Immigrating to the UK

AdrianH said:
What's the best (cheapest) way to keep your mobile number and not lose it, and possible keep sms and WhatsApp working on it when not in SA anymore? Currently on a Vodacom contract that is coming to the end of the 2 year term soon.
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When I was in Oxford in 2017, I just bought an EE sim card (they don't have stupid RICA stuff there). WhatsApp worked fine with change of sim card...but obviously I had a different number but that didn't effect What's app.
 
AdrianH said:
What's the best (cheapest) way to keep your mobile number and not lose it, and possible keep sms and WhatsApp working on it when not in SA anymore? Currently on a Vodacom contract that is coming to the end of the 2 year term soon.
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I was on a vodacom topup contract that ended a few months ago. I called them last week to cancel the month to month topup and move me to prepaid.

I'm not sure how often I need to load airtime but this I can do on the vodacom app. I will activate roaming on the sim so I can at least let the sim connect to a network in the UK every month or two.

My wife's contract only ends later this year so will move her number to prepaid as well.

It should only be the cost of the airtime that gets loaded to keep the number active.
 
signates said:
I was on a vodacom topup contract that ended a few months ago. I called them last week to cancel the month to month topup and move me to prepaid.

I'm not sure how often I need to load airtime but this I can do on the vodacom app. I will activate roaming on the sim so I can at least let the sim connect to a network in the UK every month or two.
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Yeah, I was thinking of moving to prepaid, thanks.
 
AdrianH said:
What's the best (cheapest) way to keep your mobile number and not lose it, and possible keep sms and WhatsApp working on it when not in SA anymore?
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Change it to payg. Ensure that you send an SMS every month which keeps the number active . I have been doing this with my UK number but with that, I just need to do something every two months
 
InternetLuddite said:
Change it to payg. Ensure that you send an SMS every month which keeps the number active . I have been doing this with my UK number but with that, I just need to do something every two months
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FYI, the usual minimum is once in 6 months (or 180 days) on UK networks.

What network is that sim on?
 
For £30 pm you get a TV Box and WiFi router with a fibre connection and unlimited internet for 6 connections.
We use WhatsUp voice calls and Skype to contact family and friends. We top up Skype when needed to phone fixed lines anywhere in the world. We are freeloaders and cheapskates as we earn Rants.
 
marco said:
For £30 pm you get a TV Box and WiFi router with a fibre connection and unlimited internet for 6 connections.
We use WhatsUp voice calls and Skype to contact family and friends. We top up Skype when needed to phone fixed lines anywhere in the world. We are freeloaders and cheapskates as we earn Rants.
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If you’re in the UK now you should look at Sipgate Basic, it’s a lot cheaper than Skype and can be used from any SIP capable device.

You could also get cheaper fibre, around £20 a month for unlimited use (I haven’t heard of any broadband provider that restricts you to 6 connections, all I have seen are unlimited) and then use Freeview or FreeSat which are both free and Freeview is built into most TV’s these days.
 
Looks like we'll end up trying out Dublin first. There are a lot of opportunities in my wife's line of work there.

She already started submitting applications via LinkedIn and getting enquiries from recruiters. There was a post advertised on Monday, she applied on Tuesday morning and less than an hour later the recruiter called her back for an interview. In the years that we've worked in SA we've never had such a quick follow up call after submitting a CV.

Salary range for a Fund Accounting Manager in Dublin is about €75k to €90k pa.
 
signates said:
Looks like we'll end up trying out Dublin first. There are a lot of opportunities in my wife's line of work there.

She already started submitting applications via LinkedIn and getting enquiries from recruiters. There was a post advertised on Monday, she applied on Tuesday morning and less than an hour later the recruiter called her back for an interview. In the years that we've worked in SA we've never had such a quick follow up call after submitting a CV.

Salary range for a Fund Accounting Manager in Dublin is about €75k to €90k pa.
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Nice. May be an easier route to an Irish/EU passport longer term - already has a British passport, so why not, right? May want to apply for it ASAP, though: saw somewhere they've got a backlog at the moment after they received over 190k applications from Britain alone. I think after 1 April that number is going to skyrocket.
 
Dave said:
FYI, the usual minimum is once in 6 months (or 180 days) on UK networks.

What network is that sim on?
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I know it's six months but I just do it every two months to be safe :) all my UK bank accounts still send messages that number. And who knows, if I move back , it won't be so difficult. SIM is Giffgaff
 
signates said:
Salary range for a Fund Accounting Manager in Dublin is about €75k to €90k pa.
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Wow!!! I know Dublin is super expensive but that is double what the UK pays for skilled work.
What are you going to do?

I am a pensioner and cannot afford a beer in the UK as it is 4,5 times more expensive than here in Portugal. We have both been offered a school cleaning job that entails 2 hours per night for 5 days a week and pays £500 each per month. It even covers the 3 month school closure. Get paid to not work is good. That will more than pay our mortgage and utilities. Locals will not want to do this job.

I have also been offered a job to braai meat SA style for a restaurant in Tetbury for £12 per hour as the previous SA guy has left. I had a butchery and did this in Saldanha Bay after hours. The restaurant had become very popular for their braaivleis.

I will also make 100 gm packets of biltong shavings and sticks in BBQ and peri peri and sell them to pubs. It only takes 2 days to make 100 packets.

