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best place to live/work for 6 months?

best place to live/work for 6 months?

Old Jun 7th 2009, 3:05 pm
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Default best place to live/work for 6 months?

Hi was hoping someone that has maybe done this could help me with finding out where would be best to go in the caribbean.

I love st Lucia have been on holiday there a few times as well as a few other of the island but not very recently.

In regards to getting visa's, work permit, actually finding a job where would be the best place to go?

I've read that it can sometimes be hard to get a job as the employer has to employee a local and if they can not do this then they can give the job to a non local.

If i cant get a job then i'll find out what the living expenses would be and save up that amount of money first. But in order to do that i need to know where would be the best place to go.

I have 2 children as well.

thanks

samantha
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Old Jun 8th 2009, 2:04 pm
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Default Re: best place to live/work for 6 months?

I was going to say try Cayman Islands - then I saw that you have two children. I am going to be blunt, it would be extremely difficult to get a 6 month work permit (which is classed as a temporary permit) in the Cayman Islands with even 1 dependant - not to mention 2!

I have a daughter here, I couldn't even have her on my work permit years ago as I didn't earn enough plus immigration don't like to put children on temp permits. I guess it depends on what you do, for instance, if you are going to work in a bar - forget it. If you are a professional looking for a position that pays well then maybe......

Why 6 months? That is the main thing that is going to go against you, if you were looking at a year which is classed as a "real" work permit then you would stand a better chance of having your children being put on the permit.

Don't forget, in most islands expat kids cannot attend government (free) schools so you have to factor in cost of private schooling or a nanny, neither if which are that cheap.

Hope that helps. Sorry it was negative.
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Old Jun 8th 2009, 3:01 pm
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Default Re: best place to live/work for 6 months?

it wasn't negative i'm glad you said what you did.

I was thinking of 6 months because that way the children's lives wouldn't change too much...sort of an extended holiday. That way they would only miss 1 term of school, we could leave in march and be back the beginning of september for them to start school again.

It's just something that i've always wanted to do is travel with the children. I was very lucky growing up my grandparents took my on holiday 2/3 times a year all over the world, and i'd like the same for them.

I suppose the idea of actually being there for more than just a holiday really appeals to me. I get itchy feet alot and i'm always thinking of moving somewhere but i know i'd get home sick and want to come home. So it's not a permanent move i want.

What about 3 months rather than 6 months. Even if i didn't work, would i be able to get permission to stay on the island for that long.


If i cant work then i'll have to save up for a while before i can do this. But without working i'd probably get bored after a month or so.

I really dont know what to do. Maybe i could think of somewhere in the E.U instead, wouldn't have to worry about the visa's. It's just something about the caribbean i've always had a longing to go back and the best holidays of my life have been there.

thanks for the advice....i'll have to do abit more thinking
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Old Jun 8th 2009, 3:18 pm
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Default Re: best place to live/work for 6 months?

It would be an amazing thing to do for sure, how old are your children?

If you came here as a visitor you get a stamp for 30 days, that can be extended but you do have to have funds to show that you can afford to be here, & here is not a cheap place to come.

It can be done though. One thing I would say is if the powers that be think you are here looking for work they will not extend your stay, oh and you need a return ticket obviously.

What type of work would you be looking to find? Any advice I can give to you I will, Cayman is lovely, especially for kids, very safe and friendly.
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Old Jun 8th 2009, 4:11 pm
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Default Re: best place to live/work for 6 months?

My children are 9 and 6.

what do you mean by not cheap? What would accomodation cost per month? And what do you think i need to live on a week?

I'd do any type of work i'm not bothered like that. I'm a hairdresser so it's not like i have any skills of great importance like a doctor.

I would still like to do it even if i couldn't get a work visa, but i'd prefer if possible to be able to work and have the experience of actually living there, not just visiting like a holiday. What about unpaid work? would I even be able to do that? Maybe in a hospital/school or anything like that.
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Old Jun 8th 2009, 4:38 pm
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Default Re: best place to live/work for 6 months?

You have a great skill for here because lots of salons and spa's & I can't think of any locals that are hairdressers, they think jobs that "wait on" or "attend" to peoples needs are beneath them

Anyhow, you probably would get work but I am not sure about being able to get your kids on your permit. You need to earn CI$3500 per month for 1 child on permit, 2 I think the salary goes to CI$4000 and that has to be your SALARY it cannot be extras earned in tips.

I am not sure what hairdressers earn here, maybe other people can assist but I just about earn enough for my daughter to be on my permit and I am a PA, I am not sure like I said how my wage compares with Hairdressing?

Unpaid work is not going to happen unless you are coming with a spouse who earns a lot of money and then you and the kids would be on his permit......

