When friends or family visit from home, how do you handle the difference between their holiday and your regular Tuesday? Dinner after work sounds great. Being out till midnight and doing sightseeing again the next morning, less great.

It seems like the majority of American expats are using a physical address in the US in order to keep access to Credit Cards, CDs, annuities, etc. In many cases, the address is that of a relative or close friend. My question is for those who plan to stay overseas permanently, what happens if all your relatives die? Has anyone had luck getting a bank to accept a rural 911 address for land without a structure on it? Is anyone successfully using an Ipostal1 address as your KYC address? Thanks for your responses in advance.

Hi all, I am a new mom currently living in Gulf because of my husband’s job. I am offered a job, which means I would need to move to Amsterdam. I am looking for some answers or perspective.

1. How is life in Amsterdam compared to Germany with a 1 year old? I have previously lived in Germany
   
2. as a new mom, how is it to return to work after maternity leave and do you wish you spent more time with your baby?
   
3. anyone did a similar move and regretted moving from Gulf countries to Europe?

Currently working at American Express as a Band 28, earning 8 LPA (band range: 5.5–9 LPA).
I have 2 years of total work experience and a postgraduate degree. I initially joined Amex at Band 28 through a referral because I was unemployed after graduation.

Now I’m planning to apply internally for Band 30 roles in Risk, Credit Risk, and Fraud in December. I’ve checked the eligibility requirements, and I meet or exceed the experience, education, and technical skill requirements.

The salary range for these Band 30 positions is 12–22 LPA, which I can see internally.

My questions:

Is asking for 20 LPA realistic, considering I’m currently at 8 LPA? I know it’s a 150% hike, but it’s within the new band’s range.

What’s the maximum I should negotiate for, and what’s the minimum I should realistically settle for?
If HR says “Your current CTC is only 8 LPA, we can’t offer such a huge hike” or “We don’t have the budget,” how do I negotiate without getting lowballed?

Does Amex have any internal salary hike caps when moving from Band 28 to Band 30, even when switching functions?

Would especially appreciate insights from people who’ve made internal band jumps at Amex or worked in HR/compensation.

Hoping this is the right channel and someone who has been in the same situation can advise. I am in the middle of selling my UK property, and live in the US now.

I have a Barclays checking account for day to day, and just opened a WISE account.

My conveyancing lawyer is asking for details where to send the money once completion happens and all vendors, mortgage etc is paid. It will be a significant amount and i want almost all of it here in the US with me.

Has anyone used WISE for this? I realize i will have to call them and prove where the large amount of money is coming from so nothing gets stuck, but they offer better exchange rates and this will be a big sum of money.

From WISE i was therefore going to transfer into a brokerage account i set up.

I did not want the lawyer to send directly to my US brokerage account because of the exchange rate and fees.

Obviously i'm nervous not to make any mistakes here - has anyone done or doing the same thing? Thank you!

I don't post on Reddit at all, so this is pretty rare for me. But, right now, I just need to be able to vent. I moved to Japan about 2 months ago, which is crazy to say now as it doesn't feel that long. I know it was the right decision for me, as does my family. I came here for university, and already have a great group of friends I wouldn't trade for the world, alongside regular cafes and restaurants we visit that always greet us like family. It's starting to feel like home in Kyoto, and I've accepted my status as a resident here rather than a tourist. But still, most nights I find it hard to fall asleep thinking about my home and my family. I was raised in a household by my grandparents and single mother. My dad was extremely emotionally abusive, as well as physically at times, and we left him when I was around 6. I grew incredibly close to my grandparents and mother due to that, and my fondest memories of home are in the house where they raised me. They did their best to ensure a happy future for me, despite not growing up with much themselves. Anything from birthdays, to Christmas, to playing catch in the park behind our backyard with my grandpa eat me up every time. I was so excited to grow up and start my own life, that I forgot to cherish those moments. Now that I'm almost 19, 5000 miles from my home, I've only now come to appreciate all that they had given me. I miss taking in the groceries for my mom, or shoveling the snow with my grandpa, or mowing the lawn while my grandma watched. I miss my dog that we adopted in 2022 after the death of our long-term family German Shepard that watched me grow up. I miss working out at home and showing my grandpa my progress and how to do exercises, and watching a movie with my grandmother after. I miss going bowling with my mom, or watching our favorite shows on TV. I love my life here, but I miss my life at home more than anything. If I could go back to being a child again, I have no question in my mind that I would. It was so much easier with them, and now being sent photos of them back home living life how I remember it best hurts me every time. I don't know how to combat the feeling of disconnection or isolation. I've picked up smoking since I've been here, and have used it during the day to take my mind off of the reality that I will only see them for less than a month per year, when I return home for part of summer. I've picked up playing the piano again at the local stations nearby piano studio again, and have been learning American Pie in tribute to my grandmother as we listened to it before I left. It was a fun childhood song, but "Bye-bye Miss American Pie" has a bittersweet meaning now ༼ ༎ຶ ᆺ ༎ຶ༽

