Hello!

Newbie here but been lurking on the board for a while.   I am looking to relocate to the UK in the next few years, but unfortunately - as a single person, have to do it the hard way!  (although it doesn't sound much less complicated to get through as a spouse)

I will be tying up my current career in the next few years and its sure daunting to think about trying to find a new career thousands of miles away and getting through the mounds of bureaucracy and uncertainty.   It would be great to hear from anyone who has been successful uprooting out of the blue and starting anew in the UK with not much but their wits!    Still playing the lottery till then to hopefully change the type of visa I apply for, lol.   

Anyways... Hello!

Hi Kristine, welcome to the forum! 

Thank you!   Excited to be on the forum, it seems like a great group.

Best of luck with the job hunt for a Tier 2 visa! I know it's really difficult but easiest to get a Tier 2 if you have a job in the shortage list.


I've got a British Spouse or else I'd still be in the States!

Hi,

Welcome to the forum firstly!

Secondly, make sure you do your due diligence very very well. The UK is in a weird place currently and perhaps over the next 2/5/10+ years given the absolute mess that is Brexit. Immigration is a very hot debate right now and given the uncertainty in the economy, there's more examples of companies announcing layoffs, freezing in hiring and all the political level talk of 'wanting to attract professionals' to come here.

You've not mentioned which industry you are in now, or the one you may want to switch to. Again, the political talk mentions the UK wants Doctors, Engineers, Scientists, highly educated and specialist professions etc, so if you are in one like that or want to go into one of those, then in a few years there may be more actual demand. To give you more of a picture, just a couple of weeks ago, a relative of mine who has never been out of India came over for an 'exploratory' visit to see if he should move his family over. He and his wife are medical professionals (Surgeon & Dentist respectively) and are evaluating... but he's mentioned he's put the UK as the last resort currently.

There'll be others who are in the same boat who will have the UK as their first choice so I'd suggest you come here a few times, get a real view and experience of the UK to see if you really wish to move here permanently. You won't get here with just your wits unfortunately, you'll need more and you'll need to choose wisely. The vast majority of members here will vote for coming to the UK, I'd suggest keeping your options open and looking at other countries as well at the very least.

Cheers! DtM! West London & Slough UK!

Hello Dennis!   Thanks... wise words and genuinely appreciated.   I've been looking at all the options as well as conditions for visa and immigration.   It will be interesting to see what happens after Brexit.  Have been watching it closely from here, for sure.   If only that crystal economic ball was a thing, right?

I didn't mean to sound flippant in my original post, apologies if it came across that way.   I am a senior specialist/planner for a large federal land agency that's given me a  list of experience in a variety of fields.  My strongest fields are natural/renewable resources, GIS and environmental education.   I have a degree in finance (that wasn't helpful!) with coursework in ag/rangeland science and realty/lands.   I've found several position equivalencies in the UK and we occasionally do research projects with scientists from the EU as well as the UK.   So... I guess the field is "lands management", as vague as that might sound, although it isn't meant to come out like that.   

Already have made several trips to the UK (England, Wales but mostly Scotland) and not just to do the touristy things, but gotten some "on the ground" time in.   Its that time and the everyday people and places I've come to know that hooked me!    

Welcome.  I made the move on my own about 8 years ago for work.  I actually really wanted to go to China, but the UK was my stepping stone for my dream assignment.  I needed to prove myself here for a few years before moving to China.  And then I met someone, so here I am.

Keep your options open and take any opportunities that come your way.

I will say this.  While living in another country is eye opening and interesting.  It is the same life, just much further away from family and friends.  I still go to work to pay the bills and try to have as much fun as possible in my down time (which can be hard with how early everything closes here).  There's nothing sexy or glamorous about it.   

Kristine, are you in northern NV? Your background, name, and photo suggest you are up that way rather than the south. Just asking as I did some work at UNR in the ag econ department and small biz development, so I wonder if we have some overlap.

Yeppers... Elko!  Went to school in Vegas but did ag/range classes here in Elko.   But we work closely with UNR College of Ag and Great Basin Institute.    The pic is from Fallon       Nevada girl, though, which might account for the overwhelming desire to move some place green and rainy.   Are you still working in the ag sector? 

No,never worked in the ag sector, just did classes in that department. Not originally from Nevada either, just spent about 15 years there between Vegas and Reno. I have to say its very nice not being burned to a crisp in the summer here!

 There's nothing sexy or glamorous about it.   

Definitely always worth pointing out as I think there's definitely an assumption that living in London (aka anywhere in England according to the people I know back at home) is mega glamorous!


That being said, welcome to the forum Wishing you lots of luck with your journey!

Welcome to the forum.  Maybe you already know this, but that picture you sent represents exactly the opposite of what it's like to live here.

Here's a picture of Waterloo station last night

There's not so many people because they've locked the doors to stop more people coming because there are no trains.  You may ask what all those people are waiting for if there are no trains?  They have no choice, like a Sim stuck in a pool without a ladder.

Half the people living here would give their right arm to be on that horse in Navada.

Welcome to the forums!  The UK is a strange and rainy place.  Ask your questions and do your research.  We're all here to help you.

Welcome to the forum.  Maybe you already know this, but that picture you sent represents exactly the opposite of what it's like to live here.

Here's a picture of Waterloo station last night

There's not so many people because they've locked the doors to stop more people coming because there are no trains.  You may ask what all those people are waiting for if there are no trains?  They have no choice, like a Sim stuck in a pool without a ladder.

Half the people living here would give their right arm to be on that horse in Navada.

Goodness!  What was the issue last night?  Not that there isn't ALWAYS an issue somewhere!

Leaves?  A drunken badger hibernating on the East Coast Main Line?  All the drivers were stuck in Health & Safety Executive Powerpoint hell?