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Original poster

Will my husband be able to teach in the UK?

14 replies

ButchMacgregor · 01/08/2021 18:40

We’ve been expats in the Far East for over 20 years and have made the decision to leave next year. We really want to come back to the UK for various reasons but I have lots of questions / worries that I’m sure I’ll bore you with over time.

We are both British qualified (as teachers obviously) but my husband is Canadian. Will he be able to find work easily? By that, I mean, will schools be willing to employ him with regards to legalities etc. He is a science teacher and has worked in the UK before we went away but that was a long time ago. Thank you for any responses in advance.

OP posts:
Fallulah · 01/08/2021 18:45

My knowledge might be out of date but I think he has to submit his qualifications to the DFE so that they can say he’s qualified to teach here, or he will have to teach unqualified (less money) and could gain QTS through the assessment only route in a term or so. It’s different for academies I think.

Are you a British Citizen? If so I think he can work here by virtue of being married to you.

Fallulah · 01/08/2021 18:46

Sorry, just saw he trained here so will have QTS. Ignore my first paragraph!

Original poster
ButchMacgregor · 01/08/2021 18:59

Thank you for replying. Yes we’re married and he does have QTS. I was just worried that potential schools would be put off by having to sort out visas etc.

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PhysicsCat · 01/08/2021 20:30

Unlikely to have a problem - my school has employed a number of Canadian teachers. Science teachers (esp physics and chemistry) are in short supply in many areas so fingers crossed he should be able to get a job.

Original poster
ButchMacgregor · 01/08/2021 20:53

Ah that’s good news! Thank you.

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Beachhuts90 · 02/08/2021 23:02

Are you a British Citizen? If so I think he can work here by virtue of being married to you.

Not necessarily. If he doesn't have British citizenship already, then he'll have to be on a spouse visa with you as the sponsor. It's then 5 years until he can get indefinite leave to remain and then citizenship. While he is on the spouse visa he will be able to work without restrictions. Qualifying for that visa will mean you need to meet the financial requirements, and there are a few ways to do so. If you have more questions please pm me and I'll give you the name of a forum that is very helpful with this type of thing.

user1471539385 · 03/08/2021 16:18

He will be entitled to a settlement visa, depending on how long you have been together. I think you need to apply via the embassy in his country of residence, although it might be a British embassy in Canada. When we did DH’s paperwork, it had to be done before arriving in the UK. The spousal settlement visa allows him to work, but gives no recourse to public funds (you can still claim child benefit, but not tax credits etc). After a year (I think), you can then apply for indefinite leave to remain, and then British citizenship. The settlement visa is enough to work, though, and the employer doesn’t need to do anything as the visa comes through his link to you. Be wary of websites offering help. They will charge you a lot! We didn’t have any additional help with DH’s paperwork, and getting evidence together was straightforward as, like you, we had been together for several years before applying.

user1471539385 · 03/08/2021 16:23

If he worked in the UK before, he may already have the paperwork he needs. Did he apply for ILR or citizenship before? This is valid for life, as far as I know (worth checking, as DH has always been resident in the UK since getting his). In any case, with UK QTS already it will be straightforward, and you shouldn’t need to go down the UK NARIC route of validating qualifications.

Beachhuts90 · 03/08/2021 16:30

@user1471539385

He will be entitled to a settlement visa, depending on how long you have been together. I think you need to apply via the embassy in his country of residence, although it might be a British embassy in Canada. When we did DH’s paperwork, it had to be done before arriving in the UK. The spousal settlement visa allows him to work, but gives no recourse to public funds (you can still claim child benefit, but not tax credits etc). After a year (I think), you can then apply for indefinite leave to remain, and then British citizenship. The settlement visa is enough to work, though, and the employer doesn’t need to do anything as the visa comes through his link to you. Be wary of websites offering help. They will charge you a lot! We didn’t have any additional help with DH’s paperwork, and getting evidence together was straightforward as, like you, we had been together for several years before applying.
It is 5 years on indefinite leave to remain as a spouse. It changed under Theresa May.
Beachhuts90 · 03/08/2021 16:31

@user1471539385

If he worked in the UK before, he may already have the paperwork he needs. Did he apply for ILR or citizenship before? This is valid for life, as far as I know (worth checking, as DH has always been resident in the UK since getting his). In any case, with UK QTS already it will be straightforward, and you shouldn’t need to go down the UK NARIC route of validating qualifications.
Citizenship is valid for life but I think ILR expires after 2 (3? Unsure) years of living outside the UK. They really don't make it easy!
user1471539385 · 03/08/2021 16:45

Wow! That is a huge extra hoop to jump through. It has been a while since DH went through the process. A quick look at the website makes it look like you can apply from within the UK now, too, so my information is very out of date!

Phineyj · 03/08/2021 17:41

I can't speak for all schools, but two I've worked at during the last 5 years have employed Canadians and have been very glad to get them (secondary science, secondary RS/Philosophy).

Beachhuts90 · 04/08/2021 10:48

@user1471539385

Wow! That is a huge extra hoop to jump through. It has been a while since DH went through the process. A quick look at the website makes it look like you can apply from within the UK now, too, so my information is very out of date!
Oh yes, it has changed a lot in the last few years!! For this visa you actually must apply from outside the UK.

Once he's in I'm sure he'll have no problem as you get treated like a citizen for work purposes, it's just the visa that is a massive headache. My husband and I had to spend our first 2 months of marriage apart while waiting for the visa to come in! Get some gin in stock Wink

Original poster
ButchMacgregor · 06/08/2021 05:00

Thank you so, so much for all of this, everyone. Really appreciate it (and I will definitely take the advice about the gin!)

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