Moving to the UK?

September 18, 2005 9:30 PM

My wife and I would like to move from the US to the UK. How difficult is it?

We own our own business, which will continue operations in the US after we leave. We have good managers in place, so there's no concern about selling the company. In fact, we would like to expand to the UK. Our business is essentially a brokering business with a potential market in the UK. Any input, ideas, or feedback?

posted by yaquina27 to travel & transportation (9 comments total)

are you looking for feedback on expanding your business? Or do you want input on the personal impact (setting up a new home, making new friends, learning a new culture, etc.) of moving to a new country?
posted by luneray at 9:34 PM on September 18, 2005

If you've got £200,000 to throw into setting up a UK subsidiary, you shouldn't have trouble getting a work permit. There are other options if you're an innovator, though as an owner, you can't work as a 'sole representative'.

But what luneray said.
posted by holgate at 10:29 PM on September 18, 2005

From the UK Home Office:

Working in the UK.
Who requires a work permit.

That website seems a bit flaky - if you get a blank page, hit reload.
posted by normy at 10:50 PM on September 18, 2005

If you've got £200,000

£200,000 = $360,000. No problem.
posted by wsg at 11:47 PM on September 18, 2005

My wife and I moved from Australia to the UK for a couple of years, it was a great experience, and I would love to return one day.
If you have a serious business, which it sounds like you do, I am sure an accountant can establish a subsidiary company in the UK that can employ you to work for them.
It seemed to me that if an employer was keen enough to get you then the UK Home Office would be prepared to grant the appropriate visas.
This might obviate the need to furnish the 200 large and business plan requirements Holgate's link lists.
Note also that the link says you can stay for 1 year, then potentially a further three. Once you have legally resided in the UK for 4 years you can apply for permanent residency, and some years after that, citizenship.
posted by bystander at 4:32 AM on September 19, 2005

Want great cities, as much music, art and culture as you could want, wonderful people, awesome countryside and "interesting;" weather? Try Scotland, who actively seek newcomers to live and work.
posted by brautigan at 5:38 AM on September 19, 2005

Oh, and if you insist on working in England, you can be in London, by air, in less than 2 hours from most Scottish cities.
posted by brautigan at 5:42 AM on September 19, 2005

Luneray, sorry for the late response, but I've been away from the computer for a while. I'm trying to figure out the best way to make the move happen, and I threw in the info about my company because I thought it might make for some flexibility with the way I approached the move (I won't be looking for a job somewhere else). So I'm not looking for feedback on growing my company as much as trying to figure out the best way to approach the move with UK immigration to make sure things go smoothly.
posted by yaquina27 at 2:44 PM on September 19, 2005

If you're just looking to move over, and don't need to worry about silly little things like employment, or earning a wage, then why not just take a series of extended holidays instead?

Buy a house over here, come over when you want, stay as long as your visa will allow you - then go back to the States for a quick holiday, see your friends, and then come over again.

Alternatively, look at http://www.britainusa.com/visas/other_show.asp?SarticleType=25&Other_ID=616 to see which visa might best apply to you. Of course, if you state that you have no intention of working or claiming benefit over here, that will help your case most enormously. As will £200,000+ in used notes.

Now.. if you can help me live in the USA ... ;-)
posted by badlydubbedboy at 4:23 AM on October 5, 2005