Immigration to Belgium (Antwerpen, Brussels)?
Well, I'm still quite young, and I'm considering immigration to Europe right after I finish university. First off, I want to clear things out. I do have a passport of a member state of the European Union ( I heard it changes alot of things.. ), and I'm getting my Canadian passport soon too. Anyways. I've been quite interested in immigrating to Belgium (Antwerp or Brussels, i don't know yet.), but I am not really sure if it's the right choice. Therefore, I'd like to ask some questions.. - I found out that the average annual income in Antwerp is 12000 euro. This is insane, average annual income here in Canada is around 45 000CAD. Is 12000 euro per year enough in Europe? - I know it's sort of impossible to name an exact amount, but how does an apartment cost monthly, approximately? (downtown antwerp/brussels, for rent) - I'm taking a Computer Sciences course in college. Is there alot of computer jobs in Antwerp/Brussels? (IT jobs) - Can I immigrate without knowing dutch, and learn it as I'm there? I speak English and French (both decent). I'm afraid that I'll need Dutch from the first day when I go there... which means I better start learning it soon. - Is it true that if I have a passport of a member state of the European Union, I can live and work in Belgium, for whatever amount of time I want? - Is it worth it going to Belgium? Thanks in advance.
Belgium - 2 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Hi, Normally you should easily find a job in Brussels even without knowing Dutch, and you will definitely earn more than 12000€ annually. Average starting salary for an It professional would be about 1500€/month or 1200/month+car (net income), on top you get a end of year bonus of 1 month and you get 20 days vacation paid (both legal minimum, some companies offer more). In IT it's also very common to offer a company car. You can increase your income as an IT consultant by setting up your own corporation, that way you won't pay that much taxes (but you will have to finance your health insurance, pension and company car by yourself). Rent for a decent flat in Brussels is about 800€/month, again you can decrease this by finding a flat mate, which is very common in Brussels (less common in Antwerp). And yes, it's definitely worth it to come to Belgium: it's safe, clean, it has some of the best restaurants in the world and less than 2 hours away from Paris, Amsterdam or London for the days that you want to escape Belgium.
2 :
I live in the Netherlands, so I can only answer part of your question, not all. If the annual income is 12000€ they have only a small part of the town Antwerp as source. I know that the average income and cost of living in Belgium and the Netherlands are not that different, and 12000 is a starter annual pay for people with an higher education, or a normal average for people with little education. It will be enough to live from by yourself, if you can find a cheap apartment, but it will not be a lot. People with a good education will earn more in the long run, but it may take a while. There are jobs in IT, but with the turn of economy now, I doubt there will be a lot of openings for starters, specially if not speaking the language. In Brussels you can certainly live without Dutch, although officially the city is bilingual, 80% is French speaking. In Antwerp you would be expected to learn Dutch, although English is well known there and might do for the first time. You will feel much more at home if you do speak the language, you will at least left out less when you can understand it. Yes, it is true that with an EU passport you can live and work in Belgium but if you are from one of the newer memberstates of the Eu there might be restrictions. You also might have to register and things like that. I think it is worth visiting Belgium, but I am not sure that it is worth to live there, Canada seems to be a good place to live too. And starting a new life on a different continent will be lonely, without support.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
I really want to move to Belgium
I really want to move to Belgium...?
I am an American that would really want 2 live and work in Belgium... What steps should I take in acheiving this? why?
Belgium - 10 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
You can't
2 :
You really don't want to move to Belgium. Seriously. The weather is always cloudy, the girls are ugly, the streets are too narrow (one lane per way, ALWAYS). There are no real cities, only bigger villages, or towns. Brussels sucks. What you can do in this country is visit it (at the most). I even came across Americans that moved here, and they really regret it and want to go back, but don't have the money. I know that by now you are thinking "wow this guy is nutz" but believe me, i used to want to move to Belgium as well (5 years ago) but after 1 year i stopped seeing the "good things" and went into depression, my face got full of zits because of no sun light, i turned pale and weak. I'd even go back to my 3rd world country Romania, at least they have hot girls, good music and sunshine :P If you still aren't convinced, than welcome to the degenerated incestuous race of belgians. All you have to do is buy a house here, 200.000 - 350.000 euros depending on the region. The Flemish part sucks from a geographic point of view, it's BORING ! And the Wallon part is more or less mediocre, but there are no jobs there. Have fun with your choice.
