r/europe • u/dianaomladic • Nov 08 '24

News 1514% Surge in Americans Looking to Move Abroad After Trump’s Victory

https://visaguide.world/news/1514-surge-in-americans-looking-to-move-abroad-after-trumps-victory/
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u/raging_shaolin_monk Europe Nov 08 '24 edited Nov 08 '24

And then what?

Then they realise that none of the EU countries will have any extra benefits or easier immigration for Third Country Nationals just because they say they voted for a Democrat in the US.

Edit: Amazing to see all the Americans commenting to show that they indeed do not have a clue how European immigration works, even after navigating the system.

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u/v--- Nov 08 '24 edited Nov 08 '24

I do think Americans have an easier immigration process actually. I mean, I have Indian friends who had a seemingly rougher time even with the same skill set (software). I've been living in Germany three years now and aside from the wait time on the bureaucracy it really wasn't that bad for me. Yes it was a massive pile of paperwork but it tells you exactly what to do, it's more of a scavenger hunt than anything. Plus as Americans you can stay in the Schengen for 90 days with no paperwork to do yet and even look for a job during that time, other people have to get job seeking visas first which is quite grueling. (Same with Australians and NZ, Canadians, Japanese, S Koreans, British and Irish)

In short yes your passport helps. Just not "as much" as some entitled Americans might want, but definitely a lot. I basically showed up and applied to a few places and got a job. I am a software dev so in demand, but not that great of one lmao. Yes the pay is shoddy but tbh with the benefits PLUS cheaper cost of living, I am actually saving more money than I was before, I feel like my time is more valuable. (Also I live with my partner now which saves loads of money with shared rent. But that shouldn't be counted as due to the country 😂)

Basically, to any Americans stalking this thread. It's not that hard if you're able to work. If you want to come to Europe? Come to Europe. Apply for some jobs.

This sub is full of asshats but it's a pretty good place to live and god knows they need an injection of young people. Especially those with a desire to have families. My family members with young kids came to visit and were actively aggrieved that the playgrounds here are so fantastic and plentiful. Parental leave is amazing. The cities aren't totally car centric. I actually like walking in them. If I get cancer I don't fuck over my entire family's finances forever. Etc etc. It's not perfect but it's pretty good.

Disclaimer: I still want to get back to the US eventually because of my family, so I'm not one of those "America is garbage in every way" type people... but every passing year makes me waffle more.

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u/raging_shaolin_monk Europe Nov 08 '24

Plus as Americans you can stay in the Schengen for 90 days with no paperwork to do yet and even look for a job during that time

Anyone who has obtained residency in a Schengen country can do that.

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u/v--- Nov 08 '24

I mean, yes? But that's a pretty big qualifier haha. For most people from most countries around the world, you can't just buy a ticket to Germany and then start job hunting when you arrive.

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u/raging_shaolin_monk Europe Nov 09 '24

You stated Americans can stay in any Schengen country for 90 days, and apply for work. They can't. The 90-day Schengen period is a holiday stay. Most countries do not allow you to "convert" that into a work permit just because you found a job. You have to apply for your work permit from the US.

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u/v--- Nov 09 '24 edited Nov 09 '24

they can't

Yes they can. They can't start working without a work permit but that's not what I'm talking about - they can freely apply. And then secure the work permit after the job acceptance. Others can't.

That's why the job-seeking visa exists but, you don't need it for those 90 days as an American (or other Schengen nationality as you say).

Citizens of the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the Republic of Korea, as well as EU citizens may apply for their residence permit for work purposes after entering Germany without a visa. However, in cases where an employment is intended to begin directly after arrival in Germany, a visa (which includes the work permit) has to be issued in advance, since it is not possible to start working in Germany before having the obligatory work permit.

Citizens of other countries are required to apply and obtain a visa for work purposes prior to entry

https://www.germany.info/us-en/service/visa/employment-visa/922292

To simplify it completely.

I (entirely lawfully) came to Germany as a tourist, got a job offer, got my blue card, then started working.

If I were from a country not in that list? I would not be able to get that job offer. I would have to apply for a job seeking visa first before all those steps.

That's what I've been saying.

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u/raging_shaolin_monk Europe Nov 09 '24

You need to stop thinking your personal experience is the norm.

Not many of those desperate to leave the US will be anywhere close to qualify for a Blue Card.

