Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

After lurking here for a wee while it’s time to post….

We’re just starting our fifth year in the USA, and I’ve recently came to the conclusion that I have a growing desire to return to live in Southern Scotland / Northern England, but I’d settle for pretty much anywhere in the UK or even Europe in general.

We have 4 kids, the last one born here in the USA about eighteen months ago. There are a lot of great things in the US but I’m unable to settle and having dragged this decision out for the last couple of years it’s now time to get this rolling.

I’m giving myself six months from now to make this happen, the only major concern I have is finding a job back in the UK. The prospect of moving back to the UK without a job and effectually spending our entire life savings in doing so, is a tad unnerving.

Should I try and find an employer in the UK before we return or should i wing it and hope it works out later?

Thx!

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

Definitely get a job before moving the whole family!

You may find that you'll have to go back on your own first, find a job and accommodation, before the rest of the family can join you.

In the current economic climate I would think of this move as a long-term project, and be prepared to be separated for a while.

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

Economically I wouldn’t be able to pay my US mortgage and scout around in the UK looking for a job at the same time, any move is likely to involve us all going back to the UK together then renting a house then me trying to find a job. As painful as that sounds is the best option fiscally.

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

You can look at employment opportunities in the UK on the web, because it's going to depend a lot on your skills and the type of work you want.

An example is Flea's husband, a psychiatric nurse, who clearly was in great demand, so they could return with little risk.

You have to have some idea of how much in demand you will be, and that can shape your decision.

I assume your spouse is on side with this?

Bev

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

What's your status in the USA? If you have green cards, be careful about abandoning them.

Also consider the impact of your children having different nationalities.

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

I'm a manager - Purchasing / Logistics / supply chain etc There's a lot of vacancies on the web but little interest since I'm on the other side of the Atlantic.

My spouse is on board but less enthusiastic about leaving than I am

We all have Green cards except for the baby who has both a US and a British passport. The Green cards were a pain in the ass to get, but i can't see us needing them again.

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

Boy, are you really sure about giving up your green card, like the previous thread stated, I would really think hard about this..!! How many other people would love to have your opportunity, especially for your family. Mind you, it also depends on your lifestyle and where you are located..

If you decide to return back to the UK, all the best especially with the economic situation...

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

Do you have to give up your green card directly you leave the US or could you hang onto it. Mine is a permanent 10year card so when I return to the UK I think I can hold onto it.
Your children are young enough to slip back into UK society but dont leave it too long.
Anyone tell you they cannot do as good in the UK its not true. Depends on how hard you want to work with them. I have 3 children born in the Uk brought up in the US all went to University got good jobs.
I have a brother in the UK who has 4 children all went to University and have good jobs. You just have to spend time with them.

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

You can apply to leave the country for more than a year with the green card
If you leave without a readmission permit and are gone for more than 12mths they consider your green card as surrendered.
http://www.immihelp.com/greencard/reentry-permit.html
I came back 11.5 mths after leaving, and the INS guy laughed and said I was cutting it a bit fine.

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

Your green card is a valid 'permanent residence' card for 10 years. But it is only 'permanent' so long as you are 'resident' in the USA. In fact, technically, the moment you leave the US 'intending' to leave the US you have abandoned your residence, and thus, your green card is no longer valid.

Of course, they are not sticklers on that point. Someone at USICS would have to go out of their way to make the case that you have abandoned residence--show you sold your home, car, cut up your bank accounts, etc. They don't really have time for this.

But after six months overseas, the burden falls on you to prove you HAVE NOT abandoned residence. At your point of entry you may be asked to show bank accounts in the US, a home or mortgage in the US, a job, etc. Something that shows your absence for >6 months was only temporary.

After 12 months it is considered a 'fact' that you have abandoned residence. You can go into secondary screening and all sorts of silliness.

There are ways around it, as noted above. You can apply for a re-entry permit, or if you are working overseas for a US company you can get another type of form I think.

But MANY folks with green cards get 'caught' by this, thinking their card is valid for life or whatever and then come back to discover the shock of having to start all over again with the process.

