this post was submitted on 16 Jan 2025
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Preferably into the EU. I speak some Spanish and I'm set to graduate with an Associates this semester. Hoping to get CompTIA certs sometime soonish and would like to continue schooling to get a bachelor's in Compsci. Most notable work experience is 2 years in an office setting making collection calls and processing payments. What resources are available to me? Who or what agency/department can I contact to get more information? What's the pipeline look like?

I know I could look most of this up, but there's a lot of information out there and some(a lot) of it I find somewhat confusing. Plus, I don't really even know where to start.

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[–] Brainsploosh@lemmy.world 23 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Getting a student visa is easy and an excellent way to both get valid credentials and a feel for the local culture.

As to where you should go depends on what you're interested in, you'll almost certainly be able to make a home wherever, so pick something that seems interesting and go (you can always use your mandated vacation days to explore the rest of EU).

For language, in almost all the major cities people will be able to speak English, although typically you'll want to learn the local language sooner rather than later for social reasons.

If you know Spanish go Barcelona, beautiful city, vibrant in both culture and industry, and with values not too shockingly different to the US. For more info, either visit the Spanish consulate nearest you or look up their online presence.

If you want to keep to English, consider Ireland, they've also had a booming IT industry for all the giants needing a foot in the EU.

Mostly you can't go wrong anywhere in the EU. Biggest culture shock would probably be the Nordics or Slavic countries, but not necessarily in a bad way.

All of them have tons of info about student visas at each university, the degrees are standardised throughout the EU and most universities are good, and typically outstanding in a couple areas.
For more info you just contact their international coordinator, or their closest consulate.

Most countries also have dedicated Web pages that outline the process, steps, and how you move toward permanent residence and citizenship if you'd want that.

Moving is typically the hard part, but if you start as a student, you'll have a lot prepared for you (student accommodations, stipends, social activities, part-time job offers, recruitment fairs, incubators, etc.)

[–] ComicalMayhem@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

I had to look up what a consulate was lol. There's a Spanish one in the biggest city in my state, 6 hours from me but they don't have a website, I'll have to call (or check Spain's embassy website if they have one). Ireland doesn't look like it has any consulates in the US, and the embassy is in Ireland itself... most likely will have to call them as well. Thanks!

[–] em2@lemmy.ml 8 points 1 day ago

I second the student visa route. It doesn't get you residency right away and is an expensive strategy, but it gets you out pretty quick. You also become more desirable since you have a higher education from a locally known institution. Currently doing this in New Zealand.

[–] Blaze@feddit.org 1 points 23 hours ago
[–] AnAmericanPotato@programming.dev 25 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Are you able to spend a lot of money on it? Last I checked, there were a few places in the EU that had a citizenship track if you purchased substantial property. So if you're in position to buy a nice house, that's an option. I think Portugal is the most approachable cost-wise. But it's been a while since I looked at this so I'm sure things have changed.

Several countries will allow extended student visas, even if you only speak English. I think Sweden allows this.

Then of course there's the easy way: marry a Canadian.

[–] shittydwarf@lemmy.dbzer0.com 23 points 1 day ago (1 children)

You saying we're easy? I mean... we are but you're not supposed to just say it

[–] hoshikarakitaridia@lemmy.world 19 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Sorry

Did I pass the immigration test?

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[–] Sergio@slrpnk.net 11 points 1 day ago

iirc we're right in the middle of hiring season for college students who graduate in May.

  • look for job fairs. these are events to recruit college students. sometimes they're held online. Check out your school's career center to see what job fairs are scheduled. if you're at a small school, look at the schedule for nearby larger university. back when they were all onsite, you could usually sneak in, dunno about virtual.
  • once you get to a job fair look for big international companies. ask about opportunities to work overseas. emphasize your CompTIA certs and ability to speak Spanish. it'd be easier with an undergrad but an associates is doable.
  • consider going to Latin America, since you know Spanish.
  • wait, did you say your grandfolks were Venezuelan? check out the Latino alumni club of your college. If your college is too small, check out the club of the nearest large university. If they have a "diversity lounge" with counselors go there and ask for an appointment. a lot of times companies make contact with those counselors for referrals. (I know a lot of companies are closing their DEI efforts but fam this is a cycle that happens every 5-10 years and the Latino/Black/etc people who work in those companies still make an effort to ensure fair hiring even if we have to review resumes in our spare time.)

Anyway, this is something to try alongside the schooling approach.

[–] viscacha@feddit.org 20 points 1 day ago* (last edited 18 hours ago)

Your best bet is through a company. If you have a reasonable job opportunity, familiarise yourself with the work visa and residency procedures. Your future employer will likely help you in the process.

