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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

WWYD - visa, COL, work

1 reply

MrsMum26 · 16/01/2026 10:08

Posting in AIBU for traffic & wisdom because I'm slowly loosing my mind.

i live in my husband's country on a spouse visa which doesnt allow me to work. Moving back to the UK (which is the plan) isn't possible for the next couple of years because of the cost/our job situation.

i'm a sahm to our two children & thats worked well until the last couple of years when the COL means my husbands wage really isnt enough. I am desperate to start bringing in an income but cannot fathom a legal way to do that. Like I said, I cant work here on my current visa - and they check (routine police interviews). I'm resident here and not in the UK so getting an online UK-based job is not an option. Online freelance work/content creation etc would mean a) lying on visa applications here which im uncomfortable about (too big a risk - if i'm kicked out & we cant live in the UK - yet - what then!?) and b) wouldnt work because i have to declare income somewhere and cant do that in the UK or here so..

i guess i just want hive minds in case there's a solution around this mess that i'm failing to see? I hate my husband having to carry the financial burden for us and really need to find a way to contribute. Any ideas?

nb. Switching to a work permit visa here would be near enough impossible. Very few companies will take on the expense of employing a foreigner via legal channels (though are happy to employ illegally...obv. I can't do that)

OP posts:
BillieWiper · 16/01/2026 18:51

Well as you say there is no way to legally work. Did you just think you'd never work forever and it would be fine when you decided to move there?

Would you be able to move back to your family in the UK and split your time? What's the longest you could stay in that country if your 'main residence' was in the UK? Then have a UK based job that allows WFA? Far from ideal though.

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