Dear readers,
After a long journey through Southeast Asia, I met the love of my life in Thailand. I've decided that I really want to be with her, and even though I'm personally not much of a believer in marriage, I suppose this is our only chance to really be together. I myself am 26 years old, said is 44.
My question for you is: My girlfriend comes from a very wealthy family in Bangkok and has a very good studies in the past with 2 masters from New York University (Film Making & Video Production and Art & Web Design) and multiple certificates. Also worked in the past for large international companies both in Thailand and America with a salary of 100.000 THB+ (about 2500-3000 euros).
Her CV therefore clearly looks suitable for the Belgian job fair. The only problem that worries me and really bothers me is whether, despite her studies and experiences, she might not be able to find a good job because of her age? (44 years). I would greatly appreciate it if there were people who could give me an answer to this or at least give me a vague idea of what the job market here in Belgium (Antwerp) would look like for her. I am close to despair, because this is really the woman I want in my life, but I am oh so afraid that her age will cause a problem here on the job market.
Greetings and thanks in advance,
Thijs
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Own company? Doing something in web design/video productions as a self-employed person?
But wouldn't it be better to put this question to an employment office instead of here?
Or go read vacancies, write open applications.
She is currently working as a self-employed person in web design, but that is only a passive income.
We plan to open a B&B in Thailand in the more distant future, but that is a puzzle to solve later. Our goal now is to be able to work together here while getting all the paperwork in order while saving enough money. For this she needs to have a full-time job, and because of her studies and work history, I would think it would be a shame if it didn't work out. If anyone has experience with this it would be helpful
Dear Thijs,
Of course I don't know how long you've known each other, but wouldn't it be an idea to combine the useful with the pleasant by, for example, inviting her for a holiday in Belgium first? As a professional, she should be able to form a picture of the career opportunities in Antwerp in about 3 weeks. In addition, and perhaps more importantly, she can get acquainted with the rich Belgian life, so very different from Thailand or New York, to see if she likes it.
A visa should not be a problem given her background.
Secret tip: invite her in the spring or fall, when it can sometimes be a bit bleak and uncomfortable. A summer vacation definitely gives the wrong impression!
Hi Jasper,
Thanks for responding.
We met by chance at the beginning of my 8-month journey through South East Asia, since then we have traveled together for 8 months non-stop, have been back in Belgium for a month now.
So we have known each other for 9 months of which we have spent 8 together.
In September she will indeed visit for about 15 days to discover the possibilities, to soak up the atmosphere and of course to see each other again.
Life here is indeed very different from Thailand or New York. She is also aware of the fact that I (like most of us on this forum, I think) would swap living in Belgium for a life in Thailand in an instant, and we are going to make that our goal in the future. So she certainly doesn't have a rosy picture of life in Europe 😉
She also has family living in Rotterdam where she has been staying for several months, Rotterdam is somewhat comparable to Antwerp.
If it was within our capabilities, I would have immediately moved to Thailand and we would have started our career together, but that seems impossible at the moment.
Thanks for your comment!
First two questions.
1. Why not create a profile on the VDAB?
2. Why not ask a company in this sector?
There are several in the region of Antwerp, Ghent, Sint Niklaas.
If you create a profile at the VDAB, you can estimate the number of responses.
My questions continue.
1. Does she speak fluent english or thinglish?
2. Are her diplomas validated in or at a Belgian institution comparable to the Nuufic as we have in the Netherlands.
3. If she has worked for international companies, find out whether they have a branch in Belgium or the Netherlands. Have a look there first. My first Thai came into the Netherlands on a work visa.
4. Is she really 44 years old? Hmm 44 is really old hear in her working environment she is a grandmother. You are right to worry about that. So if she comes to Belgium, it will be her first disappointment.
It is very difficult for people over 40 to find another job. Furthermore, she does not have a social group here as she is used to in Thailand.
Reasons for deviation for work:
Often overqualified, no French or Flemish or German, too expensive and too often sick. Oh, you'll find out when they or you apply.
5. Why not look for a job in Thailand? Is also a solution. Same motivation as hers to find and look for a job in Europe.
Furthermore, if she comes from a "well-to-do" family in Bangkok, it is hard for her in Europe. E I mean really suffer. Will miss her luxurious life very soon. Unless you yourself have a house with at least 4 bedrooms and sufficient domestic help.
Is MY personal experience.
Bye Rori.
Thanks for the useful information.
As long as she does not live in Belgium, she is (I think) not authorized to create a profile on VDAB.
1. She speaks fluent English.
2. Her degrees are not yet validated, but since most of them were in New York and not Thailand, I'm not sure if this is required (But will definitely check)
3. That's what we're looking for. Unfortunately, there are far fewer international companies in Belgium than in the Netherlands. Phillips would be ideal, for example, she has worked for that for 2 years.
