Do you apply for work visa first or an office job in country you want to move to?

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orlandoaustin@reddit

Best advice I can give is to check each individual countries immigration criteria as they differ.

As you mentioned: UK, Ireland, and the EU what draws you to those?

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CoincadeFL@reddit (OP)

My late grandmother was born in Devon, UK.

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orlandoaustin@reddit

So you are basically saying the UK. Not Ireland or the EU.

Long process.

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CoincadeFL@reddit (OP)

No, if the job is in Ireland (say Google/Facebook) or the EU then I’ll go there. Plus I hear the UK is getting a too right wing for my taste. But that’s what I hear/see across the pond.

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orlandoaustin@reddit

You do realize the UK is the only left leaning country in Europe? Have you seen what is going on in Ireland? If UK is too far right then I not sure what you define Ireland as.

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CoincadeFL@reddit (OP)

Sorry I haven’t seen what politically has been going on in Ireland. What’s going on there?

I just saw the news of the race riots in UK over that immigrant guy who stabbed like 9 school children. So right leaning xenophobic rioters burned cars and shops. Further the PM in UK was Tony Blair and then a slew of right leaning idiots. Finally the Green Party has been voted in again after like what 15-20 years?

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orlandoaustin@reddit

I don't know where you got that information from. Tony Blair was not the last PM of the UK.

The PM is centre-leaning right in Ireland. In the UK it is left as you can find in the western world at the moment.

France, Spain, and Portugal are not left leaning.

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CoincadeFL@reddit (OP)

Sorry didn’t say Tony was last PM. Said you had a right leaning Tony Blair and then some idiot ones after that for a short period.

Sorry to inform you but western world (as in USA) just went authoritarian right like Hungary with Victor Orban yesterday.

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outtahere416@reddit

You can’t just apply for a work visa. You need to find an employer willing to incur the time and money on sponsoring your work visa (instead is just hiring a local).

If you’re competitive enough to get recruited internationally, your future employer will take care of the visa.

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NonSumQualisEram-@reddit

That's it, and this is almost universal - I haven't seen a country where you get a work visa and then look for a job. However I'd like to know what the OP does for a living, there are self employment opportunities in some European countries.

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CoincadeFL@reddit (OP)

I work in digital marketing and am currently a Senior manager. Looking for Director level roles.

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NonSumQualisEram-@reddit

OK, great. Searching for jobs that are after non residents is the first step. Try Switzerland first.

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CoincadeFL@reddit (OP)

Oh sweet! Ich spreche ein bichen Duetch!

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CoincadeFL@reddit (OP)

Then how come no companies even look at a resume when you say I don’t have a legal right to work in that country? Kind of a catch 22. I’m applying for the job so I can work there. It’s a given any foreigner would need a work VIsA.

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Medium_Quiet3502@reddit

Sponsoring a visa is not the preferred choice - if the role can be filled by someone with working rights already it’s by far the easier option. Positions offering visa sponsorship will depend on current market conditions and supply of suitable candidates with working rights already. Would setting up and operating as a freelancer be an option for you? You have some other options if so.

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aadustparticle@reddit

Do the smallest amount of research yourself and then come back with more details and serious questions.

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100LittleButterflies@reddit

God sometimes I hate this subreddit. Their question violates no rules. They did research, they came here to ask humans for clarification as humans have done since the dawn of time.

If you're not interested in helping, then move along.

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chief_buddha31@reddit

Anyone who did the slightest bit of research will know that work visas cannot just be applied for like that. The fact that OP even asked is proof he hasn't done a modicum of self-learning or research. We are tired of lazy Americans expecting information to be spoon fed to them upon request.

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CoincadeFL@reddit (OP)

I’ve scoured the internet and gotten mixed answers that confuse the hell out of me. One says get your work visa first, next says apply for job first and get the job offer then apply for work visa. But then how do you get a job offer if most corporations won’t even look at your resume unless you have a work VISA and legally can work in that country.

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chief_buddha31@reddit

And that's why migrating or leaving the US isn't as easy as most want to believe. Those job offers do exist, they are just for highly skilled professionals.

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CoincadeFL@reddit (OP)

I’d say I’m highly skilled. I make six figures and manage a team of digital marketers currently.

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chief_buddha31@reddit

Dude at that point why not just work remotely and travel? Assuming its your own business. Any degree?

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CoincadeFL@reddit (OP)

I have an MBA. I might try travel first? I currently work remote in the states. Though I have two school aged kids and a house holding me down here.

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chief_buddha31@reddit

Dude... you're better off than most people, just start reaching out to your MBA network internationally especially if you went to an M7

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CoincadeFL@reddit (OP)

What’s an M7? I went to a pretty common state school for my MBA and took it online so I don’t know anyone from the school. That said I have a fairly large professional network on LinkedIn. So I’m going to reach out to friends there who are expats.

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sailboat_magoo@reddit

They did literally no research, including even scrolling down in this community to see the 15 other people who also did no research making the exact same assumptions and asking the exact same stupid questions.

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CheeseWheels38@reddit

They did research

LOL what? They "thought about" moving.

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Medium_Quiet3502@reddit

The responses are helpful though. Sugarcoating isn’t helpful.

