Moving countries, what's the process like?

I'm thinking in the future I want to move to the US depending on my finical situation.

I want to know what the process is like for those who have moved to a different country before. Has something gone wrong? Was it the best thing you've done? I want to know your experiences so I kinda know what I'm in for in time to come.:concern:

 

Hi, I currently live in Japan and I have moved in and out of the country several times to the US. I can say it is very exciting, and at the same time, there are lots of work in the process. This was more than 10 years ago, so I'm not sure if the equivalent can be said for today, but every time we (our family) moved, at least 1 box got lost. So, if you are going to send something expensive, I'd recommend sending it with the proper insurance! Else you will regret it. Also, my parents did this for me at the time, but looking for a place to live can take a lot of time and money too, especially if you're going from Australia to America (long distance).

BTW, I am also planning to move to the Americas within a year for various reasons.
I hope we could share our experience together

Cheers

 

I'd guess it really depends on the country you're moving to...
All of mu country's official services which could've helped me out in VN regarding information on how to start up a business and live there had moved away, although all of the websites were still up. I bet those diplomats even get paid still for something which has died quietly! As a 'whitey' in SE-Asia, the government, police and mafia would've gotten my number, as they assume you got the money...

In the end we hooked up with lots of expats to gather info: when push comes to shove we had to make sure to be a member of an expat community to have certain privileges and safety nets....

Just make sure you got a job where you're going.

 

Looking at the international financial situation, I would never move to the US if I were living in Australia...

 

[Slightly off topic]
Actually, as a freelance translator, I get paid in Japanese Yen regardless of where I live (US, JP, AUS). Which means if I live in America, I could transfer all the JPY to USD, and automagically receive a higher wage (that is, disregarding commodity price difference between the 2 countries).

 

I've written about my experiences several times before so I'll make this short. Fortunately, nothing went wrong for us - just the container was a bit late (2 weeks too late to be exactly, so it took almost 7 weeks all in all) because it got stuck in the customs.

I haven't been to Australia yet, but I don't think it's a very big cultural transition if you move to the US. Not in terms of language anyways. For me as a European there are some things that are very different and I have to adapt which takes time. It's even a lot worse for my friends from Asian countries, but they survive and found friends... so it's far from impossible.

Moving to Canada and studying here is the best thing that could have happened to me. Europe is cool, too, but moving so far away from your home and really living for a long time, not just an exchange, in a foreign country, is an experience that I wouldn't want to miss anymore. I also think the language aspect has a huge impact. It makes you feel much more aware of your own culture and language (things which Germans in particular have problems to be legitimately proud of) and appreciate it a lot more than before.

I would suggest you move to a country where they don't speak your native language, but that's kind of hard considering you speak English.

 

I've seen this image many times, is it really like this because I'd really like to move the US later in life.

 

Why on earth would you want to move to the US? Australia is perfect XD

 

This is the reason why so many people choose Canada over the US. It's ridiculously hard to get into the United States and you constantly have the feeling that they don't want you there. When I crossed the border to the US recently, there was a sign saying something like "If we notice any signs of threatening behavior towards government officials we have the right to arrest you". I felt like a criminal just for entering their precious office... the Canadian office 10 metres down the road had a picture of the Queen, that was all.

Anyway, I wouldn't go to the states if you want to study there. Studying in a small village costs like $30.000 a year for citizens and I don't even want to know what they charge international students. It's freaking insane... Canada is more like 15.000-25.000 but that's already for intl. students (otherwise 4500-7000).

 

Wouldn't surprise me if it was. Most people I hear about immigration rights from are either Mexican or the kids/grandkids of Mexican immigrants (to a lesser degree those from Central and South America. Growing up I had plenty of friends in school who were proud of their heritage; as such their ancestral land was never a mystery) and a chunk of them feel entitled to be in the US legally (as in they get to skip most/all of the waiting time) or illegally (I love Typhoid Fever!) simply because A)we share a border -or- B)the South Western states used to be claimed as territory by Mexico in the same way that France once claimed the Louisiana territory and Spain Florida. Not all of them feel that way by any means but I find the entitlement attitude really gets old fast when you realize that there are plenty of people wanting to immigrate from Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, etc that by virtue of being separated by vast sums of water are forced to do it legally. I can't recall the last time I heard the Congolese beg for amnesty for their illegal immigrant population.

Note: I don't mean to ruffle any feathers by saying this and feel the immigration process could use some streamlining. This is a hot topic in my part of this country.

Point being I've heard the process is long and drawn out and if you don't have any useful skills (such as being illiterate, dirt poor and suffering from TB like an unfortunate chunk of Latin America) then the US doesn't want you as we have plenty of poor people to get a grip on. Oddly in my neck of the woods speaking Spanish is quickly becoming such a useful skill that we gringos who only speak English have a hard time getting an interview for unskilled jobs.

And I do need to point out to non-Americans that the US is essentially 50 small countries joined by a Federal government and there is a lot of variation of culture between those states. California is very different from Arizona, Nevada and Oregon despite sharing borders with all three. Not nearly as much culture shock as England to Australia by any means but you will find that some parts of the US are far, far, far more agreeable than others depending on where you come from. Texas, for example, is pretty much "normal" until you venture out of the larger cities where the stereotype does tend to rear its head. So you will want to figure out ahead of time what part of the US you feel is least crappy for your particular political leanings.

 

Just avoid Texas, my sister came back spouting something about fluoride in drinking water.

 

Aimed at Americans trying to expatriate themselves, but probably applies to anyone.
http://www.cracked.com/article_19363_6-reasons-your-plans-to-move-abroad-might-not-work-out.html

 

Sorry to make your repeat yourself. :/

I've been thinking about doing this move for years, I've been to the USA before I know what it's sort of like, but I'm very sure it's different now. I was there in 1999 I think.

It sounds like the move did you well, and that's what I hope happens to me. Really Australia hasn't offered me ANYTHING yet... Also I believe US has a lot more to offer in terms of collecting wise lol.

If anybody wouldn't mind me asking; what are the expenses like?

@eugene19

I probably would be working here for a while until I get some money in, I've never had a job before so it can be a very long time till I ever start to move. I'll keep your advice in mind and for sure will be getting insurance, especially my collection.
I'd probably find an apartment for my first place to live and possibly move up into a house, there is a much larger chance of me owning a house in America than there is in Australia. It's just too expensive to live here.

 

Urrmm, that's called "quality of life". I bet it's a lot better than in the States?
@Gaijin: loved the read (Johnny Nguyen cowboy gayness FTW)

 

No it's not THAT HARD. this country was built on immigration.

 

You must know. When do you live, 1915?

 

This isn't 1776. The closure or thinning of immigration has been a talking point for a long time now.

 

Don't emmigrate to Europe.

NEVER emmigrate to southern Europe.

 

I lived in the US for 8 years total, and in Japan for a total of 22 years now, and visited Australia multiple times on a long term basis. My conclusion is; everywhere I go, I tend to feel jealous against the people living in the country I was previously living.

End of line; Anywhere we humans go, the places we do NOT live in are the places that our brain thinks is a better place to live. The constant (never ending) search for a better location, I think is the nature of us living beings.

So if you do not have a mind set to move yet, I will take the above into consideration.
Else you may regret spending lots of money and effort and end up looking back at your previous country and think, "hmmm maybe it wasn't so bad after all".

Just my 2 cents/yens

 

Yeah I'm on the same track man, I'm thinking I'd get home sick, even when I'm away from home for a night. Then again it really depends how well the US is for me. I'd like to trial it for a few months and see how I go. I won't dive straight into it that's for sure.

How was the US for you when you moved there? Have you been there recently?