Can you provide some rationale about opting for Portugal over Ireland? I like the choice a great deal but am wondering about what went into the decision-making. Thanks! And continued good luck!
Ireland was colder and damper. At that point we were thinking Golden Visa, and Portugal's was less expensive. We ended up going D7, so it didn't matter. The cold & damp didn't change ;-)
So much of this feels so similar to our experience! We had been on vacation in France and the UK for most of the month of October 2022 and while there we both realized that we didn't want to go back to the U.S. (but we had dogs and kids to get back to). We got back to Georgia on October 24th with a plan to eventually move in a year or so. We'd talked about moving to Scotland, if at all possible.
Several things went very badly for us (long story) immediately after getting home and then, on October 28th, my last straw moment was when Nancy Pelosi's husband was attacked in their home. As someone who had lived with the fear of having a political violence target painted on my own back for years and terrified it would bring harm to my loved ones, this news was deeply distressing to me.
So, we decided a year or two was no longer tolerable and immediately started figuring out what country to go to (Brexit making Scotland difficult to impossible). In the end, it was down to Malta, France, and Portugal, and Portugal won. Best. Decision. Ever.
We engaged an immigration attorney in the first week of November, and a few harrowing months and one surprise major surgery later, we were finally living in Porto by April 2nd. Still awaiting our SEF appointments and also trying to help get my older kid and their partner here, too.
I really enjoy reading your posts. Seeing your timeline and things that didn't go so smoothly for you both makes me feel a less alone about our own ordeals and mishaps along the way. It's been very difficult at times, but so worth it.
Glad you made it over here so quickly! If you are as organized as you must be to have accomplished that, your SEF appointments should be a breeze. Thanks for following along!
This was very interesting to read. I've made some notes to better prepare us for our May 2 arrival. Thank you! Hearing about Scott's walks I wondered if we will be neighbors. Our apartment is on Avenida Ressano Garcia near El Corte Ingles and Eduardo Vll. Are you guys close?
We're not too far. We're over near Rato, the Metro station on the end of the yellow line. I go to a Pingo Doce in your neck of the woods once in a while to pick up a couple of items our smaller one doesn't carry, like food for Josie.
Yes, very impressive! Wish we could go through the DC consulate! That would shorten our timeline. Thank you for all the links. We’ve got the bank account opened, the background checks, and the NIF. Just waiting on our house to sell! Congratulations on navigating all of that!
Thank you for this timeline! Will definitely bookmark. All things considered, I think approximately six months from your go-no-go decision to landing at destination is pretty impressive! 👏
Can you provide some rationale about opting for Portugal over Ireland? I like the choice a great deal but am wondering about what went into the decision-making. Thanks! And continued good luck!
Ireland was colder and damper. At that point we were thinking Golden Visa, and Portugal's was less expensive. We ended up going D7, so it didn't matter. The cold & damp didn't change ;-)
Makes perfect sense. I was unsure about cost structure but would have had the climate piece pegged. Good call all around!
I need a nap after reading all that!
Your reasons for leaving the US are basically why I'd like to . It's a possibility not too far down the road.
So much of this feels so similar to our experience! We had been on vacation in France and the UK for most of the month of October 2022 and while there we both realized that we didn't want to go back to the U.S. (but we had dogs and kids to get back to). We got back to Georgia on October 24th with a plan to eventually move in a year or so. We'd talked about moving to Scotland, if at all possible.
Several things went very badly for us (long story) immediately after getting home and then, on October 28th, my last straw moment was when Nancy Pelosi's husband was attacked in their home. As someone who had lived with the fear of having a political violence target painted on my own back for years and terrified it would bring harm to my loved ones, this news was deeply distressing to me.
So, we decided a year or two was no longer tolerable and immediately started figuring out what country to go to (Brexit making Scotland difficult to impossible). In the end, it was down to Malta, France, and Portugal, and Portugal won. Best. Decision. Ever.
We engaged an immigration attorney in the first week of November, and a few harrowing months and one surprise major surgery later, we were finally living in Porto by April 2nd. Still awaiting our SEF appointments and also trying to help get my older kid and their partner here, too.
I really enjoy reading your posts. Seeing your timeline and things that didn't go so smoothly for you both makes me feel a less alone about our own ordeals and mishaps along the way. It's been very difficult at times, but so worth it.
Glad you made it over here so quickly! If you are as organized as you must be to have accomplished that, your SEF appointments should be a breeze. Thanks for following along!
This was very interesting to read. I've made some notes to better prepare us for our May 2 arrival. Thank you! Hearing about Scott's walks I wondered if we will be neighbors. Our apartment is on Avenida Ressano Garcia near El Corte Ingles and Eduardo Vll. Are you guys close?
We're not too far. We're over near Rato, the Metro station on the end of the yellow line. I go to a Pingo Doce in your neck of the woods once in a while to pick up a couple of items our smaller one doesn't carry, like food for Josie.
Yes, very impressive! Wish we could go through the DC consulate! That would shorten our timeline. Thank you for all the links. We’ve got the bank account opened, the background checks, and the NIF. Just waiting on our house to sell! Congratulations on navigating all of that!
Boa sorte!
Thank you for this timeline! Will definitely bookmark. All things considered, I think approximately six months from your go-no-go decision to landing at destination is pretty impressive! 👏
Muito obrigado!