dazdavies

iTrader: (22)

I appreciate your point of view but to say I'm selfish is complete bollocks!!

Firstly its a two year assignment, I've been contracting for the last 15 years so its no different to what I do now.

The only reason Im doing this is for my family, it means we'll come back and be able to buy some land and build a house and be mortgage free.

My son turns 4 in December so him going to an International school that teaches the British curriculum for the first two years of his school life can only be a positive thing. There was talk of Atyrau at first and having done some research and talked to people that have been there then I definitely wouldn't be going.

Baku however is a different story. There's a big expat community there, it's hardly 3rd world these days.

Worst case scenario is we don't get on with the place it's a six hour flight away. We pack our bags and come home simples. I'd rather be the type that has a go and tries rather than be the type that's sits there and wishes that I had.

donny andi

iTrader: (3)

What's your trade Daz?

tony de wonderful

You'll almost certainly have to pay UK tax by the way.

LEO-RS

Fair points but can you honestly say that you will give up on that lifestyle after only 2yrs? Once established and accustomed to the expat way of life and the money, can you honestly see yourself turning down big money tax free offers to come back to the UK? 2yrs will lead onto 5, 5 will lead onto 10. Just like the majority of us in the oil industry, we get money trapped. Very difficult to get out of.

All the best though, my advice, do your best to establish yourself in the UK, if that's not possible, stick to your 2yrs religiously and go give it a bash. Don't get greedy, keep your son away from the UK and his family for too long and you will definitely regret it.

thesyn

Chances in life do not come along very often, the trick is to recognise them for what they are.
Your son can always board in the UK in the future.

Cammy5106

iTrader: (3)

Depending on how long you are out here you wont pay UK tax

I pay both UK and Azari tax. My Azari tax is offset against my UK tax this is because I do month on month off in the UK, if you are here all the time you wont pay UK tax.

Azari tax is between 20 and 25%

Depending who you work for your company should Gross up your wage and pay it for you so you don't loose out. You get a tax letter at the end of the year to say you have payed X amount tax in Azerbaijan this is then offset against what you pay in the UK.

You will never pay more than you would in the UK anyway and if you are here all the time you will pay less simple as that.

Also Baku is not a **** hole thats for sure, yes some areas outside the city are run down same as any place but I can assure you the city is amazing much nicer than some **** holes in the UK. I will take some pics over the weekend and post them up for you to see.

My only problem with this place is the way they drive its horrendous not bad compared to Egypt and West Africa driving but it is terrible. But they are all running about in Mercs, Range rovers, Porsche jeeps, G Wagons and Ladas hahah

mantazini

iTrader: (25)

Can see you cant be bothered to read all thread so why ask

donny andi

iTrader: (3)

Always one isn't there?......wind your neck in

I know it's the 'oil industry' you muppet......do you think there is just '1 trade' in that industry????

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

My lad just turned six and spent the last year and a bit in India with his mum, I was there for a few months as well while they settled in, wife had a year contract to set up a new university.

There was a big ex-pat community from all over the world, and he's now seen a completely different lifestyle, went to pretty much the best school in India, has friends from all over the world, learned some hindi, plays cricket.

He's an only child and spent most of his time hanging out with 4 young ruffians from America, during which time he learned to swim was previously afraid in the swimming pool despite having been going swimming since 6 months old, now jumps in swims under water and on top, learned to ride a bike, now does BMX racing, and first and fore most learned to stick up for himself and grew in confidence, completely changed him and he got to see some fantastic places and do things that don't even enter into the consciousness of kids in the UK.

All in all a fantastic learning experience that money can't buy and no school could teach, anyone that's ever travelled should know that it really does broaden one's horizons.

2 yrs is bugger all in the life of a 4yr old and a perfect time to do it before he gets into school friends/social groups and the schooling that he will receive will be top drawer, my boys ahead in everything now he's back in a Uk school, his head and class teacher have commented on how much he's changed from a shy retiring type that needed to be coaxed out of his shell into a confident young boy who's now very self assured.

