How to arrive and thrive in the UK

176 Pages·2016·1.28 MB·English

by  Vaughan Vandenberg

H A
OW TO RRIVE AND
T UK
HRIVE IN THE
http://www.ukimmigrate.co.uk
December 2017 (35th) Edition
Copyright © Vaughan Vandenberg 2002-2017
1
- Author's Notes PLEASE READ (It’s in your interest to do so) -
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2
T C
ABLE OF ONTENTS
Introduction
Section 1 Visas Page 7
The different types of passports and visas involved
If your spouse has a British, EU or EEA passport
The British government’s points-based Tier system
Very important: Some visa planning that needs considering
The 'Where' and the 'What' of a typical visa
Tier 1 - Highly Skilled Workers, Investors, Entrepreneurs and post-study workers
Tier 2 – Sponsored Skilled Workers (known as a “work permit”)
Tier 3 – Low Skilled
Tier 4 – Students
Tier 5 – Temporary workers, Youth mobility
Ancestry Visa
Fiancé(e) Visa
Permanently joining your UK partner
Right of Abode (Certificate of Entitlement)
Visitors' Visa (aka Tourist Visa)
Where to find all the visa information that you could ever need
Some other useful resources
Section 2 Timing your move & The Final Countdown Page 25
With more 3 months to go
With 2 months to go
With one month to go
With a few weeks to go
With a week to go
The big day
Section 3 Arrival in the UK Page 33
Clearing Immigration Control
Getting on your way
Finding temporary accommodation
Sharing
Hostels
Hotels and B&Bs
Communications
Telephone
Mobiles (aka cell phones)
Post
The Internet
All-in-one
Section 4 Tax and other things you will need to know Page 41
Income Tax
National Insurance ("NI")
Council Tax – DONT FORGET ABOUT THIS
Capital Gains Tax
Vehicle Registration and Road Tax
Television Licence
Value Added Tax ("VAT")
Driving Licence
Registering with a doctor and dentist
Pregnancy, birth and children’s healthcare
Maternity leave rights and tax credits
Childcare options
3
The Electoral Register
Section 5 Opening a Bank Account Page 47
The reality is…
When you find a bank
When you have an account
Section 6 Public Transport Page 50
The Tube
London buses
Mainline trains
Taxis
Travelling by coach
Section 7 Accommodation Page 54
The awful truth
The types of accommodation in the UK
How to decide where to live
The rental market
How to find a place to live
How the renting process works
Buying property
Section 8 What Do Things Cost? Page 61
What is affordable?
Transporting your shopping
Groceries
Other retailing
Eating Out
Buying, owning and selling a car
Section 9 Employment in the UK Page 67
The way the labour market works
How and why recruitment agencies exist
How to approach agencies
How the agencies may deal with you
The Big Secret
Some agency tricks
How to deal with agencies
The importance of the job interview
Useful websites
Section 10 The UK Weather Page 73
The facts
Useful tips
Section 11 Language Page 75
Making sense of it all
Some British slang
Some British expressions
Section 12 UK Facts and Figures Page 78
4
Population and Area
Official Languages
Climate
Religions
Economy
Administrative curiosities
Children
Currency
Banking
Debit and Credit Cards
Useful Formulas
Interesting and useful websites
Appendix A Checklist for UK immigration Page 80
FREE Bonus - UK Education Report Page 81
FREE Bonus - British CV Template Page 97
FREE Bonus - British employment interview guide Page 101
FREE Bonus - Culture Shock guide Page 168
5
I
NTRODUCTION
People tend to under-estimate what is involved in moving to another country, even if the move is temporary. There are
many reasons for this. The strongest reason is psychological in that people tend to only see the things that they want
to. The consequence of this is that people arrive aware of only the positive aspects of where they are moving. They are
almost oblivious of the downsides or obstacles awaiting them. To compound matters there is the natural ignorance of
the practical matters involved in settling in another country. Being able to deal with the unexpected challenges is what
makes the difference between success and failure, amongst other things.
