Do I want to be an expat?
March 14, 2016 11:52 AM Subscribe
How should my partner and I decide if he should pursue a job opportunity in the UK? Someone at an organization in England reached out to my partner to encourage him to apply for a job. My partner and I have never considered moving out of the US, but this is a very good job, and the possibility of moving to England is something we find intriguing...
But. It is a lot of work to apply for this job, and then if it is offered, the employer will want to know if he will accept it in a very short timeframe. So, it seems like we should really be on-board with the idea of moving to England before investing in the application process.
So we’re trying to figure out if we want to do this. I could use some input from any MeFites who have been in this situation—either an American moving to England for work, or more generally an American deciding whether to pursue an unexpected overseas opportunity. Here are some of the things I’m wondering about, but am also open to any and all suggestions for other things we should consider.
Work
Would I as his spouse be able to get permission to work in England? Or, would it be feasible to continue working on a contract basis for my current US-based company (assuming I can do the work remotely/time shifted)—or would there be some kind of taxes or other hurdle related to my living in another country that would make this difficult?
School
Would it be straightforward to enroll our child (13 yrs old) in school? Would it be a difficult transition academically from US public school? Would it be a problem if she wanted to return to the US to go to college (e.g., would she be considered an international student, or just a US student with no in-state options?)
Finances
How would we figure out what kind of salary would make sense? Are there cost of living calculators or other ‘rules of thumb’ to help us assess how far our money would go in the England location vs. where we live now in the US?
Living
What would it be like to be an American living in England? We have visited England many times over the last 20 years, so are familiar with the country and culture to some extent. However, I know that is not the same as becoming a full-time resident. When people do this, how many ties do they retain to the US? I guess at this point I don’t see us living in England forever, but maybe for several years? Are there things we would/could do to make an eventual return to the US go more smoothly?
Family
We have parents, siblings, and nieces/nephews in the US, but only one close family member in the town we live in. I imagine if we move to England we’d see all of them less, but we don’t see anyone (except the in-town family member) more than a couple of times a year now, so I’m thinking a reduction in that won’t be so bad. Our parents won’t live forever, but I don’t know that we should decide to pass up this opportunity because of that.
What other things haven’t we thought about?
Thank you!
But. It is a lot of work to apply for this job, and then if it is offered, the employer will want to know if he will accept it in a very short timeframe. So, it seems like we should really be on-board with the idea of moving to England before investing in the application process.
So we’re trying to figure out if we want to do this. I could use some input from any MeFites who have been in this situation—either an American moving to England for work, or more generally an American deciding whether to pursue an unexpected overseas opportunity. Here are some of the things I’m wondering about, but am also open to any and all suggestions for other things we should consider.
Work
Would I as his spouse be able to get permission to work in England? Or, would it be feasible to continue working on a contract basis for my current US-based company (assuming I can do the work remotely/time shifted)—or would there be some kind of taxes or other hurdle related to my living in another country that would make this difficult?
School
Would it be straightforward to enroll our child (13 yrs old) in school? Would it be a difficult transition academically from US public school? Would it be a problem if she wanted to return to the US to go to college (e.g., would she be considered an international student, or just a US student with no in-state options?)
Finances
How would we figure out what kind of salary would make sense? Are there cost of living calculators or other ‘rules of thumb’ to help us assess how far our money would go in the England location vs. where we live now in the US?
Living
What would it be like to be an American living in England? We have visited England many times over the last 20 years, so are familiar with the country and culture to some extent. However, I know that is not the same as becoming a full-time resident. When people do this, how many ties do they retain to the US? I guess at this point I don’t see us living in England forever, but maybe for several years? Are there things we would/could do to make an eventual return to the US go more smoothly?
Family
We have parents, siblings, and nieces/nephews in the US, but only one close family member in the town we live in. I imagine if we move to England we’d see all of them less, but we don’t see anyone (except the in-town family member) more than a couple of times a year now, so I’m thinking a reduction in that won’t be so bad. Our parents won’t live forever, but I don’t know that we should decide to pass up this opportunity because of that.
What other things haven’t we thought about?
Thank you!
Would I as his spouse be able to get permission to work in England?
I don't think we can answer that unless we know what type of visa your husband would be going in with. Is this a Tier 2 General? If so, you would have the right to work but I believe there is legislation on the table to revoke that right.
