Has Anyone moved to UK?

[tcsparky]

I have a job offer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So now the process starts. The school interviewed me and several other foreign teachers, as well as several local teachers. Due to the well-known Science teacher shortage, the principal is sure she will be able to get permission to hire me.

Now to apply for a Work Visa. I won't give notice to my current employer until I have the Work Visa in hand,k because that apparently is not a sure thing.

But.............if all goes well...........I'll be moving in July!!!!

[Tom Earp]

Odd isn't it that easier for Brit's to move into USA than Americans to move to Britain!

[navane]

Originally Posted by tcsparky

I have a job offer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So now the process starts. The school interviewed me and several other foreign teachers, as well as several local teachers. Due to the well-known Science teacher shortage, the principal is sure she will be able to get permission to hire me.

Now to apply for a Work Visa. I won't give notice to my current employer until I have the Work Visa in hand,k because that apparently is not a sure thing.

But.............if all goes well...........I'll be moving in July!!!!

Wow, congratulations! In which city/region would you be living?

[NYCMS]

Congrats on the job offer! Here's my two cents from having friends who've moved from the US to the UK...of course, those on this board who've done so can speak to this best, but I've not seen these things mentioned so thought they're worth a post. And given the timeline from when you first posted about this, you may have already checked into this!

Look into the tax situation so there are no surprises. My understanding is that you are dually taxed: you are taxed by the U.S. and also pay taxes to the UK.

I'd also investigate fully the cost of living wherever you might go - London, for example, makes living in NYC look cheap. Not sure how other parts of the UK stack up, but it's worth doing. You're fortunate to have a friend who will rent you a room but even so, I'd get the details on that (how much is the rent) along with other cost-of-living items like groceries, transportation (the tube/bus in London is pricy or will you need a car?), etc. so that there will be fewer surprises when it comes to how far your salary will go.

Your friends over there - if they're American and understand how living costs translate - can help as well. There might be online calculators that can help, I know you can find them for comparing cost-of-living among US cities.

Keep us posted and good luck!

[tcsparky]

Tom, you're right- it is definitely easier for a foreigner to get a job here than for an American to get one in the UK. I guess other countries are pickier??

I'll be living in the eastern region of Essex on the coast, about 2 hours north of London by train. It's a lot of rural, with little towns and villages scattered around.

As for the tax situation, from what I can find out, I would only pay US taxes if my income exceeded a certain amount. I'm not sure exactly what that amount is, but I was told that as a teacher, I'd definitely make under that threshold. A friend who just moved back from there was making 45K (pounds) a year, and he never paid US taxes.

I'll be living with a friend, and sharing expenses. From what we're working out, it will definitely be cheaper than living here by myself! Most of the bills are less than what I'm paying now, and I'd only be paying half.

Applying for the work Visa is expensive, though. $900. That's a pretty good sized chunk of change. My teaching certificate and driving license will be valid there, so that's two less things to have pay for immediately.

The job starts in September, so I *think* I have enough time to get everything done and applied for / passed through by then!!

[NYCMS]

Originally Posted by tcsparky

I'll be living in the eastern region of Essex on the coast, about 2 hours north of London by train. It's a lot of rural, with little towns and villages scattered around.

While you're there you should drive north of Essex to Norfolk - specifically Holkham Beach, this vast, incredible beach on the North Sea that has been called the most beautiful in all of England. The whole area - small villages along the coast - is spectacular. Norfolk is the 'county' just north of Essex.

Wishing you lots of luck - sounds like it's really coming together - and hope you will post about your adventures from time to time!

[tcsparky]

I filled out a lot of employment paperwork and emailed it back. Today they asked for a scan of my passport. Not sure what else is happening, though. I can't apply for the Work Visa until they have received approval to hire a foreigner. However, school doesn't start until September!

[WhiteDaisy128]

I'm currently living in the UK (we arrived Summer 2016 and will go home Summer of 2019; we previously lived in the UK from Summer of 2009 - Summer of 2012).

We *LOVE* life here in the UK, but we are only on a 3 year contract, so we know we'll have to go back to the USA when our time is up. Because of the way my husbands work arrangements are made, it's not the same process you are going through - but it sounds like you are on the right track.

It's amazing how different things are - considering we all speak English; but it's all wonderful. :-) There are great travel opportunities, awesome schools, etc.

Good luck in the process and if there are any general moving to the UK questions that I can answer, I'm happy to do so. Will your new work pay for a shipping crate? Make sure you ask about relocation benefits - in general, EVERYTHING is so much more expensive here.