Moving to England!

[AZUA]

HI Eveyone.

When I was in college, I studied abroad in England and I loved it. Since then I have gone back to visit friends. I am thinking of moving there.

I wanted to know from you, what is it like living there and being Dominican? What is the Dominican experience in England?

I am an attorney and I need to do research as to what I would do there...for work. How is the job market? Is it very difficult for foreigners?

Anyway, I don't want to bombard you with questions. Any help is very much appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

[Saskia]

Hi Azua

Before I start typing away, are you talking England UK?

[London_Calling]

Pleased you like England (I assume the one in Europe) - I know several Dominicans here and would say the main issues are qualifications and language.

If you want to work in this field you may have problems as British law is different to that practised in the Dominican Republic + the professional bodies have strict requirements and you may need to retake exams etc..

The jobs market is quite good in England and you should be able to find work though you may need to be flexible.

To get started you will need plenty of mony - as you are probably aware rents and the cost of living is not cheap in England.

Which areas were you considering?

[AZUA]

I am planning on moving to Bristol. Then I will probably relocate to London.

[dv8]

i would advice you to do a thorough research on the subject. there is lots of opportunities in england but law is hardly an international profession as it differs so much from country to country.
you'd need to take loads of money too, i am talking about few thousand pounds to pay the rent, deposits and other costs before you start working.
probably you'd have to settle first for a job as a waiter/cleaner and start some free experience work in a lawyers office, not to mention some time in college before you can work in your profession.
i know it is hard to stomach but this is how people start unless they have more universal degree...

[shadInToronto]

Originally Posted by dv8

... you'd need to take loads of money too, i am talking about few thousand pounds to pay the rent, deposits and other costs before you start working....

Not fair .... poor expats go to the DR and live better than Dominicans while Dominicans emigrating to UK have to start at the bottom .... there should be a trading system to exchange immigrants. dv8, can they find a Dominican to take your place in the UK?

[BushBaby]

Silly question AZUA, but have got a multi-entry visa to UK or spoken to the British Consulate (Santo Domingo or Puerto Plata) to see if they will grant you a visa? Normally to obtain such a visa you have to already have a job contract or be going on a holiday or as a student.

As Dv8 mentioned, living expenses are a lot higher in the UK so make sure you have £8,000 or more saved up before you plan going. My recollection of my last trip there is that it is difficult to survive on less than £1,000 per month - that is a LOT of waitering hours & relying on GOOD 'tippers' too!!

What age are you? What friends/contacts do you already have there? Have you enquired as to how much rooms are to rent yet & if so, how much?

I wish you good luck but feel this might be a pipe dream until you get yourself a job contract first!! ~ Grahame

[dv8]

Originally Posted by shadInToronto

Not fair .... poor expats go to the DR and live better than Dominicans while Dominicans emigrating to UK have to start at the bottom .... there should be a trading system to exchange immigrants. dv8, can they find a Dominican to take your place in the UK?

years at the uni and then you start as a waiter/cleaner... bit of a shock... plus dominicans need a work permit too...

dominican taking my place? my boss had no idea dominican republic even existed before i decided to quit the job to come here. if said dominican is a virgin and ready to marry him it can be arranged. but he is small, bald and rather dentally challenged. at request i can pass his number thou...

i hear that canada now has a program "hire an immigrant" with very smartly done ads? maybe they should do same in england?

[shadInToronto]

Originally Posted by dv8

... if said dominican is a virgin

That's unfair trading practice .... asking for more.

[dv8]

well, she'd have nice life, you know... no work and no worries.
some duties of sexual nature of course but mostly ironing and nodding to whatever his mother says - even there no problemo, she has been in england for 30 years and speaks no english whatsoever...