In any case, if your husband's job pays less than £35,000 a year, you'll have to return to the US at some point.
How would we figure out what kind of salary would make sense? Are there cost of living calculators or other ‘rules of thumb’ to help us assess how far our money would go in the England location vs. where we live now in the US?
There are a lot of factors here. It depends of course on where you live in the US and where in England. One general rule I think works is to ignore the USD/GBP ratio and just figure that what costs X dollars in the US, will cost you X GBP here. But its not that easy as UK jobs have more benefits, including more vacation than US jobs.
That said, London is shockingly expensive right now. You can try Rightmove to see what I mean and start 'looking' for places you would rent or buy.
When people do this, how many ties do they retain to the US? I guess at this point I don’t see us living in England forever, but maybe for several years? Are there things we would/could do to make an eventual return to the US go more smoothly?
I'm an American in the UK but I'm not sure what you mean. If you do plan on returning the main thing is to keep bank accounts etc, active which you can do while abroad. You can vote in Federal elections and the IRS will still expect you to file a tax return every year.
Flights from the East coast to London aren't that expensive and you can see family/friends in say, Boston, as frequently as you would as if you moved to San Francisco. You haven't moved to another planet.
I'm sorry but I can't answer the questions about school-age children.
posted by vacapinta at 12:18 PM on March 14, 2016 [6 favorites]
I don't think we can answer that unless we know what type of visa your husband would be going in with. Is this a Tier 2 General? If so, you would have the right to work but I believe there is legislation on the table to revoke that right.
In any case, if your husband's job pays less than £35,000 a year, you'll have to return to the US at some point.
How would we figure out what kind of salary would make sense? Are there cost of living calculators or other ‘rules of thumb’ to help us assess how far our money would go in the England location vs. where we live now in the US?
There are a lot of factors here. It depends of course on where you live in the US and where in England. One general rule I think works is to ignore the USD/GBP ratio and just figure that what costs X dollars in the US, will cost you X GBP here. But its not that easy as UK jobs have more benefits, including more vacation than US jobs.
That said, London is shockingly expensive right now. You can try Rightmove to see what I mean and start 'looking' for places you would rent or buy.
When people do this, how many ties do they retain to the US? I guess at this point I don’t see us living in England forever, but maybe for several years? Are there things we would/could do to make an eventual return to the US go more smoothly?
I'm an American in the UK but I'm not sure what you mean. If you do plan on returning the main thing is to keep bank accounts etc, active which you can do while abroad. You can vote in Federal elections and the IRS will still expect you to file a tax return every year.
Flights from the East coast to London aren't that expensive and you can see family/friends in say, Boston, as frequently as you would as if you moved to San Francisco. You haven't moved to another planet.
I'm sorry but I can't answer the questions about school-age children.
posted by vacapinta at 12:18 PM on March 14, 2016 [6 favorites]
My parents went abroad for 10 years with the Department of Defense, so I can answer a few questions for you.
First, here are a couple of resources:
Expat Forum
Expat Info Desk
Ask what their relocation package includes. It should be substantial to get most of your stuff to your new home (although, I'd ditch nearly everything and buy new once you're abroad.) There should be allowance for fact-finding trips, airfare, hotels, etc. You'll need temporary housing while your household goods are in transit because that takes FOREVER! (a couple of months.) Do they have a concierge or relocation agent who will walk you through all the processes for establishing ID numbers, enrolling in NHS, finding your rental home, starting utilities and all the other stuff we think we know how to do, until we're asked to do it in a far-off land? (Every month when my parents were in Japan, my Mom went to a special place on base and made all of her utility and rent payments, because they don't use checks in Japan.) You want someone who can guide you through all the stuff.
School: It may make sense to send your child to the International School, rather than the local schools. Often Ex-Pats are provided an allowance for this. Ask for that. Here is a short blurb about enrolling your child in an UK school, looks like private school to me. The upside is that university is less expensive in Europe, so rather than attend school state-side, your child may opt to stay in the UK for school.
