Where to start?

Ok, I have many questions and I figure I would post and get someone’s expertise. I hope I don’t bore you with a little background information to setup my questions. Hopefully you see where I am coming from.

I have worked for FedEx Office and Print Center (Kinko’s or FedEx Kinko’s) for the last 10 years and currently I am an Assistant Manager.  So after talking with my wife and the HR specialist in charge of international applicants they have put me on a list. When a position becomes available they will let me know and there starts a long series of interviews that will ultimately end me in the UK somewhere.  They will offer me a relo package and pay for most of the traveling arrangements i.e visa, work visa and allotment of spending money.

That being said I would like to know most everything that is needed to get there and settled without my job being in the mix (just in case I decide to come over before or even with new employment).

1. What all would I need to be concerned about when moving?
2. What cost would I need to be concerned with?
3. What is best area to live in that I wouldn’t need a vehicle?
4. Currently I make 25k USD per year (11.66 hr I net around 30-35 with OT) USD per year , would that be enough to survive? What would you suggest on a base rate of pay to ask for when transferring? (Yes I know as much as I can get but realistically)

5. Any external sites available that would give me some good information?
6. Living? Yeah I have no clue lol. 

Truthfully I don’t know where to start. I hope someone can give me some guidance and hopefully I will get there in one piece without pulling all my hair out.

It’s always been a dream to live in the UK so I figure now it better then later. Hopefully you can help me achieve it!


Chad

Welcome to UKY - you've just found the best place to start! 

I think the first thing to note is that without a work permit or other visa you won't be able to come to do anything other than visit - that includes job searching.

1. What all would I need to be concerned about when moving?

Troll through the threads here - there's a LOT to think about - from finding a place to live, to setting up a bank account, to getting a mobile phone. Not to mention the emotional side of moving to a foreign country. There's a good thread that I believe is sticky about things to consider before you move....

2. What cost would I need to be concerned with?

Again, there's a lot of information here about budgeting, etc. Before you come you need to think about the obvious (plane fare, getting any pets started on the rabbies programme, etc) as well as shipping costs - are you happy to move with just two suitcases or do you need to organise international shippers for furniture or posting boxes of necessities?

3. What is best area to live in that I wouldn’t need a vehicle?

Any city would be OK. Or suburbs of a big city. Having said that, I live in a London 'burb and only managed without driving for a short time because I couldn't stand not being able to go to the grocery store, Ikea, etc. for big items.... All but the most rural locations will have bus routes at least, though.

4. Currently I make 25k USD per year (11.66 hr I net around 30-35 with OT) USD per year , would that be enough to survive? What would you suggest on a base rate of pay to ask for when transferring? (Yes I know as much as I can get but realistically)

Depends where you live, really. If you're in London you'll need considerably more. It also depends on what sort of standard of living you feel you need - do you need cable/satelite TV, do you like to go out a lot, etc. Again, check the threads here about budgets, etc.

5. Any external sites available that would give me some good information?

Not sure exactly what info you're after, but upmystreet and rightmove are decent places to start to get a feel for the safety/crime in an area and house prices (respectively).

6. Living? Yeah I have no clue lol. 

What specifically are you wondering? Honestly there's not much to ask that hasn't been covered here (sometimes ad nauseum!  )

Thanks for the quick reply. I have been trolling the site and found alot of good information .. Alot of information but alot more to absorb. ..

If it was just me .. it would be a suitcase but its my wife as well so that adds a bus load lol.. We have discussed selling most everything we have and start fresh because well thats what we are doing..

As far as the Visa.. That only concerns me if the job doesnt provide it ... then well I have alot more to worry with that might not make this as realistic as I would hope.

upmystreet and rightmove

Are those websites? if so is it .com or net ..

onyl reason I didnt want a car is because Well I didnt want to have to port mine over .. or have to purchase one .. atleast not right away.. but you are right having one for bigger items makes a lot of sense.

You definitley would need to consider your visa options.  In order for the company to give you a work permit (tier 2 scheme) they would have to consider you more qualified for the position than someone in the UK or EU.  I'm guessing that FedEd/Kinkos is already on the sponsor list, but I can't seem to find the list right now so I can't confirm.  If they're not on the sponsor list, they would need to be qualified to give you one.

If they don't sponsor you, you may need to go under the Tier 1 scheme which is for highly skilled workers and you (or your wife) need to have enough points to qualify.

You can also come in as a student. 

Check out http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/ for more information.

As for the other stuff, its all highly personal and its up to what you want.  Troll these threads and if you have specifics, let us know   

I think the first thing to note is that without a work permit or other visa you won't be able to come to do anything other than visit - that includes job searching.

