff.

I just flew back today, while my stuff is travelling still, and I cried the entire time unpacking my only 2 luggages. All that makes me feel better is that I’ll travel to Germany and Poland in November (that’s leisure and for sport seminar) and thinking that I just need to rebuild my bank account and then I can just go to another country.and it’s comforting, yes, but this is just day 1 of an entire year and I feel so miserable.
I have nothing against my country in reality. I just like to live abroad more than I like living here. And obviously I didn’t want to come home this way: jobless and poor with 2 months only to say goodbye to everyone.

Has any of you ever deals with this kind of depression?
Having to abandon your life abrad, go back to your own country not by choice and then having to deal with the reality of it?
Any advice will be truly welcomed.

P.S. yes, I have started therapy 2 months ago, so I am taking care of myself. You can also imagine the emotional status I am in so… please be kind to me. You can say hard truths ofc, just choose the words carefully.

I just moved from the U.S. to China for work less than a week ago, and I have felt increased social anxiety. In the US, my social anxiety is very controlled. I can go out with friends, order food, and be in public spaces. That has felt like the complete opposite in China. I am currently living in area where not many people speak English. I sometimes feel physically nauseous at the thought of speaking for myself, and I feel like everyone will make fun of me for my language. While there is some culture shock, I honestly don't feel homesick and I am overall enjoying my time here. But my anxiety has felt so much worse. Has anyone else felt this?

Did you sell most of it? Put things in storage? Leave boxes or furniture with family? Keep your car somewhere, sell it, or have someone look after it? If you owned a home, did you keep anything there or completely clear it out?

I’m especially curious about the decisions that seemed smart at the time versus how you feel about them now.

If you could do it again, would you make the same choices? Or is there anything you now wish you had sold, stored, kept with family, or handled differently before leaving the US?

Also interested in hearing from people who are currently planning a move abroad and what options you’re considering. I’m less interested in the “ideal” answer and more in what actually worked, what became a headache, and what you’d recommend to someone doing it now.

Full disclosure: I work with Neighbor, a storage and parking marketplace, and I’m trying to better understand what Americans actually do with their stuff when they move abroad.

My wife and I plan to move to Norway within the next 1-2 years, currently living in the US. We have $250k across our traditional 401ks. Looking for advice on how to manage these accounts before/after we move.

I’m generally seeing that it’s in our best interest to simply keep the 401ks open until we can make withdrawals after 59 1/2 years of age to avoid the 10% penalty. For us that’s in about 25 years, which is a while to keep that open just sitting there. At that point, as long as tax treaties remain the same, we should in theory be able to make standard withdrawals, pay Norwegian taxes, and avoid paying taxes to US through double taxation treaties.

I’ve seen some people recommend to withdraw before moving and pay the 10% penalty for easier implementation into Norwegian systems. I have also read that because Norway views these as standard brokerage accounts, capital gains are taxed. Idk how that would even work for a 401k. Can anyone confirm if that’s true?

I sincerely appreciate any help or guidance.

I’m a single American in my 50s currently living in Colombia. I’ve realized Colombia probably isn’t going to be my long-term home, and I’m trying to figure out what comes next.
I posted recently about how difficult it can be to build a life abroad alone, and the responses were helpful.

One thing became very clear to me: I don’t want to spend the next several years bouncing from country to country. I want to find somewhere I can stay, put down roots, build friendships, date, establish routines, and eventually feel like I actually live there.

After doing more research, these are the places currently on my radar:

Guadalajara, Mexico
Porto, Portugal
Tirana, Albania
Malta
Asunción, Paraguay
Lima, Peru
Montevideo, Uruguay

Cuenca, Ecuador is also on the list, but I’m currently thinking of it more as an affordable short-term landing place if I need some time to figure things out.
I’m not suggesting all of these are equally good choices. In fact, I’m hoping people with firsthand experience can help me eliminate some of them.

What matters most to me:

• Reasonable cost of living, ideally around $3,000–$4,000 a month
• Good private healthcare
• A realistic social life and dating opportunities for a single person in their 50s
• Enough restaurants, cafés, gyms, and activities that I don’t feel isolated or bored
• A realistic path to staying long term
• Taxes that don’t make the country financially irrational for someone whose income and assets are primarily U.S.-based investments
• No more than about a 7-hour time difference from U.S. Eastern Time
• English is a major advantage. My Spanish is around B1 and I’m willing to keep improving it.

I’m fairly introverted, so “just go to bars and meet people” isn’t really a strategy for me. I’d be more likely to build a community through a regular gym, coffee shops, classes, activities, neighbors, and eventually a circle of friends.

