Moving back to the UK and I'm completely overwhelmed.
#16
Re: Moving back to the UK and I'm completely overwhelmed.
6. Generally speaking you'll need to build up credit through residence. Some credit card companies will allow you to transfer your existing card to the UK. Your husband will likely still have a credit file from his previous residence in the UK.
G
If by "credit file" you mean "credit history" this is not the case. We lived and worked in London 20 years before moving to Australia (for 8 years). On our return to the UK in 2016 we found that our (excellent) credit rating and credit history have been wiped clean in our 8 years absence and that we must now start building our credit rating from scratch.
G
If by "credit file" you mean "credit history" this is not the case. We lived and worked in London 20 years before moving to Australia (for 8 years). On our return to the UK in 2016 we found that our (excellent) credit rating and credit history have been wiped clean in our 8 years absence and that we must now start building our credit rating from scratch.
#19
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 10,009
Re: Moving back to the UK and I'm completely overwhelmed.
Getting on electoral roll I found the main challenge. APS credit card--Marbles--Capital One credit all seemed to be fairly easy. Make payments then in few months betetr credit cards etc became available.
#20
Re: Moving back to the UK and I'm completely overwhelmed.
I do appreciate all of the helpful words and advice. I have stopped hyperventilating about this big undertaking and started working my way down a file, as a pp previously recommended. We have started with passports, which is an expensive undertaking as I need 8 children's passports (each UK and US for my 4 children, all passports we have had previously are all expired!), renew my US passport and renew husband's UK passport. My parents in law have offered to give us all cash for Christmas, so my kids will be opening crisp UK passports on Dec 25. Way better than an iPod touch or American Girl doll, right??? I am finding that the job search will actually be a touch easier than expected as my husband's current company is in the UK as well and prefers to hire from within.
Now we are trying to decide what to do about US greencard renewal/citizenship for my husband. We do not know if we'll be moving back to the US at this point. My parents have a farm and chances are we may need to help take care of it/them at some point, but if he has his US citizenship, won't he have to pay US income tax AND UK taxes on his income? If he is not a US citizen, he will not have the ease of reentry but we will not have been paying US taxes on his UK income for the 10 or more years we will be there. Is this right or am I reading the tax stuff wrong? Or will I be taxed on his UK income whether he is a citizen or not simply because I am married to him? I can't seem to find a clear answer using the search function and the IRS website just wants me to take a 15 minute "Do I File" quiz.
Now we are trying to decide what to do about US greencard renewal/citizenship for my husband. We do not know if we'll be moving back to the US at this point. My parents have a farm and chances are we may need to help take care of it/them at some point, but if he has his US citizenship, won't he have to pay US income tax AND UK taxes on his income? If he is not a US citizen, he will not have the ease of reentry but we will not have been paying US taxes on his UK income for the 10 or more years we will be there. Is this right or am I reading the tax stuff wrong? Or will I be taxed on his UK income whether he is a citizen or not simply because I am married to him? I can't seem to find a clear answer using the search function and the IRS website just wants me to take a 15 minute "Do I File" quiz.
#21
Re: Moving back to the UK and I'm completely overwhelmed.
I do appreciate all of the helpful words and advice. I have stopped hyperventilating about this big undertaking and started working my way down a file, as a pp previously recommended. We have started with passports, which is an expensive undertaking as I need 8 children's passports (each UK and US for my 4 children, all passports we have had previously are all expired!), renew my US passport and renew husband's UK passport. My parents in law have offered to give us all cash for Christmas, so my kids will be opening crisp UK passports on Dec 25. Way better than an iPod touch or American Girl doll, right??? I am finding that the job search will actually be a touch easier than expected as my husband's current company is in the UK as well and prefers to hire from within.
Now we are trying to decide what to do about US greencard renewal/citizenship for my husband. We do not know if we'll be moving back to the US at this point. My parents have a farm and chances are we may need to help take care of it/them at some point, but if he has his US citizenship, won't he have to pay US income tax AND UK taxes on his income? If he is not a US citizen, he will not have the ease of reentry but we will not have been paying US taxes on his UK income for the 10 or more years we will be there. Is this right or am I reading the tax stuff wrong? Or will I be taxed on his UK income whether he is a citizen or not simply because I am married to him? I can't seem to find a clear answer using the search function and the IRS website just wants me to take a 15 minute "Do I File" quiz.
It's a hassle but less of a hassle then it would be to start the US immigration process from scratch. Also you need to return to the US in a hurry then as citizens it's just a matter of booking a flight and going.
#22
Re: Moving back to the UK and I'm completely overwhelmed.
I do appreciate all of the helpful words and advice. I have stopped hyperventilating about this big undertaking and started working my way down a file, as a pp previously recommended. We have started with passports, which is an expensive undertaking as I need 8 children's passports (each UK and US for my 4 children, all passports we have had previously are all expired!), renew my US passport and renew husband's UK passport. My parents in law have offered to give us all cash for Christmas, so my kids will be opening crisp UK passports on Dec 25. Way better than an iPod touch or American Girl doll, right??? I am finding that the job search will actually be a touch easier than expected as my husband's current company is in the UK as well and prefers to hire from within.
