-
Expats From the European Economic Area
-
For ex-pats from the European Economic Area (EEA), you can move to London and become a resident permanently after staying in the UK for five years. Expats from outside the EEA can apply for Indefinite Leave to Enter or Remain (ILE or ILR) in the UK. This means that you can enter or leave the country without being subject to immigration controls governing entry and exit. Being granted ILR means that you have been given the “settled status” in the country, and you can live in London without worrying about immigration issues. The time needed to elapse before you can apply for permanent residency depends on the type of visa held and the residency status. This ranges from two to six years. For example, a person on a tier 1 or 2 visa will need to have been resident in the UK for five years before applying for permanent residency.
Although it is good and important to be in a foreign country legally, Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights allows an illegal migrant to apply for permanent residency status on the grounds of his/her right to private life. However, for you to apply for this, having been in the UK illegally, you need to have stayed in the country for between 17 and 30 years, depending on your age and years spent in the country. In order to become a permanent resident in London or the UK, you need to take and pass the “Life in the UK” test. This is for all those relocating to London with the exception of those who were in the Highly Skilled Migrant Program.
-
Application Process to Become Permanent Resident in London UK
-
Applying for ILR status basically gives you permanent residency; you aren’t a British citizen, but you can reside in the UK for as long as you want if, after moving to London and living here a few years, you’ve realized you quite fancy it and want to settle in a while!
Eligibility for ILR does vary by visa classification, so check out the link to determine your particular requirements. If you do qualify, apply, and earn ILR status, be mindful that residing outside of the UK for two or more years afterward could lead to it being revoked (unless you attain citizenship by then).
Once your time of residence in the UK has elapsed and you are qualified to apply for ILE status, you can start the process by making an application to the Home Office Public Enquiry Office. The forms for this can be downloaded from the official government website using a step-by-step guide. The most downloaded forms are those for ex-pats on work visas and those for dependents. The climax of moving to and becoming a permanent resident in London is by becoming a fully-fledged citizen in the UK (becoming a British Citizen by naturalization). After 12 months of ILE status, you can apply for British citizenship.
-
The Life in the UK Test
-
Applying for ILR requires that you be knowledgeable about life in the UK, so you will need to take the aptly named “Life in the UK” test. This is a 24-question, computer-based exam that only takes 45 minutes to complete at one of the 100 test centers available in the country. To study, you’ll need to fork over £10 for the 2nd edition of the Life in the United Kingdom: A Journey to Citizenship textbook. The test itself presently costs £34 and is also a requirement of (but does not need to be taken again for) British citizenship.
-
British Citizenship
-
Once you’ve been approved for ILR status, you’re possibly only a year away from citizenship if you so desire. This, of course, doesn’t mean renouncing your current citizenship (although some Americans will do just that to avoid paying U. S. taxes in addition to those in the UK).
If you were born to a British mother between 1961 and 1983, you might be able to apply for citizenship right away. Otherwise, you need to have lived in the UK for at least 5 years (3 if married to a citizen), the last year of which you would have had ILR. You can’t have been outside the UK more than 450 days in those 5 years (270 in the 3 years if married to a citizen) nor more than 90 days in the 12 months prior to applying.
This may be a ways away for those of you researching your initial international relocation to the UK, but this is a common subject of conversation among ex-pats over here, particularly those raising children here and needing to decide whether to stay until children are school-age and educate them here or return home. At least you have the facts before you as you make your short and long-term plans–regardless of whether you stay or leave the UK, first moving to London is a grand adventure that will make you a citizen of the world!
-
How to Move to London and Get Settled in Five Easy Steps
-
In order to prevent a meltdown occurring in your new home follow these easy ‘how to move to London’ steps to make the transition from the US to England as smooth as possible.
Step 1
Before moving to London, families should have completed a detailed list of everything coming with them from the States. If that has been done, great, if not do it! Pronto! After that list is created, another list of what the family needs for everyday living can be created. Go through your new home room by room to make sure nothing is overlooked.