I’m also not looking for the absolute cheapest country or the lowest possible tax rate if I’m going to be lonely or bored there. The goal is to find somewhere I can actually build a life.

I’d especially like to hear from people who moved abroad alone in their 40s, 50s, or 60s and had to build a new social life from scratch, rather than couples who arrived with a built-in social life.

If you’ve actually lived in one or more of these places, which would you seriously consider, and which would you cross off?

And if there’s one place I’m overlooking that fits these criteria unusually well, I’d be interested in hearing about it too.
I’m not interested in moving every six months to optimize taxes. I’m looking for somewhere I could stay for years and eventually call home.

So I had a nice chat with my UK bank. They've said that once they have it on official record that I am no longer in the UK, they would begin the process of closing my UK accounts. This is a change of policy from years ago, when I hold those accounts open while in Japan for several years. Nonetheless, it is their policy now.

The fixed term savings account is complicated. That account is tied to UK residency, and even if I were to pretend to still be in the UK to the bank, I wouldn't be able to access it online due to that residency rule and IP detection (yes, VPNs exist; but I wouldn't trust any of them to handle bank account data). So that one will have to be closed before I leave.

The UK credit card is with the same bank. I don't use it much, so it doesn't really matter if it is forced to close. I'll probably get a credit card in the EU country once established. But... are there any reasonable online options?

The main reason I want to hold on to the current account is so it can retain the direct debit to my UK mobile phone. I don't know how long I may need that phone number, but it's important for a bunch of two-factor authorisation stuff. Worst-case scenario, I ask a UK-based relative to have the payment attached to their current account. But is there a reasonable way I can have a GBP account that can have a direct debit set up for the mobile phone, without paying through the nose for the privilege?

Hi everybody,
For many years now, I’ve had the urge to sell my house, car and belongings and go nomadic for a few years whilst I build a new business. I’m now running out of cash and selling everything would free up £250k+ in equity. I’m 35, single, with no ties to the UK. The only thing holding me back is the absolute guilt and pain of rehoming my cats. They are family to me and we are very bonded, but I know they couldn’t come with me. I wondered if anyone had any wisdom or experiences that they’d be kind enough to share please? 🙏🏼❤️

Some of you here really need to start looking up statistics and data about the countries you discuss and talk about. The amount of claims I have seen that are just straight up false are too many, especially in posts that get a lot of traction.

Some quick examples:

• Someone says "you should move to country A instead of B, since country A has higher quality of life" - And then I see that country B literally has a higher HDI than country A.
• Or, "Don't move to country B, it has higher crime rates, country A is safer" - And country A turns out to have a much higher homicide/murder rate.

We are discussing people's potential futures here, and claims like these can really change their minds even though it's just based on what some random person wrote without anything to back it up. Research before you speak. That's just my two cents.

I’m starting to plan a move from Europe (Luxembourg) to USA (Seattle) with 2 cats. Was hoping to get advice from those that have done a similar move. As it would be around 15 hours of travel I want to minimise the stress for them.

One of my cats can be a bit anxious and getting her in the carrier can sometimes be a bit of a nightmare. I’ve read that you can request a private room but I’m not sure if that’s at all airports.

Also since there are no direct flights from Luxembourg I was thinking of getting a pet taxi to Frankfurt and flying out from there direct as it would remove one flight leg. Lufthansa seems to be highly recommended for pet travel. Has anyone used a pet taxi within Europe and have any recommended services ?

Lastly, I was curious to know how to manage the litter and food situation. I know cats can go a long distance without needing to use the litter but I was thinking of getting the disposable litter just in case.

Thanks in advance !

I’m currently working in India and have received an opportunity to move to Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur/PJ area) with a consulting company with visa sponsorship.

The offer is around RM13,000 month, and I would be working in a senior software engineering role. The role itself looks good, and the company/client is a well-known multinational. However, I would technically be employed by a third-party company rather than directly by the end client.

My current situation in India is roughly:

• Current/alternative offer: around ₹20 LPA fixed, plus around ₹1 LPA employer PF and around ₹2.9 LPA as variable pay
• I’m single and live with my family and have a comfortable setup here
• I spend around ₹9k/month on outside food currently
• I have never really lived alone before
• I don’t know much cooking yet, although I’m willing to learn

The actual offer is RM13,000/month, and I’m expecting rent to be around RM1500 and food/other expenses to be significantly higher than what I spend in India.

My main reason for considering Malaysia isn’t just the immediate salary. I’m thinking about whether spending a few years working there could give me better international exposure, improve my career prospects, and potentially create a pathway toward
long-term residency or PR.

But I also have concerns:

1. ⁠Is RM13,000/month actually a good salary for a software engineer in Malaysia?
   
