Soon to be West Yorkshire's newest expat

Hi there!

I'm Max from Omaha, Nebraska, and I will be moving to Leeds at the end of July on a Tier 2 General visa. I'm 25 and have been studying in Europe since right after high school (6 years in Germany and 1 year in Greece). Now I've made the (hopefully good) decision to start my career in the UK.

Since I don't really know anyone in the UK, I thought I'd stop by here and introduce myself. If any of you are in or around Leeds, I'd love to meet!

Also, I am moving with my Italian girlfriend who needs to find a job once we arrive there... I assume there isn't much we can do at the moment from Germany, as she has no UK phone number or address... Any networking opportunities/any other ideas for a motivated young graduate would also be more than appreciated!

She has a master's in business with a major in finance and has had 2 disappointing years trying out the German job market (as quite a few expats do). She has been working, but not in her field.

Hope to hear from you and meet some of you!
Max

Hi Max,

Can't help with the job stuff (I am just a humble teacher), but wanted to welcome you! Leeds city centre is quite vibrant. I live just up the road in York (well up a few roads, or about 30 minutes by train)! Yorkshire is splendid!! Your girlfriend actually might try looking in York for a job too as there are quite a few high profile large company types here... not that I know anything about that scene!

Kate

I hope you enjoy Leeds, as those of us already here seem to.

Leeds is the financial centre for the north, so good for business related roles. Out of interest, did you do you degree(s) in Germany then and in what area(s)?  Were you one of these adventurous people?:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-32821678

Are you not eligible for the EEA family member route? 

The Yorkshire triangle:
 
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/property/9479772/Britains-property-hot-spots-that-have-it-all.html

offers lots of job options, I think. I feel that you can have a higher quality of life for a fraction of the money compared to the Southeast. Plus, the countryside is a stone's throw from urban action, so the best of both worlds. Breathtaking natural beauty and all the excitement that cities have on offer.

If you want ideas about areas or what's on and interesting, how to navigate stuff etc. in the region, I'm sure us Yorkshire folk will happily oblige. I recently read: 'There are 3 types of people in the world: those who are Yorkshirefolk, those who wish to be Yorkshire folk and those with no aspiration at all.'     

So a Yorkshire welcome to you and your girlfriend! 

Hi Max,

Can't help with the job stuff (I am just a humble teacher), but wanted to welcome you! Leeds city centre is quite vibrant. I live just up the road in York (well up a few roads, or about 30 minutes by train)! Yorkshire is splendid!! Your girlfriend actually might try looking in York for a job too as there are quite a few high profile large company types here... not that I know anything about that scene!

Kate

Hi Kate,

Thanks for the welcome and the tip on York! We will definitely look into that

I hope you enjoy Leeds, as those of us already here seem to.

Leeds is the financial centre for the north, so good for business related roles. Out of interest, did you do you degree(s) in Germany then and in what area(s)?  Were you one of these adventurous people?

Indeed I was one of those adventurous people. I'm assuming you're from Canada, but it really made life better knowing that I wasn't acquiring crippling debt during school -- especially considering I went into 'overtime' and stayed at the university a year longer than I was supposed to.

I actually studied law and got both a Bachelor's and Master's degree here.

That's reassuring that you say it's a business and finance center of the north, because it's really important to us that my girlfriend finds work quickly.

Are you not eligible for the EEA family member route? 

I actually just read about this the other day. It seems like this route is MUCH easier and cheaper than a normal spousal visa for people married to UK citizens? Is that true?!

We actually are not married so I don't know if that would have been an option. My employer paid for an immigration law firm to handle the visa, so I didn't have much say in it. 

offers lots of job options, I think. I feel that you can have a higher quality of life for a fraction of the money compared to the Southeast. Plus, the countryside is a stone's throw from urban action, so the best of both worlds. Breathtaking natural beauty and all the excitement that cities have on offer.

If you want ideas about areas or what's on and interesting, how to navigate stuff etc. in the region, I'm sure us Yorkshire folk will happily oblige. I recently read: 'There are 3 types of people in the world: those who are Yorkshirefolk, those who wish to be Yorkshire folk and those with no aspiration at all.'     

So a Yorkshire welcome to you and your girlfriend! 

That sounds great, I have heard Yorkshire is very beautiful. I am more of a city guy for every day life, but I definitely am looking forward to frequent weekend trips to the country.

Thanks so much for the warm welcome

Max