Another hypothetical question

Assume that my fight for an HSMP has been lost on the battlefield of semantics.   (I'm on my last review, so this is really hypothetical.)  Assume that my impressive bank balance is dwindling.

The plan is to be accepted as a master's degree candidate in a one-year program at a Scottish university.  I have enough money to pay the tuition and living expenses with a bit left over for after graduation.  After I earn the master's degree, the Fresh Talent Program allows me 2 years residence to work in Scotland.  I would now have three years in residence in Scotland.

Further assume that during this time I don't meet the man of my dreams.  If I have a roommate for 2 of these 3 years, is it legal to apply for leave to remain as an unmarried partner after 2 years?

No.  You have to be in a relationship akin to marriage. 

Well, that's illegal for one.  The other issue is that your first unmarried partner visa would be for a further two years.  Then you could get ILR.  So is the flatmate planning to hang around for four years total?  B/c part of having a visa as an unmarried partner is that you stay together, just as in marriage.  If the flatmate scarpers - assuming he/she is willing to go through with risking fines and jail time to lie and say he/she is your partner - your visa is no longer valid. 

It would probably be faster and cheaper to retrain for a shortage profession.  Social worker or nurse is a sure shot.  And then you wouldn't need to rely on someone else's cooperation to hold a visa. 

Back to the drawing board!  I absolutely won't do anything illegal because I won't risk being found out and thrown out.  It would be so much easier if I were in love with one person instead of my extended family.  There's nothing they can do to help me. 

I did consider retraining as a social worker, speech therapist, or audiologist.  The degree programs last two years, and I'm afraid I won't have enough money.  Still, it looks like the only way.  Maybe I could ask Jack McConnell for a work permit!

I did consider retraining as a social worker, speech therapist, or audiologist.  The degree programs last two years, and I'm afraid I won't have enough money.  Still, it looks like the only way.  Maybe I could ask Jack McConnell for a work permit!

How about training in the US?  I have a friend who was an RN in the US before she came over here to nurse on a work permit.  Now she's got ILR.

'AmericanFox' is a US-trained social worker who is coming here to work as well. 

I just don't want to be here any more.  My cat and my furniture are in the UK because I was absolutely sure that I'd get the HSMP. 

I checked every uni in Scotland for a do-able degree.  I did find one social work program that doesn't insist on a psych. or social work bachelor's degree, experience as a social worker, and application by last January.  I'm waiting to hear from the program administrator about application deadlines.  Aberdeen, Edinburgh--it's still Scotland!

I can afford the tuition and accomodation fees for 2 years in Aberdeen.  Quite a difference from Edinburgh!  Social work is, after a bit of reflection on my past career, what I'm good at.  Any profession where I get to tell people what to do is right up my alley.  I probably spent more time advising students on personal matters than I did with their academics.

Thanks for your advice, ex-pat_in_scotland.   I'll contact "AmericanFox."

You can work part-time as a student during term and full-time on holidays.  That could offset some of the costs. 

Aberdeen offers a wide scope for social work experience.  If you visit, you'll see why.

chrishamil10,

I know this doesn't help your immediate need, but the UK is currently working on a new points system that may come into play within the next year or so.  They are proposing to award points based on desire to work in Scotland and also based on job titles/roles in current demand.

Perhaps you could either take the student route for now, or go back and get your cat and furniture, find a job in the US, and wait for a few months while they sort out their new points system. 

Although you may not wish to go the route of finding a job in the US and waiting a few months, may it be some consolation to you that many of us applicants have been waiting in the HSMP queue now for over 8 months, waiting for a decision, and continue during this time to remain working at our US jobs.   Talk about having your professional and personal life being in limbo for the better part of a year!  We in the HSMP queue are currently living it, with no end in sight....

Hi, J9CA.

Here's the latest plan.  I have no questions about it's legality, but if anyone sees a potential problem, please speak up!

I have applied to a Scottish uni for a one-year master's degree.  I'm pretty sure I'll get in because I applied before the deadline and I have a prior master's degree.

The Fresh Talent program allows people who earn certain degrees and qualifications to work in Scotland for up to 2 years.  The program is expected to start this summer, so it will be in place for a year before I apply.  I will be networking like a mad fool during my placements and the 2 further years to get a work permit. 

While I was in the UK, I'd often hear about tweaks to the immigration rules.  So far it's been all talk.  Have you heard anything definite? 

I did say on my HSMP application that I my family was in the Borders and Northumberland and I wanted to work in Scotland.  Hell, I've even been looking at the jobs posted at the University of the Highlands and Islands.

When I calm down enough to not just spout off at the Home Office, I'll post the clash of expectations I had with them in the Grievances section.

You can't go wrong with a shortage profession.  Just till you get the ILR and then you're home free.  There are other healthcare professions in need - like audiology and speech and langauge therapy. 

Haven't heard of any 'tweaks' that will concretely lead to the time it takes to get ILR, that's the catch.  In fact, haven't heard of any 'tweaks' at all and it's sad b/c we have a number of former students who are Chinese and have been so far unable to get the elusive ILR.  In fact, a couple of them had better luck getting permits to work in the States! 

It is possible for academics to get work permits or fellowships.  At least, we just hired a bloke who is a triple Argentine/American/Canadian citizen.  Any chance of landing one of those? 

If you have family there, is there any possibility for an Ancestry visa? Could you get citizenship of a commonwealth country and then an Ancestry visa? I just got mine and it was a snap. Easy as pie.

My MEd is in Administration, Planning, and Social Policy.  I have noticed a large number of faculty at many unis who are teaching with just a master's or even a bachelor's degree.   I could teach courses in higher ed administration.  I'll give www.jobs.ac.uk a look. 

Maybe the uni I'm hoping to attend will let me teach a course.  The UK uni systems are talking about instituting some areas I have tons of experience with, such as widening participation/continuing education, alumni fundraising, and elite students at elite unis.  My former dean is hot stuff in continuing ed., so I learned from a true master.  I can tell a uni what works and what doesn't.

The only job on the shortage list I could qualify for retraining for is social work.  I don't have the science background for audiology or speech therapy.  Besides, retraining for a shortage profession will take 2 years full time.  I should have gone the retraining route immediately instead of waiting for the HSMP.  If I had known how elusive the HSMP is, I would have gone for the sure thing.

I'm 6th generation American so there's no hope of an Ancestry visa.  Will you marry me?

I'm getting silly, so off to bed.  Thanks for letting me think out loud.

It's worth a try.  Our department, however, has never sponsored a work permit for someone with less than a PhD, but this may not be true of other departments.  It's certainly more possible that you can tutor a class once you're a uni student b/c then you won't need work permit sponsorship. 

But social work's pretty much a sure thing.  They're really struggling with recruitment and retention in most areas.