2. ⁠After tax, rent, food, transport and other expenses, how much could I realistically save?
   
3. ⁠Is taking a job through a third-party contractor risky in Malaysia?
   
4. ⁠If I stay for around 1 year and then change jobs, how difficult is it to find another employer willing to sponsor an Employment Pass?
   
5. ⁠Would Malaysian companies generally consider someone who has only been in Malaysia for 6–12 months?
   
6. ⁠Does working in Malaysia genuinely help with eventually getting PR, or should I not consider PR as a major factor?
   
7. ⁠If Malaysia doesn’t work out for me after 6 months or a year, would it be relatively easy to return to India and get another software job?
   
8. ⁠From a career perspective, would you choose the Malaysia opportunity or the ₹20 LPA opportunity in India?

I’m especially interested in hearing from Expats who moved to Malaysia for software jobs, or people who have experience with contracting arrangements and Employment Passes.

I’m not looking for just a salary comparison. I want to understand whether moving to Malaysia is actually a good long-term career/life decision or whether I’m giving up too much by leaving a comfortable situation in India.

Would appreciate honest opinions, including reasons not to take the Malaysia offer.

I moved to the US 5 months ago and I just really miss home. My husband is doing his PhD here and I followed him here. I'm on an F2 visa and can't work here. I was teaching back home and even though I enjoy not having that responsibility, I think my mental health is starting to decline a bit because of feeling a lack of purpose.

I have made some friends here and am volunteering tutoring English. I miss my friends and family back home but it feels like they have all moved on and don't miss me as much.

Any advice on how to feel more settled? Also any advice on possibly converting to a J1 visa as a teacher?

I’m 21 and recently graduated - I had a fully funded master’s offer in South Korea, but turned it down because it wasn’t aligned with my long-term goals.

I’m thinking of taking a year off and applying for Fall 2027 master’s intakes, this time being much more selective about finding programs that actually fit my goals.

I have around $4k in savings and could potentially get another $1–2k from my family. I also have some remote work with a supervisor abroad, so I won’t be completely without income.

I actually travelled to japan, malaysia, and taiwan before! (my whole life in 2025 was in these 3 countries)

So basically..the plan is basically to backpack around India, travel to a few countries abroad, keep things very cheap, and just explore/figure out what I actually want to do before committing to a master’s.

For people who have done something similar, is this a reasonable idea at 21? And is $4–6k enough to pull off a year of very budget travel if I’m mostly staying in India/cheaper countries?

Expats, when does a new country actually become “home” to you?

Is it when you have lived there for long enough time-wise or is it a specific personal milestone that occurs?

Or is it a matter of you never feel fully at home and you’ve come to accept that?

There are places I’ve felt at home almost immediately and other places I’ve lived for years and couldn’t feel more away from home, and I want to know what it’s like for others out there.

I know it is a common conversation now but my wife (35) and I (30) are debating about staying in Japan or not.

Honestly everyday there is a new thing where it feels they just want to suck up as much from the foreign community as possible, whether it be in taxes or the recent raise in residency fees compared to the terrible salary you get at most companies here.

IF I was only financially tied to Japan I feel like this wouldn't be AS much of an issue, but my finances are also tied to the US due to student loans and I feel like it isn't financially reasonable to stay in Japan anymore.

My wife is supportive no matter what we decide, and I have chances to find work in the US given my work type but I am in a constant loop of trying to put it off.

My residence card renewal is coming soon as well and, unfortunately, I have to bite the bullet with the new pricing if we wait OR if we move back pay the exit taxes.

Anyone else feeling this?

Hello everyone, I am kinda frustrated at my social life at the moment and it’s been going as such for the past few months now. And my situation also doesn’t help either, I can’t do anything about it, I’ve had to shift from place to place whin few months due to some or the other reason and I haven’t been able to make any close friends yet. My close friend earlier was my ex but since the relationship has ended, I haven’t been able to form any long lasting friendships with anyone. When I am, in the presence, with the people, they’re friends but over the distance all just lose interest in friendship with me. I still reach out to the friends that I have made within these few months but they only just reply back and don’t ask me things back or make an effort to keep the conversation going. For instance, over this one month, I have started a new routine or find something new but then I have no one to share these things with. I have a tough situation coming up and I told one of my friend how anxious I am about it but they never asked me what the situation is, just saw my text and gave a ‘👍’. Other times, these new friends just leave me on read. So I am here to seek for some advice in order to improve my social life. As for my situation, I’ll continue to have to change my place from time to time or might not have to (I can’t tell as it depends). If it continues I might not be able to form any long lasting friendships. Another thing about me is that I travel too (sometimes quite frequently, other times not).