I want my girlfriend to move to the U.K. next year. How best to achieve this?

Hi all, this is my first post on this forum so I’ll just introduce myself

I’m a 26 year old guy from the U.K. (Bedfordshire) and my girlfriend (who is 27) works as an au pair in Europe at the moment, which is where we met last year.

I have visited her monthly so far and am certain this is the woman I want to marry, it’s just unlike any relationship I’ve previously been in. I found this forum because I was hoping to find a community that can relate to what I’m going through.

So I currently live with parents, earn £29,000 a year and commute into London daily. I’ve got enough savings to buy a small flat in my town with a mortgage, and it should be straight forward in that sense. However my girlfriend does not have any qualifications in the Philippines but of course wants to work and contribute. She is a hard worker and would get too bored if she can’t find any work to do.

I was concerned also how she would adapt to life in Bedford, which to be honest is not the nicest town but is all I can afford within commutable distance to London.

So I was wondering what kind of work would she be able to find easily here in the U.K. when the visa is all sorted (I know it’s a long process)? She doesn’t mind what she does even if it’s cleaning or another similar minimum wage job.

We also have the option to move to Norwich, as I have been offered a job paying around £24,000 (so still able to get the visa) but still debating whether to take it. I want to make the move that is best for us and which environment she would most likely enjoy more?

Anyway I’d appreciate any advice you can offer! thanks!

Hi Aaron.
If she is living and working in Europe I’m sure she will adapt to the U.K. fine.
Work wise it really depends what she wants to do and what part of Bedfordshire you are in whether it’s a village or town.
I live in Bedford and there is plenty of work here in a range of different jobs.
Having no qualifications is not an issue, the biggest issue is her level of English language, spoken and written.
You are earning above the base level for earnings for getting a visa so that’s no issue.

Go and live with her in Europe while you still have the chance.

hi--and to the forum.

i'm afraid the only way you can get your girlfriend here is to marry her! either--where she is--then she applies for a spouse visa--or she applies for a "fiancee visa" and comes here to get wed . the fee is the same. but the fiancee visa then works out dearer later on.

I can't see why you would have any problems... going by the info you have provided. Go for it, but she won't be able to legally work straightaway, unless on a spouse visa. Good luck.

Thanks! Luckily she can speak perfectl English so it shouldn’t be a problem
How does your partner find life in Bedford in particular?

She’s fine with it. Came here Aug 17 and is happy although we do travel around a lot as she loves nature and history and the U.K. has both in abundance.
She’s Working in a care home, the job she had wanted to do when she got here.
At first she found the working with brits hard as so many are So lazy.
But all in all she’s happy here.

I agree with the plan to marry, then when she gets the spousal visa in her passport, she will be able to work in the UK on arrival, as soon as she can get her N.I. number from the Jobcentre.

my wife too--now shes deputy manager and about to finish her NVQ5.

That’s interesting! Did she need to do any further qualifications here to get into that? It might also be something my girlfriend would be interested in at some point in the future.

No further qualifications required but she is doing her NVQ3 in social care at college, the main reason is that it will give her more scope in the future especially if she decided to apply any NHS jobs in social care or hospital.
What part of Bedfordshire are you in ?

Thanks for the advice, it’s much appreciated!
I live in Bedford, in the north part of the town.

Your welcome.
Pm me if anything you need to know. I’m south near the hospital.

When I brought my first Filipina Mrs to the UK (spouse visa), she got a job cleaning, in a small local hotel.

She then moved on to working in a big Italian restaurant, eventually becoming cashier/assistant manager.

She then took an 'Access' course, which led up to her getting a degree in nursing (a course which my sister taught at Uni' for 10 years).

Now runs her own successful business. This a lady whose parents couldn't afford to let her graduate high school.

They can settle and succeed in the UK.

Hi Stupot10,
As far as you know, are there many jobs in social care? I know it depends where someone lives but my Filipina wife is looking at changing her job. We live in the Coventry area. Will the pay be ok for your wife after she finishes her NVQ3 in social care?

If i may butt in..filipinas are sought after in the social care sector..because of their work ethos. My wife .as a senior carer with level 3 nvq was offered a job everywhere she applied. Working full time with overtime and some nightshifts she made about £20 k last year.

Does the NVQ3 course take a long time bigmac?

I lived in Northophall for about 5 years as a boy, Dom, and liked the area but there is so much more work around Coventry.
However, I am always thinking of possibilities.