Has Anyone moved to UK?

tcsparky · #1 06-15-2018, 08:44 PM

Lah lah lah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The school's business manager emailed me a Visa ID# - the school successfully applied for and was granted my Work Visa! I will fly over on July 5, attend a rugby dinner with my friends on Saturday, and report to the school for Induction on July 10.

Whoot whoot!!!!!

NYCMS · #2 06-16-2018, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcsparky

Lah lah lah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The school's business manager emailed me a Visa ID# - the school successfully applied for and was granted my Work Visa! I will fly over on July 5, attend a rugby dinner with my friends on Saturday, and report to the school for Induction on July 10.

Whoot whoot!!!!!

Congratulations!! Big day indeed.

Hope you'll keep us posted on your new adventure - best wishes for a successful move!

navane · #3 06-16-2018, 06:21 PM

Congratulations! Best wishes for a successful move!

tcsparky · #4 07-11-2018, 02:18 PM

This week has been super crazy. Last Friday, I arrived in the UK after a harrowing connection in Toronto. I handed over my passport and boarding card to the Immigration fellow. He read that I was arriving in the UK for work, and asked for my Visa. I told him that it was attached electronically to my passport. He said that no, that's not how it works, and put me aside in a holding area.

I spent the day in the detention area while they called the school to figure out what was going on. So.....the school thought they HAD applied for my Work Visa, but they had only gotten my Certificate of Sponsorship. I showed Immigration the offer letter from the school, the emails they had sent me telling me that they had gotten the Visa, and the Visa number they had sent to me.

After sitting there all day (without any personal possessions, in a room with people who WERE actually trying to get into the country illegally), I was released on Immigration Bail and given one week in the country to try to get everything straight. I am being deported on Friday of this week. They determined that I had not used deception, that it was an honest mistake on both my part and the school. I am not banned from the country!!!!!!!

The UK taxpayer is footing the bill for my ticket to my "country of origin." I will then file for the Visa while int he US, and return in August. The Immigration officer also pointed out that even if I had gotten the Visa, I'm not allowed to enter the country until 14 days prior to the first day of my contract- which is Sept 1.

I went to the Club on Saturday to watch the England soccer game with my friends. By the end of the game, everyone in the club knew that I was being deported and wanted to meet me!!! I was the local curiosity that day. When I went to New Teacher Orientation at the school on Tuesday, the principal called me into her office to make sure that I was OK, because she was concerned I was traumatized. I assured her that I will be fine, and am excited to be here.

The school is amazing, the other teachers are so friendly, and the students are super-cute in their white shirts, ties and black crested blazers. I can't wait to actually get started!!!!!!!

NYCMS · #5 07-11-2018, 05:50 PM

tcsparky Wow...just wow. I can't even imagine how scary that was to wonder if you could get in and then stay, to be put in a holding area and have to be in the "unknown." I'm sorry you had to go through that. It sounds like someone/some office didn't inform you correctly about how soon you could arrive before the job started.

At least you've got all that out of the way and have time to relax before you head over to start teaching. It all sounds so exciting and do keep us posted!

andthen · #6 07-12-2018, 12:40 PM

Yes wow, oh wow!! Given all of the issues you've certainly handled yourself with a lot of grace and dignity!! Good for you that you're taking it all in stride. I think if it were me I would have been traumatized but at least now you know so should someone else in your circle decide to move there for work you can some impart some hard earned wisdom.

tcsparky · #7 07-23-2018, 06:25 PM

And moving forward!!!

I have now received the FBI Background check, and have paid the NHS fee and the VISA Application fee. As part of the process, I have to appear in person at an official Application Center. Luckily, there is one near me, just over the river in Memphis! The earliest appointment available at the Application Center is next Monday, 30 July. There, they will take my biometrics and check over my documentation.

If everything is in order, then I will overnight the application and documentation to the UK Embassy in New York. The application site says it takes about 3 weeks to process, and then they will overnight it back to me. I will receive a notification email when it is completed and on the way to me. As the appointment for the Application Center is so late in the month, I may not get my passport and Visa back until mid-August or later.

Now, that isn't so much of a problem, because school doesn't start until Sept 3. However, I would like to have a few weeks to get settled in, collaborate with other teachers on lesson plans, get my classroom set up, go shopping for school clothes...... And maybe spend some time at the beach!

Really, I'm just anxious to be there and have this whole process over with.