Living: Please don't be that American who views European homes and complains about how small everything is. You might find an American Style place where you're going, but it's okay to scale down to accommodate your new adventure. My parents lived in a traditional Japanese house in Japan, they has to sign a lease that specified that no shoes were ever to be worn in doors. In Germany, they had a 5 story townhouse with an all Sieman's kitchen. There was a bakery at the bottom of the hill, so instead of stocking up American-style, my folks grocery shopped every day European-style (fresh bread at every meal is not a hardship.) Don't worry so much about getting your furniture to fit into your new digs. Perhaps now is the time to sell what you have and resolve to buy new things once you've sussed out the living situation. Ikea is pretty nifty.
Work: Trailing spouses don't automatically get permission to work. If you can continue to work with your US employer, that would be optimal. Your taxes will get complex. Ask if they'll pay for you both to file the appropriate tax returns in both countries.
Permanent US Address: You are going to want to have a Permanent US address. You will register to vote, get US drivers licenses, receive mail and have a state tax base. I lived in Florida so my parents used my address as their permanent address. (No state income tax.) You'll want to pick a family member who will cheerfully forward your mail, receive your internet orders, etc and who won't balk at doing this for the long haul in that area. This may preserve an in-state option for your child, especially if you're paying state taxes.
Plan B: Be sure there's enough in savings to get you all home again should your husband lose this job. The permission to work in the country comes with the job, if the job goes away that might be in jeopardy. Be sure there's a clause in the contract that says that there's a termination bonus so y'all can get home again if need be.
Family: You will be amazed at how many folks will be incented to come visit once you're overseas. So that's on the upside. You can also negotiate for Home Leave. They should provide airfare and time for returning home to visit with family and friends. With Skype now, you can have face to face talks with all your mishpocha!
I'm very interested in working abroad and my company allows it, so I'm hanging tight to see what happens. (Especially with this election...) I'm biased, it was a fantastic opportunity for my parents to travel, Ryan Air and trains make getting away for the weekend super easy, so you can explore all of Europe. Even if it were Leeds or Cornwall or Manchester, I'd be ALL over this. Regarding your child, 13 is a GREAT time to do this! She'll be starting high school, which would be an adjustment anyway, so much better than after her first year of high school.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:23 PM on March 14, 2016 [3 favorites]
First, here are a couple of resources:
Expat Forum
Expat Info Desk
Ask what their relocation package includes. It should be substantial to get most of your stuff to your new home (although, I'd ditch nearly everything and buy new once you're abroad.) There should be allowance for fact-finding trips, airfare, hotels, etc. You'll need temporary housing while your household goods are in transit because that takes FOREVER! (a couple of months.) Do they have a concierge or relocation agent who will walk you through all the processes for establishing ID numbers, enrolling in NHS, finding your rental home, starting utilities and all the other stuff we think we know how to do, until we're asked to do it in a far-off land? (Every month when my parents were in Japan, my Mom went to a special place on base and made all of her utility and rent payments, because they don't use checks in Japan.) You want someone who can guide you through all the stuff.
School: It may make sense to send your child to the International School, rather than the local schools. Often Ex-Pats are provided an allowance for this. Ask for that. Here is a short blurb about enrolling your child in an UK school, looks like private school to me. The upside is that university is less expensive in Europe, so rather than attend school state-side, your child may opt to stay in the UK for school.
Living: Please don't be that American who views European homes and complains about how small everything is. You might find an American Style place where you're going, but it's okay to scale down to accommodate your new adventure. My parents lived in a traditional Japanese house in Japan, they has to sign a lease that specified that no shoes were ever to be worn in doors. In Germany, they had a 5 story townhouse with an all Sieman's kitchen. There was a bakery at the bottom of the hill, so instead of stocking up American-style, my folks grocery shopped every day European-style (fresh bread at every meal is not a hardship.) Don't worry so much about getting your furniture to fit into your new digs. Perhaps now is the time to sell what you have and resolve to buy new things once you've sussed out the living situation. Ikea is pretty nifty.
Work: Trailing spouses don't automatically get permission to work. If you can continue to work with your US employer, that would be optimal. Your taxes will get complex. Ask if they'll pay for you both to file the appropriate tax returns in both countries.
Permanent US Address: You are going to want to have a Permanent US address. You will register to vote, get US drivers licenses, receive mail and have a state tax base. I lived in Florida so my parents used my address as their permanent address. (No state income tax.) You'll want to pick a family member who will cheerfully forward your mail, receive your internet orders, etc and who won't balk at doing this for the long haul in that area. This may preserve an in-state option for your child, especially if you're paying state taxes.
