Canadians & Americans in the UK » work permits

Interview With an American Expat in London & Fellow Blogger

Victoria Westcott — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:03:32 +0000

Today I am excited to share an interview with Kristina Smith from “American Expat in London” fame. She took the time to answer common questions about moving to the UK from the states and what her life is really like in London. Thanks Kristina!

Read on my friends…

Name: Kristina Smith

Current Location: London, UK

Home town: Orginally from Hickory, NC. Most recently from Seattle, WA-which is ‘home’ to me.

Education (if relevant): Undergrad in Accounting from UNC-Charlotte (*so* not relevant any longer, thank goodness!). MBA from UNC-Chapel Hill. Concentration in Marketing. Definitely relevant…

Hi Kristina. Thanks so much for letting me interview you for this little blog. So you are an American now living in the UK, and specifically in London.

When did you make the move across the pond?

I landed on March 1, 2008.

Why did you decide to move to London?

I relocated with my company. I’d always wanted to live abroad, and knew I’d never have such an opportunity practically given to me like this. So, I decided to take full advantage.

What was the visa process like for you?

I got lucky. My company handled all of the ugly paperwork for me. I completed the application, and gathered all of necessary documentation, but in terms of actually liasing with the British Consulate, that was all handled for me. Talk about being made to feel like you have to prove your worth! Literally.

Do you have any stories to share about flat hunting in London?

Well…my first experience was quite easy-again, thanks to the corporate relo. I worked with a company who specializes in helping expats flat hunt. The 2nd time I searched for a flat-to move in with my boyfriend-was on my own. I can certainly say, I’ve probably had both ends of the spectrum by now. The truth of the matter is: the rental market-and aproach to renting is so completely different from the US (except perhaps NYC?…), and Rental agents can be vultures. Sorry. Not all, but a good number of them; and, some companies are good-some certainly aren’t. I’ve been fairly fortunate wtih both of mine, but have heard the horror stories. Regardless, a good starting point-whether you have help or not-is www.findaproperty.com it’s like a ‘clearing house’ of rental properties that most, if not all, agencies post their property to. Provide your post code, and a few details of what you’re looking for, and voila.

Contrary to what I’ve heard about landlords, both of mine have been exemplary. The contract that is used is *definitely* in the landlord’s favor-and makes me rethink the silly one-pager I’m using to rent my place back in the US- but assuming your landlords are reasonable humans, actual dealings with them shouldn’t be that bad.

What do you do in the UK? (Job that is…)

I’m in Search Marketing (PPC & SEO) for a large, online retailer.

Was it easy to find this job? Can you tell us more about the job application process?

Well, since I transferred with my company from headquarters to the UK, my process wasn’t like it is for most. That being said…for the particular field that I’m in, I don’t think I could live in a better city for what I do. The Search industry is very strong here, a bit more advanced than in the US, and unlike the US…people in this space are refreshingly open about what they do-and what they do for their companies. I really enjoy it, and at this stage in my career, am appreciative of the experience.

To the general question about job searching…like flat-searching, it’s also a different beast. Agencies (Recruiters) are the norm here. I don’t know of many people who don’t have their current positions not due to a recruiter. I’m not even sure if some companies hire in the more direct approach (ie internal recruiting) from the US. Recruiters are very direct here-I probably get a phone call a week, and a ping on LinkedIn weekly. I recognize that the level of activity is somewhat due to my industry, but nonetheless-if you’re looking for a job here, get yourself on LinkedIn!

Okay, so now that we understand your life history in regards to moving to London and what your work is, let’s get into some more nitty-gritty details.

What do you absolutely love about your life in London?

Borough Market on Saturday mornings, free museums and the vast selection of plays to be able to attend, the ability to ‘pop’ over to the continent-for next to nothing-for the weekend, public transportation (I know, I know-it can be a nightmare, but comparitvely, it’s leaps ahead of the US). I’ll stop there-I could probably list another 10 things!

And what could you do without?

Tourists who clog up the sidewalks, the intrusion of my personal space when on said public transport, and the cost of living. I could also probably list another 10 things, but will try to stay positive.

