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I moved from USA to Australia for university, then got permanent residency and later citizenship. I had a pathway because of (1) having completed my tertiary degree in Australia, and (2) having a close relative who was a citizen and could sponsor my application.
Without those things, my only viable option if I wanted to stay after uni would have been to go back to the USA to work for several years in my field of study, then apply for residency on the basis of being skilled in an in-demand industry. Australia maintains a list of in-demand skills, and if your field is on the list then that pathway is open to you - but you would also need to line up a job with an employer willing to sponsor your application ( I think this is mostly just about showing that you will have employment in the relevant field, not a financial burden on the employer, though I could be wrong about that).
My advice would be to make a short list of countries you would consider living in, and then look up their immigration websites and find out which ones you might have a pathway in to (each country is going to be different). If you have family with citizenship in any other countries, begin your search there.
What's it like going from the US to Australia on a more personal level? It was probably a year ago, but on the Australia subreddit there was a post relating somehow to the US. I don't remember what it was. I left a comment saying me and my boyfriend wanted out, and were looming at places to move to. Everyone was really helpful, and it's atm towards the top of the list of places.
But I also haven't heard much of anything what it's like going from our culture to there's, how people treat people moving there, etc. I imagine it's not a super huge change, but still curious as to what sort of things I shoukd expect if we do go there.
It's not a huge change, and day-to-day the differences will be smaller things like words that are used differently. You get used to that without even realizing it. I remember feeling very pleased the first time I naturally used the word "jumper" the way Aussies do (meaning "sweater" or "sweatshirt").
Aussies are generally friendly toward Americans, and thanks to Hollywood they tend to feel like they know a little bit about the USA which makes them interested. (When we visit my family in the US, my Aussie husband says he feels like he is in a movie. 😆)
I have never had any problem with people here not accepting me at face value despite being a foreigner and my accent giving me away. If anything, it's a talking point when getting to know a person I haven't met before. They'll often ask because they are curious, but they aren't hostile. If anything, they tend to be intrigued that I chose to live in their country instead of my country of birth.
There are systemic differences that may or may not be difficult to get your head around. For example, I didn't find the health care system very strange, because I was young enough when I moved here that I hadn't really gotten my head around how it worked in the US. But when my parents come here, they won't consider going to a doctor if they need one because insurance, even when I tell them it's a flat fee and give them the amount the local practice charges. It's just not the system they know.
As noted by others, Australia has its own issues with racism. You won't escape that by coming here, though it is different. Here it's rooted in historical treatment of Aboriginals as sub-human, and "white Australia" policies from the early 20th century. Basically white people have a superiority complex wherever you go in the world of former European colonies.
I'm not sure whether any of that actually answers your question... Please feel free to ask more if need be.
I aspire to do the same! Hoping to escape to Australia one day from the US.
What sort of costs did you see completing higher education in Aus as an international student? I am currently going for a Bachelor's in the States in an industry that is on the Aussie in-demand list, thinking of seeing if I can get a job with an Australian employer or continuing my education in Australia after finishing this degree.
Feel free to ignore me BTW.
Happy to answer questions!
In Australia, the big difference between domestic and international students is that domestic students costs are subsidized by the government via a federal interest-free student loan scheme, whereas international students must pay each semester up front. That cost varies depending on what you're studying. (Every university should have info on their website about international student fees.)
The other limiting thing is that on a student visa, you aren't allowed to work more than 20hr/week during the semester. So you either need to arrive with a very healthy bank account or put a lot aside during summer and winter break, in order to cover cost of living in addition to tuition. I was only able to do it because my parents were covering my tuition and accommodation.
(A possible point of interest: my bachelor's degree as a full fee paying international student in Australia ended up being cheaper than my sister's degree from a private college in the USA. Go figure!)
As an Australian, may I point out that one of the conditions of obtaining a student visa is being able to support yourself while you are here. There is a resentment of international students who get partway through a course and then cry poor. Our university (and probably others) held a big campaign during COVID lockdowns to donate money, clothing, groceries to international students who couldn’t work and couldn’t get back home; like so many other things, there were people who thought “of course we have to help these poor unfortunate people” and others who thought “oh no, anyway”.
As an Australian, I feel that (in my opinion) while Australia is in some ways an easygoing relaxed society, there is a low tolerance for (1) people trying to game the system and (2) stupid bullshit. Australian society can also in some circles, be racist and intolerant, especially towards those who are non-white and/or non-christian.
Understandable. I wasn't aware of international students struggling when I was at uni (doubtless there were some, I just didn't see them). COVID lockdowns and border closures were an extreme situation, and I would think there were probably some students who would have been fine normally but didn't have the extra resources to deal with that large a curveball.
Generally, I think the rules around student visas are reasonable. You're here to earn a degree, and that needs to be your focus... Not holding down a full-time job to put a roof over your head. Studying abroad is a luxury. (Of course, universities like international students because $$$...)
Australia can be expensive as an overseas student as government subsidies local students. I believe if you look at places like Adelaide or Perth it's easier to get permanent residency, especially if you're happy to be in a regional area
Perth (and WA in general) has been near the top of my list since searching about this stuff. Second would be between somewhere in Tassie or Melbourne. Got a lot of research to do.