You’re standing in a rainy Heathrow terminal, clutching a passport and a dream of endless sunshine or maybe just a bigger fridge. It’s a classic trope. But honestly, moving to america from uk is less about "Finding Your Spirit" and more about finding a way to explain to a US border agent why you’re carrying three boxes of Yorkshire Tea in your checked luggage. It is a massive, life-altering headache that is somehow still worth it.
The reality? It’s complicated.
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Most people think it’s just about the visa. Wrong. That’s just the cover charge to get into the club. Once you’re in, you realize the drinks are expensive, the music is different, and nobody knows how to use a roundabout. You’re trading the NHS for a deductible you can’t pronounce and 25 vacation days for... maybe ten if you're lucky.
The visa hurdle is actually a wall
Let’s be real. Unless you’re a specialized neurosurgeon or you’ve fallen head over heels for a Texan you met on vacation, getting a green card is a slog. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) doesn't make it easy.
The H-1B visa is the one everyone talks about. It’s the lottery. Literally. You can be the best coder in Shoreditch, but if your name doesn't get pulled from the digital hat, you're staying in the UK. Then there’s the L-1 visa, which is the intra-company transfer. This is the "golden ticket" for many. If you work for a multinational with offices in New York or Chicago, they can just slide you across the Atlantic. It’s cleaner, but you’re tied to that employer. If they fire you, you have 60 days to pack your life into a suitcase and vanish.
Don’t forget the O-1. The "Extraordinary Ability" visa. Sounds fancy, right? It is. You have to prove you’re at the top of your field. Think Olympic athletes, Oscar winners, or researchers with a stack of peer-reviewed papers. If you’re just "pretty good at marketing," this isn't the one for you.
Your credit score doesn't exist anymore
This is the part that genuinely shocks people. You could have a perfect credit rating in London. You could own three properties and have never missed a payment in your life. The moment you land in JFK, you are a ghost. You are a financial nobody.
American banks do not care about your UK history.
You’ll try to get a car loan and they’ll look at you like you’re a teenager asking for a mortgage. You have no FICO score. Without that three-digit number, the American dream is on hold. You’ll likely have to start with a "secured credit card" where you give the bank $500 just so they’ll let you spend $500 of your own money. It feels insulting. It takes about six months to a year of diligent spending on gas and groceries before you’re "real" enough to get a decent interest rate on a Ford F-150.
Healthcare is a full-time job
In the UK, if your arm falls off, you go to the A&E. You wait six hours, they stitch you up, you leave. Maybe you pay for parking.
In America, healthcare is a commodity. Even with "good" insurance through your job, you’re looking at premiums, copays, and deductibles. A "premium" is what you pay every month just to have the card in your wallet. A "deductible" is the amount you have to pay out of your own pocket before the insurance company even starts helping.
I’ve seen Brits move over and get hit with a $1,500 bill for an ER visit because they had a bit of a stomach ache. You learn very quickly to call a "Primary Care Physician" or go to an "Urgent Care" clinic instead of the hospital. Also, "In-Network" vs. "Out-of-Network" is a game you have to learn to play. If your doctor is in-network but the guy who reads your X-ray isn't? Well, get your checkbook out.
The cost of living is a lie
People see the salaries in the US and their eyes pop. $120,000 for a role that pays £50,000 in Manchester? Sign me up!
Slow down.
Everything is more expensive in ways you don't expect. Sure, gas (petrol) is cheaper. But your car insurance will be double. Your phone bill will be $80 instead of £15. And then there’s the tipping. You aren't just tipping 10% for a nice meal. You’re tipping 20% for coffee, 25% for a haircut, and $2 per drink for a bartender who just opened a bottle of Bud Light. It adds up.
Also, property taxes. If you buy a house in Texas or New Jersey, you might be paying $10,000 to $15,000 a year just in taxes to the local government. That’s on top of your mortgage. In the UK, Council Tax feels like a bargain by comparison.
Taxes follow you home
The IRS is the most powerful entity on the planet. If you are a US Green Card holder or a citizen, you have to report your global income to them. Forever. Even if you move back to the UK ten years from now, if you kept that Green Card, you're filing US taxes. The UK and US have a Tax Treaty to prevent double taxation, which helps, but the paperwork is a nightmare. You’ll end up paying an accountant £500 a year just to tell the US government that you don't owe them any money.
Culture shock is subtle but real
You speak the same language. Sorta.
You’ll say "trousers" and they’ll think you’re weird. You’ll say "half past six" and they’ll stare at you blankly (they prefer "six-thirty"). But the real shock is the pace. Americans work hard. The "hustle culture" isn't just a meme; it’s the default setting. People talk about their jobs at dinner. They answer emails at 9 PM on a Saturday.
And the food? Portions are massive. Bread is weirdly sweet. If you want a decent loaf of sourdough, you’re going to a specialty bakery and paying $9. But the Mexican food? It’ll change your life. You’ll realize that what we have in the UK isn't Mexican food; it’s a sad, spice-less imitation.
Transportation: You need a car
Unless you are moving to New York City, Chicago, or maybe parts of San Francisco, you are tethered to a vehicle. Public transport in most US cities is, frankly, abysmal. You cannot "pop to the shops" on foot. The shops are three miles away across a six-lane highway with no sidewalk.
Moving to america from uk: The logistics of the jump
Shipping your life across the ocean is a logistical puzzle. You have to decide: sell everything or ship it?
Shipping a 20-foot container will cost you anywhere from £4,000 to £7,000. It takes about 6-8 weeks. Do not bring your appliances. US voltage is 110v; UK is 230v. Your Dyson vacuum will literally melt if you plug it into a US outlet with a cheap adapter. Your kettle? It’ll take twenty minutes to boil. Sell the electronics and buy new ones at Target when you arrive.
Actionable steps for your move
Moving to america from uk requires a cold, hard strategy. Don't just wing it.
- Secure the Social Security Number (SSN) first. You can't do anything without it. Not even get a library card in some places. Apply the second you’re legally allowed to after entry.
- Get a US-based credit card early. Check out companies like Nova Credit. They can sometimes use your UK credit history to get you started with a "real" US credit card so you aren't stuck with a $200 limit for a year.
- Negotiate your relocation package. If a company is moving you, ask for "Gross-up" on your moving expenses. This means the company pays the taxes on the moving allowance they give you. Otherwise, that £5,000 moving bonus is actually £3,500 after the taxman takes his cut.
- Budget for "The First Month Gap." You’ll need a deposit for an apartment (usually 1-2 months' rent), a deposit for your utilities, a car, and insurance. Most people need about $15,000 to $20,000 in liquid cash just to survive the first 30 days of "setting up."
- Join local expat groups. Find the "Brits in [City Name]" Facebook groups. They are goldmines for finding out which local doctors take your insurance or where to find actual bacon that isn't just crispy strips of fat.
- Check your qualifications. If you’re a nurse, teacher, or lawyer, your UK credentials don't just transfer. You might need to sit the Bar exam again or do a state-specific teaching certification. Do this research before you resign from your UK job.
The move is a marathon, not a sprint. You'll spend the first year feeling like an alien. You'll miss Greggs. You'll miss the banter. But then, one morning, you’ll drive down a wide-open road under a massive blue sky, grab a coffee that’s actually hot, and realize you’ve finally made it. Just remember to drive on the right.