u/detectiver-r

I've been working since I was very young, didn't want to cram the title full of job experiences. I've been doing freelance work as a professional artist in the entertainment industry for about three years now, currently in my third year at an online Uni studying criminal justice with a focus on social work, and just recently started working in manufacturing full time to save up money. I also have experience working in non-profits and project management through my art experience. I know in the US I won't be able to do social work without getting a masters, and I won't be able to afford it without working in manufacturing for several more years, which I'm not sure I could do long term due to some physical conditions I have. But I also know that social work is generally on the list of specialized employment that qualify for visas in most countries.

I've done as much research about visas and everything as you can. I have to work for everything I have, so I don't have huge savings, but I am on track to have enough money to do something by this time next year.

I was looking into a 1-year DEUF in France (currently at A2-B1ish level, actively studying) just to get somewhere different, but that take at least 8K-9K USD outright just to get in (which I can manage), but there's no promise that I could get a job to keep a visa, so if I can't, I'd just have to come right back. I've also considered doing a private school focused on CG art since I know a lot of people in it, but I wouldn't be able to afford it outright and from what I've seen it's really hard to get student loans abroad, since neither a US or a French bank wants to do that. I was also considering Ireland, but all you can find people saying about it is how you won't be able to find a house, job, and the cost of living is unlivable.

I kind of feel like it can't be that much worse than where I am right now, but maybe I'm wrong. I don't have anything here, so it's not like I have much to lose or regret by leaving.

I'm generally good at what I do, hardworking, and personable, but being trying to work as an artist has taught me that it doesn't really matter how good you are if the market just isn't there. I kind of feel like the housing market sucks everywhere, the job market sucks everywhere, so I don't even know if that's worth considering. Because I'm young, I'm afraid that no job would sponsor me for a working visa, which makes it feel like a student visa is the only option, but that has no guarantees at long term citizenship.

I just want to know if anyone else here has been/is in a similar situation? People act like I'm crazy when I try to discuss it with anyone. I'm not stupid, I know how hard it is to immigrate, especially without money, especially right now, that's why I'm doing everything I can to save and educate myself, but I know that's not enough.

Is every other country really as impossible to immigrate to and live in as people on reddit say? Are there other countries I'm missing that might be a better fit? Is there anyone here who has immigrated from the US to Ireland/France who can share their experience?

Thank you.

i haven't done this since i announced myself as a (very young) teenage girl on reddit asking for a penpal to practice my spanish with

(guess how that went)

a little bit about me:

20NB living out of the midwest USA, which is famously a very bustling place for queer people. online uni student, professional artist (occasionally) working in the indie animation industry (tho usually just end up doing freelance gigs)/content creation, huge cinephile, i love reading, was at one point very active in LGBTQ activism and Eco activism in my state but life gets in the way. basically putting my life on hold while i try to save up money to make a change.

even though i'm super involved in a lot of the local communities i've struggled a lot to make real connections with people for a variety of reasons, one being that irl friendships can feel like a lot of pressure for me in the early stages. or like, already established friend groups that i always seem to get to just a little too late to feel comfortable.

if that sounds like you, i have two ideas:

1. dm me/comment and we can talk

2. if multiple people comment we can make a discord server with a small group of people to alleviate some social pressure

and

3. by acknowledging the possibility that no one will respond to this post within the post, i dont have to feel any rejection. thanks tony tulathimutte for the idea