(Written by an American expat living the European Union)
This purpose of this diary is not to recruit people to move to the European Union but rather to support people who have already made that decision by providing an informational resource.
While it may be difficult to qualify for emigration to the European Union as part of the investor class. Most people are unaware that they may qualify for EU citizenship through their parents or in some cases their grandparents. Therefore this is much of the focus of this diary, to provide some basic background info and helpful links to government and other websites as a starting point for emigration information.
Generally speaking unlike in America, the EU countries by law must provide access to universal medical, paid sick leave, paid maternity leave and paid annual leave, and that's just for starters!
(Legal disclaimer: As the author of this diary I would like to state that I am not an immigration or nationality lawyer. The contains of this diary should therefore not be read as legal advice but rather as simply information. For legal advice please contact a licensed immigration and nationality lawyer.)
Record Numbers of Americans Living Abroad
The rate at which American citizens are leaving the US has risen sharply over the past five years to reach record numbers today.
Expatriate Americans now number around 4 million and yet the exodus does not seem to be slowing down; and according to some who have already left their homeland, the numbers will continue to rise.
But what is it that is leading more Americans than ever to turn their back on the US and establish a new life overseas?
http://www.shelteroffshore.com/...
If you are an American expat living the European Union or else where, this diary asks for your help in providing comments, background information or even web links to help any would be American expat. Please tell us what your experience has been with medical care, dental care, schools for your children, paid sick leave, paid annual leave, paid maternity leave, college tuition rates or any other information set to protect real family values. To that end, let me thank anyone in advance whose willing to help provide information.
If you have information that will be helpful to persons looking to move to the European Union, please post it in the comment section of the diary. Your help and support is very much appreciated. Thank you.
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Basic information regarding Norwegian citizenship.
Here's a contact list of all the Norwegian embassies and general consulates in the United States. Here's a link about visa information for Norway from an official government site. Here's a link about information regarding work and residence permits from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration.
Basic info regarding studying in Norway and Norwegian society.
Benefits of Living in Norway:
Study in Norway: A Brief Guide to Living in Norway (PDF).
Norway undoubtedly has one of the best welfare systems in the world, making sure that people who are sick and unable to work, or who are unemployed for whatever reason are not left out in the cold, but are given support so that they are able to live with dignity. This, coupled with a strong public education system and public health care system, has lead to a society in which it is easier to bounce back from a bad start in life, or a bad year. We like to think that it is these ideals, and not just our monetary wealth, that has made the United Nations consistently rank Norway as the best country in which to live in recent years.
Basic information regarding Norwegian student visas:
http://www.udi.no/...
Study in Norway
Completing a university degree is often considered to be an expensive endeavour and tuition fees are usually making up the bulk part of the cost. Norwegian universities and state university colleges as a rule do not charge tuition fees for international students.
http://www.studyinnorway.no/...
The United Nations rated Norway as the #1 the best place in the world to live through it's human development index with the highest standard of living for its people in the world.
U.N. Human Development Report 2009 Norway
The HDI for Norway is 0.971, which gives the country a rank of 1st out of 182 countries with data (Table 1).
HDI value 1.) Norway (0.971)
Life expectancy at birth (years) 12.) Norway (80.5)
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Basic information regarding French citizenship.
Attribution of French Nationality:
Through parentage (right of blood): The child (legitimate or natural) is French if at least one parent is French.
http://www.consulfrance-newyork.org/...
Here's a contact list of all the French embassies and general consulates in the United States
Here's basic information on French citizenship and immigration policy and the conditions for applying for French citizenship. Here's some basic background information regarding French Nationality Law.
Benefits of Living in France
French Health Care System
The French government provides a number of diverse and comprehensive healthcare rights. For more than 96 percent of the population, medical care is either entirely free or is reimbursed 100 percent.
http://ambafrance-us.org/...
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The French state provides health care for all people living in France.
NPR - France's Model Health Care For New Mothers Medications are provided free or at a deep discount by the national health insurance system.
http://www.npr.org/...
Official information regarding student visas
http://www.consulfrance-washington.o...
French Higher Education
Annual tuition in a public university is between 126 and 692 Euros, depending on the program. A meal in a university restaurant costs less than 3 Euros.
http://www.campusfrance.org/...
