American professional Amanda Herzog said she is leaving Sweden after eight years in the country, citing difficulties in building a stable career and concerns over immigration issues.
In a detailed post on LinkedIn, Herzog said her decision comes after years of professional setbacks and personal struggles. She noted that while her early years in Sweden included positive experiences, her perspective changed over time due to what she described as deteriorating conditions for foreign workers.
He built the business to help expats, but faced challenges
Herzog founded her company Intertalents In Sweden in 2020 to help foreign-born professionals navigate the Swedish job market. She said the initiative was inspired by her own experiences trying to establish a career in the country.
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According to her post, the company initially saw growth and success with several positive outcomes for clients. However, she added that over time she began to receive more and more messages from individuals facing serious workplace and immigration issues.
These included allegations of deportations, underpayments, workplace harassment and layoffs affecting foreign workers.
Personal legal battle and immigration issues
Herzog also highlighted her own troubles, including a protracted lawsuit over unemployment benefits. She said she has been challenging the dismissal of her claim in court for more than three years.
In addition, she described receiving a letter from the Swedish Migration Agency accusing her of false information related to documentation. Herzog said she later provided the requested document and the case was closed, but expressed dissatisfaction with how the matter was handled.
“Had Enough”: The decision to return to the US
Explaining her decision, Herzog said she no longer felt comfortable promoting Sweden as a destination for foreign professionals or investing further in her business under the circumstances.
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“I could no longer encourage people to move to a country that I knew would treat them so terribly,” she wrote.
She added that she plans to return to the United States to be closer to family and avoid the uncertainty of residency and the risks of deportation.
Her Company’s Future Uncertain
Herzog said she is exploring options for the future of Intertalents in Sweden, including selling the business, bringing in new management or integrating it into another organization. She emphasized that she hoped the work would continue in some form.
Reactions on social media highlight wider concerns
Her post drew reactions from several social media users, some of whom shared similar experiences.
One user said he had waited over a year for an immigration decision despite having lived in Sweden for several years, adding that the uncertainty had taken a toll on their mental health.
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Another commentator praised Herzog’s decision to leave, calling it “courageous” and reflecting on the difficulty of leaving after years of investing in the country.
A third user claimed that comparable situations were also reported in Finland, suggesting wider challenges for foreign professionals in some parts of Europe.
Professional background
According to her LinkedIn profile, Herzog previously worked as a marketing manager at Bumbee Labs, a store project manager at Husqvarna Group and an editor at JU Local before starting her own business.
