Work Permit In Anguilla?

by Anthony
(Philippines)

How can i get working permit in Anguilla?

My wife works in The Valley as a nanny.

I'm a Filipino, still living here in the Philippines. My job here is a driver.

Please help me. I want to help my wife to earn money for our two daughters. I am industrious, willing to work, 30 years old.

Please help me to find job there.

Thank you.

-Anthony

Ken's Reply: Anthony, this is a common problem all over the world. One spouse has a job that a country needs, but the spouse does not.

Anguilla is much like other countries. If you have a skill that can be done by a local citizen (such as driving a truck), you are not likely to be able to get a work permit.

Every country protects those jobs for its own citizens.

On Sundays in Hong Kong Central, I've seen what seems like tens of thousands of Philippina nannies meeting and socializing on their day off. It must be hard to work apart from the family, both for you, your children, and your wife.

This is not, however, an issue for Anguilla. With its population of 13,000, it is unable to absorb this type of skill, so cannot give work permits for it.

I do believe that there are potential opportunities for those with certain kinds of computer skills. Take a look at this page about moving to Anguilla.

I have known truck drivers who have taught themselves what they need to know online and build their own businesses. I do not know your abilities (or if you own a computer), but for a man of your determination, this is a potential route.

More and more people are becoming self-employed people, starting their own online businesses about something that they know and love.

Good luck, Anthony. I do hope that your family can reunite one day.

Anguilla Work Permit. How Hard?

by Kim
(London)

Can you tell me how easy or hard work visas/permits are to obtain for Anguilla?

I'm American, but married to a Brit. We are hoping to emigrate to Anguilla in the next 6 months.

I understand the job market may leave something to be desired, but we're happy to leave our professional jobs to soak up the experience of Anguilla.

I understand most Visa processes are not easy (especially since I went through the hell of emigrating to the UK) and that having a special skill helps.

I'm a project manager and my husband is a producer so I don't think we'd qualify?

Any advice you can offer would be great.
Cheers!

Answer From Dad: Kim, yours is a common question. Here's an earlier reply to this question. It's much as you thought.

That said, a friend of Nori's from New York just chucked a high-paying job and moved to Anguilla. Her particular skill, advertising, was not particularly needed. But she did manage to "morph" that talent and get a job as director of marketing for a villa management company.

The company arranged her work permit. She had become friends with the owner on previous trips, so the owner was quite comfortable applying for the work permit.

So it's mostly a question of can you find an opportunity that no one else can do, AND find the manager/owner who'd like to hire you for a neeed position.

Hope that helps,
Ken

P.S For more information, pleaes contact our Anguilla attorney, Eustella Fontaine.