If anyone wants to continue reading my personal blog, it is here:
http://geraldbowers.blogspot.com.cy/
I will concentrate on running our business in Cyprus:
Cyprus Lifestyle Media
http://www.cypruslifestylemagazine.com/
and Cyprus Universal Services
http://www.cyprusuniversal.com/417867662
11 September 2015
03 September 2015
British Business Club in Ukraine (BBCU) - Change of Ownership
This is my last blog for the BBCU.
Having moved to Cyprus on a permanent basis and with plans
to return to the UK later, I decided that the BBCU needed a new owner.
It has been an interesting journey for me and the BBCU
during the past 12 years. The BBCU started life as a networking club where we
brought together enthusiastic business minded people every month to share
information about developments in Ukraine. We had some great speakers and
witnessed interesting presentations from both British and Ukrainian people. Our
club membership started to grow. Some well-known politicians and business
leaders both British and Ukrainian were among our speakers. Although we always
tried to choose a different hotel for each monthly event, perhaps the best
meetings we had were thanks to the generosity of the team at INTER TV. The roof
top location at their offices on Turhenievska Street proved to be a popular meeting
place.
The boom years of 2002 to 2009 in Ukraine were exciting
times for all involved. The property sector was most interesting when prices
for residential property become more expensive than in Western Europe and rental
prices for commercial property were crazy.
We branched out and offered teaching and training services,
(those first Saturday morning Speaking Club meetings were very well attended).
At one stage we had 16 teachers serving our members and clients around Kyiv and
we quickly developed a good reputation with many businesses. We also provided a
special VIP one-to-one English teaching service to business leaders and professionals
which included over the years a select few Ukraine Government Ministers. The
majority of these people now speak near perfect English.
Later we provided outsourcing services for small to medium
size foreign businesses in Ukraine which included accounting, banking, HR admin
and general support to help take away the headache of the over burdensome ‘Ukraine
paperwork system’. Unfortunately, the
country still has a long way to go to lift the burden of what can only be
described as ‘aggressive demand’ from most government agencies/departments. Private
sector businesses still employ accountants who spend most of their time
providing information to meet government demands.
We also played an active part in promoting golf to Ukraine
and helping to introduce ‘pay as you play’ with our partnership with Royal Kyiv
Golf Club. Our golf days for beginners were entertaining and great fun.
The downturn in the economy of Ukraine as a result of events
since late 2013 and the whole of 2014 led to many businesses struggling to
survive. The year 2015 has been a very difficult year for Ukraine and I
sincerely hope that the situation improves during 2016.
Therefore I am happy to announce that the BBCU now has a new
owner. He is a long time British expat who has been living and working in
Ukraine for many years and has various business interests in Ukraine. He will
be making his own announcements along with a re-launch of the BBCU later in
2015.
I wish him the very best.
30 May 2015
THE CYPRUS ROUTE for British Citizens
THE CYPRUS ROUTE
British Citizens
Exercise your EU Treaty Rights
A guide for British
nationals married to Non-EU nationals who intend to enter the UK legally using
EU laws
A Step-by-Step Guide
Detailed instructions and advice
Hyperlinks to important documents
Application forms explained
The Cyprus Route is a 50
page six step guide for British citizens who would like to exercise their
European Union treaty rights under EU law. It explains how a British citizen
can take advantage of these laws and go to live for a period of time in another
EU country with their Non-EU spouse and then enter the UK legally avoiding the
restrictive rules imposed by the British government against its own people.
In addition to the six detailed steps the guide
contains helpful information about Cyprus including:
·
Temporary
Accommodation
·
Property Rental
·
Cities in Cyprus
·
Employment
Opportunities
·
Taxes
·
Living Expenses
·
Travel &
Transport
·
Telephones
·
Television
·
Internet
·
Eating Out
·
Languages
·
News in English
·
Healthcare &
Medical Services
·
Children &
Schools
·
Supermarkets
·
Banks
·
Insurance
·
Religion
·
British Sovereign
Base Area
·
‘The Cyprus Problem
Available now on-line. Only
EUR 19.00
Order your copy today via
or visit www.cyprusuniversal.com
23 May 2015
The Cyprus Route - How British Citizens and their Non-EU Families can return to the UK
The Cyprus Route – (Surinder Singh route) for spouses and
families of British citizens
This is an immigration route, named after the person who
filed a court case, can be used by non-EU family members of British citizens to
secure a UK visa – but under EU law. Many thousands of family members of EEA
citizens, (Non-EU Citizens) are applying using the European law. This is where
they get an EEA Family Permit for 6 months outside the UK and then a 5 year
Residence Card when they return to the UK.
