ladyliberty
American expat in England
Forum posts
96
About me
American
Speaks English
Registration: 25 August 2010
Volunteering in London?
This site allows you to search for volunteer oportunities in your area of interest in your geographical area: http://www.do-it.org.uk/ Blog: www.beyondthequeen.blogspot.com Read More
Want to move from Canada to UK and run a pub...hard or easy?
I'm not Canadian, nor have I ever ran a pub, but if you have right of abode, then it would be easy for you to move here and you probably wouldnt have any trouble purchasing the pub, but I just thought I'd warn you that pubs are closing here in ... Read More
Youth Mobility Visa/Visa - questions....
Did your refusal letter say you were eligible for an appeal? Usually appeals are only sucessful when the ECO has made an error or misunderstood some of your supporting documents. I dont believe you would be eligible for an appeal if the mistake was ... Read More
Which line to stand in-how does it work?
Since you are the only they will need to answer any questions, you'll need to go thru the line that applies to YOUR passport. Read More
New And Seeking Advice :) by TheOmega
Hello! I'm new to this site and these forums and though I'd introduce myself and share, hopefully some folks have advice... I'm a 31 year-old woman living in the US and looking to immigrate to the Brighton area sometime in the next two years. My ...
Hello there I dont know a lot about marriage visit visas except that you need to provide as much proof as possible that you intend to return to the US following the wedding (ie that you dont plan to settle in the UK immediately). Your job ties to ... Read More
Formalities to bring your pet in England by Julien
Hi all, What are the formalities and paperwork required to bring your pet in England? How long do formalities & paperwork usually take in England? What are the relevant authorities to contact? Which vaccines are compulsory? Do your pets ...
This depends on which country you are coming from. If you are coming from an EU country a qualifying non-EU the information below will apply: Currently, the process is very long (takes approx 8 months) and many people find it difficult. ... Read More
Moving to greater London - Good places to live (West)? by KristofBE
Hello, I will be moving from Belgium to the UK in the upcoming months. I now need to determine exactly where to live. I will be working in the Buckinghamshire area, but am expecting to live in greater London (not the centre) [An advice I ...
Where in Buckinghamshire will you be working? I'm not sure if the advice you recieved about living in West London whilst working in Bucks is really the best unless you're a fan of rather long commutes. Just as an example, it will take you a good ... Read More
sending money from the uk to the usa by UK/US Shannon
Any idea how to make these transfers without incurring incoming transfer fees? As I am an 'advance' customer at HSBC UK, I can avoid the actual transfer fee from HSBC UK but then Chase charges $15 per incoming international transfer. And no one in ...
I use PayPal. It seems so amaturish, but really it's the best thing I have been able to find. I have two Pay Pal accounts (one US and one UK) and transfer a few hundred pounds each month to my US Pay Pal account and am charged only a few dollars ... Read More
Visa for expat canadian?
Unless you also have French citizenship, you will need a visa to come work in the UK. You CANNOT work whilst on a visitors visa, and you will probably find that it is not worth your while to apply for a visa that will allow you to work for only a ... Read More
Moving to England on EU passport: NHS?
Hello Karen Anyone with a visa valid for longer than 6 months or other document (such as an EU passport) proving their right to residency in the UK is eligble for NHS treatment. You simply register with the GP in your catchment area and then ... Read More
Advice on living in (or near) London by Dani_
Hi everyone, I'm looking for people who can offer me advice on starting a life in England (preferably (near) London). Living in England is my dream and I'm now at an age and point in my life that I can actually do it! I would love to meet people ...
Slowtree - this depends entirely on lifestyle. Take a look at this post. It may help: https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=21546 Read More
Advice on living in (or near) London by Dani_
Hi everyone, I'm looking for people who can offer me advice on starting a life in England (preferably (near) London). Living in England is my dream and I'm now at an age and point in my life that I can actually do it! I would love to meet people ...
When I came back to UK in 2007 I bought a friend a drink. The man behind the bar said 8 pounds! I said TWO pints. He said EIGHT pounds yes for TWO beers.Hmm.. this doesnt seem too terrible to me, maybe for 2007, but £8 for two pints is certainly not ... Read More
Advice on living in (or near) London by Dani_
Hi everyone, I'm looking for people who can offer me advice on starting a life in England (preferably (near) London). Living in England is my dream and I'm now at an age and point in my life that I can actually do it! I would love to meet people ...
