Expat Forum For Expats, For Moving Overseas And For Jobs Abroad

Reliable Customs Broker / Shipper in Cairo

holmes5668 — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 05:16:34 GMT

I'm moving to Cairo in 2011 and will be shipping about 3cbm of personal stuff. I have a great shipping company in Canada (used them before for commercial loads) and they will take the shipment from Vancouver to Cairo Terminal. I need a reliable / trustworthy company in Cairo to customs clear the goods and deliver them to my apartment.

Anybody know of a reliable shipping company?

Thanks in advance.

driving from philly to Tulum

tulumchef — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 03:03:18 GMT

My husband is driving this week from Philly to Tulum. Any ideas on the safest border crossing where he can legalize his old pickup. He is a native mexican citizen and now a us citizen as well traveling with my our toddler. Thanks for your help !!

ACS online - not signed app record

Artemisa — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:38:34 GMT

Hi,

I've just sent my certified docs to ACS.

I didn't realise I should sign the application record as I wasn't able to find a spefic field related to that.
Anyone had this experience?

I payed using credit card.

Living Costs and Salaries

sabfrance — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:37:34 GMT

I am considering a move to Dubai and have some basic questions about the structure of salary packages.

For my industry, the average month salary appears to be AED 50,000 + benefits.

What is typically included in an expat package? I assume salary, accomodation allowance, medical, etc. Also, are superannuation contributions by an employer commonplace?

Can anyone help with quantifying the benefits included in a package - both by category and likely annual value?

I anticipate renting a 2-3 bedroom apartment in Dubai.

I am single and have no children.

I do not have a university qualification - is this a blocker to gaining labour and residency approvals?

Is the income tax rate really 0% or are there hidden taxes?

Approximately, what annual costs are associated with electricity/utilities, mobile phone, internet acces, etc?

Any current information would be greatly appreciated, (as many of the information I have been able to source is too generic or simply outdated).

Tropical Storm 11W (UNNAMED)

Gene and Viol — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:07:55 GMT

Tropical Storm 11W (UNNAMED)

TROPICAL STORM 11W [UNNAMED]
T2K PUBLIC ADVISORY NUMBER 003
6:00 AM PhT (22:00 GMT) Thu 09 September 2010
Sources: T2K Analysis/JTWC Warning #04/SatFixes
View: Advisory Archives (2004-2010)
Tropical Storm 11W (UNNAMED) has left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) but its eastern rainbands are still affecting the Northwestern parts of Luzon including Batanes, Babuyan & Calayan Islands...likely to make landfall over Southeastern China tomorrow.

Residents and visitors along Southeastern China should closely monitor the progress of 11W.

Do not use this for life or death decision. This advisory is intended for additional information purposes only. Kindly refer to your country's official weather agency for local warnings, advisories & bulletins.

CURRENT STORM INFORMATION

Time/Date: 6:00 AM PhT Thu Sep 09 2010
Location of Center: 21.0� N Lat 118.9� E Lon
Distance 1: 230 km (125 nm) SW of Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Distance 2: 300 km (162 nm) WNW of Itbayat, Batanes
Distance 3: 320 km (172 nm) WNW of Basco, Batanes
Distance 4: 350 km (190 nm) SE of Shantou, China
MaxWinds (1-min avg): 65 kph (35 kts) near the center
Peak Wind Gusts: 85 kph (45 kts)
Present Movement: West @ 05 kph (03 kts)
Towards: Southeastern China
6-hr Rain Amounts (near the center): 250 mm (Heavy)
Minimum Central Pressure: 996 millibars (hPa)
Saffir-Simpson Typhoon Scale: Tropical Storm
Size (in Diameter): 450 km (240 nm) / Average
Max Sea Wave Height (near center): 13 ft (3.9 m)
Possible Storm Surge Height: 1 feet [0.3 m]
Wunder TrackMap (for Public): 2 AM PhT Thu Sep 09 ANALYSIS & FORECAST OUTLOOK (up to 2 days)*

11W having a hard time consolidating over the northern part of the South China Sea, but still maintaining its Tropical Storm intensity. The storm is expected to turn WNW to NW-ward throughout the forecast period. It will slightly intensify while heading towards the Guangdong-Fujian Provinces of China today [2PM SEP 09: 21.6N 117.9E @ 75kph]. 11W will reach its peak intensity tomorrow morning before making landfall over SE China [2AM SEP 10: 22.5N 117.1E @ 85kph]. The touchdown area of 11W is somewhere just to the south of Shantou City before noontime tomorrow, and will start to weaken as it traverses the rugged terrain of Easternmost Guangdong and Southern Fujian by tomorrow afternoon [2PM SEP 10: 23.5N 116.3E @ 65kph]. On Saturday early morning, 11W will quickly dissipate over the mountains of Jiangxi Province [2AM SEP 11: 24.8N 115.6E @ 35kph]

Current Maximum Sustained Winds (1-min. avg) are near 65 km/hr (35 kts) with higher gusts.

