Thinking about moving from Mass.

Hi all,
Thank goodness for Google! I just found this board today and it seems like a very welcoming and friendly place.

Here's my story:
My husband is from the UK and now is a dual UK-US citizen. We've been married for 8 years, together for 13. He's been here for about 25 years. I'm a native New Englander. I'm 48 and he's 53. He was laid off from work a couple of months ago, and now we are thinking about moving to England (Southeast, where his family is). He is interviewing for a job, and we wouldn't go if he didn't have one. We don't have any kids.

I've poked around a little, but I can see that I have my work cut out for me on such an active board. Hoping to learn about things like:

1) My job prospects -- legally, I suppose I will be "able" to work, but will anyone want to hire me?

2) Is there anything different about applying for/getting a visa if we are both moving back at the same time? Does it really cost 750 GBP to get a settlement visa?

3) Tips for transferring funds from U.S. to U.K.

4) Does anyone have any experience moving to the U.K. as an "older" -- but not old :-) -- person?

5) Cultural adjustments: I've been over quite often, but my experiences are focused around family and friends, who I imagine cut me a lot of slack.

1. I think it depends entirely upon where you're looking, what field you're in, what sort of experience you have, etc. I haven't encountered any problems finding jobs here ("here" being London, though), but a lot of folks on the board (and in general) have had long searches.

2. No difference. You will need to prove that you can support yourselves once you move, as you're not allowed to claim public funds (your husband is, as a UK citizen). The fee is the same regardless.

3. I've had the best luck/lowest fees with XE (xe.com). You hook up 2 bank accounts to it (US and UK) and the transfer can happen in as little as 1 business day (usually 2-3 max). You can also use PayPal, or wire transfers. Check into your bank as well - my credit union only charged a 1% fee to withdraw cash at ATMs here, so that was an easy/quick way to get cash immediately (exchange rate wasn't the best, but wasn't horrible either).

Can't help much with your other two questions. I haven't run into much culture shock, though I imagine my coworkers are surprised at some of the things I say. They're nice about it, though, and don't mock me too much for being the token American in the office.

Welcome to UKY from a fellow New Englander (grew up in CT, moved to MA for school and employment)!

1) My job prospects -- legally, I suppose I will be "able" to work, but will anyone want to hire me?

Are you wondering that UK employers might be hesitant about employing an American?

I personally haven't experienced any bias in my job search for being an American.  In my experience, it's just like a job search in America - they evaluate your previous work experience, how much you know about the field/industry, and during an interview, what you're like as a person (ex. friendly, aloof, engaging, arrogant, etc).  Being an American has, in my experience, had nothing to do with my being hired.  It was because I had the most previous experience for the role than the other applicants.

2) Is there anything different about applying for/getting a visa if we are both moving back at the same time? Does it really cost 750 GBP to get a settlement visa?

The visa process will be the same regardless if you move over separately or move over at the same time.

The current cost of a spouse visa is £750.

http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/visafees/visafeessettlement

The Consular exchange rate is currently $1.65 to £1, so the cost of a spouse visa in USD is 1238.

Visas can take several months to process (though not always).  If you don't want to take the chance you could be waiting for a while, you have the option to pay for settlement priority processing.  If you have a straightforward application (ex. no previous visa refusals, no entry bounces, etc), your visa will be processed in 15 business days or less.  This service is an additional $300.

As you've been married and living together outside the UK for 4 or more years (and can prove this), you have some options available to you.  

You can go to the UK before you apply for your visa, take the Life in the UK test (Knowledge of Life, KOL), and when you apply for your visa, include the test pass certificate with your supporting documents and request Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE, also known as permanent residence).  The downside to this option is that you'll have to pay for the cost of the trip to the UK to take the test.

If you can't take the Life in the UK test prior to applying for your visa, you can get a spouse visa with a KOL REQ endorsement.  This lets you take the Life in the UK test and apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR, same as ILE) as soon as you're in the country without waiting for a 2 year residence requirement.  The downside to this option is that you'll have to pay for an ILR application.

Welcome to the fourm
Im another native New Englander also born,bred Masshole I was born in Boston lived in Brookline till i was 2yrs then Medfield till after high school. I was living in Medway until i came here to Scotland in 1999. I went up the immigration ladder and have been a dual ameriscot(as i like to call myself ) for quite a while.
I've still got family in Massachusetts as well. I'm looking forward to my holiday there in June. Yipeeeeee summer time in Massachusetts and Cape Cod. Ahhh heaven ...
Anyways feel free to ask away.
All the rules n immigration stuff has changed since i came here in 1999 so im afraid im no help there.. just wanted to welcome ya

The current cost of a spouse visa is £750.

http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/visafees/visafeessettlement

The Consular exchange rate is currently $1.65 to £1, so the cost of a spouse visa in USD is 1238.

Just to note that the visa fees are increasing next week and from Wednesday 6th April, the spousal visa will be £810, not £750 (not sure what the conversion to dollars will be though as the new fees aren't up on Worldbridge yet, but going by the $1.65 to £1 rate, that would make it $1337).

See this link for information about the new fees: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/aboutus/fees-table-spring-2011.pdf

These answers are great - thanks! Taking in all of the information feels like drinking from a fire hose. Once we make our decision, I'm going to have to put on my big girl pants and just get it done.

Hiya from another fellow "Masshole" (born and bred in MA...living in Boston at present).     I don't have more advice than what's already given.  Hubby and I are planning our move for the end of this year.  We've also been married for 7 years this April and I'm applying for ILE in Sept/Oct (I took and passed the KOL test when we went over at Christmas time).

Good luck with your visa application and move.  It's exciting times ahead.