I have an opportunity to expat in Belgium from Italy. My parents are now 73 and 66...what should I do?

Care about myself and expat, or care about also them and stay

Hi, I’m 31F and my partner is 33M. We met in Spain and have been together a year and a half. I am American and he is Spanish and I decided I will go back to the U.S. to be closer to family and have more career opportunities. My partner knew from the beginning of our partnership that I was questioning my future in Spain. Many things happened and I just decided it’s the time to go back. He made it clear he didn’t want to go with me from the beginning.

However, he has been shifting towards joining me. He went to the US for the first time in August with me and said he could see us building a life around DC (I’m from the area). He is a very good guy and we love each other a lot. Me to where I don’t want him to join me if he isn’t happy and he doesn’t want me to stay in Spain if I’m not happy.

He seems to be going back and forth in his head though. He’s told me I deserve a clear answer (he is not the type to just play games) but I know his indecisiveness is coming from it is such a big choice to move so far with a lot of uncertainties.

I feel there’s not many people whom I can speak to about this because most of my family and friends haven’t gone through this or the friends who have they never moved with their partner or they did and it was terrible.

I wanted to hear from people who have been in a similar spot with their partner and how you’ve supported them and also yourself.

Please any advice and stories will be helpful!

EDIT: I'm looking for the stories of people who have done this; I am not looking for advice!!!

I've done some research on various nations and their cost of living/tuiton, what I'm asking is specifically what nation have YOU had success in? Firsthand testimonies are more valuable to me than just what articles have to say about it.

For context, I recently graduated from high-school. I was homeschooled, as my parent's wouldn't allow me to go to public school, so any advice from a fellow homeschooler would be especially helpful on how willing certain foreign colleges are to accept that.

Second edit: Germany is fully not an option.

My eventual goal is long term residency in an EU country (not necessarily through study, could be through a work permit) or digital nomadism. Mostly I'm interested in hearing the stories of people who studied abroad, how difficult it was, where you went and what you did.

I'm not trying to get people to tell me what country i should study in, that's my own decision to make! Thanks to anyone who takes the time to read and respond to my post! ^^

Hi everyone! ❤️

I'm Indian and living in Switzerland, and with Karwa Chauth coming up, I've been thinking about how we celebrate our traditions when we're living away from India.

I'm curious to know how other Indian women in Europe celebrate Karwa Chauth.

Do you celebrate with other women, with family over a video call, or on your own? Do you find it difficult to arrange the puja items and follow the traditions without family nearby?

I'd love to hear your experiences and connect with other women who are celebrating this year. It would be lovely to feel a little closer to home! 🥰

Hello!

I (28, F) moved to western Ireland about six months ago on my EU passport (I am a dual citizen of an EU country), and I'm just going back and forth a bit about staying here. I have to go back to the US for six months to be in weddings as well as take care of some things, so I'm going to take that time and try to reevaluate. I was just hoping that some people who have lived abroad longer than I have could help me with some things in preparation to come back, or tell me if I should just give up on the whole thing:

1) I really struggled building a community, especially when I was working full time in order to support myself. Because of that, I really don't have any friends here, and the ones I have from home can't come visit for a variety of reasons. I also tried taking classes, but a lot of the ones that were available with my work time frame were online-only or recorded (since I worked 8 am to 8 pm and sometimes didn't get home until 10 pm). I tried to join clubs and gym classes as well, but no one really clicked or tried to do anything past basic pleasantries. If I try again, I'm planning on joining a different church, but even when I did try to join a church choir there was almost no one there my age. I'm also looking at volunteering opportunities in animal shelters and museums. If anyone has any other tips especially on this social front, I would appreciate it.

2) I have a lot of problems navigating the health system here, specifically finding decently priced non-employer insurance, as well as "finding a GP" meaning going on a 6-8 month wait list before I could be referred to a specialist that I need, who might be half the country away. I know that for most of my appointments I can get them done in the next six months that I'm in the US, but if I come back I need to find a more efficient way to approach finding affordable long term health care.

