Hi everyone,
I would like to know what are the things I should do first thing when I'm in the UK. Like do I have to get valid IDs, or residence certificate, etc. for me to be able to apply for work later.
Also, when they say no recourse to public funds, will my son be able to go to a government school in UK? I think government schools are free right? Would my son be entitled to this? He was issued a dependent visa.
Thanks in advance!
If you are arriving via a marriage in the Phil, you can work immediately.
If you arrive via a fiancee visa, you have to wait until you get married and received the FLR.
Yes, your son can attend school (for free)
Yes, you and your son are entitled to free medical treatment
No man is an island, but Barry is
thanks a lot! Yes, I got a spouse visa by virtue of marriage here in the Philippines.
You will need a National insurance number if you want to work. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTax...ance/DG_190057
Call 0845 600 0643 or visit your local Jobcentre Plus.
Get your husband to put your name on the utility bills as you will need this for identification when you want to open a bank account etc.
I will do that.
Thanks Rusty!
1. Register you and your son with your local doctor. You will get NHS Number. Doctors are free iin UK but this is NOT recourse to public funds. Just like UK nationals, you will probably have to pay for prescriptions.
2. Once you have NHS number, register you and your son with a dentist; it may be hard to find NHS dentist but you can use even non-local NHS dentist; failing that, you will need private dentist.
3. Add your name to your husband's Council Tax Bill (this will provide address ID to open bank account, applying for credt, applying for ILR etc.
4. Add your name to your husband's utility bills (this will provide address ID to open bank account, applying for credt, applying for ILR etc.
5. Get a National Insurance Number, whether you wish to work or not, as it only causes problems when you apply for work, if you don't have one.
6. Pay voluntary National Insurance contributions when not working(if you wish). This would provide state pension and other benefits.
7. Get your husband to claim Child Benefit for your child (you cannot claim as you do not have recourse to public funds). Your husband can get this, irrespective of your joint incomes.
8. Get a bank account (probably only a 'basic' bank account as you will have no credit history)
9. Depending on your joint level of income, your husband may qualify for Child Tax Credit for you child. The income limit is quite high, so worth applying even if joint earnings are over £60,000/year.
10. If your husband is working then, depending on your joint level of income, your husband may qualify for Working Tax Credit (if he already qualifies he will get increase for you). Working TAx Credit is calssed as a 'passport benefit' meaning that qualifies the recipient and their famly entitlement to other benefits, including free dental care, free prescriptions and vouchers towards spectacles.
11. Register with an approved centre for the 'Life in Britain' test (you need to pass this before applying for ILR )
12. Consider taking the A1 English test (unless you have already done so) even if not strictly necessary!
13. Enquire at local schools about admission procedures. In some areas (especially primary schools) you are guaranteed your son could get into local school. If he does not speak English, the school may provide assistant who speaks his language. State schools in UK are totally free and not classed as 'recourse to public funds'.
14. Depending on the type of work you apply for, your employer may want to check for any criminal history in the Philippines. This could take some time and you cannot apply to the Criminal Records Bureau yourself for that information, so it may be advisable to get some sort of 'certificate' from the Philippines government - assuming that is possible?
15. If you are going to travel to Europe get a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) so that you can get free medical treatment when travelling in Europe; the EHIC card is free!
16. Ensure you renew your passport at least six months before the expiry date.
17. Do not spend more than 4 weeks holidaying outside UK each year, as the rules on the allowed absence from the UK when applying for ILR are not clearly defined.
18. Keep up-to-date with changes in immigration law during the period up to the time you apply for your ILR, and possible naturalisation a year later.
19. Consider working from home, especially if your boy is very young. There are quite a lot of opportunities to work from home in the UK - some would be self-employed whilst others would be working for an employer.
Thank you so much Howerd! That was very informative.
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