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I live in Notting Hill,
yes, the cute one from the movie.
You see,
I did live in Dallas,
till we moved to Oxford,
but now we are in London...
even though I worked in Paris this spring.
It's all a bit confusing, really.
Life as an ex-pat is challenging,
but an experience I couldn't love more.
Many people want to move to England, too.
I think you should,
it would change your life.
But here are a few things you should know first
{most of which I discuss on my vlog or in this post}.
It's almost impossible to immigrate to the UK.
The best way to get a visa is
to be transferred by a US company
or apply to a university here.
So how did we do it?
Tyler got accepted into school,
which gave us our visas...
From there,
I honestly got lucky.
I had my visa
and when I volunteered to help
my undergraduate school's UK program...
it coincided with the current director's resignation.
And I've thanked my lucky stars every day since.
Study Abroad programs, though popular,
typically operate with small office staffs...
and while it is incredibly fun,
its actually a lot of work & very long hours.
Obviously, moving overseas can be done.
I did it & tons of other people have.
I just don't know one that hasn't legally
got to this side of the pond
without a transfer or student visa.
If you are relocating to the UK,
I'll do my best to answer questions
& help direct you down the right path...
but I'll be up front:
my husband did every single jot
of our immigration paperwork!
If you are looking to visit England,
all my favorite places, hotels, day trips & food are listed here.
I used to live in Ireland and 100% agree that living in Europe (typically) has to start with a student visa. I went to graduate school there and ended up getting a job at a wedding magazine, nabbing an Irish husband and next thing I knew, 5 years had passed!
ReplyDeleteWhen people ask me how they can live abroad, I always tell them to study first then see what opportunities unfold!
Oh! You know, I'm originally from Spain and I've been living in USA during the last 7.5 years. When you talk about visas, well, let's just say that I'm in touch with that emotion. Now, the experience of living abroad is priceless. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteIt's so cool that you posted about this. Especially because if people want to move abroad, there's ways to make it happen! And not everyone thinks that. I come from California and came to Amsterdam for grad school and got a student visa...then once I got my first job, it got way easier and opportunities just kept rolling in!! Now I've got one for 5 years :). Love the expat life!!
ReplyDeleteI'm from Texas too :) and I'm in the process of all this now, and ya Visas are a mess. I've been in GErmany a year, that part was easy. Now, I am trying to get a real person working visa, yet you somehow have to prove that your employer needs you, an American, instead of any old other citizen of the EU. Studying is definitely an awesome opportunity. If anyone is looking for more short term (up to a year) I can highly recommend looking at au pairing as an option as well.
ReplyDeleteMy mother was British (she passed away), and two of my siblings are dual citizens because of her citizenship. I have never really had the desire to become a dual citizen, but reading this post has made me reconsider!
ReplyDelete- Holly
So fun to see that you lived in Dallas! Adoring your blog :)
ReplyDeleteI feel incredibly lucky that I actually am British and can come and go as I please. Although I am now an expat - I decided to jump ship and leave the rain behind for Cyprus. Having been born an raised in London, I know how it is impossibly hard to do anything, governmental without filling in 12 forms, having 4 passport photos, a bank statement, proof of address and 13 different forms of id. My goodness us brits stick to the rules. Something Cypriots do not. Most staff at the immigration office here dont speak English. Helpful when you deal with foreign people everyday. And I totally agree with your things to do and see in England.
ReplyDeleteI found my way over here from Megan at across the pond because I just couldnt help but be intrigued about your announcement. And a double congratulations are in order. Im glad I found you now - just in time to follow along your wonderful new journey.