30M American Looking for Advice on Skilled Visa Emigration to UK
Posted by HotelCaliformula@reddit | expats | View on Reddit | 11 comments
I’m curious what starting points people would recommend for emigration to the UK via a Skilled Worker visa. My company has an office in London and is approved by the Home Office for Skilled Worker visas (this has been an opportunity I’ve been interested in pursuing prior to our election as well for both professional development and personal affinity reasons -- I have a great relationship with my London colleagues and occasionally support their work, and I have visited London multiple times so I know it's an environment I would be comfortable committing myself to). My job as a communications/PR professional would also qualify as an eligible occupation. My company doesn't have explicit internal guidance on transferring or applying to postings in other offices, so would the next logical step to be applying within my company for a role sensible for my professional development that is based out of our London office? Does anyone have other tips or guidance they’d recommend on initial steps to consider? Thanks!
OkTax444@reddit
American in the UK here! I've been here 12 years and I'm leaving for Australia in March. Before today, the UK has not been much different to the USA. Obviously now it all changes, but unless your salary will be £50-60k plus, you cannot survive in London.
LyleLanleysMonorail@reddit
What visa are you getting for Australia?
OkTax444@reddit
Already got my 462 granted
HotelCaliformula@reddit (OP)
The role I’m looking at would likely put me in the higher end of that range, but that’s useful information to have. I’m nowhere near this step in a practical sense, but I’ve also been looking at flats just to get a sense of what would be available in my budget, and I’m pretty happy with the options open to me with that salary. If you don’t mind my asking, I’m also curious what thoughts or advice you have on things to keep in mind or things you wish you knew at the early stages of deciding you wanted to live and work in the UK coming from the U.S.
Bokbreath@reddit
Yes. Prior to this you need to consider the relative CoL between London and where you are now - London is expensive - and whether the salary on offer is going to be adequate to give you the standard of living you want. Also consider how many quarters you have of social security - and the tax implications/tax treaty between UK/US.
HotelCaliformula@reddit (OP)
This is all incredibly helpful, thank you! The positions I'm looking at would be an advanced role with a pay rise that would make CoL manageable for me to the point that I'd have the quality of life I want (also if it's helpful context, I believe they would fall under the shortage list code 2493). I plan to have a conversation with my supervisor once I apply to the roles to flag for the relevant team/make my case for why my internal knowledge/relationships would make me the strongest candidate as opposed to hiring a local candidate that would be new to the organization). The social security question is good to note as well. Do you think there any other glaring things I should be considering?
Bokbreath@reddit
Figure out your health cover options. Also spend some time in advance looking at where you want to live. If you work and live near tube stations in london, you can get by without a car. Figure out the nearest tube to the london office (assuming it is near one) and then game out your commute. How long will it take from where you are going to live. Check rightmove.co.uk to get a feel for property. If you can, take a trip in advance and you can both scope out possible homes as well as meet the local team and maybe establish some kind of relationship.
orlandoaustin@reddit
Is this because of the election?
estrea36@reddit
You've asked this question 7 times in the past 3 hours.
Not every american that posts here is going to leave due to the election. Just give advice and move on.
HotelCaliformula@reddit (OP)
This has been an unrelated aspiration of mine for some time (it was partially why I was attracted to the company I'm now at), but the timing is certainly not great/easy to misconstrue.
Either-8789@reddit
Look at the uk immigration site for the for complete requirements for the skilled worker visa.
Your role needs to be on the skilled worker shortage list.
You’ll need your company to offer you a role in their London office, provide a certificate of sponsorship, complete the visa application and pay the fees (or they might make you pay? Idk mine didn’t - but they’re pretty significant). Biometrics too.
I’m on a skilled worker visa in London, one thing to keep in mind is that if you lose your job you have 60 days to find another company willing to sponsor you, or you have to leave