This guide is dedicated to detailing the intricacies of relocating to the United Kingdom and providing solutions to
common problems encountered by new arrivals. The subjects covered are a broad collection of issues that will touch
anyone arriving in the UK. Each subject is covered in depth so as to provide the reader with more than enough
knowledge to make an informed decision about how to deal with an issue or to decide on a course of action.
Where possible, hypertext links to relevant websites have been included. This is so to allow for the reader being able to
quickly and easily locate the most up to date information on the subject being discussed. It is assumed that the typical
reader of this guide has access to the Internet. If this is problematic for some, it is suggested that the addresses of the
links are written down and a visit is made to someone who does have Internet access. To facilitate this the full
addresses of all websites are spelt out in the link.
Photographs included are intentionally made on the small side so as to minimise the overall size of this document. For
clearer viewing feel free to resize the image to a size of your liking. You do so in MS-Word by clicking once on the
image, positioning the mouse over a corner so that an arrow appears and then dragging the arrow, whilst holding the
mouse button down, to another position on the page. The image should enlarge once you let go of the mouse button. If
you think the photos unnecessary, feel free to delete them, but remember to save the document under a slightly different
name so that you will always have the original.
This guide in no way is intended to persuade, attract, lure, entice or interest anyone in moving to the United Kingdom. It
would be irresponsible to do so. It is also far too big a decision for anyone to make on someone else's behalf. It is a
very personal and private decision. An individual has to be very clear about their motivations for making such a move.
It is this motivation that will see them through any tough times encountered.
This guide will greatly improve a person's initial experiences after arriving in the UK. It is not a panacea and does not in
any way guarantee success. No guide, book, formula or such like can guarantee anyone success because each of us
is different. We are all equipped with our own unique strengths and weaknesses. It is up to each person to make the
best of their circumstances using what resources, physical and psychological, that they have at their disposal. This
holds true whether you're emigrating or not, but if you're unaware of this, then emigration will never let you forget this. It
will be one of many valuable life-lessons that emigration teaches people.
"How to arrive and thrive in the UK" will save you needless heartache, speed matters up, save you money and ultimately
make for a better experience when settling in the UK. I repeat, it does not guarantee success in your move. It can only
take you so far and do so much for you. That is where your personality and motivations need to carry you further.
Nobody will visit countless estate and recruitment agents for you. This guide will show you what is involved, how things
work in the UK, what to watch out for and how to go about doing certain tasks. However, it is up to the individual to use
this knowledge whilst persevering and adapting to their unique circumstances.
Seen globally, many people migrate in this age. The vast majority succeed in attaining their goals. A small minority
return to where they came from. It is not an impossible mission, but having this guide can only but help you in relocating
to the UK. I hope that you enjoy reading this guide and that it helps you.
Vaughan Vandenberg
December 2017
6
- Section 1 -
V
ISAS
The different types of Passports and Visas involved
At the time of writing Brexit negotiations are still ongoing. Until further notice, in order for someone to live and work in
the United Kingdom, you have to have one of the following:
 A British Passport that states that you are a British Citizen
 An European Union passport
 An European Economic Area passport (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland)
 An entry clearance visa (which is where the 5 Tier visa system comes in, but other visas exist too.)
If you do not have a passport of the first 3 types of passport mentioned above (or are married to someone who does),
then you will need to secure a visa. Visa requirements and substantiating paperwork differ slightly in each country that
Britain has a diplomatic presence. It is up to each individual wanting to enter in to Britain, to contact their local British
visa-issuing office to find out what the exact requirements are for their nationality. You can find your nearest office at:
https://www.gov.uk/world
Visa requirements are always changing, albeit slightly and application-processing times vary. The details of visas that
follow are best considered as minimum requirements.
Arranging visas and obtaining all the necessary supporting documentation is not a cheap or quick process. People who
require a visa and who arrive in the UK without one will be sent back to their home country at their own expense. If your
employer is transferring you, they will need to apply for a work permit for you. There are a number of ways to get an
entry clearance visa, but these depend on your individual circumstances.