4. Yes she is 44, but appearance and personality is 30. She now also has difficulty finding a job in Bangkok due to A: age category and B: overqualified.
Hence my concerns about the Belgian job market. I hope the abilities and potential she possesses make up for this.
5. I have already tried to do that last time I was in Thailand, but unfortunately there is little choice for us Farangs outside of teaching A English or B starting our own business. That's why our idea was to work together in Belgium over a period of 4-5 years and plan ahead while saving and then open a B&B in the South of Thailand (Koh Phayam).
With a "wealthy" family I don't mean that she grew up rich and spoiled, she also had to fight hard in the beginning of her career, she has also been to Europe so she has a clear picture of what awaits her . In September she will first visit for 2 weeks, then she can help determine whether it suits her or not.
Thanks for the reply!
so she CAN create a profile. As a Dutchman I can do that too. You don't have to do it via your national registration number, you can also do it via e-mail.
1. But working in Belgium means Dutch (Flemish) or French or German.
2. having it done costs almost nothing. You immediately know what it is worth and what the equivalent is.
3. Depending on where you live, why not write to Philips?
There are also plenty of foreign companies in Belgium. a few: Catterpillar, Atlas Copco, Friesland food, Scania, Powerpunch, Agfa Gevaerts, Anheuer Busch or Ab-Inbev (is no longer a Belgian company, but mainly Brazilian), Johnson & Johnson, Aquafin, Bekaert, EVS broadcast, Kinepolis, Cheers , Barry Callebaut.
Oh in between are three production companies for movies and entertainment.
4. is a problem everywhere. Often HR very very young people. thinking there you have my father or mother.
5. Depending on your work situation, take a look at international companies or multinationals in Belgium. You'll be amazed at what's there. Write to them or search via linked in for local managers and just give them a call???
That's how I used to find projects. Fortunately, no more.
Often when you call they are surprised to have a good story ready what you can do what you have achieved and what you are looking for. The ABC trajectory. If they do indeed sometimes plan something internationally, they often have the idea of who is going to do it. If you call at the right time and you have the right channels, it goes without saying.
So she can create a profile. Oh for Dutch people vdab is about werk.nl
As a Dutchman I can do that too. You don't have to do it via your national registration number, you can also do it via just an e-mail address.
1. But working in Belgium means speaking Dutch (Flemish) or French or German
2. having it done costs almost nothing. You immediately know what it is worth and what the equivalent is.
3. Depending on where you live, why not write to Philips?
There are also plenty of foreign companies in Belgium. a few: Catterpillar, Atlas Copco, Friesland food, Scania, Powerpunch, Agfa Gevaerts, Anheuer Busch or Ab-Inbev (is no longer a Belgian company, but mainly Brazilian), Johnson & Johnson, Aquafin, Bekaert, EVS broadcast, Kinepolis, Cheers , Barry Callebaut.
Oh in between are three production companies for movies and entertainment.
4. is a problem everywhere. Often HR very very young people. thinking there you have my father or mother>>>>>>>>
5. Depending on your work situation, take a look at international companies or multinationals in Belgium. You'll be amazed at what's there. Write to them or search via linked in for local managers and just give them a call???
That's how I used to find projects. Fortunately, no more.
Often when you call they are surprised to have a good story ready what you can do what you have achieved and what you are looking for. The ABC trajectory. If they do indeed sometimes plan something internationally, they often have the idea of who is going to do it. If you call at the right time and you have the right channels, it goes without saying.
Dear Thijs,
Is a job in Belgium very important to her?
I ask this question because my 47-year-old Thai wife does not have a job in Belgium. We didn't put pressure on her to get a job. My income is average. We adjust our expenses to my income almost carefree. I do have a buffer from the past that we will only use in exceptional cases. I do not exclude that my wife will look for a job after her language course.
You can find a job for your Thai lady, but it will take time. Maybe freelance first to prove her (again).
I'm afraid the age difference (this time in reverse) won't be a reason for the IO to make it difficult.
Good luck!
Day Stefan.
Yes, as I plan to continue my studies for Business Administration we will be largely dependent on her income during that time.
Thank you for responding!
very simple, she has her capabilities according to her resume, but does not speak Dutch or French.
Quite simple: Supply and demand. We know the rest and the labor market will respond to it.
In any case: good luck.
Hello Thijs,
First of all, we wish you a lot of happiness together!
Since your ultimate goal is a B&B in Thailand, why would she spend a long time looking for a job that matches her expertise? Web design/video productions…., that is a fighting market where as a Thai it will be difficult for her to get between the immigrant Belgians. My advice ? do indeed save money for your future in Thailand and let her find an underqualified job, which will be found tomorrow.
Our situation is comparable: my Thai wife (40) has been in the Netherlands for three years now, has completed her integration course, and has a Dutch passport on the way. Worked as an accountant in Thailand, but is now a waitress at Van der Valk (catering)!