3 :
Your best chance may be in Flanders. You will need to seek out the so called bottleneck jobs (knelpuntberoepen). These are jobs were there is an acute shortage of qualified personal, even during the crisis. As you are not an EU citizen, an employer may be more willing to go through all the paperwork of promoting you. in any case, it won't be easy. Another option is to base yourself in Brussels as a lot of multinationals have their European HQ's here, including many US companies. Depending on your skills, this might be easier than the first option. And depending on where you want to settle, it would help greatly if you learnt French or Dutch, or preferably even both. Especially if you ever plan to acquire the Belgian nationality. In any case, the first step you should take is making an appointment with a Belgian embassy to find out what your particular options are.
4 :
Bear in mind the 'bottleneck jobs' mentioned are that for the simple reason they are not the better paid ones or at least not the ones with good career prospects or have unfavourable working conditions as they call it. Most of them are manual work and many are trades. Don't consider coming to Belgium without a diploma or preferably a degree if you have any sense as diplomas are everything here and you will not be able to work your way to the top without possessing the right qualification for the job.
5 :
First step I would take is visit the embassy website to see what the visa requirments are. http://www.diplobel.us/ moving to any Schengen country is difficult for an american.
6 :
search for a job in Belgium
7 :
I would like to answer to the retarded Romanian who does not like it in Belgium with its ugly girls and villages including Brussels with EU headquarters and Nato. Nobody asked you to come to Belgium mister. Why didn't you stay in your wonderful Ceausescu dominated backwater paradise to starve . Unlike you I have been in your Dracula haven and have seen the poverty , the despair and the lack of opportunity. And so Romanians come illegally to Belgium and other EU member states and become depressive with zits on their face when they are not offered top jobs immediately. Or they go and sit on the Meir street walks with a cardboard on their neck: "J'ai faim" (I am hungry). And when Belgians give them a one Euro coin they throw it back: paper money only please. (Real anecdote) Or they pass the time insulting the country of which they are an illegal guest and of which they obviously know nothing. Poor guy some surprises expect you in Belgium that sucks,
8 :
Better think twice. First of all, you need a permit to stay and that is only limited if you don't of a job or work contract. Almost impossible to find a job, even when you do a Dutch course.
9 :
I can't help you what you need to become a citizen, but I do know what it is to live here. You will have to speak/read and write the language of region; Dutch for Flanders, French for wallonie... You will need to have a job, but be aware that we are a knowledge country, so do check if your degrees are of any meaning here. It will be difficult to get a job if they aren't. You will also have to have a permanent place to stay, a belgian bank account, an European drivers license And some strong willpower to make it work. But to be really happy here you will have to adapt to our culture, that will be the biggest issue. You're name is Dutch, so I guess you have family here? Also a 'knelpuntberoep' is just a name for a job opening where there is more demand then offer. It has nothing to do with career opportunities or salary. Your salary could even be higher because there are few competitors.
10 :
just go and stop wasting your time on yahoo and- MOVE :) wish you luck!
I am an American that would really want 2 live and work in Belgium... What steps should I take in acheiving this? why?
Belgium - 10 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
You can't
2 :
You really don't want to move to Belgium. Seriously. The weather is always cloudy, the girls are ugly, the streets are too narrow (one lane per way, ALWAYS). There are no real cities, only bigger villages, or towns. Brussels sucks. What you can do in this country is visit it (at the most). I even came across Americans that moved here, and they really regret it and want to go back, but don't have the money. I know that by now you are thinking "wow this guy is nutz" but believe me, i used to want to move to Belgium as well (5 years ago) but after 1 year i stopped seeing the "good things" and went into depression, my face got full of zits because of no sun light, i turned pale and weak. I'd even go back to my 3rd world country Romania, at least they have hot girls, good music and sunshine :P If you still aren't convinced, than welcome to the degenerated incestuous race of belgians. All you have to do is buy a house here, 200.000 - 350.000 euros depending on the region. The Flemish part sucks from a geographic point of view, it's BORING ! And the Wallon part is more or less mediocre, but there are no jobs there. Have fun with your choice.
