₦airaland Forum

obitryce:
Please house, does my wife (student) need to be present for me to open a bank account?. I already have a copy of her school's letter of introduction to banking facilities as she school's in a different state from mine.

Different state?

Osed:
We applied to change our tier 4 visa to a work sponsored visa 3 weeks ago, but our BRP expires in May next year, can we travel and come back if the new BRP doesn’t come out and can we track the application?

Before you travel anywhere, check the rules regarding travelling outside the CTA while one has a pending application to see if that situation applies to your case.

Aminess1:
God bless you all for your great contributions!
Please is there any trend on the best way to get Germany tourist or visiting visa from UK here as a student with dependents? We want to spend few days in Germany during Christmas.
I will love to hear ideas from people that have secured such visa. Thank you all for this platform

The best way is the only way - check to see if you satisfy the requirements, apply online, do the biometrics and photo-taking, and see whether you get it or not.
Before you do that, verify whether Germany is open to tourist travel in the first place. As at mid October it was not.

realvip:
Does anyone know how long a migrant on a skilled worker Visa is expected to stay before he can be allowed to purchase a car or get a house mortgage?

Thanks.

You can purchase a car tonight if you have the cash and so desire.
If you meant finance a car, as a newcomer to the UK, if you are approved for a HP or PCP or secure loan from your bank in the first place, the interest rates are going to be high.

AirBay:
@justwise @lexusgs430

I see people using business accounts to receive their wages. Is this against the law? I am not too sure if they have businesses running but they have their biz registration done.

I started a small business recently and I want to inform my employer to pay my wages into the account. Someone told me Both taxes from my wages and profit can be paid at the end of the tax year. Is this correct?

This isn't something you come asking on Nairaland.
Consult an accountant.

Newwoman:
Please I need a 2bedroom flat to rent at Edinburgh. Moving from Nigeria.

Advisable you check places within commutable distance to Edinburgh such as Dunfermline. The housing market in Edinburgh is really tight.

deept:
One quote i liked from GOT which all applies to many especially we Nigerians:

"You know nothing John Snow"

Rather than listen and learn even if you don't agree with someone's else's position, we seem to know it all. You might just pick up that one thing that will benefit you in your journey.

Anyway we all have different preferences but it surprises me when person go dey vex at someone else's choices.

That's the interesting thing about living in Nigeria.
You're supposed to allow "society" to do your thinking for you and subscribe to all forms of cultural groupthink available.

dubaiprince:
We have different opinions on where we see as home and I respect that. We have our lives differently planned and trust in those plans. so whichever route we take, we are all not wrong.

Good man.

LagosismyHome:
Which gift on October 27.... i behind on news

Autumn Budget.

dubaiprince:
Your opinion that wherever you are is home is respected. My opinion is that wherever you are and not treated as equals is not home. You can't collect immigration health surcharge and tax me equally as a citizen then when it comes to benefits, you give me limited options under the guise of NRPFs. Don't let me even go to what happens in the workplace. Even with British passport, I can't call it home. Even well known blacks like Rashford, Saka, Ian Wright, Alex Scott etc have their stories on what they had to fight growing up and they are still fighting it. We all know we are not welcome (let's not hide it) but unfortunately, their economy can't work without migrants. My opinion.

If you come at it from that angle, can you really say that everyone has equal opportunities in Nigeria?
We know that's not true, without needing to go into details.

Secondly, when I referred to a feeling of being at home, I was referring to the fact that I feel just as comfortable taking an early morning walk in my area for instance as I did on the streets of my estate back in Lagos. I am of course well aware that some of the people out walking their dogs who nod or smile to you when you meet may have other things in mind when they see a tall, slightly overweight black man walking towards them at a brisk pace, and I am well aware that jogging/brisk walking while black is not a recommended activity in some parts of the world, but I feel comfortable in my environment. Back in Lagos, there are also several things I could not do, places to which I could not go or hours at which I could not be out and about.

Nigeria is the place where I grew up, spent my formative years and so forth, and that counts for something in terms of shaping one's experiences (even though I've long since jettisoned the greater part of the Nigerian groupthink, most of which isn't in any way useful), but were I to return there in 20 years' time, it would initially feel more alien than the UK is now because it is no longer my home.

dubaiprince:
Infact both parties are somehow right. Our reasons for coming to the UK are different. Some are here planning never to return to Nigeria while some have plans to return. So buying or building a house in Nigeria is not out of place for someone planning to return. You have easier access to good healthcare, education for kids, saner environment here obviously but discrimination based on race is something I feel will take centuries to go away.

