Seeking Advice

[Spee]

Hello All,

I'm a Yank expat living and working legally in the UK, paying taxes, etc., the whole nine yards. My visa/work permit is good through 2007 and will almost surely get extended through 2008 or 2009 at the end of the year.

My fiancee' is not yet with me here. Her brother graduates from a Thai university later in the year and has skills with computers, digital graphics, making web pages, etc. He has some Thailand work experience but none outside. He speaks and understands some broken English, but I bought him the Rosetta Stone English CD's so he can start studying and improving now. I'm also working with him to get a CV written and translated into a western-style format and content.

He would like to come to the UK to seek work, preferably aligned with his education and limited work experience. I can put a roof over his head, food in his belly and some pocket change to help him get started. But I don't think that's nearly enough.

Having read through the Home Office Visa website many times, I must admit that on the surface things don't look all that promising. I'm adamant about not cutting corners and doing everything by the book, less risk my own job stability and employment situation.

Is there any hope? Does anyone have similar stories or experiences? About the only thing I can think of is trying to start making contacts within the local Thai community, but I don't know where that might lead.

Please respond here or via PM if you have any advice to offer. Thanks in advance for any and all replies.

Cheers,

Spee

[the scouser]

Spee,

Your fiancée's brother could apply for jobs in his chosen field and, should he be accepted, the prospective employer could apply for a work permit on his behalf. However, it's not as simple as applying and getting the work permit, there are other factors which the Home Office will consider, too. Applicants must have as a minimum, either a degree or 3 years' experience in the job, and the position must have been advertised throughout the EU; i.e. the emplyer needs to demonstrate that there are no suitable resident candidates.

Alternatively, he might consider the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme. No specific job offer is needed to qualify, but the applicant must attain at least 75 points based on various factors, and show that they can speak English to a prescribed standard. As a hefty chunk of the points is derived from work experience and current salary, I don't think he'd qualify at the moment, but, perhaps, it's one for the future.

If he is intent on gaining some UK experience, he may wish to consider furthering his studies in the UK. He would have to show, amongst other things, that he has sufficient resources, either of his own, or a sponsor's, to pay for the course and maintain himself without resorting to employment. However, he would be permitted to work up to 20 hours per week and full time during the holiday periods.

Scouse.

[Spee]

Spee,

Your fiancée's brother could apply for jobs in his chosen field and, should he be accepted, the prospective employer could apply for a work permit on his behalf. However, it's not as simple as applying and getting the work permit, there are other factors which the Home Office will consider, too. Applicants must have as a minimum, either a degree or 3 years' experience in the job, and the position must have been advertised throughout the EU; i.e. the emplyer needs to demonstrate that there are no suitable resident candidates.

Alternatively, he might consider the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme. No specific job offer is needed to qualify, but the applicant must attain at least 75 points based on various factors, and show that they can speak English to a prescribed standard. As a hefty chunk of the points is derived from work experience and current salary, I don't think he'd qualify at the moment, but, perhaps, it's one for the future.

If he is intent on gaining some UK experience, he may wish to consider furthering his studies in the UK. He would have to show, amongst other things, that he has sufficient resources, either of his own, or a sponsor's, to pay for the course and maintain himself without resorting to employment. However, he would be permitted to work up to 20 hours per week and full time during the holiday periods.

Scouse.

Cheers, Scouse!

I think doing the legwork for applying is not a problem. I will help him there. It's a two part equation where part one is getting him into the country legally so that he can search for work and part two is getting an employer to sponsor him for a work permit.

If I can get help him get a visa to get into the country and introduce him to some of the local Thai community through the Wimbledon temple and other contacts, then I think he might have a decent chance to find an employment sponsor.

He is schooling at the Phetchabun Rajabaht University. I'm not sure what kind of standing that group of schools has outside Thailand.

I read through the HSMP section and this appears to apply for people only in the science, engineering and medical fields. I'm not sure how much leeway they will grant for that program.

It may be easier trying to get him into the states to work. I just didn't get the impression from the UK visa website that it would be that easy for here.

[the scouser]

Spee,

The HSMP programme applies to all fields. If you've got a degree, and can accrue the points, you can come to the UK and take up any job without having to get a work permit. I've even come across one chap with a degree in English Lit. who was quite lawfully working as a bingo caller.

Scouse.

[Spee]

Spee,

The HSMP programme applies to all fields. If you've got a degree, and can accrue the points, you can come to the UK and take up any job without having to get a work permit. I've even come across one chap with a degree in English Lit. who was quite lawfully working as a bingo caller.

Scouse.

Wow! I had no idea that the interpretation could be that broad. Given the way the program is described, if one qualifies to apply through it, then it seems like it should have a high rate of acceptance if one jumps through all the right hoops. Thanks again for your insight.