In 2023, 1.2 million people emigrated to the UK.
In the ranking, USA citizens ranked 8th in the list of immigrants to the UK.
What do people find here? Job opportunities, education, family reunification, or a high standard of living.
Whatever it is, in this article, you will find what you are looking for about moving to the UK from the USA.
Let’s get started without wasting time.
Overview
In this blog post, you will discover comprehensive information about the process of moving to the UK from the US.
This article is for
- Families,
- Students,
- Staffs,
- Professionals,
- Young adults,
- Entrepreneurs, and
- anyone who wants to move to the UK from the US.
What you will find?
- First, we’ll cover visa requirements and details to help you understand which type of visa is right for you.
- Next, we will help you discover the best areas to live in the UK.
- We will also provide practical information about the cost of living, the differences in the tax system, and budget planning.
With this guide, you can take full control of your planning process and be prepared for surprises.
Quick Facts about the UK
A lot can be said about moving to the UK. However, you may want to see short and quick information.
Here is the short information we think is important for you:
- The current population of the UK: 69,338,919 (2024)
- Most popular cities: London, Edinburgh, Manchester
- Climate: Temperate and humid oceanic climate
- Number of migrants: 10.7 million (2021 – most recent reliable data)
- Language: English
- Average annual salary: GBP 37,430.
- The average monthly cost for a single person is £820 (Excluding rent)
Understanding Visa Requirements for Relocation
The UK has a range of visas tailored to the different needs of US citizens wishing to settle in the country. This means that you can apply for a visa that is truly advantageous to your interests.
Applying for a visa program based on your intention to move can also determine the length of your stay in the country. For example, why choose a more disadvantageous visa when you can win a more advantageous visa?
In this context, understanding visa programs is very important. With the right visa application, you can open the doors to a very pleasant life, either alone or with your family.
Now, we want to help you find the right visa for you. In the next step, you will find important visa opportunities for employees, students, and families.
Choose The Right Type of Visa: Work, Student, or Family
One of the first steps in your plan to move from the USA to the UK is visa selection. When choosing a visa, you need to consider your own wishes and needs.
In this context, it would not be wrong to divide the visa types into 3 categories: work, student, and family.
Below, we will talk about the most popular UK Visa types that you can apply for in these 3 categories.
With Work Visas Move To England From The USA
Health and Care Worker Visa: Designed for medical professionals who have a job offer from the NHS, an NHS supplier, or adult social services.
Requirements:
- Be a doctor, nurse, health professional, or social care worker.
- Work for an approved UK employer.
- Obtain a certificate of sponsorship from your employer.
- Meet minimum wage requirements.
- Be proficient in speaking, writing, reading, and understanding English.
- Have an approved job offer before applying for a visa.
Skilled Worker Visa: For individuals with a confirmed job offer from a UK-licensed sponsor in a role that meets certain skills and salary criteria.
Requirements:
- Working for an approved UK employer.
- Be employed in a job on the list of eligible occupations.
- Obtain a certificate of sponsorship (CoS).
- Meet minimum salary requirements (depending on the type of job).
- Proficiency in speaking, writing, reading, and understanding English.
- Receiving an approved job offer.
Important note: Your visa is valid for up to 5 years and can be extended if necessary. You can even apply for a permanent residence permit after 5 years.
With a Student Visa Relocating From The USA to the UK
Student Visa: This is a visa program designed for foreigners who wish to continue their education in the UK.
Requirements:
- Be 16 or older.
- Offer of a place on a course by a licensed student sponsor.
- Have enough money to support yourself and pay for the course.
- Be able to speak, read, write, and understand English.
- Provide parental consent if 16 or 17 (proof required).
Child Student Visa: It allows children between the ages of 4-17 to continue their education in the UK with the permission of their families.
Requirements:
- Be between the ages of 4-17.
- Have an unconditional offer of admission from an independent school.
- Have enough money to pay the course fees and provide for your livelihood.
- Have consent from a parent or legal guardian to study (document required).
- If you have turned 18, you need to apply for a Student Visa.
Short-term Study Visa:
This visa is suitable for people who wish to attend English language courses in the UK lasting longer than 6 months and up to a maximum of 11 months.
The visa allows you to stay in the UK for an additional 30 days in addition to the duration of your course.
The application fee is £200, plus a healthcare surcharge (usually £776).
It is not possible to work on this visa, transfer to another course, extend the visa, or bring family members with you.
With Family Visas Moving to the UK from the USA
If you want to live in the UK with a family member for more than 6 months, you need a Family Visa. This visa allows you to live with your spouse, partner, child, parent, or relative who will provide you with long-term care.
People who can join:
- Spouse or partner: Civil partners or cohabiting partners can apply.
- Engagement: You can apply if you are engaged or have the proposed civil partnership status.
- Child: If you have a parent living in the UK, you can apply as a child.
- Parent: If your child lives in the UK, you can apply as a parent.
- Care needs: You can apply if you have a relative who can provide long-term care for you.