We have a wiki on this: http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Green_Card_Abandonment

For the OP: Consider getting a re-entry permit. It will allow you to extend your job hunt in the UK to over a year or so instead of just 12 months. If you have read this board you'll find there are some who return only to realize months later that it wasn't the best decision, no matter how clear it looked from the US/Canada/Australia. While it seems right, makes sense, etc. now, a minor filing with USICS will give you some insurance to come back, just in case...

Good luck

Re: Thinking about returning to the UK....
 

All good advice provided so far, to which I'll add my perspective ... bear in mind the possibility that within a month, 6 months, a year, you may think "Oh cr*p what have we done?" I sincerely hope your move back works out and you are happy back in the UK (as many on MBTTUK are), but it doesn't always work out that way. Nothing to do with the UK being no good, more to do with human nature and often not realising how you'll feel in a certain situation until you are in it (regardless of how much forward planning you do, or how certain you are).

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

Well, dh has essentially dictated 'through inaction' that a move back to the UK is not possible because 'it will ruin the kids lives'. I am totally heartbroken. Can't stop crying. I just want to be home and would force the issue if he'd got himself in the position to actually get work back here should it all go pear shape in the UK. I've spent so long getting schools, accommodation and friends there that I can't believe it's all going to waste. This was our absolute last chance to get back. Honestly, I feel like my life just has no meaning at present, can't bear to keep going with this empty feeling in my life. I just yearn for England in a way I can't describe.

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

PM-ed you Ezzie.

I guess there has to be one in a family that gives all, and it looks as if it is going to be you, mate. {{{hugs}}}

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

Oh crap. There's not much I can say that will help, but over the next few days, try to do things that are important for you - let everyone else take care of themselves and you take care of you. If you need to take a 2-day jolly with a couple of good friends, or spend the week's grocery money on new shoes, just do it. And don't bottle it in - get on here and have a rant whenever you need. :wub:

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

Agreed.
Sod the lot of 'em they can look after themselves, go do something for yourself and have a good cry. I know I would.

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

I agreed with the last post, do it for yourself, it sounds as though you have made enough sacrifices.. No one will take of you if you don't take care of yourself... Go go it..!!:thumbup::thumbup:

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

Me too, agree with others, go do something for you alone, whatever it takes and for however long it takes. Remember, 'If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy"!! And you never can tell what tomorrow will bring, nothing is set in stone!!!

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

Whatever you do, don't wing it! The employment situation is absloutely dire. Get a job first if you can. And don't tell the authorities you have savings;)

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

I agree, this is a bad economic time to wing it/force it. I'd run back to the States tomorrow if I could, but am making myself hold off until the economy improves (my house is currently £30k-40k below it's 2007 purchase price and most US universities have a hiring freeze). Think very carefully and don't be too impetuous ... especially with 4 kids to feed.

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

I appreciate all the advice so far in this thread. And it seems that I am not alone in wanting to return to the UK. The emotional content of family is the driver for me, in which there are a couple of factors which I haven’t mentioned.

I have two older daughter (both in their early 20’s now) who have babies of their own; I am unable to reconcile the thought of only seeing my eldest children and my granddaughters (both under a year old) once a year. I had been hanging onto a pipe dream in which they move out here to the US to live with us but in reality it’s just not going to happen.

My father is just getting old, I talk to him every week on the phone, I haven’t seen him in over a year, It sometimes (usually) feels like I’m waiting for something bad to happen to him.

Then there’s the rest of the stuff that I have struggled with; Workers rights, Healthcare, Politics, Money, Education, Bread (uneatable), TV, the list is kinnda lengthy.

It’s been a great 4 years, a truly excellent experience for us all. There are things here in America that are just fantastic and it can be a superb place to be, but if your hearts not in it and not a day goes past where you don’t miss your family, friends or a decent crusty meat pie then it’s probably time to bite the bullet and fix it.

Thanks for the link to the Green card re-entry permit extension, I will read that in depth, you never know….

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

If there was just one piece of advice I'd give to all expats (especially MBTTUK-ers), that would be the one ... ;)

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

A different opinion from everyone else. Sod it, just wing it thats what we did and it's worked out just fine.

