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Topic: Ay-Up-Mi-Ducks!  (Read 2935 times)

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Ay-Up-Mi-Ducks!
« on: July 02, 2005, 04:40:23 AM »
Quite happy to have found this particular forum
Have been roaming sites for the past 2 days until I reached this one
Thank you everyone for sharing and good luck to all -truly
Along with this forum, I have been reading the Job and SOHO sections(you're sure to see me there soon)
Yes, alot of reading, but determined

Well lets get on with it (lol)
Within the year and going into the next, alot of changes will be occuring
My very good friend, says its due to shifting planets, so get ready (lol)
It is becoming a single parent w/toddler
Unfortunately the union is going sour and now its time to start thinking(quietly)of a future for myself and my little mama

I say quietly because 1.its always been my desire to live abroad after visiting the uk, and 2.the idea of seperation/divorce has been danced around and occasionally falsely threatened
Will I have a future ex-beast in my midst, I've got one now
I think it will be quite foolish of him to create additional drama

Anyway, I will literally be starting over
- After being a SAHM for 2yrs, I will attempt to re-enter the freelance/work force
- Must improve credit as well as hubby has turned it into sh**te
- And save

Single mothers out there who are able to give insight, stories - good and bad,suggestions,etc ::)
Excellent resources for single parents, benefits, insurance,networking ???
Booklets, pamphlets I can order, or sites to obtain info about taxes (currently reading about having to obtain the NIN first in order to receive child tax credit) :-[
And most important suggestions on what types of 'work' you all dallied in when first arriving,got to put food on table :-\\\\

Looking forward to talking to you all
Viewed plenty of debating here
Refrain from commenting on my ethical and moral decisions

Cheers
Freesia
 ;D


Re: Ay-Up-Mi-Ducks!
« Reply #1 on: July 02, 2005, 06:51:27 AM »
Along with this forum, I have been reading the Job and SOHO sections(you're sure to see me there soon)

Hi and welcome...
Just wanted to mention that you might want to read the visa section as well, because unless you are eligible for a British or EU passport, it's not easy to come over here to live and work.

Here's a link for you, and good luck!

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?board=17.0


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Re: Ay-Up-Mi-Ducks!
« Reply #2 on: July 02, 2005, 08:10:30 AM »
Hello Freesia

As Otterpop suggests do check out the visa boards as that would be your first stumbling block to living in the UK. 
Most types of visas do not allow you to claim any public funds(benfits) at first and I believe that includes the child tax credit.  Also, do sort out custody and child support issues with your ex before you come here as I know there are a few people for whom that has become a major headache.

I don't mean to be all negative but there's a lot you need to look into before making the move - and you've made a good start by finding UK Yankee. 

Good luck!


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Re: Ay-Up-Mi-Ducks!
« Reply #3 on: July 02, 2005, 11:21:27 AM »
thank you both
i'm checking out visa information right now
and will be sure to settle all combats before departure
 ;)
freesia


Re: Ay-Up-Mi-Ducks!
« Reply #4 on: July 02, 2005, 12:28:29 PM »
Unless you are coming here as a British or EU national, you are not eligible to claim tax credits or child benefit, or any other public fund.  In other words, if you come here on a work permit, HSMP or as a student, you will need to be able to support yourself and your child entirely on your own w/o tax credits or the like.

There are also some threads on here, and helpful members, who have dealt with child custody issues.  These need to be VERY carefully and clearly worked out as it is very illegal to remove a child from the US - or the UK - w/o both parents' clear consent and it's also taken quite seriously by both British and American law. 

Hope you find some solutions.


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Re: Ay-Up-Mi-Ducks!
« Reply #5 on: July 02, 2005, 09:27:21 PM »
expat in scotland,

cheers

i didn't realize that
i thought at least tax credit was available for yankee parents

will have to do extensive and proper organisation
will definitely settle matters with partner

are there services of any kind for little expats(properly in the uk)?
 ???
freesia


Re: Ay-Up-Mi-Ducks!
« Reply #6 on: July 02, 2005, 09:41:04 PM »
expat in scotland,

cheers

i didn't realize that
i thought at least tax credit was available for yankee parents


Nope.  Not for those who do not possess an indefinite leave to remain visa for the UK or who are not married to a British or EU national and raising a British, EU or perm resident child.  The government, like most, is interested in attracting the most economically healthy immigrants, hence the restrictions. 

You must also have a visa to live and work (or seek work) in the UK, which of course also makes sense - the US has the same regulations in place. 
« Last Edit: July 02, 2005, 09:43:22 PM by expat_in_scotland »


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Re: Ay-Up-Mi-Ducks!
« Reply #7 on: July 02, 2005, 10:41:04 PM »
Freesia, I'm a little concerned that you seem to be focusing on what public benefits might be available to you over here.  I appreciate you are looking ahead and making plans for yourself and your child but I urge you to look at the visa issue first and foremost. If you qualify for a visa or citizenship by  descent,  then great, look for work over here and get yourself set up.  There is no point getting your hopes up and getting excited about the whole thing if you can't get a visa.

Do you have any family over here who will be on hand to help you day to day? It will be difficult for you to come over here with a young child, start working and have to put your child in daycare. That will be quite an upheaval for him/her also.   Do you have any idea where in the UK you want to be?  Childcare in London is phenomenally expensive - nannies get paid around £25-30k.  If your aim is to work part time so you have more time to spend with your child you might want to look at some of the smaller cities.


