Anyone move to Europe from the States ever?

[MrSquished]

Just looking to hear experiences from the wonderful folks of ATOT. Of Course I'll be googling that as well but figured if anyone here has ever done it why not share

Specifically moving to Germany, Spain, Belgium or the Netherlands and I wish England would still be in the EU but oh well.

Don't need to know about how difficult it is to get work visas and permits and all that, I am an EU citizen. This is more about everything else but that process.

 

[us3rnotfound]

Netherlands is a bad move, too much flood risk moving forward with climate change.

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

 

[deadlyapp]

I've got a college buddy that recently moved to Malta from the US, however he is a dual citizen (USA / Australia) so that might have helped him from that end. He didn't really take any possessions, selling most of his stuff in the USA and buying new once there (other than a very nice motorcycle).

I know lots of people in the military who have stationed overseas, but that's a bit different since you end up in a sea of USA people anyways

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Have fun with the mass population influx and the Trump equivalent uprising there because of it.

From what I've heard - and seen since I've been to Germany, France, Belgium - and technically one day in Austria... It's overall not all that different. Enjoy the high tax rates, expensive as fuck to live and own a home in the cities...

I can't say it sounds all that appealing or different really.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Have fun with the mass population influx and the Trump equivalent uprising there because of it.

From what I've heard - and seen since I've been to Germany, France, Belgium - and technically one day in Austria... It's overall not all that different. Enjoy the high tax rates, expensive as fuck to live and own a home in the cities...

I can't say it sounds all that appealing or different really.

Yeah as much as I love Italy and France, as a middle classer I wouldn't move there. Same BS we have over here they're going through as well. Now if I was rich and I didn't care about needing a lively hood, I'd definitely move there.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Yeah as much as I love Italy and France, as a middle classer I wouldn't move there. Same BS we have over here they're going through as well. Now if I was rich and I didn't care about needing a lively hood, I'd definitely move there.

I'll be honest, I didn't care for Paris when I was in France. I loved visiting places outside of Paris though.

Paris has its nice sights, but the people in general there always have a stick up their ass. You can just tell from looking at them. Guess I can't blame them with how stupid their politics are and how segregated the city is. I enjoyed visiting Mont Saint-Michel there much better.

 

[Platypus]

I'm likely about to make a move to Germany, curious if you get any helpful information. I don't need to worry about a visa either, moreso just the process of moving all my shit over there and getting set up. I think I need to just bite the bullet and consult with an immigration lawyer or something like that.

 

[MrSquished]

I can't say it sounds all that appealing or different really.

It sounds quite different to me. One has to get used to smaller if one wants to live in the cities there. Less stuff as well. Two things I am getting accustomed to. I live in a 700 sq foot condo happily and am reducing my consumer purchases dramatically in order to focus on enjoying my life more via other avenues - things that are more of a European style vs the American one of size and pure consumerism as a path to happiness. So I figure in 4-5 years I'll be already used to some of the main differences.

I appreciate the high taxes but I think I get things in return for those from healthcare, public trans and beyond. Living somewhere where you work to live vs live to work seems worth its weight in gold. And from all the reading I've done they do say that is true across most of Europe.

Yeah as much as I love Italy and France, as a middle classer I wouldn't move there.

Italy and France are not on my list of potential countries for a reason. But I definitely plan to visit them often if I get lucky enough to live so close to them.

 

[MrSquished]

I'm likely about to make a move to Germany, curious if you get any helpful information. I don't need to worry about a visa either, moreso just the process of moving all my shit over there and getting set up. I think I need to just bite the bullet and consult with an immigration lawyer or something like that.

Cool man. Yah I'm still trying to figure out those types of logistics - whether it's best to pretty much sell everything and start from scratch or what is worth keeping and shipping over besides the obvious things like my self-built pc and desktop audio gear and small record collection.

What's prompting your move?

 

[Platypus]

Cool man. Yah I'm still trying to figure out those types of logistics - whether it's best to pretty much sell everything and start from scratch or what is worth keeping and shipping over besides the obvious things like my self-built pc and desktop audio gear and small record collection.

What's prompting your move?

That's a complicated question that I'd be happy to discuss more in PM, but I have no interest in the weirdos on this forum pouncing all over. I'll summarize by saying it's a quality of life issue.

My problem will be figuring out how to get my dog over there (should be OK based on what I've read with up to date documentation from a vet), but moreso, if I do need to come back here, how do I get him back without some ridiculously long quarantine period? I'd probably sell most of my furniture, but I've got lots of guitar/amp shit that I want to hold onto as well. I also need to figure out what my marital status would be over there, and if my partner would be able to live with me without a specific visa if I already have one, etc.

 

[zinfamous]

That's a complicated question that I'd be happy to discuss more in PM, but I have no interest in the weirdos on this forum pouncing all over. I'll summarize by saying it's a quality of life issue.

