Anyone moved from the UK to to the US? How did it go?

[grannyinapram]

Looking at holidays online, not that we will ever go but I was just wondering what it would be like if we actually moved. Any one have any experience? is it all its cracked up to be?

kingandqueen, as a PP said, for on intra-company transfer your DH will probably be on an L1 visa. Assuming you marry, you will be eligible for an L2 which in theory will allow you to work. BUT as an L2 you will need to apply for an EAD before you can work. You can't apply until you are resident in the US and it will take a few (very stressful) months to process. So you'll need to plan for being out of work for a while - strictly speaking you can't even volunteer without one iirc.

Yes, I moved to Washington DC in 2004 with my British husband, via an L-1 visa my company secured for us, they did an intra-company transfer. We ended up staying for 11 years, the last 6 years I was in Houston. Had 2 kids out there, became a citizen and had to move back to the UK as my parents were old and unwell. Moving back to Houston in August. Can't wait. We have a huge 4 bedroom house with a swimming pool on a cul de sac with a golf course at the end that was much cheaper than the crappy semi we are living in now. As well as quality of life I enjoyed moving away - psychologically it allowed me to let go of a lot of things that held me back here (such as fear of driving).
But it is very difficult if you have children and you have to get used to a lifetime of long plane journeys for major events and holidays. And you miss all your friends weddings (possibly for me now more frequently it will be funerals).
But I found once the opportunity had arisen, the choice was made for us as if we hadn't gone, the mystery of what life might had been like would have been hard to bear.
Good luck with your decision.
Caroline

Yes, you will have a big house and a pool and a great life. Until you have a million problems when you fall on hard times and your child is shot at school.
You make your choices 👏🏻

@figgyboa thank you for your message, so helpful as we look to get our ducks in a row! We are early days; DP had discussion with work and it's approved, but no formalities in the making owing to corona. Congrats on calling US home, hope to do the same in due course too!

@cheeseismydownfall thank you for your reply. We are not yet married, and the company transfer is something they would sort out their end, but I wanted to get everything sorted in preparation for exactly what you outline - not being able to work for some time. We are potentially looking at NY which is expensive rents on one income, so would need to come from savings.

We will be sure to be married ahead of any formalities and I'm confident the visa process will not be a walk in the park.. but hopefully worth it!

I don't know how it works with UK pensions as such- any advise? I am aware that once you're out of the country for five years you lose some rights, and I presume NHS and so forth. We have my old apartment which we would be holding on to, and I don't know if that would change the position or whether you resign one to take up another?

Sorry for so many questions, but I've found these two replies so informative and helpful- more so than research I've tried to glean online. Thank you so much

I am curious about the lifestyle in New York for 40 plus yr olds. Still glamourous, exciting and full of opportunities?

@LadyfromtheBelleEpoque

I am curious about the lifestyle in New York for 40 plus yr olds. Still glamourous, exciting and full of opportunities?

Yes, if you have the job to support it.

Otherwise, stressful, unrelenting, and full of uncertainty.

@gwennah

And, in terms of a salary what would support it? 80,000 dollars a year/150,000 or is it possible to do it on less? 45,000 a year?

@LadyfromtheBelleEpoque that depends - are we talking a hypothetical single over-40 or one with a family?

You’d struggle to do it as a single person on any of those salaries. Most of my over-40 friends have fled NYC because paying $2300 a month for a third floor walkup in a crappy part of Queens isn’t worth the graft!

[quote gwenneh]@LadyfromtheBelleEpoque that depends - are we talking a hypothetical single over-40 or one with a family?

You’d struggle to do it as a single person on any of those salaries. Most of my over-40 friends have fled NYC because paying $2300 a month for a third floor walkup in a crappy part of Queens isn’t worth the graft![/quote]
I'm a New Yorker. Rents have dropped due to the pandemic. I think you can have a quite comfortable life as a single person making $100k in NYC, but it depends on your spending habits.

