In a new series of articles we’re going to be focusing on America as the nation of choice for some would-be expatriates. We’ve noticed a growing trend in the number of enquiries we’re receiving from those keen to make a move Stateside, and who want to be pointed in the right direction for everything from visa related information, to advice about organising a house move to relocate to America.
In part 1 of emigrating to America we’re going to break down whether the anticipated move is actually right for you. We’ll examine the considerations you need to have in mind and contemplate before deciding whether you should relocate or not, and we will guide you through the questions you need to be asking of yourself and of your new proposed nation to ensure the move will be the best one you make!
If you’ve been thinking seriously about relocating to America, this series of articles will help guide you through the entire process. On the other hand, if you’re simply contemplating moving away from the UK and you’re as yet unsure about where you want to go and live, perhaps our ‘emigrating to America’ series will help you decide whether the US is a country for you to actively consider.
Should YOU Move to America?
America is billed as many things – the land of the free, the greatest nation on earth, a multicultural melting pot, a land of opportunity and so on and so forth. But there is one thing that no one ever makes too much of a song and a dance about – and that is that America is actually one of the hardest countries to get into if you want to go there permanently! It has an immigration policy – apparently – but if you’re British, you want to go and live and work in America and you’re not going to be a burden on the nation, you pose no threat, it can still be incredibly hard to get residency and citizenship!
So, the one thing that you may want to bear in mind before you even begin seriously thinking about going to live in America is that it is hard to get there…that said, if you are determined, do not let bureaucratic hurdles knock you off course! Additionally, think about whether perhaps you would prefer to live and work in America on a work based visa for a fixed period of time – this will work potentially well on a number of levels, for example, it will give you a real taster of the country without you giving up your British roots! What’s more, it may be your legitimate ‘ticket’ to a more permanent life in America if you do then decide that actually, you would like to make a long-term home in the nation.
Steps To Deciding Whether America is the Right Country for Emigration
There are 10 main considerations that you need to go over in your mind when analyzing any nation and working out if it is right for you and your relocation. America is absolutely no exception…
1) Standard of living - you will ‘enjoy’ a certain standard of living in your current nation that will in part be ‘afforded’ based upon your financial circumstances. You need to think about the standard of living you can expect to be able to afford in your new chosen country, so in this case, America. As in the UK, what you can afford will depend on where you choose to live and the income you will have to play with. Therefore, these are the things you need to think carefully about – will you be able to afford a decent lifestyle in the place you would like to live. Alternatively, you can think, where in the US can I live and afford a decent standard of living. You need to factor in the current fluctuating fortunes of the pound in the face of the dollar if you’re going to be moving a sum of money with you to fund your living standards, or if you will be earning an income from the UK from a property/investments/pension/work. Few people in life want to have to lower their standard of living – at the same time, you need to ensure your ‘dream’ of your new life in America is actually realistic.
2) Cost of living - this goes hand in hand with the above. The cost of living in different parts of America differs – driven largely by the relative wealth of the community. So, if you’re thinking of moving to Manhattan, you may need to be very wealthy to afford day-to-day living costs! On the other hand, if you’re moving to a more rural part of America, and into a community of people similarly remunerated, you’re likely to be able to afford a decent standard of living. You should research where you’d like to live in the US closely to make sure you will be able to afford to live there, and that you will be able to afford to live there well.
3) Employment prospects - unless you’re planning on retiring to the US, you will most likely need a job to fund your existence! On this note, it’s worth mentioning that America doesn’t have a skills based entry programme like Canada and Australia do – however, you can gain work related visas giving you temporary or permanent worker status, depending on whether you’re considered an immigrant or a non-immigrant who is just going to be living in America whilst they see out a given contract for example. If you want to work in the States you need to make sure that your skill set, your qualifications and your experience count over there in the same way they do here. If you work in the medical or legal profession, perhaps you will have to undergo skills assessment and retraining programmes to enable you to practice in America. Alternatively, perhaps you have skills that are more or less in demand in America than they are here. Look also into which parts of the country you can live and get a job doing that which you know best. Your research will be very important when it comes to finding and securing well paying work.