I say go for it, as you say if it turns out you don't like it just book a flight and come back, you only live once, life is about experiences and taking opportunities as and when they present themselves.

tony de wonderful

You need to convince HMRC that you are leaving the UK permanently to avoid UK income taxes. The old rules about 90 days are gone.

stenik

I have freinds woking in Baku curently mobbing a new rig. From all accounts, definately a single mans life. I moved the family out to Oz 3 years ago and worked ( still do ) in the oil & gas. They hated it and returned to Scotland. Really played havoc with my 14yr daughter. I now fly in/out to OZ from the UK. Not ideal, but definately the best option for the family and finances. Family are settled again which is a huge weight of my mind. My roster is S**t, but if you get equal time then you have cracked it.

Moving a family to a new destination is great at first as it is a holiday. Reality sets in when you are at work, they are lost for what to do with no family and friends around.

Another point to if your wife is going to be working, who will be looking after your wee one. Different culture ethics etc. For your kids sake please be carful. Grown ups can survive & adapt. Kids will be left metally scared if all is not well.

tony de wonderful

How do you know being overseas was the reason for your kid 'growing up'? Two years is a lifetime when you are 4 and kids are going to develop anyway. Broadening horizons from travelling is an adult concept anyway, and is a bit of a silly one.

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

First of all what actually qualifies you to talk about kids when you don't have any?

I spent a lot of time in Jamaica as a child and it certainly opened my eyes to a totally different way of life, people living off the land and sea in abject poverty, wooden shacks with corrugated zinc roofs and they were the fortunate ones, I could go on but don't see the point given your usual argumentative/ poor attempt at playing devils advocate stance on just about every subject.

As for the growing up part, hanging around with 4 brothers ranging in age from three to twelve really taught him a lot, but you'd need to know him prior to that to fully understand, he was taken completely out of his comfort zone and like both his parents just adapted and got on with it.

I'll not bother re-engauging with you as this thread is not about you me or my son, I was merely responding to the concept that it's a bad thing for kids to be taken away from the UK when in actual fact that depends upon the parents, if you get out there and put yourselves about and make an effort to meet people and make friends, then in my experience you'll have some before too long, generally in this sort of situation one tends to find like minded people as it's not usually shy retiring wall flower types that go and do this sort of thing.

In my experience having travelled quite extensively from an early age and also being married to a tour guide of 15yrs experience for the past 15yrs, it's the miserable ******* that have all the bad experiences abroad, meet the world with a smile and it generally smiles back at you.

dazdavies

iTrader: (22)

I love a good debate. This is bringing out some great answers and opinions.
To add a bit more into the mix this is a two year assignment. So I will be working out there full time Monday - Friday. It won't be a 2 weeks on 2 weeks off thing or anything like that. I shall be living out there permenantly for the next two years and have a couple of visits home a year paid for.

tony de wonderful

If you are trying to convince HMRC that you are intending to leave the UK permanently (so you can avoid UK income tax) then don't come back within the first year.

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

Daz, you're one of the chaps with a bit of self discipline on here - if you go out there and don't like it for your or your families reasons, you're not gonna get money trapped are you? You'd be back over here quickish and into another job.

For the fact you have that ability not to get trapped like others may do, I say get over there and do it.

The main thing (apart from experience) stopping me looking into work in the oil industry is my 2 1/2 year old lad. I couldn't be away from him weeks on end. At least out there you've said yourself, it's Mon-Fri WITH your family too.

Best of luck

lordharding

iTrader: (1)

Go for it
You dont get many chances in life
The trick is too make enough money and have no morgage by 35/40 then you can really enjoy your life then when the kids have grown up and not have money worries
It's easy

Wish I had the chance to travel and work abroad when I was younger and experience life
Do it
You can always come back but two years isn't a long time
Kids adapt quickly

Fat Boy

Go for it Daz - Baku is much better than Atyrau and with regard to tax and staying offshore for the first year you can always take advantage of going to interesting places out that way instead of heading home eg Oman or Jordan or the Maldives etc

davegtt

Bollocks. You don't have to convince them of anything. They are not the bad men who will sit you down and torture you til you give them tax.

tony de wonderful

You don't know what you are talking about then. Check the new criteria for being able to declare non residency for tax purposes.