Planning to migrate in the Philippines

Hi everyone. Thanks for rejoining the site after 4 yrs. I'm in the UK for 5 yrs now but planning to move back in the Philippines. I am no planning to come back in the UK if ever we can possibly migrate there. My Leave to Remain will end by April 2022 but not sure to renew it either. My husband wanted me to renew it but I'm no caring at all. I just miss home so much and for 5 yrs in the UK, I would say I still prefer to be back to my country. But things to consider like husband needs to wait for his retirement age ( he's now 63 ) and thinking he has diabetes and medication in the Philippines could be too costly unlike here in the UK that it's all free. But we've already decided that since he lost his job due to pandemic, we're struggling to pay off everything now just relying on my job. It's sad but we need to make a big decision. So think we'll be selling our house here then move back to the Philippines. But I still don't know, I'm scared thinking no such assurance there even to find a good job. God knows... any advice is appreciated x

Firstly dont sell the house here rent it out through a reputable agency, that will give you an Income whilst in the Philippines and something to fall back on if you return to the Uk.
Obviously you miss home most people get homesick, are you sure its HIS decision or is it your decision ? especially now that you are the main wage earner. I would move to the Philippines tomorrow but for the NHS here, we will ALL need Healthcare at some point in our lives and like you say their is no guarantee to even find a good job back in Phills, could you afford to move back to the Philippines without having a job, because your husband wont work over in Phills and will probably soon get bored, Here you have a roof over your head, free Healthcare, you have a Job, life isnt easy for everyone at the moment for various reasons. Im sure he can find some sort of work, you both have to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of being in the UK against the advantages and disadvantages of living in the Philippines, whichever ticks the most boxes for BOTH of you is the way you decide to go/stay, but this is a decision for both of you

This is probably advice that you were not expecting, but your husband can conquer diabetes. If he is insulin dependent and T1 then that is a bit different. If he is T2 then he can reverse that condition and become drug free.

Appreciate your reply Heathen. Well at first it is my decision but later on my husband agreed on it and yes I am very homesick . I work in healthcare and hearing some of my Filipino friends dying coz of the covid, it scared me too. Life is too short and I still want to see my family. Yes I have a work here but no assurance about my safety as a frontliner, life is more precious than earnings. Due to racism and bullying in my previous jobs, I have no reason to stay in the UK too.

Thanks JohnAsh he's T2 and not on injections, something I thought that might be possibly reverse once on healthy diet and lifestyle.

Totally do-able as a T2. It used to be thought of as a chronic irreversible disease. But thousands have done just that. He just needs to lay of sugar, sugary products and starchy carbs, including rice. Plenty of fish and veggies. No junk food. That will ensure he doesn’t need medication.

My wife much prefers life in the UK. She will be applying for ILR in may--and is looking forward to getting citizenship later. She hasnt been back there since 2019.
As there is quite an age difference--i asked her if she would go back to live there after i'm gone..but she says no--her home is here now. She hated the heat over there.

Mrs Ash is fully acclimatised in the U.K. now. It took long enough though.

When she went back to the Philippines last she complained it was too hot!

Old friend of mine passed away in Davao last year, 20 years older than his wife, all her decision, he just went along with it to keep her happy, no kids made it easier I guess, sold the house, burnt their bridges, one of his last e-mail to me was how much he missed crisp winter mornings in the countryside, loved the UK but never returned.

Frankly I think you would be making a silly mistake - perhaps the single biggest mistake ever - to leave now. I would fight on, get jobs, get your ILR and citizenship and then go at thr right time in a planned way if you must. But don't just run thinking it will solve your issues. It won't.

The health risks and the economics mean that a migration to the Philippines may not be as rosy as all that.

A cousin of my wife's tried it with her husband and kid against my advice. They lasted a year. Now they are back in the UK in a worse situation than before.

This is sormthing I would think not just twice about. I would think carefully about it ten times for a period of a year.
Terrible idea in my view.

To all the posters saying that it would be a silly move and there was much to lose financially etc., I say why is that? Poster didn't say if her husband has been to Philippines, so I'm not sure about that part, or what his likes, dislikes are etc. However, it has already been established that she doesn't like the UK and is terribly homesick, so I don't see why it would be a mistake to return. As long as you keep the house for security, the rent from that will probably cover your basic living costs in Fils. Husband isn't working so his income isn't a factor in staying in UK. His pension will kick in 3 years time, that with the house rent will give them a very decent lifestyle in Fils. If, after being here for a while, 6 months or so, it doesn't work out, then OK return to UK. Nothing lost and much to be gained by the experience. I have friends here with diabetes, the healthcare is fine, but not free. Most people here either have private health insurance, avail of Philhealth or return to UK for treatment. I know that is not legal, but they do it. The biggest problem is the covid, my thoughts on that have been covered in another post. My wife enjoyed visiting UK, but wouldn't want to live there. Horses for courses.

Firstly a big Thank you to you for all your efforts as a frontline worker with the NHS you are an absolute credit.
In you posts you talk about feeling home sick, the pressures of working during the pandemic, your husband losing his job and his illness and other points.
As a start point I would sit down and ask" were we happy before the last year?"
You say your husband is keen for you to progress your ILR this suggest she is not convinced about a move over there..
Has he visited the Philippines and of so was it just holidays. Holiday atmospheres are different than long term living.
Has he family in the UK if so are they close and would him moving to the Philippines cause him to miss them like you do yours.
Consider that if you both moved across there how would hubby cope with the language barrier and social side if you were not by his side.
When was the last time you went home? Don't forget 5 years is a long time and families move on!
Is there things in the UK that would address your current situation for example work as agency and take a long period off work periodically to visit home ( within the guidelines of ILR absence from the UK)
Most of all do not rush any decision make the decisions together. One man's adventure is another man's nightmare.
Good luck and Thank You again.

Two men I know personally that made an impression on me both have conflicting views. One gent was a work colleague blessed with a very good Shell pension. He loves the Philippines and is well settled there in Ilo Ilo. By contrast another gent of similar character, elected to leave the Philippines after many years to settle up in the remotest part of Scotland with his Filipina wife and she has been in the U.K. for as long as Mrs Ash. They have completely opposing views on the two countries.

Caithness?

Main reason I wrote it, is that if they had wanted to live in the phils they would do so in a thoughtful and planned way but the post read as if it was an emergency knee jerk reaction to the current situation.

Feeling forced to leave by circumstance is never a good thing. All your points about rent and so on are well made apart from the fact that the income will be taxed and (assuming there is no mortgage) even if the rent was say 1000 a month, when taxes, agency commission, repairs and savings are taken out they will be lucky to clear 500 quid a month.

That nets about 35,000 php monthly. Not exactly living in luxury if they do not already own a property to run to.

Almost.

Sutherland? I used to get packed off to North-North-North Scottish mainland for summer holidays as a kid, still got family there, west of Thurso, wild, bleak, desolate and windy

Yes. They love it there. Lots of fresh air, hill walking, fishing etc. He loves fishing.

Coastal fishing is decent, but the area shines for sea-trout and salmon, I used to catch loads as a kid, the place is the land that time forgot.

They live adjacent to a lake.