To Expat or Not?

Alpha58

I've been expat for approaching ten years and there are positives and negatives. My situation is different in that my OH and I agreed that for the stability of the children and the family home, I would go it alone and I have been able to choose postings to the more difficult places which attract extra allowances and more leave.

By all means do it but set yourself a definite goal of the amount of time you will stay there. You and your son will benefit from the experience but don't fall into the expat trap. There are more important things in life than income and lifestyle - not suggesting that this is why you are doing it, but I have found that it is important to ask why you want to do it rather than what it can offer you. Good luck!

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

It would be a hell of a lot easier if you went to a solicitor and then applied to court for permission to remove your son.

Otherwise, if you try to go ahead without it, even if it takes her nine months to notice, she could justifiably cause you more expense in the long run by contesting.


The IB is well respected internationally. GCSEs, not so much. And every kid I knew at school that had come from abroad (one from Portugal, one from Zambia, I think, others from all over) had no trouble fitting into a bog standard comprehensive curriculum for GCSEs.



Cancelling insurance and phone contracts would be the last thing on my mind.



I'd take it.

Moominmamma

Go for it! We moved to Asia this time last year and I love it here. It has been a fantastic experience for both us and the kids so far and is a fantastic "hub" to travel from.

I agree with PoorCharleyBear though - my kids go to British School and yet my daughter still sounds like she's auditioning for a part in Hannah Montana when she gets together with her friends!

Good luck, whatever you decide

zagubov

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

It would be a hell of a lot easier if you went to a solicitor and then applied to court for permission to remove your son.

Otherwise, if you try to go ahead without it, even if it takes her nine months to notice, she could justifiably cause you more expense in the long run by contesting.


The IB is well respected internationally. GCSEs, not so much. And every kid I knew at school that had come from abroad (one from Portugal, one from Zambia, I think, others from all over) had no trouble fitting into a bog standard comprehensive curriculum for GCSEs.



Cancelling insurance and phone contracts would be the last thing on my mind.



I'd take it.

Another vote for the IB (I used to teach on it). It's internationally accepted. A levels not so much. Also it's a good broad univeristy entry qualification which keeps his options open.

TBH, GCSEs aren't great but IGCSE has a good reputation. I'd be amazed if he wouldn't mop the floor with every other GCSE student when he comes back.

In other worfs if he's educated over there he won't be missing much at all!;)

Make sure you search the threads here about staying on the electoral roll, keeping your credit history and get some advice about whether your son is treated as an overseas student when he returns to blighty.

Treevo

I have a friend who moved to Singapore for work after she graduated. She's been there years now and lives a fantastic lifestyle from what I can tell.

You wouldn't get me within a few hundred miles of the place, but it sounds perfect for you.

See a solicitor re: your son, and then go for it! You can always come back.

Sligo

I have a friend who is recently returned from Singapore and both her boys were at the Tanglin Trust school and were very happy there. She had a lifestyle there that I can only dream of!! I wish I'd got chance to visit before she left. And yes she had a cleaner and also childcare help when required.

megan01

Not much use me saying this but my dad and brothers and sisters lived in Singapore whilst my Grandad was fighting some war somewhere in the 60's. They had cleaners, maids, pet monkeys and tropical fish. They went to the beach after school, and they all seemed to do pretty well in school for it being an army school.

I would definitely go if I were you, I noticed you keep asking if there's another way of getting the mothers permission but honestly just go to a solicitor and get it sorted. It's worth the couple hundred pounds worth of fees rather than spending money settling there and then having to come back because of the mother. Would be far more expensive. Better to have everything all official and documented.

mutley74

thanks everyone for your posts.
I accepted my post in Singapore, just finalising a few T&Cs and ensuring company agrees to my preferences and some demands.
I got permission from my ex (maybe it was the tip that she wont have to pay CSA) that nudge her...but who cares...a massive step has been achieved to date. Now just need to sign contracts, book school place and get flights arranged.
any other expats help me with what I need to do next?
I presume I need to tell HMRC, banks (?), car to sell, mobile to stop etc.
(I will still have a UK address via a relative house, so can I just tell banks etc to use that?)