Racial discrimination will always be there.
But that apart, while inserting oneself into any society comes with various degrees of challenges (it is obviously easier the younger one is, and depending on the stage of life (easier to make friends while in university as opposed to at a workplace, for instance)), re-inserting oneself into a society is also not easy.

After spending a few years in a developed country, the transition to Nigeria will be as difficult as some are finding the transition to the UK to be. No matter how you've maintained relationships, many will have moved on, others will become transactional, and so forth. My belief is that wherever you are is home.

justwise:
I think the opposite is the case

Make una no dey give this line of discussion oxygen.
Sunak is planning some more gifts for us on 27 October, interest rates are going up, rumours of Plan B winter lockdowns are circulating, there are better things to talk about than whether or not those living in warm 32 degree weather in a sadly disintegrating nation are better off than those living in late autumn in the British Isles, apparently spending all their time cleaning elderly people's backsides and spending the bulk of their earnings therefrom on heating their tiny houses.

Lexusgs430:
Why the fascination with owning a property in Nigeria?.... What use is the property, if the person got no more plans in Nigeria?.....

I would rather own 3 properties in the UK, than 12 in Nigeria........


Your father is very wrong...... You can live abroad forever (and be buried abroad).........

Never attempt to be that God in Nigeria, whilst living like a slave abroad....... Those you are attempting to Lord over, would continually live their lives, when you kick the bucket...... They would only mourn you for a few hours.........

Correct.
Owning your own residential property in Nigeria in which you never or rarely live but hold on to purely to show your home people you've arrived (or out of some village mentality) is pointless.

As for burial, I have absolutely no interest in where my corpse is planted postmortem (or even whether it is planted at all, after all cremation plans are way cheaper than funeral plans).

KOVIC19COVID20:
Time for you to have a man-to-man discussion with @ Chukwuka16??

I don't think either of us will like what the other's got to say.
I'm already regretting not pulling out last year when the pound was 1 to 600 against the naira, now its 1 to only-God-knows-how-much.

icon8:
Potential partner here when you are ready sir. Business partner o, not that other type

Lol.
Noted, all business ideas wanted.
I really hate to say this, but its looking increasingly like it's time to realise what I can from back home and divest.

Mamatukwas:
Following with interest. There are really opportunities in unlikely places here for people if you keep an open mind and keep looking.

I saw an Ad Yodel made last week; they are looking for anyone with a small van willing to partner with them for deliveries in their locality. Payment is £2.50 per parcel and you are expected to do 9-11hour or over 100 deliveries per day. That’s easily £250 per day gross. Wallahi if not for fear of dogs biting me amongst other things I considered the idea ASAP I think it’s brilliant! And you can grow the business.

Next thing you know you have 3 vans and are grossing 18k gross monthly. Not bad at all.

Anyhoo, there’s hope and opportunity here sha. Me I’m team business for a few reasons and I hope I one day build something I’m proud of

Good morning

Good idea, but there are things like commercial van insurance, the eliminated IR35 rules and things like that that will cut deeply into those projected figures. This is apart from T&Cs and small print - the delivery companies usually apply targets, for instance you only get so-and-so amount if you make so-and-so number of deliveries a day, and those thresholds are usually not as achievable as they may sound.

Not to discourage you or your idea for setting up a business, which I think is laudable. Still trying to manage what I've got in Nigeria myself, might just end up selling up and look into setting up something here.

claremont:
Corruption, insecurity and the dearth of infrastructure (good roads, power supply, rail transport etc). He is doing his best to tackle this triad curse in my opinion. I don't think there is a magic wand that can be used to take away all of the problems of Nigeria overnight. It will take a few baby steps and a few good leaders to get to where we want to be. I may be wrong, but deep down, I think he is an incorruptible leader who means well, but is sadly, overwhelmed by the challenges of governing a country like Nigeria.

Nigeria is a complex country to govern; the abnormal is normalized, whilst the normal is perceived as abnormal.

Hilarious.

amanze54:
I just laughed when I saw your question, men I left the banking work back, though the deposit target was getting unbearable, when I arrived UK this year, I nearly fell into depression when I was recruited to care work right out of 10 days quarantine, Men I look back at suit and tie bank work and the white ass on the mess up bed I was told to clean. But to be sincere the first 2 weeks was funny, I would have treck back to Naija if I had my way, but now I adjusted a bit, trying to get my study going. Just prepare yourself, it just different experience base on the circumstances you will meet.
No magician here that will forcast it for you. But a similar trend will occur, which is the first month, you will feel like you running back to Naija, unless you came loaded with cash

While I sympathise with you and am glad you overcame the near-descent into depression, is the job you currently hold in eldercare that much of a mismatch between your expectations and reality?

