ejp626 Posted March 10, 2005 Report Share Posted March 10, 2005 Well, it is looking more and more likely that I am going to land a job in Cambridge, England. And I think Sal is making headway as well. This might last for a few years, or it might be permanent, depending on a number of factors. Where should I go for some immigration-related questions, like cheapest way to ship large amounts of goods (books and files and CDs of course) overseas, the tax laws related to US citizens working overseas, whether foreign citizens are allowed to/are forced to participate in UK Health system and pension system, etc.? Thanks in advance. Eric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Bresnahan Posted March 10, 2005 Report Share Posted March 10, 2005 Eric, PM member John L. John has relocated from the US to France, back to the US and is now in Russia. He should know a thing or two... or three or four. Good luck! BTW, hope you don't have any wine to transport. That was one of John's biggest headaches. Kevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted March 10, 2005 Report Share Posted March 10, 2005 Good luck with the move to the UK, Eric. Cambridge is a good town with lots of cultural amenities. With regard to health care, my understanding is that once you are resident here and the system recognises you, you are given a National Insurance (NI) number. One of the entitlements is for free (at point of delivery) health care anywhere in the UK (or EU if overseas). The payment for this comes out of taxes and National Insurance contributions. Some of this also goes into state pension contributions. The amount you get at 65 depends on number of years in the UK (it takes a cool 45 years working here to score the full 100% ). Most people supplement this with employer or private pension schemes. I made the move from UK to Canada and back to the UK. If you are familiar at all with the Canadian system of welfare and healthcare, it is not that dissimilar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted March 10, 2005 Report Share Posted March 10, 2005 I hope that you don't have large crates of Mosaics to ship over here. It was nerve-racking enough just getting my old LPs back here. I discovered Mosaic after the return ! With regard to shipping, my advice would be to spend the bucks and get everything professionally packed and crated. Should go fine. The only problem I had was transporting a couple of bottles of Grand Cru Classe French wine across the prairies in Winter. Not a good move... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejp626 Posted March 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2005 The only Mosaics I have are CD ones, so they should ship relatively well. I am thinking of putting a lot in storage here (books and maybe some CDs), just in case I am only there a few years. I've actually spent the last few months making CDR backups of all my LPs, so that's probably all I would take at first. And probably would take almost no furniture, etc. I lived in Canada for a year, but wasn't working (student visa), so I had a health card but no pension insurance. Probably not going to make 45 years working in the UK. 35 would really be pushing it! I'm most worried about the interface between UK and US tax systems, but the company has done this in the past, so they'll have somebody to talk me through it. It's certainly exciting. I should know in just a few more weeks if it will really happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Lark Ascending Posted March 10, 2005 Report Share Posted March 10, 2005 Excellent folk festival in Cambridge every year in late-July! Watch the main roads around the city. Speed cameras everywhere. Very nice city with great bookshops. Can't help on the technical points of coming here, unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted March 10, 2005 Report Share Posted March 10, 2005 You'll probably find that you have to file tax returns both in the UK and the US. Lots of forms to fill in, I'm afraid. Company advice would defintely be a good idea. How much you get taxed probably depends on where you are legally domiciled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted March 10, 2005 Report Share Posted March 10, 2005 Have you tried talking to your employer about this. I'm sure they must have hired non-UK people before so maybe they have information they can give you or point you in the right direction. I do know that there are specific tax laws that apply to americans getting paid overseas. I wrote a paper about it about 20 years ago but have not kept up on the topic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejp626 Posted March 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2005 I'll definitely be talking about it with them, but it can wait until after I am actually hired. I did take a look and have a better understanding of the Social Security situation, where I have to fill out a form and am then exempted from US Social Security taxes, as long as I work in the UK and pay into the UK pension fund. My impression of the tax situation is that after the first year, I will basically fill out a 1040 that says 100% of my income is foreign-based, though I guess that won't be true for interest and dividends. Hmm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Berger Posted March 10, 2005 Report Share Posted March 10, 2005 The more of your CDs you send to me, the less you will have to take to England. I'll be glad to provide any moving assistance along those lines. Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejp626 Posted March 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2005 That is awfully generous of you, Guy. And in return I can take some of those useless pieces of paper the Americans call dollars. But seriously, I am thinking of selling close to half my collection, which I probably ought to do even if I don't move, since I just am not really listening to it. I am tired of moving it around, since I move on average every 18 months. There will be some gems amidst the dreck, and I will post them in the appropriate forum when I have a chance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejp626 Posted April 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2005 So it is official. I have landed a position in England and will be moving there in late July. I'd like it to be permanent, but that depends on how well my wife adjusts. It is more likely to be a 2-3 year stint. In any case, it is a great opportunity to learn more about different approaches to transportation modeling, as well as to write more policy-related transportation articles. I do this already but on my own time, and now I would be paid for it! I'll also spend a lot of time in London and a bit in Paris on business. Very excited and a bit nervous. Truly negotiations with my wife were much harder than with the company, which gave me a better deal than I expected -- 5 weeks vacation as well as a fair, though not astounding, salary. And a lot of opportunity for advancement if all goes well. And even a backup plan to work out of the DC office (and shuttle back and forth a bit) if the transition simply doesn't go well for my wife (the president actually raised this as an option). So I think it should be a good move, where both parties are going to try hard to make it work. Since the presumption is that we will be coming back, I'll probably put more in storage now and only sell some CDs. If it does become permanent, I'd come back and sell off more and ship the rest over. So keep an eye out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Posted April 16, 2005 Report Share Posted April 16, 2005 Good luck & WELCOME! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckyd4 Posted April 16, 2005 Report Share Posted April 16, 2005 Congrats!!! I recently moved to France from the US, so I am in the middle of a lot of this stuff - though I brought no furniture, and do not have any family with me (though my girlfriend will be moving here in September). In any case, if there's any general questions about international move, feel free to e-mail me through the address in my profile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonym Posted April 16, 2005 Report Share Posted April 16, 2005 So it is official. I have landed a position in England and will be moving there in late July. I'd like it to be permanent, but that depends on how well my wife adjusts. It is more likely to be a 2-3 year stint. In any case, it is a great opportunity to learn more about different approaches to transportation modeling, as well as to write more policy-related transportation articles. I do this already but on my own time, and now I would be paid for it! I'll also spend a lot of time in London and a bit in Paris on business. Very excited and a bit nervous. Truly negotiations with my wife were much harder than with the company, which gave me a better deal than I expected -- 5 weeks vacation as well as a fair, though not astounding, salary. And a lot of opportunity for advancement if all goes well. And even a backup plan to work out of the DC office (and shuttle back and forth a bit) if the transition simply doesn't go well for my wife (the president actually raised this as an option). So I think it should be a good move, where both parties are going to try hard to make it work. Since the presumption is that we will be coming back, I'll probably put more in storage now and only sell some CDs. If it does become permanent, I'd come back and sell off more and ship the rest over. So keep an eye out. Hope your move goes smoothly and that your new UK neighbours are accomodating and friendly Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted April 16, 2005 Report Share Posted April 16, 2005 Great news, and very best of luck with the move. Let us know how it goes. Should be some jazz in London towards the rest of the year (you should be in time for the Pat Martino week at Ronnie Scotts.. ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Lark Ascending Posted April 16, 2005 Report Share Posted April 16, 2005 Good luck with the move. Hope it all goes smoothly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1ngram Posted April 16, 2005 Report Share Posted April 16, 2005 I would hope the tremendous advantages of living in a place like Cambridge will become more obvious to your wife the longer you are there. All of Britain, from London to Scotland, Europe even, are only a heartbeat away. With oil here in Scotland I've got lots of American friends and acquaintances and almost without exception they love it. The only worry has been the educational system and the efect on their kids when they go back if they cant arrange a US style school here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Berger Posted April 16, 2005 Report Share Posted April 16, 2005 I would hope the tremendous advantages of living in a place like Cambridge will become more obvious to your wife the longer you are there. All of Britain, from London to Scotland, Europe even, are only a heartbeat away. With oil here in Scotland I've got lots of American friends and acquaintances and almost without exception they love it. The only worry has been the educational system and the efect on their kids when they go back if they cant arrange a US style school here. I read somewhere that the Highlands have been booming recently. Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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