I salute your courage and determination Steve and hope everything continues to work out well for youOriginally Posted by Steve.r
I have just seen my name floating about and had a read of the thread.
On my personal situation I found the whole thing in the Uk as getting out of hand, whoever is in charge. New rules for one omits others and their rights to a family life, the growing red tape to try to weave your way through to get your loved one here, the increasing prices of the visas, the way we are ripped off at every turn by our government. I had just had enough. I wanted to bring my wife and son here to the Uk, have the benefits that it brings, but what sort of life it is these days? is there 'real' quality of life? I think we have lost sight of reality and values; we pinch here to save there. I had just had enough.
For a long time I have been saying to my friends here that my long term plan was to move to Phils, and this still stands. But like many who are thinking about such a move the reality is (especially for those who are still relatively young and working) that you still need a job or how can you live? I was not fortunate enough to keep my house when i got divorced so have no property to take a rented income from, so that was a non starter. As for my job in the Uk, I was in fact over the limit of £18,600. My lifestyle was minimal as I lived with my parents, but I still have to maintain my family in Phils. Saving for flights, running my family in Phils and all other expenses leaves you with very little to save, and like most you live from pay day to pay day. This is what I needed to change.
I have been very fortunate, my plan has worked. I decided to try to find an alternative way of being together with my family and still make money and be together with them. I (through a friend) was introduced to a company in Germany who needed managers in China. Bingo!! I was offered the job, without an interview and here I am now.
The beauty of this position is that the money I am on is 4 times more than I was earning in the Uk, which means I can save for that rainy day or invest in the future. Being here 'is' the dream job I have always wanted and although I feel out of my depth sometimes, I need the challenges it brings. But most of all I am now only 2.5 hours flight away from my family in Phils. There are no restrictions for my wife to come to China to be with me, no silly 'learn English rules', no red tape, no proof of relationship, proof of income blah blah blah!!!
In the next week or so I am going to be hunting for an apartment exactly for this purpose and then I hope that within the month I will be together with my beautiful wife and son.
I really think that the British system is failing, making rules to stop a loving relationship because you earn less than someone else is just crazy. Like I said, I was lucky enough to be over the limit but how can this be right?? My move was driven by the desire NOT to be in the Uk anymore because I can’t handle the day to day rubbish and bullying big brother aspect of life, I don’t like the way we are hearded by the media and whipped up into a frenzy over the latest star’s comments or sensationalised stories and photos of bare royal flesh. Grow up Uk...get a life!!
The most important thing for me is to look after number one, by that I mean myself and my family. My move gives me the freedom to do what I like, when I like and where I like. I am not dictated to by an over baring nanny state. We make our own destiny and at least I am trying my best to make my one shot at life the best for us all.
I hope that clarifies the situation. And guys, PLEASE keep it civil... I still wave a big axe even here in China
Steve
By the way Lastlid, you have a cute baby
the worlds biggest bully 