Plan B: Be sure there's enough in savings to get you all home again should your husband lose this job. The permission to work in the country comes with the job, if the job goes away that might be in jeopardy. Be sure there's a clause in the contract that says that there's a termination bonus so y'all can get home again if need be.
Family: You will be amazed at how many folks will be incented to come visit once you're overseas. So that's on the upside. You can also negotiate for Home Leave. They should provide airfare and time for returning home to visit with family and friends. With Skype now, you can have face to face talks with all your mishpocha!
I'm very interested in working abroad and my company allows it, so I'm hanging tight to see what happens. (Especially with this election...) I'm biased, it was a fantastic opportunity for my parents to travel, Ryan Air and trains make getting away for the weekend super easy, so you can explore all of Europe. Even if it were Leeds or Cornwall or Manchester, I'd be ALL over this. Regarding your child, 13 is a GREAT time to do this! She'll be starting high school, which would be an adjustment anyway, so much better than after her first year of high school.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:23 PM on March 14, 2016 [3 favorites]
Others have given the answers I was going to give, but I strongly recommend the excellent forums at UK Yankee for all of these questions. They are a fantastic resource.
posted by Happy Dave at 12:26 PM on March 14, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Happy Dave at 12:26 PM on March 14, 2016 [2 favorites]
Rightmove is a good way to get an idea of rental/property purchase prices in the area(s) you're interested in. The majority of properties sold and rented in the UK are advertised there.
posted by terretu at 1:02 PM on March 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by terretu at 1:02 PM on March 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
I can't speak to the rest of it, since I was the kid in this scenario when my parents did this, but you might want to look into the two American Community Schools in London. That's where I went, since my family was only going to be there for a year, so it made sense to keep my brother and I in US-equivalent school. If you graduate from ACS you can earn an International Baccalaureate degree, which I believe opens up college opportunities on the continent, but also allows you to go back into the US college system easily. Look into whether your husband's employer will fund schooling, because I believe the ACS schools are quite pricey and I know tuition there was part of my dad's compensation package.
posted by MsMolly at 1:12 PM on March 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by MsMolly at 1:12 PM on March 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
The answer to your question is, "Yes, of course you should take this opportunity."
[I am this person. We've been here nearly 5 years now. Please feel free to memail if I can answer questions.]
posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 1:28 PM on March 14, 2016
[I am this person. We've been here nearly 5 years now. Please feel free to memail if I can answer questions.]
posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 1:28 PM on March 14, 2016
Having done this (as a New Zealander, though, not an American) I think you should do it. It was great. Vacapinta's advice above is (unsurprisingly) good.
The number one question you need to answer before you think about anything else is what visa your spouse will be on? Because obviously if you can't get a visa, you can't go.
So the very first thing I would do is go back to the prospective employer and ask if they are willing to sponsor your husband under Tier 2 of the work visa programme. (It's unclear from the detail you provide whether your husband would be eligible under Tier 1, but it seems unlikely: see here for criteria. There are also entrepreneur and investor visas, but I'd imagine that if he's working for someone else he wouldn't be eligible for those).
If they won't sponsor him, your chances of actually getting there could be low.
[Source for all this: have lived and worked in the UK, twice, as a non-EU citizen and monitored changes to immigration rules very closely].
Some other points:
Work: you're almost certainly going to be able to work legally, either for your US company or for a local one. See Points-Based System: Dependents Guidance (bottom of page 8, para 39). I've done this. It's fine.
Finances: A lot of organisations have published their policies on relocation packages, especially universities. The cap seems to be 8000 pounds, due to tax law. So it's worth asking. Hard to answer your question about cost of living without knowing where you are, where you're going, and what the salaries are.
Living: if you're renting, UK flats are generally rented furnished, even including stuff like sheets. In the 9 years I lived in London I barely bought anything. I agree it would be better to wait and see what your new place is like. I wouldn't ship stuff there, personally.
Hard to tell what it's like living in England as an American without knowing where you will be. In London, (almost) everyone's a foreigner. Somewhere like Southend might be a bit different...
