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Moving from US to Trini

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Sramdass
  9/19/2016 10:56 EST

Hello,
I"m looking to move my family from the states to Trinidad. Could someone please tell me how to go about this process and inform if visas are required. My husband is from Trinidad.

gingerbaby
  9/19/2016 13:58 EST

My suggestion is it will be a good idea to read this subject on the official Trinidad and Tobago Government Internet site. You can check out the embassies sites also. There are a few in the US where you can make an appointment to visit. You will have to apply for your visas from the Trinidad embassies in the United States, Do not waste your time to venture into an embassy office in T&T, you will get nowhere. And do not waste your money and time to go to a lawyer. My second thought. If your husband is from T&T, does he have dual citizenship? I am asking this because you live in the States. If he lost his citizenship before 1988. He will have to apply for Reinstatement of Citizenship. You will have to make sure that the children get their citizenship papers before going there otherwise they will have problems getting registered in the schools. It could be difficult because some people from other countries try to capitalize on the free education system and they have become very strict and this is one thing that I am proud of the Government for. I thank Eric Williams for introducing free education in the high school system many decades ago when many people could not afford to send their kids to high school. But as you know, even the University education is now free and there are lots of scholarships that one can apply for and there are other forms of assistance. They will have no problems getting their citizenship papers because their father was born there. But remember that he should reinstate if he lost his T&T citizenship. With you the rules will be different. The embassy will inform you. You can also read this up on the T&T Government site. My two cents is to visit the nearest T&T embassy to you and discuss everything with them. I believe in doing things right and if this is your family's wishes, go ahead. Children used to be more grounded growing up in the Caribbean but as everything else in life, things are changing there like everywhere else in the world.

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Sramdass
  9/19/2016 14:25 EST

You seem very knowledgeable!!!

So the kids are homeschooled

Thank you for all of the information.
Do you reside in TT?

gingerbaby
  9/19/2016 19:36 EST

I am not sure if you were asking a question. Some of the expats home school their children but the majority of Trinidadians do not home school their children but they do get private tutoring for them (at all ages) after school to keep them abreast with their school work and to help with their learning skills if it necessary. There are teachers who do this. Extra tutoring has always been a very common practice in Trinidad if you want your children to succeed. Their school work is not as easy as in North America and it is very competitive when coming to gain entrance to the best high schools and university. There are private schools but they are very expensive especially the International Schools. To be quite honest there is nothing wrong with the very good public schools in Trinidad. If the children are small, you can get all this information before you go where you should send them. There are many top rate high schools/colleges on the island which are all free. No sense wasting your money. Re the home school information, if I were you, I would contact the Board of Education (check the Government site for address, etc. or maybe someone on this board could give you the correct department to contact). They will be able tell you about the curriculum for homeschooling kids if you plan to do this. Presently, I do not live in Trinidad. I am a Trinidadian/Canadian living in Canada but I am in touch with the country through the media, friends and I often look at a show in the morning from Trinidad called "The Morning Brew" which deals with current affairs and government speakers are always invited.

TechRep
  9/19/2016 20:16 EST

The friends I have in TT with children all send them to private schools and then to foreign colleges.

I can't believe that they would spend that kind of money if the Trinidad schools are "excellent" as the previous poster indicated.

I personally lived there a few years and was not impressed by the high school and college graduates that were educated there when they interviewed for employment with us.

gingerbaby
  9/20/2016 12:00 EST

TechRep

By next week, I will respond to your post. Maybe when I am finished with my report, you will be more knowledgeable about the three level system of education that exists in the public and private schools in Trinidad, just as they exist in other countries in the world, including the USA. Why people have to send their children to foreign universities which is not for the lack of a very high standard of our universities. You might be surprised to know what contracts people have to sign in some of the international schools in T&T for the schools to prove their excellence. You will also know why you were not impressed with those students you interviewed.

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TechRep
  9/21/2016 07:13 EST

Gingerbaby,

Quite honestly I could care less about whatever "report" you are doing. I simply posted a different view based on my personal experience. I simply stated a fact, out of the dozen or so friends I have in Trinidad (most of which are Trini), none of them none of them utilize the free education system.

There must be a reason why.

kenwyn
  9/23/2016 11:01 EST

Let me add my few pesos.....If your child was not born in the country or does not have residency you cannot enter them into the Government free schools.

You are told that the free schools are for citizens and residents only and your child would be taking a school place for which he/she was not entitled.

Don't waste your time trying to get them into a public school, I would suggest St. Augustine Community College for High School (750 USD per term) and UWI Pre University 6th Form school (2000 usd ) per year.

Having said so, I am not particularly impressed with the work ethic of most teachers in the government public school system while the Religious board public schools have the right approach.

CSEC/CAPE is a waste of time and they should return to Cambridge O' Levels and A Levels to produce internationally standardized students.

Sramdass
  9/23/2016 11:04 EST

I'm sorry all. I didn't mean to start a debate. Let's be clear. I'm not moving to Trinidad for the free education. I educate my own kids. My kids are homeschooled and if I move to Trinidad they will remain homeschooled.

kenwyn
  9/25/2016 03:18 EST

If you are married to a Trinidad Citizen you can apply for Permanent Residency. It is a tortuous process. You can get the forms at the Ministry of National Security and citizenship.

Your children are Citizens by Descent and can apply for that document. All they need is their original Birth Certificate which shows their Father's name, and your husband's Trinidad Birth Certificate, to get their Trinidad Passport which can then used for their National ID.

Take the documents to immigration department and they will start the process. Good Luck.

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