Job and business wise things are workng out great and yep we do have children to feed also,

Jon

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

When did you come back to the UK?

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

where in the US are you?

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

the pull and romance of returning to the UK can become super strong and unbearable, and the feeling of relief when you are on the plane can be exhilarating.

However as another poster here put, the mind plays tricks and once all the mind clutter and stress has gone, and post honeymoon period and you settle back into the UK life and normality, winter kicks in and in many cases friends who are more distant second time round don't show you the love, then all of a sudden thoughts of, those exciting first trips round Tesco's and 60 minute flight to paris change to, "ohhhh what have I done"...

Not always the case, but often, subtle changes occur in you over time and you realise you have more in common with the place you left than the place you have gone back to, even if you didnt realise.

Just saying this, not to deter you, follow your dreams, BUT id leave a window open to return if you can, get your PR, green card or whatever you dreamt of back in blighty in the first place and then go back so you have a back up plan.

Don't worry about the money, that can be re-earnt, piece of mind cant. I spent probably $100k AUS returning to the UK, shipping, costs, resettling and then moving back out again to Aus after 12 months, and I don't regret doing it cos I had to do it, and was only ever going to do it once and would have gone bonkers if didnt.

Good luck, just leave a door open if you can....

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

What a sensible post Sherro. Dying to know what it was about the UK that had you speeding back to Oz.Did you have kids there? And what was it that you missed about Oz?

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

Who are you asking? [Need to include the original post to know who you are responding to ...]

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

Have you ever seen the movie Sliding Doors? It has Gwyneth Paltrow, and anyway short story it's about how she lives parallel lives as the result of making/not making it onto a tube train. Would be nice in these situations if we could just enter the parallel universe of returning to the UK, and try it out for a few months, and if we get the "Oh cr*p what have I done?" experience, just slide back through those sliding doors to our original universe.

Of course that could apply to a lot of important life decisions, but some of us on here have spent an arm and a leg on those "Oh cr*p" excursions back and fro (and back again, and fro again...)

$100k AUS - what's that in £££?

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

I agree ,theres never a good time to go anywhere ,if its not the exchange rates or the job situation or the price of houses etc etce tc ,just so many variables so you have to do as the heart dictates as the brain will just talk u out of it .
Migrants or returnees have to decide quickly i believe and stick to it , the advantage the returnees have is all they have to do is sell and go home ,no paperwork .Migrants on the other hand get rapped up in all the hype and the paperwork and the books they read and the excitement builds to a creshendo on the final day they are both excited and scared , but their rellies being good ''brits'' will make sure to say ''go britain is bolloxed''.

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

Roughly £51,800

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

I couldn't agree with you more, that's why we, although OH is American, are going back next May. Daughter went back two years ago to go to Uni and mum is over there not getting any younger. All those other things, not as important like you say healthcare, politics, bread (disgusting), but still add up. My heart, after nearly 5 years, is definitely not here anymore and would go back tomorrow given the chance. Neither of us will have jobs when we go, but I am fortunate in that I shouldn't have a problem getting one once there. Just go for it, things always work out eventually!

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

Hey Ezzie,

Well there was the realisation that although I had minor complaints, I had well and truly set up shop in Australia, I mean i was there for 9 years, I had friends, made roots, I loved the long hot summers and I loved the feeling of coming back to Europe for holidays.

When I came back to the UK and tried to tell myself it was for good, I never really believed it, friends i had grown up with in blighty had changed so much, I had changed too, we had nothing in common. I realised at the end of the day, going back to the UK once every couple of years was the best possible outcome and if i had to choose where i would spend 340 days a year, it was Australia over the UK. My choice, and the other 26 days would be Europe and Asia.

I read a book called The Power of now, by Eckhart Tolle and a big realisation of the fact my mind was controlling me, and making me miserable and not able to live in the moment is a changing point for me too. Learning to stop worrying about the past and constantly looking round the corner and living in the moment made things so much easier.

Its funny though, I have no regrets at all for the money it cost me to work that out. I was bored and unsettled, and now back in Melbourne blessed and much happier. Still that my own story, there are plenty who have gone back to the UK after many years away and fallen in love with England again.

