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Ticket to the Cayman Islands (from the UK)

Ticket to the Cayman Islands (from the UK)

Old Apr 12th 2019, 8:37 am
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Post Ticket to the Cayman Islands (from the UK)

First of all Hello and thank you to the little forum workers for approving my registration to this site!

I've recently been offered a job out in the Cayman Islands and have a few questions for any who have lived and worked out there.
  • I've been offered between 90k and 95k USD (75k CI to 79k CI). Would you consider this to be a good / above average wage for someone working within the legal sector out there. Also is it a decent enough amount to live off?
  • Me and my partner currently arent married. Im aware that visitor permits last no longer than 3 months. How often can a visitor visit the country within a calendar year?
  • Is a move to this country still worth it (for both the overall experience and financially)?
  • I would like to live in or around the George Town area. A one bedroom place would be fine... Two bed a bonus. What areas would you recommend? Considering I'd like to save as much as reasonably possible.
  • Is it possible to transfer money earned there to my UK bank about. If so what (if any) are the transfer fees like?
  • What piece of advice would you give to anyone making the move?

I'm sure I'll no doubt have more questions.

Thanks in advance
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Old Apr 15th 2019, 4:01 am
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Default Re: Ticket to the Cayman Islands (from the UK)

Londoner. Check out (i.e. read from cover to cover) the online "New Resident" magazine, and come back with questions about anything they've missed.
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Old Apr 26th 2019, 1:57 am
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Default Re: Ticket to the Cayman Islands (from the UK)

You can save about 2K CI a month based on what you say as long as you,are frugal, don't mind not eating out with friends more than once every two months, can cook, don't drink more than a reasonable amount especially in bars, or have other equally expensive hobbies (SCUBA/seeing the surrounding Caribbean/a love of AC at home etc). Sending money home usually costs 42-60CI for amounts up to 50k, you just need to watch the rates. Defo worth it for the experience and can be financially worth it depending on your earning potential in the UK, if you can earn 50-60K in the UK then no. Either get married or hope you can make a long distance relationship work or say tatty ta, if you go for the first an unskilled spouse won't find it easy to get meaningful work dependent on their experience, qualifications and expectations. Best piece of advice is to ensure when you are due to meet your maker you never ask yourself 'What if?'.
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Old Apr 27th 2019, 3:25 pm
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Do it! My wife and I came out last Feb and she got work quite quickly but she is in a very specialised line of work. We have a combined income of $76k a year. We live in a one bed in South Sound just of out main George Town (South Sound is lovely) and drive a 20 year old Honda CRV. We send money home to cover bills at home but still have a pretty good standard of living. On your wage, you'll cope NO PROBLEM. You could even do brunch at Luca on that wage! Our permits run out in March 2021 and we'll likely be going home. We came for the experience and don't regret it one bit. The whole short and flip-flop lifestyle really is hard to beat. It can be VERY frustrating sometimes when you are used to the pace of UK living especially when dealing with the banks, but on the whole I'd recommend it. It is a lovely island and the opportunity to visit other parts of the Caribbean and the states is made much easier. One thing I will say is that TandD is spot on regarding your partner. Finding work is very difficult unless they have specific skills or qualifications.

You're a long time dead!
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Old Apr 27th 2019, 6:38 pm
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Default Re: Ticket to the Cayman Islands (from the UK)

A couple ought to be able to live on $50K easily. Easily. There are many people here who earn less than that, and $75K is a damn good wage. Travel to the US or other Caribbean islands would be extra, of course. Reports differ on whether the cost of living is higher or lower than in England; it's too long since I've visited England for my opinion to be relevant. Note that our currency-unit is worth a bit less than the pound, these days.

The main problem might be finding a job for your girlfriend. As Jamesy says, she'd need to have some kind of skill, but there are temp agencies to help with that sort of thing.
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Old May 18th 2019, 4:10 pm
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Default Re: Ticket to the Cayman Islands (from the UK)

Hi All

Thanks for the responses. I've gone ahead and accepted the job almost a month ago now. Both my medical and police backgrounds checks were completed earlier this week.

Im hoping to move out there towards the end of June / early July. Now on the lookout for decent real estate agents to help me find a place!
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Old May 21st 2019, 5:39 pm
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Keep an eye on https://ecaytrade.com/cayman/real-estate too. People leave the island all the time. Occasionally you'll find a good un' at the right price.
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Old Jun 13th 2019, 9:18 am
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Default Re: Ticket to the Cayman Islands (from the UK)

Thanks Jamesy

I've been told it should take around 10 working days to get a decision from the Immigration Office. So Im hoping to hear something by Friday or next Monday!
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Old Jun 13th 2019, 11:22 am
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Default Re: Ticket to the Cayman Islands (from the UK)

This is the Caribbean - If it should be done in 10 days work on it being 20 at least - The only thing done fast here is drunk driving!
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Old Jun 13th 2019, 11:47 am
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Default Re: Ticket to the Cayman Islands (from the UK)

Funniy enough i find the reverse here. As drunk driving is typically not illegal, and the cost of car repairs so high, people tend to creep around at 10-20mph if they are drunk. I remember a guy who was so bad that he gently rolled into a ditch, couldnt get out [not sure he knew he was in it] so the police had to give him a lift home.
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Old Jun 13th 2019, 12:55 pm
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Smile Re: Ticket to the Cayman Islands (from the UK)

Originally Posted by TandD2017
This is the Caribbean - If it should be done in 10 days work on it being 20 at least - The only thing done fast here is drunk driving!
True dat...






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Old Jun 14th 2019, 4:28 am
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Default Re: Ticket to the Cayman Islands (from the UK)

Originally Posted by uk_grenada
As drunk driving is typically not illegal, and the cost of car repairs so high, people tend to creep around at 10-20mph if they are drunk.
That made me smile, remembering when I was a young lad in an Australian town. We always made a point of driving home from a party at three or four miles an hour above the legal speed-limit, on the grounds that the Police automatically suspected anybody driving under the limit, after midnight. (Well, it made sense to us!)
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Old Jun 14th 2019, 6:59 am
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Default Re: Ticket to the Cayman Islands (from the UK)

Originally Posted by TandD2017
This is the Caribbean - If it should be done in 10 days work on it being 20 at least - The only thing done fast here is drunk driving!
lol My application must have been fast tracked. I received an email last night (from the new employer). Informing me that they've just received my work permit!

Things just got real!
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Old Jun 14th 2019, 2:49 pm
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Default Re: Ticket to the Cayman Islands (from the UK)

Originally Posted by SomeLondoner
lol My application must have been fast tracked. I received an email last night (from the new employer). Informing me that they've just received my work permit!

Things just got real!
I take it back then!!!!!

Well done and good luck -I am heading the other way, back to the UK in 3 weeks but I have loved my time here - enjoy it
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Old Jun 14th 2019, 2:54 pm
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Default Re: Ticket to the Cayman Islands (from the UK)

How long have you been there for and what were your thoughts on the overall experience?
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