Menu
Expat.com

Pondering move from U.S to London or Spain

Post new topic

Jerz2008

I know this topic has probably come up a bunch of times. I am a 21 year old male from New Jersey, a recent college graduate with a degree in finance. I have wanted to move out of the country for many years for numerous reasons. Mainly because I think being a business major having international experience would only benefit me and my career. My options are currently London or a large city in Spain. My girlfriend is really excited about my decision to move out of the country and she can't wait to move with me. She is the type that will just do something on the spot, were I am the opposite and I think about things and research everything. She also speaks 3 languages: Spanish, German, and some Italian. Were I speak just English. :lol:

My questions are:

How hard would it be for an American, with a degree, to obtain a job in London in Spain?

If I wanted to continue my degree how hard would it be for an American to get into a graduate school?

With currency conversions, how much money should be brought to live on, and what is the standard of living comparative to living in New York City?

----

I'm so excited to do this, some days I just want to pack my bags and leave. However, I am still a little scared because of the extremely sheltered lives Americans live. That’s another reason why I want to leave. I'm young and want to experience other cultures before I have obligations that do not allow me to. My family is not fond of the idea of me living because they have never been there and they have no idea what to expect. They keep feeding me this negative propaganda shit that has no relevance to me. If I could I would like to get in contact with other Americans who have moved and how they like living outside the states.

Thanks in advance for all your advice!!

-Darion

heatherzd

My husband and I are moving to Oxford in 2 weeks for a year.  The big thing is that you will need a visa.  Normally, if you are going to work you need to have a job before moving because they will need to sponsor your visa.

We are going for education.  My husband is doing his PhD.  London is extremely expensive, which is confounded with the exchange rate of $2 = £1.  I know the euro exchange rate is less than that.  We are not bringing any more than clothes, what we can take on an airline.

Heather

Jerz2008

Thats  exciting!!!

Keep me posted on how it goes. How are the surrounding cities around London. Are they cheaper? My main concern  is finding an affordable place. I might go back to school to get my Masters or Ph.D in business but i have not researched the admissions at any of the schools. Are student Visa's easier to get then a job visa?

heatherzd

I am not sure if they are easier.  You need to have admittance to a university to get a student visa.  London is expensive but I think that if you go a little out if starts getting cheaper.  Oxford is not too bad.  Manchester is much cheaper.

We arrived in Oxford last week.

Articles to help you in your expat project in Europe

  • Setting up a business in Greece
    Setting up a business in Greece

    Starting your own company or being self-employed in Greece is not easy for non-locals, let alone for non-EU ...

  • Getting married in Greece
    Getting married in Greece

    Dreaming of getting married in Greece? Whether you're a foreigner or a Greek citizen, tying the knot in this ...

  • Residence permits in Greece
    Residence permits in Greece

    Obtaining a residency permit is crucial if you want to remain in Greece as an expat, allowing you to access many ...

  • How to drive in Greece
    How to drive in Greece

    Driving in Greece is not for the faint of heart. Apart from the logistics of converting your driving license or ...

  • Leisure in Italy
    Leisure in Italy

    Living in Italy also means benefiting from a multitude of leisure activities. Between museums, art cities, ...

  • Work visas for Greece
    Work visas for Greece

    Greece is a popular destination for foreigners looking to work and live in the EU, but navigating the visa and ...

  • Starting a business in Italy
    Starting a business in Italy

    Are you interested in moving to Italy and setting up a business here? Italy's reputation for bureaucracy and ...

  • Long-term visas for Italy
    Long-term visas for Italy

    If you have decided to move to Italy, the question of a residence permit arises first. Depending on your ...

All of Europe's guide articles