What do I do after I've arrived in the UK? (Visa/flight/shipping complete)

I've been looking and found not enough collected information about what should be completed and what must be completed AFTER I've recieved my visa and AFTER I've arrived in the country.  Perhaps I'm just blind.
Could someone shed some light on the subject?

Thus far, my inlaws have mentioned a few things:

• I need to Register for a National Insurance Number
• I neet to Register with a local GP & the NHS/ get an NHS number (I think)
• To get a car, I need to find an insurance agent who is willing to recognise my US Insurance History
• ?What do I need my first day of work to prove that I'm elligible?
• ?What/where/when do I need to register further for Legal Permanent Residency, do my KOL test, & register for citizenship?

Other questions I've had have been:

• How do I pay tax correctly? When/where do I do that
• Can I drive on a US drivers license with UK driver's insurance? Who did you use for that?
• As I've said in my other post... I don't know what else to ask... that's why I'm asking, "What else do i need to ask?".

If you could point me in the right direction of where I could find that list? maybe send me a link or tell me where the UK agent might be found? What did YOU do when you arrived?  was there something that you thought, "Man, I wish someone had told me about THAT before I'd arrived!" or, "I wish I'd been warned about...!"  You get the idea.
Thanks All!

For work they will need to see your passport with the visa.

Right now, you need to be here 2 years and then apply for ILR and take the KOL test, then after another year you can apply for citizenship.  This may, or may not, be changing.  For the ILR you need to keep letters, starting when you first arrive, in both your name and your partner's name to prove you have been living together. 

You can take the KOL test whenever you want.  It doesn't expire and I doubt they will change that requirement. 

They take tax out of your paycheck automatically here, but you will still need to do your US taxes. 

You can only use your US DL for a year. 

National Insurance Number - http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=3119.0

NHS - Look up a surgery in your area, ask if they are taking new patients and go in to register.  Sometimes you have to bring your passport and proof of address, but not always. http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=47774.0

Insurance - You just need to start asking around. Some do, some don't.

Your work will tell you what you need to bring on your first day.  Typically, it is just your passport.

You don't register for perm residency, citizenship.  YOu have to complete applications and meet the requirements just like you did for your spousal visa.  Have a look on the visa pages as there is too much for me to re-write here.  It is also going through a transition in the rules and no one quite knows what is going to happen.  In the meantime, you can at least get familiar with the process as a whole.

For taxes, this is all operated through your employer and most people don't have to file a return.  You need to complete Form P86 and you will get a tax code that indicates your taxability.  Review that when you get it.

YOu can drive for 1 year on your US license.  You may have difficulty getting insurance cover with a US license.  YOu will just need to call and ask around.

For the taxes, assuming you just need to pay regular income tax it's done automatically via the PAYE (Pay As You Earn) system. They take out taxes based on how much you would owe over the course of the year at your salary. You'll need to fill out a form (P46, I think) stating that you haven't held any jobs in the UK this tax year (2010-11) and you have no previous income/tax sheet (P45/P60) to submit. That should set you up with the right tax code and you're good to go from there.

Hope that helps!

You'll need to fill out a form (P46, I think)

The OP will need to fill out Form P86 which sets out his individual circumstances and let's HMRC know about his non-employer compensation.  THe P46 is a payroll form, which takes into account previous employments.  If you do the P46 alone, you will not likely be put on the correct tax code.

The OP will need to fill out Form P86 which sets out his individual circumstances and let's HMRC know about his non-employer compensation.  THe P46 is a payroll form, which takes into account previous employments.  If you do the P46 alone, you will not likely be put on the correct tax code.

Oops, I stand corrected. I remember filling something out when I started, and ticking a box saying I'd never worked anywhere else, but couldn't remember what it was called.

Oops, I stand corrected. I remember filling something out when I started, and ticking a box saying I'd never worked anywhere else, but couldn't remember what it was called.

YOu completed a P46.  The P86 is also helpful because it outlines other circumstances.  However, I must also post a correction, as the P86 is no longer valid from 1 June.

I would normally say to write in your circumstances (that would have normally been reported on the P86) but it is probably just easier for the OP to go with the PAYE code he is given and file a tax return later.

Definitely get your names on some bills showing you have lived with your partner since day 1. Gas/Elec/Water are very easy so is council tax.

You'll most likely need to open a bank account too? Or get a joint back account? For that you will need proof of address so dont hang around with the adding names to bills etc. The simplest thing I found to do when DH moved over was have him added to my gas/elec, i called them added his name, did a meter read and they emailed me a bill with both our names instantly

Make sure to get a key to your house/flat.

I was able to open a joint bank account with no proof of address, just my passport.  Though, I'd been in the branch with my partner several times over the last three years, so that might have helped.

This is a good resource to help start you thinking about stuff, although directed at Brits:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/BritonsLivingAbroad/BeforeYouGo/index.htm

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/BritonsLivingAbroad/index.htm

You don't need to do anything to pay taxes.  It's not like in the US where you have to file every year.  You only file anything when called to do so.

As for driving, yes, you may drive with a US license and UK insurance.  I did that for 1 year.  Once you have been in the UK for a year, you do need to have a UK license. Hope that helps!