Finally, a period of 2 years and 6 months or 5 years is usually given at the time of the initial application. If you want to continue to stay in the UK, you can extend your visa.
Best Places to Live in the UK
For the best places to live in the UK, you can do regional research.
For this, it will be useful to learn about the population, universities, public transport, building structure, health services, and city safety rate.
In this way, you can find the best area for you in light of all these criteria. Now let’s discover the best UK cities to live in.
1. London
London is the capital of England and is located near the River Thames. It has a population of 8.866 million (2022) and a quality of life index of 134.20 (Temperate), according to Numbeo. If you like crowds and sophistication, don’t miss London.
2. Manchester
Manchester is located in the north-west region and is the 6th most populous city in the country with a population of 549,853 (2021). It is famous for its architecture, sports culture, and music scene. It also has a ‘High’ quality of life index of 159.87 points, according to Numbeo. In addition, city safety is at an ideal level with 55.96.
3. Bristol
As for Bristol, it is a leader in trade, culture, and education. Its distance from London is 184 kilometers. It has a ‘Very High’ quality of life level with a score of 172.23, according to Numbeo. Air quality? With 46.46 points, it has low pollution. The crime rate is also really low, so feel free to come with your family.
4. Cambridge
Cambridge is an English city rich in culture and education. Don’t be surprised, it is one of the ‘Very high’ liveable cities with a score of 177.32. You can come to this city both to get an education and to reach a high standard of living.
5. Oxford
Oxford is home to Oxford University, one of the oldest and most important universities in the world. The quality of life in this city with a rich culture is also very high, with a score of 186.35. To come to Oxford, be a student, or settle as a family. You will be prosperous here.
Understanding the Cost of Living
We have just talked about the best cities to live in; however, when it comes to the cost of living in the UK, you need to choose carefully.
To understand this, we need to look at the statistics. This will give you a better understanding of the cost of living.
First of all, the UK is characterized as one of the countries with a ‘very high’ purchasing power with an index of 121.20.
However, it is also important to make a city-specific evaluation. But even when we do so, we see that the purchasing power in London, one of the most expensive cities, is still at a high level with 103.43.
Now let’s take an overview of the cost of living in the country. This will give you an idea.
- In London, the average rent for a 1-bedroom flat in the city center is £1,042.70, while lower prices can be found outside the city.
- Fresh white bread (500g) costs £1.24, and a liter of milk costs £1.24.
- A meal for two in a mid-range restaurant costs £6,5, and a meal for one in a cheap restaurant costs £15.
- A one-way ticket for local transport costs £2.2,0 and a monthly transport card costs an average of £70.
- A liter of petrol costs around £1.45, and car ownership requires additional costs.
- The NHS provides basic healthcare free of charge, but prescriptions and specialized treatments are chargeable.
- A cinema ticket costs £10, and a fitness membership costs £33.70 per month.
- The average price per square meter of a flat in the city center is £4,731.46, and £3,740.56 in outlying areas.
Considering the Tax Implications of Moving to the UK
Firstly, we understand that complex tax systems can be frustrating. In particular, moving from the United States to the United Kingdom can have strong tax implications for you.
However, it is not recommended to shelve tax issues for this reason. It is essential that you have the necessary information to protect yourself against the financial implications.
Here is what you need to know about this:
Double taxation means that you will be taxed in two countries on the same income. But fear not because bilateral treaties aim to mitigate this.
Even if US citizens live in another country, the US government doesn’t care. Remember that you always have to pay taxes on your worldwide income.
To reduce tax liabilities, you can claim tax credits and exemptions available in both countries. For example, the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) in the US and the Personal Exemption in the UK.
The tax residency status in the UK, which affects the tax treatment of income, needs to be determined. You can determine domicile status by performing the UK’s Statutory Residence Test (SRT).
Consider the tax implications of the sale of assets such as property or investments in the US and UK.
Important note: Analyse the tax treaties between the UK and the US to find out what reliefs are currently available to you. Be sure to follow the official government sources for this.
Conclusion
Moving from the United States to England is a big step, and with the right planning, you can make the process much easier.
Knowing which visa to apply for, calculating the cost of living correctly, and having information about taxes will give you a great advantage as you prepare for your new life.
With the information shared in this guide, you can get many ideas about the moving process and be prepared for the difficulties you may encounter.
Now, you can choose the visa that suits you and complete your application to fulfill your dream of moving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I immigrate to the UK from the USA?
UK citizens can immigrate to the UK. The requirements include getting an appropriate UK visa for the situation. The UK government offers common routes for US citizens to move to the UK, including Work Visa, Family Visa, Global Talent Visa, Student Visa, and Investor Visa.
How long can U.S. citizens live in the UK?
The type of visa can change the length of time you are allowed to spend in the UK as a US citizen. There are some short-term stay visas as well as some other longer-term residences, including permanent residency. There might be some situations where US citizens can be eligible for UK citizenship.
Can a US citizen retire in England?
It is possible for US citizens to retire in the UK as long as they qualify for a type of visa, like the UK Investor Visa.