Lately I’ve been handling more of my parents’ affairs: electricity and water bills, phone bills, insurance renewals, bank matters, medical appointments and medicines.

The problem is that I keep missing things. Last month a bill was paid late and we had to pay a reconnection fee. Small fines and late charges add up, and it’s stressful keeping track of everything for two households. How do you all manage this?

my fiancé and i are planning to move from british columbia to england in late march 2027, and we need to bring our cat miku with us. he’s around a year old and weighs 16lbs.

i’ve been looking into flying him as cargo to the uk, but i’ve also considered flying him to amsterdam and taking the ferry to newcastle before travelling to telford. i’m honestly not sure what the easiest and least stressful option would be for him.

for anyone who’s moved a cat from canada to the uk, what route did you take, how much did it cost in total, and how stressful was the journey? i’d love to know the easiest way to do this, including any pet shipping companies you recommend and the extra costs for paperwork and transport.
thank you! ♡

More specifically, Toulouse and Copenhagen. Single gay 31M. I am from the UK but interviewing for a job in Toulouse and was wondering how it compares in general to Copenhagen, with a focus on: making friends, keeping myself entertained outside of work (food/activities/other), gay scene, how big the international community is, how difficult was learning French vs Danish, etc.

Any input is much appreciated!

So my company is relocating me for a year, Seattle to Singapore, and it kicks off in January (news i got on tuesday, in what i thought was going to be a totally boring 1:1). Since the place over there comes furnished, the packing is really just the personal stuff, more or less – and that means the hair dryer + stand mixer + air fryer all stay behind, that part's easy.

Anything with a 100-240V charger (laptop, phone, camera) gets to come along, and on the plug side of things i just went ahead and ordered a new Anker universal charger, which will be tagging along with me pretty much everywhere since all the plug types are built right into it, and i'm planning on hopping around the region anyway...

Where my head's at mostly: what do people wish theyd packed from the US, the stuff they found themselves missing after landing. Every article and thread says you can find anything over there, which i'm sure is true, but there's always something... always, even if it's one small thing 🙂

Hi- I live in Miami currently. I am trying to relocate. I have a masters in env studies as well as any skills that were learned during that time. I started and run my own business which sustains me here. A niche landscape company that works mostly with Miami-centric subtropical / tropical plants utilizing plants nobody else uses or has the means to acquire.
I have computer skills and am open to many things - as long as it somewhat interests me. Seeking part time work making 60 k a year more or less. I am flexible and know how to
start, manage and run my own business and employees. Thank you

If anyone has anything plz let me know thanks

Okay I’m extremely confused. I stupidly didn’t realise that banks are concerned with where you currently reside. Yes, throw tomatoes at me.

I recently lived in Colorado for 1.5 yrs. I moved there from the UK, where I lived from birth until then.

Across that time, I saved up $35,000 to take an extended trip across LATAM. I plan to return to the UK for at least a month, but I’m unsure where I’ll be moving properly after this trip since I’m applying for masters courses across UK / USA.

I have the bulk of that money in an e-trade savings account. My debit card is via Charles Schwab. Both of which I set up before leaving the US. I also have several UK based accounts like wise, Starling, and two brick and mortar banks.

My address in the UK is my mum’s, where I can return. I still have lots of things set up at that address, like the above UK bank accounts. But, I’ve not lived there in 1.5 years.

My Colorado address has not yet been updated on my banks. I have two friends who both offered to let me use their addresses in the US.

