Thoughts on Immigration?

[S1ght]

Morning all

So I'm about to start my honours year for my BSc IT at UJ & I've always had this idea of trying out a different country after I've finished with all my studying. Before I ask this though, I don't mean to be rude when I say I'm not looking for those answers of 'SA is the best' or 'theres no place like here'. Cause whether it is or not is irrevelent to this post

So my question is more towards how difficult is it to go from graduating to trying to move to another country on your own?

I feel it's better I think about all this before I get to a point in my life where I am starting with a family or something. I'm also thinking about it now because if I were to decide to try move to say the USA, I would need to obviously have money set aside and think about all the things like what state I'd be looking to go to, work visa etc..

So thoughts anyone? Maybe someone whose gone through this whole process already?

Thanks in advance
S1ght

 

[UnUnOctium]

Well, my signature tells a tale. Clearly my research isn't valued here (gotta love being a white male) so I'll probably end up going back home to Europe once I'm done studying.

If you have an EU passport things are very easy but I think the best approach would be to apply to companies, if you get a job offer from them then getting into the country becomes a lot easier. Only problem is, as a graduate you aren't really the most wanted of people (unless you're doing some serious research).

 

[killadoob]

Dude go for it and see if you like it, no point asking us and making a decision based on what we say.

It is a gamble, you may hate. Would you rather hate it and come back then wonder for the rest of your life if you made a mistake not going? Jump off the bridge and go see the pastures are green but if you land up in USA please o please do not become obese and eat well. While the cheap fast food may seem temping just remmeber not being able to see your dick when showering is worth the extra dosh. Perhaps if you get obese you can marry on of the millions of obese ladies . Fatties always get men yet fat men very rarely come right without money.

Unless you have a fetish for feeding . Then the US is the business for a feeder .

As a graduate you may struggle but at the same time fabricate some BS here, Americans are lazy and jobs should come easy.

 

[warchylde]

I would say it depends on your background and your personality. How adaptable are you? I spend lots of time in the UK for work and it's not really doing it for me.. but others like it. Paperwork wise if you don't have a scarce skill with experience chances of you being allowed into the "cooler countries" will be almost impossible. Canada, Australia, UK and Germany are very strict on who they let in. You may want to try a stepping stone country like New Zealand. It's slightly easier to get in there than some of the rest and once there it's easier to get to the others.... (seems after the influx of RSA people into the UK the other countries are a bit fearful. The UK is actually in the process of tabling a bill that will make it much harder for someone to come in an come work in the UK) Additionally there is quite a feeling of resentment to foreigners in the UK at the moment (not by all but by the lower income group) so think carefully about what you want to do what kind of climate you want and what kind of people you want to be around. Get online buddies from the respective countries and get their opinions on things you are concerned about.

 

[S1ght]

Dude go for it and see if you like it, no point asking us and making a decision based on what we say.

lol, don't worry, as if I'd let the internet make this decision for but I'm inclined to agree with the if I don't like it I can always just come back. I mean I'll lose some money doing all of this but at least there are no what ifs then. At the moment I'm really just trying to gather all the information I'd need to base my decision off and I know these things can take time so I figured I'd start thinking at least a year before I finish studying completely.

 

[MickeyD]

Emigration is a very personal choice. I have family who have emigrated (England and Australia) and I can tell you that it is entirely what YOU make of it. The opportunities do exist but it will be up to you; attitude, hard work and dedication will get you a long way.

If you have the opportunity, go for it!! .... but do it for the right reasons!

 

[S1ght]

I had a feeling I had spelt emigration wrong after I started the thread >.<

 

[syntax]

Go overseas if you want to have fun and mess around.
Stay here and get a year or two work experience and them move overseas if you are looking for a more permanent thing.
Unfortunately your degree will mean more here than there (i think), experience on the other hand is more or less universal.

I would say take a few months off and go mess around overseas on a contiki etc. Come back, work for 2 years, then decide on leaving the country

 

[ponder]

Many companies out there have graduate internship intake programs. Scratch around a bit.

