Hi Everyone,

I have finally made up my mind to move back to the UK, I've been away for 11 years. Everyone I talk to thinks im crazy to move back, which makes it all the more challenging. I moved to Canada at 19 with my family and have never really settled, always moving and exploring, enjoying my 20's. Now after turning 30 my two brothers are happily settled in Canada and my mum and dad would rather cut there own arms off then contemplate moving back to the UK.
I on the other hand have really started to struggle with being away from the UK the last few years. Its never far from my thoughts and a constant niggle in my mind. I just returned from a month long visit in November and my mind is made up.
Id like to thank everyone on this forum for all the great info, I have used it a lot over the last year or so. It has really played an important role in helping with my decision and simplifying the process.
I am planning on Moving back in August 2014, it still seems a little daunting. Getting my UK licence back, Starting and Registering a Business, Opening up Bank accounts, getting Insurance etc... all of which are full of red tape craziness. But im sure it will all work out, and this site has definitely made it easier.. so Thank-you.

Hi Nick and welcome Many of us have heard the old "You're stark raving mad!" speech when we announced our plans to return. None of us ever knows how well we will adapt to life in a new country and the results can be remarkably different from one family member to the next. I was gone just a little longer than you but in all those years never did really settle in Canada and roamed about a bit myself. My younger sister (by two years), on the other hand, integrated much better than I did. Your trip here last month will be helpful to avoid the rose-tinted glasses; you just have to keep an open mind when you return, accept the fact that the UK is by no means perfect and that there will indeed be things you will miss about Canada. I hope you have your Canadian citizenship. Good luck with your homecoming; hope you'll share your journey with us.

Hi Nick... another welcome from me too.

If you're hearing the niggle bells now then they'll only ring louder and louder! Lots of people will tell you the same thing about thinking you're crazy especially friends and other family when you get back. Try to think things through and don't make rash decisions. You'll be fine. I hope you enjoy the process and the return home and you love every moment!! Take care!!

Welcome and good luck with your big decision.

I think I'd echo what others say about rose colored glasses and thinking the grass is greener. It may very well be the perfect solution to what troubles you, but it's also possible that "back home" can get built up in your mind as a much more powerful solution than it really is. For many expats longing for "home" becomes almost a binary thing--'I'm home, I'm not home. I'm happy, I'm not happy.' But as you know the world isn't quite that simple.

I'd encourage you, when preparing for this trip, to think of the things you do not like about the UK and how you are going to deal with them, rather than just focus on the happy bits. Can make your adjustment more realistic and you'll find yourself pleasantly surprised by the good stuff you reconnect with rather than grumpily annoyed by the bad.

Good luck with your adventure.

That is an all too common experience and I too have had it.
I feel the same way about New Zealand, I like the country and the people - but I just don't feel at home. I know the UK has its problems but I feel that it is my home and I want to do my part in fighting to make it better.

My view is that you have to do what your heart is telling you, never mind what others say or think.

Hi everyone, thanks for the encouragement its a rare thing for me to hear. I guess that's one of the things that I like about reading this forum, is that there is a positive light spun onto the UK. Instead of all the doom and gloom you hear from everyone who lives there or most of the people that have moved away.
I am fully aware that Canada has many things to offer over the UK and the UK definitely has is drawbacks. Even going home for a month and seeing the local unemployment issue was a bit of a shock, its a hard go over there. I don't think I would consider it, if there wasn't a good financial opportunity over there.( I certainly wouldn't move back to live off the welfare state) Luckily for me one has presented itself and im going to have a go at it.
I am applying for my citizenship in Canada before I leave, I think it would be crazy not to. If all else fails there will always be a safety net to come back too.
It's a funny thing really... I mean Canada has been really good to me. Ive learnt a lot, met some great people, made decent money and been able to live a lifestyle that I would never have dreamt of. But still with all of this I still don't feel quite at home. Whenever I go back to the UK its like a weight is lifted off my shoulders, with all its chavs and rain, people moaning and groaning about EU this and immigration that.... I instantly feel at home and happy. You don't really fully appreciate what the UK has to offer until your away from it for a while and the small things end up making a really big difference. From the people, the conversations, the banter, the food, the countryside and its weather they all come together and make a powerful feeling of home.