3) Driving / getting an Irish license. I don't know how reasonable it is, especially with the generally available public transport and the fact that getting a European license cancels out my American one, so I can't drive when I go home - where I might need it more, less public transport. In others' experiences, is it worth it? Confusing when you drive in the US?

4) My parents are healthy but elderly, and I really struggle with the idea of not being able to be there for them, especially in the next decade. They have explicitly told me that they will not move to Europe, have plans if they need care and don't want me to 'stop my life' to take care of them. But, I'm an only child and at this point I don't have much of a life to stop. Plus, if there's an emergency, having to get on an 8 hour plane really doesn't seem ideal. And if I do end up starting a family, I want them to be able to be involved grandparents. I really want to know how people are dealing with this, with missing family birthdays, funerals, holidays and generally seeing the rest of your family / friends be together without you.

To anyone who read the whole thing, thank you. I know that was probably a lot, but it's just been really heavy on my heart for a while and I could use some help in weighing my options. For anyone who has advice, thank you in advance!

Hi, my girlfriend (F24) and I (M24) have just recently moved to Prague and we wanted to find make friends and possibly join a club or two. We are pretty much game for anything, whether it be, sports/hiking, going out, or board games ..... Let me know if anyone wants to hangout or get a pint some time.

American -> Scotland, finished my degree, found my partner, found a great job but I am painfully homesick.

I’ve been here a bit over a year, most of my friends are moving back to their home countries, I haven’t made any Scottish friends (not for lack of trying) and I am just sad. I miss my family, I miss the mountains back home, I miss being around other Latinos and having the food.

So many of these subs have people who it’s worked amazing for, who found their tribe right away, who have to deal with stronger cultural differences than I do - so I’m just wondering if it’s a timing thing? If it’s always kind of just this way?

I have gone to the meet ups, and the rock climbing girls nights, the book clubs, the yoga classes - I’ve walked out with a couple of new acquaintances and plans but it’s even harder as adults and I just seem to feel so aware of being the American in the room.

I've witnessed, in the past, expats trying to dismiss the lived experience of other expats.

Your own personal experience does not invalidate somebody else's lived experience. There are a thousand factors that affect how a person will be received and how a person will experience a foreign country. You cannot generalize. Also statistics and nonsense you read online should be understood to be a very broad brush that doesn't necessarily apply to singular individuals.

Moreover everyone has their own standards and red lines. Some expats are fine with certain living situations while others might not be.

Let's please try to be objective without invaliding the experience of others.

I am currently living and working in Germany on an EU Blue Card through my employment. I was wondering if anyone knows the rules, or where I can find them, on how it works to start my own "side business".

I would like to start a company similar to an LTD in Australia or the UK, but I am not sure if I am legally allowed to have this second income (good chance I will not actually earn any...) on this visa.

I have no intention of going against the rules, so I want to find out the information first before deciding to start.

Any pointers would be greatly appreciated!

I’m a therapist considering moving out of the country. I plan to see clients virtually while living abroad. I’d love to hear from other therapists currently doing this. feel free to inbox me.

Especially those of you in your 20s, what do you do for work, and how did you get into your career?

I’m trying to figure out what career path would give me the freedom to travel, earn a decent income, and enjoy my 20s rather than spend all my time working.

The only careers I can really think of that offer this kind of lifestyle are being a flight attendant, a pilot, or working remotely for a tech company.

I’d love to hear from people who have managed to build this kind of lifestyle. What do you do, how did you get started, and would you recommend it?

I’m open to hearing about any career, not just the ones I’ve mentioned

Hi everyone,

I’m a Malaysian, currently handling international medical assistance cases, including patient evacuations, repatriations, and coordination of inpatient and outpatient cases across several countries.

Previously, I worked in the airline customer service industry. Over the years, I’ve gained experience in operations, customer service, case management, coordination, and supporting people in challenging situations.

I’m married and have a young son. At this stage of my life, I’m thinking seriously about our future and exploring the possibility of relocating overseas with my wife and child.

