Returning home, having left in 1966
 

Luckily, I am only 46. :D

I will try to make it short. I grew up in South America and in my late teens moved to the USA, where I lived until 2000.

My first trip to the UK was in 1998 to visit relatives and I fell in love with the place, but I felt out of place.

Left USA after Bush was elected and have lived in Thailand ever since. Married with a lovely lady and have a 2 year old boy.

In 2000 I went back to the UK for 6 months to test the job market there. At the time I was about 39. Everywhere I went, I faced the "we are looking for a younger candidate. Your years of experience do not qualify you" bs.

I actually left disgusted.

But, the situation in Thailand is getting worse. The political situation, Royal family problems and border issues, make this place a xenophobic area which I am not willing to partake in. Never mind the lack of quality schools.

Anyway, I am looking to go back to Queen's country and try again. My wife will stay in Thailand while I go job hunting. Most of my technical certifications are all expired. I am currently teaching a large Korean community English and perhaps that is what I am good at, as opposed to an office environment.

No savings to speak of. I will return with maybe 1000 or so pounds. Eastbourne area, but SE England for sure, unless I get a job elsewhere.

I contacted Eastbourne Council to see what assistance I could get as a returning expat who has never lived in the UK nor paid any taxes of any kind. Zero. One of my friends suggested I change to a Polish name and apply. :frown:

Is it really that tough there?

I mean, I land at Heathrow and I am homeless??????

Any suggestions are most appreciated. God, if you read this far, you are really bored! :lol:

Thanks.
T

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

sorry but. Why don't you go to Korea to teach English if you are good at it? Surely Korea is much better than Thailand/U.K?

Recently I visited Korea for a short period of time and I found it's sooooooooooooooooooooo nice to stay there.

there's a good chance that you can make lots of money in South Korea. (Tax is very low, isn' it?)

YOu save money and then go back to the UK? :blink:

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

I re read my first message. Let me make it clear I do not want handouts, but just some help for a month, get back on my feet and off I go...

Regarding Korea. Yes, good money. But if you are under 40. Ageism is rampant there as well. I have plenty of contacts there and they are all leaving.

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

You will find UK VERY, VERY expensive. Can your relatives you visited not help you in any way if you are certain you wish to live there?

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

yeah. true.

But I thought no age limit for an English teacher there? I can't believe!

You know now I am 30 as well, so I can't technically apply any job there either - because I am toooooo old! :eek: :mad: why do they care bloody age too much ? (which doesn't make any sense) ? they are crap

The Class system in Korea sucks

I feel sorry for you... The UK would be a tough option too.......

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

I emigrated, to Canada, for the second time nearly 4 years ago in my mid-50's; found getting work almost impossible mainly due to my being foreign. I did, eventually, find work in one of the big banks over there. Returned to the UK a month ago and almost 4 years older.........juts had a birthday last week.......getting employment no problem!
And excuse me if I sound harsh - but - although you say you want "no handouts, just some help for a month........", that doesn't cut it with Officialdom. You cannot provide proof of how long you will need help, and they cannot be expected to take what you say at face value.

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

No need to feel sorry.

Well, the options are: remain in SE Asia and deal with their bull xenophobic and nationalistic and surly attitudes, get stared at all the time and deal with corruption, but lovely beaches.....or back to a civilized society, been there done that attitude and get on with my life and give venerable son some hope of a good education.

Regarding family helping. Met them in 1998 after 29 years of them visiting me in South America and talk about dysfunctional. Nope, rather deal with this myself and without their help.

I know the UK is very very expensive. And it has its faults and wrinkles. I am prepared to deal with that and just work like a horse for my family.

And fish and chips are to die for!!! Even if only chinese and poles own the shops.

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

I think it's very important - your son deserves a good education in UK

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

My son is 2 years 3 months. Yes, he deserves the very best I can offer him.

And the other poster is correct. I have no idea how long I will need assistance after landing. But I will try very very hard to not be on it too long (help with a room). I am very independent person and the sooner I get a job, the sooner my family can join me. What an incentive that is to get off council help!

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

I hope you can get some decent help from the u.k govt until you settle down. However....a returning expat eligible ?

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

You shouldn't have ageism problems with employment in the UK, there is a law against that. An employer cannot refuse you employment based on your age.

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

you say you don't want handouts...what then are you looking for? don't forget the powers that be will say that you have made yourself homeless.

either try korea or best you keep working for a few more yrs in thailand and then return to the uk with a few more ££ to support yourself and family. good luck.