My problem will be figuring out how to get my dog over there (should be OK based on what I've read with up to date documentation from a vet), but moreso, if I do need to come back here, how do I get him back without some ridiculously long quarantine period? I'd probably sell most of my furniture, but I've got lots of guitar/amp shit that I want to hold onto as well. I also need to figure out what my marital status would be over there, and if my partner would be able to live with me without a specific visa if I already have one, etc.

Hey I'm not that weird!

As to the third issue, I'm pretty sure that Germany tolerates just about anything these days. But if it's specifically a work/visa issue, I dunno.

 

[Platypus]

Yeah I think it would be honored as a legal marriage from everything I've read, but I'm not sure if that entitles him to live there without getting some kind of permanent visa. They're super liberal about timing (they give you a 6 month visa just to find a job) so I doubt it will really matter either way.

 

[zinfamous]

Yeah I think it would be honored as a legal marriage from everything I've read, but I'm not sure if that entitles him to live there without getting some kind of permanent visa. They're super liberal about timing (they give you a 6 month visa just to find a job) so I doubt it will really matter either way.

I *think* all that matters is that one of you has a work visa and is working, when it comes to spouses. A friend of mine moved to Vienna a few years ago for a faculty position, and she ended up marrying her boyfriend of the time just before moving off, because while he was going to be able to keep the same job and work remotely, temporarily, Austria wasn't going to let him remain in country as a single if he didn't hold a job in country--or even one that qualified for the visa.

I believe they are still married, too, so it seems to have not cause any issues between them.

 

[Platypus]

I *think* all that matters is that one of you has a work visa and is working, when it comes to spouses. A friend of mine moved to Vienna a few years ago for a faculty position, and she ended up marrying her boyfriend of the time just before moving off, because while he was going to be able to keep the same job and work remotely, temporarily, Austria wasn't going to let him remain in country as a single if he didn't hold a job in country--or even one that qualified for the visa.

I believe they are still married, too, so it seems to have not cause any issues between them.

That's what I've read too, so hopefully that's still true, but that's definitely something I don't want to be surprised by if I end up over there

 

[Exterous]

I can't really add anything other than I would be interested in hearing either Pixel or Platypus' experience if either of you move forward with this. We've toyed with the idea from time to time. Taxes sound super annoying and the US government makes maintaining linked overseas and domestic banking accounts a PITA

 

[MrSquished]

That's a complicated question that I'd be happy to discuss more in PM, but I have no interest in the weirdos on this forum pouncing all over. I'll summarize by saying it's a quality of life issue.

My problem will be figuring out how to get my dog over there (should be OK based on what I've read with up to date documentation from a vet), but moreso, if I do need to come back here, how do I get him back without some ridiculously long quarantine period? I'd probably sell most of my furniture, but I've got lots of guitar/amp shit that I want to hold onto as well. I also need to figure out what my marital status would be over there, and if my partner would be able to live with me without a specific visa if I already have one, etc.

We will have two dogs to bring with us also. I am marrying my fiancee in a year so I am guessing she can become an EU citizen easily as well but I have to do research on that also. Let me know what you find out.

I can't really add anything other than I would be interested in hearing either Pixel or Platypus' experience if either of you move forward with this.

Not moving for around 3 years unfortunately. First we have to get married in a year, fiancee has to finish school up in about a year and a half, then figure a year of work experience before moving. So that's the schedule but just want to do preliminary research now so we really have our ducks in a row when the time comes. Taxes do sound annoying but I think you get back what you pay in.

 

[DigDog]

DigDog to the rescue.

A few of my friends have moved here; most have retained their US citizenship, which i guess tou want to as well, but we will explore both avenues.

Residency is pretty much effortless. You fly here, geta job, rent a house, and go tell your local police station you are staying. Eventually you will be sent papers stating you want to become a resident. Each year or so you will have to renew these papers, which are basically always renewed unless you did something really bad. After so many years you say you want citizenship, pay a fee, and thats it. Uk has 3 years minimum, as does France. Italy methinx is 5.

Different countries of origin have different requirements. If you come from the US, you can basically just live in most EU countries without having to even work, but if you come from countries with difficult migratory conditions, you need a sponsor - a job. The Uk has slightly more restrictive laws .. but its just a matter of doing what you are told, nothing insane like Japanese immigration laws or even the US green card lottery.


...*puzzled look**

You say you are a EU citizen??

Despite the thread title you say later on that you are a EU citizen. If you are, you can go live and work anywhere within the EU without having to say anything to anyone - you just go and do it

 

[Mai72]

I haven't moved to Europe yet. My mom was born in Lyon, France so it would be cool to check that out.

I've lived in South Korea, and Thailand.

 

[DigDog]

We've got a law in the works that would reduce taxes to a 20% flat - still, you would have to deal with the day to day BS that Pizzaland throws your way.

Here is a big question: WHY do you want to move to europe?

 

[MrSquished]

...*puzzled look**

You say you are a EU citizen??