Hello Dani I think a lot of this boils down to personal taste, and since you dont mention WHY you want to move to England, I dont know what your taste is and what you are looking for, but if you have only ever been to London, I would really ... Read More
London ... where should we live ? by sergiogove
Hi Guys and Gals I'm moving to London next week with a friend of mine. We will be looking for a 2-bed flat to move in to. Anyways, We are looking on the rightmove and gumtree websites and would like some ideas about which areas would be best to ...
This site can be incredibly helpful to determine average housing price, crime rates and communte time: http://commutefrom.com/ Good luck Blog:www.beyondthequeen.blogspot.com Read More
£70K pa salary? by movingtoUK
I got a job offer in London for £70kpa - is this a decent salary? From the research I have done, it seems like it's on the high side. However, I currently make $120K pa in NY. So is it worth the move?
Gosh....You guys in U.S it's always about money ! 70K's it's pretty good you are probably in a top 0.5 % of the population who earn that much.Oh please! 70K, while allowing someone to live comfortably in most areas of London, would not put someone ... Read More
Young bloke moving to London
It may help to ask specific questions so people can try to help you... Also, you need to define what is "expensive" to you if you are asking for help to identify an affordable neighbourhood. Read More
Working @ Canary Wharf by TCL
Hi everyone, My company in Belgium closed our department and offered me the same job in London to start there from July/September on. Still considering if I will do it, the company is situated at Canary Wharf (East London). Renting a flat there ...
Canary Wharf is in the borough of Tower Hamlets, which is difficult to discuss unless you know exactly where you will be living. Some of the most desirable and expensive real estate in the country is in Canary Wharf and the Docklands area, but ... Read More
Visa, Marriage and Passport
I realize this post is quite old, but since its been rehashed, here's the info for anyone else who may have the same questions: In order to obtain a tourist visa, she must prove that she has ties to Thailand and plans to go back to Thailand. You ... Read More
Thinking of relocating by ToniR
My family and I are thinking of relocating to the UK. I have my own small business, but I have not been able to find anything that says an expat can run their own business there without it being a large business with a lot of money to invest. Does ...
Toni I'm afraid you will find this very difficult unless you have another connection to the UK which gives you the right to live and work here. There are no visas available for those wanting to start a small business. There is an entrepreneur ... Read More
I found my soulmate in the UK...Visa problems!! by PonyM
So I came to England in September 2009 on a Youth Mobility Scheme 2 yr visa, arrived in a hostel in London in December 2009 and met my beautiful boyfriend in the first few days. We have been together (and more importantly - living together) ever ...
Sorry, but there are no other options. My advice would be if you are sure your BF is "the one for you", to get legally married (you may have to obtain an COA) and then have a ceremony later so your family can attend. Sometimes practicality has to ... Read More
Cabin baggage Advice
This depends on the airline you are flying. If the airline states that you can take one peice of carry on luggage plus a "personal item", the "personal item" can be a laptop bag if you choose. If the airline states you are allowed only ONE carry on ... Read More
New in the city ....
Sorry, but how does one "sell Facebook"? Read More
Advice needed about Cambridge life by mluisa_millan
Hello, I have recently moved to Cambridge and I would like to meet new people here. I am 29 year old and I am looking for a house to rent for me and my partner. We have been checking some properties managed by agencies but they ask for a lot of ...
The problem with accomodation in Cambridge is that most of it is student accomodation and the quality reflects this. A friend of mine gave up on searching for housing IN Cambridge and moved to nearby Ely where she was able to find more "grown up", ... Read More
Starting a new life in London....Possibly.
No, it would not be safe to assume this. What a daft idea. Employers are subject to major fines for employing illegal workers and you run a major risk of being banned from the UK for 10 years if caught. Not to mention that you will probably have ... Read More
moving to London and looking for a job.. by sassa468
Looking at my options ( From America) to move to London, and look for a job. I know I need to get a work permit, but not sure on how to go about that. Also were would I find companies looking to hire? Thanks
Hi Sassa I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but unless you have skills on the shortage list or are currently employed by a company who could transfer you to the UK, or are well educated and have high earning potential, your chance of getting ... Read More
Any idea?.... by Edgewynne
Hi, I'm new to this forum. I joined this site because my husband and I would like to one day move to, work in, and retire in England. We are born and raised here in the USA, but we want to make this move for health reasons. I am hoping to find out ...
1. You cant smoke in bars/pubs/restaurants. You can, and people do smoke walking down the street and of course near the entrances of bars/pubs/restaurants. IME, smoking is not as common as it is on the Continent where it sometimes seems like ... Read More
Need a job and don't have a work visa ... by nereid9
Hi, all. I'm trying to move to Edinburgh from NYC and I was wondering if there was any way to get a job if I don't qualify for a work visa. In NYC, it's fairly easy to get a bartending/restaurant job off the books, but I'm not sure if this is a ...
