Hello, wanting to move to uk from NC!

Hi everyone! I'm a 21 year old American from North Carolina. I'm looking for a way to permanently move to England simply because it's my dream to live there. I'm fascinated with english history and want to work as a tour guide or in the upkeep of historical houses or anything in that area. However through my research i've found thats not a very practical reason that is accepted. I'm not currently in school, I work for sephora which does have stores in England but I'm pretty sure we're not affiliated enough for me to be transferred there to fulfill a work visa requirement. I have a ton of questions visa wise which i'm sure I should direct to the visa area when I find it! I've been considering going back to school for the sole reason of obtaining a student visa, but even if i did that I'm not sure if I could apply for another visa for permanent residency after my time as a student is up. My family is visiting England on vacation this coming summer, is there anywhere I could go to speak to someone about finding a way to move there? Are there any other visa options I'm missing? thanks!
-Caroline

Yes, you're right. It's not very easy to move to the UK, period. It sounds like a student visa is your best bet. The work visa thing isn't likely to happen. There really isn't anyone to 'speak to' about it when you are in the UK. This forum and others like it are as good as anything.

A student visa would be doable, though a very expensive option.  Student visas do not lead to permanent residence though.  If you complete a degree program in a high demand, skilled field you may be able to switch into a work visa.  Though this seems to be coming increasingly difficult for new graduates. 

Welcome!

It's getting more and more difficult for people to come to the UK without EU citizenship. Does your family have any ties to an EU country?

It might be worth looking into a local degree program that has a study abroad option, as it may be more cost effective and give you a flavour if you want to look at options for returning to the UK at a later date, such as postgraduate / Masters level study. This level of study is likely to to be cheaper overall, as most Masters are only a year in the UK.

That being said, you could look to see what undergraduate and postgraduate options are available. As said before, study is not a permanent route to staying in the UK.

Undergraduate study:
http://www.ucas.com/

Postgraduate study:
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/
Also has jobs information.

Some university rankings websites:
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2014-15/world-ranking/region/europe
http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/
http://www.theguardian.com/education/ng-interactive/2014/jun/02/university-league-tables-2015-the-complete-list

More on jobs in the UK:
https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/Pages/Home.aspx

Might be worth directing more specific questions regarding study and visas to their specific boards.

Oh, and an alternative is a 12 month working holiday in the Republic of Ireland, if you meet the requirements:
https://www.dfa.ie/travel/visas/us-ireland-visa-arrangements/
Not to be confused with the UK (Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England) and not a permanent visa for the Republic of Ireland, either. 

Good luck! 

Maybe if you tried applying for jobs or something while you are here this summer? If you could find someone willing to sponsor you on a work visa, that would definitely be cheaper then a student visa. Visas alone are quite costly and to add school as well as living expenses to all of that? That's an expensive move! I also lived in Ireland for a year as an au pair, so you could maybe try to find something like that for awhile? If you don't mind living with strangers and taking care of their kids.  
Good luck!

(I'd honestly say the easiest way is to marry someone.    Although, I never planned on marrying anyone outside the US, that just happened by chance.)  

In order to qualify for ANY sort of work visa, the job would have to be a graduate position, paying a collosal sum of money (min 20,600 or according to the appropriate SoC code, whichever is higher) and the employer likely needs to prove there is no one else in the entire EU (500 million people) to do the job.

I would scratch the work visa idea. Student visa (Tier 4) or spouse visa it is methinks.

The UK really doesn't like immigrants at the moment...

Yes, as everyone else has said, moving to the UK is pretty much easier said than done but that's not trying to discourage you. If you really want this to happen then it can and will happen. 

I am feeling discouraged after reading some of your responses to this person's post. I am too am trying to move to the UK permanently and the only option for me is to through a work visa. I already have a list of companies that sponsor Americans there. Is it impossible? I am giving myself 18 months to do this because I have a child that will be coming with me. My only other option is that my father, who is currently a citizen of England can help me obtain an 'apply to settle visa' but he is not listed on my birth certificate so I don't see how he can help. It has always been my dream to live there. I will not bother considering a student visa because I am already in grad school here and will be done soon.

Sorry for sharing my plight on another person's post. I am not sure how to make my own. But please respond as any advice would be great!

Hi kikim86,

Welcome to the forum .

It might be best to a new topic so we can help you further without clogging up this thread .

My only other option is that my father, who is currently a citizen of England can help me obtain an 'apply to settle visa' but he is not listed on my birth certificate so I don't see how he can help.

Your father would not be able to help you get a visa anyway, because you are an adult.

In order for him to sponsor you for a family-related visa you would either have to be:

a) Under 18

or

b) Completely financially and physically dependant on him, meaning you are unable to work or care for yourself, you need full-time care for everyday tasks such as washing, dressing, cooking and cleaning, and you have no other living relatives in the US who can care for you.

However, a few questions:

1) What year were you born?

2) Was your father born in the UK to UK citizen parents?

3) Has your father ever been married to your mother?

Depending on your answers to these questions, you may have a claim to UK citizenship.

- If you were born in the US BEFORE January 1st 1983 AND your father was born in the UK (is a UK citizen not by descent), you are likely to be a UK citizen by descent and therefore won't need a visa to move to the UK (but your daughter would need a 'apply to join family in the UK' visa).

- If you were born in the US AFTER January 1st 1983 AND your father was born in the UK (and is a UK citizen otherwise than by descent), you will NOT be a UK citizen unless your parents were either married at the time of your birth or have married since.

If you do not have a claim to UK citizenship through your father, you will need to qualify a work or student visa to move to the UK.

Maybe spend some time in the UK as a visitor, you never know, you might find Mr Right while you're there and your options will be somewhat different.

You know..last time i was in the US,i was staying in a certain hotel in SFO for a few days before moving on. I got chatting to the guy on reception,a big friendly amenable American chap. He told me how he would so like to come live in England and in turn ,with my rose tinted dreamers specs on , i also mused over the idea of living in the US.

I pictured myself in a nice clapper board house in new England or similar, a lovely all American girl ,the picket fence and we all lived happily ever after.

Well says the guy.. the best thing to do is find a nice American girl and marry her....

Hi everyone. I was born and raised here in the UK, but I have no idea about visas or moving here from another country ... However, I would be happy to chat with anybody about life here and try to answer any questions you may have.  Damian