Moving from UK to US checklist
 

Hi! This is my first post. My husband who is British will be moving to the US within the next few months. We have the visa situation under control, but are wondering what he should do on his side to prepare.

Should he close bank accounts? Will he still have to pay taxes in England? How do we deal with credit card debt? Does anyone who has gone though this have a checklist?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Re: Moving from UK to US checklist
 

Don't close all bank accounts. Consolidate to 1 or 2 maybe. Reason: he'll never manage to open them again once he's not resident.

Re: Moving from UK to US checklist
 

DH 'had' one but he threw it out and says he can't remember everything. He doesn't post on here.

He kept one bank account and one credit card (zero balance). He filled out his taxes last year (his first year in U.S.) and got a refund and filled out a form about his U.S. residency.

His son in UK puts money in his UK bank account and we match it in an account in U.S. for when he starts school here next year. We use the UK account for bdays, xmas, visiting.

I'm sure someone will be along and give you all the info. you need.

Re: Moving from UK to US checklist
 

Keep a bank account open, even if don't have a lot of money in it - and change his address with them for mail - there doesn't seem to be a set rule as to whether they'll accept a US address or not, if not use a family member.

If you can pay down the credit card, do - and keep it with a zero balance.

If he pays taxes in the US, he won't in the UK - but will have to declare foreign earned income on his US tax return.

Re: Moving from UK to US checklist
 

File your P85 with the IL

Re: Moving from UK to US checklist
 

Keep at least 1 bank account and 1 credit card. Inform the IR that you will no longer be a UK resident. If you are able to pay off the CC debt before you leave...if not transfer the payments from the US to your UK bank account and pay it off that way.

If you wish to move back to the UK or buy property there you will be unable to open a UK bank account or get a UK CC.

Re: Moving from UK to US checklist
 

Bear in mind that there is a risk that the bank will try to close it if it's "dormant".

Better to keep at least 2 accounts and regularly transfer funds between them. If you keep a U.K. CC, try to use it at least once every 6 months.

Re: Moving from UK to US checklist
 

True...I have a few standing orders paid from my UK account each month. The credit card is likely to be cancelled also if it stays dormant for any length of time. This happened with ours...I called Visa and they re-instated it...even though we lived in the US.

Re: Moving from UK to US checklist
 

A UK credit or debit card is useful for buying things in the UK such as presents and getting delivered to the recipient. Saves a lot on postage from the US at Christmas and B/Days.

For the credit card you might want to consider setting up a direct debit on a UK bank account for payment saves the odd times you forget to pay, don't get the statement in time etc.

Re: Moving from UK to US checklist
 

If you've got kids, vaccine history, bring it...bring yours as well if you've got any intentions or possibility of staying here for the long term.

Voter proxy, sort it out now, if you've for family or someone you trust to act as a proxy, much easier to sort out from the UK and don't bother with mail vote as you generally wouldn't get the ballot here in time to return it to be counted, hence the proxy voter.

P-85 as mentioned.

Also have a read through the wiki as there's loads of info, and welcome to BE :)

Re: Moving from UK to US checklist
 

Try to mentally sort out what it is that is going to take the longest time. For example, pulling together your medical records from here and there would be a good thing to have. You'll want some history to show the US doctors when you arrive should you need treatment for something. If you have kids, you'll need vaccination records before they can enter school, so best to get those together as well.

I would also recommend making a list of every single thing you need to do. Pay this bill, cancel the newspaper, see Aunt Fred and Uncle Sue, call the movers, etc. Keep plenty of room on the list for adding things, and be sure, oh so sure to plan some time with friends, family and visiting some familiar places before you leave.

I'd actually start to get this into a mental calendar and aim for a 100% completion date, ready to go to the airport about TWO DAYS before you actually do go to the airport. Give yourself a moment to breathe after the whirlwind that will be descending. It's great for a last minute emergency thing you forgot, or just to spend a quite moment at your local pub or the place where the two of you met for the first time.

One other aside--if this is his or your first expat trip overseas, I'd also sit down and have a talk about the 'what ifs'. What if your job falls apart, what if you hate it here, what if your grandma is sick and you need to go home. I assure you there will be a time within a few months of arriving in which some of these thoughts come to the front. Homesickness, rose tinted glasses looking home, lack of decent bread, etc will all drive you nuts. Far better to be prepared for it before you go.

Good luck with this adventure.

Re: Moving from UK to US checklist
 

One of the hardest things to do as a newcomer to the US can be to open bank accounts or get credit cards from a US bank because they rely heavily on credit scoring and you will effectively have zero.

Before coming over here we opened an international account with Wells Fargo (other banks are available). It took ages to get the account established but once in the US it was very straightforward getting the details switched to our new address and proper check books issued showing our details.

For credit cards, American Express are one of the few that will take non-US credit history into account. If you can open a UK account a few months before arriving you are almost guaranteed a card from the US - the two organisations operate semi-independently. I got a UK Platinum Visa in Feb 08 - which pays 5% cash back for the first 3 months - and paid the balance each month, then applied for a US Blue Cash card in August. Both cards are fee-free. I was immediately accepted with a $5,000 dollar limit, enough to cover our monthly spending. If I was willing to give up my UK card then I would have got a higher limit.

Re: Moving from UK to US checklist
 

Have a nice big meal to say goodbye to the decent sausages, bacon and chocolate.

I agree about the sausages and bacon, but what's wrong with Green & Blacks? :p

Re: Moving from UK to US checklist
 

And proper chips, decent Indian food and readily-available cask-conditioned ale...