Do you miss “home”? Or do you call London your home now?

There are days when I miss Seattle, my friends & family, a good, cheap-meal, and a good IPA to the point it physically hurts. Then, there are days when I’m so flipping happy to be here, I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. Which side of the coin seems to change almost as frequently as the weather here.

Who are your friends and community? Do you mostly spend time with other Expat Americans or do you have other friends as well? Were there any cultural barriers to overcome?

My friends here fall into 2-3 clusters….Expats (and a few who aren’t) from work, my British boyfriend-and his friends-many of which are mine now, and other various, random folks that I’ve met-thru pup quiz, industry events, friends of friends (of friends…). It’s a somewhat diverse group. Probably 50% US; 40% Brit; 10% ‘other’.

Cultural barriers?…yes and no. I’ve thought a lot about this in the two years I’ve been here. I think the ‘cultural barriers’ I’ve personally experienced have nothing to do with differences between the US & UK. Rather, my experiences are due to living in a truly *big* city for the first time. I think that’s where I’ve struggled the most. I’m not used to the crowds-and the need to be aggressive to sometimes get from point A to B, and the brusque attitude you can sometimes encounter. I don’t think that’s a UK thing-I think it’s a big city thing.

The actual ‘cultural’ differences don’t seem too noticeable to me. Again, having thought about this a bit, I think it’s due to having been raised in the South. I see a lot of similarities in the culture of the South-and British culture, and think that becuase of this, it was an easy transistion for me. Either that, or I’m completely oblivious!

But, the fact that my bf is British certainly helps. He gives me ‘street cred’ immediately when we’re out & about, and I’m sure I’ve picked up on cultural bits from him-even subconsciously-that have made my living here seem so smooth.

In terms of lifestyle, what do you think is different about your lifestyle in the UK compared to your lifestyle in the states? And what’s the same?

WHERE DO I BEGIN?!?!?

In short, everything-both good and bad: I walk, I don’t drive. I pay more for rent here than my mortgage in the US. I never wear a shoe that’s higher than 1 inch. I drink coffee without half & half. I get tons more vacation. I don’t exercise as much, but I drink more. I eat less Asian food, but more Mediterannean food. I don’t go shopping every other weekend, and buy more ‘stuff.’ I realize how good the customer service in the US is now-actually, make that *exemplary.* I don’t go out during the week as spontaneously as I used to-but at the same time, have more scheduled social events.

If you could offer any advice to fellow Americans considering the move to the UK, what would it be?

Whew. Where do I begin?…Brace yourself! I think you won’t even realize how valuable of an experience living in the UK has been-until you move back to the US. Assuming you do!..

Thanks so much Kristina! I really enjoyed this interview. Keep up the great blogging!

Check out Kristina’s blog here & please tell her that I sent you. Thanks!

Any other questions for Kristina? Please share your thoughts in the comments, and be sure to let me know if you know of another blogger I should interview for this blog. Thanks.

First Things First: Moving to the United Kingdom from Canada or the USA

Victoria Westcott — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:13:12 +0000

Since I’ve been writing this blog for a few months, I figure it’s time to review the steps you need to take to move to the United Kingdom from Canada or America.

Step One: Legalities

Can you legally make the move to the UK? It’s not enough to have a Canadian or American passport!

Check out this blog post:

How to Get a Visa or Work Permit to Work or Study in the UK

Step Two: Bank Accounts, Accommodations and Flights

Once you know you can legally move to the UK, you’ll want to start getting everything in order to make the actual move.

How to Set Up a UK Bank Account From Abroad
How to Get a Cheap Flight to the UK from Canada or America
How to Find a Flat in the UK - watch this space for more details about my arrangement with London Relocation Services. They help you get a flat within 24 hours, and I’m working with them to get you a great deal on their services. Watch this space!

Step Three: The Job Hunt

Depending on your profession, this might actually be step 1 or 2. In any case, here are my two cents:

How to Get a Job in the UK

Step 4: Network with other Canadians and Americans in the UK

Make new friends! You are not the first American or Canadian to move to the United Kingdom, so why not make some new friends with others in the same boat as you across the pond?