However, the economy currently is tough also in the EU, so you’ll need to find a niche.

[–] Maggoty@lemmy.world 18 points 1 day ago (2 children)
[–] Tichi@discuss.tchncs.de 8 points 1 day ago

I think the more difficult question will be … which country. Each EU country has specific laws and procedures. Although you can travel freely this doesn’t mean you can settle wherever you want.

[–] ComicalMayhem@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Student visa is the most probable one I could get. The biggest issue is admissions, mainly because of language barriers. With Britain no longer in the EU, my next best bet is Spain because I already speak some Spanish, but I feel like it's not enough to get accepted there.

[–] NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io 10 points 1 day ago

Many universities in the EU have programs in English. I mean I personally believe that if you're going to a foreign country you should learn the/a language spoken there, if only to not be frustrated by language barriers, but you don't need to do that if your only goal is to get into university in a foreign country.

[–] greywolf0x1@lemmy.ml 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

If money isn't an issue or you could get financed somehow, a lot of European universities offer a pre-degree/pre-enrollment year to teach you their languages and prepare you for their entrance exam, you could get in this way

[–] ComicalMayhem@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

I did not know that was possibly a thing. I'll check it out and see which ones offer that.

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[–] AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space 13 points 1 day ago (3 children)

There are a few weird historical rules which may be useful. For example, if any of your ancestors were Spanish Jews who were expelled in 1492, you may be entitled to Spanish citizenship. The same might go for Portugal.

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[–] ving_thor@lemmy.world 14 points 1 day ago

You could do your bachelor's in the EU. In that case, I believe the easiest way is by searching for universities that offer studies in english. The university I work at offers a master's in computer science in English but the bachelor's is in German. Most international universities also have offices that can help you with organizing your stay and visa.

[–] ultranaut@lemmy.world 13 points 1 day ago

One potential avenue is getting a job teaching English in another country. I've known a few people who did that for a year or two after college and enjoyed the experience. I think the pay is not great, and you're stuck in a classroom teaching a lot of the time, but it's a relatively straightforward path out of the country and into a life somewhere else, and with a company involved to expedite the process because they want to make money from you working ASAP.

Getting your BS in CS can potentially help you as well, depending on the country you want to move to. Not an expert but when I was looking into this awhile back I found various countries will give preferential treatment based off things like education and skills. Being a college educated SWE or whatever can make you more appealing to immigration authorities.

[–] iii@mander.xyz 10 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

Just show up in Belgium. Ask for asylum. If you're denied, just stay. Belgium does not deport asylum seekers that got denied, you get access to unemployment benefits, free (for you) education, etc.

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[–] twinnie 8 points 1 day ago

Look up “working holiday visas” if you’re under 30. It’s a process to encourage people to get world experience while they’re young. I’m sure if you found somewhere you liked you could then try and get something more permanent.

Some countries are easier to get into than others. Start researching which ones have a path that could work for you.

Most are pretty strict but some are more open. If I recall correctly the Nordic countries may be a little easier, but don't quote me on that. It's been a long time since I accepted that this country had successfully trapped me here.

[–] bdonvr@thelemmy.club 5 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Do you have ANY Italian ancestry? Even fairly distant like 100+ years ago? Irish grandparents?

Other than that it's gonna be tough bud.

Not EU but there's ways to do remote work in other countries... Look into some "digital nomad" communities although they often come across as gross privileged fucks who just want to exploit lower costs of living and not try to fit in at all.

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[–] ButWhatDoesItAllMean@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Make sure to research expected pay in your desired target countries. I was shocked when I saw the difference between compsci job salaries in the US and Italy. Can adjust for cost of living differences but it was still a significant decrease. Would be good to be aware ahead of time and not surprised if you're not happy with the salaries presented.

What's the healthcare cost difference? Student loans?

[–] vodkasolution@feddit.it 6 points 1 day ago

People focus on citizenship but you could just relocate in a EU country, stay as much as you can, then switch country: Portugal, Spain, France, Italy are more than ok, Croatia is growing.
The most important thing to focus on, to me, is what kind of work you can do

[–] YurkshireLad@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

University fees for foreign students can be very high. For example, I think the fees at Edinburgh university for a foreign student are 3 times the cost for English students, and almost 9 times compared to Scottish students. I’m going from memory here so I could be off a bit.

[–] NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io 6 points 1 day ago

Many countries in Europe have straight up free universities for everyone, but yeah that's something to keep in mind.

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