One Serious Situation

LegacyUser

This will be long.

I am not from this country originally. I came here for a job some time ago, and the job provided accommodation. Unfortunately things didn't work out due to monetary grievances and I was let go-- leaving me stranded with no home, no money, and no other job. I quickly exhausted the little money I'd saved simply trying to survive in a new country where I had no one to fall back on.

I am out of money, completely. I don't have a dime to my name, and I am not exaggerating. I have NOTHING. I cannot afford to go back to my country. Not even a hope of trying. I cannot get to the embassy of my country. A friend has thankfully put me up for some time until I can get back on my feet but I cannot find any way to make money and it is not fair on my friend to be feeding me and keeping me here. I had a brief temp job for Christmas but it didn't last and thus I was left stranded again. I have been looking everywhere for jobs but it's a small town (that I can't even afford to get a bus or taxi out of) and there is nothing going, and if there are things going they're going to people from town, not foreigners.

I also have an overdraft on my bank of over a hundred euro which I have no way of paying off.

I am so utterly without hope. I just don't know what to do. I'm stuck. I'm completely dominated by what normal people would consider to be such a small amount of money.

What on earth am I meant to do? What CAN I do? I'm trapped in limbo with no visible way out.

Ann22

Are you European? If so, are you not entitled to social welfare?

Alessandra

No Hope wrote: »

This will be long.

I am not from this country originally. I came here for a job some time ago, and the job provided accommodation. Unfortunately things didn't work out due to monetary grievances and I was let go-- leaving me stranded with no home, no money, and no other job. I quickly exhausted the little money I'd saved simply trying to survive in a new country where I had no one to fall back on.

I am out of money, completely. I don't have a dime to my name, and I am not exaggerating. I have NOTHING. I cannot afford to go back to my country. Not even a hope of trying. I cannot get to the embassy of my country. A friend has thankfully put me up for some time until I can get back on my feet but I cannot find any way to make money and it is not fair on my friend to be feeding me and keeping me here. I had a brief temp job for Christmas but it didn't last and thus I was left stranded again. I have been looking everywhere for jobs but it's a small town (that I can't even afford to get a bus or taxi out of) and there is nothing going, and if there are things going they're going to people from town, not foreigners.

I also have an overdraft on my bank of over a hundred euro which I have no way of paying off.

I am so utterly without hope. I just don't know what to do. I'm stuck. I'm completely dominated by what normal people would consider to be such a small amount of money.

What on earth am I meant to do? What CAN I do? I'm trapped in limbo with no visible way out.

I am sorry to hear about your plight.. 100euro is not a lot of money although it seems that way now..

Maybe you would be entitled to Social Welfare payment? Have you worked in Ireland for over 2years? Paid tax etc?

Why don't you visit the community welfare officer in your town? The citizens advice bureau either may be able to offer some help?

Why can't you contact your embassy? They are there to help their citizens who are in trouble..

Don't panic, you have shelter for the moment. There are people who can help you in your community:http://findaddress.citizensinformation.ie/service_finder/query.py?category=Citizens+Information+Centres&county=*&town=*&submit=FIND+ADDRESSES

aare

Omigod..

Been there, done that, bought the T shirt...it's scaring me just thinking of you.

But still, I have survived that very position, more than once, and every time it was a lot easier to see what I COULD have done, looking back from a safe place.

"All for such a small some of money" are the key words really.

Firstly, try the Society of Vincent De Paul they might be prepared to come up with an air fare.

Likewise your local health board CWO might be prepared to do so, or AT LEAST to facillitate you in getting to your embassy...it is ridiculous not to do so.

If I were you I would also try calling customer service at a couple of airlines...explain your predicament, and ask them if there is ANY way they could let you go "on standby" and let you pay them back later.

What is the problem with reaching your embassy?

LegacyUser

Ann22 wrote: »

Are you European? If so, are you not entitled to social welfare?

exactly. I went to london for a short while and was able to sign on straight away and claimed benefit until i got work. might we ask your nationality?

