Educating your partner to British standards.

We are UK bound one way or the other and I am currently looking at options for my wife that may actually help support the visa process. Part of that being is the fact my wife is already an engineer but I am looking at getting April to qualify with the BIFM or gain a NEBOSH qualification.

Has anyone else looked at education to assist with immigration but also have they found it worth the investment prior to moving to the UK to allow a partner to hit the ground running.

We didn't Matt but it certainly won't harm the application in my mind. The NEBOSH route is a good one, though I believe the final degree stage is very tough. HSE is massive now with loads of opportunities

Im doing NEBOSH as well because my own work has an overlap and allows "dropping in" to HS roles. Because most companies don't seem to invest in training anymore but its money for old rope once qualified. I am looking at doing it first then getting the Mrs to do it. Also looking at options on compiling risk assessments etc. for other companies remotely (i.e. I would do the surveys my wife and her team in the Philippines compile the documents creating jobs. Although would be looking to get a specialised team that if they get the opportunity to go abroad would actually have internationally recognised qualifications. As long as they don't disappear in the first few months after qualifying or dropping out should work well for everyone).

Also I think having the Mrs qualified will help support the argument she wouldn't be a burden on the state. Even more so with the business back in RP.

NEBOSH begosh, General Certificate eh. Definitely a growth area. I have already taken the practical and passed it. I just need to sit the two written papers but I need to do some sort of recap as it was 3 years ago since I sat the course.

I would have a run through on Amazon there are some quick reference books.

I might do that. I have the course folder still though. And my boss has agreed to pay for a distance learning course for me as a recap. There are few distance learning versions around.

You can never have too many HSE types in the world!!! I considered doing the NEBOSH a while a go as I've sailed as safety officer in the past but in my industry its all going a bit nuts and I decided I couldn't be a dedicated "safety Nazi" as they are affectionately known. Obviously there are other areas to study. I think you can do the first certificate in a week.

I can tell you from the industry i am in Asset management, asset surveying, energy management and health and safety are all huge growth industries.

I can certainly vouch for HSE being growth. LOL

Think Macondo.

I may be wrong, but I don't t hink it will make any difference to the application what qualifications she has. It is you, as sponsor, that needs to prove yourself. They just want proof that you earn over £18,600 and that the relationship/marriage is a genuine one.

Unfortunately I think Marharg is correct. A promise of work doesnt translate into actual work in this instance. In any case, rightly or wrongly, it is the sponsor ie you who they focus on for a settlement visa and your financial standing.

But it shouldnt do any harm to include it.

Am booking the two written exams for the summer. Needs to be done - need the bit of paper, with something we are developing. Am topping up with the distance learning version.

Which one are you doing John, if you don't mind be asking?

NEBOSH General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety ( Not the Oil and Gas one ) (not the International one). NGC1 and NGC2 - I have already passed the practical so I need to sit the two written papers. I actually paid for and sat the course itself about 3 years ago, out of my own pocket, when I was made redundant and in between jobs.

Agree but it shows ability and also once in country can drop into something straight away as they have already done the college before arriving. If you can't get £18,500 with a NEBOSH your in the wrong industry..lol

How long did it take you to get to where you are John? reason im asking is i want to do as much as possible remote then just take the exams. I am pretty good at cramming (e.g. did a 2 year electronics course in 3 months).

Not sure what you mean. The oil industry in the UK has been awash with HSE for a good few years now so I was immersed in it in the work place ie at the rigsite. Then I had to inlude it in courses that I delivered to the offshore workforce that my previous company employed. All that was missing was a piece of paper as I had the all the experience. Plus I knew what had to be done, but not always why, which the NEBOSH course taught me (HASWA / LOLER / PUWER etc etc ). So having sat the course for the General Certificate in 2010 I only actually sat and passesd the practical exam (NGC3) and didnt sit the two written papers ie NGC 1 and 2. Now that my new employer is stretching across into HSE ( cant expand on that as I will get my butt kicked ) I need that bit of paper to go on my CV so am doing a refresher by taking the distance learning package and maybe sitting NGC 1 and 2 in the summer. I will probably book the distance learning course today as they are knocking 20% off in January, though I am passing the fees back to my employer.

You will notice that there is an International Certificate version that isnt so tied up with UK regulations and law, for the obvious reasoning. However, NEBOSH has good global recognition and not just here in the UK. Plus, in the oil and gas industry many oil companies now seek to level up their safety standards to try and match those in the UK and Norway. So it is a growth industry in our sector at least.

I was reading about a Filipina who married a Brit and has settled here in the UK and she took it. Cant remember if here on in the Philippines. I recall she was or is a civil engineer or something like that.

I was referring to the course length, I am interested in the International certificate as there is a lot of scope in MENA but also out in Canada if the right contract comes up. The company I have just joined (worked with them for years as a contractor) but they are expanding overseas as well as nationally. Believe there is over 150 contracts currently in the pipeline. NEBOSH is one of the things that was needed last time as there was a role for it available and your correct about the oil and gas as it was specified by the client that it was needed for contract.

As regards someone's partner doing it if they have the right husband its easy to get an in-route to get started.

Course length is normally 2 weeks ie 10 days.