To want to move to another country?

[HowIWishYouWereHere]

Before Brexit kicks in?

I know, I know, scaremongering yada yada. And I’m not saying I want to flee whatever the cost because I’m soooo scared of what will happen after we leave the EU. Maybe it will be fine..? I think best case scenario is it will be quite hard for a bit but will get sorted out in time. So still not all that great, unless one has a good reason to stay? That’s my theory at least.

So, the thing is, I am entitled to and could easily apply for two passports other than British. One (non EU) because I was born there and also an EU country, because one of my parents was born there. I also have some family still in the EU country. I have no family in England. DH does, but we don’t see very much of them at all. It’s quite complicated, but there is a lot of favouritism towards dh’s sibling and it’s quite hurtful. DH doesn’t seem to mind tbh, but I find it really sad and am hurt on his behalf.

DH has a very good job in London, but in a precarious industry. He is a professional and has a charter ship etc so skills are theoretically transferable. I am just about to go back to work, as a low earner, but in a job I could do, pretty much anywhere. We have a fairly big mortgage. One I absolutely couldn’t pay I Dh lost his job. We also bought at almost peak price so would only get a little more than what we paid for it if we sold now. After fees we would get back about what we paid for it. If we end up in negative equity and dh has no job... well you see the problem.

The best reason to stay is that dh’s job may not even be effected by Brexit and then if I’ve encouraged him to leave it to move elsewhere and he can’t get back into his profession there, I imagine that would cause a lot of resentment.

Dh sees no reason to leave and is very calm about everything. But he can be a bit too calm sometimes.

AIBU to think we, in our specific circumstances, should move to another country? Not asking if everyone should vacate the uk or anything!

Honestly for me it would depend on the other two countries and the feasibility of your DH getting a job there.

Certainly put in that passport application though.

I. E. Are the other countries better to live in than the UK? Comparable, good standard of living etc.

Not sure why you mentioned brexit first when you seem to have other valid reasons to not stay in the uk. But, with regard to brexit, Sajid Javid has made it clear that the intention is to let settled status eu nationals stay in the uk but as far as I am aware, the eu has offered no assurance regarding uk nationals in the eu after brexit, so if you moved to the eu country are you sure your husband and dependents would be able to stay?

Thanks all. Very helpful.

Tbh, I’d rather live in the EU country for purely selfish reasons, as I miss family there. My dcs love visiting and quality of life is better in some ways (lower cost of living, my family live right by the sea etc). But jobs aren’t anywhere near as easy to come by as they are in London. So that’s the trade off.

I’ve wanted to move there (or to the other non-eu country I mentioned) for a long time, before Brexit was even voted on, but this makes me feel as if we need to do it before, as don’t want to get stuck with no option but to stay put.

the eu has offered no assurance regarding uk nationals in the eu after brexit, so if you moved to the eu country are you sure your husband and dependents would be able to stay?

This is a very good point!

@judas, that is actually untrue: the EU immediately made the offer to keep the rights of UK citizens unchanged after brexit (as in keep today's benefits in their entirety and in perpetuity). However that was subject to the UK offering the same rights to EU citizens, which the UK promptly refused. Now we don't know.

Ah thanks quiet.

I wonder if the nonEU one would be the way to go... Good economy there and job prospects, but it’s very far away and a bit dodgy politically just now. The moon maybe ?

If you are able to get citizenship of another EU country, and then live there you can take your family with you. You will be eligible for the EU family permit, and your husband will have full working rights.

I no longer live in the UK and emigrated to another EU country. My husband who is a non-EU national lives here with a family permit gained through me.

Delighted I moved and will never ever live in the UK again (would perhaps consider it on a brief basis if Scotland became independent).

Does your DH speak the local language too?

I hear they found water on Mars 😁. And now I can't get Bowie out of my head!

Yes he does delph.

Yes! Mars! Perfect. I’ll live on mars water and mars bars. Hurray!

I would suggest posting on the "living overseas" board for country-specific chat and posters who are more knowledgeable about what moving and living abroad actually entails. It's a bit hard to discuss without knowing which countries you are actually talking about. Moving to Sweden vs moving to Saudi, for example, are two rather different things.

As general advice, though, I would suggest that you get on with getting the passports (assuming all three countries allow multiple passport-holding: rules vary) and that you do not consider moving without your DH having a job lined up. But if he doesn't want to move then he's probably not going to be very keen on the idea of job-hunting abroad anyway, which may answer your question.

Thanks Galahad. I will have a look over there.

that is actually untrue
It isn’t, I’m not talking about what was said in 2016 I’m referring to the announcement SJ made in June of this year which, so far hasn’t been reciprocated by the EU. Either way, OP doesn’t know what her husband and dependents rights will be after brexit so, on that basis a non-eu country would seem the better choice. And also OP, I’d agree with Delph that the decision has to swing on things like cost of living, taxes, ease of employment etc. Are you willing to say which non eu country?

Ah yes, missed Galahads post, that was why I was asking, answers might differ depending on the country.

Go on then. Don’t think it’s too outing...

Non EU country is USA.

The states?

I'd be there in a shot, personally.

Would you? Dh isn’t keen. Tbf, I see the cons to living there... work life balance (ie not much holiday entitlement), healthcare, Trump...

But his job prospects would be good there. I think mine would be ok too.

Go if it’s what you want and will work for your family. Don’t go becasue of what ‘might’ happen after Brexit.

HowIWishYouWereHere

Moved to the US 4 years ago. Best thing we ever did. Wouldn’t go back to the UK in a million years

shiny

I’ve already explained why I think we might have to go specifically before, rather than after Brexit. So Brexit is relevant to our personal circumstances I think.

The states? We wanted to but then we had kids and we were not keen on the international schooling. Also - the guns scare me. Healthcare - my work would cover but living wise - we would have had to live outside NY and I wasn’t keen. Like you said - holidays, would be hard to compare, I get 35 days here.

Oh interesting red. Do you mind me asking whereabouts you are? Feel free to pm if you’d rather not say on here.