You can learn more about some of these specialist visas via the following British government website:
https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas
Please also use the link that appears in the last section of this chapter to visit the
government website that always has the most up-to-date visa details.
Applying for a visa for the United Kingdom can be a daunting task. They will not allow the application to proceed unless
you have all the necessary paperwork in order first. You should start the application for your visa at least 3 months prior
to your anticipated departure date. It is also wise to not resign from your job, order airline tickets and such like until you
have seen the visa in your passport.
Visas fall under the control of the Home Office, which is the British government equivalent of ‘Home Affairs’ or ‘Internal
Affairs’. This department has the responsibility for many other areas of British life. Their website address is:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office
The directorate (sub-department) that you will get to know very well that deals with visas is called 'UK Visas and
Immigration' - UKVI. Its website is linked to in various places in this chapter. Please read everything that follows now,
rather than skip to the end of the chapter.
If your spouse has a British, EU or EEA passport
What was once a simple procedure has become a bureaucratic nightmare at the hands of hasty politicians who haven't
thought things through. The current system, as it stands, is under legal review at the European Court of Justice. If the
system is forced to change, it won't happen quickly. If this visa option applies to you then you will need to keep an eye
on it by regularly visiting the link provided below.
If a couple both have an EU passport in their own individual right, then no problem. Both can come to the UK instantly.
The problem comes when you have a British passport and your spouse does not have an EU passport (or vice versa).
See the link provided that follows.
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You need to secure what is known as an “EEA family permit”. You can read more here: https://www.gov.uk/family-
permit and if one of you has an EEA or EU passport then read here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eea-family-permits-eun02/eea-family-permit-eun02
The initial permit is valid for 6 months and if you wish to stay longer a permanent permit needs to be secured. Then
there are all sorts of requirements that need to be met. The most problematic one is having an income of over £18 600
per year. You can read more about the long-term visa here: https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa
It would solve many problems if your EU passport is not British and your country of issuance will grant your spouse an
EU passport too. How long this takes varies between countries, but it's usually a couple of years of marriage at best.
The British government’s points-based Tier system
The vast majority of people reading this guide will require a visa of some sort. Therefore any visa requirement changes
being implemented will affect you. It is in your interest to be aware of the current situation as well the future options
available to you.
As the UK became more integrated with the European Union (EU), more people from the EU were settling in the UK.
The UK’s immigration needs for able people with good skills was largely being met from the EU. Consequently it
gradually tightened up the visa access routes for non-EU people. Now after voting in June 2016 to leave the EU, at the
time of writing, the UK's visa policy is in limbo. Immigration was the hot topic of the EU referendum and there is now a
slight bias against it. While negotiations are under way for the UK to leave the EU the eventual outcome is not clear.
What is clear is that it will become even harder than ever to secure a visa for the UK.
At the beginning of 2008 the United Kingdom began to implement this overhaul of its immigration law and procedures. It
introduced a points-based system for non-European Union migrants wishing to come to the UK to live, work, study or
train. The immigration system is divided into a five tiers that replaces the previous 80+ visa routes that existed. Each tier
has different conditions, entitlements and entry requirements for migrants wishing to work in the UK. Each ‘tier’ was also
implemented at a different date.
The more skills you have and the more those skills are in demand, the more points you will gain, thus boosting your
likelihood of gaining a visa and success in the workplace after arrival.
There are five "tiers" within the points scheme within which people applying to work in the UK are categorised. Each tier
has identifiable visas within it. The tiers are:
Tier One: Highly skilled
The most skilled professionals will have enough points to come to the UK without a job offer and seek work or set up a
business. This tier includes highly-skilled professionals, entrepreneurs, top scientists and business people. Tier One
was the first part of the system to be rolled out at the end of June 2008. Workers in this category have the most flexibility
in the UK and greatest opportunities to settle. The authorities deem people who meet this tier’s requirements as being
the most desirable immigrants, pretty much like any other country. However, since April 2011, only 1000 of these visas
are granted each year.