Soon we will have all the possibilities, wherever (EU / TH). So I would say…: mind to -0-, buffalo, papers in order and go… Again: all the luck and success.
uhmmm.. immigrant = native of course…
Nope 😉
Hans,
Our intention is indeed not to set the bar too high in the beginning, to put a foot in the door first. The Eurocard is also important to us, this way we can also travel together to other countries outside Belgium and Thailand, since traveling is both of our passions.
Thank you for responding!
If your goal is to 'eventually' live in Thailand, why not immediately?
Since she can earn 100k a month here, you can -probably- easily get by on her income.
And if you are legally married, you can also work as a partner, with the right visa.
This way you skip a lot of hassle with integration etc.
Bye Peter.
100K is indeed more than enough to live on as a couple. But I don't want to twirl my fingers in Thailand and live at her expense, I would also like to finish my Business Management course in Belgium, for which I need about 2 years.
Thank you for responding!
Dear Thijs, I would take it all a bit easier. Why react like that because you're still bouncing around with a feeling of love? Lower that first and then take a look at how the situation stands. You've only known her for a short time. An 8 month tour, at the beginning you met her, she came with you, and now you don't want to lose her. Barely 1 month back in Belgium, you worry enormously, you tell yourself, whether she can find a job here. While you don't even know if you have a relationship that will last.
Would you like to take a step back and face reality? If she already has so many qualifications: why not an excellent job in Thailand itself, or elsewhere where she followed the training, but with you for 8 months? When was her last job, and until when did she earn up to 100 ThB a month? Why is she letting go of all that? And with all those qualifications moving to a foreign country with a complete stranger? So suddenly. Set and jump. Or did she have a certain plan?
If she already has qualifications and speaks fluent English: why not trust that she possesses sufficient competences to settle in Belgium after a certain period of orientation? If she already has so many qualifications, where is the challenge that she and you want to take on? Why, then, that you have to search so furiously for confirmation that conditions and circumstances she faces must be favorable? By the way: what about you being so desperate?
I would slow down a bit, gather information here and there if necessary and explore circumstances, go back to her for another month at the end of the year, and look her in the eye again.
If she is the mature, highly educated woman you describe, she is realistic and certainly reasonable and will definitely appreciate your intentions to bring her to Belgium. Success.
Hi Ruud,
She has only been back from America for 4 years, resigned herself last September, due to the unexpected death of her mother, she needed a break (Not a smart choice, but understandable. I also started traveling for similar reasons) and she started traveling around Asia for the first time. Again, I'm not worried about her qualifications and competences, it's her age.
Thanks for the advice and responding!
Dear Thijs,
Before thinking about a job for your girlfriend in Belgium, there are other hurdles to take.
Your girlfriend cannot permanently come and live in Belgium or another Schengen country before you have known each other for 2 years and you can prove this with the necessary evidence. There are many other conditions that you must meet, which you can find on the website of the Ministry.
So first priority is not looking for work but getting her permanently in Belgium after the 2 years.
I know from experience that bridging this period can sometimes take a long time, but during this period you will also realize whether she really is the woman of your life.
success
That is a bit more nuanced. I don't know much about immigration to Belgium, but I do know that for immigration of an unmarried partner, the IO looks at the circumstances, there must be evidence of a lasting and exclusive relationship in such a way that it can be compared to a married couple. This can be evidenced by, for example, a relationship of at least 2 years OR cohabitation of 1 year OR a child OR etc.
See, for example, what Kruispunt/AGII writes about this (although this concerns citizens of an EU national under Directive 2004/38)
http://agii.be/thema/de-unieburger-is-economisch-niet-actief-in-belgie/je-bent-unieburger/je-bent-een-ander-familielid-van-een-economisch-niet-actieve-unieburger/wat-zijn-de-voorwaarden-voor-gezinshereniging-als
As far as my limited knowledge of Belgian immigration, this kite also applies to Belgians in Belgium (including those who have not made use of EU law) with a non-EU partner. But it is best for Thijs to check with the DVZ again. For a short-stay visa with a partner, the DVZ applies these principles, I'm sure of that.
If Thijs moves to the Netherlands, there are other requirements, he will then fall under EU law (directive 2004/38 ) and with more flexible visa/immigration rules than those that Belgium and the Netherlands apply to their own nationals. For the Netherlands, cohabitation of 6 months or a child or other evidence of a lasting relationship is sufficient (demonstrable serious relationship of 6-12 months is also enough). If Thijs is going to do the EU (Netherlands) route, they will therefore have to meet lower requirements.
Hello Polle,
We are aware of that. Before we met, she has been to the Netherlands and Germany several times, we intend to use this as the foundation of our relationship. There is indeed a whole laundry list of conditions that we have to take into account to get her here definitively, but step by step 😉
Thank you for responding!
.