4) Accessibility - From the west coast of the UK to the east coast of America is a ‘medium haul’ flight time – but America is such a vast nation - beyond what we Britons can probably comprehend! - and so getting from the UK to the US is only part of the ‘problem’ – once you’re on American soil you may have to journey across time zones to reach your home…so think about accessibility and how you will manage any contact with home in the UK. Perhaps you’re planning on emigrating with your family, but you will leave friends behind. You may want to visit them and have them to stay – how affordable and accessible and possible is that going to be? Additionally, you may plan on living in a given state in America, or a certain town or city or community, but will you be able to find all that you need in that location – from a job to a school for the children to a community of likeminded people. Give close and careful consideration to specifically where in America you will be living.
5) Money matters - America is unique when it comes to tax – America owns its citizens wherever they are in the world for tax purposes, and the moment you become resident in America, the IRS will want to earn tax from you and your worldwide income and assets…so be careful and ensure you know your obligations to pay tax and social payments, because ignorance is no excuse. With regard to money matters, you should also think about how much you can earn on average in your chosen profession – sometimes rates vary wildly between America and the UK, and not always in your favour. Do research your financial position carefully ahead of a move to make sure you not only know your obligations, but that you’re sure you can afford to make the move without creating a financial burden and strain on your life.
6) Healthcare - in the UK we have free healthcare for all residents under the NHS scheme. In America, for the moment at least, you have to have insurance or pay as you go for medical care. You will find that if you have no insurance you can be landed with a bankrupting bill for treatment if you fall ill with something as ‘simple’ as appendicitis for example. So, take NO risks with your health – ensure you know all about your requirement for insurance, determine whether your employer will contribute or secure you insurance cover, and get everything in place so that you and your family’s health needs are well protected. Do not under estimate the cost of cover either – it is expensive, and it is critical to have.
7) Security - when thinking about moving to another country, it’s important to think about your safety and that of your family when you’re a foreigner in a foreign land. You also have to think about the security of that country. In the UK for example, someone moving to an inner city area might need to think a bit more carefully about locking their car, not walking down dark streets and just being a bit more streetwise. Whereas someone moving to rural wherever where there is very little crime can relax more. At the same time, there is more chance of terrorist activity in London than there perhaps is in Cardiff. The same considerations have to be on your mind when thinking about America – America is a nation that has a level of terrorist threat hanging over it, it’s a nation where you have a personal right to bear arms and carry guns in some States…so be careful when planning on where you could live and settle in. Whilst the UK and the US share a lot of things in common, there are certain elements of the US culture that are very alien to us, and these are often centred around their attitude to guns!
8) Environment - from the icy wilderness of Alaska to the searing Texan sun, from the stunning yet occasionally hurricane whipped Miami beaches to the beautiful Californian coastline, America has all sorts of weather patterns and climates. You need to pick one you can be comfortable living, working, raising children and socialising in! And whilst we Brits may think permanent sunshine will be the best, it can make everyday life harder if you have to battle through high temperatures just to get your daily bread on the table!
9) Housing - in the UK, once you have an established credit rating and you’re earning a regular income, you can potentially get a mortgage to buy a property. The property market is fairly liquid, even in these tough times, as property is always seemingly in relatively short supply. You can also rent a property if you have a bond to secure it, the letting agency can check your credit history, you can perhaps provide references and so on and so forth. When you arrive in America you have no credit history, no way of proving your reliability as either a tenant or a mortgage customer – this can make it more difficult to secure housing. Bear this in mind if you get to the point at which you want to relocate, and make sure you work in advance of your move to have somewhere to live.
10) Social adjustment - as stated previously in this report, there are many similarities between the US and the UK – particularly culturally…which is why it can be such a surprise to learn that there are also a wealth of divergent differences! We think of America as perhaps the closest cousin to the UK and Ireland, and that it must be one of the easiest countries to move to and settle into – which is why culture shock, when it occurs for British expats in America, can be hugely unsettling and very confusing. You just need to be prepared that even a move to another town in the UK would bring with it a period of being unsettled whilst everything is unfamiliar – and that this will be increased when you move to America. The good news is, the language is quite similar (!) and this can speed up the process of adjustment.
In the second part of our series about emigrating to America we’ll take a look at the visa situation, and how you can go about making your dream of a new life in the US a reality…
