Ahmed

                    To open each post, kindly right click on the post and click on open in a new window/tab. Everything in the UK is online - Kindly check the official guidelines along with going through this blog. This is merely my experience and opinion. Google the details of the relevant teams and contact them directly if you are unable to find the official guidance. PRE PLAB: I am a medical student. What do I need to do to work in the NHS? https://omarsguidelines.blogspot.com/2021/09/i-am-medical-student-what-do-i-need-to.html An introduction to working in the NHS, UK. http://omarsguidelines.blogspot.com/2015/06/my-interactive-session-with-medical.html PLAB guideline for medical students http://omarsguidelines.blogspot.com/2015/05/plab-for-medical-students.html Checklist for future NHS doctors http://omarsguidelines.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/checklist-for-future-nhs-doctors.html My message to IMGs who are discouraged by other people to ...

There are a few options during/when a PCP deal term is about to finish.  In my wife's case: We bought her car on a PCP deal for 24 months: https://omarsguidelines.blogspot.com/2020/10/my-wifes-experience-of-driving-test-and.html After 24 months, we paid the balloon payment and kept the car. We then used it to part exchange it for a new car for her: https://omarsguidelines.blogspot.com/2023/02/my-experience-of-buying-our-4th-car-in.html In my case: I bought a car on PCP in 2017: https://omarsguidelines.blogspot.com/2017/01/my-guideline-on-buying-reliable-car-in.html Part exchanged it in 2019 and upgraded: https://omarsguidelines.blogspot.com/2019/09/my-experience-of-buying-car-on-pcp-deal.html And I refinanced the same car in 2023.  This car was on a 4 year PCP deal, ending in October, 2023. In 2022, I received a call from Audi stating that the cars value was equivalent to the outstanding finance - so I could either return it , upgrade it to another car.  This could also b...

Before I start, I wanted to let everyone know that this post is my personal opinion and should be taken as such.  This will feel controversial however it is based on my experience and what I have observed.  I am going to take it topic wise and explain everything in as much detail as I can.  PAY   When I came to the UK in 2016, my pay as a SHO was around 3,000 GBP per month after tax, pensions and NI deductions.  At that time, interest rates were low and the cost of living was cheaper.  Hence I could save more as a SHO.  I used to locum and in 2017, as a SHO I was paid 55/hour as locum. This after tax deductions was around 35/hour - which comes out to be 400 per long day shift.  I was able to save up for visa fees and relocation expenses when I started my core medical training ( in August 2017 - now replaced by IMT). Again, I was able to save up by locuming in CMT2 at 60/ hour and then moved to specialty training ( ST3) in August, 2019.  The p...

 As you might be aware, my wife and I became British Citizens recently via naturalisation:  https://omarsguidelines.blogspot.com/2023/05/my-experience-of-applying-for-british.html As soon we recieved our citizenship certificates, we : 1. Returned our ILR BRPs as per the email from the home office: Once you have received your certificate of British citizenship any Biometric Residence Permit (BRP card) you have will no longer be valid and cannot be used as evidence of your status. If you have a BRP card you should return it for secure destruction. You may have to pay a penalty of up to £1,000 if you fail to return an invalid BRP. Your BRP card should be cut in half and posted (in a windowless plain envelope) to Biometric Product Returns, IFB, 5th floor Lunar House, 40 Wellesley Road, Croydon, CR9 2BY.  2. Applied for a British Passport https://www.gov.uk/apply-renew-passport PHOTO The process is pretty straightforward and the best thing is that you can take your picture at ...

As you all might be aware, my wife and I received our ILR in March, 2021. I have shared the whole process here: All about ILR and getting a UK citizenship - an introduction: https://omarsguidelines.blogspot.com/2021/03/all-about-ilr-and-getting-uk.html We then decided to apply for naturalisation in March, 2022 - one year after we were granted our ILR.  STEPS:  1. Apply online  https://www.gov.uk/apply-citizenship-indefinite-leave-to-remain/how-to-apply 2. Submit application after paying for it.  3. The UKVCAS team will email you once you have applied stating that they are going to assess your application to see if you can use the IDV app ( A phone application on which you upload all your documents, take your picture and this way do not need to attend a face to face biometrics appointment).  4. Once you get the email from the UKVCAS team that you can now download and sign-in to your IDV app, upload the necessary documents ( like you would do on the UKVCAS website...