American mom moving to Derbyshire

[Scorpionflower1]

Hello All,

I'm an American Californian mom of 3 daughters ages 17, 15, and 8. We're planning a move to Derbyshire this summer and I'm looking to learn as much as I can. My DSO is from Derbyshire and is currently there there looking at places. I've only visited the area once before so feel I'm flying blind.

I'm hoping to connect with some mom's in the area who may be willing to provide some insights as to living there. What towns are most ideal for families? Which towns would be most embracing of my Californian daughters and myself? Which are the best schools? I'm a corporate accountant. What areas would have the best career opportunities for my profession?

Any feedback or insights would be greatly appreciated!

When are you getting married OP? Have you not been advised to get married first due to the sort time period between you arriving and your DD1 turning 18?

Coal mining towns aren't good (in general) because we no longer have a mining industry. The towns have high unemployment as a result and tend to be very run down with the attached social issues.

lljkk- It's a stupid situation. DSO was stopped last time he was coming to visit. He was questioned on why he's coming so often. They confiscated his phone and found some text messages where DSO helped his best friend here fix a forklift at his shop. So, the US government now believes he's working here illegally. He was deported and told to apply for proper 6 month visa, which he did and was denied. He was told for us to marry then he reapply for spousal visa. We consulted immigration attorney who said that won't work as US government already believes he works here illegally, if we just up and marry they could still deny him a visa saying we married just for visa and don't have a true relationship. Their recommendation was for me to move to U.K. and we live as husband and wife minimum a year before he tries to enter US again. It's all so very frustrating. So now we're spending $10,000 just in legal & immigration costs to bring my girls and I there. Add in actual flights, buying all new furniture as I'm not bringing mine across, costs to bring out cat, etc.

We're told it does have a lot to do with the Chump administration tightening up on immigration. The number of people being questioned coming into the country has drastically increased, and not just those traveling from the countries on Chump's list. We're now seeing ICE (immigration police) conducting checkpoints and raids around southern CA and other southern states. Your cousin could probably tell you more.

Newtssuitcase- we should arrive in mid/late June under fiancé visa. We'll legally marry with a small handfasting ceremony, formal wedding to follow a year later. We'll be marrying very shortly after I arrive. I think he was saying his cousin might marry us as he's a vicor. I swear it sounds like I'm preg or something! lol I'm not nor will I ever be again! Over that! Lol We're just really ready to move on with starting our life together. The last trip he was making here was supposed to be the last. He was going to propose and we were going to out in for fiancé visa for him to come here. We were supposed to be already engaged and about to marry by now.

Ok thanks for the input on coal mining towns. I think it's harder for him as he's just seeing the area as home and not being objective to the state of things now compared to his childhood. I'll be sure to look around carefully when I'm there next month. He is saying he would like to see the girls in John Taylor for school. Is that a good area?

Hello. I'm an American who has been here for 10 years. In the nicest way possible what you're proposing is a mess for your oldest two children unless you have the money for one of the American schools. The UK system is hugely different and you really need to do lots of reading. This really might be the end of your 15 year olds chances at college.

Does anyone know much about the "Access to HE" diploma? I was just told to look into that.

You're seriously uprooting four children just to live in the UK for a year or two for visa reasons ?!

.... To live in a former mining village ?
If you're doing this as a short period of inconvenience for visa reasons then I'd strongly advise you moving to somewhere that's the best possible location for your children - not what suits your other half.
I'd suggest near Manchester because you'll find there's a lot of work there and educational opportunities for your kids. Alternatively other major towns/cities.

OP - I wouldn't come to the UK at this stage in your DC's schooling. Your 2 eldest are going to end up with no qualifications as they are not going to be able to fit into GCSE or A levels. What are your plans for their education?

It's a very bad plan to move at this vital stage of your older DCs' education. The British exams etc are totally different, two year courses taken at 16 (GCSEs) and 18 (A levels) and even were it possible to get into the most popular schools they'd be at a huge disadvantage.

I understand to some of you it doesn't make sense what we're doing. From your life experience, culture, and perspective it probably doesn't make sense. So far for us it does make sense. It's more than just visa issues to us. It's also cultural experince and could very well end up in full immigration. Not to mention a big one... family. Who knows where life will take us. It's an adventure after all. We may end up moving somewhere that neither DSO or I are from. He does want to be within 20 miles of his mum as she is getting older. He hasn't lived near her since he was a teenager.