I’m concerned about having my accounts frozen. I’m already travelling now, so I’m feeling rather stressed, since I intend to live from my savings to fund this trip.

I initially thought it’d be easier to just move the money to my UK accounts, but then I realised that they might also eventually ask questions about my residence. But, I have the same problem from the US. So, I essentially feel that it’s near impossible to follow all the rules…

Just looking for advice / help. Thank you.

Just got an email from Chase saying that they will close all credit cards for anyone living in EU. Anyone else got it? Are there other US credit cards that reliably work in Europe?

Before I moved to EU last year I contacted Chase and they said it won’t be a problem and my account will remain open. I even got a replacement card shipped from them a few months ago.

Parents just left after visiting me in the UK for a month. Likely won’t see them for at least another year. Had such a nice time with them but there’s always a bittersweet feeling of knowing it will come to an end soon and you’ll need to say goodbye. I feel very lucky to be so close to them, and to have the relationship we do, but it makes these moments so hard. I feel bad for the moments where I was snappy and impatient with them, or didn’t treasure the time enough, or show how much I love and appreciate them enough. I love my life in the UK, but I wish they were here too rather than the other side of the world! If you also feel this way, you aren’t alone.

If you bought in Costa Rica, what actually made you trust your agent? Not just getting along with them, but feeling they knew their stuff. Was there a question they handled well, something they caught, or a past client you spoke to? also curious about anyone who switched agents. What made you go, nope, this isn’t working?

I'm curious to know what you liked the most or what surprised you the most about living in Mexico.

I’ve lived abroad since 2013.

40+ countries, homes in Portugal, Mexico, South Korea and now Colombia.

here are my hot takes I’ve gathered over the years:

1. you stop being a tourist around day 10. month-long stays > two-week trips

2. moving abroad with someone you barely know is the fastest way to find out if it’ll work. (it did)

3. korean convenience stores > half the restaurants in the US

4. teaching english in korea is the most underrated career launchpad out there

5. working from a café in a new country is the best job perk that doesn’t come with a job

6. you don't really know a country until something goes wrong there.

7. 1am tacos in mexico city > any tasting menu

8. the best way to learn a city is to walk it without a destination

9. “no dar papaya” is the best safety advice i’ve heard in 13 years

10. family “workations” at $7k/month are a rich-people product. most families need the $2k version

11. speaking the language changes the price of everything

12. kids changed how i travel more than any visa rule

13. a $695 credit card for lounge access is a bad deal

14. for remote work, time zone matters more than cost of living

15. the expat bubble is comfortable and boring

16. you can leave the US, the IRS comes with you

17. the best gift you can give a kid is a second language they didn’t have to study

18. the longer you live abroad, the more “where are you from?” turns into a long story

19. you can run a business on 2 to 6 hours a day

that's all.

I'm a new mom to a one year old. We live abroad and went home to visit family in March. Came back to where we live and immediately got super depressed. After a few months of this I qualified for the government maternal mental health service, started seeing a therapist and was finally coming out of the depressed fog when I had another trip home booked. Just got back after 6 weeks surrounded by family and now I am crying frequently and can't get a single thing done aside from either laying in bed or laying on the floor playing with my son. The house is a mess. My husband works most of the time and isn't around to help.
When I was in the US these past few weeks I felt like myself, happy, at peace, supported. Coming back here to absolutely no support, to a place where I don't want to live, is just completely crushing. Do others feel this way and how to you get out of it?? I desperately want to move back but my husband and I aren't really on the same page about that and it's somewhat dependent on his work at the moment.
I hope this post is allowed, sorry it's a bit of a vent, tia

Seeing a lot of expats in dubai getting caught in a tight spot lately visit visas expiring in less than two weeks, client offers lined up, and trying to rush a Free Zone / Solo Trade license to do an in-country status change before fines kick in