Kind of catch 22.

As for cost of living here, I would say it is slightly higher - or on par with City of London. We pay US$2500 per month for a 2 bed apartment which is roughly 1500 pounds. We could get cheaper but then you have to consider the area etc.......many people pay a lot more, I think what I pay is about average for a 2 bed.

Maybe some of the other islands might be a better option for you? Or Europe like you said where at least you don't have to worry about permits?

Good luck, if you need any other advice let me know.

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Old Jun 8th 2009, 4:52 pm
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Default Re: best place to live/work for 6 months?

that's interesting......i have a skill thats might help me!. I'm a beauticain as well but dont really do it as much anymore, much prefer the hairdressing. But if asked i'll do waxing,nails ect.

Would they take into consideration any other income i had from home while i was there. I recieve £1000 a month in child support.

I want to do it for myself as much for the children, looks like i'd be much better off not bringing the children with me. It could be an option to leave them with their father and just go over myself for a few months. I've love to bring them with me but if it's not possible i dont have any other option.

One way to look at it is the future when their older they can go off travelling where ever they want. I had my son very young so i didn't get the chance to go travelling. Not that i'd change that for the world. But there are so many places i want to go and visit and i dont want to be too old that i wont get a working visa.
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Old Jun 10th 2009, 7:23 pm
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Default Re: best place to live/work for 6 months?

Originally Posted by samantha81
that's interesting......i have a skill thats might help me!. I'm a beauticain as well but dont really do it as much anymore, much prefer the hairdressing. But if asked i'll do waxing,nails ect.

Would they take into consideration any other income i had from home while i was there. I recieve £1000 a month in child support.

I want to do it for myself as much for the children, looks like i'd be much better off not bringing the children with me. It could be an option to leave them with their father and just go over myself for a few months. I've love to bring them with me but if it's not possible i dont have any other option.

One way to look at it is the future when their older they can go off travelling where ever they want. I had my son very young so i didn't get the chance to go travelling. Not that i'd change that for the world. But there are so many places i want to go and visit and i dont want to be too old that i wont get a working visa.
Samantha welcome to the world of parenthood. We would all love to swan off and be free from responsibilities sometimes, but we have our parently obligations to fulfill.

Why not just have a couple of extended vacations with your kids ?
The work idea is not looking very feasable, and your hair dressing skills will not be classed as specialist in the Caribbean to grant you any work permit.

Yes your kids can leave you when they are older and do their own thing, but for now they are at an age where your presence is invaluable, so leaving them for an extended period may be unwise.

Before you know it they will be all grown up, so cherish this time, and wait till they are grown to have extended visits wherever you wish in the world. You sound young enough to have this option.
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Old Jun 10th 2009, 8:07 pm
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Default Re: best place to live/work for 6 months?

.

Originally Posted by pgtips
Samantha welcome to the world of parenthood. We would all love to swan off and be free from responsibilities sometimes, but we have our parently obligations to fulfill.

Dont think i need much of a welcome have been doing it for nearly 10 years. Where as i can tell you are a person that would never go away for more than a few weeks and leave your children, we all dont think that way. It's not like i would be leaving them with strangers, they would be with their father. Many children go for a while without seeing one of there parents. For the summer which is 2 months they spend 99% of their time in Ireland with their father and his family. An extra month isn't going to make much difference.

Why not just have a couple of extended vacations with your kids ?

Because holidays and living and working somewhere isn't the same thing

The work idea is not looking very feasable, and your hair dressing skills will not be classed as specialist in the Caribbean to grant you any work permit.

Not according to what i was told my someone else, who said not 1 local works in either the salons or the spa's.

Yes your kids can leave you when they are older and do their own thing, but for now they are at an age where your presence is invaluable, so leaving them for an extended period may be unwise.

Thats only your opinion, it's not a fact. I know serveral children who's paretns they only see a few times a year. Other that their father ot mother doesn't see them at all. They have turned out just fine.

Before you know it they will be all grown up, so cherish this time, and wait till they are grown to have extended visits wherever you wish in the world. You sound young enough to have this option.

It's only 3 months your making it out to be 3 years. I understand where you are coming from i also know people that wouldn't leave their kids for 5 mins let alone any longer. My question wasn't " Should i go away for 3 months without my children" if it was then your response would have some meaning to it.

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Old Jun 10th 2009, 8:34 pm
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Default Re: best place to live/work for 6 months?

Originally Posted by samantha81
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Hey Samantha, keep your shirt on !!! I was only expressing my opinion, which may differ somewhat to yours. Thats why we have forums. I am not saying your way cannot be done.
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