Moving Out Of The Country

[darksyns]

So I think I'm ready to move but the thing is....its not down the street or across town or another state. I'm thinking of moving to Australia. Why? For some reason I've always wanted to get away and try and start over and I figured Australia would be a good as ever place to start. So I'm asking the people who have moved to another country what is the process like and what is primarily involved?

[heyseuss]

Sounds like you've already made the best choice. I encourage you to move to Australia. Prepare to have your mind blown.

[lupin]

I have a lot of friends in Australia and the only thing they ever gripe about is the monopoly on Internet and Cable TV. Besides that they love it. If you are the traveling type, you are close to both China Japan and New Zealand all places everyone should go at least once before they die.

[tokenuser]

As an Australian now living in the USA, I have done the reverse.

Heyseuss is right. Cable and Internet access are VERY expensive. I was the "first kid on the block" with cable TV when it rolled out in Australia ... and that was 1995. Having the choice of 17 channels was mind blowing ... until I moved to the US and it was more like 170 channels, plus premiums.

Lupin is right and wrong. South East Asia is on your door step, but he fails to realise just how expensive it is to travel from Australia to anywhere else in the world - even Asia. It is one reason why when you meet an Aussie overseas, they have been travelling for a month. It is so expensive to leave, that once we ARE gone we like to travel around a bit. Another reason we love to travel is that we get 4 weeks vacation each year ... rather than the 2-4 you get in the US.

The exchange rate is not so great now. USD1 = AUD1.20 ... that might sound like a good deal, but everything is just that little bit more expensive as well.

Immigrating to another country is a painful process. My wife worked in a research lab back home, and they had a number of foreign workers there. Talking to one of the guys (someone that held a PhD in automation engineering) who was Norwegian, and had previously held a US greencard, he said the process of gaining a permanent work permit for Australia is even harder than the process he went through in the US. As someone going through the US process right now, I find that hard to believe, so if it is true - good luck.

Australia values an education. If you don't have at least a BA, don't bother applying. BUT, as an alternative, entering the country as a student is also an option. Australian university degrees are extremely well regarded internationally.

Whatever the case, this website (http://www.immi.gov.au/immigration.htm) might help you out. It outlines the Visa types, and requirements for entry.

[lsman11]

good luck! i hope they have entourage and flight of the conchords out there!

[esophagus]

I'm in the same, less extreme, boat. Canadian, looking to move out of the country. Probably only to the States, but Ireland is on the list right behind it.

[tokenuser]

I'm in the same, less extreme, boat. Canadian, looking to move out of the country. Probably only to the States, but Ireland is on the list right behind it.If you are in the tech industry at all the Republic of Ireland (as opposed to Nothern Ireland, which is part of the UK) is a great place to go. The government set up all sorts of tax incentives to attract high tech industry --- and it worked.

I am going to get shot for this, but there are great contract opportunities in the middle east as well.

[scoobydiesel]

may the force be with you.
i have been thinking about moving to canada.