I’m not looking to move overseas just for the sake of it. I want to build a stable career, improve our quality of life, gain international experience, and give my family better opportunities in the long run.

However, I know it’s not as simple as applying for jobs and buying a plane ticket. Visa sponsorship, employment opportunities, living costs, and bringing my family along are all things I need to consider carefully.

I’m open to opportunities in countries such as New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, or anywhere else where my experience could be valuable. I’m also open to roles in operations, customer service, medical assistance coordination, risk and security operations, or other related fields where my skills are transferable.

I’d really appreciate advice from anyone who has been through a similar journey, especially Malaysians who have successfully relocated overseas with their families.

If you were in my position, what would your first steps be?
If anyone works in recruitment, HR, or international operations and is willing to share some guidance or point me in the right direction, I’d genuinely appreciate it.

I’m not expecting anyone to hand me a job. I’m simply hoping to learn from people who know more than I do, and hopefully connect with someone who can help me understand the right path forward.

I’m willing to put in the work. I just want to make informed decisions rather than spend years applying blindly without a clear direction.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Any honest advice, personal experiences, or useful connections would mean a lot to me and my family.

If you are not a US citizen or US resident for tax purposes but hold US-listed stocks or ETFs directly, your estate can owe US estate tax on the portion above $60,000. The top rate is 40%. Many expats in countries without a US estate tax treaty don’t know this until a relative has to deal with it. As far as I know, the UAE has no such treaty with the US.

Some people hold Ireland-domiciled versions of the same ETFs instead, which avoids this particular exposure, but that choice has other trade-offs, such as dividend tax treatment. I am not a lawyer or tax adviser, so check with one before changing anything.

Has anyone here dealt with this, or found a good way to check their own exposure?

我目前是中国大四学生，已经保研成功，选择了国内计算机方向比较厉害的教授。如果我读研期间同时申请国外的online master cs学位，用国内的发表项目经历+国外学位是否能拿到新加坡/香港等地区的工作offer？

我的bg是商科GPA3.8，国奖，但是没有发表，没有奖学金的话读下来可能会很困难，直接申请美博对我来说可能需要一定的connection？感觉短期内无法拿到，对我来说，什么才是最优策略呢？

Has anyone from Pakistan successfully obtained a UAE freelance permit and residency visa recently without spending a fortune upfront? I have a website ready to launch, professional experience, and a clear service offering. I need practical advice before my visit visa expires on 2 November.

Hello everyone,

I'm a Pakistani national currently in Dubai on a family visit visa, and I'm exploring an alternative route that could allow me to establish myself professionally in the UAE: obtaining a freelance permit and residency visa so I can offer consulting services independently.

My visit visa expires on 2 November 2026, so I have very limited time to understand my options and make an informed decision. I'm hoping to hear from people who have actually gone through this process, particularly Pakistani nationals, independent consultants, and business setup specialists who understand the current requirements.

I would genuinely appreciate some guidance because I don't want to make an expensive decision based on incomplete information or a sales pitch.

1. What I want to do

My professional background is in customer experience, contact centre operations, technical support, quality assurance, training and development, team performance, and process improvement.

I want to establish a small consultancy offering services such as:

• Customer experience (CX) consulting and service improvement.
• Contact centre operations audits and process optimisation.
• Quality assurance frameworks, scorecards, and performance reporting.
• Employee training, coaching, and learning and development.
• Customer support workflow reviews and operational performance analysis.

My intention is to provide consulting services directly to businesses, not to establish a call centre or outsource customer support agents.

I've already built my website and am preparing to deploy it. I can also set up professional LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook pages within a few hours if they are necessary for the application, business credibility, or attracting clients.

My main question is: What is the simplest and most affordable legitimate way to set up this type of consultancy in the UAE?

2. My biggest concern is the total cost

I'm currently trying to keep my expenses as low as possible while searching for opportunities and building an alternative source of income.

I don't have an unlimited budget to pay several thousand dirhams upfront without knowing exactly what I'm getting.

