Question for the Europeans: why choose the US over Europe?

[millefleur 5,046]

I'm really surprised how the UK ALREADY seemed to have tight immigration rules but Brexit still got the popular vote. I've never lived in the UK so I can't see the insider view, but it just seems like a shame that so many people commented here saying they had to choose the US because of the UK's insanely strict immigration rules. What exactly are they hoping to achieve wit Brexit? Just shut off the borders completely? :/

I also see a lot of complaints about the American healthcare system....it is a source of shame, really. I guess if you work in that industry, you reap the benefits of all those high prices, but for ordinary people it's really awful to have to pay it. In Russia, it cost me $50 USD to get an MRI without insurance at a really top-notch clinic, same quality as would be in the US, same day service, seriously the whole thing on took an hour....I read on the internet the average cost of an MRI is $2,611....I mean, even with insurance or a high deductible, that is INSANE... My husband isn't looking forward to the insurance system in the US at all...

But other things in the US end up being cheaper, so there's that. It really is a give and take thing. Still, I hope in the future our insurance/medical system can be fixed.

I'm hoping the US will retain is relatively doable immigration policy. I really love that my country has people from all over the world, I love hearing all the different accents and people's stories. It's what I like about the US actually. I'd be seriously bummed if our country took a similar turn like Brexit and the UK and started trying to keep people out...

[NicolaRobert 7]

Brexit has nothing to do with general immigration. It was purely about European immigration.

And in actual fact the disparity between European immigration and the rest of the world is part of what a lot of people complained about. For example you can be from a European country with zero ties to the UK and just cross the border and find work. But be married to a UK citizen and have to jump through a million hoops to be able to join your loved one. Hardly a fair system.

But the UK is one of the most multicultural countries in the world. So I hate to see anyone have the idea that the UK isn't.

[Dutchster 1,107]

^ I love the UK and their people. It actually quite saddened me to see to see that so many British Citizens voted Brexit because they think that will hold back all of the refugees, though.

[millefleur 5,046]

Brexit has nothing to do with general immigration. It was purely about European immigration.

And in actual fact the disparity between European immigration and the rest of the world is part of what a lot of people complained about. For example you can be from a European country with zero ties to the UK and just cross the border and find work. But be married to a UK citizen and have to jump through a million hoops to be able to join your loved one. Hardly a fair system.

Oh, I see. Well, that makes sense then. It does seem unfair in that context.

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

Oh, I see. Well, that makes sense then. It does seem unfair in that context.

It is. In both Denmark and the UK it would have been easier for us to live in another EU country and then emigrate than just get a proper visa for the intended country. I toyed with the idea of moving back to spend some time with my family in the UK and I would have been fine, but bringing a spouse would have been impossible.

[Adella2016 20]

I couldnt find here a topic about education. Did anybody study in the USA? And all got loans? There is not grands or scholarships ? There is no way to get an affordable education in good schools?

[millefleur 5,046]

I couldnt find here a topic about education. Did anybody study in the USA? And all got loans? There is not grands or scholarships ? There is no way to get an affordable education in good schools?

I studied in the US. I hated my university, it was a private university and it was a complete rip off and waste of money. My sister also studied in the US and she went to a public university, it was significantly cheaper and she loved it. It seems to just be a mixed bag.

I think public universities in the US, for most people, are just fine. There's an obsession with the status of "designer degrees" from famous colleges/unis in the US and it's mostly a lot of hype. For certain specializations, it can make sense if you get scholarships, but taking out insane loans is so unnecessary. Public colleges offer much better rates and a lot of the time, offer just as good of an education.

[Adella2016 20]

Thank you for your response

I have back in my country a Master degree. 6 years!! I cannot believe that here, in the USA I have to start over or evaluate somehow my degree. Schools here in MA are so expensive. Good school costs about 50K a year. What is impossible for me. But on the other hand, I have to get educated here, no matter what, otherwise I ll work in retail for all my life)

I studied in the US. I hated my university, it was a private university and it was a complete rip off and waste of money. My sister also studied in the US and she went to a public university, it was significantly cheaper and she loved it. It seems to just be a mixed bag.

