AIBU to encourage dc to look abroad for opportunities

[Bikessmikes]

Was listening to a radio phone in today where they were discussing the huge increase in young people from the UK going abroad & the numbers that planned too. Lots have gone to Dubai, medical staff to Oz, etc. I’ve recently read about Portugal who are trying to attract younger people with incentives to manage their demographics & the US is attracting a lot more uni applications in particular from private schools due to the wider scholarship offer & much higher salaries in the US.

The radio presenter seemed surprised that callers had encouraged their dc to do this & as Ive been encouraging my dc in a similar fashion I wondered if I was an outlier? I am a 2nd gen immigrant so I guess moving for opportunity isn’t an alien concept to me. Anyone else encouraging dc to do this?

Do they have additional visa access? I’d guess that’s the barrier for most people now.

Nothing surprising about this but countries everywhere are tightening immigration and prioritising citizens.

My dc have European passports but they are still in secondary so we are a way off them actually going abroad.

Oh then it might make sense.

Nothing surprising about this but countries everywhere are tightening immigration and prioritising citizens.

My understanding is much of the West needs educated/skilled young people. Portugals gov are proposing a scheme where those aged 35 or younger would pay no taxes on income up to €28,000 in the first year. In the following years, they would be exempted from 75 then 50 and then 25% of tax, progressively lowering the tax breaks for a period of the following 9 years, making it a ten-year program altogether. This is to stop the brain drain of their young but also to attract foreigners. I assume other countries will introduce similar schemes as there aren’t enough young to offset the shifting demographics.

I know about Portugal as a friend in tech moved there a few yrs ago & my colleagues son moved there last yr. They also have removed stamp duty for under 35s but I’m not sure if this applies to foreigners.

Skills will be key, I think. Germany wants engineers and doctors.

My 2 DC and my husband and I have all moved abroad for work in the last 6 years - all to different countries (my husband and I are in the same country). The DC graduated and found work overseas easily.

@AgentProvocateur How do you find the separation from a parental perspective? Would you ever plan to move to your DCs countries?

It depends whether they want to go abroad. I have worked in several countries and have found it to be a great experience but it has to be somewhere that your children have an interest in otherwise the stress of living in a different culture outweighs the benefits.

We visit both DC one a year (US and Asia) and bring them and their partners to us (Middle East) at Christmas. It is tough, but we make the most of the time we have together, and they’re happy and thriving where they are, which is really all any parent wants. I think we’ll all end up back in the U.K. or Europe eventually. It’s mostly about the money for all of us at the moment.

My middle ds has a health care qualification and will almost certainly move abroad in the next couple of years. My youngest is still at school (GCSE year) but is very clear that he wants to live abroad.

I'm young-ish (35) and moving abroad next month.

Very common in my social circle. Main reason is stagnant wages in the UK.

Bear in mind also that Brits can easily get a Working Holiday visa for lots of countries, i.e. Canada, Australia, New Zealand.

Really great way to explore a country and see if you fancy working there

@coxesorangepippin good idea

@Crushed23 yes, wages are truly dire in this country. At least I’m on the ladder though but for younger people it’s crazy. Can I ask where you are going?

I am first generation so like you OP, used to the idea of moving for better opportunities. My parents moved to an EU country before we were born, a trend replicated by most of their friendship circle and relatives, so all of our wider family social group has either settled abroad at some point, or knows someone who has.

I left my EU homecountry to study at university abroad, and have now studied / worked in 3 different countries. My siblings are repeating the pattern too. We were also “unlucky” (or lucky!?) that our fields of choice had limited opportunities back home. It’s something that’s very natural in my family and now also in my industry - my team of approx. 60 people has 15 nationalities represented, it’s a career where few people stay put, and it’s known for its high level of diversity and creativity.

I will 100% be encouraging my own children to explore studying or working abroad, if the chance arises. Not only for better education or better salaries, but also because I believe living abroad for a while greatly changes your perspective on life, and enhances those younger years of your development in a way that wouldn’t happen if you only stayed closer to home.

Yes I'm encouraging them to go. DS is at university abroad. I was nervous about it at first, but he's thriving. It was really easy to organise despite brexit. The fees are lower, and the cost of living is also lower. There are hundreds of Brits on his course. He has no regrets and has no intentions of returning to the UK. I'm encouraging my other 2 dc to do the same.

YANBU, but I'm speaking from the pov of an Irish person. I wouldn't consider it unusual at all. My US-born DCs all have their Irish passports and can work in the EU or the UK. One of them has a professional qualification that would also make working in Oz possible (though this is unlikely).

It's interesting that there is growing interest in the American liberal arts education in the UK. I personally think it's a superior third level education.

YANBU. DS is Y11 and hoping for a scholarship to a US Uni. So many of the children at his (private) school are considering the same, that the school have hired a careers advisor who specialises in entry requirements/process for applying to American Unis. I would miss him dreadfully, but it would be selfish of me to try and encourage him to stay in the UK. I can’t think of anything positive about this country at the moment.

I was eavesdropping on a conversation in the pick up queue & a mum mentioned her older son had a sports scholarship for an American uni. Before that I’d never even considered my dc going abroad for uni but it’s definitely something Im going to look into.

Not only for better education or better salaries, but also because I believe living abroad for a while greatly changes your perspective on life, and enhances those younger years of your development in a way that wouldn’t happen if you only stayed closer to home.

Agree

I can’t think of anything positive about this country at the moment.

its very depressing