3 :
Your best chance may be in Flanders. You will need to seek out the so called bottleneck jobs (knelpuntberoepen). These are jobs were there is an acute shortage of qualified personal, even during the crisis. As you are not an EU citizen, an employer may be more willing to go through all the paperwork of promoting you. in any case, it won't be easy. Another option is to base yourself in Brussels as a lot of multinationals have their European HQ's here, including many US companies. Depending on your skills, this might be easier than the first option. And depending on where you want to settle, it would help greatly if you learnt French or Dutch, or preferably even both. Especially if you ever plan to acquire the Belgian nationality. In any case, the first step you should take is making an appointment with a Belgian embassy to find out what your particular options are.
4 :
Bear in mind the 'bottleneck jobs' mentioned are that for the simple reason they are not the better paid ones or at least not the ones with good career prospects or have unfavourable working conditions as they call it. Most of them are manual work and many are trades. Don't consider coming to Belgium without a diploma or preferably a degree if you have any sense as diplomas are everything here and you will not be able to work your way to the top without possessing the right qualification for the job.
5 :
First step I would take is visit the embassy website to see what the visa requirments are. http://www.diplobel.us/ moving to any Schengen country is difficult for an american.
6 :
search for a job in Belgium
7 :
I would like to answer to the retarded Romanian who does not like it in Belgium with its ugly girls and villages including Brussels with EU headquarters and Nato. Nobody asked you to come to Belgium mister. Why didn't you stay in your wonderful Ceausescu dominated backwater paradise to starve . Unlike you I have been in your Dracula haven and have seen the poverty , the despair and the lack of opportunity. And so Romanians come illegally to Belgium and other EU member states and become depressive with zits on their face when they are not offered top jobs immediately. Or they go and sit on the Meir street walks with a cardboard on their neck: "J'ai faim" (I am hungry). And when Belgians give them a one Euro coin they throw it back: paper money only please. (Real anecdote) Or they pass the time insulting the country of which they are an illegal guest and of which they obviously know nothing. Poor guy some surprises expect you in Belgium that sucks,
8 :
Better think twice. First of all, you need a permit to stay and that is only limited if you don't of a job or work contract. Almost impossible to find a job, even when you do a Dutch course.
9 :
I can't help you what you need to become a citizen, but I do know what it is to live here. You will have to speak/read and write the language of region; Dutch for Flanders, French for wallonie... You will need to have a job, but be aware that we are a knowledge country, so do check if your degrees are of any meaning here. It will be difficult to get a job if they aren't. You will also have to have a permanent place to stay, a belgian bank account, an European drivers license And some strong willpower to make it work. But to be really happy here you will have to adapt to our culture, that will be the biggest issue. You're name is Dutch, so I guess you have family here? Also a 'knelpuntberoep' is just a name for a job opening where there is more demand then offer. It has nothing to do with career opportunities or salary. Your salary could even be higher because there are few competitors.
10 :
just go and stop wasting your time on yahoo and- MOVE :) wish you luck!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
How easy is it to get a work permit in Brussels, Belgium
How easy is it to get a work permit in Brussels, Belgium?
What is the easiest way to do it. I'm only 18 years old. I feel like the best way would be just to go there and look for a job for three months. What someone needs to do is find someone to hire them and then the employer would have to apply for you to get a Visa so you can work for them.(That much I know) Is this considered to be very inconvienent for employers? Especially to be doing it for someone who is only 18 with not much work experience? I feel like they have plenty of people like me excep that they are legal already and that they can hire that they wouldn't have to apply for a work permit for.. It's too late for me to get a student visa now and I am trying to think of any possible way of legally living in Belgium for a year... Any advice?
