My Big Adventure.

Hey Everyone,

I am US Citizen that is being transferred to the UK at the end of April.  Transferred is a strong word, i took the job on promise of a posting in the UK.  I have wanted to jump into "Global" IT for a while now and finally have the opportunity to do it!  Also I will be taking my girlfriend with me on the move(we know the visa issues here and are getting them worked out via my company).

As someone who had to get a passport just to start the Visa process because ive never had one, what are some of the major pain points as an American moving to a new country/culture?  What are the things you miss the most (besides people)?  What are some tips and tricks you guys might have?  My office is in Reading, so we are looking for a place in the City Center of Reading so i can walk to the office so we dont need a car in the beginning.  We have also decided not to bring anything with us but what we can fit in some suitcases that we can check on the plane.

Any advice would be fantastic as we are both a bit nervous, though mainly excited.

Thanks!

I'm an 8 minute train from Reading. 

Take a look at the "what you wish you knew before moving to the UK thread".  There are lots of struggles with moving abroad but that's part of the adventure.

One word of advice is not to think of the move as permanent, as a transfer means you cannot stay in the UK more than 5 years. 

Good luck with the move, I am sure you will love it.

DH (he is the American, I am british) has been here for 7 years and, aside from friends and family, he hasn't missed much other than the weather.  He loves it here and has embraced the culture...although he hates the BBC!

The big thing with him was Golf, he played golf all the time before he came here and continued when he got here and has made the majority of his friends through that...so my advice is to jump into life here but keep your hobbies, most will transfer and most don't rely upon borders. 

Have fun!

Very wise to bring only what you can get in a couple of suitcases!  Best to see what's available here and see what you miss.  You can always fetch whatever you need on trips back.

Thanks Everyone,

We are thinking of this as permanent, because to be honest we dont really have any plans on coming back.  This is a permanent relocation from my company.  Honestly i think right now our biggest challenge is finding a flat/apartment in the week we are there next month, and getting rid of all the CRAP we have here in amaerica(4 bedroom house full of JUNK) and my truck of course.

Check what kind of visa you are being issued.  A Tier 2 ICT has a 5 year limit and you MUST have a 12 month "cooling off" period outside the UK between visas (even changing employers).  If you want the move to be permanent you need to be issued with a Tier 2 General with a minimum salary of £35,000 a year, and then meet strict requirements for income and residency.

In addition to what others have said about you asking for a posting to the UK sounding like the temporary Tier 2 Inter Company Transfer visa, if it is the Tier 2 General visa then the company would have to carry out a Resident Market Labour Test to ensure there was nobody in the UK or EU who can do that job.

I take it you realise that you can't bring your girlfriend with you as your dependant unless you have proof she is your unmarried partner (living akin to marriage for the past 2 years)?

So it is a tier 2 general visa, the company is in the process of doing the labor test. (this shouldnt be an issue).

As far as the dependent issue, that is getting resolved too. 

We are getting very excited, and thanks everyone for the kind words.

So it is a tier 2 general visa, the company is in the process of doing the labor test. (this shouldnt be an issue).

As far as the dependent issue, that is getting resolved too. 

We are getting very excited, and thanks everyone for the kind words.

Fantastic!  There's nothing worse than someone falling in love with the UK and making a life here only to find out they cannot stay.  I'm glad that won't be you!