Easiest countries for Americans to move to and work? (low crime, salaries)

[CMDallas]

Ireland, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, India, and some of the Caribbean

[gv0928]

What about Spanish speaking countries?

[Mississippienne]

Originally Posted by gv0928

What about Spanish speaking countries?

Well, there's Puerto Rico (it's not a seperate country, but a lot of Americans forget about it!). A beautiful Spanish-speaking island, and you don't need a visa to live and work there.

Most of the people I know of who moved to Mexico, Costa Rica, and Belize did so as retirees with a lot of cash. I'm not sure what you'd do if you wanted to live and work in Central or South America. Spain, of course, has the same problem as the other EU nations -- very, very hard to get a visa.

[Eriquito80]

The problem with places like Mexico is that while its not so hard to get a visa to work there, it is very difficult to earn any "real" money. My wife and I both looked into teaching English in Mexico and learned that we would be lucky to earn 8000 a year a piece. While cost of living is lower there, on that kind of salary you'd never be able to afford a plane ticket if you ever wanted to leave ;-)

[violet70]

If you are young (25 or younger, I think), you can do a 'working holiday' in the UK or Australia. (Try googling up BUNAC) It is seriously difficult for an American to move and work legally anywhere in the European Union.

[Mississippienne]

BUNAC can get you a work visa, but you have to be a full-time student to qualify for the Britain, Ireland, and Canada programs. You don't have to be a full-time student to qualify for the Australia or New Zealand programs, BUT you do if you want to work more than 4 months in Australia. The age ranges vary, I think for most of the programs its 18-34.

[mmckenna]

If Switzerland is not a member of the EU, does that make it easier for an American to work there?

[Mississippienne]

Originally Posted by mmckenna

If Switzerland is not a member of the EU, does that make it easier for an American to work there?

No. Switzerland allows Free Movement of Persons for EU/EFTA citizens, which means they can enter and live in Switzerland, provided they meet certain qualifications. Americans fall under "Third-country nationals" and must show proof of potential employment to secure a residence permit. The Swiss Justice Ministry resists most work permits to highly-skilled EU nationals. Here is the official Swiss Emigration website.

[chattypatty]

If it is so difficult to immigrate to England, then why are there so many unskilled, uneducated Muslims there from ME countries?

I'm confused.

[internat]

You have a distorted idea. Muslims are a heterogeneous group of different nationalities and ethnicities. A lot of mmigrants tend to study longer and harder than native Brits. This is particularly the case with those from still tradititonal socieies.

Most new immigrants are from the new EU countries in Eastern Europe. BBC NEWS | Politics | 'Nearly 600,000' new EU migrants

I do not understand how someone already well off in USA would like to move to Britain. That is if the person care of living standard.

Originally Posted by chattypatty

If it is so difficult to immigrate to England, then why are there so many unskilled, uneducated Muslims there from ME countries?

I'm confused.