Settling in after moving - Formalities

Hello,

After honeymooning and now getting into the routine of things - it's now time to start to look for work etc..

Is there a guide on the things you have to do after entering the UK? like getting a national insurance number etc?

Kind regards
Shabbir

There isn't a guide, but there are some things you should do to set yourself up in a good position for further leave to remain in the future. If you haven't already done so, get your name added to utilities and the council tax.  Make sure your bills/statements are sent in the post, and not paperless.  Once you have official post sent to you, you can use this as proof of address to register with a GP (which will generate even more post!), and open a bank account in the UK.

Start saving bills, bank statements and other official documents that come to you and your partner.  Over the next 2.5 years, you will need six pieces of correspondence addressed to each of you (if both of your names are on a piece of post, you can "share" it).  Ideally, these will be dated 5 months apart, or as evenly spaced as possible.  They must come from at least 3 different official sources (so, four electric bills, a council tax statement, and a letter from your GP would suffice).

Also, once you have proof of address, you can apply for your National Insurance number.  You don't need the NI number to start working, but if you're applying for work through websites, many of them require you to fill in the NI number field to progress through the application.

You are permitted to drive in the UK for up to 1 year on your US driving license, if you have one.  After one year, you will be treated as unlicensed.  So apply for your provisional UK driving license soon, then take your theory driving test, some lessons, and then take the practical to get your full UK driving license before your right-to-drive-on-a-US-license runs out.

Any credit history you had outside of the UK does not count here.  You will be treated as having no credit.  You would be doing yourself a favour if you applied for an entry level credit card, made charges and paid them off, to build up credit.  (I say this, but I've been here for 5-1/2 years and I'm still only on US credit.)

If you are under the age of 40, consider opening a Lifetime ISA while you can.  The interest rate will be low, but the government will top up any deposits by 25% up to a maximum of £1000/year top-up.  Note: Withdrawals can only be used toward the purchase of a first home, or for any purpose after you reach the age of 60, or you will pay a 25% withdrawal penalty.  https://www.gov.uk/government/news/lifetime-isas-available-from-6-april-2017

Hello,

After honeymooning and now getting into the routine of things - it's now time to start to look for work etc..

Is there a guide on the things you have to do after entering the UK? like getting a national insurance number etc?

Kind regards
Shabbir

Looks like you arrived on a spouse visa?

Apply for national insurance number, how to. https://www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number

You are going to want to get your names on as many of the bills and accounts as you can and make sure you turn off paperless statements. You will need physical mail in both your names to the same address for your FLR visa.

Register with a GP. https://www.nhs.uk/Service-Search/GP/LocationSearch/4

Find a dentist. https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/dentists/how-to-find-an-nhs-dentist/

Apply for a provisional drivers licence. https://www.gov.uk/apply-first-provisional-driving-licence

Open bank account(s). Contact the bank you have in mind.

Super! thanks guys.

Yes my wife arrived on a spouse visa.

We've also moved houses so we need to change the address on her BRP. How do we go about doing this?

Super! thanks guys.

Yes my wife arrived on a spouse visa.

We've also moved houses so we need to change the address on her BRP. How do we go about doing this?

https://www.gov.uk/change-circumstances-visa-brp

Looks like you arrived on a spouse visa?

Apply for national insurance number, how to. https://www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number

You are going to want to get your names on as many of the bills and accounts as you can and make sure you turn off paperless statements. You will need physical mail in both your names to the same address for your FLR visa.

Register with a GP. https://www.nhs.uk/Service-Search/GP/LocationSearch/4

Find a dentist. https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/dentists/how-to-find-an-nhs-dentist/

Apply for a provisional drivers licence. https://www.gov.uk/apply-first-provisional-driving-licence

Open bank account(s). Contact the bank you have in mind.

For utilities, is broadband and TV okay? or does it has to be gas or electric?

Kind regards
Shabbir

For utilities, is broadband and TV okay? or does it has to be gas or electric?

Kind regards
Shabbir

After we moved house, the electric company only put my name on the bills, not my husband's.  But he was on our broadband bill.  So for that quarter, I used an electric bill for me, and the broadband bill for him.  That seemed to be okay.  I got my visa. 

For utilities, is broadband and TV okay? or does it has to be gas or electric?

Kind regards
Shabbir

The guidance gives examples. Keep with them if you can (remember, you only need 3 different sources) but the list is not exhaustive.

Examples of acceptable items of correspondence
• Letters or other documents from government departments or agencies, for example HM Revenue and Customs, Department for Work and Pensions, DVLA, TV Licensing.
• Letters or other documents from your GP, a hospital or other local health service about medical treatments, appointments, home visits or other medical matters
• Bank statements/letters
• Building society savings books/letters
• Council tax bills or statements
• Electricity and/or gas bills or statements
• Water rates bills or statements
• Mortgage statements/agreement
• Tenancy agreement(s)
• Telephone bills or statements

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/733726/FLR__M__-07-18.pdf

Our broadband was also telephone, of course, and telephone bill is stated on the non-exhaustive list.  So I guess there was nothing to worry about for ours.