LegacyUser

OP here.

I am not from the EU. Welfare is not an option. There is also no real point in going back to my home country as I have no home there either. Regardless of where I go I am homeless-- at least here I have something temporary and access to internet. In my country, I do not. My embassy is nowhere near me and their phone system is bunk.

cantdecide

That's bloody awful. Don't be ashamed to reach out for help. Try all the places you would if you were entitled to social welfare. There absolutely must be a solution to your problem and these people are very well placed to give you solutions that you wouldn't be aware of as a civilian....

michael_23

You should give these lads a call, they might be ablle to help you out.

http://www.iomdublin.org/

aare

No hope...

Is there any way you can ask for asylum?

http://www.ria.gov.ie/coming_to_ireland_as_an_asylum_seeker/

It doesn't look easy, but at least it will buy you some time, a breathing space?

...and if they don't grant asylum they will pay your airfare.

There is also the International Organisation for Migration there may be something they can do to, at least, get you back to your own country...which, I can appreciate, may well just be the beginning of an whole new set of problems for you...

...even so, it may be your best chance.

I have been stuck outside the EU with no money, and no future, so, with tears in my eyes (and I have, I know how ironical this must feel), I might be the best person to tell you the hard truth, that it is unlikely you have a future here legally...

Can you tell us where you are from? Maybe someone can think of something?

couerdelion

Hi OP

You say that welfare is not an option. Is that because you haven't completed the required 102 weeks worth?

Did you need a visa to work in Ireland, or were you studying over here? I'm just trying to clarify your legal status as if you don't have legal status in the county you may be limited to both any jobs you can get and to be able to get any benefit.

LegacyUser

Hi op, sorry to hear about your situation. Have you no family/friends back home that could help? They could pay for your plane ticket back? It's better to be in this situation at home around friends and family rather then in a strange country?

sardineta

With Ireland's economy being one of the worse placed in Europe right now, it would seem to be a bad place for you to try and get back on your feet. Seemingly you have a good grasp of English, which will give you significant advantage in many countries in your quest for work.

What is it though, that you actually want? Do you want some money and if so, what do you propose to do with it? Treat this like a business proposal: what I will do if I had €50; if I had €100 or €250. Present your case and you may find someone who can define a solution for you.

Miss Fluff

Does your home country have an Embassy here? Are you here illegally?

niceoneted

Sounds like you came illegally - I hope I'm wrong - but if that is the case I would start by reporting the company or whoever it was that brought you over and offered you work etc. It sounds like you were being exploited and if you were I'm sure there are more that are also.
You could always get in touch with immigration services here who could arrange for your return home.

MIN2511

niceoneted wrote: »

Sounds like you came illegally - I hope I'm wrong - but if that is the case I would start by reporting the company or whoever it was that brought you over and offered you work etc. It sounds like you were being exploited and if you were I'm sure there are more that are also.
You could always get in touch with immigration services here who could arrange for your return home.

I quite agree with this now

But i don't think the OP is going to post on this thread again, for fear of being deported etc....

Zaph

MIN2511 wrote: »

But i don't think the OP is going to post on this thread again, for fear of being deported etc....

It's pretty unlikely that the OP would be deported on the basis of anything he's posted on this thread, assuming he is here illegally. He posted unregged, and as I mentioned elsewhere recently, it's a pretty big deal to track down an unregged poster's IP address, etc., and would most likely only be done if Boards was served with a court order or similar legal instruction.

MIN2511

Zaph wrote: »

It's pretty unlikely that the OP would be deported on the basis of anything he's posted on this thread, assuming he is here illegally. He posted unregged, and as I mentioned elsewhere recently, it's a pretty big deal to track down an unregged poster's IP address, etc., and would most likely only be done if Boards was served with a court order or similar legal instruction.

