Wanting to move to the UK from the USA

[Sati]

Originally Posted by jennysmityh748

Leeds has almost everything that London has except the higher prices,i lived in Huddersfield for 13yrs which is a short bus ride from Leeds and done mosre or less all my shopping/clubbing there i LOVED Leeds!

Thank you! Great to know

[theredlads]

Dear Sati.

I'm glad that you want to know more about England. It's a wonderful country with many things to offer the world, besides its weather and food. Well, food isn't always as bad as some mays say.

I'm actually a British ex-pat, now living in Malibu, CA. I moved here because it pays more to practise medicine here than in Europe. And yes, I love the weather here.

The first thing you have to do is to get your degrees sorted out. If you got a degree from a 4-year-college, great, it's already done. But if you attended a community college, well, it's fine. You just have to explain that it's a two-year -college, not a 4-year-one.

Then, if you got any certificate or license (do you need any as a graphic designer?), then do make a list of them for more explanation. If there is a license you need as a graphic designer, then do obtain it a.s.a.p. I'm sorry, I could have helped you a little bit if you wanted to pracitise medicine in the UK but I don't know much about graphic designing. But my advice is that get all your degrees and certificates sorted out and be ready to present yourself to your potential employers.

Getting a job abroad is hard. I know that many companies hire graphic designers from India and Russia to keep their cost down. Unfortunately, as an American, you don't have such merit. The question is whether they will hire you. It requires more effort for a foreign worker to be hired in the UK, if he/she is without work permit. It's not that the UK is a racist country but employers get more paperwork with foreign workers, and that's why. I know how it was awful lot hard for me to get even a part-time job in college, when I didn't have my green card. It's reality. So you should at least be very good at what you are doing so that the employers will have a definite reason to pick you above all other British applicants.

Getting a work permit over there is not as hard as getting one in America. But first of all, you need to have an arrangement with your employer first. I don't think you can file your own Work Permit request to Home Office because only employers can do it. I'm not so sure on this, so make sure that you go to the Home Office website to check out the rules.

Home office folks are not too harsh on US passports. USA is a rich country, and they don't see tons of Americans trying to work in the UK illegally. In order to get your 60? 90? days worth Entry visa, you just have to put down your hotel address and a return flight ticket to America. Those are all you need. And if you happen to have an invitation letter from your interviewer, you can also use it to get in. As an American, you have a very little chance to be denied an entry. But the question is whether you will find a good employer in the UK who can file your Work Permit.

As a foreign worker, you are most likely to settle in London (which I think is the best city above all other. Leeds? Honestly, who cares about Leeds, if you got London? Average income for London tends to be around $46,000~$50,000. This figure is slightly higher than what an average American earns, which is $44,000. As a graphic designer, you may earn more than average. Sterling Pound is very expensive at the moment, so it may hurt you a bit for a while. But once you start earning wages in Sterling, you can squander your money away whenever you go back to Missouri. lol.

This is all I can say, to be honest. So, know which qualifications and degrees you have and brush up the skill to impress foreign employers. Then you will find the right company, who can finally file your Work Permit. Do check out the rules at the Home Office website for more info. I may be wrong, but this website will get it right.

And do think about moving away once more. Because the weather may upset you. Make SURE that you really love British culture because it may be very difficult to come back to Missouri after all these efforts. Anyway, I wish you all the best.

[matthkd]

that was very helpful. great advice.

thanks!!!

[Suki]

If you have completed a 4 year degree program and are a professional earning a good salary you may qualify to apply for the Tier 1 highly skilled worker visa. This is a 3 year visa which allows you to enter the UK without having work lined up first. It is one of the best visas to have as you are not tied to a specific company as with a work permit. After 3 years you may apply to extend the visa as long as you can show that you are economically active and earning a certain amount per year.