As I mentioned from beginning posts, we're early in the process. We're figuring things out as to the details such as where we live, kids schooling, etc. I haven't even sorted out the exact budget yet, but know the £1,000 rent concept is waaaayyyy within our budget! Once I'm there next month I can get a much more realistic sense of things. My trip there next month is focusing on education for the kids first and foremost. Once we have that figured out then we're looking at housing next. I don't expect to be really looking at housing until our 3 week trip in April. My teens staying in US with my parents or attending a boarding/prep school is always an option as well.

DSO is spontaneous and is like a kid in a candy store excited we're coming over. I'm the grounded analytical one, which is why I sought this forum out for additional perspective. I'm glad I did as there's a wealth of feedback and information here! I can't thank you all enough!!!

What kind of lifestyle to you have in California?

The Peak District is beautiful, but a lot of the time in the UK going outside means 'blowing away the cobwebs' and having a 'bracing' walk. A lot of the fun of going out doors is r

Oops - recovering from being outdoors with a hot drink.

I think your DC's would struggle in a Uk Derbyshire village. Would it not be better to concentrate on living somewhere where your DC's could continue at an American school.? London? You would consider leaving your DC's back in America whilst you move to the UK!

As an accountant are you CPA qualified - if so this is unlikely to be recognized in the UK and you would probably need to take your ACCA exams first before getting an accountancy role.

Merrymouse- Currently we live in a nice forestry "small" suburb town in Orange County, CA. My teenagers don't really DO much of anything. 17yo is very introverted and obsessed with anime. My 14yo spends her time on laptop playing games or playing with some computer coding. My 8yo and I have Disneyland passes and go there most weekends. We do archery, roller skating, etc. we only visit the beach a couple times a year. I can't spend too much time in direct sun due to medical condition. I'm into board games so get together with friends for that on occasion. I think our lifestyle easily translates to there. I used to live in Kansas City where there's all 4 seasons (only get 2 in California). So, I've lived in snow, etc. When the girls were little we had a small farm with their dad. I homeschooled the kids back then, raised chickens, goats, and vegetable garden. There we did scouting, volunteer work, and 4-H club and lived about 30-45 min from a grocery store. We're very adaptable and don't live a glamorous lifestyle. Yes, we live in a very nice part of the US, but live simply.

I agree that the OP wouldn't be qualified for a job focusing on UK tax/audit/reporting but I think she wants to work in industry (management acounting?) possibly for a US organisation.

OP, in the UK accountants tend to have qualifications as well as or instead of a degree.

ACA or ACCA are required to do external audit.

CIMA is the standard management accounting degree.

Some people are qualified by experience, but its easier to get a job if you have a recognised qualification. However, if you have US experience you may have expertise that is valuable to some companies.

There are links between some UK and US professional bodies - I'd look for advice from them.

Some years, Derbyshire has 2 seasons too.
Wet windy cold & miserable.
Wet windy cold & occasionally not miserable.

Hey, you'll be near Alton Towers, at least.

ps: How much were your kids looking forward to driving?

I don't have CPA. I was considering it. I was at a crossroads in my career here, deciding on perusing financial systems analysis or progressing accounting career. I work well with the ERP systems and international intercompany transaction management is one of my specialties. So, working for an international manufacturing company is a good fit. I could possibly look at rejoining my old company but in UK division. Don't know if I want to go back to that mess though.

If my teenage daughters wanted to remain in US I wouldn't object. My son attended a preparatory boarding school in the Midwest when he was in 6th grade til high school. I don't feel the necessity to hover over my children.

Aargh! CIMA is a qualification, not a degree.

I love Chesterfield good transport links and lots to do.

Please check with your solicitor OP whether you should marry before coming over.

Accountants are supposed to be so safe & boring & OP is contemplating something so adventurous & uncertain... (maybe reckless).

You must love that guy a lot. I hope he's worth it. x

Merrymouse- You nailed it on the nose! I'm more geared towards large international manufacturing environments with ties to US. Having worked the corporate HQ's here in US there's many things that they struggle with in dealing with subsidiary locations. I'm very familiar with these and it would provide me a niche in the job marketplace. It would be very difficult for IS based corp to find something like me already in UK. I was prepared to start working this year on my certification as it is, so I'm open to doing so there. And if I did come back to US having those accredits it does enhance my career profolio as it many US accountants would have the ISB hands on experince. I do have funds coming in for support for the children to supplement finances during the transition phase. I've been in touch with Hays and Robert Half International already. They're waiting on me to give them a date I anticipate to be allowed to work and a locale. They say I'm easily employable.

Newtssuitcase- we are absolutely NOT to marry before I come. UK government can take that as ME marrying HIM just to get a visa!!!