The 3 Steps Involved In Moving To The UK
There are many reasons to want to live in the UK. The weather, although dreary, maybe better than the weather where you are currently living. There is also a great education system, easy access to European travel destinations, and a more laid-back culture than the rat race in the US. Whatever your reasons for wanting to move to the UK, you will need to make sure that you do things the right way.
Just about everybody who wants to move to the Uk will need to get a visa and residence permit. This even includes Europeans now that Brexit is official and the UK is no longer part of the EU. This means that you’ll need to have a reason for entering as an immigrant. You’ll need to have a job lined up and even UK private health insurance to cover your health care needs while living there. In this article, we will go over several of the factors that are important when you want to emigrate to the UK.
Know the costs
Before you apply for jobs and start the process to get a visa, you should know if this move is going to make financial sense for you or not. The cost of living in the UK is quite high in many areas due to Brexit and rising global inflation. The other part of the equation is that jobs generally pay less than in the US. The combination of low salaries and high cost of living may mean that this is not an ideal move for you.
Look into what the average salary is that you can expect in your industry in different areas in the UK. Much like anywhere else, salaries vary depending on the area. What you would get paid for the same job in London and in Newcastle is going to be vastly different.
The next step is to look into the cost of living in a particular area where you are most likely to get hired for a job. Look at what the average rents are for that area and then calculate how much income you would have left after paying taxes, health insurance, and rent. This is your disposable income with which you will need to pay for groceries, transportation, clothing, and other normal expenses.
Take some time to understand if you will be able to make ends meet. You could always look for areas where the cost of living is low and your pounds will stretch further.
Understand the visa situation
An American can enter the UK without a visa and stay there for up to three months for vacation or leisure. To live and work there is a different situation, though. To be able to work and live there requires a special type of visa. Which one depends on your circumstances.
One of the easiest ways to emigrate there is to be currently working for a company that has offices in the UK. then you could request a transfer. If it is accepted then your company will take care of the visa process for you. In many cases, they will also pay for your moving expenses.
The problem with this scenario is that it is very unlikely to happen or at least not without a long wait. It is expensive for a company to do an international transfer. The reason to send you would have to be bigger than that you just want to live there. Another option is to apply for jobs in the UK and see about getting hired by a company that would be willing to sponsor your visa. If you are an expert in your field and there is a shortage in the UK, then it is likely that you would get hired.
Realize that there is a different culture
Although we speak a common language there are cultural differences that will come into play. In most cases, these differences will not be an impediment to integrating and enjoying your time there. You just have to be aware of them.
There is one area where these differences will have an impact on you more than in other ways. This is the work culture. The way that Americans approach work and office culture is different from just about everywhere in the world, even in the UK. It’s important to understand how the work culture is different so you don’t make a bad impression on your colleagues and bosses that would cause you trouble to continue working there.
In general, there is an emphasis on being polite and not too high energy and casual. It will take some time to get used to behaving differently and adjusting, but it is essential that you do so. If you don’t adjust then your life will be made more difficult and you will likely regret the move.
