So you’re ready for a change. Are you thinking about moving to England from the United States? Great. You’re in the right place because we’re going to talk you through what you need to know for relocating here. The problem is that there is so much red tape when it comes to moving from country to country that it can feel impossible when you have an idea in mind.You might be wondering how an American can move to England, but you can move both temporarily or permanently, depending on your situation.
England is often at the forefront of one of the countries to consider when it comes to emigrating because it can be easier to move somewhere that already speaks the language that you speak. You do have to remember though that the US is not the same as the UK and there are differences in culture, tradition and in laws.
There are many reasons why somebody would want to move to England from the US. However, there are things you have to consider, such as the differences in healthcare, the differences between US & UK taxes and the differences in expectations for food standards! Things that you need to consider on your list if you decide that you want to become an expat.
1. Visas.
If you just want to visit, you can stay in the UK for around six months without a visa, but you do need to consider a visa for a stay any longer than this. There are different types of visas for Americans. You have the long term skilled worker visa which is considered as a Tier 2 and you can apply for it. If you’re considering moving and you’re in a type of job in healthcare, estate management, civil and electrical engineering and IT specialist, pharmacist, nurse, etc. There are so many eligible skilled worker jobs from the US to the UK, that as long as you are in one of those, you are very likely to be granted a visa. To be able to apply for this one, you have to have an approved UK employer as a sponsor. You also need to have a job offer in place, a minimum salary confirmed and your employer has to be on the list of approved occupations. This type of visa can last up to five years and you can apply for a chance to live in the UK and work there permanently under this visa. There are many different visa options, so make sure you check out this website to find out more.
2. Shipping.
One thing you have to remember is that American houses are built very differently to English houses. All of the furniture that fits inside your American house probably wouldn’t squeeze through the door of an English one. Once you have all your visa logistics out of the way and you’re approved for moving to England, you need to think about shipping your things abroad. A lot of people choose to sell up all of their large furniture and save the money to be able to buy new again once they land. You can then box up your clothes and your belongings and sellotape up the boxes to have them shipped. You might want to start purging your household items as soon as you get your visa sorted out and if you’re moving on your own without any help from an employer. Then you should seek out someone to help you do that. If you’re planning only to be there temporarily, then selling your furniture could be a good idea, but so can storage. As long as you can afford the storage fees, then keeping your things in a storage unit until you return to America is a good idea.
3. Figuring out your car.
Some people choose to ship their car from the US to the UK, but again, UK roads are very different to American roads. You’ll also have to learn how to drive on the correct side of the road in the UK. You do not have to ship your car from the US to England. You can choose to sell your car and buy a new one. If you’ve got a giant truck in America, you might find yourself squeezing into small parking spaces, and you’re not likely to have a driveway or a garage big enough for it in the UK. It’s just one of those many things that will differ between countries.
4. Finding somewhere to live.
If you’re still in America, it can be very different and difficult to find a house in England while you’re still abroad. One of the things people choose to do when they are moving is to go to an Airbnb or to a rented house for a few weeks on a holiday basis so that they can explore the areas in which they’re looking to live. If you have family or friends in the UK, they’ll also be able to help you from a distance. It’s a good idea to start doing your house hunting on Zoopla or Rightmove and if you’re planning on buying straight away that should be a consideration money wise when you land. Always do your research in advance and start calling and introducing yourself to real estate companies. This way you’ll be able to get first refusal on anything that comes up.
5. Set up a bank account.
You have to open a local bank account to be able to pay your bills. In England, the currency is the British pound and you’ll be opening a sterling account, which is a British pound account. Local banks include HSBC, NatWest, Barclays and Lloyds Bank, and you’ll need to have a proof of identity, a home address, an employer and all of this.In writing before you approach a bank to open an account. If you’re moving on a military basis, there are on base banks such as Keesler Federal Credit Union and Community Bank. It’s right here that you can figure out how to pay your bills because it’s different in the UK than from the US. You’ll need to have a sterling account to pay those local bills, and that goes for paying your rent, your water, electricity and your mobile phone. Most companies require you to pay your bills automatically, and the other thing you won’t have to worry about is paying taxes yourself because they will come directly from your employment.