I think public universities in the US, for most people, are just fine. There's an obsession with the status of "designer degrees" from famous colleges/unis in the US and it's mostly a lot of hype. For certain specializations, it can make sense if you get scholarships, but taking out insane loans is so unnecessary. Public colleges offer much better rates and a lot of the time, offer just as good of an education.

[Scandi 4,166]

Brexit has nothing to do with general immigration. It was purely about European immigration.

Not being in the EU means GB can decide for themselves how much "general" immigration they want. When they're in EU they have to follow the rules and take in as much as EU has decided that all EU members should take in. It's not only about EU immigrants.

[yuna628 9,673]

I'm really surprised how the UK ALREADY seemed to have tight immigration rules but Brexit still got the popular vote. I've never lived in the UK so I can't see the insider view, but it just seems like a shame that so many people commented here saying they had to choose the US because of the UK's insanely strict immigration rules. What exactly are they hoping to achieve wit Brexit? Just shut off the borders completely? :/

I also see a lot of complaints about the American healthcare system....it is a source of shame, really. I guess if you work in that industry, you reap the benefits of all those high prices, but for ordinary people it's really awful to have to pay it. In Russia, it cost me $50 USD to get an MRI without insurance at a really top-notch clinic, same quality as would be in the US, same day service, seriously the whole thing on took an hour....I read on the internet the average cost of an MRI is $2,611....I mean, even with insurance or a high deductible, that is INSANE... My husband isn't looking forward to the insurance system in the US at all...

But other things in the US end up being cheaper, so there's that. It really is a give and take thing. Still, I hope in the future our insurance/medical system can be fixed.

I'm hoping the US will retain is relatively doable immigration policy. I really love that my country has people from all over the world, I love hearing all the different accents and people's stories. It's what I like about the US actually. I'd be seriously bummed if our country took a similar turn like Brexit and the UK and started trying to keep people out...

That is because there are two different sets of immigration rules. Free movement for Europeans into and out of the UK.. and then there's the rest of us. The government felt they needed to bring numbers down. This has not really been successful, but they decided to put a chokehold on what they could control - which was anyone that was a non-EEA resident (so US.. Asia etc.. even students and non-EEA workers having been there for some time). Thus, the rules were put into place... and is still ongoing to be challenged in the UK Supreme Court. Judges have ruled on these laws before and have found them to be unfair and even discriminatory, but basically threw up their hands and left it up to the government to utilize. The new PM is one who believes such rules to be perfectly fine and would seek to increase them further. Brexit, is moreso a referendum on all free movement immigration (though after Brexit there was hostility even towards American immigrants). And yes, for many Brexit is about stopping Euro immigration. I'm sure some would like to see any immigration stopped completely.

As for US healthcare, knowing people that work in the industry for years.. it all depends. Doctors have high cost amounts of insurance they must maintain, and these days they are often getting reimbursed less and less from insurances for their practices (this means they also pay their employees less too). Their employees are often on the front lines having to fight with insurance companies to get patients life-saving drugs they don't want to cover. Some have stopped taking insurance and others have been pressured to be absorbed into big deals with hospitals to stay afloat. Insurance companies and drug companies is what have caused a big problem for healthcare. The ACA has caused additional problems and has done little to curb any rising costs. We pay a very high amount for our insurance, but it comes with a high deductible, and is very costly in copays for ER visits, MRIs, and xrays. Dental/vision care is all out of pocket. This has definitely been a source of frustration for my husband who was used to life with the NHS.

