Work permit??

[Katymac]

A lady that works for me (originonally from the Phillipines) has asked if I would consider employing her niece

She is qualified and would be an ideal addition to our setting

How do I go about organising a work permit, will it cost a lot & how long would it take?

She would live with her auntie

bump

Why not get the lady who works for you to advise how she got her work permit, and then do the same for her neice? You could also google for information on the government website.

All my experience regarding work permits has been through specialist solicitors, and that's bound to be expensive.

She didn't she married a UK citizen

I am not an expert, but work permits are quite complicated. I think that, if the job could otherwise be filled by someone from the EU, there are really stringent eligibility conditions. You don't mention what your company does or how senior the role would be, but I think you need advice from an actual specialist firm, who could put in the application too.

Oh - It's not a particularly senior role - It's only really one up from an aupair really - about 30-35 hrs a week childcare (ideally by someone with an NVQ3)

I'm not sure about a specialist firm - that might get too complicated I think

I thought I could fill in a form on-line The job has existed & been advertised several times (over 18m +) but never filled permanently

Oh how confusing

Info here:

www.workingintheuk.gov.uk/working_in_the_uk/en/homepage/work_permits0/applying_for_a_work.html

Gosh this is very complicated - I am not sure I can do all the stuff it asks for

Would you want her as a domestic worker?

If so, she is not eligible for a visa/work permit. In order to qualify for a domestic worker visa, you have to have lived with the family abroad for a year, and get the visa because the family move to the UK.

The Phillipines is not in the au pair program. Probably the best bet would be a student visa, if she can meet the requirements here.

this can get very complicated, which is why a number of Phillipina nannies etc all work undeclared.
You would almost certainly have to speak, at least once, with an immigration lawyer or someone similar who will be able to give you proper advice.

She would be a childminding asistant and eventually a childminder working for me

Looking after children I childmind - Is that domestic?

No, it wouldn't - although it doesn't matter as she doesn't qualify anyway.

The closest thing to a work permit is the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme, and she wouldn't qualify as a childminder's assistant.

She is a teacher with a post grad & is currently working with children with special needs

She would be a highly desirable employee for the nursery - but I also have this vacancy starting in January

I hoped she would start in Jan and move over to the nursery when it opened

She's not likely to meet the points requirement for HSMP, and childcare assistant is not something impossible to fill with EU candidates.

What about when the nursery opens?

I think you would still have a very difficult time trying to prove that she is the only possible person for the job (which is essentially what will be required)

Oh

Bugger

What a shame - she is lovely

Bump in case anyone can think of a loophole

Who is lovely? the lady who worked for you or the niece she is trying to get you to employ. Not being funny but I am sure that there are loads of nursery nurses about if this is what you really need but if the 'niece' is looking for assistance in coming to the country to work then what you should be asking yourself is that are you ready to go through all that hassle? There are other ways of helping if that is what you want to do. [sceptical]

That was my thought, Temmy.

There are loads of Polish, Czech, etc. girls that would also be perfect for this job.

Well if you can find one for me I would appreciate it

I have advertised the job about 6 times and only seem to get totally unsuitable people

At least this lady has a childcare qualification and is interested in working

The problem is that it is an early shift, then a late one with a 2 hr gap - unless you live in the village there is no-where to go for those 2 hrs as I live in the middle of no-where

Why don't you make it all the way through, without the break?

But that would be too long a shift (10 hrs) & I have nowhere for hem to have a break away from the children (well apart from my bed room & that is not suitable)

Perhaps the problems you have filling the job are due to working conditions, rather than the unavailability of EU citizens who would generally be open to it. Thinking that a Phillippino would be the answer does sort of hint of exploitation, I'm afraid.

No - if I could get an English person who lived in my village (& probably didn't have children) it would work for them - there just isn't anyone in the village

7:30 until 1pm
2:30 until 6pm

What I will probably do now is employ 2 separate people each working one shift (eg mornings or evening) but it would have made a F/t (about 35 hrs) job for someone local (& this lady would be as she would live with her Auntie)

Very expensive in the region of £500