I don't hear that from my family and friends.

......and I have met plenty of Brits here who miss it and will go back one day

I never thought that I would go back, loved the US when I first got here, but life changes and we change and now I just want to be back in the UK. My family obviously doesnt think I'm crazy as they are all in the UK and would love to have me back. I haven't really told any of my friends in the US except for a couple and one of which is from another country and feeling homesick too. You have to ignore what others say and do what you feel is right for you. I've been in the US for 18 years and it scares me to start all over again after all this time, but I know in my heart its what I want to do. Follow you heart and I'm sure everything will fall in to place if you work hard for it. Best of luck in your decision and possible move.

My mum said to me:
"When you are faced with hugely important decisions in life and have to choose between the head and the heart - always go with the heart. If you do it is quite likely you will soon regret your decision but you will soon get over it. If you go with the head and you are wrong you will regret it for the rest of your life."

I returned back to the yookay four weeks ago after been reasonably content in Canada for nearly 4 years........ and I'm loving everything about being back, can't think of a single thing I miss.

You realise that getting citizenship probably means a three or four year wait based on current timelines? Are you planning on delaying your return for that long?

I do not think you are crazy.
I applaud your decision.

The Centre for Economic and Business Research - a highly influential and well respected global organisation has just released an official report which states that the UK economy will grow at a faster rate than any other European economy in the year 2014/15, and that....

Britain is on track to overtake France and Germany to become the biggest economy in Europe, according to an authoritative global forecast.

A rapidly growing population, relatively low taxes and independence from the ailing Eurozone will make Britain the most successful economy in the West after the United States over the next fifteen years, according to the Centre for Economic and Business Research.

In an upbeat assessment of the country’s prospects, the CEBR said Britain, the sixth biggest economy in the world, will see its GDP grow from £1.59 trillion to £2.64 trillion by 2028.

In the same period, Germany’s output will grow more slowly from £2.2 trillion to £2.69 trillion, with growth hampered by a weak euro, an ageing population and the prospect of future Eurozone bailouts. It puts Britain on course to surpass Germany by 2030.

Britain is also due to overtake France by 2018. Its global ranking is set to slide as Francois Hollande’s high tax regime and weak exports suffocate growth.

So there you have it......and the UK faces its next General Election on 07 May 2015....so all we can do now is hope that the Puppet of the Unite Trade Union muppet Red Ed Miliband, an economic ignoramus maximus never moves in to No 10 Downing Street as that would assuredly be the death knell for a future healthy UK economy.

At the same time China will overtake the United States of America as the world's largest and strongest and most successful economy.

Hi Nick,
My family members are all in the UK but they also gave me the 'you must be mad' speech and also told me how hard it would be to get settled and how I'd never be able to get credit and how I'd never get a mortgage and blah blah blah. Like you, I was determined anyway, but like you I also felt a bit daunted by all the red tape and practical details.

I moved back 20 months ago and I can honestly say it was the best decision of my life. The naysayers were completely wrong. The long list of things to do was slowly whittled down, and in that short time I'm now completely settled with a small business, a fledgling art career, a home in the country (the mortgage proved no problem at all) and a busy social life. Life isn't perfect - the weather here in the Pennines can suck at times (like today), we are dealing with illness and old age in our families, and some of our friends had moved on or changed while we were gone - but I wouldn't go back to America for all the money in the world.

One thing I've learned in life is that you have to make your own way. Listen to other people by all means, but in the end, only you know what's right for you. Good luck with everything!

They may very well be right about the UK economy, let's hope so. Hurrah!

However, "influential and well respected" they are not. Total non-entity, substantially unknown. Not even worth a Wikipedia page.