Tier two: Skilled with job offer
This tier covers people with qualifications or work-related experience in sectors experiencing labour shortages. It
replaces what was previously generally encapsulated by the term 'work permit'. Roles range from health service workers
to certain white-collar jobs and blue-collar jobs in the trades. People in this category will be given points on their talents
and will be allowed into the UK if they have a job offer in a UKVI-designated "shortage area". British employers who
sponsor people will need to register with and be approved by the UKVI as a sponsor. The UKVI will bar employers who
don't meet strict criteria from sponsoring and bringing in non-EU workers. Tier two came into force in November 2008.
This tier will be of interest to most people reading this guide. In April 2011 an annual quota of 20,700 visas was imposed
on this tier.
Tier three: Low skilled (NOT BEING ISSUED)
Until 2008 the British government has allowed temporary migration for people from all over the world to do manual
labour jobs in hospitality, food processing and agriculture. It is has now removed these visas in favour of workers from
the expanded European Union, who do not need prior permission to arrive. No date has been set for this tier to be
activated as current workplace needs are being met by EU workers. This might change.
Tier four: Students
This tier came into force in April 2009 and it encompasses people who are paying for tuition and further education in the
UK. British universities and colleges increasingly depend on the income from overseas students. Many British
educational institutions have developed formal links with their counterparts abroad and are keen to expand on these
links. Tertiary education is becoming a growth industry in the UK.
8
Tier five: Temporary workers, Youth mobility
This encompasses professional sports people or musicians, who want to "work" in the UK for an event such as the
Olympics, a football match or a concert. The youth mobility aspect to this tier also covers cultural exchanges or working
holidays by young people. A variety of unheard of and sometimes bizarre government-approved schemes also
offer a visa route to people who do not qualify for other visas.
Each tier has its own points threshold. As the UK economy rises and falls, so will the points requirement for each tier. In
good times when there are labour shortages, then the points required will be quite low. In tougher times, the points
required will be higher. Quotas can also be used per visa category.
VERY IMPORTANT - Some visa planning that needs considering
(BE SURE TO READ)
If you are intent on coming to the UK for only a short period of time (a year or two) then selecting the right visa isn't a
life-or-death type decision. However, if you want to live in the UK indefinitely, then you need to spend some time on
carefully planning your visa route.
Not all visas automatically mean you'll be able to remain in the UK permanently. The general rule of thumb is that if your
visa allows you to stay in the country for 5 or more years, then at the end of that 5-year period you can apply for
'Indefinite Leave to Remain' (ILR) which is permanent residence. British citizenship (passport) can then be applied for
one year after permanent residence is obtained. This system is under review and likely to change.
The notable exception visas, which preclude anyone from going for permanent residence, are those of being a student
of any kind, visitors for specialised medical treatment and working holidaymakers. However, these aforementioned visas
should not be ignored totally. They can be used as stepping-stones or starting points to other visas that lead to ILR.
For example, many Americans and other nationalities find securing a suitable long-term visa for the UK problematic. A
route that works for those determined and resourceful enough to see it through is the following: come over on a student
visa (or other short-term visa), then find yourself someone to sponsor you for a work permit and then you can apply for
ILR. (See the 'Bonus Education Report' at the end of this document for more information about the working rights of
students and their spouses in the UK.)
Even if you do not qualify for a visa today, this does not mean that you never will ! You can take steps to position
yourself to eventually qualify for a suitable visa. For example, the ‘Tier 1’ visa allows highly qualified people to come to
the UK – you can thus get yourself a qualification by studying (perhaps even in the UK), which ultimately takes you a
step closer to a visa.
Another route would be to contact recruitment agents and prospective employers (especially if you’re skilled in a niche
trade) to sponsor you with a work permit in the hope that eventually one of these approaches pays off. This strategy
requires a lot of effort, patience, persistence and determination. It is absolutely vital to have a well written CV in the
British format and being able to interview well over the phone and in person. In fact, these two skills are crucial to your
success in the British labour market. (See the bonuses attached.)
