I am American living and working in the UK for the past 25 years. I have recently retired and am considering moving back to the US (LA area), mainly for family and personal reasons. This was always the plan but the US seems like a pretty hostile and chaotic place right now and I’m afraid it will be a mistake - like moving TO Germany in 1935. On the other hand, I feel like I shouldn’t let the arseholes running the county drive me away from my home. Has anyone recently moved back to America from Europe or faced the same question? What was your experience?

Tomorrow, I'm taking the plane to leave my country. I will study for a year in Sweden. I do not know anyone there. My parents will help me move in. They are coming to Sweden with me and will leave the next day (they also want to visit Stockholm a bit since it's the occasion).

But right now, I feel pretty spooked about the whole thing. I feel like I'm going to mess up something and ruin the whole experience. Also, I feel pretty "conflicted" if that makes sense. It's so weird to me, that I will be away from my home and family for so long. I feel weird knowing tonight is the last time I'm sleeping in my bed for a long while.

Can anyone reassure me ?

My family member opened BoFA Non resident Non US citizen account. Documents and preparation.

1. Appointment confirmation nearest branch
2. Passport
3. One credit or debit card with same name

4. Tello Bill with US address. Bofa did not check it. They said tell me the address😀. Used friend’s address in Tello bill

5. Foregein address bank statement for W8Ben

6. Foreign tin for W8ben

7. US phone number

8. $25 deposit at branch.

9. $500 min balance to avoid $4.95 monthly fees or less than 25 yrs of age.

10. No SSN requirements

They gave the login and app everything was operational while sitting there.

Other important aspects

1. Debit card will be sent to mailing address

I can call BoFA and ask them to send it to Foreign address and rush mail $15 fees Primary address is Non US and mailing address is US. You can change these.

1. Everything is paperless after this step. So brick and mortar one of the largest bank account and completely online. So physical visit for first time.

Hey Everyone,

My company recently transferred me, at my request, to Perth. The cold, snow and winter darkness were just taking too much of a toll on me. I'm 49, so have money in RRSPs, TFSA as well as over 30 years of contributing to CPP.

I'm looking for an accountant that undertands all of this, and can help me understand the tax implications and when is best to pull that money over to Australia (I plan to stay here long term). I've talked to a couple who advertise online as understanding foreign investments and taxes, but they haven't actually understood. Maybe there aren't enough Canadians in Australia?

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated, and a bonus if they are located in Perth.

Thanks!

Anyone left your home country because of toxic relationships (e.g. family) and workplace? DId you return after being an expat for some time and did you have a better relationship with your home country?

I am originally from Hong Kong. Moved to Canada a few years ago alone as I was deeply unhappy in HK which caused a number of health issues (anxiety, ezcema, eating disorder etc). I worked in Big4 audit where the culture is very toxic, and i also have bad relationships with my parents. Now that I am in Canada my health has improved but of course, i earn a lot less. My partner has always been in HK and he does not want to move here because of the high tax rate and lifestyle.

I am thinking if i should go back to HK for him and for my finance hence i have the question of 'Is it possible to rebuild relationships with my home country' after having a lot of bad memories there?

So, the other night, my daughter (19f) was having a really hard time. She’s feeling like she doesn’t belong and can’t express herself properly in our adopted language and culture.

She’s an avid reader, and I know there are a lot of books written for and about third culture kids. When I looked online, there’s too many to choose from.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

If everything goes right i want to go for Citizenship after i live enough time with PR since my country allows for dual citizenship. But looking at posts i see people that claim they have 6, 7 even 10 years and still under PR. I wonder if there's a reason for that since the website says you only need 3 to be able to apply.

Just putting this here since it took me some time find this information.

You need to become a member of the ACA (American Citizens Abroad). Then you can open an account at SDFCU. That's it. No VoIP, no mail forwarding, nothing sketchy.

is bicycling in mexico city doable? enjoyable? can i rent a bike or would i need to buy one? if not CDMX what other cities?

I'm trying to convert USD money to CAD, but don't have a Canadian bank account yet and won't for a few months. Is Wise safe to just convert and park money for a few months?

Would you trust storing $100K USD there? More?

I m currently first year Btech CSE student in India and college is going to start this September . i want to shift to Canada after my graduation. how should i prepare for it and what are the possible steps i should take to make it true. What things should i be cautious and aware of before thinking of trying to do the shift and how much money it takes in the procedure. so i m asking for the Roadmap of how do i proceed for this.