Education: my husband has a big degree from the UK, and this has proved valuable to him here. But these days we see more and more job postings just looking for lower (associates degrees) or simply just many years of experience. Maybe that is because they would rather pay someone a lower wage with a lesser degree. Associates can be obtained from very affordable Community Colleges, rather than big universities. Public colleges and community college do excellent work and give students many options rather than big budget universities.

Edited September 19, 2016 by yuna628

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Thank you for your response

I have back in my country a Master degree. 6 years!! I cannot believe that here, in the USA I have to start over or evaluate somehow my degree. Schools here in MA are so expensive. Good school costs about 50K a year. What is impossible for me. But on the other hand, I have to get educated here, no matter what, otherwise I ll work in retail for all my life)

There are services that evaluate international degrees. You don't need to start over.

[millefleur 5,046]

Thank you for your response

I have back in my country a Master degree. 6 years!! I cannot believe that here, in the USA I have to start over or evaluate somehow my degree. Schools here in MA are so expensive. Good school costs about 50K a year. What is impossible for me. But on the other hand, I have to get educated here, no matter what, otherwise I ll work in retail for all my life)

Definitely check your local community and public colleges, you should be eligible for in-state tuition rates and if you already have a bachelors, they can probably transfer some of your credits. As the other poster said, you can get your degree evaluated.....check your options!! 50k a year school sounds like a moneymaker, definitely check out if there's anything else you can do for cheaper.

Edited September 19, 2016 by millefleur

[RandB 156]

I realize no one has replied to this thread in a while, but I wanted to contribute.

I am moving to the US because of love. In my eyes, Norway has a higher standard of living in general than the US. The American life seems harder and the government doesn't provide security like in Norway. Where my fiancée lives there are A LOT of drug addicts and mentally ill people living on the streets. You don't see this in Norway. Here, the drug addicts are provided a home by the county/state. When deciding where to live, we decided on me moving to the US because my fiancée does not speak Norwegian. Without knowing the language you won't get a decent job. My fiancée loves Norway, though, so we might move here in the future - maybe if we're going to have children. Another reason for me to move to the US was related to my education. I'm planning on doing a master's degree for a specific profession in the near future. I did some research, and found out that getting the master's degree in Norway doesn't qualify me for the profession in the US. Getting my degree in the US, though, would make me able to work in Norway. So to have both countries as options in case we change our minds, it would be easier for me to live in the US and later get my master's there. Furthermore, my fiancées father is getting old, and if she moved he would lose his only immediate family. My parents are younger and have more resources.

There are lots of things I love about the US and specifically California. People are more open minded and easier to talk to. There's a lot of diversity. I also enjoy the comfortable climate. There's a lot of beautiful nature to explore (California is the size of Sweden!), and a bunch of cultural things to do. I love that the fruits and vegetables are from there and not shipped from far away like in Norway. I won't miss the Norwegian climate, even though Norwegian summers are very beautiful.

Conclusion: would never have moved to the US if I hadn't fallen in love.

[millefleur 5,046]

Hi RandB, thanks for the contribution. I've never been to Norway but I can totally see how it's better than the US in a lot of ways. But since you're planning to do a Master, that's great that the US can offer you something you can't find in your home country.

Sounds like you've got both options open and that they US has something to offer as well. Hope your new life will bring success.

I'm really surprised to hear this about the drug addicts in Norway. I'm a USC and my brother died from a dug overdose two years ago. If he had been born in Norway, things would've been really different it seems.

[Ketsuban 1,034]

I moved to the US primarily because I was still living with my parents and my husband had already moved out. My yearly salary was not enough to rent somewhere to live for us two, let alone support two people while the other looks for work.

This also meant I didn't earn enough for the sponsorship, so I had no choice really.

Now I'm out here and have a standard of living I could never hope to achieve back home (except for healthcare but that's another topic) and I don't even have a university degree, just some Level 3 NVQs and BTECs.

I do really miss home though. I miss the places I used to go to and the food sold in supermarkets. There isn't much variety in the States, especially for crisps!