Califronian Looking to go East

Hi guys. My name is Nicolas. I've been obsessed with England and English culture for most of my life while getting less satisfied with American culture at the same time. I didn't get a chance to explore England until 2010. But, in some weird way it was everything I hoped it would be.

I've been researching immigration in both The UK and Australia since I was 16. It looks like immigrating to the UK will be quite a chore. But, with a romantic interest and a small network of friends over there already...the goal is there and I don't think it will go away.

I am new to all of this and I want to learn anything I can. My biggest challenge, at the moment, is money and the economy...in both countries as luck would have it. So I'd welcome any tips you guys have especially when it comes to trying to get a job offer and a budget plan. I have a BA in Multimedia which should help. But, everything else remains to be seen....

Glad I found this site!           

Hi

If you look through the many threads on this forum, you'll at least begin to pickup very useful information on how you could go about making a move over as there's lots of information as well as views, reviews and opinion on everything you probably are and will think of.

To move legally, having a romantic connection, a network of friends here, being obsessed with UK culture simply won't get you over here for the most part, you need a much more solid basis for making the move over.

On this forum, the most common way that seems to be how other's have made it is by marriage. The next most common option being via specialist work/job placements etc.

UK culture is of course different, yet also extremely similar to US culture in many ways. Same with Australia as well, this would make things easier in terms of language, communication and understanding etc as its a common language, how you make of the cultural similarities is really down to yourself!

From me, I try to look at things on a 'bigger picture' level and then use information to help decide things based on your individual circumstances. You mention money, and this is perhaps the single most important part as it affects almost everything in life. The UK's economy is in the doldrums and is looking likely to be for quite some time currently, the hope is 'somehow' events in the near future might mean a 'quicker' recovery as it were. The US is similarly in the doldrums too, however with it's size and economic strength, it'll recover 'first' of the G8/G20 countries and there's every indication or likelihood the UK will be one of the last to recover (aside from the seriously wobbly PIIGS nations)

I'd also recommend coming over to stay plenty of times in the UK prior to making a move, visiting and having an obsession with English culture isn't enough compared to when you see and know more about daily life and your particular take on it. Maybe it'll turn out you don't mind various aspects which'll make moving easier, or you may hate it and wish to return back to the US as fast as a plane can carry you - I've met and known and worked with people exactly like yourself and professional workers too who've done both - stayed and run off back asap!

Any questions etc, just post em up in the relevant sections !

Cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!