TheOnly123:
I would like to ask a very important question that almost every new person relocating to the UK would have asked or have it in mind.

The question is- What happens after the PSW Post study work visa?

For me I see this question as what can I do to ensure I make use of the 2 years post study work visa to ensure I make the best use of the PSW and get a job that can sponsor before it expires.

Please honourable members, I would need your support and practical contributions on this topic. This would in turn help alot of people here to plan well and be strategic with certain moves.

Thank you all.

Put in your applications, strategise, open your mind (lorry drivers too are potential Tier 2 sponsored parties), work hard on standing out from the (very large) crowd, pray hard, and draft a Plan B.

dupyshoo:
To answer your question about what happens after PSW: if you don't get a company that will sponsor your skilled work visa or go through another route to extend your visa, you will have to leave.

The good news is that you have 3 years to get a job that will sponsor your visa.

You have to start applying for jobs now. Instead of concentrating on survival jobs, spend quality time applying for grad jobs. Learn how to answer competency questions. Work on your CV. Learn about assessment centres. While some people will get the 1st job they applied for, some will get the 500th job. So keep applying and don't be discouraged. I have been through the process myself. While I was lucky to get a job before I finished my MSc., a lot of my friends got good jobs during PSW while some had to go back home.

Go through the list of skilled work visa sponsor and strategically apply to those that sponsor. No point applying to those that cannot give you COS. Target companies that are already sponsoring. They are usually open minded and have process in place to sponsor.

One has to eat while they're job hunting.
Best advice would be to apply to anywhere you can fit, particular focus on potential sponsors, yes, but focusing on them alone isn't advisable.

mizGene:
Good evening everyone,

just need some clarity...
must I get a provisional license before I can take lessons with an instructor? ?
I'm still within my 1year of being allowed to use the intl license. but I need to switch asap as I start work in Jan and it is a requirement (they have given me some laxity here, I def need the license and we both agreed I need to start working towards a UK license).

I was thinking of taking lessons with instructors while still having my intl as I understand that once I get a provisional, the intl becomes void. Is this legal?

Yes.

Preshyi:
He tried to apply for some pharmacy assistant jobs cos that was what he did back home but in his case he worked even as a Pharmacist most times (You know Naija style), so far the ones he has seen here requires some form of qualification that he doesn't have.

Try searching for "Pharmacy Support Worker" which is the same thing we'd call a pharmacy assistant.

Preshyi:
Please I would like to know about the bold part, I am the student but I believe my husband has better chances cos he is a Biochemist but has over 5 years experience working in the health sector in Nigeria and some assume he read a medical course. For now he has gotten an Amazon warehouse operative job but we are thinking of how he can switch to the medical field that has chances of sponsorship. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Tell him to try the NHS.
Covid testing, pharmacy assistant, things like that for starters.
With a healthcare background (you didn't specify what exactly he did back in Naija), he can also get a HCA job.
Depending on his work experience, he should also continue putting in applications where he feels he can fit.
As the previous poster said, some specific training would most likely be required to qualify one for a position with sponsorship.

Aphrodite007:
You might need to walk into a store face to face. Maybe Curry’s PC, or any other big phone store. Alternatively you could go with a mobile provider, like O2 or EE- walk into the store. Explain to them that you want a mobile contract and a phone, they will explain everything to you and tell you if you’ll likely get it or not. This way you won’t apply and get rejected (I think this affects your credit score).

If you’re not a student, you may get a yes if you’ve been here for a minimum of 3 months. If you’re a student, pls just close your eye and buy china.

You should have added that the OP would need to pass an affordability interview, so he'd need to have a job paying some reasonable income before trying for a mobile phone contract.

Going in person is indeed the best way to get credit, that's how I got one too. Just show up, speak to a representative, show them you can afford the phone contract, and they'll clear it with their manager and you're done. Don't waste time applying online for the algorithm to use you and shine. I do think 3 months is a bit too early to make a try, though.

Same thing applies to when you might want to take out a credit card - I prefer to avoid the so-called credit builder cards with lousy APRs and limits and no perks, and so I simply showed up at my bank into which my salaries are paid and spoke to an advisor.