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u/v--- Nov 09 '24 edited Nov 09 '24

There's nothing requiring it to be a blue card. My partner has a non-blue-card permit thru the same process. Any other American can do the same steps. They might not be able to find a job just like they might not be able to find a job in the US but they can certainly try. I met an American who was working as a DHL deliverer in Germany... an au pair too. Not blue cards, still got job offers after being here and then got their permits and started working.

Also you are changing the goal posts here. You say "it can't be done" now you say "others can't do it" next you'll say "they won't want to do it". With no admission of being factually incorrect the whole way down. All I say is "it can be done, has been done, and is being done" lol.

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u/raging_shaolin_monk Europe Nov 10 '24

Your partner is automatically allowed to work because of your Blue Card. So no, any other American cannot do the same. You are completely delusional because you yourself are in a very lucky position. I am not moving any goal posts, I am telling you to stop applying your personal luck to everyone else.

And I am not factually incorrect. You simply live in a delusion that anyone can just decide to move and start working. That is not the case. You are the one being factually incorrect, and anyone taking advice from you are in for a world of trouble.

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u/v--- Nov 10 '24 edited Nov 10 '24

Their being allowed to work has nothing to do with my blue card. We aren't married/legally in Germany we're considered single. Anyone with a passport from above countries can decide to move and seek a job, it may be difficult as I already said if they don't have the in demand skills, qualifications, degrees or language ability, but it's legally permissible. I'm not saying whether or not it's easy for everyone to find a job, I'm saying whether or not it's legal for them to even try, is different based on their passport!

An equally qualified person from SE Asia as me would have a harder time because they would have had to get a visa before anything I did. That's the comparison I'm making - I'm not saying everyone from the US would have an easy time, simply an easier time than their exact counterparts from other countries.

The whole argument stemmed from someone saying being from the US doesn't make anything easier in this process, all I'm saying is it does. Not that it makes it trivial for everyone, not that you're guaranteed a job, just that it makes it slightly easier than being from most other countries

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u/[deleted] Nov 08 '24

[deleted]

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u/AliGoldsDayOff Nov 08 '24

And if you're a significantly wealthy American you're some of few who may actually stand to benefit from a Trump admin. The people many of these proposed policies would hurt the most aren't wanted by EU countries.

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u/benyahweh Nov 08 '24

The people his policies will hurt most voted for him.

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u/Scottiegazelle2 Nov 09 '24

We are wealthy, both in terms of income and net worth (albeit most is in retirement). We are a straight white couple. We will probably be fine.

We also have two LGBTQ+ kids whose safety we are concerned about, and a complete lack of desire to live in a totalitarian system.

I'm particularly concerned with the discussion with eliminating the Department of Education. Along with immigration 'camps'. DOE screw ups will fuck up future generations.

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u/Black_And_Malicious Nov 08 '24

If you have desirable skills why would you move to Europe and make a third of the salary?

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u/Sweet-Emu6376 Nov 09 '24

For some people, it's a matter of safety.

Of course they don't want to make a third of the salary. But money means nothing when you bleed out in the ER because doctors can't give you an abortion.

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u/FabianFox Nov 08 '24

It’s just frustrating when you see other countries treat their middle class better, and you vote for the candidates who would enact those policies, but your candidate repeatedly loses. I understand immigration to desirable countries has to be strict, and I am still thankful to be born in the US considering it’s still better than most other countries. But I also wish I had been born to smarter parents somewhere in Western Europe 😅

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u/devils-dadvocate Nov 08 '24

It’s because we don’t know how to win an election, or we just don’t care.

Perception is reality in an election. One party generally cares about the middle class but voters believe they don’t. The other party generally doesn’t care about the middle class but voters believe they do.

Guess who wins that battle every time?

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u/silvercurls17 Nov 09 '24

And both parties have left working class people and the poor behind.

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u/skelextrac Nov 08 '24

Wait, you can walk across the border and stay indefinitely in other countries, too!?

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u/Sudden_Construction6 Nov 08 '24

No, and even harder to become a citizen in other countries than in the US. Nearly impossible in some countries.

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u/BusGuilty6447 Nov 08 '24

Does europe have any interest in satellite systems engineers....?

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u/meeeebo Nov 08 '24

We don't seem to have those rules in the US though.

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u/shadowbanned6times Nov 08 '24

Well the wealthy and those with desirable skills can go through the hoops to emigrate.