I've been out in the East Coast for over 20 years now. I just nationalized as I decided that if DH and I split up I would stay here and not move back to the UK. I love it and I think my DC will have more opportunities having grown up here than if they had grown up in the UK. My top three things I prefer are the weather, the positivity and the healthcare. My top three things I miss are some of the food, having shared childhood experiences with the people I am talking to and the architectural culture

Placemarking this thread to catch up later. I wish to move to the US for a while as it will be great for me work-wise. In terms of living therefore ever, I am not sure. If more of my family move there, I might consider.

@MissConductUS

Thanks Miss. when I look as some studios in Upper East /West side they seem affordable (less than 1800 a month). I was surprised at this (although they are small).

100,000 is a lot (to me). The job would be 70,000 tops for first year, then move up a bit- good perks (health insurance,etc). I have no dependants, am single.

@TheSunshines

I love to but unfortunately that is not what my life has offered. If I had the chance I'd be off.

Conversely, you couldn't pay me enough.

[quote LadyfromtheBelleEpoque]@MissConductUS

Thanks Miss. when I look as some studios in Upper East /West side they seem affordable (less than 1800 a month). I was surprised at this (although they are small).

100,000 is a lot (to me). The job would be 70,000 tops for first year, then move up a bit- good perks (health insurance,etc). I have no dependants, am single.[/quote]
If you're keen to try it, I'd give it a go then.

American in the UK here - we are looking to move back to the US either later this year or early next year, pending partner's employer. London was a laugh for a few years, but things change and had changed even before Covid. We'd like to buy a home, and what you can get for your money in the US is far far more than what you can get in London, not to mention the build quality is higher. Will probably end up back in the Midwest near family, though I grew up on the West Coast and we like to travel there often.

Oooh I've never been to the US but I do often wonder what it's be like to live out there would be like, say in NYC for a year or two

Reading with intrigue & imagination!

I've moved to the US several times. Been here nearly 15 years this time and very happy. I can't imagine having to move back to the UK. We'd do it if we had to I suppose, but very reluctantly.

I have three kids that have been through the state school system here, one of them now at university. All getting an excellent education. Covid did not make a huge difference - the school switched to online then hybrid within a few days.

It has some downsides, and it really depends on where you live.

I'm currently visiting a very well off part of Florida and the posing/ridiculous cars/plastic surgery/conspicuous consumption is revolting. But that's just a small part of a very big country.

I'm one of four siblings. Three of us emigrated, all to different countries, and the one whose kids seem most unhappy and to be getting the worst education are the ones who stayed in the UK. I'm very glad we left.

Benny11letters, it's a shame you are comparing only living in London with moving back to the Mid West. So many more interesting places to live and see in the UK than just London and at a fraction of the price.

@SilverOnToast

I’ve been here 5 years and love it for the most part. Have made great friends and we live in a liberal suburban utopia akin to a nineties kids movie, where neighbourhood kids play basketball in each other’s yards and we catch up over potluck dinners. Houses are huge, and all the left-wing soccer moms secretly judge the Trump supporters. I find living here equal parts hilarious and horrifying. No real understanding of environmental issues or climate change. A lot of backing up an extremely racist system (though change is happening). Horrendously high medical costs. But lifestyle is good (though we’re not rich by any means).

But I do like the US narrative that anyone can “make it”. It seemed so cheesy at the beginning when we moved, but I’ve seen how kids are built up and championed by this message and I actually kind of like it. Less pessimism in general - every time I talk to friends and family in the U.K., they seem to be moaning about something. People do have similar challenges here, but wouldn’t moan just to make small talk. Most public places are also so much more kid friendly than I remember the U.K. being. Also, we’re kind of loved because we’re British. It’s an easy icebreaker because people just want you to say things in a funny accent.

Do you mind giving me the general area of where you live now? I'd like to look into finding a community like this, as my DD is looking at accepting a US based job, but isn't sure about the move.

I’m American & living in the UK. I’ve been here 4 years & would love to move back to the US. The weather being just the start of it. I’ve also lived in Australia, and traveled a lot, and out of everywhere I’ve been I would choose to live in the US.

Haven't lived there, but regularly visit three different cities for work, and the streets are filled with tent cities, homeless people, people sleeping surrounded by all their worldly possessions, very young meth addicts with no teeth. So much mental illness on display because there's no safety net for the vulnerable.

It's a lot like being in the Walking Dead or something.

I'm sure it's very different other places.