Aphrodite007:
Wait let me gist you guys about interviews fails for Nigerians. 3 Nigerians I interviewed recently had the most fantastic CVs, like men, I was proud.

Only for time for interview time:

Man 1 was shouting on us at some point I even said, “please.. calm down… take a breath and relax”.. he still no gree
The other interviewer was asking why Man 1 was so angry. I had to explain that it was the person’s nature and it was normal in Nigeria. But they were worried he would shout on (senior) staff

Woman 2: she was ace. But her personality was dull. We even made jokes, she no laugh. And she kept sighing. Even me sef, I couldn’t beg for her. Some interviewers like to know you’re enjoying the interview. Make jokes as well, smile, keep a positive personality. Also if you’re going to laugh, don’t laugh inside the mic biko.

Man 3: guys. I know we are proud of our accent, but even foreigners in Nigeria learn to speak pidgin or twist their accent to speak to us. I was the only one that could hear this Man. I was the only one laughing at his jokes- the others on the panel were puzzled. So please lighten your accent small.

So you could be the best candidate but the above things will just ruin it. Seem happy, crack non-sensitive jokes, don’t gesticulate too much,M (you’re not a traffic warden), pause before you answer questions (don’t rush to answer), you could even answer a question and say “has that happened to you too?” And the interviewer may laugh and tell their own story.. and that’s how interview will turn to gist. Let them enjoy your presence.

You’ll def pass.

Correct.
And show that you are in sync with the country you are in. Drop things to show that you understand the way things work here; I've always counselled people to read the papers and watch the news so that you can be topical as much as is possible for someone who's not been here long.

My first interview lasted more than 2 hours. We left behind the thing they were interviewing me about and went far deep into house prices, how Airbnbs are destroying the housing market, why Britain is a low-wage economy and whose fault it is, etc. I didn't get that job, but it took them almost 4 weeks after the interview for them to write me the bouncing letter, so obviously there was much consideration behind the scenes before that decision was arrived at. Conversely, I know of an interview where one IT guy who was being sent to work out of Edinburgh had no idea what Scotland's status in the UK was, and thought it was something like a state in India (or Nigeria), and the panel started asking him all sorts of questions which quickly laid bare his ignorance about a lot of things in the UK.

It's easy to say that many UK people themselves are ignorant - that may be true, but this is their country and their level and our own level no be the same. Madam has made some good points - especially about the accent. No need to form accent - simply speak slowly and clearly and you will be understood.

We know Nigerians don't like to read and research - the inanity of a good deal of the questions posted here shows that - but it should be noted that improving oneself can make the difference between obtaining extensive experience in eldercare/bodybuilding and weight training at Amazon or Royal Mail or getting a desired alternative job.

canadaishome:
I need advice please
My iPhone is bad and was told there's no support for the iphone6 anymore.
I tried to get a phone contract but was declined. I guess due to lack of credit history.
How can I get a mobile phone contract without this credit history wahala?

You can't.
Get a phone for cash then get a SIM contract.
Three is currently offering a 9 pounds a month contract for students for 6 months, unlimited calls, SMS and data; its a very good deal.
After about a year, you can try for a cheap phone contract. Remember to register to vote at your address.

Aphrodite007:
I don’t agree. CELEBRATE everything. You left a country with no opportunity to a foreign place, why shouldn’t you celebrate your first call, or interview or second interview?

We get more with thanksgiving. Also, my friend that grew up here and is a head of his department celebrates being called for interview, just because he is happy to be interviewed, even if for just the experience.

Let’s learn to not be entitled. Tech is great, tech is easier to get into. Also, you’re human, celebrate your little wins.

I couldn't agree more.
Interviews ARE wins.
After swimming through that mass of algorithms and computer-says-no crap, you actually get to a stage where a human being eyeballs your resume [and/or your west African English-drafted cover letter and other outpourings] and decides to invite you for an interview, that's a win. You learn something each interview you go to, even if its what not to do next time.

Baby steps.

Mamatukwas:
Guys. Is it at all possible to carry my children to London for Naija passport and get it within a week?

I want to travel with them in December and my heart is beating small small

Flying all the way to be disappointed won’t be funny. Please if you have a plug in the embassy or know if it’s possible let me know. Thank you.

Re the ordinary/standard (i.e. non fast track) process, my cousin told me that they appear to work fast when you eventually get an appointment to come for "capturing"; he told me his wife's came out (as in got to them in Manchester by post) in about 10 days after that time. But it was getting the appointment that took time.