To echo what colinsmum said, what you are looking to do is illegal and can get you into some serious trouble with UK immigration and ruin any chances of you ever legally moving to the UK. There are no loopholes, working "off the books" is illegal ... Read More
Thinking of moving
To begin with, have you looked into getting a visa? Its quite difficult for a US citizen to get a visa unless the ancestors that you mention are your parents, or you are married or engaged to a British citizen. There are a few other options for ... Read More
Different Ways on How to say "Thank you" in your own Language? by volim te pono
I'm from Philippines, we say "Salamat", or "Maraming Salamat" if it is "Thank you very much".
In England, they often say "cheers" as a casual way of saying thank you. Read More
Any idea?.... by Edgewynne
Hi, I'm new to this forum. I joined this site because my husband and I would like to one day move to, work in, and retire in England. We are born and raised here in the USA, but we want to make this move for health reasons. I am hoping to find out ...
Go ahead and add to this stream, unless they are really specific questions and you think a new topic name would bring more attention (and more response). Read More
Advices for a great brunch in London? by Cecilea
Hi everybody!! I am a great fan of food and perticularly brunches :)Seems that London is a good place for that :) does anybody have a great address to share? Anywhere in London? By the way, if you have any other good restaurants addresses, you can ...
The Albion in Shoredich has fantastic brunch (and breakfast!). Blog: www.beyondthequeen.blogspot.com Read More
Any idea?.... by Edgewynne
Hi, I'm new to this forum. I joined this site because my husband and I would like to one day move to, work in, and retire in England. We are born and raised here in the USA, but we want to make this move for health reasons. I am hoping to find out ...
My take is not quite as rosy as mzeig's... I think that without any connections to the UK or sought after skills you are in for a load of frustration and disappointment personally. The visa you would be after is called a Tier 1 which allows a ... Read More
Help in England - Filipino Preferred!
Sorry, I cant help, but did want to clarify - I live in Camberley and it is definetley not 35 mins drive from London. More like an hour if you're lucky. Your employer may want to contact the Camberley News and Mail (the local paper) to place an ... Read More
Scared!!!!
There are many many Spanish people in London. If you want to connect with other Spanish speakers, meetup.com/spanish-3 may be perfect for you. Good luck and welcome to the UK! Blog: www.beyondthequeen.blogspot.com Read More
visitors visa want to marry...
As she is under immigration control, she would need to apply for a COA (certificate of approval) to marry in the UK. However, I dont believe you are able to apply for a COA whilst on a visitors visa, so I am afraid the answer to this is no. She ... Read More
Sponsoring EXPAT closed in UK?? If yes how can one get a job in UK??
Getting a job in the UK in increasingly difficult for everyone, but especially difficult for non-EU citizens without sought after skills. An easy google search will tell you anything you need to know about the economy and climate of the country. ... Read More
Guidance for a smooth move pls? by JP1987
I'm a 23 year old male who's currently living in the US, I've lived here all of 21 years but I was born in Portugal where I am still a citizen (EU citizen as well of course) and I'm seriously considering the move to England (preferably London or any ...
Finding a job can be VERY difficult in the current climate. There are many many EU immigrants and native Britons vying for even the unskilled work which you may think is easy to come by. My experience was that the best way to find work was through ... Read More
Moving to England. . . . Help?! by JENEVIEVE
TO whom ever can lend a hand, I am in the process of deciding on moving to England from the U.S. I have a couple places in mind , Blackpool or Liverpool but that is not necessarily decided yet.If anyone could help me learn more about different ...
I'm a US citizen and I felt that the culture shock was very minimal. Every person's experience will be different. Read More
Marrying a UK citizen and coming to live in the UK. Any advice?
As far as how much money you will need - there is no magic number. You just need to be able to show you can support her and you without relying on additional public funds for her (although you can claim benefits to which YOU are entitled). If you ... Read More
Moving to England. . . . Help?! by JENEVIEVE
TO whom ever can lend a hand, I am in the process of deciding on moving to England from the U.S. I have a couple places in mind , Blackpool or Liverpool but that is not necessarily decided yet.If anyone could help me learn more about different ...
people are not friendly in general, most people try to scam you, crime rate is high and unless you are an alcoholic there isn't much to do.I'm sorry you've had a bad experience, Texan, but it is absolutely unfair to say things like this as if they ... Read More
Emigrating to England in 3 weeks *bites fist* by alufolie
Hello All, I'm a new member here. I'm an Australian that is emigrating to the UK for work in early January. I'm very nervous, as I've never been the UK before and I don't know anyone over there. :o I'm going to be working in Newbury, Berkshire ...