French child/family allowance
Family allowance is paid to families with two or more dependent children living in France. It is neither means-tested nor related to previous employment periods.The amount of the family allowance as of 1st January 2010 is 32% of the monthly family benefit base (€124.54) for two children and 41% (€159.57) for each additional child
http://www.cleiss.fr/...
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Basic information regarding Irish citizenship.
Feel free to look at entitlement to Irish citizenship.
Citizenship through descent from Irish grandparents
If one of your grandparents is an Irish citizen but none of your parents was born in Ireland, you may become an Irish citizen. You will need to have your birth registered in the Foreign Births Register. http://www.citizensinformation.ie/...
Here's a contact list of all the Irish embassies and general consulates in the United States.
Info on acquiring student visas to study in Ireland.
Benefits of Living in Ireland:
Tuition fees at university in Ireland Admission
Undergraduate EU students are exempted from paying tuition fees at university in Ireland.
Ireland Guide: Irish health care
There are around 1,650 general practitioners (GPs) and the number of people per doctor (approximately 680 on average) is about the same as in the UK, although higher than in most of the rest of Europe. The number of public hospitals is limited, although Irish medical staff are highly trained and provided with the latest equipment.
Ireland and the UK are the only EU countries where you can obtain public health care without having to make social security contributions. In Ireland your entitlement to benefits is determined solely by your residence status.
http://www.justlanded.com/...
Additional information regarding entitlement to Irish health services.
U.N. Human Development Report 2009 Ireland
The HDI for Ireland is 0.965, which gives the country a rank of 5th out of 182 countries with data (Table 1).
HDI value 5.) Ireland (0.965)
Life expectancy at birth (years) 18.) Ireland (79.7)
http://hdrstats.undp.org/...
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Basic information regarding British citizenship.
General information regarding British Visas. Here's a link to the British Embassy in Washington DC
Basic info regarding British Nationality
For British commonwealth citizens only - the UK Ancestry visa might be of interest to you. Here's the link: http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/...
Basic info about British Student Visas / Immigration:
http://uk.internationalstudent.com/...
Benefits of Living in Great Britain:
The NHS was born out of a long-held ideal that good healthcare should be available to all, regardless of wealth. That principle remains at its core. With the exception of charges for some prescriptions and optical and dental services, the NHS remains free at the point of use for anyone who is resident in the UK.
http://www.nhs.uk/...
NHS Dental Charges
Name Examples of treatment Patient charge
Band 1: Diagnosis, treatment, planning & maintenance Clinical examination, x-rays, scaling & polishing, preventative dental work such as hygiene instruction £16.50
Band 2: Simple treatment Fillings, extractions, surgical procedures £45.60
Band 3: Provision of appliances Complex treatment which includes a laboratory element such as crowns £198.00
Urgent treatment Examination, x-rays, dressings, re-cementing crowns, up to two extractions and one filling. £16.50
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NHS dental treatment is free if you are under 18, or a full time student under 19.
http://www.bath.ac.uk/...
Paid Annual Leave in Great Britain:
All workers have a right to at least 5.6 weeks’ paid annual leave
There is a minimum right to paid holiday, but your employer may offer more than this. The main things you should know about holiday rights are that: you are entitled to a minimum of 5.6 weeks paid annual leave (28 days for someone working five days a week) http://www.direct.gov.uk/...
Family Allowance / Child Allowance in Great Britain:
The Government gives you nearly £1000 a year for your first child, and over £600 a year for each subsequent one. Child Benefit is given monthly for every child in the UK. It's a universal benefit (it doesn't depend on how much you earn), and it's tax-free.
http://www.dad.info/...
A Brief Look At the British Education System:
From University of Cambridge
Tuition fees at the University of Cambridge are no higher than those for other universities. In fact, they’re exactly the same as for 99 per cent of other English universities. In 2010–11, the tuition fee for UK/EU students studying for their first undergraduate degree is £3,290 per year for all courses
http://www.cam.ac.uk/...
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Basically, all university students now have to pay for their fees but loans are available to help cover these costs and you don’t have to pay anything back until you’re earning more than £15,000* a year.
http://www.blackpool.ac.uk/...