I love England from Afar, it tastes much better that way.

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

Progress has been unbelievably slow, I had one job lead which eventually fell through (40% pay cut….) and one chat with an agency (Michael Page).

To make matters even worse I’m now well and truly upside down with my mortgage in the USA, the county re-assessed my property value and devalued my property by a whopping $200,000 (everyone around here is much the same boat), shame I sunk so much of our life savings into it. To return to the UK now would ensure that I am well and truly broke……….

After much discussion, my wife has semi-persuaded me to stick it out here for another year or so, I appreciate all of the advice given by all those who have posted here, it has provided me with a great deal to think about.


many thanks.

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

Hopefully prices will rebound a bit before you finally make a move at least so you can take a bit back eh!
Our house has fallen by half, but we've been here so long we'd still make a profit, but the more we take back the better.

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

Can you rent your property until such time prices start to bounce back?

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

Where abouts are you? I also have a house to sell in SC. It sucks. I only bought it 2 years ago and stand to lose everything I put into it. But as I can't afford my present mortgage without making drastic changes, getting a full time job, and then still worrying about any future medical costs, even with health insurance, you still pay as you well know. Plus I am single so no help from anyone. I can't bear the thought of having to stay here another year or more in that situation, putting my life on hold. Life is too short, time is precious. I would rather be broke surrounded by my own people in my own country than in a foreign one with strangers. Did think about renting, again very risky, not easy, stressful, no guarantee...........nope.

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

I'm in VA. My next door neghbour just lost her house after months and months of trying to keep up with the payments, foreclosure and then a quick sale by the bank for $100k less than what i still owe on mine... If i was able to rent mine it would be well short of the monthly morgage payment to the tune of $500 +, I guess it sucks to be me.

I have made zero progress in finding a job in the UK or Europe. One 15 minute phone call from a UK agency, promises, promises and then nothing..... so no suprise there then

Heathcare continuess to be a confusing and expensive joke, my 7 year old son spent 8 hours in a hospital emergancy room a coupel of months ago and despite having insurance I am significantly out of pocket with multiple items apparently not covered by my insurance. *go figure eh. The bills contiue to arrive.

There is not a day goes by without me thinking about getting out of here :) for sure your not alone!

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

Lets keep all fingers, toes, limbs, everything we can crossed, that we get what we want in 2010 - a one way trip back home!!! :fingerscrossed::thumbsup:

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

#25 This is a great reply - I can so relate! I just experienced over 24 months of wanting to move back to the UK after 20+ years in CA. I planned for 12 months and made it happen. The trips to Tesco's and relearning how to count change in pence, the countryside, the tv, all very exciting. But starting to settle into life here and many doubts arose. I've been here only 3 months, but am cutting my losses now and heading back to the US next year. I'm disappointed that I'm not able to live my English dream, but it's so very different. I hope if you come back you feel settled and will have made the right choice for you and your family. All the best and good luck.

Re: Thinking about returing to the UK....
 

I so understand with several members caught up in the house market crash in the us.
Iv'e a house here in Florida and the house prices here has gone rock bottom, i sure hope that it's bottomed out now.
I bought my house some 2 yrs ago and got it 60/70k cheaper than what was it was valued at...even with that good head start its hard to even get what i payed.. been on the market 3 plus months now, with no veiws/offers, even tho i droped the price 20k in that short time of being on the market..

I would feel very, very, lucky to break even on this house to be honest.
Yep, rent the house out is a option, but ive been down that rd before also on this property and had no ends of problems with the tennant and i finally got a court order to kick them out...also the judge ordered the tennant to pay 10k in losses and damages to me.
kinda strange the laws here in Florida, the judge can order the tennant/s out and he/she have to pay x amount but the judge can't make them pay....crazy huh? ....hmmmm ok now try and get your cash back now.... it's a nightmare..

So my advice to anybody whos thinking of renting to ride the storm, then have a good hard think of what could go wrong, and if you live in my state, then i would double, triple think about it...

Anyways....lets all pray that 2010 would turn around, somehow. i feel at this stage is the only way is up....fingers crossed..


Best wishes all merry xmas and hopefully a much better new year...