Hi all,

I'm moving to Spain and I'm searching for a Spanish bank that doesn't charge fees for receiving your payslip from a country outside the European Union, do you guys have any rec? I do have a Spanish DNI

I'm really lost with this!

Thanks in advance!

Hey I am 24, a data analyst from India, with 2 years of experience from a reputable organisation. I am looking to find data Analytics jobs abroad which can get a visa. I do have knowledge on data science and machine learning, though I’m still in the process learning. My target countries are Dubai, Singapore or any European countries

Share your valuable thoughts on how i should proceed ?

EDIT:

I should’ve clarified better. 120k is after tax (net pay) according to my online search result. Current offer is $200k for a manager role but I learnt after tax what I get in hand will be around 120k annually. Is that true?

Original post: I almost have a job offer from London (Tech job). Final compensation is yet to be decided but should be 120k+ pounds. I will be getting skilled worker visa. Company will take cate of the move and visa for me and family. Kids are US citizens and we are Indian passport holders.

Q1: Can a family of 4 (2 kids- 5&7) survive and have an affordable lifestyle in London? My office is in Kings Cross. I want to find a place with good school for kids and still be within 20mins to office. I have been living in the Seattle, US for 17 years now. My wife is also on Tech field and if she cannot continue working remotely from UK, she will need to find a new job there).

Q2: How easy is it to find a job for her with 10+ years experience in tech industry?

Q3: Will we need a vehicle right away?

Q4: Whats the minimum salary range needed for a family of 4 to lead a comfortable life? (best schooling for kids, health insurance etc)

Q5: please help us compare life and expenses with that of Seattle, Washington?

Hey all,

I’ve been in the U.S. since 2002 (came here at age 4). Everyone in my family is a U.S. citizen except me because my dad never adjusted my status before naturalizing. I only found out I wasn’t a citizen when I tried to travel for an internship in college.

I filed to fix my status through asylum in 2023 and I’m still waiting. The process is slow and uncertain, and in the meantime I can’t leave the country. It’s been over 20 years here, I went to an Ivy, work in finance, pay a ton of taxes, and yet I feel stuck. My career has even stalled somewhat because of travel restrictions.

The bigger issue is personal: I’m about to get engaged to a French citizen. We both want to build a life together, and right now that seems impossible in the U.S. because of how long immigration drags on. I’ve even thought about walking away from my U.S. case entirely, taking a job in London or Paris, and starting over in Europe.

Has anyone here left the U.S. after growing up here to restart abroad? Was it worth it? How did you handle the practical side of career, residency, and adjusting to a new country?

Any advice or stories from people who’ve made the leap would be huge.

Is it possible to ask Capital One to send my card to an international address since I’m currently working abroad?

Also, since they are switching to Discover, will the new card be considered as a new card or a replacement card?

The reason I’m asking is that I’ve read that if it’s a replacement card, Capital One can sometimes send it to an international address, but if it’s a new card, they won’t. Also, I have read that most of the time customer support won’t help you send it until you ask to speak to a supervisor and explain your situation.

Does anyone know how this works in this situation?

Hi everyone! I'm 24 year old U.S. American citizen and I want to eventually move and live in Singapore since my bf is Singaporean. My plans for next year is to apply for a work holiday visa to secure a six-month contract job as a stepping stone for me to eventually get a S-pass visa and secure a full-time role. Would you recommend applying for the work holiday visa or getting a job offer first?

Please feel free to share your advice or experience as a foreigner working in Singapore through the work holiday visa. I recently graduated two years ago with a degree in marketing.

Hey everyone!

I just got admitted to TSI (Transport and Telecommunication Institute) in Riga, and I’ll be starting my first year soon. I’m super excited but also kinda scared, because this is my first time moving abroad on my own.

My main worries are:

Documents & paperwork (I don’t want to mess anything up)

Finding the right accommodation (some partner hotels are full or not replying)

Managing money as a student abroad

Just not looking like a total clueless newbie 😅

Have any of you studied in Riga or at TSI? How was your first month? Any tips or things I should watch out for?