Must keep myself busy there.
 
marco said:
Wow!!! I know Dublin is super expensive but that is double what the UK pays for skilled work.
What are you going to do?

I am a pensioner and cannot afford a beer in the UK as it is 4,5 times more expensive than here in Portugal. We have both been offered a school cleaning job that entails 2 hours per night for 5 days a week and pays £500 each per month. It even covers the 3 month school closure. Get paid to not work is good. That will more than pay our mortgage and utilities. Locals will not want to do this job.

I have also been offered a job to braai meat SA style for a restaurant in Tetbury for £12 per hour as the previous SA guy has left. I had a butchery and did this in Saldanha Bay after hours. The restaurant had become very popular for their braaivleis.

I will also make 100 gm packets of biltong shavings and sticks in BBQ and peri peri and sell them to pubs. It only takes 2 days to make 100 packets.

Must keep myself busy there.
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I'm in finance and accounting so will probably look for a finance manager position. Also depending on what she ends up getting, I might just settle for a half day position with her as the primary breadwinner and I will take care of the children after school, see to the household, supper, etc.
 
signates said:
Looks like we'll end up trying out Dublin first. There are a lot of opportunities in my wife's line of work there.

She already started submitting applications via LinkedIn and getting enquiries from recruiters. There was a post advertised on Monday, she applied on Tuesday morning and less than an hour later the recruiter called her back for an interview. In the years that we've worked in SA we've never had such a quick follow up call after submitting a CV.

Salary range for a Fund Accounting Manager in Dublin is about €75k to €90k pa.
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Nice one. Dublin is my favourite city. Expensive, but nice :)

I strongly recommend https://www.activeme.ie/guides/ring-of-kerry-scenic-tourist-drive-kerry/

Hired a Ford Fiesta and did the trip staying over at 3 b&b’s. make sure you travel clockwise, most of the tour buses go counter clockwise so you don’t get stuck behind them. Outside of Dublin, dual carriage ways are rare :)
 
[GrammarNazi]
Emigrating to the UK, you're EMIGRATING. Think [E]xit South Africa. Immigrants are what you will be once you have settled in the UK.

[/GrammarNazi]
 
marco said:
FFS. I know its not in Portugal you moron. I have been talking about the Cotswold area all along and I will be relocating there soon.
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Ok, time for my 2p, and to enlighten everyone reading this who doesn't actually live in the UK.

The Cotswolds is an extremely affluent part of England. It's hardly surprising if a pint costs more there than in a local elsewhere. Unless it's a chain (such as a 'Spoons or Youngs pub), the landlord (pub owner) can charge whatever he fancies for a pint, too. And because the Cotswolds is generally full of middle to upper class, they're going to milk them for what it's worth.

General rule of thumb in the UK is that from North to South EVERYTHING gradually becomes more expensive. So yes, you're going to pay through the nose for a drink in a pub in London, sometimes twice as much as what it would cost in Manchester, for example. It's not a major conspiracy or topic for debate: it's just how it is. As for what goes on in Portugal, I can't really say, as I don't live there.
 
The Voice said:
Ok, time for my 2p, and to enlighten everyone reading this who doesn't actually live in the UK.

The Cotswolds is an extremely affluent part of England. It's hardly surprising if a pint costs more there than in a local elsewhere. Unless it's a chain (such as a 'Spoons or Youngs pub), the landlord (pub owner) can charge whatever he fancies for a pint, too. And because the Cotswolds is generally full of middle to upper class, they're going to milk them for what it's worth.

General rule of thumb in the UK is that from North to South EVERYTHING gradually becomes more expensive. So yes, you're going to pay through the nose for a drink in a pub in London, sometimes twice as much as what it would cost in Manchester, for example. It's not a major conspiracy or topic for debate: it's just how it is. As for what goes on in Portugal, I can't really say, as I don't live there.
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Exactly, it is pretty amazing how some people who haven’t lived here think “the UK” is this tiny little homogeneous city state where everything is the same in every area and every shop/pub/business/supermarket.

There are huge price differences even in the same region (or even the same city between affluent areas and working class areas).

People like Marco who want to sit and sagely offer advice on living in the UK based on hearsay and family rumours are pretty dangerous to those who are actually making the move and relying on that advice given being accurate.
 
Spizz said:
Yeah. No.

Emigrate FROM South Africa

Immigrate TO the UK.

The title is correct.
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No, if the act of having left is not yet complete, you are Emigrating. You have Immigrated to the UK when the action of having emigrated is complete. Thus you are an immigrant. You cannot be an immigrant if you are still to emigrate.
 
neoprema said:
No, if the act of having left is not yet complete, you are Emigrating. You have Immigrated to the UK when the action of having emigrated is complete. Thus you are an immigrant. You cannot be an immigrant if you are still to emigrate.
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Regardless. “From” and “to” are the operative words and since the title says “to the UK”, Immigrating is correct.
 
So being born in England back in 78, and moving to SA in 84 and never been back, I have what seems to be an old NHS number as I read on Wikipedia that new numbers were introduced in 96.

Can anybody advise on what I need to do with regards to my NHS number? Do I need to get a new number or do the old numbers still work? Would it be something I apply for now, or only once I immigrate?
 
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