EU citizens enjoy ‘Freedom of Movement’ around the whole of
the EU. An EU citizen can enter the UK together with his/her Non-EU
spouse/family.
What does it mean to be
an EU citizen? Any person who holds the nationality of an EU
country is automatically also an EU citizen.
EU citizenship is additional to and does not replace it.
EU citizenship
gives every EU citizen a number of important rights, including:
the right to move freely around the European Union and settle anywhere within its territory.
Many people are surprised when they discover that this does
not apply to family members of UK citizens, only to those of EU (non-UK)
citizens. Why? Because there has to be ‘movement’ between the EU member
states. We know that many laws in the EU conflict with British laws.
There is one way around it: the Surinder Singh route. It
allows non-EU family members of British citizens to apply for a UK visa using
the European law, as opposed to applying under the UK Immigration Rules. Let’s
take a most common situation: a spouse of a British citizen. Under the Surinder
Singh route spouses of UK citizens can apply for a Family Permit and/or
Residence Card under the EU law and not under UK Immigration Rules.
Applying under the EU law means no English test and no financial
requirements (The British citizen does not have to prove an income of £18,600
as introduced by the British Government in 2012). Plus an EEA Family Permit (if
coming from outside the UK) is FREE, compared to the £1500 fee for those
applying under the UK Immigration Rules – ILR Visa (Indefinite Leave to Remain)
(fees as at 6 April 2015). Getting a UK Residence Card for 5 years is the
objective and costs only £55.
Using the SS route, there are conditions to meet.
1) A British citizen must go and work in another EU member
country (or be self-employed) before returning to the UK. This is how there is
‘Movement within the EU’.
2) For a minimum period of 3 months but better to stay
longer. It could take up to 6 months.
3) The British citizen’s ‘Centre of life’ must have been
transferred to that other EU member country. There is no exhaustive list to
prove it, but examples are: renting a place to live or buying a property (as
opposed to staying at a hotel), getting a job or setting up a business in that
country.
4) In the case of Non-EU spouses, both UK and non-EU spouse
must have lived together in that EU member country and been married BEFORE
returning to the UK. E.g. a British man already married to a woman from Ukraine
could go to live and work in Cyprus.
5) EU law considers a child to be a 'child' until the age of
20 (i.e. under 21 yo) and not under 18yo as under the Immigration Rules.
6) Parents and grandparents have to be dependent, which
means financially relying on the Sponsor for their essential living
needs. This is very different from the Immigration Rules (i.e. a UK law,
not EU law) which only allow to bring a parent to the UK if he/she requires
long-term day-to-day care and such care is not available in the country of
residence (or not affordable).
7) Dependency under the EU law is that of fact, the reasons
for dependency are not relevant. For example, if a family member can work but
chooses not to and depend on an EEA national instead, this would be acceptable
(in principal).
8) The European law
differentiates between ‘family members’ and ‘extended family
members’. The difference is very important! For
example, children or grandchildren under 21 y.o. (not under 18 y.o. as under
the British law) of an EEA national or of his/her spouse, so step-children can
qualify as well. Those who are aged 21yo or older can be considered if they
are dependent.
Please contact Cyprus Universal Services for ADVICE on how
to proceed further.
21 May 2015
British Citizens separated from their families.- VIDEO
Many British citizens with a spouse from Ukraine or Russia will identify with this video.
A powerful and moving documentary showing the break-up of families as a result of new British laws introduced in 2012. It is widely known that an EU citizen (Not a British citizen) and their non-EU spouse/family can enter the UK under EU freedom of movement laws. But a British citizen and his/her Non-EU spouse does not have the same rights.