Did you know that in the EU, full time higher education students can get a child care allowance? Here is an example in Great Britain of just exactly that.
Childcare Grant and other help for students with children
If you're a full-time higher education student with dependent children, you may be able to get extra financial help. The Childcare Grant can help with childcare costs, and the Parents' Learning Allowance with costs related to your course.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/...
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Basic information regarding Dutch citizenship.
Here's a contact list of all the Netherlands embassies and general consulates in the United States.
For over 60 years, the Dutch American Friendship Treaty has enabled USA citizens to start a business in Holland. Successful applicants receive a residence permit which allows them to work on a self-employed basis, or to represent American companies with business interests in Holland.
http://www.expatlaw.nl/...
Here's a wikipedia page about the Dutch American Friendship Treaty.
For further info about immigration to the Netherlands, here's the official website for the Dutch immigration and Naturalisation Service: http://www.ind.nl
U.N. Human Development Report 2009 Netherlands
The HDI for Netherlands is 0.961, which gives the country a rank of 6th out of 182 countries with data (Table 1).
HDI value 6.) Netherlands (0.964)
Life expectancy at birth (years) 16.) Netherlands (79.8)
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Basic information regarding Swedish citizenship
Swedish legislation on citizenship is based on the jus sanguinis principle, which means that citizenship, in principle, is acquired at birth if either of the parents is a Swedish citizen.
http://www.sweden.gov.se/...
Basic info from the official Swedish Migration Board regarding working and/or studying in Sweden.
Here's a contact list of all the Swedish embassies and general consulates in the United States.
Benefits of Living in Sweden:
Swedish Higher Education
All universities and university colleges in Sweden are tuition-free.
Residence-based benefits
Residents in Sweden are entitled to nearly all the benefits available to Swedish citizens. Part of the social security system is designed to ensure a minimum standard of living based only on residence. Heavily subsidized health care and childcare systems are some of the benefits included, as well as partially subsidized dental care. By living in Sweden for over a year, residents will benefit from Swedish social insurance — a basic support system for everyday needs and a safety net when necessary.
http://www.sweden.se/...
U.N. Human Development Report 2009 Sweden
The HDI for Sweden is 0.963, which gives the country a rank of 7th out of 182 countries with data (Table 1).
HDI value 7.) Sweden (0.963)
Life expectancy at birth (years) 8.) Sweden (80.8)
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Basic information regarding German citizenship by birth.
Here's a contact list of all the German embassies and general consulates in the United States.
Also feel free to check out Frequently Asked Questions: German Citizenship
Benefits of Living in Germany:
NPR: Most Patients Happy With German Health Care
It's one of the world's best health care systems, visible in little ways that most Germans take for granted.
http://www.npr.org/...
MSNBC: Germany woos American students
Germany is willing to accommodate what could be a dream for many American families, worried about the skyrocketing cost of higher education.
List of Tuition Free Universities in Germany
In Germany, the 16 federal states operate and finance public universities. All public universities in Germany are heavily subsidized.
Low tuition fees at university in Germany
Following a judgement of the Federal Constitional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht), students are charged registration and tuition fees at universties and colleges in Germany as of 2005. However, there are some federal states (Lander) where universities still do not charge tuition fees. In general, tuition fees are approximately 500 euros per semester and registration fees are about 50 euros per semester.
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Basic information regarding Italian citizenship by birth.
From Consulate General of Italy in New York
Italian citizenship through ancestors (iure sanguinis)
If you were born in the United States you may also be considered an Italian citizen if any one of the situations listed below pertains to you:
Category 5) your paternal or maternal grandparents were born in the United States from Italian parents and they never renounced their right to Italian citizenship. http://www.consnewyork.esteri.it/...
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Basic information regarding Spanish citizenship by birth.
Granting of Spanish Citizenship, Descendants of Spanish nationals
Persons whose father or mother was originally Spanish
Spanish law already allowed persons whose father or mother was originally Spanish and born in Spain to apply for Spanish citizenship.
http://leymemoria.mjusticia.es/...
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Basic information regarding Finnish citizenship.
