Settled back in UK but move back to LA?

[janefondasleotard]

Hello Folks, I am in search of some much needed advice. We have a big decision to make and I am really struggling to know what to do. We lived in LA for two years with our young children. We all loved it and moved there for my husbands work. After his job finished we reluctantly returned due to the UK being a cheaper lifestyle and healthcare.

Six months down the line, my husband has been offered a great job back in LA with great healthcare. This would mean our son would return to the school and friends he loves (he has loved his UK school but has been victim of the class bully). Our other child has loved his first year of school in the UK, so would need to start his big brother's school.

Everything here is settled, great school and over time I can see myself making great friends in this new area as I can for the kids. I have lots of work opportunities here.

There is an opportunity for new experiences, a sense of adventure and great job prospects for my husband. I would need to find a job and hope to get a work visa that way (I am not sure how easy/difficult that would be at this stage). I loved it there but feel anxious that I would not have the door open to me there that I would here.

Here feels like a warm stroll through a familiar and safe landscape. There feels like the dial on life has been turned up, everything looks brighter, feels buzzier and full of possibility.

I would probably do it given that you know you like it there already. If it was an offer to go somewhere totally different I might hesitate. Only anxiety would be whether it’s not as good as you remember.

How long would this assignment be for? Is it just for another two or three years? Could it eventually lead to a green card to allow you to stay there permanently? Is that something you would want to do?

Your children sound like they are young enough for it not to be particularly disruptive to their education and you know that you enjoy living over there so those are both positives. Have you established which visa your husband's employer will be applying for?

Different country, but we were posted to another country for 18 months, we got back two years ago and on Sunday we turn round to go back again for another 3 years. Our children are young, we loved it and we would regret it if we didn't. So I think you should go back if you loved it there. Awesome opportunity.

Thanks so much for all your responses
Iamtooknackeredtorun - Yes its a good point. I know things will come up that perhaps I have forgotten. The recent earthquakes have acted as a reminder of the anxiety I had about that happening when we were living there.

Instagran- The full on part of the job would be for a year, visa would be an O1 for 3 years as there will be various things he will need to do on the job after the hard graft bit. A green card would be something we'd seriously consider and would certainly help with me being able to work. A few friends have found this to be a very costly (up to $20K!) long drawn out process. Following this job he would have a far greater chance of getting another job with a new visa. He will take the job either way as its too good a job to pass on. So the alternative would be him asking to do the second part of the job in the UK, so he's only there for 5 months with me staying here with the kids and flying them out to visit and have large breaks away from him up to 4/5 weeks at a time (which we would all find very hard, I don't have any family support network).

yoursworried - Thanks for sharing that's really encouraging to hear. A friend asked me what would be your fullest life and I guess my answer would be to go back...

The tricky bit is that I would like to work part time. I worked very hard in the evenings to get an MA while the kids were tiny and so the thought of not having a visa to work once we have settled there a big concern. I am not sure how likely it would be for me to get an interview without a working visa, whether people would even consider me as its surely a hassle and cost they would rather avoid. I have a very niche qualification but don't think I'd be an attractive candidate compared to US citizens.