Now we are trying to decide what to do about US greencard renewal/citizenship for my husband. We do not know if we'll be moving back to the US at this point. My parents have a farm and chances are we may need to help take care of it/them at some point, but if he has his US citizenship, won't he have to pay US income tax AND UK taxes on his income? If he is not a US citizen, he will not have the ease of reentry but we will not have been paying US taxes on his UK income for the 10 or more years we will be there. Is this right or am I reading the tax stuff wrong? Or will I be taxed on his UK income whether he is a citizen or not simply because I am married to him? I can't seem to find a clear answer using the search function and the IRS website just wants me to take a 15 minute "Do I File" quiz.
Now we are trying to decide what to do about US greencard renewal/citizenship for my husband. We do not know if we'll be moving back to the US at this point. My parents have a farm and chances are we may need to help take care of it/them at some point, but if he has his US citizenship, won't he have to pay US income tax AND UK taxes on his income? If he is not a US citizen, he will not have the ease of reentry but we will not have been paying US taxes on his UK income for the 10 or more years we will be there. Is this right or am I reading the tax stuff wrong? Or will I be taxed on his UK income whether he is a citizen or not simply because I am married to him? I can't seem to find a clear answer using the search function and the IRS website just wants me to take a 15 minute "Do I File" quiz.
I would give up my US citizenship in a heartbeat if it would simplify our taxes...but we would still have to file US taxes as my husband’s 401K and pensions are from the US. I presume as an ex GC holder the same would apply.
#23
Re: Moving back to the UK and I'm completely overwhelmed.
Always try to make sure you have the same citizenship(s) as your children. None of us knows about immigration rules in the future. Apart from anything else, if the kids decide to come and live back in the USA as adults, being able to come and go as you wish without worrying about visas has got to be worth it.
#24
Re: Moving back to the UK and I'm completely overwhelmed.
Your husband can check his UK credit report / score for free at Credit Club | Check Your Free Credit Report & Credit Score
#25
Re: Moving back to the UK and I'm completely overwhelmed.
Maybe he could use a relatives address, but it may not pass the verification process.
#26
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Finally moving!
Posts: 1,236
Re: Moving back to the UK and I'm completely overwhelmed.
To actually use it for telephone calls you need hardware and internet service. Suitable hardware is the Obihai Obi202 which is a nice piece of gear and costs about USD60.
#27
Re: Moving back to the UK and I'm completely overwhelmed.
The obihai 200 was 37.99 last week. I use one for google voice. I still have my UK vonage account which I keep thinking about cancelling. When I moved here it was cheaper to keep my vonage account at $10 a month instead of paying for a landline at $30 to $40 a month. My plan includes unlimited UK and US calls.
#28
Just Joined
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: kensington maryland
Posts: 7
Re: Moving back to the UK and I'm completely overwhelmed.
Always try to make sure you have the same citizenship(s) as your children. None of us knows about immigration rules in the future. Apart from anything else, if the kids decide to come and live back in the USA as adults, being able to come and go as you wish without worrying about visas has got to be worth it.
THIS! It was my prime motivation for becoming a US citizen 7 years ago. I'm English, long-term partner American, two dual citizen kids. I'm now in the process of planning our family's move (back) to the UK next summer (you are all likely to hear more from me on this over the coming months!) and I too inwardly groan at the prospect of years of dual income tax preparations for all the years to come, but as a pp said, your husband would be doing that anyway as a GC holder. In my personal experience, getting US citizenship was a total breeze compared to getting the GC. Green card took me two years and thousands of dollars. Citizenship was mere hundreds and a few forms, all of which I did myself and the whole thing took a few months total. And this means I can always come back and as the pp said, should your children decide to go back to the States one day, your husband will want to be able to go back easily too! In my view, getting citizenship made it easier to consider leaving, if that makes sense? The immense hassle and expense of starting again with the GC application, which your husband will have to do if he leaves the US for more than a year I believe (it's something like that anyway) is not worth it. Do the citizenship now! And good luck. From one who understands the Overwhelm 1000% since I have just 8 months to make everything that you describe above happen too!
#29
Re: Moving back to the UK and I'm completely overwhelmed.
Just for information, one can get a "UK landline" from Callcentric.com no matter where you are. The service is called "Intl. DID - United Kingdom" and it costs USD5.95 per month. You can take it with you when you move almost anywhere in the world.
To actually use it for telephone calls you need hardware and internet service. Suitable hardware is the Obihai Obi202 which is a nice piece of gear and costs about USD60.
To actually use it for telephone calls you need hardware and internet service. Suitable hardware is the Obihai Obi202 which is a nice piece of gear and costs about USD60.
#30
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 51
Re: Moving back to the UK and I'm completely overwhelmed.
Going from US homeschooling to UK state school system will be a culture shock for your kids for sure!