Education: Can't help you with schools. Shouldn't be that hard to enrol though. A bit down the track, but English universities are not cheap. They're claimed to be even higher than the USA, on average. Note that those 6000-9000 pound fees are for domestic students; foreigners might pay more. [Sidenote: this is why comparisons between the USA and "Europe" aren't always helpful; fees in England are not the same as Germany, or even Scotland!]
posted by Pink Frost at 4:56 PM on March 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
The number one question you need to answer before you think about anything else is what visa your spouse will be on? Because obviously if you can't get a visa, you can't go.
So the very first thing I would do is go back to the prospective employer and ask if they are willing to sponsor your husband under Tier 2 of the work visa programme. (It's unclear from the detail you provide whether your husband would be eligible under Tier 1, but it seems unlikely: see here for criteria. There are also entrepreneur and investor visas, but I'd imagine that if he's working for someone else he wouldn't be eligible for those).
If they won't sponsor him, your chances of actually getting there could be low.
[Source for all this: have lived and worked in the UK, twice, as a non-EU citizen and monitored changes to immigration rules very closely].
Some other points:
Work: you're almost certainly going to be able to work legally, either for your US company or for a local one. See Points-Based System: Dependents Guidance (bottom of page 8, para 39). I've done this. It's fine.
Finances: A lot of organisations have published their policies on relocation packages, especially universities. The cap seems to be 8000 pounds, due to tax law. So it's worth asking. Hard to answer your question about cost of living without knowing where you are, where you're going, and what the salaries are.
Living: if you're renting, UK flats are generally rented furnished, even including stuff like sheets. In the 9 years I lived in London I barely bought anything. I agree it would be better to wait and see what your new place is like. I wouldn't ship stuff there, personally.
Hard to tell what it's like living in England as an American without knowing where you will be. In London, (almost) everyone's a foreigner. Somewhere like Southend might be a bit different...
Education: Can't help you with schools. Shouldn't be that hard to enrol though. A bit down the track, but English universities are not cheap. They're claimed to be even higher than the USA, on average. Note that those 6000-9000 pound fees are for domestic students; foreigners might pay more. [Sidenote: this is why comparisons between the USA and "Europe" aren't always helpful; fees in England are not the same as Germany, or even Scotland!]
posted by Pink Frost at 4:56 PM on March 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
I went abroad for a work opportunity for one year, and I'm still abroad 20 years later-- so I obviously found it a good choice. You've gotten some great answers to your questions, so I won't repeat those. The one piece of urgent advice I will give you is that your taxes will become complex, and the anti-terrorism rules make for increasingly high stakes for mistakes. I would strongly advise you to ask for tax preparation as part of your package and don't try to do them yourself. The risk is less on the actual paying taxes side and more on the risk of reporting.
I would also advise that if you have a tax or investment advisor in the US, you need to talk to them about any retirement investments you might have should you go abroad. It shouldn't be a huge problem, but some funds *really* don't like non-residents because of new reporting requirements, and you would rather know any potential consequences up front.
posted by frumiousb at 6:25 PM on March 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
I would also advise that if you have a tax or investment advisor in the US, you need to talk to them about any retirement investments you might have should you go abroad. It shouldn't be a huge problem, but some funds *really* don't like non-residents because of new reporting requirements, and you would rather know any potential consequences up front.
posted by frumiousb at 6:25 PM on March 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Fabulous info and things to think about, thanks so much to all of you!
This is for an academic position at an Oxbridge university, so any further thoughts about those cities/that scenario definitely welcome. I don't know what type of visa it would be under, that question will be at the top of our list for follow up...
posted by msbubbaclees at 6:51 PM on March 14, 2016
This is for an academic position at an Oxbridge university, so any further thoughts about those cities/that scenario definitely welcome. I don't know what type of visa it would be under, that question will be at the top of our list for follow up...
posted by msbubbaclees at 6:51 PM on March 14, 2016
This is for an academic position at an Oxbridge university
Be damned sure you understand that particular culture before making such a move. It's quite different in one way or another from just about every U.S. university. Are you comfortable being expected to put on a gown and eat at High Table regularly? Are you okay with working at a school that openly discriminates against some of its own students (go look at one of the beautiful schools founded in the fourteenth century and then at a redbrick or two)? Does your husband (assuming he's not a research fellow) want to teach tutorial-style?
Also, I can't speak for Cambridge, but Oxford is a startlingly small town. Given the size of the student population, I pictured an urban life like that of, say, Ann Arbor. Nope.
