Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be so sad that I can't take up my UK job offer (visa refused)

128 replies

linearfunction · 29/06/2018 20:53

The title says it all, pretty much.

I'm an American teacher. I was so excited to receive a job offer to teach in the UK. It was a lifelong dream come true for me.

But my restricted cos was refused, so no visa for me. They are apparently only giving Tier 2 visas to people with huge salaries, so not teachers.

I am crushed. For the past few months I have been talking about nothing but my new job in the UK to my friends. Now whenever anyone asks me when I am going, I have to explain that I'm not going after all. I wish I had never gotten the job offer in the first place because that would have been better than this.

It is even worse because I keep reading about teacher shortages in the UK. They would rather have a shortage than me. It hurts so, so much.

:( heartbroken :(

OP posts:
flakesaretasty · 29/06/2018 20:56

Do you have any Irish in you? Wink

Isn't it that the potential employer hasn't satisfied the labour market tests?

Original poster
linearfunction · 29/06/2018 20:58

No, they DID satisfy the labour market tests. They had to do that to apply for me. There have been many more applicants each month than the quota allows, so the Home Office uses a point system to choose who gets to come. And the point system is mainly based on salary band. A teacher salary is far below the band.

www.tes.com/news/exclusive-visa-system-wrenches-devastated-teachers-schools

OP posts:
flakesaretasty · 29/06/2018 21:00

What would it be like for a UK teacher trying to get into the US, to work?

Antigonads · 29/06/2018 21:02

Sorry you felt that way but I'm sure the USA can provide you with a job

kaytee87 · 29/06/2018 21:03

Sorry you're disappointed.

Maybe it has something to do with not bringing people into the country that aren't going to be net contributors? Not sure.

BigChocFrenzy · 29/06/2018 21:07

Sorry OP Thanks
I'm sure you would have been an asset to the UK as a teacher

The govt are trying to distract from their total incompetence in other areas by "acting tough" on immigration.
However, I seriously doubt if the type of immigration that worried people is US teachers, or doctors - who have also been refused

HirplesWithHaggis · 29/06/2018 21:10

If it's any consolation, while one part of the UK government was enticing a hundred Indian doctors to come and work in the NHS, another part was gleefully refusing them visas. Total waste of everyone's time and effort. You're better off out of it, tbh, but I'm sorry you've been so disappointed. Maybe try again once Scotland is independent? We'll welcome you! (Or at least, are more likely to...)

Kit10 · 29/06/2018 21:15

What a shame when we are in such need of teachers. I'm afraid as a country we are cutting off our nose to spite our face atm. It's all about to backfire soon, already is, and for those of us who see it coming and don't want it, we are powerless to stop it, but ready and waiting to say "told you so". Not much help to you though, are there other countries of interest?

Original poster
linearfunction · 29/06/2018 21:33

"What would it be like for a UK teacher trying to get into the US, to work?"

It would be fairly easy, I think. I worked with multiple teachers who came from other countries to the US on an H1B or J-1 visa.

OP posts:
FatBarry · 29/06/2018 21:35

British teachers can't just walk into teaching jobs in the US either. In fact the US is one of the hardest countries to immigrate into.

As hard as it sounds, the Uk, like the US have to look after their own first.

Original poster
linearfunction · 29/06/2018 21:41

"British teachers can't just walk into teaching jobs in the US either. In fact the US is one of the hardest countries to immigrate into."

No, they can't just show up and walk into them, but if they interview and receive a job offer, they are unlikely to be refused. Their visa status isn't linked to salary in the US. We have a teacher shortage. There are recruitment programs to get teachers into certain school districts.

I understand that I don't have the right to work in the UK just because I want to do it. The UK gets to decide which jobs are most important. I respect the rules. I'm just sad.

OP posts:
flakesaretasty · 29/06/2018 21:42

H1b has been tightened up, is it recently you've known a UK teacher enter? And an educational exchange visa wouldn't be for a standard teaching job.

From many countries, I'd be sympathetic. But given the stance of your own country on granting visas, I'm struggling.

Morewashingtodo · 29/06/2018 21:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

flakesaretasty · 29/06/2018 21:44

So, your own country has a teacher shortage? And you, as a teacher, want to leave to help our teacher shortage. I'm sure you could get a visa to visit here if you want, and you can help your home teacher shortage.

Jonbb · 29/06/2018 21:48

My understanding is it is very difficult as a teacher to get a visa to work in the US. You need sponsors etc.

Original poster
linearfunction · 29/06/2018 21:54

Well, flakesaretasty, I would argue that most immigrants to the UK are coming to perform jobs that are in shortage in their own countries. Right?

OP posts:
Original poster
linearfunction · 29/06/2018 21:55

"My understanding is it is very difficult as a teacher to get a visa to work in the US. You need sponsors etc."

Yes, of course. You need a job offer, and then the school sponsors you. That's how it is in most countries.

OP posts:
lljkk · 29/06/2018 21:56

Are you a math teacher, Linear? Clue might be in the posting name. What age do you teach?

Well, I'm bummed for you. And there IS a desparate shortage of math teachers in UK, so the loss is all ours.

flakesaretasty · 29/06/2018 21:59

And from a country that was less restrictive in its own immigration, I'd have more sympathy. It's very difficult for people to do UK to US.

lljkk · 29/06/2018 22:03

Timely thread from NobleG about the precipitous decline in # of UK secondary school teachers.

Frankly, USA can deal with its own brain drain if indeed there is one.

Original poster
linearfunction · 29/06/2018 22:03

Flakesaretasty, I have nothing to do with my own government and their policies. I was an adamant Obama supporter, and I despise our current president.

But some of our current president's restrictive immigration policies are based on his own tendencies to associate individuals with the actions of their government, or with the actions and beliefs of groups he feels hold sway in their country.

OP posts:
Judashascomeintosomemoney · 29/06/2018 22:04

Really? Because I’ve literally just watched our local area news program that has highlighted the teachers from eg Australia and New Zealand that are coming here to fill the vacancies for physics, geography and history teachers that can’t be filled locally.

lljkk · 29/06/2018 22:05

Apply again in 18m time, LF. If Noble's graph is anything to go by, your job category will move into higher priority immigrant by then.

Original poster
linearfunction · 29/06/2018 22:06

Judas, I think teachers from those countries can come on the youth mobility scheme. They don't need Tier 2 visas if they are under 30.

OP posts:
LeighaJ · 29/06/2018 22:07

linearfunction

I'm sorry to read about your bad news and that some posters just want to be snarky and rude rather then show compassion.

I came over on a spouse visa from the US, which was incredibly hard as well. We would have been devastated had mine been rejected. So I have nothing but empathy for you.

Oh and to some other posters, it is actually easier to immigrate to the US then the UK depending on the type of visa. So making blanket statements about it is rather ridiculous.

Swipe left for the next trending thread