Hello to all.
I am a new member to this site I found it accidently while searching for info about moving back to UK.. Lucky for me. I hope you can help me, and perhaps I can help others.

I have lived in USA california for 7 years with hubby and 4 kids ages 12,10,8,8. We are all british citizens. Hubby was taken on by a US company and they are sponsoring for GC but there was a problem over qualifications in job description with INS so the process has been delayed overly so... Visa renewal was started Nov last yr but there is a backlog so laywer did premier processing and whoever did the extension made a mistake and denied the extension. An appeal has been put forward but due to INS backlog we may not hear in time to stay legal here. We have until June....
Soooooo..... We have to plan the move back, shipping, flights, jobs, home, schools, banking, blah blah blah... what a nightmare.

So how is it in ole blighty now? I saw the house prices OMG!!!! We have even been told that to rent we have to pay the whole 6 months in advance as we have no credit rating. Our credit rating in the US will be BAD as with 4 kids and having to move we are fighting to keep our heads above water.... Oh for the what if's and the if only's...... been there done that. Didn't plan for this so now have to face it.....

I have almost got the shipping organised, and the flights too, but nothing is organised in the UK yet.... I even looked into welfare and didn't find much help... ( hoping it won't come to that).

I am a nurse and hubby is IT manager so we are both professional people and know we will get back on our feet in a short time. BUt right now it all feels overwhelming. We haven't told the kids yet in case INS actually replies in time, but we have little hope of that from thier previous history....

Well any advice about UK you have will be gratefully accepted.. We will be moving near Slough in Berkshire near family. It's close to London for hubby and close to hospital for me. The kids will get a good education as schools are better in UK... but it will be a complete culture shock for them!

I have missed a nice cup of tea and a hobnob... oooooo and a proper bacon sandwich!!!!!

Thanks in advance....

Glad I found you all.

Hi there!

Myself and my two children (5 and 3) are moving back this June to the UK. We just returned from a relocation trip on Saturday and I'm still getting over the congestion that I found in London - it was awful trying to get around.

I've been in the States almost 8 years but decided 2 years ago that we would make to move back in part because as you say the UK education system is better than the US.

Will your husband's company pay to move you back?? Do you go back to the UK on a regular basis. I've always tried but with having children and higher airfares it becomes more difficult - another reason for the move back).

I'm sure that you can gey child benefit for all of your children, child tax credit, workign families tax credit. I am also going to apply for disability allowance for my son as he has an orthopedic condition so that should come in handy.

I found that there are a lot of swings and roundabouts to the differences between the UK and US i.e. where some things are more expensive here they are cheaper in the UK and vice versa.

I think we will probably end up in the Cambridge area where we also have family and friends as it is so much easier to get around and cleaner.

I met with recruitment agencies in London and Cambridge and feel a lot better re my employment prospects. Have you contatced any agencies or posted CV's on line?? You can actually do a lot of the leg work before you get back.

I'll PM you and maybe we can collaborate~~ Have you thought about keeping a home here just in case you do make it back to the US and renting it out so that your mortgage is still covered??

Chat to you later
BG

Nice to hear from you BG.

Thanks for the info... made me feel a little calmer... Our probelm is that this was a sudden thing and we have aprox 9 weeks to arrange everything... we rent, have no savings ( have 4 kids to drain us dry tee hee) so it is a desperate situation at present.
Hubby is awaiting info from company and trying to get them to pay for shipping and flights.. he may also get a redundancy package which will help.. we just have to wait for them to decide.
In the mean time I have started to get shipping quotes and flight quotes and decide what we take and what we sell..

As far as back in the UK.. I have looked into benefits and that is pretty much organised..... but I can't do anything until we get there..... I can work as soon as we get back, being a nurse work is not a problem for me but the pay is low to start.... Hubby has his resume out online.

We cannot leave USA to go to UK and organise anything because we would not be allowed back.... Visa extension is in appeal... to leave means appeal abandoned.... so we have to do as much as we can from US and the rest when we arrive....

I know it will all be OK, just a little overwhelming at times....

I like what you said about both countries having benefits... I love California. The weather, beaches, entertainment, housing, SPACE, opportunity etc etc.......... and I love UK..... Autumn, cosy fire, walking in the woods, family, markets, etc etc
Cost of living differences are deceptive as you say.... I do think it evens out in the end....

Schooling has been a huge problem for us.... I had problems from the start and still do today but had to accept some things won't change and do my best to help the kids myself.. Although they test as gifted/high achievers I still feel that it doesn't compare to UK.... We will see.... I am concerned for my eldest who is 12, I hope his standard is OK, it's a difficult age allready..... My 10 yr old is overly gifted so I have no worries about him. The twins are 8 and I know they will need help as I have huge issues with the curriculum from kindergarten to 2nd grade, when I compare them to UK curriculum...... I know they will adjust as kids do though....

I sometimes worry to much

Cambridge is lovely.... I come from Marlow origionally near Henley on Thames. Boy what a difference from California.

Well thanks for your post.... I hope we can exchange ideas and help. I have a load of links to sites I found in UK, but you probably allready have them from your posting about benefits.

Take care.

well.... just got news from immigration that we should hear something by april 15th.... they willl either extend the visas or pass them on to the appeal board.... nothing else we can do.

facing unemployment and homelessnes back in the UK... even though only temporary it is terrifying...... This immigration stuff has been a nightmare...

I called the social security office in slough UK and was told we have to take an habitual residency test. Basicallly we have to have lived in UK for 6 out of 12 months or 3 out of 5 years to be eligable for benifits. BUT... if we get deported then it may go in our favor..... I feel like we have no country right now...

