All About Maids travelling overseas

[loosetootht]

I agree with Tamarind. The nannies in US are of a different breed.


I lived in US for 2 years. I had a live-out Chinese nanny. I paid her 2K USD a month (no choice - minimum wage).

We had the best 2 years of our lives. She did my marketing for me at 400am everyday at Chinatown so that we only get to eat what's in season and freshest. My freezer was empty as she believed we should have the freshest from the market for the day. She planned the menu for us for our whole time there. She is trained in both Western (beef steaks, lobster bisque) and Chinese (authentic Shanghainese, soups and broths) cooking. She did a dinner party for my friends (20 pax) all by herself (marketing, cooking, prep) - we had salad, prawns, steak, pasta. Even right down to washing up. No help from me. Food was presented fine dining style - with fruit and vegetable carvings!

She was a great disciplinarian to my child. She loved my child with her whole heart and i believed she would have put herself in the way of an oncoming truck for my child. She neither scolded or hit or cajoled my child. She had the old school Chinese way of raising kids. My child was most disciplined and well behaved under her.

She completed all her housework (laundry/ toilets/ floors) during the 2 hours my child slept (PM nap). She had never once let my child oversleep as she believed that it would disrupt her sleep physiology for the night.

In the late afternoon when dinner is cooking on the stove, she gave my child informal mandarin lessons (oral and written, and mind you my child was only 2 years then). She had the work ethic of a good Chinese woman and she did not hesitate to transmit her values to my child. My child left US speaking the most perfect Mandarin.. I am finding it hard to hold on to it today.

When she left for the weekend, (she had a weekend job and never had a day off for the decade she was in US), she would prepare trays of food, all seasoned and ready for me to chuck into the microwave or oven. So as to tide me over the weekend.
When i returned from work early some days and attempted to do any tidying of my home, she took it as an affront to her capability. She would never allow me to lift a finger in my own home as long as she was still around. Her fav line was \"xiao jie, ni qu xiu xi (please do go and rest)\"

She stayed for as long as we needed her even after her stipulated working hours. She never demanded any overtime pay.
She never ate a morsel of food in my home despite repeated invitations. She always came with her own packed lunch. She made clear the boundaries between employer and employee. Not me.

Is there anything wrong with her? The only thing we could think of was she loved us so much (me and hub) she tended to nag us a bit.. about our careers, our dressing, right down to how we invest. Also she made parenting a little too easy for us...

I hope fervently that i would find help like her again (i have moved home to SG). One thing i learnt: 2K USD is too little to pay for close-to-perfect help like her. And $450 is too much to pay for some of the unskilled maids we get today.


So do give some of the US nannies a chance and try them out. Who knows you may end up crying over a Chinese woman like me? (my hub's fav joke since coming home)

[tamarind]

Hi loosetootht,

Thank you for sharing. I am sure that every mommy dreams to have a nanny like the one you have in USA. I would pay her half my salary if she works for me !

[loosetootht]

Hi Tamarind


I did pay almost half of my salary but no regrets!
Today i pay only 450/ month and everyday i struggle with my maid (s).

I read your blog on singaporemaids alot and i thank you for your time and honesty in sharing with all of us

[tamarind]

loosetootht,

You are welcome

[LittleAunt]

I have booked a tour package to go to Korea and I’m thinking of bringing my Indonesian domestic helper along as an incentive trip for her. However, the tour agent has discouraged as they claimed that the process of visa application is very troublesome. On the other hand, my domestic helper has claimed that her friend’s boss brought her friend to Korea and the visa application was easily.


Anyone brought your Indonesian domestic helper to Korea before? Would appreciate if you can share your experience.

Thank you very much

[yuanyuan mama]

Hi,


There are certain conditions apply and required documents to be submitted from both the maid and maid’s employer. If you could fulfill their requirements, don’t think it is that troublesome.

Tour agent cannot apply, maid employer must apply in person. You only need to make 2 trips (provided that your documents are complete) to the embassy (1) submission & (2) collection, according to my friend. You better check with the Embassy.

[LittleAunt]

Thanks for your reply, Yuanyuan mama.


Just for everyone info, here's the reply from Korean Embassy.

We refer to your inquiry regarding visa application for your domestic helper.
 
2.  Conditions apply before application:
 
(a) Your helper must work for her employer at least 6 months and above upon application with us
 
(b) Your helper is allowed to go to Korea once per year only
 
(c) Your helper is allowed to stay in Korea no more than 30 days
 
(d) Employer is allowed to bring maid to Korea once per year only
 
NOTE: Failure to meet the above conditions, your domestic helper is NOT eligible to apply visa with us.
 
3.  Requirements:

  1.. Visa application form (at http://www.koreaembassy.org.sg , see under quick menu), to be signed by the maid
  2.. Maid's one recent coloured passport-sized photograph
  3.. Maid's actual passport
  4.. Maid's work permit - original & photocopy
  5.. Maid employer's company letter attention to Korean embassy (which indicates job titile/date of commencement/salary) - original
  6.. Maid employer's bank statement or passbook in Singapore (showing transactions of the last 3 months) - original & photocopy
 
** Internet printout must be signed by a bank officer & stamped by the bank before submission. 
    Name and account number must be shown on the printout.

  7.. Maid employer's Singapore IC or any long term pass- original & photocopy
  8.. Letter of Guarantee to be filled and signed by the maid employer (obtain at embassy)
 
NOTE1 : Employer (as stated on maid's WP) must come to apply for the maid in person; maid need not come once she has signed the visa application form
 
NOTE2: If maid employer is unemployed, company letter and bank transactions must come from the spouse who is employed plus an original & photocopy of marriage certificate.
 
NOTE3: If the maid employer cannot apply in person, spouse of employer may come to apply on behalf by showing marriage certificate (original & photocopy)

Procedures
Walk-in basis 
No reservation or pre-appointment.
 
Validity of VISA
3 months upon issuance
 
Processing Duration
4 working days
 
Fees (payment by CASH only/ non-refundable)
Single entry - S$40
 
Operating Hours For VISA Matters
Monday to Friday
9AM to 12 NOON ONLY
 
Address
47 Scotts Road #05-01,
Goldbell Towers,
Singapore 228233 (Newton MRT, Exit A)
 
 
Best regards,
 
Consular Section,
Embassy of the Republic of Korea (Singapore)
Tel: 6256-1188
http://www.koreaembassy.org.sg

[primera]

Hi - Slightly off topic but was looking to take my Philippino DH to US for about 4 weeks holiday to see family. What are the chances of visa and is it worth the hassle?

[silverhorse]

primera,


You have to check with the US embassy or their website for the visa requirement. I brought my Filipino helper to Korea for holiday and I did her visa (free) at the Korean Embassy.

[NZA]

Hi Little Aunt,


I intend to bring my Indonesian Domestic Helper to Korea. Based on the the conditions and requirements the embassy replied to you, were you successful in getting the visa for her ? How long did it take for them to call back if it was successful?

Thanks in advance.

NZA :thankyou: