Moving from US to Scotland

[BecksHD]

Hiya, my partner and I met in Glasgow, which we both loved, but due to jobs we're currently living in the US. It’s been 10 years since we were in Scotland and a lot has changed. Our son was born here and is now 6. I now have a job with telework flexibility where I could move us back to Scotland—I’m keen to go but my partner is worried about a lot: where to move to that’s better for a child and still well connected with transport, when is the best age to move him, will our lack of credit hurt chances to own property, will a kid with an American accent be bullied considering the horrific politics we have over here, etc etc. Neither of us are UK citizens—he’s Irish with a career that would be sought after in the post-Brexit world, and I’m US. Any advice, particularly on places and best ages to move with a child? Would love to hear if anyone has made this big move before! Thanks in advance!

We’ve made this move - we didn’t face credit problems as we had left a UK bank account open before we left for the US, we certainly faced mortgage and credit problems when we moved to the US and got a stinking rate on our first mortgage.

You probably should look into that aspect, credit history seems to be one of the things that doesn’t travel so if you need a mortgage or credit quickly it may well tricky, if you’ve a significant deposit I expect that’ll help.

I remember being turned down for a Target credit card when both of us had extremely good jobs due to lack of address history.

If firms can’t run decisions through computer programmes it can be very hard.

Perhaps call a few big banks to get their advice on whether these days they would accept a US credit history or if you’d be starting from scratch.

I do hear a lot about Scotland’s internationalist credentials and certainly American mums at the dcs’ schools aren’t unusual.

You need to have a clear view about whether you are happy to take the risk that Scotland leaves the UK, nationalist feeling high here and constant talk of more referendums with the economic and other uncertainty that creates.

If it was me, I’d probably wait a few years for brexit and independence talk to shake out, never easy moving kids but up to the critical secondary level exam approach it’s definitely doable.

id be interested to know what is attractive about moving from USA to scotland ?

beautiful landscape. Beautiful landscape. Did we mention the landscape?!? Fantastically interesting but sad history.

Friendly people (not so friendly if they’re nationalists and you aren’t though), a bit more community than parts of southern England, but less sense of community than some US areas (depends where you are).

As a parent, working hours shorter, leave policies much more generous and part time work more available, those are big reasons to move anywhere in the EU over the US.

I presume you would want to be close to either Glasgow or Edinburgh? Plenty of good , travellable places to live and some decent places, some not so good.

Expect that some will presume you have a hotline to the President whoever it may be and that you are his/her personal mouthpice.

That said Scotland is a lovely country, some eedjits and a lot of good people. Check the reputations of the schools and tehir achievements before enrolling ds.

Acn you give us an idea of what lines of work and where you will locating?

your kid will be the most popular kid - I remember we had an american boy join our class and we all wanted to be his friend. For good transport links, good education, clean air etc you might want to look at stirlingshire (great history), east dunbartonshire (posh), west dunbartonshire (loch lomond is beautiful and only 45 mins by train from Glasgow)

Our part of Glasgow is full of families who have moved to the area from all over the world. My primary school age child has kids in his class whose parents are French, Australian, Brazilian, New Zealanders and lots more. Honestly, a 6 year old with an American accent would be the class celebrity, the other kids would think it was achingly cool.

Agree that Glasgow or Edinburgh and surrounding areas probably the best bet, depending on work possibilities.

OP--

There is a wonderful community site called:

www.talk.uk-yankee.com

It is a resource for Americans who are planning a move to the UK run by Americans who have done what you want to do and can give you advice.

Good Luck!

Time to move? I'd do while still primary age or just as going to high school.

I have no idea about finances and mortgages etc, but in terms of location, I can't recommend Stirling-shire enough. Easy access to Glasgow and Edinburgh if required, great schools, lovely countryside, loads to do for kids and families, great to get up to the highlands.

Kids don't care about politics really and I wouldn't think he'd be targeted for his accent. More likely to be popular as he'll be "exotic" :o