Moving from China to Europe - advice???

[PsyGuy]

@Thames Pirate

Yes thats how tourist visas work, then you make this colossal, monumental, absurd, leap thats all wrapped up in this really huge gargantuan "IF" as in "if you get a job", which only work in rom-com fiction and the bubble thats the TPF, and then you can "simply" get a work and residence permit.
If you want to be a princess, all you have to do is go to England, and then "simply" marry a member of the royal family, cue Disney sound track. Thats "simply" how words and wishes work, you just "simpl"y put them together and then it happens.

[Thames Pirate]

If you already have a job and are coming to Europe for the job, the visa is not the problem. You come without a visa and get your work permit upon arrival. It isn't hard to understand. The school does not need to "sponsor" you. You just need your proof of employment. Again, my original point that visas are generally not hard in Europe (Schengen Europe, just to be clear) if you are employed holds, and it also belies your claim that schools only want EU nationals. They don't care if you are from one of the stated countries since they wouldn't need to sponsor you.

So to the OP: There are plenty of things to consider when moving from China to Europe. Visas are generally less of a problem, even for nationals of many Asian countries. The Filipino wife of an Aussie? No problem. Chinese coworker? No problem. Indian coworker? Not an issue. Talk to your school and do your homework, but don't be put off by PsyGuy nonsense. The visas have honestly been the easiest part of the bureaucracy for most of the people I know, whether from the listed countries or not. Obviously it depends on your citizenship, but if you do your homework and talk to your school, this shouldn't be a huge issue. The bigger issues are not having form 37B in triplicate with apostille and a notarised copy for safekeeping when trying to prove your kids' parentage to the local preschool or trying to get a local driver's license.

[PsyGuy]

@Thames Pirate

Just more TPF.
No it does not, they absolutely need to sponsor you, they need to give you a contract, and all the hurdles, challenges, regulations, rules, etc. that come along with that, thats sponsorship. You need to get the job, thats the problem, and the ever increasing number of EU ISs will not sponsor a visa, or offer a contract so that you can get a visa, and permit if you do not already have a right to live and work in the EU country by either virtue of citizenship or currently valid working papers.

[Thames Pirate]

Again, THEY DO NOT NEED TO SPONSOR YOU and can hire with little regard to your nation of origin (for the most part). There is no cost to them for hiring a non-EU citizen vs. an EU citizen. Individual countries might have some restrictions, but on the whole being a non-European is not a huge factor.

[PsyGuy]

@Thames Pirate

Again, they need to sponsor you, its TPF to think you dont need a contract and the contract doesnt come with the whole list of issues previously addressed. As written before it is becoming increasingly more and more common that EU ISs will not hire those ho do not already have a right to live and work in the region.

[vandsmith]

PsyGuy wrote:
>
> @vandsmith
>
> We disagree, the only ones saving anything and paying bills are those with
> 2 incomes

yes, that is correct. we are a teaching couple with a kid, so we have two incomes, like the OP.

v.

[Thames Pirate]

While we have two incomes now, we saved on one without any effort (no kids) a few years ago.

[PsyGuy]

@vandsmith

Even then those with twwo incomes werent saving €2K/month.

@Thames Pirate

No you didnt.

[Zebra750]

Yikes. Psyguy - Is your polemic here really helpful, at all?

[Thames Pirate]

To Psyguy it's more important to tell me I am wrong, even if it's about my own finances, than it is to be helpful. Don't worry about it. Everyone here knows he is a fraud, and comments like ethics just make it more evident.

[PsyGuy]

@Zebra750

Well yeah, thats why I posted it.

[secondplace]

The question of visas can vary greatly from country to country.

It can be difficult for schools in Switzerland, for example, to hire non-EU citizens and seems even more difficult if they are from the US. There is no option to enter on a regular visa and then upgrade,

So, the best thing is to check with the individual schools or check the websites of the immigration department of the countries you're thinking of going to and also the embassy information from your own country.

[Heliotrope]

@Andjelika

I know two teacher couples that teach in Europe (one in Western, the other in Eastern Europe, and both couples live on one salary and bank one whole salary, so saving a fair amount is not a problem. Both couples have a kid of schoolgoing age, and travel once or twice a year, and fly back home in Summer.
Of course generally speaking you can save more in some Asian countries, if you work at comparable schools, but you'll live well in Europe and still save if you spend your money wisely and not splurge too much.

Rent can be very expensive, but my friends in Western Europe contacted someone at their school after signing their contracts, well before the Summer, asking them if any of the departing teachers at the school had an affordable apartment that they could perhaps take over the lease from, and this way they got a place that was way cheaper than the average expat apartment. Real estate agents can smell an expat coming from miles away, and with only one or two weeks to find a place, lots of teachers end up in overpriced apartments.

Travel in Europe can be a drain on your savings though, but here you can also be sensible. Some teachers I know in different European cities switch apartments during breaks, so pay nothing for accommodation, and cook instead of going to restaurants. Many cities have sights that are free, and flights on budget airlines can be cheap, so you don't have to break the bank to travel if you think it through.

If you don't mind eating out less, don't buy a car, and don't get massages every week, you can have a nice lifestyle and save plenty. If you're in Shanghai now, the cleaner air in Europe alone could be reason enough to move, especially with a baby in the mix.

[Thames Pirate]

Another tip is to do your research--on local transport and its costs (does the school provide monthly bus/train passes or what would you pay), etc. Typically housing near the school is more expensive while living a 20 minute train or bus ride away can dramatically alter prices. Or maybe you can save by biking. It isn't hard to do a bit of legwork on rental prices online these days, and in most Western European cities you can find your own place easily enough if you are willing to do the work. I have not been impressed with the relocation assistance provided by schools unless you are very clear and very firm on what you want. That means you need to know what you want. Those folks in our location who were willing to reject places suggested by the school in favour of cheaper, better location, etc. because they were clear on what they wanted got exactly what they wanted (or in some cases just found it themselves). Those people who relied on the agent ended up overpaying and in less-than-ideal locations (often both).

So do your homework. Look up rentals in various locations. Look up the average prices of transport, food, utilities, etc. Nowadays that isn't hard to do.

Then you will see that it is not hard to save in Europe!

[interteach]

Worked in Europe for ten years, left a couple of years ago. First year savings about $15K/year. Final years $25K/year. Single. Had a great lifestyle. It depends on the school's package and the cost of living in the country.