Belgium - 1 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Sorry, but I don't have any good advice for you. Your employer in Belgium must request an employer permit and a work permit (permis de travail B/ arbeidskaart B) from the relevant sub-regional employment service depending on where the company's head office is established (VDAB, FOREM or ACTIRIS). Apart from certain exceptions (e.g. highly qualified staff, researchers, trainees or au pairs), employer permits are only issued if there are no workers or not enough workers on the Belgian labour market for the sector in question due to its specific characteristics and if there is an international agreement. Nationals from countries in the European Economic Area do not have to have a work permit. Based on the above facts vacancies are filled by the Belgium and European workforce without administrative burdens. Non-EU citizen only have a chance if they are highly qualified in an area of high demands. At the current economical situation there are none..
What is the easiest way to do it. I'm only 18 years old. I feel like the best way would be just to go there and look for a job for three months. What someone needs to do is find someone to hire them and then the employer would have to apply for you to get a Visa so you can work for them.(That much I know) Is this considered to be very inconvienent for employers? Especially to be doing it for someone who is only 18 with not much work experience? I feel like they have plenty of people like me excep that they are legal already and that they can hire that they wouldn't have to apply for a work permit for.. It's too late for me to get a student visa now and I am trying to think of any possible way of legally living in Belgium for a year... Any advice?
Belgium - 1 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Sorry, but I don't have any good advice for you. Your employer in Belgium must request an employer permit and a work permit (permis de travail B/ arbeidskaart B) from the relevant sub-regional employment service depending on where the company's head office is established (VDAB, FOREM or ACTIRIS). Apart from certain exceptions (e.g. highly qualified staff, researchers, trainees or au pairs), employer permits are only issued if there are no workers or not enough workers on the Belgian labour market for the sector in question due to its specific characteristics and if there is an international agreement. Nationals from countries in the European Economic Area do not have to have a work permit. Based on the above facts vacancies are filled by the Belgium and European workforce without administrative burdens. Non-EU citizen only have a chance if they are highly qualified in an area of high demands. At the current economical situation there are none..
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Mobile internet in Belgium
Mobile internet in Belgium?
My mom is moving from Germany to Belgium next month for 6 - 8 months She is using a German O2 Surfstick - USB mobile Internet adaptor. Do you know if it will work in Belgium (without extra charges) and if not what mobile internet providers in Belgium could you recommend?
Belgium - 2 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
http://www.voo.be/fr/net/ It's mine and the cheapest, in Belgium. Don't you know, you are on Q/R UK !
2 :
The English website of Voo: http://www.voo.be/en/net/ Another cheap one in Belgium is Mobile Vikings: http://mobilevikings.com/ The 3 main operators in Belgium are: Proximus http://customer.proximus.be/en/Mobile_Internet_Lap/index.html Mobistar http://business.mobistar.be/go/en/soho/mobile_data.cfm Base http://www.base.be/base/en/home/offer/options/surf_mail/page.aspx/2022 I think the German O2 surfstick will work (or maybe you have to activate roaming) but typically you pay much more (can really a lot more, be careful) if you are in another country. You should ask O2 about it.
My mom is moving from Germany to Belgium next month for 6 - 8 months She is using a German O2 Surfstick - USB mobile Internet adaptor. Do you know if it will work in Belgium (without extra charges) and if not what mobile internet providers in Belgium could you recommend?
Belgium - 2 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
http://www.voo.be/fr/net/ It's mine and the cheapest, in Belgium. Don't you know, you are on Q/R UK !
2 :
The English website of Voo: http://www.voo.be/en/net/ Another cheap one in Belgium is Mobile Vikings: http://mobilevikings.com/ The 3 main operators in Belgium are: Proximus http://customer.proximus.be/en/Mobile_Internet_Lap/index.html Mobistar http://business.mobistar.be/go/en/soho/mobile_data.cfm Base http://www.base.be/base/en/home/offer/options/surf_mail/page.aspx/2022 I think the German O2 surfstick will work (or maybe you have to activate roaming) but typically you pay much more (can really a lot more, be careful) if you are in another country. You should ask O2 about it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)