I don't want to be excessively negative, because most of it is a matter of taste and preference (though the unequal facilities at the colleges gross me out even though I was at one of the nice medieval foundations), but it's really important to understand what you'd be getting into.
posted by praemunire at 10:13 PM on March 14, 2016
Be damned sure you understand that particular culture before making such a move. It's quite different in one way or another from just about every U.S. university. Are you comfortable being expected to put on a gown and eat at High Table regularly? Are you okay with working at a school that openly discriminates against some of its own students (go look at one of the beautiful schools founded in the fourteenth century and then at a redbrick or two)? Does your husband (assuming he's not a research fellow) want to teach tutorial-style?
Also, I can't speak for Cambridge, but Oxford is a startlingly small town. Given the size of the student population, I pictured an urban life like that of, say, Ann Arbor. Nope.
I don't want to be excessively negative, because most of it is a matter of taste and preference (though the unequal facilities at the colleges gross me out even though I was at one of the nice medieval foundations), but it's really important to understand what you'd be getting into.
posted by praemunire at 10:13 PM on March 14, 2016
Hi, American here, who moved to the UK as the trailing spouse of an academic.
Part one:
Work
As noted above, your right to work is dependent upon your visa status. If your partner is an academic, you might want to look into spousal hires. Even if you're not an academic, if the department (especially Oxbridge) is enthusiastic about your partner, they may be willing to place you in an administrative/teaching/non-academic role. Contract work is also possible--there are a few people I know loosely through social media expat groups--who are in similar arrangements. The taxation could become a bit complicated, especially depending on your income levels. FATCA, for example, is the foreign-earned income tax applied to all US citizens living abroad, wherein income under ~$100K earned overseas is not taxed, but anything over is, so you might be subject to double taxation if you get over that limit. There are also rules about capital gains and property that I'm less familiar with, but you might want to discuss with a tax advisor skilled in US-UK issues, especially if you have property and investments in the US.
School
We don't have kids, so I can't speak to this personally. From what I've heard in expat groups here, schools are well-regarded. Oxbridge might be a different world, more competitive, etc. Residency requirements for in-state/in-country tuition might be tricky for her, but I suspect she would be able to get in-state tuition in the state you're currently living. For the UK, it would likely depend on her visa status, length of residence, etc.
Finances
Oxbridge is definitely less expensive than London, but more expensive than other places due to the universities. I'd suggest you look at gumtree or rightmove and browse property listings for an idea of housing costs. (You'll also want to investigate fees like council tax, water, garbage, etc.) My experience here is that some things are much more expensive than in the US, and others less so. There are also, of course, differences in what you might expect for how far your pound will go. Housing in the UK tends to be smaller, older, and a bit futzier. (Also perhaps more charming and with more character!) But it may be a departure from what you and your family are accustomed to in the US.
posted by stillmoving at 2:10 AM on March 15, 2016
Part one:
Work
As noted above, your right to work is dependent upon your visa status. If your partner is an academic, you might want to look into spousal hires. Even if you're not an academic, if the department (especially Oxbridge) is enthusiastic about your partner, they may be willing to place you in an administrative/teaching/non-academic role. Contract work is also possible--there are a few people I know loosely through social media expat groups--who are in similar arrangements. The taxation could become a bit complicated, especially depending on your income levels. FATCA, for example, is the foreign-earned income tax applied to all US citizens living abroad, wherein income under ~$100K earned overseas is not taxed, but anything over is, so you might be subject to double taxation if you get over that limit. There are also rules about capital gains and property that I'm less familiar with, but you might want to discuss with a tax advisor skilled in US-UK issues, especially if you have property and investments in the US.
School
We don't have kids, so I can't speak to this personally. From what I've heard in expat groups here, schools are well-regarded. Oxbridge might be a different world, more competitive, etc. Residency requirements for in-state/in-country tuition might be tricky for her, but I suspect she would be able to get in-state tuition in the state you're currently living. For the UK, it would likely depend on her visa status, length of residence, etc.
Finances
Oxbridge is definitely less expensive than London, but more expensive than other places due to the universities. I'd suggest you look at gumtree or rightmove and browse property listings for an idea of housing costs. (You'll also want to investigate fees like council tax, water, garbage, etc.) My experience here is that some things are much more expensive than in the US, and others less so. There are also, of course, differences in what you might expect for how far your pound will go. Housing in the UK tends to be smaller, older, and a bit futzier. (Also perhaps more charming and with more character!) But it may be a departure from what you and your family are accustomed to in the US.
posted by stillmoving at 2:10 AM on March 15, 2016
Part two!
