Hello,

My name is Yousef and I'm a transman from Kuwait. I remember posting a topic before but this time I'll be more specific in my question because I am still stuck on what I need to do. My country does not allow hormone therapy and I cannot even change my name legally. I am currently 21 years old and will graduate college in a year with a computer engineering degree and I plan to immediatly leave the country once that happens but I have too many complications to face. How am I supposed to get a residence or a work permit in any country in the world as a fresh graduate from college with no experience? especially for someone from the middle east consdring what is happening in the world now.

I thought about asylum but what are my chances really? Can I get asylum if my country does not provide transgender healthcare? I will soon get my letter from a gender therapist I am having online sessions with and I was wondering is this even going to help with proving myself. I have a year to figure out everything and I'm not sure where I am supposed to go.

You might look for stories of other transgender people.
Its possible you find places where being transgender is a help for citizenship.

And you might think about taking some courses in a country you want to go to ... and then eventualy apply there ...


hugs

You are most likely eligible for political asylum in the U.S., since your country has laws against crossdressing in public, as well as a tendency to prosecute homosexuality under "debauchery" laws.

But the catch is, you have to travel to the U.S. first, then make your application for political asylum.

I would suggest that you start applying for jobs in countries with more tolerance toward gays, lesbians and transgenders.  In addition to the U.S., Canada, Australia, and most European countries (except Russia), do not forget the Philippines, which has a long history of tolerance.

Hey!
I saw this a few days ago and it took a while for me to respond. I did a tiny amount of research, and most western countries (this is just off the top of my head, DO NOT exclude places like the Philippines) are pretty open on asylum. According to a website I looked at transgender individuals can seek asylum, even if they are not yet transitioning (in the United States). HOWEVER these cases can be harder to win, and you have to give reasonable proof that you would be persecuted due to your gender identity in Kuwait if you transitioned. See this website on asylum in the United States: http://www.immigrationequality.org/get-legal-help/our-legal-resources/asylum/applying-for-asylum/ 
According to the Asylum in Sweden Advisory site a person is aplicable for asylum in Sweden if they have well-founded reasons to fear persecution due to:
race
nationality
religious or political beliefs
gender
sexual orientation
affiliation to a particular social group
The persecution may originate from the authorities of the native country. It may also be the case that the authorities are unable or unwilling to offer protection against persecution from individuals or groups.

(http://www.seekasylumsweden.info/asylum-information.html)


So I hope you find some options, and these are only two countries of many. Just FYI, pretty much all countries in the European Union have the same asylum process. I hope you find something that works. Remember, you are an educated english-speaking guy with a college degree. YOU can do good things within a new country to better your life and the country.

Good luck!

Purple

I would suggest contacting LGBT rights organizations in the country or countries to which you would like to move. The advocacy groups should know of immigration attorneys that might be able to help you cut through the red tape. I don't know much about it, but there is a group called Immigration Equality that offers pro-bono asylum assistance.

I saw your comment about what is happening around the world. I work in a hospital in Philadelphia, We have 200 to 300 patients that we care for from the Middle East. We have a lot of patients from Iran. We have many workers that are Muslim. We offer Middle East food in the cafeteria and we have a prayer room ( two prayer rooms) and a chapel.

I do not know about asylum or how to achieve a residency in the USA but I do know if you worked at our hospital you would be welcomed. I do not know about other places in the USA but I do know about where I work. 

A point about Iran. The medical treatment for all procedures and the hospital stay for all Iranian children are paid for by the Iranian embassy.