You and i, and many others may know this but not everyone... Glad you posted this to clear the things

So OP, can you please specify your visa etc.... Someone here might be able to clarify things/help you. Whichever comes first

aare

Who cares if the OP is illegal?

They are an human being in one hell of a jam.

Please come back, no hope, all kinds of people read here, and there is a lot more chance of them finding a solution than of you finding one alone.

Joey the lips

If youhave access to mail why cant they mail your embassey? you can get help that way!

Give us a contact address and we can forward yopur embassey details or simply tell us you embassey and we will post all the details here.

MIN2511

OP, this is what i have come up with. Being an immigrant myself it can be hard in a foreign country, with no roof over your head/money.

1. If a company brought you over i presume you were issued with a work visa? Is the visa valid? If you have/had a work visa you will be considered as a skilled employee. So renewing your visa if you get a job will be pretty straight forward.

2. As for money and housing issues, St Vincent De Paul might be able to help you. Most countries have communities here in Ireland, who tend to help each other. Do you know anyone else from your own country? Also your nearest catholic church might be able to help you.

3. As for asylum, there is no way you would be able to seek asylum. As we all read in the papers the numbers being refused asylum are on an increase, loads of failed asylum seekers are being deported to their countries. And if they are deported the chances of them ever getting visit visa from any other country is ZERO.

4. Living in Ireland illegally is pretty hard, jobs are limited... There are few cash in hand jobs etc and most places would rather employ EU citizens over foreign citizens especially with the current economy.



I dunno if this helps, i hope it does... Feel free to PM me for more information or for a chat...

M

LegacyUser

If you finished work during the last tax year, have you applied for any excess tax you paid back?

LegacyUser

I could kill I thought that post was lost there when boards went down.

Sigh, okay I promised myself I wouldn't post here or annoy you about it but anyway I'm getting sick of this and it seems to be getting worse for you every week. Plus even though I haven't said anything it is becoming a strain on me.

I'll post here unreg just to preserve your identity as people will figure you out otherwise

You may not have a high opinion of me and think I'm more than a bit of a freak but unfortunately for you I seem to be the only one around here who actually gives a continental about what happens to you or will actually do something to help.

Right it comes down to this. You can and will get your arse out of the hole your currently in. You do though, have got to get up off your arse and take what help your friends here and I can give you. Seriously, the whole I won't ask for things from friends and that is complete and utter tripe. You need to get over that, stubborn pride or social insecurity or both, just seriously get over it, you are in a grave situation here. Seriously that bullishness is potentially a fantastic attribute just mis-channeled imo.

I have for the last 5 months given you a lot more a fair shot at getting going which in many ways you have grasped with both hands and in others failed. Forget about all that. You are 21 and a grown woman, your life starts now from scratch because you can't go any lower.

Okay so for me anyway it comes to this, divide and conquer. You need to put all your problems and issues in order, prioritize them, keep chipping away and you will obliterate them one by one. You want to be here in the summer and visit Connemara, The Burren, Ailwee caves and the Galway Races on Ladies day. Then look back with cheery warm nostalgia when you move on to Germany or Holland or wherever.

You have no home - this is sorted here in Ireland for the time being, you are warm, healthy and not hungry, internet access and hell even the odd night out. I told you before you can stay as long as needs be, I won't re-iterate that again.

You have no money - you can't work any jobs beyond cash in hand. These are thin on the ground, even more than ever in the current doomy economic climate. You are a creative minded individual, so go create some work for yourself - fixing pc's/computer problems, dog walking, gardening, house cleaning. There are innumerable nixers you can dream up of. If you got 2/3 days work at any of those over the space of a few weeks that would give you a chance to repay your overdraft to start and with word of mouth and some luck it may even snowball forward for you.

On the embassy thing - Codswallop. If you really do need to get help from them, one phone call about the predicament and you will be collected and brought up there immediately without question, taken care of and what not. It's on you there so. God even the time we tried to get up there was such a half arsed effort.

