[tkfu]

I'm a bit skeptical of your claim that "getting a work permit in Europe basically isn't possible without a degree".

Is it an EU country? In every European country I've had direct experience with (DK, DE, IT, PT, FR, BE), you can get a residence permit with the right to work by applying as an accompanying spouse, or under a family reunification scheme. Of course, in some countries this can take time, but certainly not 8 years.

Additionally, under the 'Directive on the status of non-EU nationals who are long-term residents'[1], you have the right to obtain permanent residence in any EU country you have lived in legally for 5 years. Unless you've been living in the EU illegally (e.g. on a tourist visa for 8 years) or not reporting your income/paying social contributions, you should be eligible for that. As with all/most EU directives, the specific implementation can vary between countries, but the immigration authorities are obliged to have some kind of process for implementation.

[1] https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/migration-and-asy...

[kwanbix]

Yes. I don't understand what he is talking about. Not only can a software engineer who finds a job easily get a visa in Europe, but if he is married to an EU partner, or a person living in EU who has a visa, he can easily stay and work in the EU.

Now, about the time zone's thing, I personally find that anything more than 2 hours difference is very problematic. I have worked in the past with 4 and 12 hours of difference and it is just not practical. At least for me.

[chrismeller]

I would also add that every EU country I've looked at also has an "or equivalent work experience" clause for their tech/skilled-path work permits that would void the education requirement.

[mattkrause]

Keep in mind that some HR folks may not know too much about various forms of work permits.

I work for a university that's a short drive from the US border, and yet had to harangue HR into applying for a NAFTA/USMCA work permit (which is easier) instead doing the "standard" thing.

It's worth spending some time figuring out what you are eligible for so you can at least try to put them on the happy path.

[washedupsysadm]

Sadly, it is not an EU country I live in, or the issue would have solved itself, and I'd have citizenship by now.

I can't actually get a work permit in the country I live (turkiye) through marriage, but need to get sponsored. At this point I could get citizenship, if I improved my language skills, but it's more hassle than it's worth. I have more freedoms as a foreigner.

[shafyy]

I'm confused, how have you been staying and working legally for the past 8 years in Turkey?

[washedupsysadm]

As long as I'm working remotely for a company that doesn't have a presence in Turkiye (unless that presence is in one of the international development zones) then there's nothing for me to worry about. At least that's what my lawyer says when I ask him every year to see if the law has changed.

[netsharc]

This isn't relevant to the question, but Turkey's tourist visa rules say you're allowed to stay 90 days within a 180 day period, how did you go around that? Or have you basically lived 90 days in the for example EU and 90 days in Turkey?

[washedupsysadm]

I am married to a Turk and am here on a residential permit that I renew every 3 years.

[shafyy]

Ok, so why not find a job as a contractor for a European company?