You are awarded points based on your qualifications, previous earnings, United Kingdom experience, age and English language skills. Go to the website of the website of the UK Border and Immigration Agency to check whether you qualify.
UK Border Agency | Highly skilled workers

[matthkd]

Originally Posted by theredlads

Dear Sati.

I'm glad that you want to know more about England. It's a wonderful country with many things to offer the world, besides its weather and food. Well, food isn't always as bad as some mays say.

I'm actually a British ex-pat, now living in Malibu, CA. I moved here because it pays more to practise medicine here than in Europe. And yes, I love the weather here.

The first thing you have to do is to get your degrees sorted out. If you got a degree from a 4-year-college, great, it's already done. But if you attended a community college, well, it's fine. You just have to explain that it's a two-year -college, not a 4-year-one.

Then, if you got any certificate or license (do you need any as a graphic designer?), then do make a list of them for more explanation. If there is a license you need as a graphic designer, then do obtain it a.s.a.p. I'm sorry, I could have helped you a little bit if you wanted to pracitise medicine in the UK but I don't know much about graphic designing. But my advice is that get all your degrees and certificates sorted out and be ready to present yourself to your potential employers.

Getting a job abroad is hard. I know that many companies hire graphic designers from India and Russia to keep their cost down. Unfortunately, as an American, you don't have such merit. The question is whether they will hire you. It requires more effort for a foreign worker to be hired in the UK, if he/she is without work permit. It's not that the UK is a racist country but employers get more paperwork with foreign workers, and that's why. I know how it was awful lot hard for me to get even a part-time job in college, when I didn't have my green card. It's reality. So you should at least be very good at what you are doing so that the employers will have a definite reason to pick you above all other British applicants.

Getting a work permit over there is not as hard as getting one in America. But first of all, you need to have an arrangement with your employer first. I don't think you can file your own Work Permit request to Home Office because only employers can do it. I'm not so sure on this, so make sure that you go to the Home Office website to check out the rules.

Home office folks are not too harsh on US passports. USA is a rich country, and they don't see tons of Americans trying to work in the UK illegally. In order to get your 60? 90? days worth Entry visa, you just have to put down your hotel address and a return flight ticket to America. Those are all you need. And if you happen to have an invitation letter from your interviewer, you can also use it to get in. As an American, you have a very little chance to be denied an entry. But the question is whether you will find a good employer in the UK who can file your Work Permit.

As a foreign worker, you are most likely to settle in London (which I think is the best city above all other. Leeds? Honestly, who cares about Leeds, if you got London? Average income for London tends to be around $46,000~$50,000. This figure is slightly higher than what an average American earns, which is $44,000. As a graphic designer, you may earn more than average. Sterling Pound is very expensive at the moment, so it may hurt you a bit for a while. But once you start earning wages in Sterling, you can squander your money away whenever you go back to Missouri. lol.

This is all I can say, to be honest. So, know which qualifications and degrees you have and brush up the skill to impress foreign employers. Then you will find the right company, who can finally file your Work Permit. Do check out the rules at the Home Office website for more info. I may be wrong, but this website will get it right.

And do think about moving away once more. Because the weather may upset you. Make SURE that you really love British culture because it may be very difficult to come back to Missouri after all these efforts. Anyway, I wish you all the best.

Wow! you guys are great!

First - I want to thank you, theredlads, for your extensive reply. I didn't have alot of time to express my thanks to you the other night. What you said motivated me again to keep at it. I really do love London, it just feels like home. everything seems very inviting. as far as the food, well, i haven't had a bad thing there yet, except for at this italian place, but, i can't blame england for that one. lol. the weather doesn't seem to bother me at all. in fact, i really dislike the weather where i live (mississippi). i do believe it was 99 degrees today and muggy. so, if the weather is like this there during the summer (i've only been there in the winter) i'm used to it. if not, it will be a blessing, even if it is rain.

as far as the degree, i have a bachelor of fine arts from a 4 year university in mississippi. would i need to bring proof of my degree to interviews? I have also attended a class in london for a program called flash. I have certificates from that one. and i have a good bit of years of experience under my belt.