Gethin Jones has been married to his Russian wife for 17 years and they have two children. His Russian wife Elena is still in Moscow and cannot be reunited with her husband and daughters. They own their own house in Wales and Gethin has his own business but has not reached the required income level set by the British government. (See video 06:22 to 11:56)
Sally Piasecki is a British citizen married to Walter an American citizen. They have been married for 20 years, see their story here.
The difference between UK and EU law means that a British citizen and their non-EU spouse can live in ANOTHER EU country but not the UK. The Tanik family is now living in Ireland and has made this their ‘Centre of Life’. Although the documentary does not mention this, they are now following what has become known as the Surinder Singh route, where they will claim the right to enter the UK again under EU law (Freedom of Movement).
Many British citizens who are married to Non-EU citizens will identify with this documentary.
16 May 2015
FREE Entry for British Citizens and their families into the UK - PETITION
It is well known that the UK is a 'target destination' for many people from around the world.
Look at the situation in Northern France where thousands of refugees from many different countries are camped out waiting to try and find a way to get across the English Channel to start a new life in the United Kingdom.
Rightly, the UK needs to protect its borders and control who enters the country.
EU citizens have the right to enter the UK under 'free movement' rules within the EU area.
As a result of a recent court ruling the UK government was forced to allow anyone holding an EU Residency Card the right to also enter the UK. This includes Non-EU citizens who have a EU spouse or family member.
During 2014, the UK decided to grant completely FREE access into the UK for citizens from United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar. Which means citizens from these countries can enter the UK with a simple Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) document. This allows them to visit the UK for up to six months without a Visa.
An Electronic Visa Waiver is very simple to complete, free of charge and quicker than applying for a visa. There is no requirement to provide biometrics, attend a visa application centre or hand in passports prior to travel. The document is issued immediately via a secure web site and can be obtained online from anywhere in the world for travel to the UK. Travellers from these countries must only complete their EVW on-line at least 48 hours before departure and present a printed copy on departure and again on arrival in the UK.
WHY HAS THE UK PROVIDED THIS SERVICE? Maybe some would claim it's due to the huge number of rich Arabs buying property in London and becoming the 'big spenders'.
But an even bigger question needs to be asked: ''Why has this same service not been offered to BRITISH citizens and their families?'' i.e British nationals who are married to Non-EU nationals. Thousands of British people are working and living in many countries around the world on short term and long term employment contracts. Some have their own successful businesses. Many are former members of the British Armed Forces. However, every time they wish to return to the UK, on a short or long term visit, they MUST obtain a visa for their spouse to enter the UK legally.
The spouse of a British citizen must provide full biometric details to a Visa Application Centre, complete an application form, provide full details of WHY they are traveling to the UK and full details about their British spouse and many other requirements together with a FEE for this so called privilege. Any visa granted after this long process will only be for six months. After six months the whole process has to be started again from the beginning.
Should the same British citizen together his or her spouse decide to visit another EU country they will automatically be granted a visa for FREE under the EU freedom of movement rules. Even though the British citizen is not actually living in an EU (He or she may be living in Asia, America or China or a Non-EU European country), the Non-EU spouse will be granted a visa under EU rules. This is due to the pure fact that the British national is also an EU passport holder.
No wonder then, that thousands of British people around the world find it difficult to understand why their own country discriminates against them and their spouse/family each time they want to return to the UK for a holiday or family visit to see relatives. Returning home for a permanent stay is another case, which will also be met with a nightmare of paperwork and procedures and FEES.
The time has come to stop all this discrimination against British citizens. The British public are not aware that this is going on. The time has come to make them aware and to campaign for changes in UK immigration rules.
I ask you to support the recent campaign that many of my British friends and I have recently launched to help bring about these changes. 'FREE Entry for British Citizens and Their Families' is a campaign that needs support from the British public.
PLEASE visit and sign and share our petition here
Look at the situation in Northern France where thousands of refugees from many different countries are camped out waiting to try and find a way to get across the English Channel to start a new life in the United Kingdom.