*Please be reminded that the Forecast Outlook changes every 6 hours, and the Extended Forecast Track have an average error of 250 km on Day 3...450 km on Day 4...and 650 km on Day 5, while the wind speed forecast error, averages 35 kph per day. Therefore, a turn to the left or right of its future track and changes in its wind speed can be expected from time to time.
EFFECTS & HAZARDS

11W's circulation has become broader while consolidating over the South China Sea - with its rainbands bringing scattered to widespread rains and thunderstorms across Taiwan, Guangdong Province (China) and the northwestern portions of Luzon including the smaller islands of Batanes, Calayan and Babuyan. Click here to view the latest NOAA-CIRA's Wind Analysis. 6-hr total rainfall amounts of 5 up to 100 mm (light to moderate rain) can be expected along the its rainbands...with isolated amounts of up to 250 mm (heavy) near the center of 11W. Click here to view the latest NOAA's eTRaP graphic on the storm's rainfall amount.
CURRENT I.T.C.Z. INTENSITY: MODERATE >> Sunny to mostly cloudy skies with isolated or scattered rains and thunderstorms can be expected along the following affected areas: REST OF LUZON, METRO MANILA, BICOL REGION, PALAWAN, VISAYAS & MINDANAO. Light SW, South or SE winds (not in excess of 30 kph) can be expected along these areas.
Important Note: Please keep in mind that the above forecast outlook, extended forecast, effects-hazards, current monsoon intensity, & tropical cyclone watch changes every 6 to 12 hrs!

Health Insurance Recommendations

StevieG — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 23:21:19 GMT

Hi,

I'm just about to try and sort health insurance so I can transfer from a working holiday visa to a 457 sponsored visa. Does anyone have any good recommendations of organisations I might want to sign up with?

Thanks

Steve

Working in USA

Tsubodai — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:57:17 GMT

Hi im a 23 year old and currently looking for a job to work over in america after after my latest trip really got me hooked on the country.

At present i hold a BSc in Medical Biochemistry and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education which allows me to teach secondary (high school) science. I have been looking about and found a fair amount of information on the web especially about the requirements for teaching in different states but i am struggling to find and information about applying for the industries or where to really start looking.
there is a lot of generic jobs websites but imfinding it hard to sift through what im actually eligable to maybee apply for or what i need to do as a foreign applicant if i do.

Any help or ideas would be much appreciated

Thanks in advance

Cost of living Dubai

Maruda — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:48:48 GMT

Hi, thanks for your help in advance! Moving in in Nov with my family (2+2). could some help to avarage monthly cost? Is there any good website or excel available for orientation?

Can immigration agents help or is it a waste of money

Girl_next_door — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:26:35 GMT

:confused:

Hi, I'm new to this forum so apologies if these kind of questions have been asked (and answered) like a gazillion times!

Hubby and I are Brits living in the UK but dream of moving to Canada where we have friends living in Ontario. We were so unlucky a couple of years ago because we would have qualified under the old Federal Skilled Worker scheme but we applied for PR just when the CIC decided to move the goal posts and our application and fees were returned advising us we no longer qualify under the new rules. Shame as we were actually in a really good position to move being home owners (we would have had enough money left over from the sale of our house to survive for a least a year in Canada even if we didn't find work!).

I have been trying to improve myself, going to evening college to get a BA in Management (still studying) but I don't think my current job is in any of the "in demand" occupations. I deal with benefit and welfare claims in the public sector - the closest occupation that might remotely resemble what I do is the "Insurance Claim Adjuster(?) which is one of the new occupations in the Federal Skilled Worker stream but I know its a long shot as I'm not dealing with "insurance" in the traditional sense I guess. My husband's job is not an "in demand" occupation either and he only completed secondary school.

I wish to find a migration expert/consultant here in the UK that specializes in Canada immigration, who will be honest and tell me what our possibilites (if any) are and not string me along with empty promises whilst draining me of all my cash. I have heard some pretty horrible stories of people who used such agents/agencies, have forked out thousands of pounds and are nowhere nearer to moving to their dream destination that when they made the initial enquiry.....

