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I'm an American/Brit dual citizen but I've lived in the US my whole life...since I was 2. I'm feeling a bit of wanderlust and want to do something different for a change. I figure since I'm a British citizen that it would be fun to live over there for awhile and see places I've only read about. Obviously, I have a lot of questions.
I'm a stay at home mom and my husband makes the income for our family. How difficult would it be for him to get a work visa? He is in educational administration and has his PhD. How long does it take? How much does it cost? Is an attorney a necessity?
Also, can anyone tell me about the Leeds area? I like the idea of Yorkshire (my grandparents were from there and I'm a James Herriot fan! ). How is the job market? What about the weather? I've read that Leeds has the least rain of anywhere in the UK? Does it also have more sunshine? Or is it just cloudy but dry? Are the schools decent? I have four kids, aged 12-4. What about crime? Are their safe and affordable areas?
What about health care? For non-citizens can you buy health insurance like we do here in the States? I suppose I would be able to use the government healthcare, but what about my children? are they automatically citizens? Or would they have to apply for citizenship since they were born in the US?
What about other aspects of cost of living? The only thing I've looked at is rental properties, which seem reasonably priced. Are there other costs that are much more expensive than the US? Car insurance? Food? Utilities? (I pay about $230/month for electric and gas)? Gasoline?
Sorry for the bazillion questions. I appreciate any help or direction!
You and your children just need your British passports (in addition to your US passports). Your husband needs to apply for a spouse visa form the British consulate before moving over. This visa gives him the right to work - nothing else is required. You are all then able to use the NHS although you can buy private health insurance in addition if you want. See UK Border Agency | Husband, wife or civil partner of a British citizen or settled person
You can do it all yourself but if you feel you need professional assistance best to get a British solicitor rather than an American attorney as the latter is unlikely to know anything about British immigration law.
I grew up in Yorkshire so could answer your question about the weather - Leeds is not the driest place in the country, but is drier than the western side of the country. Cloudy, relatively dry (especially the last year or two) and mild with not much hot (or even warm! Be warned!) or particularly cold weather is the norm.
A question you didn't ask: Do you have any pets, Pegotty? If so it will cost more to get them across the Atlantic than you! See Travelling with pets « Defra
Leeds has lots of rundown areas. I would choose York or Harrogate if possible, or a host of smaller towns nearer the Herriot-style areas..
A lot of employers offer reduced price health plans. Most people use the NHS for everyday things, but it was nice when my wife was able to go private for surgery.
With public spending cuts, your husband may find the educational jobs market is tight. A lot of teachers are staying put at the moment.
Upmystreet is useful for comparing areas, and the map function on Rightmove allows you to see locations of schools, with links to Ofsted inspection reports.
Britain is quite expensive, and it is not unusual for us to pay the same amount of pounds as you do dollars.
As a lifelong Leeds resident, yes, there is a lot of rundown areas but this applies to every town and city in the United Kingdom.
The job market in Leeds is comparatively good compared to most of the UK, though I guess it depends on what type of job you do. Education is one of the biggest employers in Leeds.
Leeds is one of the driest cities in the United Kingdom, but it's cloudy.
Areas in the north and west of the city are best - places like Roundhay and Alwoodley are quite expensive but places like Horsforth, Adel and Cookridge are quite a bit cheaper . There are plenty of good schools in this area, such as Allerton High School and Guiseley School (secondary), and Adel Primary School and Alwoodley Primary School (primary), as just four examples. Crime in Leeds is above average, as is the case with pretty much any city in the UK, though most crime in Leeds is petty, i.e theft, usually in the central areas where university students live. I've lived here all my life and have never been a victim of crime.
Of course there are areas outside of Leeds such as Guiseley and Yeadon, which have good access to the city but not actually in the city itself, and have a nice small town feel. These are generally commuter towns, so a large proportion of these towns work in Leeds, shop in Leeds etc.
Guns are illegal for citizens, yes? When you speak of crime, does it usually involve illegal firearms? Or has the gov't been successful in keeping guns out of the general population?
Guns are illegal for citizens, yes? When you speak of crime, does it usually involve illegal firearms? Or has the gov't been successful in keeping guns out of the general population?
Correct. I believe you can still own a gun, but it has to be kept at a gun club. Not sure about shotguns--I think those are stil legally owned as farmers use them. I believe that Northern Ireland does have more lenient laws regarding gun ownership.
The likelihood of you becoming a victim of gun crime in the UK is still pretty remote. Most of the murders involve knife crime. The British do not have the same love of guns as Americans, nor do we think it's a necessity to own one. In saying that, I didn't agree with the handgun ban and at least somewhat support a right to bear arms, as in inside your own home, but I don't agree with being able to carry one in public unless you're a police officer. What you own in your own home shouldn't be anyone's business though.
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). How is the job market? What about the weather? I've read that Leeds has the least rain of anywhere in the UK? Does it also have more sunshine? Or is it just cloudy but dry? Are the schools decent? I have four kids, aged 12-4. What about crime? Are their safe and affordable areas?
