Hi,

Welcome to the forum...

Fyi, I was hired directly from the Philippines and was issued a work permit in the Philippines. I work as a UK Pension Specialist. The UK Company I am working with hired me directly from the Philippines... So, I think if you are with the same capacity or background as I do, I would be very glad to let you know that there are Companies here in the UK that sponsor other nationalities. But again, you should check on the UK Embassy if the position belongs to the Shortage List. The Company confessed to me that they spent £20,000++ just to arrange my transfer from Manila to here.

As what Joebloggs mentioned in this thread, the UK Company needs also to prove that they could not hire a British or the like to fill-in the position that is why they need to cross other countries and hire skilled workers...

It is just a matter of whether you will get married first JUST to be here and work or to be here as a tourist and will not be able to work.

If you could afford to settle down even if you are not emotionally ready yet, it's really a choice you need to make and think of million times...

I will also give you a thought that according to a Survey conducted by Mercer HR Consulting - the top 5 Cities out of 50 with the highest cost of living are Moscow, London, Seoul, Tokyo and Hong Kong (in order from highest to lowest, with New York as base country with Cost of Living Index of 100 and occupies the 15th slot from the highest. The top 5 cities have the highest of all)...

Since your Bf is from Scotland, and if he lives from Glasgow, it occupies the 36th seat and which mean, you will save a lot instead of living in Tokyo, why not live down to Glasgow, hahahahaha... So it would be a wise move to transfer to Scotland...hehehehehe...

But, fyi, I have a friend who went here in England with a Tourist Visa with a thought that she could find a job and be sponsored by Companies. She is a Pharmacy graduate in the University of the Philippines but she went just home because she could not find any work or Company that is willing to sponsor her with a work permit.

My husband will be coming over here with a Dependants'/Spouse Visa and he is allowed to work when he comes over....

So, what do you think now?

Sorry if I am not much of help...