Despite the thread title you say later on that you are a EU citizen. If you are, you can go live and work anywhere within the EU without having to say anything to anyone - you just go and do it

Yes I'm a citizen of Cyprus which is part of the EU. I'm not worried about the logistics of citizenship and work permits, just more the cultural logistics and then a bit of the physical logistics of moving/finding a place.

Here is a big question: WHY do you want to move to europe?

Always have wanted to move to certain parts of Europe but didn't for a variety of reasons. Now I have met my future wife and feel I have a partner to move with so it will be time. We want to move there to try experiencing a culture that is not as reliant on consumerism and just the bigness of everything, and where your happiness and worth as a citizen is not dependent on how much crap you buy. We want to experience a culture that places more of a value on a work life balance, where you get the 4+ weeks vacation a year from the get go, the actual 40 hour work weeks with the long lunch hours, not worry about healthcare, etc... We also want to go for proximity to the rest of Europe and the world for traveling purposes, to explore, to eat, to vacation. Now that we'll have the time to travel, we'd like to be closer to the places we'd like to travel to. Those are most of the main reasons.

Talked to my therapist about it last night and she mentioned a client had a son who moved to the Netherlands for work and moved back in 6 months. One of the main reasons he moved back? They didn't work enough. He couldn't take that 5pm would roll around and they'd be done working. They just didn't get things done to him. Which is not true. They got things done until 40 hours a week lol

 

[repoman0]

I have been seriously thinking about it as well -- Germany in particular.

I don't have a lot of the same complaints as you about my area of the US though, so a lot of that would be lost on me. The Greater Boston area already feels quite European in flavor -- small, quaint and well kept houses, doesn't feel like people are obsessed with buying and consumerism here, and at least at my job I barely work 30 hours a week, get over 4 weeks of vacation, flexible hours and still have an engineer's salary, low-ish taxes and competently run state and local governments with excellent schools. The people here are reasonable and intelligent generally and Trump-humping Republicans are extremely rare (<10% of the vote in my town). I would move to learn another language and explore another continent but lifestyle wouldn't be as big a change as it would be for many Americans.

 

[MrSquished]

I have been seriously thinking about it as well -- Germany in particular.

I don't have a lot of the same complaints as you about my area of the US though, so a lot of that would be lost on me. The Greater Boston area already feels quite European in flavor -- small, quaint and well kept houses, doesn't feel like people are obsessed with buying and consumerism here, and at least at my job I barely work 30 hours a week, get over 4 weeks of vacation, flexible hours and still have an engineer's salary, low-ish taxes and competently run state and local governments with excellent schools. The people here are reasonable and intelligent generally and Trump-humping Republicans are extremely rare (<10% of the vote in my town). I would move to learn another language and explore another continent but lifestyle wouldn't be as big a change as it would be for many Americans.

I live across the river from NYC so I love it here too, people are more intelligent, there is tons of culture, and Trump-humping Republicans are also very rare. But I've lived here for 42 years so a move is in order. Plus I'll just rent out my condo when we move and move back in when we come back home. But the consumer culture in America is everywhere, I don't see an escape from it. I mean I was addicted to stuff, I was ordering 250 orders a year from Amazon prime. I quit that the other week lol

Your job is rare here. You may not want to lose it lol

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

ITT: Grass is always greener on the other side.

 

[soulcougher73]

I live across the river from NYC so I love it here too, people are more intelligent, there is tons of culture, and Trump-humping Republicans are also very rare. But I've lived here for 42 years so a move is in order. Plus I'll just rent out my condo when we move and move back in when we come back home. But the consumer culture in America is everywhere, I don't see an escape from it. I mean I was addicted to stuff, I was ordering 250 orders a year from Amazon prime. I quit that the other week lol

Your job is rare here. You may not want to lose it lol

You dont have to be a part of the consumer culture if you dont want to though But yeah imma move to Croatia.....someday...le sigh

 

[DigDog]

Ok i get what you are saying but, the EU has a hidden side of defeatism that you might not be happy with. Its not immediately evident but year after year it gets under your skin .. i would myself move to the US in a heartbeat because there people actually DO SHIT instead of moaning how problems are unsolveable and it's basically the will of god.

Me: how are you doing
Eurofriend: i got this problem
Me: hey, there's this easy solut
Eu: ajjjjlmao solution
Me: but..
Eu: lol THATSJUSTTHEWAYTHINGSARE

And you gonna keep running into this on all sides, work, life, government ..

Anyway, im in cravatland right now, and if you want a paradise of beauty, food, and chilling out, there is no better place, but again you wouldnt want to work here, and even running a business is a ton of headaches.

The thing with Eu taxes isnt that they are high, its that they are EVERYWHERE. Get a job, get taxed. Ok, fair enough.
Get a car, parking taxes, road tax, car tax, insurance, countless fines, garage costs, gas costs. Actually earn enough to get a house?? House tax, condo tax, admin tax, water tax, roof tax, bills, tv tax.
We have travel taxes, document taxes, garbage tax, im surprised we dont have a tax for when you wipe your ass.

But yeah health cover is good.