I know the best way forward would be to find a Canadian employer willing to file a LMO but where would I find such a gem?!! All the jobs I've seen advertised on job search engines seem to indicate the applicant needs to have legal status to work in Canada already, so how is one meant to get such a job I wonder!! Our friend is keeping any eye open for any jobs but he works mainly in the construction industry so not quite our line of work I guess!

Wish us luck because I know we're facing a mountain!

Thanks and regards.

Torremolinos events

coldhater 1 — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:03:41 GMT

Does anyone know of any events in Torremolinos 17th -20th Sept.
I think there may be a procession on sunday but cant find any info re location or times :confused:

UK Driving License

Dozza — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:34:38 GMT

Advise Required Please

Do I need to notify the DVLA that I am moving out of the UK for the purpose of my address change on my driving license?

I dont have another UK address to associate myself with, just sold our old house, so living in rented accomodation until we relocate in 1 weeks time

Retire to Canada from US??

nevilld — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:25:44 GMT

I'm checking out the possibility of retiring to Canada from the U.S. Does anybody know -- what are the possibilities of doing this if I have enough income to live on from Social Security and investments? I can't find any info on websites. Maybe I haven't been looking in the right place??

Live & Work Temporarily?

NatureFairy — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:15:26 GMT

Hello everyone. New here, & I'd appreciate some help. :)

I'd like to reside & work in Canada TEMPORARILY, perhaps for a year or 2. Don't want to live there permanantly.

I have a Bachelor of Science Degree & one year's experience working in a gov't lab. I'm also good at writing, & would be willing to do freelance writing jobs.

I've checked the CIC site & I may qualify for a skilled work VISA, if I get a job offer. I know it's difficult & I don't want to waste time with agencies & sending out resumes etc. I'd like to make the move by Jan 2011. I'd like some insight on the following, please:

1. Should I apply for a tourist VISA & then look for a job, or try to obtain one before I leave? I am looking for something along the lines of assistant/lab worker in a morgue, lab, research assistant or anything laboratory based, but I don't know how to go about looking for someone who is willing to hire a foreigner. Can someone give info on getting a job with my qualifications?

2. I'm willing to live anywhere in Canada, providing it's close to my job; don't want to spend much on transportation. I've heard certain places (eg Halifax) are better for foreigners. Can anyone offer advice about this?

3. Would $10,000 CAN be sufficient funds to facilitate my relocation to Canada? It's just me, I'll only be bringing my clothes, a few books & my laptop. I don't eat out or go pubbing etc, eat mostly fruit & vegetables, & need no car insurance etc, just a high speed internet service & cell phone account.

4. Ideally, I'd like to rent a room in a private house, or even housesit for someone. I'm a single female & very conservative, so I'd like to rent from someone similar. Are options like that available without too much difficulty?

5. I've been reading something about "PR Cards" on this forum. WHat are they & do I need one?

Thanks so much. :)

Foreign license exchange offers

rosemaryfr — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:37:15 GMT

Please be aware of anyone contacting you to exchange your non EU license for a valid EU license. This company has been operating under a lot of different names and they are a total scam. BE WARY.......... They were operating out of Germany with a bank account in New Zealand.............and they take all of your personal details, ID/SS/Passport info etc. and do not deliver. PASS this on to everyone you know who is trying to exchange a license................. THEY are totally fraudulent and move to country to country pretending to know all of the loop holes with EU countries that have not come up to the same standards as the major EU players. DO NOT DEAL WITH THEM.............and if you can blog this out on the web, please do so............and post to every EX PAT web site you know..............
They are curently operating under EU licenses........ and in all of their offers it is the same come on........... we know the legal loop holes to exchange your license!!!!!
Rosemary

Job Situation in Toronto

Mistersalisbury — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:36:21 GMT

I'm an Australian that has been currently bumming around BC working on farms that last 3 months on the woofing programme(I have a 2 year working holiday Visa). Initially I didn't have much luck finding work in Vancouver and am thinking about making the move to Toronto, but am wondering what the work situation is like?

I'm 27, a graphic designer by training and experience (but I have also worked retail). What sort of work would I be likely to get in Toronto, any chance of design work or would I run into the old "we hire Canadians before foreigners" problem again? Happy to do monkey work like retail or serving (which surprisingly you need experience to be a server over here? weird).

Also just on another note how hard is it to get work in Montreal being a non french speaker?