Still haven't told the kids yet, this is going to be really hard on them.....

Just have to wait and see what happens.......

That is incorrect - you do not have to take the habitual residence test. There was a case where it was challenged and ruled that if you are a British citizen returning to the UK with the intent to reside you are automatically considered habitual resident.

I will look out my paperwork on it and post again. Also see the child benefit thread where I pulled the information from the Inland Revenue web site stating that again if you are a British citizen returning to reside you do not have to meet the 26 weeks of being resident in the country.

I'm a former U.K. government employee and trust me your average employee may not know the more indepth rules for us expats and is probably used to stating the more general rules to imigrants.

Thanks so much for your post. I would really appreciate it if you could find the ruling for that... I spoke to the SS office and was told no.you won't pass.....

I am trying to get as many facts straight before we have to leave, mainly to make this as smooth a move as possible for the kids considering they are being uprooted from all they know....

Will continue to pray immigration change their minds and let us stay on the 15th....

Thanks bromleygirl for everything... you have been wonderful...

hi honeymommy,
you poor thing...you must be very stressed at this moment in time!
Just a quickie, may not be of any use, but here goes. Have you contacted many agencies/hospitals? A lot of them do relocation packages as a way of attracting experienced overseas nurses (I know your from the uk originally, but it may be worth a try). and if you approach the hospitals direct have you asked about the possibility of hospital accomodation.....my only get short term but may just tide you over till you get yourselves sorted out.
Good luck,
Sue

Here is the link to the HRT information where it states the Swaddling decision. You need to read down a bit to find it:

http://www.ac-company.org/en/forum_en/hrt_en.html

Just quote this to the DSS and they have to count you an habitual resident from the day that you land.

Just let me know if you need anythign else.

I have just read your post and sympathise - it must be extremely unsettling for you! I wonder whether I can do anything to help - I live in Bucks (near the Bucks/Berks border.) If you need any information on schools etc I will try and find out for you...(I know there are a couple of excellent state schools in Langley, next to Slough.) Just a thought - if it is not too rude...would you rather not move back to Marlow? If I can help in any way, please ask!

Thanks Isabella...

I looked into education in Langley and the schools seem good so that was reassuring for me with 4 children... I like the fact there is a college also... everything seems to be close at hand....

As far as moving back to Marlow... I love Marlow and would love to live there... BUT... I know growing up there was nothing to do and my parents spent a lot of their time driving my brother and I to events out of town. Hubby and I would have to travel for work, and I would prefer a job close to home in case the kids are sick from school. Also it is very expensive there property wise.....

Reasons for moving to Langley is that hubby's family are there, it is close to London by train for employment, schools seem good, it is close to the hospital i trained at so will be good for me employment wise...

Thank you for the offer of help... I cannot think of anything right now, but I will ask if anything comes to mind.... Thank you....

LOL... Sitting here I just had a craving for fish and chips hahaha... It's only 11.26am here.....

WOW Thanks...... That has eased my mind thanks....

Thanks tired with twins... Are you really tired? I have twins and can sympathise.... lol

I have contacted a few agencies and have also found NHS professionals in the UK. The board of nursing have said I can start work immediately, so I just have to get the work. This won't be a problem as I can rejoin the agency I worked for before we left UK.
The problem I have is that with 4 children and hubby looking for work we have to try to arrange our time so that one of us is there for the kids if hubby gets an interview..... He will earn a lot more than me, so his employment is of primary importance.

So.... looks like little ole me is gonna have to work nights and become an insomniac again for a while.... God help me..... :scared:
I did that when the twins were babies and I looked similar to hilda ogden at times.... hahahahah ( Used to look like princess dianna.)
Who needs sleep when you have family love huh??? ME!!!!

Well... finally the immigration lawyer has given us a date from the INS appeals.... We should hear something about the appeal by the 15th of April, so at least we will have some idea as to what will happen. They will either let us stay, tell us to go or pass the appeal on to the next level and make no decision....

I am so glad I have highlights in my hair... I am too young to walk around with all the gray that is appearing... ( I can see it in the roots ) LOL

I don't know if this has been answered before - I just caught this thread by accident.
Last year we spent some time In US & my then 7 yr old daughter was in state school there - in 1st grade.
We found that she was about a term or so (semester) ahead of her classmates in most things though her reading level was such that they just let her loose in the library. She is bright - I wouldn't necessarily say gifted.
I don't think it's really that the standard is that much different. In math for example they seemed to just be doing things in a different order. Some things she had covered long before in UK - and some things she did in US they have only just covered in the International school (english curriculum) here in spain.
Above all don't worry about it. They're all young enough to adapt and they (sort of) speak the same language!
My dd caused uproar when she asked for a rubber in class!
:scared:

This is correct.

The Swaddling decision changed everything regarding a UK national's right to return and claim benefits. They cannot refuse you just because you have abroad.

I'm in the same boat right now - I had to take a HRT and have now been told by the dole I don't qualify as a habitual resident because "you cannot be treated as having remained habitually resident in the UK during the period of absence in the other member state".

This is utter rubbish as a) I never asked to be considered habitually resident in the UK while I was working elsewhere in the EU and b) they ignored the Swaddling decision completely! I filled in the test form as I was unaware at the time of the Swaddling decision. The dole are about to get a stiff letter of complaint from me!

So, does the Swaddling decision mean that a UK national who lives temporarily overseas (say, working on a visa for 5 yrs in a foreign country) can claim Social Security upon re-entry to the UK?