money is a concern though. the economy here sucks at the moment but, i make about average for designers in mississippi (it differs from state to state). but, if i want something bad enough, i can make do with little. luckily i am a girl who doesn't really like to shop - unless it is a mac product.

i started to apply for a visa once but stopped when it asked about the address. i am glad that you told me that you could put your hotel address. i didn't know about that. i have also looked into the hmv. it's also good to know that it is a little easier to get into the uk versus the usa, although there are loopholes for this country. i do have a friend from india who came over here as a child and her parent's have never worked here (nor do they speak english) and they receive aid from the government. haven't figured out how they did it though.

i am hoping to get my revised web site up by september so that i can really get started looking. when you were looking into coming to the states, did you get a job before you came over or did you come here and then get the job? i have also thought about getting into a company here that had offices overseas so a possible transfer could happen. or, perhaps get into school in london to obtain my masters, which i have though about doing for a while.

don't worry, i will continue to think about the move and if it is something that i really want, which i believe it is. and, no worries about the rainy weather, i can handle it. also, no worries about coming back to mississippi, i really do not like it here, even though my family lives here. there is absolutely nothing to do, the weather sucks, and there isn't much room to grow if you are an artist. thanks again for you advice/help. I really appreciate it!!!

[matthkd]

Thanks Suki! I have actually successfully gone through that and luckily i qualify for it!

[klkiena]

Hmm.. I wish I could be of more help.. I'm originally from the U.S. and found a job here in the UK that applied for a work permit on my behalf...

[matthkd]

Originally Posted by klkiena

Hmm.. I wish I could be of more help.. I'm originally from the U.S. and found a job here in the UK that applied for a work permit on my behalf...

did you get the job while you were in the us or after you moved to the uk?

[Suki]

Originally Posted by matthkd

Thanks Suki! I have actually successfully gone through that and luckily i qualify for it!

Have a look at these websites for jobs in the UK

Search for jobs in the USA. Online job search - UK site
Find Jobs. Build a Better Career. Find Your Calling. | Monster.co.uk

You can set jobserve up so that it sends you an e-mail every week with a list of available jobs that meet your criteria - then you just keep on sending your CV out. Your CV needs to be adjusted to UK standards though.

We found that most UK employers and recruitment agents want to know whether you have a work visa such as the Tier 1/HSMP. If you dont have it they usually dont want to hear from you. So the next step is to actually apply for the visa and wait for the approval. Once you have that you can start looking for work via one of the above sites.

Most recruitment agencies have told us that, yes they are interested, but to contact them again around 6 weeks before arrival in the UK. However, we have also sent some CV's directly to prospective employers and two have come back arranging telephone interviews. So now my husband is off to the UK for face to face interviews.

If you dont get approval for the Tier 1/HSMP visa, then you should go over to the UK on a "holiday" and search for prospective employers who are prepared to apply for your work permit. This is a tough one though as employers have to prove that they they have advertised the position within the EU for 3 months before they can get a work permit for a non EU citizen. They must show that they cannot find a suitable candidate within the EU. An employer must really want your skills in order to go this route. Theredlads advice to brush up on your skills to impress UK employers is therefore a must if you want to live and work in the UK. Wishing you the best of Luck!

[morten bonde]

Hi Kelly,

You asked if is possible to look for a job in the UK while in the USA waiting for a visa? Or, would it be better to get the visa and then move to the UK and start looking for a job?

The answer is, that many UK companies hire people from the US or other countries and helps them get the work visa they need. Another option is to get here and find a visa sponsor.

Regardless of how you start your time in the UK, you can after one year apply for a 'highly skilled migrant visa' that will allow you to work not only for the company that sponsors you, but for any company you like.

For more information on working and living in the uk search for 'Culture Class UK' on the web

Cheers,
Morten