What does your partner do in the UK and what do they think of the country?

Its something that doesn't come to the surface enough. But...
What does your partner think of the UK?
Was it as expected?
What job are they doing in the UK?
Do they work?

My wife found that her qualifications were of little use in the UK. She was going to try and seek work, anything really, but found the IOM permit system filtered her out somewhat. However, she fell pregnant within 5 months of arriving and so she is a busy housewife right now.

She doesnt like our food, but is adapting slowly. And she found it surprisingly cold but is acclimatising. She said she thought the weather would be like in Baguio

What were the limits on the permit and what does IOM stand for?

Isle of Man

They have a protectionsit system here so all non Manx workers require a permit. I have one. But if they can get a Manx worker in preference then they take the Manx worker.

How do you mean limits on the permit? The permit system here is job specific. Normally for a set period of time.

thanks for clearing that up as some people may assume it was a general restriction on people moving to the UK.

Yes. Exactly. It is only here that it applies of course. Ironically it isnt applied the other way around. IE a Manx worker can get a job in the UK without restriction.

I can understand a bit of a job for locals aspect otherwise very likely you will get jobs taken by French etc. like the South coast of the UK for hotels.

Or the Irish or the British....

I was actually wondering too what kind of jobs our loved ones are likely to get. The system in the IOM on the face of it sounds a good one, protecting and keeping the jobs for the locals. Unfortunately for us though it doesn't help the loved ones find a good job. The few foreign people I know who have moved to the UK seem to be well over qualified for the jobs they do. My lady has a working history of admin in private banking in Dubai for many years and has two degrees from De Salle Uni which I'm told is in the top 10 Philippines universities. I have already strongly suggested to her that it will be unlikely she secures a similar position here in the UK although I don't wish to discourage her in any way. I'd be more than happy for her to stack the shelves at the supermarket as long as she is happy and can send a little money back to the family in the Philippines. At the end of the day I want her here in the UK, I love being with her, its as simple as that, I think a job will be secondary to our happiness.

I have actually met a couple of Filipinos who have very good engineering jobs where I was contracting, they had their Mechanical Engineering degrees certified that they were to British Standards. They are more qualified than their boss but as happy as Larry as they both are married to Filipina nurses and must bring in a good income between them. Good for them. A happy Filipino is a smiley Filipino LOL.

I believe a degree from De La Salle is recognised by UK Naric as equivalent to a UK degree. UK Naric will confirm that. My employer is an Engineer and he was advised by the Energy Institute to check with UK Naric when hiring from overseas.

That seems ok, I will make a note of that while I remember. I have to note everything down before I forget, over the last few weeks I've started to suffer from information overload, I have a lot going on to get the job done.

Thanks for that JohnAsh

Do you think getting used to our climate and food is a biggy or is it a matter of time before you're off to the chippy for fish & chips on a Friday?

I've worked in many different countries on building sites and oil and gas installations and found that you get used to anything after time. I was wondering though whether the missus will adopt a knife when she gets here LOL

Me too. It depends on the individual. My wife is quite a fussy eater whereas I am not quite so.

Tough at the start as we lived in a small village and the wife doesn't drive so when I was at work it was hard on her as she was reliant on my folks and brother / sis in law to take her out. Once we moved back to my home town (about 6 miles away) things got better. Aside from that she loves the food, weather, countryside. I think she prefers it to the phils now!

I don't think so, not sure she knew what to expect to be honest. Snow was a big surprise though!

She's not worked since we got married

You're right, we can get used to anything over time. When I think of some of the working conditions I've put up with over the years and I kept going back!! My wife arrived mid October so it was a bit tough at the start and she got little sick as her bodies defences wheren't prepared for onslaught of british cold viruses etc. But once over that everything generally was good. She loves sunday dinners, she loves all the seasons in the uk, autumn & winter especially as long as the house is warm on our return! Foos wise she adapted really well and as a by product it made me learn how to cook more stuff instead of findus crispy pancakes!! It obviously helps if you can find a good Asian market so she can still get her own type of food. One of the best things I brought was a second under counter freezer so she could pack it full of her fish & veg etc.

Working conditions i have been in some extremely bleak situations but then again i think if you will work through the hardships the world is your oyster.

It has taken time, but yes, my wife particularly likes a sunday type roast now or English Dinner as she calls it. And her favourite bit is the gravy

The wife goes mad for Jamie Oliver roast chicken, the one with ham, thyme, lemon, garlic and butter stuffed between the skin and breast meat. Feeling hungry now

Good tip.....