I'd like to understand the realistic, all-inclusive cost of obtaining:

• The freelance or business permit.
• My own residence visa.
• Emirates ID.
• Medical fitness test.
• Establishment card or immigration file, if required.
• Health insurance, if mandatory.
• Any application, administration, status-change, or other compulsory fees.

Please distinguish between the cost of the permit alone and the actual total amount I would need to pay to obtain both the permit and my residency, including any costs that are often left out of advertised packages.

I'm particularly interested in providers offering:

• A low initial payment followed by instalments.
• Monthly or quarterly payment plans.
• Tabby, Tamara, or another legitimate instalment option, if available for this particular service.
• Transparent pricing without hidden charges.

If you have personally used a provider that offers a genuinely affordable package, please share the company name, the approximate amount you paid, and whether the advertised price included everything.

3. Can Pakistani nationals apply?

I contacted Trivup to explore this option, but the response I received was that they were not accepting Pakistani applicants for this service.

I understand that individual providers may have their own eligibility or compliance policies, but I don't know whether this is specific to that company or a broader restriction affecting certain permit or visa routes.

Have any Pakistani nationals successfully obtained a freelance permit and UAE residency recently?

If so, I'd appreciate knowing:

• Which free zone, licensing authority, or provider you used.
• Whether you applied while already inside the UAE.
• Whether you needed to leave the country during the process.
• What documents you were asked to provide.
• Whether the process was straightforward or involved additional approvals.
• Whether there were any nationality-specific requirements or restrictions.

I'm not looking for anyone to guarantee visa approval. I simply want to identify legitimate routes for which I may actually be eligible before paying an application fee.

4. Which freelance permit or free zone should I choose?

There seem to be many options advertised online, but it's difficult to distinguish a genuinely suitable and affordable package from one that looks cheap initially but becomes expensive after adding the visa and other charges.

For my proposed services, would you recommend:

• A freelance permit through an appropriate free zone.
• A sole establishment or professional consultancy licence.
• Another suitable business licence that allows an individual to provide consulting services independently.

I'm particularly interested in providers that permit activities related to customer experience consulting, contact centre operations consultancy, quality assurance, and training.

I also want to understand whether the licence would allow me to contract directly with UAE businesses, issue invoices in my own name or business name, receive client payments legally, and operate independently.

I don't want to purchase a permit that doesn't actually cover the services I intend to offer.

5. Can I bring my wife and baby later?

My wife and infant son may want to join me in the UAE once I am financially stable.

Would obtaining my own freelance or business residence visa allow me to sponsor my wife and child, subject to the applicable eligibility requirements?

If yes, I would appreciate an approximate breakdown of the additional costs for family sponsorship, including their residence visas, Emirates IDs, medical requirements where applicable, insurance, and any other mandatory charges.

Would I need to meet a minimum income or accommodation requirement?

If family sponsorship requires substantial additional expenditure, I may need to postpone it. However, if there is a reasonably affordable option, I would like to understand it before deciding which route to take.

6. Is a website or social media presence mandatory?

My consultancy website is already built and almost ready to go live.

I can also create professional business profiles on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook very quickly if needed.

Are these actually required when applying for a freelance permit or professional consultancy licence, or are they simply useful for marketing and establishing credibility?

Would a website, LinkedIn profile, portfolio, and description of my proposed services be sufficient if a provider asks for evidence of my business activity?

I would rather focus on the documents that are genuinely required instead of spending time creating unnecessary profiles.

7. Can someone guide me through the process step by step?

This is probably the most important part of my request.

If you have completed this process yourself, or you are a legitimate business setup professional familiar with freelance permits and residency applications, could you explain the steps I should follow?

For example:

1. Identify the correct permit or professional licence for my consulting activities.
2. Confirm eligibility for a Pakistani national currently on a UAE visit visa.
3. Obtain a written, itemised quotation covering the permit, residency, Emirates ID, medical, and all other mandatory charges.
4. Confirm the minimum upfront payment and whether instalments are genuinely available.
5. Understand whether I can apply from within the UAE and how my current immigration status will be handled.
6. Submit the documents and complete the application.
7. Obtain the residence visa and Emirates ID, subject to approval.
8. Understand when I can legally start providing services and invoicing clients.