He paid for fast-track and got his passport within about 5 working days.
Fast-track is still on at the HC; he went in on Tuesday last week.

jtech17:
With previous work experience Or what.. please im dying to know... if you know the level of research ive been doing since January till now ..... ive checked NHS website, gradcraker, totaljobs...different sort of sites... what I dont have is first hand information from nigerians like myself.. I want to hear from people with testimonies... but where I keep hearing about testimonies is tech/IT

Oga.
No give yourself high BP such that you will end up using your IHS by force and tying up scarce NHS resources this winter.
There is no magic bullet for getting a sponsored job, you sound like you've read/explored everything there is on this topic, so apart from applying as much and as widely as you can, there isn't really much else to do.

If you believe in God (or a god), offer up prayers (or sacrifices). Stop stressing over this issue. Work hard, study hard, do your best to get a good result, and have fun too. Look around, try befriending one of the (non-fat if you like) girls around you. (They may have expectations of your prowess based on your being black, again, stay safe and protect the NHS).

We know the UK is a Plan B for many people this year - also have a Plan B to this Plan B as well, involving exploring other locations.

Do your best, and leave the rest.

Regarding job hunting and tailoring of CVs with regard to previous experience, in my opinion there are no hard and fast rules. As we all know, it is a general (but not hard and fast either) concept that here they tend to undervalue work experience gained in places like Nigeria, such that in many occupations (generally not those in demand) it is quite common for persons to be offered entry-level roles irrespective of how many years’ experience they may have acquired. But I don’t think that’s a reason for stripping one’s CV of all such experience in order to appear more suitable for entry-level roles. I didn't do that, anyway.

In my case, when I moved to the UK, I got a part-time job, and then applied to everything I felt was within my skillset and related thereto or which I could be accepted for, in any field, ranging all the way from entry level to the management roles at the level I felt I could handle given the similar level in my career back home (note: DO NOT apply for different jobs with the same company). I used the same resume listing all my work experience for everything, but tailored. Remember this is the UK, and they have this stuff here about CV gaps and all that. For instance, I worked in customer service a bank in Nigeria in those days when banks were everywhere before Soludo did his thing in 2004, worked in a call centre when I was a student in the UK, etc. So I also looked for customer service jobs here in the UK. Not listing my work experience after leaving the call centre in 2006 would have left the hugest of gaps, of course.

I got an entry-level role first, took it, kept looking, and got another at a higher level and better pay, took that one. I saw another part-time job I felt would suit me (work from home complaints handler for a multinational company, writing long letters in response to the numerous complaints oyibo people write, which is both related and unrelated to what I’ve done all these years in HR, depending on your standpoint), applied using the same resume listing all my work experience, and I got that one. I now work two jobs, both from home, one in my field, the other related/unrelated as the case may be.

What I can state is that many recruiters use AI to handle the numerous CVs and applications they receive. So the general advice is to tailor your applications/CVs using keywords in the job descriptions containing in the adverts to which you apply. Don’t use the exact same cover letter and resume for all applications. Take the extra time out to amend them on a case-by-case basis before uploading them on the employers’ websites. For employers who use this, the program selects based on such keywords. A lot of applications never get to be seen by a human being, which is quite a shame because some resumes get discarded which would have been shortlisted had one been using the old method.

Ultimately, do as the spirit moves you. If you have previous Nigerian experience and you want to strip it out in a manner not detrimental to your overall career ("mind the gap'), fine, if you want to leave it in, fine. Just do your best to tweak each resume/application, send them in, follow up with a huge dose of prayer, strengthen your mind when any rejections come in and don't get discouraged (any time you get discouraged, read the Nigerian news or check your latest energy bill to "ginger" yourself), rinse and repeat, rinse and repeat and you should be fine.

Preshyi:
Lol, who TV help? We no watch anything o.

Go back to part one of this thread and read the extensive discussion about the TV licence and when one is needed.

jayifeanyi1234:
Good evening All,

Please can someone outside the UK apply ?

Thank you



quote author=claremont post=106195859]Jobs, Jobs, Jobs!

Look beyond those headline figures and ask yourself why there is a shortage of people willing to do these jobs.

The whole point of these short-term visas is that they are supposed to be for people outside the UK.
The visas havent gone live yet (this week, they say), so no-one can yet say how they'll work, but usually such recruitment (agricultural workers and those categories) is done through agencies.