Hey everyone!
I’m from a non-EU country, and I’m hoping this community might help me take an important step in my life.
My girlfriend lives in Milan, and we’ve been in a long-distance relationship. Anyone who’s experienced this knows how difficult it can be. At some point, you just want to stop counting the days until your next visit and start building a life together.
That’s what I’m trying to do.
A little about my professional background:
Master’s degree in Business (Finance Analytics) from Oregon State University, USA.
Previous experience as a Consultant at Deloitte.
Background in business analysis, finance, process improvement, and data analysis.
I speak 4 languages.
I’m currently looking for opportunities in Milan, particularly in business analysis, finance, operations, consulting, or related fields. I’m open to other suitable opportunities as well.
One important thing: I’m a non-EU citizen, so I would need an employer willing to support the legal work authorization process (potentially an EU Blue Card, if eligible).
I am prepared to cover my own relocation costs, flights, and initial living expenses. I’m not asking for a relocation package or financial assistance.
What I’m really hoping for is a chance to prove myself professionally.
If anyone here works in Milan, knows a recruiter, or works at a company that hires international candidates, I would be incredibly grateful for a referral, an introduction, or even some practical advice.
I’m happy to share my CV or LinkedIn profile privately.
I know Reddit isn’t a traditional place to look for a job, but sometimes the right connection comes from an unexpected place.
Thank you so much for reading. Even a small lead could make a real difference to me!

for a teaching job in korea or china you need an FBI Identity History Summary, and a few details keep coming up wrong in older posts.

US embassies don't take fingerprints. in korea, district police stations can do FD-258 cards free (US embassy seoul says to call first; not every station has the kit). elsewhere you need a local station or a private place that still does ink cards.

only the US Department of State Office of Authentications can apostille an FBI check. a state-level apostille on a notarized copy gets rejected by EPIK and similar programs.

china joined the hague apostille convention on nov 7 2023, so the state dept apostille is enough. no chinese consulate legalization anymore, even though a lot of agency pages still describe the old two-step.

korea EPIK wants the check dated within 6 months of your contract start, so don't order it while you're still browsing listings.

I’ll try to make this brief because the last few months of my life have been crazy. 3 months ago I moved to Montreal from Manchester in the UK on an iec working holiday visa. I’ve naturally, like many other people, been feeling very alone in this new place. Though I do have cousins living there and a couple of acquaintances/friends, I’ve been struggling. I don’t have proper work yet which has been a big stressor , but even more than that I’m struggling to find meaning in my life when I’m away from friends and family. Before I left for Canada, I met someone who I fell in love with in the UK and he came to visit me in New York last week. We spent an amazing few days together and he is now my boyfriend. On the last day of the trip, I learnt a good friend of mine had passed from an accidental overdose. Our group of friends have had substance abuse issues for a while and have been completely rocked by this tragic loss. As I’m writing this, I’m back in the UK. I made the choice to return to be close to friends. I didn’t buy a return plain ticket. I’m On a train to Manchester, contemplating everything I’ve missed, the loss of my friend, the gaining of a new significant other that I love, the loneliness I’ve dealt with over the last 3 months, what I want my life to be at 27, the rift between where I am and where I thought I’d be at this time. I’ve never felt so much at once. And everything just tells me that I need to come home permanently. I know it’s only been 3 months. But I really feel like I made a big mistake in moving away. Has anyone dealt with something similar?

I’m collecting real experiences from people who moved out of Switzerland and had to deal with their 2nd pillar: what you could withdraw, how much tax you paid, whether you got some back through a tax treaty, and what you wish you had known earlier.

Disclosure: I’m in Basel and looking into building a free guide/tool for this, so no selling here, just trying to understand the real problems.

If you’ve been through it, which country did you move to and what surprised you?

Does anyone else feel caught between two worlds as an immigrant?
I moved from a developing country to Scandinavia after years of hard work, with no help but my own. I’m grateful to be here and to give my child a better start in life.
But I still support my family back home financially. The requests keep coming, often for legitimate reasons, sick parents, debt, tragedies, ranking up to 2 minimun salaries of support monthly, and when I try to set boundaries, I end up feeling selfish and privileged because I’m the one living abroad.
Meanwhile, here, I sometimes feel poor and behind when my peers casually ask why I don’t buy an apartment, get a car, or go out for lunch more often. They mean no harm; they just don’t see my financial reality.
It’s such a weird feeling to be considered rich and selfish back home, but poor and behind where I live now. I’m trying to support my family while building a future for my own, and sometimes it feels like I’m not doing enough for anyone is just bizarre.
Does anyone else relate to this? How do you deal with it?