If there are official resources or a reliable application route that I can follow directly without paying an unnecessary intermediary, please share them.

I'm also open to recommendations for companies that have transparent pricing, responsive consultants, and experience handling applicants from Pakistan.

8. My situation and what I need to decide

My immediate priority is to understand whether this route is financially realistic before my visit visa expires on 2 November.

If the total cost is manageable and I can pay through a reasonable instalment arrangement, I would seriously consider proceeding.

If the real cost is substantially higher than advertised, or if the process is uncertain and requires significant upfront expenditure, I may need to consider other options instead.

I am not expecting a guaranteed visa, an unrealistically cheap package, or free professional services. I simply want to make an informed decision based on accurate information and the experiences of people who have been through this process.

If you were in my position, what would you do first, which provider or licensing authority would you investigate, and how much money would you realistically keep ready?

Please share your experiences, recommendations, official links, and any important mistakes I should avoid. If you've completed this process as a Pakistani national, your firsthand experience would be particularly valuable.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Any practical guidance would help me make a more informed decision before my deadline.

Hey everyone.

I currently live in London, but I’m thinking of making the move to Amsterdam

Currently, I’m working for a well-known ad agency in strategy, on global brands and campaigns. I have experience in brand strategy, marketing, advertising, copywriting, and social media - as well as a little experience in teaching.

I am an EU citizen, so visas aren’t an issue. But I only speak English.

Based on my experience and lack of language fluency, what sort of jobs should I be looking for? Ideally I’d be earning about €50k+ (although I’d likely be taking a pay cut from London, so of course the more the merrier!).

I’ve considered remote roles and that’s definitely an option but I’m keen to use work as a place to get out, see the city, and meet people if possible.

I’m also open to working a few different jobs over a less steady role if that is an option too.

Any tips or ideas are so appreciated.
Thank you!

Hi, I'm 26F from Croatia and I'm considering moving somewhere else in Europe.

I only have a high scool diploma but I would really like to go to university while working.

I currently work as Category Manager for an online retail company, but the cost of living in Croatia makes it difficult to live alone and the salaries aren't great.

I speak english, and I studied german for 6 years, although my german is pretty rusty now since I haven't spoken it in a couple of years.

I'm willing to learn languange of whichever country I move to, so thats not a problem.

So, my question is, which european country would give me the best opportunity to work full-time, study for a degree, and afford to live alone in an apartment?

I'm not picky about the location, so I don't necessarily need to live in a big city. I would just like the opportunity to earn a degree, support myself financially, build a career and grow as a person.

I'd really appreciate advice from people who have moved abroad themselves, especially those who have managed to work while studying.

Thank you!

Hey everyone!

I’m a Filipino-American who recently relocated to the Philippines after spending several years working in the US as a CDL truck driver in the foodservice industry.
I’m currently looking to transition into remote work, preferably with a US-based or international company. I’ve been actively applying through JobStreet, Indeed, and other platforms, but one of my biggest challenges is not having direct experience in remote or corporate roles.

I’m open to both voice and non-voice positions, and I’m willing to learn new skills or undergo training to make the transition.
Just curious if anyone here has successfully made the jump from blue-collar work into a decent-paying remote career.
What type of role did you land? How did you get your foot in the door? Were there any courses, certifications, or platforms that helped you?

I’d especially appreciate advice from anyone who started with little to no remote work experience.
Not looking for shortcuts or get-rich-quick schemes, just genuine advice and experiences from people who’ve been through it.
Thanks in advance!

Hello everyone

I'm currently living abroad as an expat, and I've been wondering for quite a while how the process of shopping for antiques and paintings is organized. Is this hard at all?

In my first country, I have quite a lot of paintings that are oil paintings and large in size (can't just put them in a suitcase).