Hi Annie I'm not super close (about 40 minutes from Reading), but am happy to answer any questions you may have. Good luck! Blog: www.beyondthequeen.blogspot.com Read More
Moving to England. . . . Help?! by JENEVIEVE
TO whom ever can lend a hand, I am in the process of deciding on moving to England from the U.S. I have a couple places in mind , Blackpool or Liverpool but that is not necessarily decided yet.If anyone could help me learn more about different ...
HEalth insurance - I don't think you qualify for NHS, as you are outside Europe...does anyone else know?Assuming she enters on a visa of any type other than a visitors visa (as she would have to in order to move), then yes, she will be eligible for ... Read More
Moving to England. . . . Help?! by JENEVIEVE
TO whom ever can lend a hand, I am in the process of deciding on moving to England from the U.S. I have a couple places in mind , Blackpool or Liverpool but that is not necessarily decided yet.If anyone could help me learn more about different ...
Personally (and it all depends on what you are looking for in life) I live just outside London (about a 30 minute train ride) and it think its the absolute perfect compromise, but it still is a bit pricy. St. Albans is lovely, and if you are ... Read More
Moving to England. . . . Help?! by JENEVIEVE
TO whom ever can lend a hand, I am in the process of deciding on moving to England from the U.S. I have a couple places in mind , Blackpool or Liverpool but that is not necessarily decided yet.If anyone could help me learn more about different ...
Can I ask why you have narrowed it down to Blackpool or Liverpool? Neither would be anywhere near the top of my list, personally, but if you let us know what you are looking for in a place to live, we can better recommend places that match what you ... Read More
Where to live between Southampton and London?
Basingstoke would be a good choice - its got excellent motorway connections and easy (no changes) train service into both. Blog: www.beyondthequeen.blogspot.com Read More
Needing To Find A Loop Hole by advice-needed
Hey Guys and Gals, Okay,this is my story. I am a 28 year old single mother (American). I have been dating my British boyfriend long distant for nearly 2 years now. I know it sounds impossible. But, we have known each other for 10 years now. Our ...
There are quite a few problems I see here.. First of all, I am hesitant to help anyone who is looking for a "loophole" as this is what gives LEGAL immigrants a bad reputation, but I will tell you that there are not any legal loopholes to make it ... Read More
What is it like when you are away from home for a long period of time?
I think that leaving for a "long time" (however you choose to define it) is easy, but actually MOVING with no plans to return to your home country is an entirely different issue. It is exciting, scary, lonely, challenging, freeing, and just about ... Read More
coming home to uk
If your dog already has a pet passport, you will need to first make sure that her rabies vaccinations are up to date. If they are, then you are free to travel with her following the rules of the PETS (Pet Travel Scheme). Animals can only travel ... Read More
Home Time? by hidley
Hey all, for those who have returned already: how did you decide that you were ready to return to your home country? Do you regret it? for those who are still abroad: do you ever think about when you'll go back? I'm living abroad and loving it ...
The bitter truth is that u r more happy in your naive country but more successfull abroad.This is quite blanket statement, and one that I doubt is true for the majority of expats (certainly not for me). Read More
Moving to London with Family by nykblue
Hi, I'm looking for some thoughts on neighborhoods as I'm considering moving to London with my family. We have a 3 & 5 year old so need to consider family environment as well as good primary schools. We would work in west London ...
Then, yes, I stick with my original suggestions. Richmond is absolutely lovely and is connected to London via Tube and train and is about a 45 min commute. Although there are many many options within that budget that would be closer to Central ... Read More
Moving to London with Family by nykblue
Hi, I'm looking for some thoughts on neighborhoods as I'm considering moving to London with my family. We have a 3 & 5 year old so need to consider family environment as well as good primary schools. We would work in west London ...
This is extremely difficult to answer without knowing what your budget is and if you would like to be IN London, or just outside of London (which is often more affordable)? If money was no object, I had children, and I had to commute into ... Read More
American Dream
James Truslow Adams was the first to use the phrase in his book Epic of America. He said: "The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with opportunity for each according to ability ... Read More
hi people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! by moonlighteyes
i want to visit NY this summer does somebody know some cheap place where i can stay at ?
