taking the maid home? | ExpatWoman.com
 

taking the maid home?

123
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 31 March 2011 - 10:59

I was wondering what you girls thought of taking the maid home. I am going home for 2 months and we just have a new maid. I have a 7 month old and will be staying with my parents. I have 4 weddings to attend and thats the reason I am going actually. My mother is 75% blind and my father has a handicap. This morning when talking to my husband I was saying it will be hard to go to all the wedding receptions because my parents are old and are not able to carry my son or care for him if I would be at the weddings. Another option is to take my son along but most are 3 to 4 hours drives away from our house. So I wouldnt be able to go with him in the morning, put him into bed at 7pm and than drive back because of the distance. Most of the time when I go home I end up working because I feel bad my parents are alone for the rest of the year but than I come back home quite exhausted which this year would be a challenge coz my son is an extremely demanding little charming devil.
My husband than said, I think its better if you take the maid along to be able to help your parents. I thought that was a weird idea because the concept of nanny/maid back home isnt as accepted. I can already see my mother cook and make coffee for the maid in stead of the other way around because that is the way my parents are.
Anyway, just wondering what you think of this..

123
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 April 2011 - 00:21
For a Schengen visa you need to show proof that she´s been employed for a year already. Actually our helper has come with us for two summers in a row and this summer will be the third. Funnily on our last trip (or scarily) while in transit in Brussels Airport, we were still in the Schengen area and hadn't entered to the international part of the airport, she watched the kids while I went to the bathroom and then told me when I returned after only a short time she had been approached by a Filipino couple who asked her about her situation and offered to come with them immediately if she'd like to explore her chances in Europe and they promised her she could get a good job! Looks like it would be quite easy to disappear is someone is looking for a chance to do so.
123
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 April 2011 - 22:22
haha, actually yeah..she looks quite fit, if she would run away I might not be able to catch her with all those extra postnatal kilograms slowing me down... :\: In her prime of life then? :-P
876
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EW GURU
Latest post on 01 April 2011 - 11:04
I have never had a maid run away from me when travelling to Europe. I know I have been lucky, but I have also been careful, and alert.
5452
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 31 March 2011 - 15:58
Even if your maid is very happy with you, the desire to make more money to send home will always be stronger than any other emotion. I doubt you'd be able to get a visa for her anyway. But as GB suggested, I am sure there are lots of temporary nanny agencies available in Belgium.
Anonymous (not verified)
0
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 31 March 2011 - 15:53
If your maid is unable to get a holiday visa to Belgium then try for an au pair once in Belgium. I'm sure you could get one to help you out for the summer. Just an idea though. Good Luck with the visa!
123
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 31 March 2011 - 15:47
Hello ladies...I am from Belgium, so no idea how that would work. All my friends back home are either settled with lots of kids or eternal single party animals, so no babysitting will be expected from friends. I will call the embassy tomorrow to see if they can provide more information. What I also like is the fact that she really knows him and knows his routines and how to settle him. My maid is also quite old, over her 50's, and I have the feeling she really likes her job with us so maybe she wont run away than? No to be honest I did think about that as well, because you never know. Maybe the 1 year sponsorship would apply to Belgium as well as its all Europe and they have similar legislation. If it doesnt work out with the visa than so be it...
648
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EW GURU
Latest post on 31 March 2011 - 15:39
If you are off to the UK most maids will run away as they earn MUCH more money over here, even as an illegal.
833
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EW GURU
Latest post on 31 March 2011 - 15:29
Surely you would be able to get a babysitting service to come in and take care of your baby? Or mabye there are some friends that could after the LO?
Anonymous (not verified)
0
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 31 March 2011 - 15:23
I know that to take your maid back to UK she needs to have been sponsored by you for at least a year & if you do start the application for a visa for her it's known to to be quite difficult.
5452
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 31 March 2011 - 11:05
I think you should be thinking more about how you could get a visa for this maid to come with you. Which country is home? It may be very difficult to get her a visa, especially because she is new. Other than that, don't worry about what others think.
 
 

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