Family
Being away from family can be hard when milestones or hardships come to pass (births, illness in family, weddings, graduations, etc.), as it can be difficult to pick up and go visit on short notice, and expensive when you consider travelling with a family of three. However, with Skype, email, Whatsapp, etc., I've found that I am in pretty constant contact with folks back home. It does feel a bit farther (perhaps knowing the effort/finance/distance required to visit) but totally reasonable. Like you, I didn't leave a tight-knit family that was nestled in one spot. I think it is much harder for expats who have those situations back home.
Other
Another financial consideration is the cost of moving alone. When we made the move, we had to maintain two households (US-UK) for the first couple of months as we transitioned. It was very expensive, not just because of double rents, deposit, airfare, etc., but lots of hidden costs (visa fees, background checks, etc.) We also pared our belongings down to 2-3 suitcases each, so had to buy a lot of stuff new here. I do think this makes more sense, as many homes in the UK are furnished, and if they're not, the differences (power outlets, bed size, furniture/room size, etc.) are great enough that the cost of shipping our belongings was prohibitive. That said, if your spouse is offered a job, there will likely be a relocation/moving bonus that should be generous, and you can likely negotiate for more.
TL;DR:
Being an expat is a fun and interesting thing to do, and if you have the opportunity, and it makes sense for you and your family, you should go for it. I'm still getting my head on straight here, but finding it easier every day. You will have moments of angst and miss home. The role of trailing spouse can be challenging, so I would explore more of the options for you. I think that your daughter would have a blast and likely pick up a bit of an accent. It can be expensive, but with good support from the university, it's completely feasible. Look into tax implications for your family. Sign up for frequent flyer programs so you can get free trips back home.
Memail me if you have more questions or want to chat. I'm also happy to send your questions round to some of the expat groups to ask for more input if that'd be helpful.
posted by stillmoving at 2:27 AM on March 15, 2016
Family
Being away from family can be hard when milestones or hardships come to pass (births, illness in family, weddings, graduations, etc.), as it can be difficult to pick up and go visit on short notice, and expensive when you consider travelling with a family of three. However, with Skype, email, Whatsapp, etc., I've found that I am in pretty constant contact with folks back home. It does feel a bit farther (perhaps knowing the effort/finance/distance required to visit) but totally reasonable. Like you, I didn't leave a tight-knit family that was nestled in one spot. I think it is much harder for expats who have those situations back home.
Other
Another financial consideration is the cost of moving alone. When we made the move, we had to maintain two households (US-UK) for the first couple of months as we transitioned. It was very expensive, not just because of double rents, deposit, airfare, etc., but lots of hidden costs (visa fees, background checks, etc.) We also pared our belongings down to 2-3 suitcases each, so had to buy a lot of stuff new here. I do think this makes more sense, as many homes in the UK are furnished, and if they're not, the differences (power outlets, bed size, furniture/room size, etc.) are great enough that the cost of shipping our belongings was prohibitive. That said, if your spouse is offered a job, there will likely be a relocation/moving bonus that should be generous, and you can likely negotiate for more.
TL;DR:
Being an expat is a fun and interesting thing to do, and if you have the opportunity, and it makes sense for you and your family, you should go for it. I'm still getting my head on straight here, but finding it easier every day. You will have moments of angst and miss home. The role of trailing spouse can be challenging, so I would explore more of the options for you. I think that your daughter would have a blast and likely pick up a bit of an accent. It can be expensive, but with good support from the university, it's completely feasible. Look into tax implications for your family. Sign up for frequent flyer programs so you can get free trips back home.
Memail me if you have more questions or want to chat. I'm also happy to send your questions round to some of the expat groups to ask for more input if that'd be helpful.
posted by stillmoving at 2:27 AM on March 15, 2016
...wherein income under ~$100K earned overseas is not taxed, but anything over is, so you might be subject to double taxation if you get over that limit...
Good advice above but I want to clear up this one point. There is no double taxation. The UK-US have tax treaties to avoid this. Above the limit, you simply claim your UK taxes paid as tax credits. These are applied to your US taxes. Since the UK tax rate is higher than the US, you'll end up with nothing owed to the US and a lot of leftover tax credits.