Just a hint - especially if you are looking to stay for an extended period, and if you dont mind a short journey into New York City, you might look at staying in New Jersey as its very close and much more affordable. Read More
How do you ask for money from back home? by Brit_X
Okay, so every now and again I run into some issues with running low on cash and I need some help from back home. My mum is always a darling and helps me out but I always seem to have to come up with the most exaggerated reasons for why I need the ...
Are you asking people to help you lie to your Mum? Why not just tell her the truth? Read More
who can survive in culturally different environment? by tuyatsetseg
Hello everybody It is known that some expatriates effectively survive in culturally different environment while some of them have failed. Please answer me who can effectively survive?
This is an impossible question to answer, I'm afraid. Some people enjoy it and can live happily as an expat and some people have emmense trouble acclimating and are extremely unhappy and move back to their home country much sooner than they would ... Read More
Moving to the UK
My intial thought is that the Northeast of England would be your best bet. I did a quick search and it does look like the North is definetely where most of the jobs are, but there are a few spread further down South. I'd start your search by ... Read More
Moving to England. by lepersrepel
Hello. I'm new here, and not sure if this is the correct place to post this...but I figured I'd give it a shot anyway. I'm a 21 year old, currently living in [and a citizen of] the United States. My boyfriend lives in England, and I traveled there ...
I think that you could also qualify for a youth mobility visa. Other than that, as lady liberty mentioned, you've got things like fiance visa, student visa, and even an ancestry visa (if you have a grandparent who was born there).Unfortunately, as ... Read More
How hard is to find jobs for bakeries availiable in London?
Try this site to get some idea: simplyhired.co.uk You can type in keywords like "bakery", "baker", "bread maker", etc and locations. Read More
Hello to England. by EdgarsA
Hi, I am 20 years old. I want to move to England to live with my wife and my baby son. I would like to know, where do i have to search online for a rental apartaments, house or a flat. I am not talking about hostels, but real home for me and my ...
Good place to start for rental flats - zoopla.co.uk. You may want to contact a few rental agents as well. Remember that housing prices are going to be highest in London. You may want to look at living outside of London (perhaps in Kent, Surrey or ... Read More
Teaching in Bristol by anna-in-canada
I am a Canadian art teacher planning on moving to England in January 2011. I am considering Bristol as one of my top choices. Is there lots or work/teaching opportunity in Bristol? I'd like to avoid moving to somewhere as massive as London, if ...
Personally, I think you've got the right idea - I wouldnt want to live IN London either. I live a 30 minute train journey away which I think is ideal. I have to admit, I have only driven through Bristol, so unforunately, I cant give any feedback ... Read More
finding a job in advertising/marketing
Hello archdelhi Most people in the UK rely on the assistance of employment recruiters to find jobs. My advice to you would be to find a recruiter who is familiar with your area of professional expertise and make friends with him/her! A good ... Read More
Teaching in Bristol by anna-in-canada
I am a Canadian art teacher planning on moving to England in January 2011. I am considering Bristol as one of my top choices. Is there lots or work/teaching opportunity in Bristol? I'd like to avoid moving to somewhere as massive as London, if ...
Hi Anna. Have you already sorted your visa? Are you hoping to move over on an ancestory visa seeing as you are a citizen of a commonwealth country? As far as teaching, I think you will find that you will need some extra qualifications to teach ... Read More
scrap visas! :)
Um no. It would not be good. Do you honestly believe this would be beneficial in any way for the countries who will attract all the immigrants OR the countries who will lose many of their citizens to the more attractive countries? Read More
What about bakery in London???
What do you need to know exactly? Are you confused about what things are called or are you asking where you can get familiar Greek products in London? Read More
Moving to England. by lepersrepel
Hello. I'm new here, and not sure if this is the correct place to post this...but I figured I'd give it a shot anyway. I'm a 21 year old, currently living in [and a citizen of] the United States. My boyfriend lives in England, and I traveled there ...
It also would help to ask more specific questions. I have been through the process myself and would be happy to help. Basically, you have three main options: 1. Become a student in the UK, apply for student visa 2. Work in the UK (although this ... Read More
how to find a job in London? by frenchy69
Hi everybody! I'm looking for a job in London or in the UK! I'm a young architect (interior designer to be exact!) I need some help and some advice! Thanks!
Most people in England use recruiters to find jobs. If you can find a good recruiter and get them on your side they can really be an advocate for you. I suggest contacting a few and building a relationship with them. I used Reed, but you may be ... Read More