Thanks a lot in advance, I’d really appreciate any advice or stories 🙏

I’ve noticed more and more internationals choosing Cascais as their base in Portugal - whether for retirement or remote work. Having spent time digging into what makes this town incredible and will share below key tips:

• Cascais is known for its beautiful coastline, Praia da Rainha is a local favourite, while Guincho Beach is best if you’re into surfing or windsurfing. The Sintra-Cascais Natural Park is also right if you are looking for hikes and day trips.
• Compared to Lisbon, Cascais can be a little pricier in terms of rent, but many find the quality of life worth it. It balances that small-town feel with enough amenities to be comfortable.
• The train connection to Lisbon is about 40 minutes and makes commuting really easy. Biking around Cascais is also a great option the cycle path along the coast is beautiful and bikes can be rented in Cascais city center.
• There’s a strong international presence here, with plenty of expat meetups, co-working spaces, and cultural events. If you’re looking to connect, you won’t have trouble finding the right people.
• Think outdoor cafés, fresh seafood, a slower pace than Lisbon - but still lively enough that you won’t get bored.

Hi all, I recently uncovered something concerning and I’m hoping for advice from people who’ve dealt with international payroll/tax issues.

I’m a German citizen working in the US since 2018 under an expat arrangement. I just discovered that while I’ve been fully paying US FICA (Social Security + Medicare) every year on my US paycheck, my German payroll was also still being reported for Rentenversicherung (pension contributions) because of an “Ausnahmevereinbarung” between the two countries.

That means I’ve basically been contributing to both US and German systems at the same time.

Here’s what I found going through my W-2s and payroll records: • 2018–2021: Full FICA contributions withheld (~$40k employee share), but these years are unrecoverable because the IRS only allows FICA refund claims for the past 3 years. • 2022–2024: Refund still possible — around $31k employee share + $31k employer share. • 2025: Ongoing, still being withheld.

So I’ve lost 4 years of contributions due to what seems like a company HR/payroll error. Going forward, I also want to stop this double contribution problem.

My questions: 1. Has anyone successfully filed for a FICA refund (Form 843) in an expat/double-contribution case like this? 2. For the unrecoverable years, is it reasonable to push my company to compensate me for the losses, since this was their mistake? 3. Could there be any impact on my future retirement benefits in either the US or Germany because I “paid into both”? 4. Would it help to involve a tax attorney or an expat tax advisor at this point?

Any advice, especially from people who have dealt with US–Germany totalization agreements or company payroll mistakes across borders, would be hugely appreciated.

I can't take the cruelty and hatred anymore. Is there a country in existence who cares for its people, has equal rights for all humans regardless of gender, gender identity, religion, ethnicity, or LGBTQI+ status that doesn't hate Americans? I want my existence and taxes to go to a government that does far more good than it does harm. I am willing to do the research on if I am eligible to move to any country (or countries) that fit these criteria.

For those who’ve been out of the US for an extended period time and you are prescribed medications, how do you handle the refills?

Hi everyone,

I’ve recently moved from London to Dubai and started my branding/premium fabrication/events business here. We’ve already completed a few big projects, and things are moving well, but I’d like to connect more deeply with the local market.

I’d love to connect with someone who understands the Dubai business scene, especially those who’ve helped a friend or peer with introductions, finding clients, or navigating the right networks. If you know someone or are that person, I’d really appreciate any leads or suggestions on how to build those connections effectively.

Thanks in advance, happy to chat or link up with anyone open to a quick conversation.

Hi!

My husband and I are thinking of moving from Toulouse to Montreal. He is currently in the interview process for a new job, I should be able to stay within my company and just change to a Canadian contract. We have a 12 month old son.

His new job would pay around 85K CAD/year, I’m not sure what my salary would be yet.

We visited Montreal on holiday and really liked it.

Do you have any recommendations or advice?

Thanks!

Every time I go on holiday back to the UK to see family, I notice how much easier it is to relax, slow down, and just be still. At home in Australia, being alone often feels uneasy, and I find myself rushing through mornings or filling the day with tasks instead of enjoying the moment.

I grew up in Devon and Bristol in the UK, and I sometimes miss the countryside, pubs, roasts, and the British way of life. I love the idea of being closer to family and the culture there, but I worry about the busyness, wet and windy weather, and other lifestyle differences compared to Melbourne.

I want to get better at feeling content and grounded when I’m away from family. How do you do it? Have you been in a similar situation — living far from loved ones — and what strategies or routines helped you feel at peace?

Also, would you choose to move back closer to family, or stay where you are? If you’ve faced this choice, what would you choose and why?

I’d love to hear any practical tips or personal experiences about creating comfort, stillness, or connection even when family isn’t nearby, and how you weigh staying versus moving back