Not quite.  It is perfectly legal to look for jobs, take interviews, and accept jobs whilst in the UK as a visitor, but it is not legal to actually start work.  However, if you are coming in as a visitor and say that this is what you intend to do, you may get refused entry because they will suspect that you intend to work.

In order for the company to give you a work permit (tier 2 scheme) they would have to consider you more qualified for the position than someone in the UK or EU. 

This is not the case for intra-company transfers, but there are other hoops to jump through, including showing that there is a need for this person to work in the UK and that it is a graduate level position.  I think these will be the real stumbling blocks.

Vicky

This is not the case for intra-company transfers, but there are other hoops to jump through, including showing that there is a need for this person to work in the UK and that it is a graduate level position.  I think these will be the real stumbling blocks.

Thanks, good point! 

If it was just me .. it would be a suitcase but its my wife as well so that adds a bus load lol.. We have discussed selling most everything we have and start fresh because well thats what we are doing..

Maybe get a few quotes and check postal rates before you sell everything. I brought very little but left most of my stuff in my mom's attic. To this day I regret not biting the bullet and shipping it. I miss my books and the cases for my CDs (which are all in those awful binder things now) and things like that. Everytime I go back to visit I bring an empty suitcase to try to salvage some of my stuff....

Are those websites? if so is it .com or net ..

Sorry, was posting quite quickly - if you google them they'll come up. But here:
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent.html
http://www.upmystreet.com/

onyl reason I didnt want a car is because Well I didnt want to have to port mine over .. or have to purchase one .. atleast not right away.. but you are right having one for bigger items makes a lot of sense.

Lots of people get by absolutely fine without one - I'd say see how it goes and if you really miss it, buy a used one later on. You really don't want to bring one with you - IMHO it would be a massive pain to have a left hand drive over here....

IMHO it would be a massive pain to have a left hand drive over here....

ROFLAO Would be really funny to see tho.

I'm guessing that FedEd/Kinkos is already on the sponsor list, but I can't seem to find the list right now so I can't confirm

I would really be interested to see that site if you could find it later.

As far as visa processes.. How much of a pain is it to get one? <---- Same with work visas8

I would really be interested to see that site if you could find it later.

As far as visa processes.. How much of a pain is it to get one? <---- Same with work visas8

It was on the UKBA website last time I found it.  Not sure if they took it down or not though.

Its not too simple to get the visas, but very doable if you meet the criteria set in them. If not, it can be like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, at least from reading all the stories on here!!   Your employers sponsoring you would probably have solicitors on the case though...  On your own, if its a bit complex, a solictor wouldn't be a bad idea...

ROFLAO Would be really funny to see tho.

Have a look on the transport section of this website - there are literally thousands upon thousands of Left hand drive vehicles here, and this is prior to the recent influx of eastern european immigrants bringing their cars over.

Although a limited market, Left hand drive vehicles are pretty much here to stay in the UK, they tend to be for more 'special' vehicles - indeed, myself and Paul1966 on this website have USA vehicles - mine being a Harley Anniversary Edition 2003 F150 and Paul's being an older Bronco I think!

Sports cars are the biggest market, left hand drive Porsches, Lamborghini's ferrari's etc, and have thousands of pounds difference in price to a Right hand drive version.

If you do come over and find you miss driving on the 'left' of a vehicle, you'll be glad to know you can buy a left hooker here very very easily!

Cheers! DtM! West London & Slough UK!

Sports cars are the biggest market, left hand drive Porsches, Lamborghini's ferrari's etc, and have thousands of pounds difference in price to a Right hand drive version.

Different more? Or different less? Just curious. 

UPDATE:

I just found out that my company decided to sell the UK branches. There for It might not be possible for me to transfer making it ALOT more difficult and unless I can find a company to work for that would help with the moving cost I dont foresee it happening anytime soon..

Well thats that. ..Anyone know of any good companies looking for managers?

Although a limited market, Left hand drive vehicles are pretty much here to stay in the UK, they tend to be for more 'special' vehicles - indeed, myself and Paul1966 on this website have USA vehicles - mine being a Harley Anniversary Edition 2003 F150 and Paul's being an older Bronco I think!

Yep, I have an '87 Bronco II as my general runabout at the moment and have had LHD cars in Britain for years, from LTD station wagons through to an old '66 Plymouth Barracuda.   Left-hand drive really isn't the problem that many people seem to think. 

Left-hand drive really isn't the problem that many people seem to think

I think its just the fact of driving on the left hand side of the road that we US people are use to .. I think thats where the stiplation really comes from.

Well thats that. ..Anyone know of any good companies looking for managers?

That is a shame.  I would doubt that you would get a work permit / Tier 2 visa at all with a new company.

Vicky