Questions and Answers Forum

I would like some advice on what I can do with regard to a Managed Savings and pension account that I took up with Royal Skandia when I was working in Botswana. I believe I was misled into believing that it was a savings account which would grow over the years. In fact, this account has been losing money over the 6 years that I have had it. Now that I have decided to surrender it, in fear of it losing all the money that I am hoping to save for my retirement, Royal Skandia have taken more than half of the money I have saved as penalty.

What is an average driver's salary in Nigeria? Is a driver absolutely necessary?

Coming from South Africa, what do I need to get a business visa for Nigeria? Please be specific about documents and fees.

Is it safe to drink the tap water in Nigeria? If not,  is bottled water easy to come by, and is it inexpensive for the most part?

Hi, I am planning to move to Cape Town, and would be interested in knowing how much  I should set aside for a family of three (husband, wife & infant), if we set aside medical expenses, how much should be approximate? Few points to consider are:

- We intend to live in Claremont/ Newlands.
- We intend to rent a secure 1 or 2-bed apartment furnished or unfurnished.
- Is walking a safe option in Claremont? Say in morning & evenings?

Thanks in advance for your advises... Regards, A-

I will have 10 -12 expats coming to Riyadh for 3 to 6 months. I have been told that I am unlikely to find compound accommodation for this short period. Is this the case? What might be some alternatives?

My wife and 12 year old daughter arrived into Brighton, Victoria this week and I wanted to ask is there anything in the area for new arrivals, meetings, clubs or social events to try to get my family and I adapted as soon as possible. regards Dean Theobald

We are thinking about moving to Auckland in 2013, to give our son the experience of living in another country and to try New Zealand on for retirement. We own our own business (internet based) and home school our teenage son. First, is there any problem with homeschooling (internet based high school)? And second, continuing our business there?

What's the difference between a non-resident and a resident bank account in Spain, and what documents will I need for each. If I'm an EU citizen (British) do I automatically qualify for a non-resident account?

Hiya- We're moving to Madrid with our 14-year-old son, and as he doesn't know any Spanish (apart from a few terms that I won't repeat) we want to put him in either the American International School or a school with a curriculum that's taught mostly in English. Are these kind of schools concentrated in a particular area, and if so, should we look to move close to the school. Also, can anyone make any recommendations for good bilingual schools that teach mostly in English. Also any advice about the application process is greatly appreciated. Thanks, Bill.

My husband and I are planning to sell our house in the UK and retire somewhere quaint and quite perfectly adorable in the South of France (probably the Languedoc-Roussillon region). We'll most likely have more than enough money to buy a place, and even renovate - if it comes to that. So, no mortgage payments necessary. With that in mind, we want to make sure our pension will cover our remaining years in France. Can anyone tell us what the cost of living is in the South of France, for a couple looking to live out the twilight of their life comfortable, but not extravagantly?

We are moving to Paris in 2013, where my husband will be working in the La Defense area, and I will be settling myself and our two little girls (4 and 7). Can anyone recommend a good area to live? My girls attend a Montessori school here in the States, so we would very much like for them to continue with the curriculum while abroad.

Bonjour! I'm a 27-year old American web developer offered a job in Paris with a small company that's willing to pay me 30,000 Euro per year.

Is this a good salary for someone my age in that position, and is it enough to live a comfortable, but not glamorous life in Paris?

Also, the company says it will organise my work permit, but then can I only work for this company once I arrive in Paris, or am I at liberty to apply for similar jobs with other companies according to the same work permit?

 

I'm emigrating to France from the UK and would like to bring my car with. Can I import my car duty-free, what paperwork do I need, and what requirements are there?

We are thinking about moving to Portugal in 2013, to give our son the experience of living in another country and to try Portugal on for retirement. We own our own business (internet based) and home school our teenage son. First, is there any problem with homeschooling (internet based high school)? And second, continuing our business there?

Preferrably near a Metro station!

If I originally came to France on a short-stay visa, and now have a job offer, can I apply for a carte de sejour?

Please can you tell me what documentation is required to obtain a work permit in Egypt? I need current information. I am a teacher who will be working in an international school in Cairo.

I have a Schengen visa for Spain, but now my friends and I are super keen to weekend in Paris, do I need to get a whole separate visa?

Can anyone recommend some good online resources for finding an apartment in Paris?

We are moving to Mumbai in January and would love some advice about rentals. We will be studying in West Santacruz so need to live nearby. Does anybody have any suggestions? Thank you Kate and Mark

I've heard that Romanians are super rude, and difficult to befriend. Is there a large enough expat community in Bucharest that I won't have to count on the locals to be kind?

How necessary is it to learn German to live in Austria? I'll be moving with my husband who's been transferred to a multinational company in which the de facto business language is English. Can we get buy with our English at least for awhile, or will it be impossible to do basic things like go to the shops, open a bank account, speak to people on the street, etc. 

Any other tips about culture in Vienna that may take some getting used too?

I'm trying to decide which area in Madrid is ideal for me as a young professional who loves a party. I'll be moving from Cape Town, South Africa, where I used to live in the CBD, walk to work and wherever else I needed to go for that matter, and enjoy the hustle ans bustle of a beautiful city that also has a thriving nightlife. 

Is it normal to flatshare in Madrid, and how difficult is it to find flatmates. Can anyone suggest some useful sites for this endeavour?

I have been offered an inter-company move from the US to Beijing. The facility is located in BDA. Does anyone know if there is residential housing in BDA or what expat communities are close by. We would be looking for a 4 bedroom townhouse/villa/detached in the 300 sq m range. Many thanks