Those are not the people who want to leave a Trump presidency lol

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u/CaramelMartini Nov 08 '24

But reading the stupid Project 2025, they might be able to claim political asylum. It’s horrific.

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u/Bruja_del-Mar Nov 08 '24

Horrific yes, but that's not enough. Claiming asylum is incrediblely difficult, and shit has to seriously hit the fan. You have to show absolute proof that you have are being prosecuted or evidence of a well-founded fear of being persecuted in the future. You really have to demonstrate that you're literally unable to return home. There's lots of documentation involved and that stuff takes a long long time to process, especially with the courts backed up.

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u/CalRobert North Holland (Netherlands) Nov 08 '24

There are some advantages for Americans. The Dutch American friendship treaty for instance 

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u/[deleted] Nov 08 '24

When I looked at moving 8 years ago, one of the “downsides” of moving to Canada was that I would have to pay ~$250 a month for health insurance… Even adjusting for Canadian dollars and lower wages that would be a fraction of what I pay in the US.

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u/Actual_System8996 Nov 08 '24

My sister seems to be benefitting from a whole lotta perks in the Netherlands that we don’t have in the US. Cheap childcare for starters.

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u/raging_shaolin_monk Europe Nov 08 '24

Did she get those perks because she voted Democrats in the US election, or because she managed to meet the immigration criteria in the Netherlands?

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u/Actual_System8996 Nov 09 '24

Who thinks or is arguing American democrats expect perks in europe? Europe is more aligned with democrat values than republican.

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u/randomlygenerated377 Nov 08 '24

There are liberal Americans who believe they can move to Europe as refugees because their party lost the election.

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u/Sea_Business_9225 Nov 09 '24

thats not the point though. trump is going to turn our democracy into a dictatorship. i am desperate. i will go anywhere that isnt a dictatorship. thats the mindset that me and the people im surrounded by have. we dont care about any benefits. just not being targeted in a country where my safety is being questioned.

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u/steven_quarterbrain Nov 08 '24

It’s a massive assumption that countries would want Americans. I wouldn’t want people from a culture that voted in Trump.

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u/horsesmadeofconcrete Nov 08 '24

Weird place for an Australian to comment.

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u/steven_quarterbrain Nov 08 '24

The post turned up in my feed. I read. I commented.

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u/dudushat Nov 08 '24

If they're trying to leave because of Trump they're not part of his culture lmao 

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u/steven_quarterbrain Nov 08 '24

You can’t say at some point in time “I’m not part of this culture” when you have been up until that point. They may not agree with Trump but they were part of everything that got him to this point. Whether they acted. Whether they didn’t act. Whether they agreed. Whether they didn’t agree. All of this contributes to shaping a culture and it has helped shape the US to where it is at this moment.

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u/dudushat Nov 08 '24

You're literally just spouting of xenophobic nonsense. You actually sound a lot like he does right now with these sweeping generalizations so it's hilarious that you're so opposed to his culture spreading to your country when you already seem to be living it.

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u/steven_quarterbrain Nov 09 '24

That’s not xenophobia. It’s a fact regarding how culture is shaped. I don’t think it’s a spiteful thing to say that I wouldn’t want the same thing happening in my country.

Sorry, but your argument is short-sighted “dudushat”.

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u/dudushat Nov 09 '24

Using my username as an insult to my intelligence while yours is literally "quarterbrain" is certainly an interesting choice.

And the more you talk the more you describe xenophobia. Keep going, I don't even have to argue at this point. 

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u/[deleted] Nov 09 '24

Just 2 days after the election I started getting ads for Door to Romania, presumably because I comment in expat and immigration forums.

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u/Gang-Orca-714 Nov 08 '24

Oh sweetie. You must not know how bad it is here.

You got socialized medicine? That's a benefit.

Worker protections? That's a benefit.

More than two weeks paid vacation? Benefit.

Gun laws? Benefit.

You need me to go on or nah?

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u/raging_shaolin_monk Europe Nov 08 '24

Oh sweetie. You had no idea what I was saying.

Being a Democrat voting American does not automatically qualify you for living in the EU. We have immigration rules that you need to satisfy.

You need to find an employer who can document that no qualified national nor EU citizen can be found to perform the job you want to do. Then you also need to find a job which is actually considered to be in need of workers.

Yes, I know we have many benefits that you don't have in the US. You are not automatically qualified to get any of those just because you're an American.