INSIDER INFO: An Irish passport is valuable since it is an EU passport which allows you to live and work
unfettered in Britain. If you have Irish roots this can be surprisingly easy to secure. An individual
whose mother or father was an Irish citizen at the time of that individual's birth is, by that fact, also
an Irish citizen. This is, however, subject to the completion of certain procedural formalities. An
individual whose grandfather or grandmother (but not his or her parents) were born in Ireland may
become an Irish citizen through descent by taking the formal step of registering their own birth.
A guide very similar to this one, but for Ireland, explaining the above processes can be found at:
www.arriveandthrive.com/ire/index.htm
INSIDER INFO: Many Americans and Canadians could find the British Universities North America Club (BUNAC)
scheme an interesting option which you can visit at: http://www.bunac.org/usa/intern-

abroad/professional/britain This scheme allows recent graduates of North American universities
the opportunity to work legally in the UK for six months, which can be a stepping stone to finding
.
an employer to sponsor a full work permit This is a Tier 5 visa.
9
The 'Where' and the 'What' of a typical visa
The best way to find out if you can get a visa is to visit your local British High Commission or embassy website which will
have up to date information. A good starting point website is listed at the end of this chapter. The precise rules,
procedures and requirements for visas constantly change - almost weekly.
The High Commission or embassy websites tend to be well presented and give you all the information that you may
require. Most importantly they offer the ability to download the relevant forms. This gives you the application forms you
need, but also details what documents you will currently need to present for your specific case in the country in which
you are applying.
The process broadly involves a mixture of the following steps and required papers:
1. Application forms - go to the local British embassy website to download, or a visa agency or phone in for them.
2. Passport - check the expiry date and make sure it has enough time left on it to more than cover the period you
think you will need it for. Make sure that there are enough blank pages left in it for further visas.
3. Proof of accommodation - you may need proof of having somewhere to stay once you arrive in the UK. This
proof can be a pre-paid hotel confirmation, a landlord's letter or a letter from a homeowner (with a copy of their
title deeds).
4. 2 Passport Photographs - these have to be colour photographs.
5. Proof of funds – it is recommended that you have at least £4,000.
6. Bank statements - these must be the 3 most recent months and should not be obtained from an ATM machine.
7. Copies of Qualifications - these should be certified by the relevant body or a commissioner of oaths.
8. The correct fee - in cash (no cheques or credit cards are usually accepted).
9. Marriage Certificate – if required, it is essential that this be a full unabridged certificate (not necessarily the
certificate received at your marriage).
You might have to attend an interview in person at the High Commission/embassy or provide additional written
information, but this is rare in most countries. This naturally costs more time and money on your part.
If you are applying by post, send your passport and papers by registered mail or courier to ensure it does not get lost. It
may be worth the cost and trouble to ensure that the passport and papers are returned in the same manner. Visa
processing times vary and can take from 2 to 8 weeks depending on seasonal demand, location and backlog. It is
prudent to phone the High Commission/embassy before you send anything to them to check for delays before buying
tickets and making firm plans.
INSIDER INFO: If a British embassy is in a Commonwealth country, then it is called a High Commission. Any
Commonwealth country's embassy in the UK is also called a High Commission. Most High
Commissions are in London.
A detailed description of the most commonly granted visas now follows. Other possible
visas not covered here are best dersonally bealt with py contacting your local British visa-
issuing office or consulting the UK Visas and Immigration Agency website linked to
throughout this text.
The first and most popular visa to be detailed in this chapter is the Tier 1 – the Highly Skilled Worker.
Tier 1 - Highly Skilled Workers, Investors, Entrepreneurs and post-
study workers
This category replaces the following visas which were issued in the past that you might have heard of: 1) Highly
Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) 2) Self-employed lawyers 3) Writers, artists and composers 4) Business persons 5)
Fresh Talent working in Scotland 6) Innovators and 7) International Graduates Scheme
Tier 1 of the UK's points-based system is for high-value migrants and currently contains 5 categories. The objective of
this tier to allow in people who have skills, experience and/or capital that can help drive the British economy forward. It
is geared toward people who would be an asset to any country and are likely to fill positions or create jobs in industries
that Britain is struggling to do domestically.
The current Tier 1 categories are:
10