How to Network with Other Canadians & Americans in the UK

Step 5: The Nitty Gritty – Health Care, Packing, Electricals, Shopping, Flights, Send Money “Home”…

Wow! That’s a whole lotta information that I wish I had when I moved to the United Kingdom from Canada. I hope it helps you.

I am currently looking for more ideas for this blog. Please help! What would you like to see on here? Any ideas? Please share your thoughts below.

How To Get a Visa or Work Permit to Work in the UK

Victoria Westcott — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:39:00 +0000

Before you even consider moving to the UK to work or study, you will need to see if you can legally make the move. It’s not enough to have an American or Canadian passport!

Visas and Work Permits for Canadians & Americans to work in the UK:

UK Ancestry – Commonwealth citizens (Canadians!) with a grandparent born in the UK can apply for a visa called UK Ancestry.This visa gives you 5 years in the UK and does not restrict your work or study. You have to prove your blood line to your grandparent, which means that you need long form birth certificates for your grandparents, your parents and you. These are not to be confused with regular birth certificates. It’s a completely different piece of paper, and isn’t just a longer piece. It’s actually called “Long Form Birth Certificate” and you won’t believe how many people mess this up. It doesn’t matter if your grandparents are no longer living, as long as you can get their forms, which you will likely have to order from the region they were born in. My grandmother was born in Dartmouth, UK so I called their office for the Register of Births & Deaths and got the form no problem. The cost varies year to year, but I gather it’s only a few hundred dollars now to apply for this visa.
Youth Mobility Scheme – formally known as the Working Holiday Maker Visa, and also known as Tier 5. This visa is for commonwealth citizens under the age of 31 with 1600 pounds in their bank account. It gives you 2 years in the UK, and again your work is not restricted. This is the most common visa for Canadians to get. Just click on the link and follow the steps. You have to go to a Worldbridge office in Canada and get “biometrics” done, which is simply having your photo taken and your fingerprints done. Kirbie has written a good step-by-step guide for other Canadians to follow.
Student Visa – aka Tier 4. If you want to study in the UK, and have the funds to do so, then this is the visa for you. It isn’t cheap! This is from their website: “On a course of more than 9 months you will be required to show that you have the first year of the tuition fees plus either £7200 or £5400 depending on whether you intend to study inside or outside of the Inner London Boroughs” The plus side here is that you can legally work up to 20 hours/week on a student visa, so once you’re there you should be able to make some cash on the side.
Highly Skilled Migrant Visa- If you have a Masters Degree or PHD and work in a field that is desirable for the UK, then you can try to get this visa. Do the “points calculator” first to see if you are eligible to apply. If you don’t have enough points, you should be able to figure out how to get more points (ie, go back to school, or get a job where you earn more money before you try again). This is the visa that most American workers try to get.
Work Permit – aka sponsorship. Americans used to get this one more often than not, but it is becoming more dificult with the financial crisis on our hands. Companies are laying off workers, not looking for workers abroad as a general rule of course. There are always exceptions! In a nutshell, you need to get a company to “sponsor” you, which means that you are tied to that one job if you manage to get it.
None of the Above? Try here. This includes spousal visas, dependents, etc.

Here are some more resources & online forums that discuss visas and work permits for Canadians & Americans to work in the UK:

Canuck Abroad: Visas & Immigration Online Forum – Most, if not all of your questions will be answered in this forum. Please look through the forum before you post your question as you won’t be the first one to ask.

UK Yankee – Visa & Immigration Forum – useful info for Americans who want to move to the UK.

American Expats in the UK – more info for Americans looking at moving to the UK.

There are hundreds of companies that claim to help you get a visa to work in the UK. Be careful! You pay them to assess your ability to get a visa, and ALL of this information is online and free. There are immigration lawyers that will charge a fortune to help you, and they may be successful or they may not. Be sure to read the fine print.

Questions? Comments? Confusions? Wanderings? Advice? Please leave your thoughts below.