4 Tips for Moving to the States from the UK

Statue of Liberty (image via Pexels)

Ah, America. You can love it, or you can hate it, but you absolutely can’t ignore it. It’s a cultural powerhouse, one that grabs our attention. While these days it often feels like all we hear is bad news from across the pond, it’s always worth remembering that the States still remains an incredible plan to visit and to live. When you’re actually there, the headlines that make the news are just part of the background noise; the day to day life is (mostly) fantastic. If you’re thinking of making the move to the US from the UK, then take a look below, where we outline some essential tips for making the transition as smooth as possible.

A Cultural Fit

Every time anyone discusses the United States, they talk about is if it’s just one big old country, where everything is kind of the same everywhere. This is not true -- it makes much more sense to think of America as fifty individual countries that are grouped together, or at least 11 different cultural regions. There is a huge difference between New York, and, say, New Mexico. So before you decide on where to live, think about the type of cultural region you’d like to live in. Outdoorsy vibe? Liberal politics? Cosmopolitan, traditional? They’re the important questions that need answering.

The Right Paperwork

It should come as no surprise that America is one of the most difficult places to move to. People in the UK tend to think they can move anywhere relatively freely, but the United States is different. If you’re intending on moving there, you’ll want to work with a US immigration lawyer. They’ll have the expertise needed to find the right type of visa for you, and can provide help when it comes to the paperwork. There’s no room for mistakes when it comes to your legal status -- if you get something wrong, you could face a ten-year ban, even if it was an honest mistake.

Making the Move

It’s hard enough to move down the street, let alone to another country. When it’s time to move, you’ll need to seriously think about logistics. The best method is to sell everything that doesn’t have sentimental value, and buy new belongings with the cash once you arrive. For the stuff you do want to bring, you can give the responsibility to an overseas courier. That way, you can just travel on the flight free of worries. You really don’t need to have the added headache of worrying about, say, your microwave when you could just buy a second hand one for cheap.

Prepare for Differences

Finally, prepare yourself from differences. The UK and the US are similar in some ways, drastically different in other ways. Also, the United States is not like how it is in films or television shows -- well, it kind of is, but there’s much to discover once the gloss is off. Just embrace the adventure, it is a great country, if only for a few years.