My only moving concerns...
...hi, I'm a mum to two girls and will be moving to Doha sometime in the next few months from the Far East. My husband is already in Doha so has been telling me great things about the great Western shops (esp. supermarkets) and the overall expat standard of living. Negotiations for our employment package are going really well so I only have two concerns. Namely:
1. We have a nearly 5 yr old who was due to start primary school next month. My husband's been told that it is impossible to get hold of anybody at the international schools at the moment as all the relevant staff have left the country for Summer. Is this really the case or is his equally new colleague not talking to the right person. So far, Park House and DESS jump out as good schools so can anybody recommend someone to contact re: securing a place for my daughter?
2. We have promised our maid from the Phillipines that we will bring her with us if we can. Therefore, can someone please tell me something about the visa process for a domestic worker? I've tried the govt web sites but couldn't find anything relevant. As far as I can gather we can bring her but I can't find anything about how to go about it.
Thank you in advance for any advice you can give me.
Cheers, Poss
Try them! A new school has just opened in Al Mamoura and the one at West Bay is still operating. I think that you will find that N.I.S. is not as expensive as DESS and Park House.
Forget Park house they have already closed their books for this year and are not even taking names for their waiting list. school fees for most british schools will range from QR-/ 20,000 to QR-/ 24,000 a year so tell your husband to bare that in mind when negotiating salary.
apply for every school you can think of then cross your fingers.
dont take my word on this ... but if i am not mistaken someone mention about USD 12.000 a year. Pls double check again...
I don't have the fee information with me at the moment and I know the website isn't very helpful. If you e-mail Compass at [email protected] I'm sure someone will answer your questions.
Hi Everyone, thanks a lot for all of your very helpful advice :-)
Squarepeg, could you tell me what the fees would be for Compass? Their web site is silent! We'll be paying QR4,000 here until we move so I hope they don't charge that much.
Novita77 thank you very much for including a link to the school newsletter. I'll have my husband knocking on the office door first thing the next time they're open.
Aisha, could you please tell me what 'NOC' is?
Everyone, no one has mentioned Park House. Is this because the hopes of securing a place there are so dismal?
Thanks once again
Poss
Compass International School has an 'expression of interest' form on its website, www.cisdoha.org. The fees are very high, perhaps your husband could bear this in mind during his negotiations.
You may be able to get your maid by "name hiring" (direct hiring)procedure. As you mentioned that your husband is here, let him inquire from the POLO (philippine overseas labor office) located near the HMC outpatient physical therapy and rehabilitation at Bin Omran. Procedures for hiring filipina maids have been quite strict since early this year though, but they should be able to tell you all the requirements you need.
YOU CAN TRY MONTESSORI AND BRITISH SCHOOL
Well, novita has answered you regarding the schools. If you want more info check: British schools in Doha and you will get a list of them. And yes all of them are closed now. Now as to bringing your maid. First of all you need to be here and have your residents permit befor you can apply for a maid. For this your husband needs to have a NOC letter from the company. Then he can apply. If you get the visa is no guarantee as they can be strange sometimes here. But maybe the company can apply for you and then things will go quicker. Anyway in all instances have the PRO of the company assist you.
Aisha-Taweela
About the school you will have to wait near the open day of the school ... at the moment most school are shuts.
Here the opening of DESS school office i quote from their online newsletter :
http://www.dess.org/newsletters/June%2028%2007.pdf
If you can't open it ... u can go to the website :
http://www.dess.org/Structure/s01_frames.htm and open their last issue of the newsletter. You should be able to see the dates of the school office opening.
Yess Dess very good school ... but long waiting list. And they only put British Passport Holder on priority. This coming September would be my son 3 rd year going to the school (he been there since in the nursery), and so far he is happy. A happy child is a happy household :D
Failed on that ... check out on Newton and Compass school.