Step 2
At this point, the family is ready to get some shopping done. Rather than go crazy at a market or department store try looking for pre-owned merchandise before buying new. Much of the expense of an international relocation is in settling into a house. Buying furniture alone can cost as much as an entire month’s salary!
Step 3
Now that all the necessities are in your new home, take the time to organize them. It is very tempting to live out of a suitcase or box for far longer than necessary. Spending a Saturday or Sunday thoroughly unpacking everything and creating permanent homes for each item will go a long way in making you feel settled.
Step 4
As soon as possible, upon arriving in London, everyone in your family should register with a General practitioner as this is the rule for healthcare in London. A London relocation agent can help with finding a list of open doctors in your neighborhood.
Step 5
Once your new home is in some sort of order and a doctor has been chosen it is time to get out and explore your new city. Regardless of what time of year you are moving to London, there is plenty to do. Try and avoid spending all your time alone in your home. That only makes the transition that much harder.
-
20 Tips For Enjoying Your Stay in London
-
What do Londoners do when the city becomes too lonely or depressing? That’s obviously simple, they get back to the things that helped them fall in love with the place.
Tip 1
There are a lot of free museums and galleries in London. I know how much you wanted to visit those, and I also know about the lack of time you’ve experienced: relocation, settling in, getting your job done, and whatnot – all of those are important and time-consuming things. I also know that you won’t get any less busy any time soon. It’s London, for Lord’s sake, so please, be sure to take the time for yourself and visit all of those places even if you’ll have to sacrifice a few important meetings.
Tip 2
Find a park you like and go for a hike. There are plenty of places to choose from and here’s the thing: you will have a park close to your flat, but the question is whether you like it or not. If your option is the latter – please invest some time to find a green place that fits your taste. This is especially important to those who work in Central London. You guys have probably forgotten what the grass looks like. No wonder you are a bit depressed. Go to the park. NOW!
Tip 3
You’ve never experienced London if you didn’t take the night bus home at 4 AM. Forget your beauty sleep for at least one night, go out, have fun, crawl through as many pubs as possible, and get back home via the bus. This will be a memory of a lifetime for you. I promise.
Tip 4
Suck it up. No, I mean it. Things will get better.
Tip 5
Don’t forget your voice. It is very easy to lose it in the “silence of the crowd”. The fact that everyone else is minding their own business shouldn’t stop you from doing the same. If you have something to say or an important call to make – speak up!
Tip 6
Cough when in the tube. As loudly as possible. Why? Just give it a shot and thank me later.
Tip 7
People in London aren’t that different. Both Londoners and newcomers experience the same feelings of loneliness and anxiety. Hang out with them more often to help each other out.
Tip 8
Three words: Primrose Hill, sunset.
Tip 9
Cancel your Netflix subscription even for a month. You’ll see the wonders of show-free Sundays like a newborn. You’ll even think that you finally have all the time in the world, if even for a little while.
Tip 10
Invest in good headphones.
Tip 11
How much can you say about the weather? I’d bet that a sentence or two is your maxima if you are still new to London. Master the art of small talk by learning from the natives. This is one of the best ways to make new friends. Especially at work.
Tip 12
Have a walk across the Waterloo Bridge. The sights are breathtaking.
Tip 13
Manage your finances better. London is expensive, and the constant rat chase for a paycheck makes it all the more depressing.
Tip 14
Did I tell you that you shouldn’t give up? Just in case – don’t give up=)
Tip 15
You are in the capital of exquisite cuisine, even on the street level. If I were you, I’d never dine in the same place twice.
Tip 16
Try staying away from your phone and especially social media for a weekend or so. I know it’s hard but you should really make this effort. Better yet turn your phone off all at once.
Tip 17
The Tube is an endless battle of sweat and cheeks; your personal space is the prize. Fight for it with all you’ve got.
Tip 18
Read a book.
Tip 19
Watch that movie you’ve wanted to see for a while but never had the time to.
Tip 20
Keep on fighting. That’s it. Staying happy in London is really that easy. Just follow the tips from above or at least some of them, and you’ll see the difference. Feel free to thank me later!
