Move from the US to the UK...?

Question

Due to the current state of my country and the lack of any chance of improvement, my husband and I are considering moving to the UK...(that's where all of my ancestors are from). I know that like everything else, you can't believe everything that you read, which I have done quite some reading recently, but I would like some input from people who live there. To be quite honest, I am NOT happy in the US, I think that our government sucks and is only getting worse, maybe it's just as bad there...who knows...that's why I am asking...thanks for the advice and inputs :)

"I've made my bed???" Yes...as a single American citizen I have sooo much control over my government. Yes it is me personally that has made the political decisions about our foreign and domestic policies. Yes it is me...I have complete control. Thanks for pointing that out...I forgot.

Answer 1

Good Lord...the UK is great. I lived there for a while, i live in Germany now, but Europe is so much better than the US....everything is just great. We don't have our whole country dying of obesity, scandals don't wreck our government, our crime rates are a heck of a lot lower, our food is great. Come over here, you won't regret it.

Answer 2

Come over and join us. If you don't like it you can always go back. Britain is a nice friendly place despite the doom-sayers. There is less crime and no gun culture, except in the worst areas.
There are four distinct countries and wide regional difference within each country. There are fantastic cities, beautiful countryside and you're rarely more than a few hours drive from the sea.
In the UK we have a free (almost) National Health Service and a state pension system, however you will have to live and work here for some time before you qualify.

Answer 3

You will have to get used to our way of things pretty quickly if you want to fit in! We may be liberal on eastern traditions but Americans don't have a good reputation at all.

The general thing is people in England feel that Americans look down on us, or that we are un-civilised because our cheese doesn't come out of a can. Things like this really get up our nose. The fact that you are not happy with your country and especially with the politics is a real bonus, people will LOVE you for that.

England is great I love it and would not want to live anywhere else, but you are going to be so much poorer I expect. Our house prices are sky high. You can buy a 6 bedroom house in Ohio for the same price as a flat in Southampton (English city where I live). Its crazy.

Our government is pretty messed up as well by the way.

Answer 4

Born British, lived in other countries, settled and now a citizen of the U.S.

From relatives in England, I'd say you will find the cost of most things, from a cup of coffee to a mortgage, frightening. Unless you are moving from somewhere like San Francisco or New York, forget the idea of owning property - English people are taking out mortgages that are six times their annual salary just to get a starter home.

There is significant overcrowding in many locations, and considerable racial strife as a result of lax immigration policies relative to other EU countries; the Labor government tried to absorb hundreds of thousands of migrant workers from the old Eastern Block, and failed miserably.

Tax rates are about the same between the two countries; and the NHS is a great emergency medical service (not so great for elective or non-urgent surgical treatment). As an American living in the UK, you will have to fund your treatment - NHS services are no longer free to Americans living in England.

I think you may be very disappointed in your choice, once the thrill of being a long-term tourist has worn off, and you are dealing with the day-to-day problems of life.

Answer 5

Don't know the exact process but my friend is still waiting for his green card and he has been living there and fully employed for nearly 10 years. He has been unable to return to the UK in the past 3 years while waiting for a section of the visa and now this is granted he still has another possible 2 years wait for it to be granted. It's a long drawn out process not like applying to Britain

Answer 6

The biggest hurdle for people moving to the UK is price of housing and generally high cost of living. The average 3 bedroom home in the UK is approaching £200k or 378k US dollars, particularly in the South East of the country. Rentals start £500per month in the cheaper areas. Also, petrol is $1.7 a litre or $8.0 gallon. So unless you know that you can generate a basic income of say at least £45,000 between you and you have a good sum for a deposit you should forget it. Having said that the North of UK is a lot cheaper.

Answer 7

The UK Government wishes to manage legal migration in the interests of the UK economy, and there are opportunities for people with very different types and level of skill.
As a result, thousands of people come to the UK every year looking to take advantage of the enormous career development opportunities on offer.
Good Luck!!!

Answer 8

I can understand your desire to leave USA, apart from its natural beauty the country has nothing going for it, the country has no substance at all. However, the UK has modelled itself too much on the USA and is turning into an American staging post. Either stay in the USA, or learn a language and live in another European country.

Answer 9

me and my wife have been trying to emigrate to the u.s. for about 5 years,but the process is so difficult for u.k. citizens,much more than any other European country,why is that?
we have bought a business in Florida that will earn $10,000 a month approx. and yet we still got turned down by the u.s. embassy in London because they are not following the guidelines set down by Washington! so we are stuck here in the u.k. earning rubbish money,paying through the nose for everything,cant afford to buy a flat let alone a house,and our taxes are supporting the thousands of immigrants and illegal aliens here! my advice stay where you are this country has nothing going for it anymore,we can not even fly our national flag in some places,because it might upset some foreigner!!
i am very very proud to be english,but this countrys national identity is being eaten away day by day.

Answer 10

I'm an American who lived for two years in the U.K. and loved it. But I was a student then, so I did not know what it was like to work there, buy a house, pay taxes, etc. I think you should definitely take trips there and instead of staying in a hotel maybe do a house swap with someone in the U.K. or sublet someone's house or flat.

Answer 11

You will find problems everywhere in the world somtimes it is convemnient for people to blame others. Like our country England, It has loads of problems. Some the governments fault including Tony Blair others not. Just smile and get on with it. ( Dubbya Bush is a complete Moron though the worst President in the US history)