This should be easy, but it's turning out to be confusing

to: pcg

I've lived in England but I'm a European citizen even though I live in Canada so probably can't really help with advice.

However, you really should consult the British Embassy.  They will tell you exactly what you can and can't do.  They are very helpful.

Rental apartments, I have found in England, are dirty.  The kitchens have tiny fridges like we use for beer only they use them for everything.  I found what I thought was a micro wave oven and then the landlord told me it was a regular oven.  When I asked how I would get a turkey into it at Christmas, he said, I couldn't.  The toilet seat in the bathroom was so bad, I had to, immediately, go out and buy a new one.  I left the windows open for days to get the body smell out.  Then I discovered from an Interior Designer that if I put saucers of white vinegar around the place, that would get rid of the smell.  This apartment was in a good middle class area.  It's  just that rentals are bad unless you are fairly rich.

There is a lot of crime.  You have to be careful.  It's better not to reprimand anyone doing things that upset you when out, or they will probably do something to you.

A nice place to live might be Royal Tunbridge Wells in Kent.  The surrounding countryside is full of old English pubs and stately homes to visit.  I lived there for a while and liked it.  However, things seem to close down in the evenings as the streets empty.  However, the pubs are usually full every night.  You could join a darts team and meet the guys.  There's a commuter train to London, takes about half an hour or so but usually full in the mornings and you'd have to stand; same coming home after work.

Driving to London; you are not allowed to park in London.  I don't know if they have got parking lots yet but when I was there, not so long ago, we had to leave the car outside London and take public transport.  London is very crowded and very expensive.

Oxford; a popular place because of the university, has no parking anywhere and is chock a block full of traffic; a very crowded town.

Stratford, another popular place is crowded with tourists and fake antique shops.

Cambridge; not much there.

Sorry, England used to be special but a very long time ago.

sourire

I should add that its taken me over a year to finalise my work permit/residence visa and I'm from an 'easy' immigration country, New Zealand.The whole process has been extremely expensive and although I now finally have the right papers etc and can get work (I'm also self-employed)it will take some time to actually recover my financial position. I've started writing a blog about some of my experiences as a new immigrant in England read more here www.usebefore.blogspot.com

to: pcg

You really must talk to the Embassy people.  They are the only ones who can answer your questions and look after you.  It's not worth the risk in view of the terrorist problems being faced in England due to it's resident Muslims.  England is now very suspicious of newcomers no matter whom.

sourire

Good point, Vegemitevix!

Thank goodness I'm an English citizen.  I'd no idea it could be so complicated if I wasn't.

sourire

Hi,
There are the points to consider before moving to England:

1. You can't just pick up and go. You have a family you're responsible for. You need to prepare.

2. Sort out your and your family visas before coming over here.
Getting a work permit in the UK is as difficult for an American as it is for a British or other EU citizen in the States. It just takes time.

3. Check out schools. Consider moving here NOT in the middle of a school year.

4. Find a flat or house.
Before coming here you need to have something temporary rented. You can easily do it over the Internet. You may need to pay month's rent and deposit in advance. Then, while you're here you can look around and find something really nice and suitable for you. The minimum stay is normally 6 months.
Standard of the place depends on how much you're willing to pay. Trust me, there are beautiful, clean houses with large kitchen and garden over here.

5. If you work for a American company registered for trading in England you'll be registered for taxes and other here, in the UK. Therefore you need to have a work permit for the UK. (Unless you're planning to do some online work where all your income comes to your American account).

6. Safety - as everywhere else, there are pickpockets, knife crimes, robberies. From my own experience from London, me and my friends have never been injured or raped. But it's happened to some of us to have a wallet stolen, a bike or a laptop. Also, if you're drank and behave aggressively in the middle of the night you can get beaten.

You decide which country is threatened more with terrorist attacks, the States or UK.

7. Parking in London - you're allowed. In designed areas, and you pay for it. The fact is that Central London is very crowded and sometimes it's just better to get a taxi or public transport. If you don't have a garage with your house, you apply to a council for parking permit so you can park your car on the street in front of your house.

London is amazing place to live. Prepare, come and enjoy!

SuccessAbroad.co.uk