Please help me get started

Hello, I am from California and I was wondering what the steps are that I need to take in order for me to be able to live and work in the UK? I know that I need some sort of visa, but I really don't know what that entails. Any help is appreciated, thank you.

Do you have a British spouse?  Or have you been offered a job to work in the UK?  If not, your options and very limited.   Let us know if either of these apply and we can give you more info about your options or lack thereof.

Do you have a British spouse?  Or have you been offered a job to work in the UK?  If not, your options and very limited.   Let us know if either of these apply and we can give you more info about your options or lack thereof.

Actually, neither of those apply. I am just an American kid who wants to move over there for the sake of experience. I also don't plan on going to school so I guess a student visa is out of the question. Is it really tough to get out there any other way?

Do you have any special training that the UK may be in need of?  There is a shortage occupation list somewhere, but a university education and job skills that are in short supply and for which there is a high demand would be helpful...you can't just pack your bags and move (like Diane Lane did in 'Under the Tuscan Sun').

Is it really tough to get out there any other way?

Yes.

Yes.  I would even go so far as to say its really close to impossible unless you have a master's degree or a very esoteric work skill like Juliloew mentions. Sorry to be a downer.

Well that's pretty ridiculous, I guess I'll just have to get married to a UK citizen 

Really though I'm just a kid who wants to travel, should I just look at getting a temporary visa? I guess I was foolish to think that I could go somewhere if I wanted to. Lame. 

Really though I'm just a kid who wants to travel, should I just look at getting a temporary visa? I guess I was foolish to think that I could go somewhere if I wanted to. Lame. 

I'm not sure if you're interested in Australia but if you're under 31 years old for about $150 USD (maybe less depending on the exchange rate) you can get a working holiday visa that allows you to travel and work for up to a year and then renewable for another year. I realize that doesn't help you w/ the UK, but it's the only thing I can think of that sounds like what you are interested in.

...you can't just pack your bags and move (like Diane Lane did in 'Under the Tuscan Sun').

Total hijack here, but I have to say that I REALLY REALLY REALLY HATE all those movies where people just hop on a plane and move to a foreign country.  It is so f-ing unrealistic!!! GGggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!    *deep breaths* /rant

To the OP: Sorry, but as others have said, there's really no way to do what you want.  Lobby your congressman to get the US involved with the Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme, but aside from that, you've got precious few options for moving here.  

Well, and just to hijack the hijack, I understand why people think it's doable for a young person with a bit of money, a clean record and job skills to up stakes and move around the industrialized world (at least). It ought to be that way. Sadly, it ain't.

Sorry, Slopitrius. If we seem curt, it's because we've most of us been wrestling with this system a long time 

Sorry, Slopitrius. If we seem curt, it's because we've most of us been wrestling with this system a long time 

It's not a big deal; I'm just glad someone let me know. Hopefully I'll be able to do something though because I really want to take off somewhere and have some fun.

I'm not sure if you're interested in Australia but if you're under 31 years old for about $150 USD (maybe less depending on the exchange rate) you can get a working holiday visa that allows you to travel and work for up to a year and then renewable for another year. I realize that doesn't help you w/ the UK, but it's the only thing I can think of that sounds like what you are interested in.

That does seem like a good idea though, I will probably look into going over there because I honestly don't care where I go I just want somewhere where I can communicate with people.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

That does seem like a good idea though, I will probably look into going over there because I honestly don't care where I go I just want somewhere where I can communicate with people.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

Here's a link with all of the information about the working holiday visa for Australia. I have one myself! It was very easy to apply for and get (can apply online and don't need to send anything in unless they request it after you apply online.) You don't even have to send your passport in, it is electronically recorded after you are approved. Best of luck! 

http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday/462/

New Zealand has a working holiday visa for Americans too- if you're really looking for adventure, maybe you can do both Aus & NZ!  Unfortunately the UK's not as friendly for young Americans but if you're not fussy about location there are certainly other places to go!

Thanks for all the info, everybody! I am a little bummed about not being able to travel to the UK, but I will definitely consider Australia and NZ! You guys are very helpful. Thanks again.

Well that's pretty ridiculous, I guess I'll just have to get married to a UK citizen 

Really though I'm just a kid who wants to travel, should I just look at getting a temporary visa? I guess I was foolish to think that I could go somewhere if I wanted to. Lame. 

I know it sucks But like I've been told, the Home Office isn't really concerned with things that don't belong in immigration law--they don't care that two people love each other more than anything in the world, they don't care if people just want to experiment and travel and such. It's something all of us have dealt with in one way or the other; but if there wasn't certain restrictions in place, it'd be chaotic to have people over just for the sake of being over there. You're perfectly fine to travel there if you like, that's what the VWP is for, but you won't be able to work or go to school unless you're able to sort something out back here in the States.

If you can travel to the UK, it'd be awesome though, I think you'd get a lot of experience just from being there on holiday. There's tons of things to see, and people to meet, and loads of history and culture to absorb, and you don't really need anything special to do it, as long as you can fund your trip and you can prove that you're just there for a holiday