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

"Handouts" or "help" .........whatever you choose to call it, and for however long or short that period is, it's still the same.......don't count on it. I'm a returning British expat and I'm "entitled" to precisley nothing. I didn't expect or want any help.......I put myself in this situation, therefore it's up to me to provide for myself. The idea of this being short term is not going to be an incentive to the council providing help.........get real.

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

There is a law against ageism in Canada, too...........doesn't mean it doesn't happen. They use some other reason.......over-qualified, under-qualified, blah, blah, blah.

BTW there's a law against murder.......doesn't stop it happening!

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

She's right. Since 2006, age discriminate is illegal. For more see Citizen's Advice Bureau:

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/...on_at_work.htm

For this reason, you do not have to write your date of birth on your CV. An employer should offer you the job based on your abilities and life experience rather than your age.

Good luck!

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

Thought I'd add this link:

http://www.caade.net/index.html

Scroll down and click on sympathetic recruiters-this gives you a load of other links and jobs.

also on sympathetic employers-this has a list of all the employers sympathetic to over 45s.

Will your child be traveling with you? I'm not sure of the rights he/she could have in the UK but he/she will be British by descent. This could be your answer for somewhere to live...? correct me someone...?

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

You're not going to get assistance and neither will anyone else other than approved assylum seekers. You need to work out a plan or save up considerably more money to try at a later date.

People come to the UK on student travel budgets and live, its not ideal but renting a room and doing anything that someone will pay you for, ie warehouse picking etc etc may be your only route to having a permanent address here from which to find qualified work. No council is going to put that roof over your head.

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

Thanks for a fantastic link............I hate to admit that I now need such a website. It's like seeing those age brackets on forms and realising that you're further down the list tha you used to be! I think they should do them in reverse order to give us wrinklies the occasional boost! :)

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

Happy to be of assistance!!! I found it a while back and luckily bookmarked it. I happened to remember about its existence because of the subject of ageism in this thread.

I know what you mean. It seems strange to be almost the big 4 0. I have to scroll my age group further down the page too!

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

On the age discrimination laws, as another person posted, it happens. Laws are made for law abiding citizens. Then there are..............

The CAADE link is great. Never knew existed, thanks! That should go to the UK links topic.

I agree with the statement that it is myself putting me on homelesness. If I had any other choice, I would go for it. But I do not.

Life in the sun is great if you are younger. But I have done it and enjoyed it for a while, but it is time for a reality check. I appreciate all the objective posts here.

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

Have you thought of contacting Shelter? They might be able to give you some advice on what to do:

http://england.shelter.org.uk/

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

Is there no way that you could cut your expenses to the bone and for the next few months save?

Of course I'm saying this without knowing your expense and obligations, but just asking.

I know for myself I could cut down on a lot, cable TV, eating out, buying books, collecting 'stuff' etc.

Just a suggestion and I apologise in advance if this comes across as rude or presumptuous.

Good luck.

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

I dont see why you couldnt come home and work at whatever you can pick up in wherever you can pick it up in until you get settled and can bring your family over. My boys never had a problem (they were younger than you though) picking up all sorts of casual work. For cheap digs and casual work you could do worse than try The Gumtree

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

If anything, that law has made it more difficult for older people to find work. Now employers have a good reason not to hire them.

All they have to do is refuse employment for some other reason. Impossible to disprove.

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

You may want to check here, you'll probably get a different answer.

http://www.eastbourne.gov.uk/benefitscalculator/

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

I'm intrigued....okay, nosey, then........how can you be a "returning expat" if you've never lived in the UK? :confused:

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

Taking a wild guess - but the OP may be British through his parents and never lived in the UK himself because they raised him abroad and he continued his life abroad... might be wrong, but the OP does talk about relatives in the UK. :unsure:

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

Is he, then, an expat, or am I just being pedantic?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expatriate..........."upbringing" and "legal residence" seem to be the key words here.

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

Yes, pedantic, I am sure... ha ha.

I was there until I was 4. So I qualify for expat label. 6 of 1 or half dozen of the other. Irrelevant.

Thanks to the others for the additional links.

I was born in Wimbledon, so I am English by birth. Relatives have problems of their own and I do not wish to bother anyone. I am 46 and I need to fix this issue myself.

Finding a job is not a problem. I will find one very quickly. finding a job that will support family once they arrive (or support while they are waiting for paperwork and flight costs) is another matter entirely.

My only weakness, as far as I can tell, is that no taxes ever paid, other than the very high 17.5 VAT we all have to pay.