 

[S1ght]

I actually started looking at some internship programs already, although I might be looking a lil high to start Looked at companies like Microsoft,Cisco and Google. Microsoft have quite a nice program where they even organise your visa for you. Then Cisco and Google are both there by that Silicon valley which might be nice for a lot more opportunities.

 

[noxibox]

The only reason some countries are becoming a bit more restrictive is the recession. UK, Canada and Australia were previously all relatively easy to get into for anyone with skills or a degree. The application fees for Australia were very high though. The UK has upped the degree requirement for skilled migrants, so you won't get in without a Masters degree as I recall. You can get a work visa via a company, but they're required to first advertise the position in the UK and although I know companies do cheat by making job specifications match the foreigner they've already decided to hire, they will only do that if they really want to hire you for some reason, e.g. you have contacts at the company.

It's fairly easy to check your eligibility - you can find points calculators online.

(seems after the influx of RSA people into the UK the other countries are a bit fearful. The UK is actually in the process of tabling a bill that will make it much harder for someone to come in an come work in the UK)

Why would they be fearful, the South Africans who go to foreign countries are typically highly regarded?

There's always been resentment towards foreigners from the lower income groups, aka those people who refuse to do the jobs that foreigners come to do, but complain about people taking jobs away from them anyway. Any influx of South Africans or other foreigners would have either been those who met the skilled entry requirements, or worked illegally doing work the locals considered below them and some ancestral visas. The really big influx comes particularly from Eastern Europe and these days they take most of the menial work that used to be done by illegal immigrants.

 

[TheGuy]

Go overseas if you want to have fun and mess around.
Stay here and get a year or two work experience and them move overseas if you are looking for a more permanent thing.
Unfortunately your degree will mean more here than there (i think), experience on the other hand is more or less universal.

I would say take a few months off and go mess around overseas on a contiki etc. Come back, work for 2 years, then decide on leaving the country

Good advice

 

[ponder]

Why would they be fearful, the South Africans who go to foreign countries are typically highly regarded?

Dunno, I've heard some of the younger generation that just go for the jol & quick buck in the UK have kinda lowered the opinion of SA people over there.

 

[Safferbeauty]

I would say go over for a couple of years, make new life and just expeience the world or whatever. UK, for me, peronsally, is OK to go for a couple of years but not to live there. Its quite depressing hey but it also depends how adaptable you are as my brothers and sister are over there and they wont come back

 

[S1ght]

It's a toss up between US and UK at the moment. I'd prefer the US but I know in the UK my degree is accredited and I have a friend who currently lives there so at least I won't be completely on my own.

 

[ponder]

It's a toss up between US and UK at the moment. I'd prefer the US but I know in the UK my degree is accredited and I have a friend who currently lives there so at least I won't be completely on my own.

You can have your degree accredited in the US if I'm not mistaken.

 

[S1ght]

You can have your degree accredited in the US if I'm not mistaken.

How would I go about that? or at least finding out if it at least means anything there? Cause atm all I know is its accredited by the BCS

 

[ponder]

How would I go about that? or at least finding out if it at least means anything there? Cause atm all I know is its accredited by the BCS

I cannot remember but did look into it many years ago, the agency was actually going to handle it for me. Sorry, I'm not much help.

 

[Grep]

Having lived in the US and UK for over 7 + years, doing IT, I can tell you that you learn way much more here than you do over there. I worked in central London and Wall Street in NY and the jobs they have over there are NOTHING compared to the experience you get in SA. When I came back, mostly because of the awful weather, I really thought I was it, damn I was wrong. But rather go over, meet new people, have fun and then most likely you will realize what an awesome life we have over here.

 

[S1ght]

Having lived in the US and UK for over 7 + years, doing IT, I can tell you that you learn way much more here than you do over there. I worked in central London and Wall Street in NY and the jobs they have over there are NOTHING compared to the experience you get in SA. When I came back, mostly because of the awful weather, I really thought I was it, damn I was wrong. But rather go over, meet new people, have fun and then most likely you will realize what an awesome life we have over here.

How did you manage to get in if you don't mind me asking? Did you already have family there? Get sent over from work? or did you go through the whole process of applying for a visa + finding a job etc?