Focus on here and now and moving forward from that, forget about home and everything else. I thought I had it bad when I was clinically depressed before and dropped out of college 2 years ago and then had to left my job last year in Dublin during another bout. I was was crushed beyond recognition so I can appreciate how you may feel about it all. My experiences are exponentially insignificant events in comparison however to yours. I was very to lucky to have support that you don't have available to you right now.

You do not realise how lofty heights of esteem I regard you in but anyway that is irrelevant. I don't care if you end up hating me more and trying to kill me as long as you are able to get back on track. Seriously if I told you to feck off tomorrow you wouldn't survive too long around here. This is not a threat or some chest puffed out brag, just plain fact. You've seen how people made a point of distancing themselves in the past. Friends are friends at the end of the day even if they are only of the fair weather genus.

Right I'm heading off to work now and I'll be back later on, if you want to speak about anything that's entirely up to you, which you probably won't. I'm weary of seeing you asleep and sitting there in a bewildered daze on the couch or at the computer. You have a platform to gain success from, a little pet that adores you and a gobshíte for company that won't shut up for 2 minutes so move forward from there. I will keep prodding you on.

And another thing if anyone says BS here about illegals, seriously go fúck yourself, we are all the same people at the end of the day, how many of our own are after making the States and Austraila what they are now without papers over the years? You could wipe out a hundred miserable Irish begrudging cretins and replace their cumulative citizenship with the OP and it would be an incalculable improvement to our society.

LegacyUser

If you have worked for 52 consequtive weeks u are entitled to some sort of social welfare payment.So u if this is not the case i suspect something is a miss in this story ur spinning. I am sick of these pity stories, this country is struggling to support itself let alone other ppl! that african women Pamela is a pure example of what is wrong with this country - scam artists the lot of them

Zaph

The Friend wrote: »

And another thing if anyone says BS here about illegals, seriously go fúck yourself

I've only just noticed this, but I can only assume that it was missed when your post was approved . Let me tell you that if I see another instance of abuse like that from you in a future post I'll be deleting the whole post. It's easy to hide behind the unregged mask, but that doesn't mean that posters here don't deserve the same level of courtesy that would be expected from someone posting under their normal Boards name.

sardineta

So the friend has pretty much confirmed you're an illegal - so what do you reasonably expect by way of help?

LegacyUser

Zaph wrote: »

I've only just noticed this, but I can only assume that it was missed when your post was approved . Let me tell you that if I see another instance of abuse like that from you in a future post I'll be deleting the whole post. It's easy to hide behind the unregged mask, but that doesn't mean that posters here don't deserve the same level of courtesy that would be expected from someone posting under their normal Boards name.

Okay I'm sorry in that instance zaph I never intedend to be directing abuse at anyone just got a bit riled up. Again I re-iterate my apology here, even though I was steaming a bit at the time it's still not a proper excuse.

Fyi sardineta, the op is not illegal, she is however on legal limbo so to speak. She was here as a student working towards finishing her course after her year's stay. The duration of which she would be sponsored through a job locally, directly and practically involving what she would be examined on. The job in question was due to provide her with a nominal income (enough to survive) and accommodation for the duration of her stay. They pulled the plug on her in a very callous, abrupt and unethical manner leaving her in an extremely vulnerable situation.

Further more at the unregistered poster above, she is not in receipt of benefit of any form or kind the government or any private body within the state. So as to her being a drain on the country is a completely baseless statement drawn without any knowledge of the scenario whatsoever. I'm sure If you didn't wish to make sweeping assumptions so fast you would have posted under your real boards account.

sardineta

So she needs to contact those bodies that can help, in this case her embassy.

aare

This is all starting to look a lot more rational now, not necessarily more hopeful though.

A friend of mine's daughter had the plug pulled on her accountacy internship last year...months from finals. She has had to go to Australia to complete.

If there is a professional organisation attached to the subject she is studying it might be worth approaching them?

If she will work for accomodation and basic keep it may help somebody else out of a jam to take her on.