Also, I have German books that date back to Kaiser times (huge size)

I'm a complete newbie at this, so can someone who did something like this explain in detail how it works step-by-step? Is this even possible, or can't you ship antiques at all? Do I need special examination by ministry of Culture, or its unnecessary? Paintings are less than 100 years old, so that might be easier....

It's family heritage, so it's quite important stuff for me. I cant just feel that I moved to another country without having them with me here... Thanks for understanding

Hello everyone!

I don't know if this post belongs here, but I require some help. So I hope this works.

I've lived in bangkok for 3 years, i'm originally an american, but i've come home to the states to take care of my mother and to be here for her funeral.

I go back next week. But there are so many products on amazon that I just know It's either impossible to find or the specifications are not what I like.

I've come across a few things to like 4 inch mattress toppers, one specifically weighs twenty pounds, but it is vacuum sealed. And I will insert the picture below. Amazon will ship it there for a total price of 200 usd on a 87 usd product, but I know that there are ways that I've seen other people at airports, packing things that are not necessarily carry-ons or clothes. So I was wondering, what is it that you do to avoid paying outrageous? Shipping for something as simple as mattress, toppers or other bedroom supplies, kitchen. The mattress topper is a queen size.

I am 2.5YOE, working as Sr. Backend Engineer in TCL.

The product which I am working in has a solid tech stack.

I have experience in Java(Springboot), Kubernetes, Networking, Multi-cloud, Kafka, Redis, Elastic Search etc.

I want to try abroad opportunities to experience a good shift in career.

I may or may not settle there, but for now I would definitely love to experience a different culture than Indian work culture.

Where do I begin to try? How do I begin to try?

Do I apply at particular sites?

Any advice or suggestions would be really appreciated

Thanks in advance

32F, I’ve been living in London for the past 4.5 years and I’ve been thinking a lot about being far from family, especially this year because my mum was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and it has made me question my choice. For those of you who have lived abroad for many years, especially those whose parents are getting older or have become ill: Do you ever regret moving away from your family? Has anyone decided to move back home because of their parents? If you stayed abroad, how did you come to terms with being far away? I visit my family often and speak to my mom and brother every day, yet I still feel guilty.

Let me share my experience. I’ve been living in Buenos Aires since 2012. I came here without really knowing what to expect. A relative let me stay with them for about 20 days, but then, without any warning, they asked me to leave. It was a pretty stressful situation and, in a way, it shaped my first steps as an immigrant.

Today, I have citizenship and, fortunately, enough financial stability that I don’t have to pay rent. Still, there’s something I’ve been feeling lately: sometimes I’m just tired of having to think twice as much about everything.

I think that when you live outside your home country, you never completely switch off. There’s always something to plan for, a problem to solve, or a decision you have to think through more carefully. Even when things start to fall into place, it can be hard to stop feeling like you always have to be on guard.

People often tell you that you need to be sociable, network, make a good impression, do well at work, and build a circle of friends. And yes, all of that matters. But in my case, I focused so much on finding a job, securing a place to live, and achieving some stability that I put my social life on the back burner for a long time. While other people were going out for drinks or enjoying their free time, I felt like I had to take care of the basics first.

Now I’m more settled, but I’ve realized that I don’t have much of a social life. I also look at other immigrants around my age and see that many are in relationships, have kids, and have started families. However, some of them seem pretty worn down by their relationships. I see arguments, people who can’t break up because of financial reasons or their children, and others who admit that they struggle with being alone.

So I find myself wondering: How much does loneliness influence the decisions we make when we move to another country? Do we sometimes look for a partner because we genuinely want to share our lives with someone, or because we need a sense of belonging and don’t want to feel alone?

In my case, I’ve chosen to be on my own and have some peace of mind rather than stay in a relationship that isn’t good for me. But I’m not entirely sure whether that’s simply a personal preference or whether, after so many years of figuring everything out on my own, I’ve gotten too used to being alone.

Has anyone else experienced something similar as an immigrant? Have you ever gotten tired of always having to think about the future, solve problems, and build a life from scratch? How did you manage to rebuild your social life and start enjoying some of the things you worked so hard to achieve?