When your plans take longer than expected
Several factors, including finances, foreign laws, and unforeseen events, can lead to the postponement of your plans to move overseas.
Bureaucracy and administrative delays
Depending on the type of visa and the destination country, visa processing times can vary. Add to that delays due to immigration service backlogs, staff shortages, or economic conditions—the health crisis has been tough on many would-be expatriates, depriving them of their dreams. International students found themselves stuck in their home countries, forced to take online classes from the intended host country. Workers had to push back their plans.
Insufficient finances
How can you consider moving abroad when your initial capital is no longer sufficient? You may have gathered the required sum only to find that the host country's government has raised the minimum income threshold for visa eligibility—as is the case in countries like Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Alternatively, an unexpected emergency might have forced you to dip into your expatriation budget.
Tougher immigration rules
What happens when the laws of the host country make it more challenging to relocate? Countries like Australia, the United Kingdom, Finland, and France have tightened their immigration laws. This includes restrictions or the elimination of family reunification opportunities, higher income thresholds, and reduced visa durations.
Never-ending waiting lists
People applying for the Working Holiday Visa (WHV) in Canada will tell you that patience is crucial and you shouldn't lose hope after the first setback. Despite its popularity among expatriates, the country has implemented a lottery system. Immigrating to the United States is equally challenging; some nationalities may wait months or even years due to quotas.
Understanding the upside of a delayed overseas move
At first glance, it's hard to view a delayed move positively. Time is not on your side, and the delay disrupts all your plans. However, it's possible to look at delayed expatriation positively.
Save more money
You can never be too prepared. You might be a master planner, with everything neatly arranged for your move abroad. Yet, the current period is filled with financial uncertainties—be it inflation, economic downturns, or a housing crisis. Postponing your move gives you more time to save money to cope with the economic climate and possible immigration reforms.
Improve your language skills
You were set to leave with beginner or intermediate language skills; now, months or years later, you can depart with fluency, potentially accessing better job offers and higher salaries and integrating more easily into the foreign country.
Enhance your professional skills
What level of expertise did you plan to have when moving abroad? You could use the extra time to enhance your professional skills. Conduct a skills assessment, enroll in a certification course, and build your professional network. You might have planned these steps after your move, but consider this professional reboot part of your plans. The money invested in your training will be savings on future expenses abroad.
Refine your project
If your move is taking longer than expected, use the time to learn more about your host country. There's always room to improve and refine a plan. Had you already chosen your housing abroad? Are you familiar with your future neighborhood? Depending on your project, there might be more attractive options elsewhere (e.g., housing near your future university or workplace).
Build and enrich your network
Use the extra time to master your host country's language or fine-tune your skills. Also, take the opportunity to build or enrich your professional and personal networks. Participate in online forums during your job hunt. Make friends in the host country, and contact support organizations for foreigners—not just to expedite your procedures but to build connections in the expatriation country.
Staying confident is key
Of course, these tips don't mask the frustration. Seeing your project postponed indefinitely is disheartening, and it feels like life has come to a standstill, subject to the whims of the economy or migration policies. Don't face your disappointment alone. Keep company with supportive people. Talk to trusted friends and family.
However, protect yourself from unnecessary remarks like “So, how's your project going?” or “Haven't left yet?” or “At this rate, you might never leave!” and “Maybe it's better to just give up and stay here.” Some people may not realize their comments are hurtful and think they're offering helpful advice. Filter out the noise. You don't need to provide updates every week. Stand up to intrusive questions and comments. Protect yourself and your project. Surround yourself with the right people. A delay isn't stagnation or a definitive halt. Keep planning and stay motivated.