Citizenship of Finland can be obtained on the basis of birth, marriage of parents, adoption, or the place of birth. In addition, it may be acquired by application or by declaration to authorities. Finnish citizenship acquisition is based primarily on the legal principle of jus sanguinis.
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
Descendants of native Finnish citizens
People who have never themselves been Finnish citizens but whose parent or grandparent is or has been a native Finnish citizen, can be granted a residence permit in Finland on this basis.
Here's a contact list of all the Finnish embassies and general consulates in the United States.
University of Helsinki - No tuition fees
Finnish universities have no tuition fees for regular degree students - education is subsidised by the State through the Ministry of Education. This also applies to the international degree students and to exchange and visiting students as well.
http://www.helsinki.fi/...
Finnish Medical Association - Health of Finns
Health services are available to all in Finland, regardless of their financial situation. Public health services are mainly financed from tax revenues.
http://www.laakariliitto.fi/...
U.N. Human Development Report 2009 Finland
The HDI for Finland is 0.959, which gives the country a rank of 12th out of 182 countries with data (Table 1).
HDI value 12.) Finland (0.959)
Life expectancy at birth (years) 22.) Finland (79.5)
http://hdrstats.undp.org/...
Basic information regarding Belgian citizenship:
Acquiring Belgian nationality/citizenship via ancestry, naturalization, marriage and/or adoption.
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PS:
My husband got his Irish citizenship
by Lisa Lockwood on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 07:02:08 AM PDT
(had to first get his Irish birth certificate of foreign birth) through his grandfather, who was born in Ireland and emigrated to the US in 1910.
There was quite a bit of paperwork involved, as he had to provide his mother's (naming both her parents, therefor establishing that her father was born in Ireland) and father's birth certificates, and their marriage certificates, plus his grandfathers Irish birth certificate (try doing that when you have no idea where in Ireland he was actually born!) and then his own long form (official) US birth certificate.
These original certified documents then had to be presented in person to the Irish consulate (we went to the one in NY as a detour while visiting friends in NJ). The Irish consulate then approves them as genuine and sends away for a "new" Irish birth certificate registering him (my husband) as an Irish citizen of foreign birth.
Then, once he had his Irish birth certificate, he could apply for an Irish passport. Once that lovely burgundy colored passport arrived with the words "An tAontas Eorpach-European Union" followed by "Eire Ireland" stamped on the front, (Oh frabjous joy, calloo, callay!) all things seem possible.
We can now move to any EU country, he need not get a work permit or limited visa, and can enjoy all the benefits of being an EU citizen.
We jumped through all those hoops back when John "Get off my lawn!" McCain was running for president, and we feared the worst might happen.
Now, we just hold in reserve the option to retire somewhere where society cares for it's members, provides healthcare (and FREE mass transit passes!) if the good old canabalistic US of A continues it's downward spiral of teh stoopid and teh greed and teh destruction of what passed for a middle class.
Oh, and bless you for providing all this very helpful information, Democrats Ramshield.
http://www.dailykos.com/...
Expat in Germany here. (3+ / 0-)
I have lived in Germany since 1995.
by bluesheep on Mon Nov 08, 2010 at 03:54:13 AM PST
I married a German citizen in 1997 and after three years of marriage was granted unlimited, unrestricted work and residence permits. I can do everything here except vote and get elected. Even after my divorce I will have these permits all my life.
I have three children who have received outstanding subsidized daycare and preschool, outstanding medical care including open-heart surgery and countless hours of diagnostic and therapeutic attention for my autistic son and excellent public education. I incurred no additional costs for any of the medical issues. My employer and I each pay 13 percent of my monthly salary, and my three kids and I are covered. There is a small co-pay for prescriptions, and that's it.
I also spent several years of graduate study in a German university and paid no tuition.
I enjoy fantastic public transportation.
There is stricter regulation of what sort of chemicals can be put in the food I eat and give my children.
I have paid sick leave and vacation.
I receive a total of 558 € per month in Kindergeld for my three children.
I feel welcomed and valued by my German and international neighbors here in Frankfurt.
http://www.dailykos.com/...
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This diary is part of a series for readers who are interested. Click on the link below.
http://democrats-ramshield.dailykos.com