A First-Era American on Why She’s Moved to the UK Indefinitely

I am the daughter of immigrants, born and raised within the US.

Seven years in the past, I scrapped the American dream and moved again to the continent my dad and mom left simply earlier than I used to be born.

I lived in Budapest for 2 years, enhancing my language expertise and connecting with my household in Hungary and Poland. Then, in 2020, I moved to London.

Just lately, a number of different Individuals have had an analogous concept.

Google searches for “twin citizenship,” “expat,” and “citizenship by ancestry” spiked the week after Donald Trump received the US election in November.

The UK Dwelling Workplace launched information in March exhibiting that 6,100 US residents utilized for UK citizenship in 2024. 1,700 of the purposes got here within the final three months of the 12 months, coinciding with Trump’s reelection. This marked a major soar from 2023 when fewer than 5,000 US residents utilized.

I have been within the UK for almost 5 years — which suggests I can apply for British citizenship subsequent 12 months — and I’ve realized rather a lot about residing as an American emigrant in that point.

Transferring to the UK will not be probably the most financially savvy transfer

Wages are on common decrease within the UK. In spring 2024, the median weekly wage within the US was $1,143, in comparison with $917 within the UK, in response to information from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and Workplace for Nationwide Statistics, respectively.

My associates ask how I make a smaller wage stretch within the metropolis. London might be costly if you wish to dwell alone in an fancy space, nevertheless it does not should be.

My life-style selections preserve my prices manageable. I share a flat and stroll, or take the bus wherever I’m going. I’ve realized which native pubs have probably the most inexpensive pints and infrequently go to fancy eating places.

I work within the information trade, and I used to be fortunate sufficient to seek out each full-time jobs I’ve had in London inside just a few months. In the end, I did not discover job searching harder within the UK than within the US. Nevertheless it helped that I’ve a proper to work within the UK with the pre-settled standing I acquired by my EU citizenship.

There’s one other huge monetary issue to contemplate within the UK: taxes

Within the US, you can pay wherever from 10 to 37% in federal earnings tax; nevertheless, these jumps are incremental. As compared, earnings tax ranges from 20 to 45% within the UK and 40% taxation applies to annual earnings over £51,271, round $65,750.

As an American citizen, I have to pay US tax on my UK earnings in the course of the years after I do not qualify for the foreign-earned earnings exclusion. The silver lining to paying double tax is that I haven’t got to calculate and file my taxes within the UK; they’re filed robotically by my employer.

I am OK with paying the upper earnings tax charge within the UK as a result of I do know an excellent chunk of my taxes go to a social security web, together with the Nationwide Well being Service (NHS), schooling, and welfare companies.

I do not need to suggest that the UK is a utopia.

As an illustration, the UK conservative get together’s austerity measures have hollowed out the NHS, resulting in overworked medical doctors and lengthy wait instances. The present Labour authorities introduced important cuts to the welfare price range in March.

However in my day-to-day life, I recognize the issues my taxes fund: public transportation so I do not want a automobile, sidewalks, a lot of inexperienced areas so motion is built-in into my every day life and public healthcare. I additionally fear about my security a lot much less than after I was within the US.

For me, all this makes residing within the UK value it.

My life feels extra enjoyable and fulfilling on this facet of the Atlantic

Folks usually ask me after I plan to return to the US, the reply is: I do not. I really feel like I dwell an excellent life right here.

I really like London. I’ve a a lot better work-life stability than within the US, so I can immerse myself within the metropolis’s historical past, parks, and pub tradition.

My favourite time of 12 months is summer time when the solar seems, and the entire metropolis vibrates with pleasure for the European or World Cup soccer video games — soccer to Individuals.

I am additionally grateful for the convenience of journey. I’ve eaten tapas in Madrid on Thanksgiving, watched the dawn within the Alps, and lounged in an Italian villa in the summertime.

I attempt to preserve my journey prices low by sometimes reserving a price range airline and staying in modest lodging or with household and associates.

The UK is a worthy journey vacation spot too. There is a complete prepare system that makes touring across the nation straightforward, and I usually discover strolling trails.

These aren’t the hikes I am used to within the US, however there’s one thing charming a few lengthy muddy stroll ending with ice cream by the Cornish sea or a sizzling meal in a Lake District pub.

The important thing to feeling such as you belong overseas is constructing neighborhood

Having lived in three international locations throughout my grownup life, I’ve realized a considerably unwelcome secret: You could put your self on the market to satisfy individuals in a brand new place, even when it is nerve-racking.

I discovered a few of my closest associates by exhibiting as much as meetups solo. I joined the ‘London New Lady‘ Fb group, attended occasions by a ladies’s group known as New Circle Society, and arranged a meetup for followers of the Who Weekly podcast.

Through the years, strangers I’ve met at these occasions have develop into my neighborhood. I’ve grown to imagine that cultivating significant relationships is an element of a life nicely lived. These connections are a part of the rationale I am staying put.

My recommendation for individuals contemplating residing overseas is do not simply consider it as a contemporary begin however as a possibility to combine your self into one other tradition and neighborhood.

Generally, I ponder what life would have been like if I had stayed within the US. I miss my household and associates in America daily.

Honestly, I really feel extra at residence within the UK than I ever did within the US.

I really feel fortunate to make this selection — and anybody who can transfer overseas ought to acknowledge the worth of that chance.