Living in the Cayman Islands

[user1491812680]

Could anyone give me some idea of what it is like to live in the Cayman Islands. I have been approached about work there (I'm a Secretary and a new firm setting up has asked me to consider this). Its is completely untenable unless you are earning a massive amount of money and what is the daily life like there for ex-pats?
thanks

Bump as its now morning in Caymans

That's where we're going if jezza gets in!! We'll be skint otherwise and my DH will be out of a job!

Many pros and cons as previous posters have mentioned.

Would your employer be helping you navigate the minefield of work permit rules? These are different for people with and without Cayman connections.

Some info to consider here caymanresident.com/work/employment-opportunities-rules/work-permits-rules/

Have you looked at the legal implications for your child. If you move her there, she becomes 'ordinarily resident', then you want to move away again and the father tries to stop you?

If you're forced to move to to the Cayman Islands you've got a different idea of skint to the rest of us (who are actually skint)

I would worry about that too, MrsTerryPratchett. I'd get that sorted prior to going.

Why 'the your child's Dad, who lives there, answer these questions?

Why can't

Im frantically reading as much as I can about the Caymans, including laws around removing children etc. My employer has indicated that work permits etc will be sorted out for me, apparently its quite common to have to source outside of the island for staff so its matter of fact at this stage to organise appropriate visas etc.

Im not forced to move anywhere *Iwill" it just presented itself as an opportunity. And I certainly can understand what being skint is like.

I live here OP!!! Sorry, 6 hours behind so only just seen it.

Feel free to PM me with any questions you need.

My friend lives there and they love it. She also has BIL/SIL that have been there for years. Being so small would do my head in, I less you can afford to leave on regular trips. They leave for the summer basically.

I looked at it briefly when I went to visit them and even on say 120k I would have struggled due to having to put 2xDC in private school and paying high rent.

itsjustaphase

That's where we're going if jezza gets in!! We'll be skint otherwise and my DH will be out of a job!

jesse he isn't likely to be unbiased is he?

Because he will obviously tell me all the great stuff and not so much of the bad stuff as he wants myself and our child to move there!

stroke, ill pm you in about 30 mins

thanks so much

You said he was reasonable, if you are afraid that he will mislead you for his own ends in relation to such a huge decision then that sounds like he is not a reasonable man at all. Good luck with your decision.

He is reasonable, but he is biased - of course he is - who wouldn't be? thanks for all your help

Is your child's father Caymanian? That will make the biggest difference. If not, then you have to have a certain income to bring a dependent with you. Will he sponsor your child?

We lived there as a family in the 00s so I know a bit about living there. Expats have to pay for everything, so even though it is tax free, you pay privately for everything. It evens out unless you are a very high earner. Will the father pay for schooling?

It is a fantastic experience to live in another country, though, as you learn there are other ways of doing things and also learn to appreciate where you come from. And you get the sun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Of course my info could be out of date, they may have relaxed some rules?

No he is European and yes he would sponsor our child. He is very keen to have us come over. He and I get on very well still and I think he would like our dc to experience Cayman. I keep changing my mind about it. There is so much to learn and think of, things that we take for granted where I live now like a place in a local school etc.

We had some friends who did for a couple of years. They got very, very bored and now live in Singapore. We visited them and while Cayman is nice, obviously being a tropical series of islands, personally I found it completely devoid of personally.

Im quite good at entertaining myself as I am an avid reader however I do like meeting for coffee etc. Its the weather and the outdoor lifestyle that attracts me tbh, so different from the rainy weather we get here in Ireland.

Are they a signatory to The Hague Convention?

I don't think you would regret the experience. Some people do get very bored there though. It is the same things available all year round. I did go crazy when my kids were toddlers as there was so little to do with them. But your child is older so you will have much more to do with them. It's like living in the countryside in a way. You have to be happy with what is there unless you can afford to get off the island several times a year (which we couldn't afford, which was admittedly a bit mind numbing)

I wonder would I get cabin fever and feel I needed to get away. Im sure TV and walks on the beach will get boring if it is all you ever do. Does anyone have any idea what the postal system is like, ie if I were to get parcels etc from home?

'Yes my they do normally, this is a start up though so money is a bit tight for them. Schools are private apparently and costly. '

I wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot barge pole then. It costs such a tremendous amount there. And with your ex, you may be on very dodgy ground once your visa expires and your DD is considered resident there and face returning to the UK without her.

I've only visited, but that was enough. It's flat as a pancake. It's staggeringly hot in Summer. The social division there was shocking.