For those who had to move back to their home country, what are your suggestions?
Posted by Lopsided_Giraffe1746@reddit | expats | View on Reddit | 27 comments
Hello,
My partner and I have been planning on moving to Spain for the last 1.5 years. We have our student visas and leave in 22 days! We fully intending on living in Spain long term but have not found a legal way to stay beyond student visas.
We've explored every route and have only found that finding jobs locally and continuing to apply for remote work is our best option. Thankfully we are able to work 30 hours a week if we can find something while we're there as a student. But we have 1 year to "figure it out" when we're in Spain and there's the very real chance we won't be able to stay once the visas are up.
-For those who have had to move back unwillingly, what are your suggestions on what to do or wish you did differently?
**Please do not suggest not going at all. This is not an option nor something I would even remotely consider. Please keep that to yourself.**
Lopsided_Giraffe1746@reddit (OP)
Our plan C is to stay on and have my partner do a Masters next fall. That will allow both of us to stay and work. The issue with that is having another 1-2 years of living expenses. So finding jobs are still pretty critical.
Bobzeub@reddit
Are you married ? Because otherwise the visa office won’t be having any of it . Also you can’t work while he’s studying on a student visa .
Also yeah Spain is pretty bad for finding jobs even for Spaniards . Like other commenters said it’s one of the hardest in Europe and the salaries are low. 30 hours per week isn’t a lot .
I guess do a year abroad if you have the savings to finance it . But in all likelihood you’ll get send back at the end of it . So prepare yourself mentally to go home .
Pan_Duh_Pan_Duh@reddit
Congrats! I think that is exciting that you are taking a chance :).
I had a similar problem when I was trying to stay in Japan after 2.5 years.
I wish I had limited the amount of time I stayed at my parents place. It was crazy how much of my finances and resources were just disappearing despite it supposedly being a good way to save money, lol. And I was just clashing with my mom’s new husband. Moving out now. So, basicly, have a timeline if you have to move back in with your parents - depending on your relationship. Or even moving in with friends.
I also wish I had spent the extra time I had in Japan to build up a more useable skill so I could transition into a different job market/upskill myself or something.
But I also just received a ADHD diagnosis, being on meds have been much clearer than they were a year ago when I first moved back.
Anyways, it sounds like you have a whole year to figure it out! Biggest recommendation is to network. People are always willing to help those who are in the same spaces/communities. So network at events that are in your career field, go to meetups. I’ve started networking where I’m at now, and I’ve had a lot more opportunities open up because of that. Like plan to once a week to go to a meet up or something, and at least once a month go to a networking event.
Good luck :)
Lopsided_Giraffe1746@reddit (OP)
What kinds of meet ups do you find most helpful? Hobbies? Work related?
Pan_Duh_Pan_Duh@reddit
Depends. I don’t know your industry. In Japan I was doing a lot of language exchange meet ups. In America, I do a combination of hobby and work networking events. Try your luck in any of them. Commit to going at least 3 to 5 times, unless something really bad happens. It’s rare to really hit it off, and it usually takes a few exchanges before people commit you to working memory. Good luck
Lopsided_Giraffe1746@reddit (OP)
That all makes sense. I'll start planning meet ups now.
ArtUnable2331@reddit
The people who landed in the best position from what I've seen were the ones who treated the first few weeks as pure admin. NIE sorted fast, Spanish bank account opened even if it just sat there, and kept a paper trail of everything. Not because it solved the visa question but because when a job offer or new visa route came up they could move on it immediately without scrambling.
30 hours of work allowed on a student visa is genuinely worth using even if the pay is small. It starts building a local employment record which matters more than people realise when things come up later. What field are you both looking in once you're there?
Lopsided_Giraffe1746@reddit (OP)
We already have out NIE and I opened a bank account last summer. I think all we'll need to do is register ourselves and the dog.
My partner is a US lawyer who can teach both English and Spanish. I'm in Interior Design and 2D/3D design/modeling. I also have years of retail manager experience. Honestly we can't be picky so anything that suites those skills. Service work, language work, dog walking, ect.