T

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

I feel very sad to here about your current predicament, but as far as I know there is absolutely no way that you will get any support, be it DHS benefits, or housing unless you can fund the latter yourself. Plus I am sure that there is something in the UK legislation in relation to citizenship. I might be wrong but there is a period of time that one being out of the country cannot automatically gain rights to UK resources, as I said I am not sure so you should look online.
You will struggle to find employment but I am sure you will find some thing even if it means working in a supermarket. I understand things are hard for you and It is no good staying somewhere that you do not like, but you should try to save as much as you can because you will need so much money in the Uk to secure rental accommodation, food and transport and to support your family abroad.

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

I really do sympathize.......I know only too well what it's like to be in place you dislike, for whatever reason. I am extremely lucky in that I enjoy freedom of movement (and the wherewithall to do it) between Canada and the UK. I am now home in the UK and intend to remain here.

I doubt the lack of taxes paid will have any bearing on the various government agencies. Money paid out is not governed by the tax an individual pays in, more's the pity, as thousands, if not millions, of us, would be in the longest queue you ever saw, asking for our share! :D

Good luck whatever your decision.

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

British citizenship does not expire simply due to long residence overseas.

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

Archangel....it's not my predicament!

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

Yes it can be tough in the UK.

Like alot of other posters you seem to think it is easy to just turn up in the UK and be eligible for benefits and housing and it just isn't. The rules have been tightened and not before time and the reality is you will be way down the list for help.

You've said you are happy to 'work like a horse' for your family so why don't you, like other people have advised, just take any job to start off and rent a room. Have you got a NI number btw?

Have you actually looked into the requirements and costs of bringing your Thai wife into the UK. I don't know what they are so can't comment but if you check out posts by FleaFlyFloFlum she is having to show she has enough funds to support her NZ husband's application to live in the UK?

Have you looked into getting your qualifications updated for recognition in the UK market and finding work in your field whatever that is?

And what about setting up a bank account? You say you've never lived in the UK so you might have difficulty in that area having no credit history. There are some very recent posts about this very subject.

You'll also need to get yourself onto the electoral roll. That counts a lot towards your credit rating and getting a mortgage if you go down that route in the future.

I'm assuming you've checked out websites for rooms for rent in the Eastbourne area? I've had a quick google myself and there is a huge amount of accommodation available 'to get you started'. You also have relatives in the UK and dysfunctional or not, if they have been visiting you for 29 years in South America or is it the USA (your posts are contradictory as you said you moved from Sth America in your late teens but the rellies visited you there:confused:) surely they can help you out for a month or so.

I do sympathise with you being in a place you don't like living but you also need to take responsibility for yourself and your family and not ssume you can rely on handouts.

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

Long post. Let me try to clarify.
I am fully aware that I am not entitled to anything. Hence my questions. I rely on this forum members's experiences.

I will take any job once I return, as stated in another post. No NI number because I never paid taxes. I am told I get one once employed.

Requirements to bring my family over is quite big. We will be separated probably 8 to 12 months before I see them at all. We are prepared for that emotional ordeal. But not seeing son grow for a year will be tough for all involved.

I have 2 masters and one major from two universities from USA. So I will be able to use those qualifications.

I opened a UK account at Abbey National about 10 years ago and keep it upto date.

My posts are not contradictory. I grew up in South America. Moved as an older teen to USA where I was for 23 years. I worked for Lucent and other high tech firms, was a cop for 8 years and did drug work in Colombia and Mexico.

I never said relatives visited me for 29 years. I stated that we never saw each other except once in 29 years. Anyway, they are more friends than relatives.

Rooms go for about 40 or 80 quid a week. Depending on location.

I have set a time frame of 1 year to get settled in and bring family. So have to work fast and hard. After I reach 50, there will be no jobs to be had.

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

[QUOTE=whereamifrom;6630600]Long post. Let me try to clarify.
I am fully aware that I am not entitled to anything. Hence my questions. I rely on this forum members's experiences.

I will take any job once I return, as stated in another post. No NI number because I never paid taxes. I am told I get one once employed.

Requirements to bring my family over is quite big. We will be separated probably 8 to 12 months before I see them at all. We are prepared for that emotional ordeal. But not seeing son grow for a year will be tough for all involved.

I have 2 masters and one major from two universities from USA. So I will be able to use those qualifications.



I'm not sure if you will need this but I'll put it up anyway. This is an agency the provides information about comparing qualifications:

http://www.naric.org.uk/

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

Sorry didn't mean you!!!

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

I didn't say it expires, i am relating this to automatic rights to UK resources!!:blink:

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

Not necessarily..............you need to see if they are recognised over here. Many qualifications do not transfer from one country to another. Harsh but true.

Re: Returning home, having left in 1966
 

In my previous post, I added a link to an agency that transfers overseas qualifications.

Here it is again:

http://www.naric.org.uk/