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Re: Ay-Up-Mi-Ducks!
« Reply #8 on: July 03, 2005, 01:04:21 PM »
I'm confused -- is your current husband British?  Are you planning on moving over here as his spouse and then breaking up with him?   ???


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Re: Ay-Up-Mi-Ducks!
« Reply #9 on: July 03, 2005, 01:35:19 PM »
Nope.  Not for those who do not possess an indefinite leave to remain visa for the UK or who are not married to a British or EU national and raising a British, EU or perm resident child.  The government, like most, is interested in attracting the most economically healthy immigrants, hence the restrictions.
 

The way I read the reference to tax credits I understood it to mean the U.S. Earned Income Credit. EIC's are not available to U.S. citizens living abroad, at least as I understand it. Either way, in this case, eligible for neither.


Re: Ay-Up-Mi-Ducks!
« Reply #10 on: July 03, 2005, 03:14:07 PM »
Tax credits in the UK are designed to help working people who are not earning high amounts, as opposed to children being counted as exemptions as in the US system - where you can claim children as exemptions no matter what you earn.  Basically, they're designed to making coming off the dole and into work attractive, particularly working tax credit - to top up a low income or help pay for childcare, and are dependent upon your gross income.  Working tax credit, for example, tops out when the couple or parent earns about £14,500/pa.  Unlike the US system, the tax credits are administered as a monthly pay out to the parent, rather than lowering your gross taxable income as in the US system of EIC.

As a top up, they are a benefit administered through the Inland Revenue. 

Thus, to be eligible, you must meet the requirements:

This is:

• someone born in the UK or whose parents were born in the UK

• a British citizen or holder of a British passport.

If you are not a UK National you may still be eligible for tax credits. The following people are entitled to tax credits on the same basis as UK Nationals

• Nationals of other countries in the European Economic Area

• People who have been granted leave to remain in the United Kingdom indefinitely (including those with exceptional leave to remain)

• People who have been granted asylum in the United Kingdom

http://www.taxcredits.inlandrevenue.gov.uk

So if none of these categories applies to you or your spouse or your children, then you're not eligible for tax credits.


« Last Edit: July 03, 2005, 03:17:36 PM by expat_in_scotland »


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Re: Ay-Up-Mi-Ducks!
« Reply #11 on: July 03, 2005, 05:10:26 PM »
I know this is getting way off topic but... just out of curiousity... suppose I have a child now.... I don't have ILR yet so that means DH can apply for child tax credit, right? He is a funded PhD student. Would they count that as income? Would they also take into consideration that I am working full time even though *I* can't claim the benefit?
When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life. ~ John Lennon


Re: Ay-Up-Mi-Ducks!
« Reply #12 on: July 03, 2005, 08:20:55 PM »
I know this is getting way off topic but... just out of curiousity... suppose I have a child now.... I don't have ILR yet so that means DH can apply for child tax credit, right? He is a funded PhD student. Would they count that as income? Would they also take into consideration that I am working full time even though *I* can't claim the benefit?

Yes, your DH would apply for child tax on your child and working tax credit on himself  - and disabled persons tax credit if he is registered disabled.  And yes, any funding he gets would be taken into consideration as income.  Even though you do not qualify for the benefit, as his domestic partner/spouse your entire income is considered jointly on the application.  The application has a section to record his income and his partner's, so it extends to all couples who live together in a domestic relationship akin to marriage or marriage.  Both partners need a national insurance number to complete the application.
« Last Edit: July 03, 2005, 08:23:27 PM by expat_in_scotland »


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Doing It Solo
« Reply #13 on: July 04, 2005, 03:16:30 PM »
wow, this topic has taken on a life of its own

cheers expat in scotland for very thorogh info, cheers

quite happy i posted this question because it sounds as if this sort of thing hasn't been addressed in forums
roaming thru other expat sites, i noticed i've not been the only mum seeking info about starting over

i do have 2 very old mates(married) and a cousin(married) with 2 children, living just outside of london, and one in nottinghamshire
so i'm sure they will be available for lodging and companionship when needed
and where do i want to live, have no clue
and, my partner and i are us citizens so i won't be 'ditching him'(?) in the uk

i'm quite aware of the effort required by myself prior to moving to the uk

i don't know how it works THERE

it would be naive to just pick up, move to another country, or city in the us for that matter with nothing - no visa, an unsettled divorce, monies, flat or job in waiting, etc.
as i have stated in my first post, i need to start anew here - sort out things - then a move
for me within the year and into the next, maybe a little longer, who knows

knowing single parents HERE and abroad (several cousins - 1 male, alot of aunties, 3 friends - 1 in holland, and oh yes MY mum) i've witnessed the hardships, legalities with partners and their respected state, and most importantly special joy that goes into this situation

and not all the people mentioned above receives asst. 1 is overseas serving this country, so her daughter is in her parents care-single income mind you, and the second is AFRAID to get assistance because she thinks her ex- will threaten to take custody of her son

none of their partners offered any help

wanted to make all this clear before we all could continue friendly discussion

now...

good day all

is there info. i can gather for myself, a soon to be single mum, wanting to move abroad

resources
websites
other single mums
contacts
stories

cheers
 ;D


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Doing It Solo
« Reply #14 on: July 04, 2005, 03:26:45 PM »
and yes i will be investigating about visa :)


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