Anyone else not staying in the UK permanently??

We have always been here for the short term--we are going back to Colorado in January and all though we have enjoyed our time here, we are very excited to be back in America.  This may be off topic but I've got the feeling from reading everyones posts that most people are here in the UK because his/her partner (to borrow the UK term!) is British.  Is this so?  Just curious!  DH and I are both American so we've had to go the adjustment of moving to a foreign country together which is kind of nice.

I am single, and here on a work permit. 

DH and I are both Canadian and are here for his job.  We are here on an ancestry visa. 

Nope, not staying.  We love it here, but it's too far from my family.  I have handled it well thus far, but I was a wreck at Christmas.

So...back on the US visa trail for us.   

This may be off topic but I've got the feeling from reading everyones posts that most people are here in the UK because his/her partner (to borrow the UK term!) is British.  Is this so?  Just curious! 

Nope; lots of different situations, though that may be the most prevalent.

Hi, I've been over here for the last 8 years.  While the first 2 years were touch and go, things seem to have settled down since.  I miss the States terribly...mostly I miss the weather and the incredibly convenient way of life there.  Americans don't realise how good they've got it!

Last year, hubby and I decided it was time.  Started his visa journey in April and, after much paperwork back and forth to US embassy in London, fingerprinting, medical exam, money (!!) and interview, he was granted residency (green card) in September.  But...we're still here.

Here's a reality check from our experiences...while in the process of applying for visa, you're in limbo.  You cannot make any plans, hubby can't apply for jobs because he's not legally able to work in the US yet, can't (shouldn't) sell your house, etc.  Until they give you the green light, you're stuck.  When the final interview happens (which happened way too fast for us...5 months, start to finish) and they give you the all clear, they want you out in 6 months.

Now, depending on where you are in your lives, 6 months can seem an eternity or a wicked curse.  We have a house, both employed in good jobs, 2 cars, a dog...seemingly settled.  Moving to the States meant starting over.  Having no recent credit history, banks wouldn't want to know us.  Try to find housing when you are unemployed.  Try to find a job when you don't have a permanent address.  Do we keep the house here and rent it out, leaving a door open if we change our minds?  Tax implications?  Private health insurance premiums while unemployed?  The visa application process was a breeze compared to what happened after.  All of this has to be part of your discussions now.

Don't get me wrong...I would move home in a heartbeat, but I have to consider the financial implications and they're HUGE!  Also, having done the move here myself, I have to consider how hubby would settle there.  Would it be as big a culture shock as it was for me?  What if he didn't like it?  Would I be willing to move back here?

There's so much to consider here, gang.  I urge you to discuss these things now.  I think we're staying for the forseeable future...unless we win the lottery. 

We are going through this right now. DH found the "perfect" job for him in Texas, so he applied. They called, so the ball is rolling. Now we are saying oh no! we have to get ourselves together and make sure this is able to work in order to follow through. We have to sell or rent the house, at the moment, rent is better due to penalties on the mortgage if we sell, then my career has only just started to take off here, but I can relaunch it there I have to. I have bank accounts and current credit cards in the US, so that won't be a problem. If DH gets this job, then we'll be able to rent an apt until we want to buy another house. DH doesn't have a job now, he's consulting, so it's easy for us to move, that's the major motivator right now. We have no kids or pets, so it should be pretty straight forward. I'm only worried that the heat in TX might just melt my poor ginger DH 

I think you can legally look for work, it just depends upon the type of jobs. My husband is looking for work now, but he's a scientist and looking at universities and research institutes. Whether he were married to me or not, he could apply as these places routinely deal with foreign employees.

Also, Nan, you can extend the amount of time your husbands need to take up his US residency. I can't recall the exact amount of time, but I asked this questions on DIA and was told extensions are available.

You are right, Balmerhon.  The doors are more open for highly skilled migrant workers.  My hubby is an engineer so doesn't fall into that category unfortunately.  We were told (can't remember how though...think it was in the pack they sent) not to look for a job as legally he was not eligible to work in the US until visa/green card was issued.  Which makes sense.

Pittpanther, how I wish I'd kept my bank account and credit cards.  After so many years here though, I just thought it was silly.  (kicking myself now!)  With regard to renting the house out, estate agencies offer property management at a percentage of the rent collected as do other companies.  You have to research what that means to you regarding income tax and eventually capitol gains tax if that comes into the picture.  It's all so complicated, isn't it? 

I wish you well in Texas if that's where you ultimately land.  Sounds like the ball is rolling though...fingers crossed!

 

Looking closer and closer to actually coming true, by this time next year, I could be back in the US    Dh had a job with a large int'l company in his industry last month and they are fowarding his resume onto colleagues in the US that may need someone like him. That's on top of this other potential job in Texas! Crazy, but we figured out it just might work and now is the best time for him and us. I'm just glad my career choice is so flexible (pilates). I will have some experience under my belt too by the time we make the final decision. It's starting to seem like a real possibility, kind of scary and a little bit of a headache since i only moved here 2yrs ago and I have to do it all again in reverse!

hmmm...Well, we started out in the reverse.  I lived in London while doing the BUNAC thing then J moved to the US on a fiance' visa and we lived in MS for around two and a half years.  He didn't mind it so much, he only really missed football (going to matches & watching) and his family though not in that order.

I couldn't stand it.  He could have merrily lived in the US far into the future.  I can't see moving back anytime soon.  That can all change, I'm sure, but I'm qualifying to be a solicitor and am content to go back for holidays.  I would like to go back someday, have a house on the gulf (if it's still there) and be warm for the rest of my days. 

I've been through homesickness, etc. but I've never lived in one place more than 3 years.  I've lived loads of places in the US and I've still got thousands of places to explore here.

i came to the UK initially for work.  but i'm staying for love.  sure, i'd love to move back to the states in the future.  i have 4 sisters, niece, nephew, cousins, etc.  but my life is here.  i found that i was driving myself & the boy INSANE with all the whatifs, grass is greener, etc.  my sanity is much better now that i have mentally and financially committed myself to the UK (buying a house, joining clubs, etc).

ask me in 5 years and i may give you a different answer though!

i came to the UK initially for work.  but i'm staying for love.  sure, i'd love to move back to the states in the future.  i have 4 sisters, niece, nephew, cousins, etc.  but my life is here.  i found that i was driving myself & the boy INSANE with all the whatifs, grass is greener, etc.  my sanity is much better now that i have mentally and financially committed myself to the UK (buying a house, joining clubs, etc).

ask me in 5 years and i may give you a different answer though!

Heh heh, that was me 7 years ago. I came for school, stayed for love, committed to staying here for the foreseeable future, but am now thinking change could be good. This is helped largely in part that my DH is very open to the chance to live abroad and he has good job prospects in the US. That said, the US is not our only potential. Holland is on the radar, too.

isn't life cool?

isn't life cool?

YES! That's exactly how we are choosing to see it! Rather than feel obligated to make a choice, or worse, not having the choice at all, we are looking at it as opportunity to expand our little universe - and our children's.

Our original agreement was a couple of years in the U.K., then a couple of years in the States. Well, it's been seven years, and I've been to the States only four of those. I'd do anything to get there this year this Christmas, but my work has been slow and my husband's now a returning univerity student, which means another three years here. By then, both of my parents, just agewise and heart- and lung-wise, will surely have died.