Some advice would be greatly appreciated.
Dec 20th 2016, 3:29 pm
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5
Some advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for taking the time to click on the thread.
I am a primary school teacher in the UK (Wales to be specific) with 4 years experience of Year 2 in the Foundation Phase (FP goes from Nursery to Year 2)
Although life is good here in the UK, I have always had a hankering for taking my profession to another country. Teaching in the Middle East has always been at the back of my mind.
I won't ask the usual questions like 'how much can I expect to earn?' etc.
I do have a girlfriend and she has a daughter from a previous relationship. Will that damage my chances of getting a teaching job in the Middle East? Will my girlfriend and her daughter be able to come with me if I were to be successful in getting a job etc?
Thank you greatly in advance.
I am a primary school teacher in the UK (Wales to be specific) with 4 years experience of Year 2 in the Foundation Phase (FP goes from Nursery to Year 2)
Although life is good here in the UK, I have always had a hankering for taking my profession to another country. Teaching in the Middle East has always been at the back of my mind.
I won't ask the usual questions like 'how much can I expect to earn?' etc.
I do have a girlfriend and she has a daughter from a previous relationship. Will that damage my chances of getting a teaching job in the Middle East? Will my girlfriend and her daughter be able to come with me if I were to be successful in getting a job etc?
Thank you greatly in advance.
Dec 20th 2016, 3:56 pm
#2
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,448
Re: Some advice would be greatly appreciated.
Your girlfriend won't be able to take her child out of the UK to live without the explicit permission of the child's father, or a court order. .... Having "sole custody" is not sufficient.
Dec 20th 2016, 4:04 pm
#3
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5
Re: Some advice would be greatly appreciated.
I am just curious whether the authorities would allow us to come out together seeing as we are not married.
Would we be allowed to live together?
Thank you for your prompt response.
Dec 20th 2016, 4:28 pm
#4
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,520
Re: Some advice would be greatly appreciated.
A. It's illegal to cohabit outside marriage (plenty do, but not with children involved).
B. As you are not married, you are not able to sponsor your partner or her child and they need the sponsorship to be able to live in the UAE without doing monthly visa runs.
C. Said residency visa is required to have health insurance as well as to enrol child in school.
D. Because you are not married you will get housing suitable for a single person, which will be a 1-bedroom flat, not two bedrooms.
E. School will likely have official policies against allowing unmarried partners/children living with you in the school provided accommodation.
F. Any other benefits the school may offer, such as free school places for children, will not be available as you are not married. British schooling is very expensive otherwise. Ditto with other benefits such as annual flights home and health insurance for the family.
In other words, if you are not prepared to marry your partner, don't even think about it.
B. As you are not married, you are not able to sponsor your partner or her child and they need the sponsorship to be able to live in the UAE without doing monthly visa runs.
C. Said residency visa is required to have health insurance as well as to enrol child in school.
D. Because you are not married you will get housing suitable for a single person, which will be a 1-bedroom flat, not two bedrooms.
E. School will likely have official policies against allowing unmarried partners/children living with you in the school provided accommodation.
F. Any other benefits the school may offer, such as free school places for children, will not be available as you are not married. British schooling is very expensive otherwise. Ditto with other benefits such as annual flights home and health insurance for the family.
In other words, if you are not prepared to marry your partner, don't even think about it.
Dec 20th 2016, 4:44 pm
#5
Hit 16's
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine
Posts: 13,112
Re: Some advice would be greatly appreciated.
A. It's illegal to cohabit outside marriage (plenty do, but not with children involved).
B. As you are not married, you are not able to sponsor your partner or her child and they need the sponsorship to be able to live in the UAE without doing monthly visa runs.
C. Said residency visa is required to have health insurance as well as to enrol child in school.
D. Because you are not married you will get housing suitable for a single person, which will be a 1-bedroom flat, not two bedrooms.
E. School will likely have official policies against allowing unmarried partners/children living with you in the school provided accommodation.
F. Any other benefits the school may offer, such as free school places for children, will not be available as you are not married. British schooling is very expensive otherwise. Ditto with other benefits such as annual flights home and health insurance for the family.
In other words, if you are not prepared to marry your partner, don't even think about it.
B. As you are not married, you are not able to sponsor your partner or her child and they need the sponsorship to be able to live in the UAE without doing monthly visa runs.
C. Said residency visa is required to have health insurance as well as to enrol child in school.
D. Because you are not married you will get housing suitable for a single person, which will be a 1-bedroom flat, not two bedrooms.
E. School will likely have official policies against allowing unmarried partners/children living with you in the school provided accommodation.
F. Any other benefits the school may offer, such as free school places for children, will not be available as you are not married. British schooling is very expensive otherwise. Ditto with other benefits such as annual flights home and health insurance for the family.
In other words, if you are not prepared to marry your partner, don't even think about it.
Dec 21st 2016, 4:41 am
#7
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Riyadh.
Posts: 1,899
Re: Some advice would be greatly appreciated.
Or you could just get married and then expedite the process.
I know from first hand experience the complications of bringing out ( and bringing up!) a step child to Saudi in particular, the processes have already been described briefly for you.
It also depends on why you want to teach in the Middle East in particular - why not the Far East / Australia / South America / China for example? There are plenty of international schools here , all with varying levels of standards, but I believe there is now uniform framework for the these schools known as CIS? Maybe you want to look into that a bit further if you haven't already - it's like a lighter version of OFSTED.
I know from first hand experience the complications of bringing out ( and bringing up!) a step child to Saudi in particular, the processes have already been described briefly for you.
It also depends on why you want to teach in the Middle East in particular - why not the Far East / Australia / South America / China for example? There are plenty of international schools here , all with varying levels of standards, but I believe there is now uniform framework for the these schools known as CIS? Maybe you want to look into that a bit further if you haven't already - it's like a lighter version of OFSTED.
Dec 21st 2016, 5:49 am
#8
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Disneyland, Dubai
Posts: 15,887
Re: Some advice would be greatly appreciated.
we have overlooked at a foundation teacher doesn't earn enough to live here with a family. Mrs Monkeyguzzle will need to be put to employment.
Dec 21st 2016, 6:39 pm
#13
Dichotomus tinker
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 6,678
Re: Some advice would be greatly appreciated.
Given the replies above, working in the Middle East is not doable until you either marry your GF or you go it alone. Are either one of those a possibility in the near future?
What about somewhere within the EU?
Dec 22nd 2016, 6:33 am
#15
Hit 16's
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine
Posts: 13,112
Re: Some advice would be greatly appreciated.
It is for many. Many of those from the sub-continent and similar places get a very rough deal, but the majority of Brits enjoy their time in the UAE. Its a long, long way from perfect, and to a large extent, IMHO, epitomises the maxim that life's a shit sandwich, and the more bread you have the less shit you have to eat (and, the better it tastes).
To believe its a dream without understanding it would be naïve; similarly, to dismiss it as a nightmare ignores the fact that very many westerners have a good lifestyle there.
To believe its a dream without understanding it would be naïve; similarly, to dismiss it as a nightmare ignores the fact that very many westerners have a good lifestyle there.