Growing up, I spent a fair bit of my childhood abroad as my parents migrated for their work. Moving back to my home country (India) as a teenager, I embarked on a similar journey to pursue my higher education a few years later, believing that I would adapt quickly to this change, having had that experience as a child. However at 25, as I return to my hometown on a long overdue break (nearly 4 years later), I bring with me the knowledge I wish I had when I first made the decision to move.

I now see both the struggles and joys of being away from home and building a life from scratch from an entirely different perspective than that of a child or a doe-eyed, eager early 20-something. If you are in the midst of deciding to take that leap of faith in pursuit of new opportunities, I hope my experience helps you make an informed decision and prepares you for your new life. If you’re a fellow immigrant, let me know if this speaks to you and feel free to add in what you may have learnt over the years, so we can collectively help those who are yet to step into this exciting but chaotic world.

1. Being Alive is Expensive. Yes, I know how that sounds. You may say, “There’s no place in the world where you can live for free”, but there are certainly countries where the cost of living is significantly lower than others. Especially in the post-pandemic economy, where inflation is rising worldwide and how governments will react remains largely ambiguous, it is essential to assess the cost of living prior to making the move.
   
   Its very easy to get enticed by larger paychecks and earning in currencies that have a much higher purchasing power than our own, but remember that your ability to generate wealth depends not only on your income; but also on your expenses in relation to your income. When evaluating whether an opportunity is “worth it”, remember to base your decisions on your potential to build wealth, not on your potential to earn.
   Let’s not forget to factor in what you’d normally not have to pay for at home (especially if you live with your parents). You can use any online budgeting tool and fill in your cost estimates for the first month or two and revise your budget with actual figures once you know what you really end up spending. Cost of living varies from city to city (Ex: rental prices, groceries) so ensure you specifically look up these figures related to the city you intend to move to.

2. Any Local Experience is Relevant Experience

If you’re a job seeker, bear in mind that when moving to a new country you will not necessarily get employed in the field of your choice immediately, nor at the position you might’ve expected with your level of experience back home. That isn’t intended to discourage you in any way or form, no doubt there could be opportunities present that match your skill and experience – however, employers could prefer a candidate with more local experience.

And no, that line of thought is not inherently racist. People who have worked in the same country, even though the role itself may be different, tend to be well versed with the work culture and norms. Local experience is also easier for employers to validate, especially when references are required for a role. So don’t be disheartened if you feel like you’ve had to take a step back in your career, its only to catch up to that culture gap between yourself and the locals. You can very well build your way back up to where you want to be.

3. ALWAYS READ THE FINE PRINT

I cannot stress this enough. Whether it’s the terms and conditions of your lease or your employment contract, be sure to go through the final documents to clarify anything seems vague or unclear to you. Once you solidify any written agreement with your signature on it, if things were to go South you absolutely cannot claim ignorance as an excuse to get yourself out of a tricky situation.

Laws differ from country to country and sure, there are plenty of great people out there- but also a fair number of scammers who get to benefit if you are unaware of your rights and entitlements. So before you sign up for something that puts you at a disadvantage, do a quick check of what laws or norms are in place to protect your best interests as employees, as tenants etc. and whether the terms of your contract are lawful and favorable.

4. Rules can change too!

World economies and hence, government policies are also dynamic. The laws and regulations that may be in effect at the time you are deciding to move abroad may change sometime in the duration of your stay. It’s not the government’s job to double- check if you are aware of any change in rules that affect you, however it is well within their power to enforce penalties on any breach of laws.

What this means is, you need to be mindful of any official communication coming from the respective department concerned with migration. Believe me, you don’t want to be packing your bags for good over a missed notification or email that required action. I suggest as an added measure to follow some popular national news accounts on Instagram or twitter (if you’re not big on reading), so you remain in the loop about any major policy changes that may impact you.

5. You get the Best ? of both Worlds

While you get to experience life outside your home country, remember that life goes on inside it too. Each time you visit, you feel a sense of pride regarding what you might have gained and have an excitement to share that with your friends and families back home. But each time your sense of “Home” gets confusing and trust me, the FOMO is REAL. Streets look newer, people look older and with it comes the acceptance that you have two homes now. And while you now have two parallel lives that add to your views and experiences, you may feel divided – always having your mind and heart in two places instead of one. Whether its the best of both worlds or the worst, that’s something you can only find out for yourself.

These are some of the things we tend to overlook when starting a new chapter in our lives, carried away by the excitement of it all. But when you take off the rose tinted glasses and are weighed down by responsibilities once a routine sets in, it can certainly get overbearing. As immigrants, our mistakes cost us a lot – in terms of money, effort and energy needed to rectify them. And even then, success is never guaranteed.

The most important lesson of them all is that when your hard work starts to pay off, it all seems worth it. Remember, when you start afresh in a new country, you are laying the foundation for yourself and your family to build on. While that may take a while, it can potentially create a lasting legacy. At the end of the day, you need to see if what you stand to gain from relocating – temporarily or permanently – outweighs the risk involved. It can be an incredibly rewarding experience – depending on what you value in life and how it aligns with your overall goals. Is it for everyone? Certainly not.

Is moving out of country the next best step in your individual journey? That’s for you to figure out for yourself! I hope this article helps in arriving to that conclusion.

Good Luck!