Considering moving back to the UK
 

(I'm sorry if this has been asked before - I did search the forum and couldn't find anything)
I don't want to get political, but I and my wife are very anxious about all the latest events in Washington and worried about how it will affect ordinary people in the future.
I met my now wife 23 years ago and I moved over here to California to live in 2008. We have been extremely lucky and have thrived here; good jobs, nice house that we own, a good life overall with its ups and downs. We are in our 50s and don't have any kids.
However, like I say, we are very worried about what's going on, and are beginning to look into the possibility of moving back to the UK. We haven't made any decision yet - we want to see how things develop - but we have begun to consider all the things we would need to do in order to prepare for a move and what to do when we get to the UK (accommodation, visas for my wife, jobs etc).
We are assuming that we will be staring afresh there, and know it's going to be a struggle, both the moving and the initial time when we get there.
I was wondering if anyone else in the forum has considered moving back? What roadblocks do you think might arise for people like us who want to leave the country? I've already started a list of things to consider and it's already very long! I'd be interested to hear other perspectives.

Re: Considering moving back to the UK
 

I just read an article this morning on considering a move to the UK. Not a bad little read but maybe a little simple for the questions you are considering​​​​� �​. Do ask away, plenty of folks have gone through a similar process but for ourselves we are all dual citizens so no visa applications except for our daughter’s partner who obtained a Global Talent visa and plans to go through the ILR and UK citizenship process in the coming years.

https://www.greenbacktaxservices.com...o-uk-from-usa/

Our daughter and her partner moved here a couple of years ago from California for many of the same reasons you cite. Her situation is different in that she has a strong family network that she has supported her move. Along with us her brother is also here in town (he moved back in 2017. After the 2016 presidential election he started to make plans and a year later moved).

Re: Considering moving back to the UK
 

Moved here in 2011 on a K1, married Me Chog, gave birth to SmallChog in 2013 and became a USC in 2015.

in almost exactly the same boat as you we are very anxious, got all new passports late last year - US for Mr Chog and both UK and US for me and small Chog.

currently getting the house ready to sell and making to-do lists. We have almost enough in Savings to be able to use those for the financial reqs on a spousal visa

We are probably going to Cambridge, I was born there and have family nearby (but not too close) and it has one of the highest Chinese populations in the country.

Re: Considering moving back to the UK
 

I've been here 30 years. I've grown increasingly uncomfortable living here all the way back to 9/11. Increasing militarism, then authoritarianism, and the rising influence of the evangelical Christian right. My values are not theirs. Granted, there are many here like me but I'm definitely not 'at home' here. I had a job offer elsewhere 20 years ago and maybe i should have taken it, but ...kids in school. And now I have grandkids. I want to leave but because of them I cant, though i want to. There might be a breaking point somewhere though. I get up each day and my mood varies between sadness and outright disgust for this country. Sorry to say that's what it's come to.

Re: Considering moving back to the UK
 

We are thinking of moving back, but to the EU. We have more than enough to buy our way in, im not sure the UK is in that great shape.

Im also worried about the UK growth vs borrowing vs inflation conundrum.

Re: Considering moving back to the UK
 

Thanks for the replies. It's nice to know we are not the only ones.
We would be moving back to Gloucester where I have family. With savings and selling the house and furniture, we would have enough to get us started again there, but not enough to buy a property; it would also be enough to meet the ridiculous income requirement for the family visa.
I would certainly like to have moved to an EU country, but Brexit saw to that. A couple we know has obtained their Italian passports and are getting out soon as well.
We don't want to do this, we have a good situation, but it just seems to be getting worse every day, and it's only been 2 weeks!

Re: Considering moving back to the UK
 

wow I could not think of anything worse than moving back to UK. All I hear from friends, family, and various TV channels is how bad things are and how much the country has changed. I barely recognize the country I left in 2018! was California so great for the last 4 years???

Re: Considering moving back to the UK
 

I agree with this - I often think I got out at the right time (2019). I enjoy visiting the UK when I go back regularly, but living there seems to be significantly worse than even a few years ago. Years of decaying public services, stagnant wages and polarization has finally taken it's toll. The US is not perfect by any means, but at least I can earn a decent living here and hopefully afford to buy a home soon.

Re: Considering moving back to the UK
 

I'm not under any illusion that the UK is some promised land. I follow the news and hear about the political chaos there, and I too have noticed the decay in infrastructure etc there when we go back to visit. But if some of the utterly perverse and damaging policies that have come out of Washington the last couple of weeks are any indication of what will happen during the next 4 years, the situation in the UK may be the lesser of two evils.
We haven't decided whether we are going to go back for sure yet - we have decided to wait until at least the midterm elections - but we would like to be prepared if we did eventually decide to pull the trigger.

Re: Considering moving back to the UK
 

I dont get the concern to be honest. If you have US Ctizenship, and are not a criminal, you're not going to see any issues from the Trump admin as far as your immigration status is concerned.

What are your concerns?

Re: Considering moving back to the UK
 

I am American and have been here 76 years. I can understand anyone’s concern about the present situation. If I was really worried I would just turn off the news for the next four years. I would do that myself but Trump and his disciples are so entertaining I have to watch.

Re: Considering moving back to the UK
 

Hi, I don't know the exact details but there was an article in The Times a couple of days ago about moving to the EU (from UK but still the same thing in practice). The upshot of it is that moving to the EU is still certainly possible though post Brexit there are a few more hurdles to jump through. Property is usually much cheaper in Spain/Portugal than much of the UK and you get way more sunshine! You might be surprised! Worth checking with a couple of EU country embassies/websites....

Re: Considering moving back to the UK
 

totally agree. California is a mess!! maybe OP can consider moving to a better run state with less crime, less taxes, less homelessness with less DEI hires and more ability-based hires

Re: Considering moving back to the UK
 

It would be a pity if this thread simply descends into partisan point scoring. I mean, it is a bit of a red flag if you can guess posters political affiliation based on their supposed advice as to whether a British expat in the US should, or should not, seriously consider returning to the UK! Surely, there are deeper things to think about than inane political point scoring?

Re: Considering moving back to the UK
 

thread didn't descend, it started that way. As soon as I read the "I don't want to get political, but......"