Definitely get the employer to pay for a tax adviser the first year at least. After that, it is not that difficult to do them yourself - thats what I do.
FATCA (and FBAR) is something different and is about letting the US govt know about your foreign financial accounts - which you will have once you get established here.
posted by vacapinta at 2:51 AM on March 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
Good advice above but I want to clear up this one point. There is no double taxation. The UK-US have tax treaties to avoid this. Above the limit, you simply claim your UK taxes paid as tax credits. These are applied to your US taxes. Since the UK tax rate is higher than the US, you'll end up with nothing owed to the US and a lot of leftover tax credits.
Definitely get the employer to pay for a tax adviser the first year at least. After that, it is not that difficult to do them yourself - thats what I do.
FATCA (and FBAR) is something different and is about letting the US govt know about your foreign financial accounts - which you will have once you get established here.
posted by vacapinta at 2:51 AM on March 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
if you're renting, UK flats are generally rented furnished, even including stuff like sheets.
Although you can rent furnished flats, the majority are unfurnished (for example, I just did a random search on Rightmove for places to rent in Cambridge - 83 furnished, 164 unfurnished). I have never experienced renting a furnished place which included sheets etc. Maybe if you are in a serviced apartment or a long-term holiday let, but in your average furnished rental place, "furnished" means there's a sofa, table and chairs, and beds with bare mattresses. Washing machine and fridge are almost always included as standard in both furnished and unfurnished. Drier and dishwasher may or may not be there.
Keep in mind the £35,000 salary restriction on non-EU workers. Right now the government really doesn't like immigrants, even the white American ones.
Here is a short blurb about enrolling your child in an UK school, looks like private school to me. The upside is that university is less expensive in Europe, so rather than attend school state-side, your child may opt to stay in the UK for school.
That blurb is advice for schools accepting students, not advice for parents, so probably isn't that useful. Also it refers to all schools not just private ones. Also also, "Europe" is a large and diverse place - universities are expensive here in England (£9k/year for UK citizens) and massively more expensive for non-UK citizens. The universities make huge profits off foreign students, so keep that in mind.
Advice for expats entering kids into UK schools that is probably more relevant.
...and if they're not, the differences (power outlets, bed size, furniture/room size, etc.) are great enough that the cost of shipping our belongings was prohibitive.
Also you have to wait weeks for the container ship with your furniture to arrive, so you'll either be living in an empty house or need to buy furniture anyway.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 3:39 AM on March 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
Although you can rent furnished flats, the majority are unfurnished (for example, I just did a random search on Rightmove for places to rent in Cambridge - 83 furnished, 164 unfurnished). I have never experienced renting a furnished place which included sheets etc. Maybe if you are in a serviced apartment or a long-term holiday let, but in your average furnished rental place, "furnished" means there's a sofa, table and chairs, and beds with bare mattresses. Washing machine and fridge are almost always included as standard in both furnished and unfurnished. Drier and dishwasher may or may not be there.
Keep in mind the £35,000 salary restriction on non-EU workers. Right now the government really doesn't like immigrants, even the white American ones.
Here is a short blurb about enrolling your child in an UK school, looks like private school to me. The upside is that university is less expensive in Europe, so rather than attend school state-side, your child may opt to stay in the UK for school.
That blurb is advice for schools accepting students, not advice for parents, so probably isn't that useful. Also it refers to all schools not just private ones. Also also, "Europe" is a large and diverse place - universities are expensive here in England (£9k/year for UK citizens) and massively more expensive for non-UK citizens. The universities make huge profits off foreign students, so keep that in mind.
Advice for expats entering kids into UK schools that is probably more relevant.
...and if they're not, the differences (power outlets, bed size, furniture/room size, etc.) are great enough that the cost of shipping our belongings was prohibitive.
Also you have to wait weeks for the container ship with your furniture to arrive, so you'll either be living in an empty house or need to buy furniture anyway.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 3:39 AM on March 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
Thank you for clarifying the tax issue, vacapinta! I am still sorting things out.
posted by stillmoving at 3:40 AM on March 16, 2016
posted by stillmoving at 3:40 AM on March 16, 2016
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posted by k8t at 11:56 AM on March 14, 2016