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aadustparticle@reddit

Saying England is in the European Union and then asking stupid questions that require 1 Google search to answer is not "basic research"

But let me guess, you're an American who's never left America?

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Aika92@reddit

Dreamers... I am gonna pack and go because "hell yeah, I am an American citizen".

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Aika92@reddit

You can not just "Move to EU" without having a valid job offer or a kind of sponsorship. You can not apply for a work VISA unless you have a Job. It's your employer who will do that for you. And for having that, you need to find a job that no person in EU can do it or it's in the occupation list that EU needs. Jobs like IT, developers and STEM are at the top of the list. Also you likely need to meet salary conditions that is higher than European citizens. tLDR: You can not just pack and go.

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CoincadeFL@reddit (OP)

I know you can’t pack and go. Seems like a catch 22 though. Can’t apply for a work VISA unless you have a potential job offer, but most companies won’t even look at your resume unless you have a work visa.

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Aika92@reddit

It's not that easy. You must be some kind of superstar in your field and most of the time that's in the field of STEM. Not say it's impossible but really hard. Unless you move to a country, study there and then you increase your chance to find a job as a starter. Yet again, mostly in the field of STEM education...

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Waste_Worker6122@reddit

No offense meant, but that doesn't strike me as anything that would attract much interest. Doctors, nurses, veterinarians, and teachers are generally able to move around countries easily.

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MCsmalldick12@reddit

Do you mean you're answering NO to the "Are you legally authorized to work in this country?" question? I believe even if you require sponsorship you should still answer YES to that. My understanding is that that question is asking if you meet all the legal requirements OTHER than having a visa, which is why "Do you require visa sponsorship?" is usually it's own separate question asked alongside this one.

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CoincadeFL@reddit (OP)

Wow that is not how I interpret that question. I thought if you don’t have a work visa you are not legally authorized to work in said country. I’ll start answering yes from now on.

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sailboat_magoo@reddit

It's very hard to move countries.

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Waste_Worker6122@reddit

Can't speak for those countries, but here in New Zealand applicants without a proper visa already granted are tossed in the bin. Complete time waster to review job applications of people not legally qualified to work in country.

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sailboat_magoo@reddit

Yup.

Work visas are for "highly skilled" people to fill jobs that nobody who already has a right to work is qualified for. Anyone who is just sending off their resumes to random HR departments or using general job search websites is probably not "highly skilled." Those people are generally hired via headhunters, preexisting professional connections, or some sort of professional network.

OP, you need to find a job first, but unless you have a headhunter, preexisting professional connections, or some sort of professional network, you're not getting one without a visa. It costs a company thousands to sponsor you, and they're only doing that if they really really want you, and only you, for the job.

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CoincadeFL@reddit (OP)

So you’re saying even after I get a work visa, then apply for a job, the company still has to pay money to the government to “sponsor” me? That seems stupid.

I do have a bit of a network on LinkedIn I might try some contacts tonight?

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chief_buddha31@reddit

You don't get a work visa first.

You apply for a job, and the employer sponsors you for a work visa. It's not stupid, they're taking a chance on you by bringing you to another country.

Please for the love of God go do some research before posting

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CoincadeFL@reddit (OP)

I’ve read articles on the net. Some say apply for jobs first. Others say ya gotta get the work visa first cause no corporation will look at you without it. Seems like a catch 22.

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sailboat_magoo@reddit

It's not stupid. Countries have a practical obligation to make sure as many adults already living within their borders have job opportunities. For several reasons. The US does this too.

I mean, sure. Reach out to your network. The worst they can say is "no." But start googling countries and visa requirements to learn more about this.

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expats-ModTeam@reddit

If you are currently not an expat, and are looking for information about emigrating, you are required to ask specific questions about a specific destination or set of destinations. This means you should have already put some thought and research into where you might want—and be able—to go.

You must provide context for your questions which may be relevant. No one is an expert in your eligibility to emigrate, so it’s expected that you will have already done some research to get an idea of what countries you might be able to get a visa for.

r/iwantout may be a better sub for you to post in. Make sure you abide by their rules as well.

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heylookoverthere_@reddit

For the UK, you need to secure the job first, then apply for the work visa. You cannot move here and then look for work. You are allowed to interview while on a tourist visa, but not to work.

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CoincadeFL@reddit (OP)

I said I’d apply for work visa and job from current country

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No-Pea-8967@reddit

And to add to that, even if you find a job whilst on a tourist visa in the UK, you need to apply for the work visa from the country where you have residence. You cannot switch from a tourist visa to a work visa from within the UK.

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PhysicalStorm2656@reddit

You start by checking the immigration requirements of the country you want to move to. Then go from there.

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CoincadeFL@reddit (OP)

Thanks

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100LittleButterflies@reddit

A lot of countries have websites that help potential immigrants. Here's one for the UK. https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration

You can also use Chat GPT for a lot of questions. I've only ever had a pleasant experience and it's never had a bug up it's nose because of the questions I've asked.

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dwylth@reddit

Read the pinned post and the subreddit rules, for chrissakes

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aadustparticle@reddit

England is not in the EU. Please do some basic research yourself.