Original_Account_908@reddit
In which city are you going to move? If you are moving in Madrid or Barcelona, it won't be that hard if you have some experience. Being native english speaker is definitely a good point for big corporation. for smallest companies, spanish (advance level) is a must
Lopsided_Giraffe1746@reddit (OP)
I'll be in Barcelona. My partner is Fluent but I am still learning.
Original_Account_908@reddit
Cool, you should be fine then. ;)
Check out InterNations events once you’re there. It will be great to meet people and connect with experts in different fields.
internationsorg@reddit
Hey there, thanks for recommending us! 🙂
Hi OP! To clarify, joining InterNations is free, and you can browse the platform and communities without paying, though availability and pricing vary by location and selected subscription period.
Some features, like certain events or additional benefits, are part of a paid (Albatross) membership, which is optional.
We’re a community for people living abroad, connecting both online and through in-person events organized by Ambassadors and Consuls — with English as the main language, which can make it easier to meet people from different backgrounds.
Totally understand wanting to explore different options like Facebook groups as well — hope you find what works best for you. If you’re ever curious, always feel free to take a look at www.internations.org and see if it feels like a good fit.
Lopsided_Giraffe1746@reddit (OP)
How do you find InterNations different than a Facebook group? I see that is a paid subscription
Original_Account_908@reddit
Oh no, that's free, internations dot org. next join a local community in Barcelona and you will be able to join local events
Lopsided_Giraffe1746@reddit (OP)
Yeah it's making me pay to join groups. It's fine, I'll join facebook groups and try to plug in.
Original_Account_908@reddit
Weird… DM me an email and I will send you an invitation, it must be free for sure
Regular_Fruit_2907@reddit
Have you been to Spain? Do you realise it has the highest unemployment in the EU? The chances of you getting a job is slim to nil and even if you do for a short period it definitely won't offer sponsorship after a student visa ends FYI I'm a uk/ eu citizen and own a villa in one of the popular destinations for holidays and every Spaniard I talk to are either on seasonal contracts or paid well below the threshold for sponsorship in stem subjects
HVP2019@reddit
Be mentally prepared that upon your return the topic of your return will come up very often.
On this sub many people moved abroad assuming there is high probability their immigration will be temporary. They assumed they will not feel self conscious about having to return, but then, when the time came to actually pack their bags many do end up feeling… self conscious ( “ashamed”)
Generally many immigration problems can be described this way: “I knew this will be a problem but now, when I am experiencing this problem first hand, I am not prepared for this problem, this problem is harder than I imagined”
Lopsided_Giraffe1746@reddit (OP)
I am trying to prepare by thinking about this as a adult gap year. Move to Spain for a year for the experience even though I fully intend on not moving back. I think it's a self preservation technique.
HVP2019@reddit
It doesn’t really matter if you return because your visa was over or because your gap year was over. You will still need to deal with similar problems: finding employment in your home country, finding housing, car (?). And there is high probability that US employment/housing/prices will be different in the future than what they are now.
This is another common issue returning immigrants seams to be unprepared, so they ask for some “tricks” of overcoming those issues: “help, i didn’t anticipate things in my home country will change, how do I solve this now”? What advice would you give someone in such situation?
RoundAd4247@reddit
What is your country of origin? Are you studying a masters degree (in Spanish) in a field where Spain needs immigrant workforce, like healthcare? Or are you only attending a short-term language course?
Lopsided_Giraffe1746@reddit (OP)
Im American. It's short term degree earning language and culture program. My partner does want to do a Masters and that may be a good way to stay but it's dependent on the program they end up in.
RoundAd4247@reddit
So you’ll be returning home after a nice sabbatical.
You usually cannot freelance or “work remotely” for a foreign employeer whilst in an EU country on a student visa. The limited working hours are for working and integrating in the country of your temporary residence.
clairexxxooo@reddit
Not sure how it works in Spain, but in Italy it’s common to start at the internship level (through agreement with your university) and then hopefully continue your career from there, could you look into any internships to start while on the student visa?
Lopsided_Giraffe1746@reddit (OP)
I certainly have the time and resources. I will look into that.
HungryGhost5000@reddit
Just get another student visa. I'm assuming you're not going there for your PhD in 22 days.
Virtual-End1827@reddit
Chances of finding a job in Spain, two jobs, are truly slim.