Rightly, the UK needs to protect its borders and control who enters the country.
EU citizens have the right to enter the UK under 'free movement' rules within the EU area.
As a result of a recent court ruling the UK government was forced to allow anyone holding an EU Residency Card the right to also enter the UK. This includes Non-EU citizens who have a EU spouse or family member.
During 2014, the UK decided to grant completely FREE access into the UK for citizens from United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar. Which means citizens from these countries can enter the UK with a simple Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) document. This allows them to visit the UK for up to six months without a Visa.
An Electronic Visa Waiver is very simple to complete, free of charge and quicker than applying for a visa. There is no requirement to provide biometrics, attend a visa application centre or hand in passports prior to travel. The document is issued immediately via a secure web site and can be obtained online from anywhere in the world for travel to the UK. Travellers from these countries must only complete their EVW on-line at least 48 hours before departure and present a printed copy on departure and again on arrival in the UK.
WHY HAS THE UK PROVIDED THIS SERVICE? Maybe some would claim it's due to the huge number of rich Arabs buying property in London and becoming the 'big spenders'.
But an even bigger question needs to be asked: ''Why has this same service not been offered to BRITISH citizens and their families?'' i.e British nationals who are married to Non-EU nationals. Thousands of British people are working and living in many countries around the world on short term and long term employment contracts. Some have their own successful businesses. Many are former members of the British Armed Forces. However, every time they wish to return to the UK, on a short or long term visit, they MUST obtain a visa for their spouse to enter the UK legally.
The spouse of a British citizen must provide full biometric details to a Visa Application Centre, complete an application form, provide full details of WHY they are traveling to the UK and full details about their British spouse and many other requirements together with a FEE for this so called privilege. Any visa granted after this long process will only be for six months. After six months the whole process has to be started again from the beginning.
Should the same British citizen together his or her spouse decide to visit another EU country they will automatically be granted a visa for FREE under the EU freedom of movement rules. Even though the British citizen is not actually living in an EU (He or she may be living in Asia, America or China or a Non-EU European country), the Non-EU spouse will be granted a visa under EU rules. This is due to the pure fact that the British national is also an EU passport holder.
No wonder then, that thousands of British people around the world find it difficult to understand why their own country discriminates against them and their spouse/family each time they want to return to the UK for a holiday or family visit to see relatives. Returning home for a permanent stay is another case, which will also be met with a nightmare of paperwork and procedures and FEES.
The time has come to stop all this discrimination against British citizens. The British public are not aware that this is going on. The time has come to make them aware and to campaign for changes in UK immigration rules.
I ask you to support the recent campaign that many of my British friends and I have recently launched to help bring about these changes. 'FREE Entry for British Citizens and Their Families' is a campaign that needs support from the British public.
PLEASE visit and sign and share our petition here
.
09 May 2015
FREE Entry for British Citizens and Their families to the UK
British citizens are fleeing Ukraine due to the severe economic situation as a result of the war. Many British citizens are married to Ukraine citizens and have children born in Ukraine. Under EU law, British citizens and their non-EU spouse/family can live anywhere within the EU, except their country of citizenship/origin. Therefore they are denied entry to the United Kingdom. These British citizens and their families are now living in EU countries and trying to make a new life after leaving behind their homes and businesses in Ukraine. Some British citizens and their families are still stranded in Ukraine.These families are refugees and cannot seek any help from the British Embassy in Ukraine. Under UK laws, a British citizen who intends to bring their non-EU spouse/family to the UK must prove to be in employment or have a business with a minimum income of GBP 18,6000 per annum and much more in the case of a family. In order to obtain a spouse visa, the British citizen must first show they are 'settled' in the UK before they can make an application for their spouse/family to join them.Many of these British citizens have been living in Ukraine for many years prior to the war and simply wish to enter the UK with their spouse and family to start a new life.Trying to obtain a simple tourist visa for their spouse to enter the UK is also difficult. The application process is not easy and always involves the payment of a fee which is non-refundable if the application is refused.These British citizens and their families need help.
See: https://www.facebook.com/britishcitizensandtheirfamilies
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