Moving to England because of US politics?

Nov 23

I’ve tried to start this post a few times now and just don’t know how to frame my thoughts…

Politics in the US is hard to describe if you’re not living through it. There is so much tribalism and fear and disinformation. This was our third presidential election with Trump involved, and every time I feel my faith in humanity dwindling more and more.

We were already planning to move from the US to the UK in 2025, but this election results make that decision a little bit (a lot?) easier. At least four friends have said only half-jokingly, “Take me with you!” If only.

So if you’re doing some soul-searching and wondering if you should leave, too, here’s what I’ve learned about the process (so far) as an American moving to the UK:

1. The UK spouse visa has some high requirements.
I’ve been married to a UK citizen for over a decade, and even that doesn’t guaranteed me a visa and a right to live in the UK. There are still many hurdles and piles of paperwork to tackle before I can get the stamp of approval. I’ve gotta say, if you don’t have a clear path to move to the UK through marriage or work, then you probably want to pick a different country that’s more welcoming to immigrants, because the UK doesn’t want us. (Ironic, I know.)

Here are some of the things I’ve done to live in other countries:

Resided illegally in France as an au pair for a year (my host family didn’t mind, although it was awkward to not be able to open a bank account)
Took a TEFL course and worked as an English teacher in Thailand and Vietnam (I received work visas for each country/contract)
Worked as a WWOOFer in New Zealand and Colombia (these are unpaid gigs where you work in exchange for room and board, so not a great long-term solution)

Okay, these options were great when I was a freewheeling 20-something, but now I’m old and married and have two kiddos to take care of. If that sounds more like you, then you might be interested in something that gives you more stability, like countries that have digital nomad visas (like Thailand or Portugal) or countries that give you a path to residency through a property purchase (like Malta or Cambodia).

I think as Americans we just assume that whatever we want is possible, because we’re constantly told how great we are and how we’re in the best country in the world. It’s a shock to realize that not everyone thinks that way, and we can’t just do something (i.e., move to another country) because we want to. Whatever your situation, it takes a ton of time and research and connections and (to my next point) money to make it happen.

2. Moving a family overseas is fucking expensive.
Sure, if you are a single person with nothing tying you down, it’s not such a big investment to buy a plane ticket and go teach English in SE Asia. But if you’re a family trying to make a move mid-career, mid-mortgage, mid-school, there’s a lot to pay for. Here’s what’s on my list so far:

About $5,700 to ship 300 cubic feet of boxes and furniture (basically as much as would fit in a cargo van)
Around $6,000 for spouse visa fees (I haven’t paid these yet so not sure what the total is going to be, but I know there’s a big NHS surcharge I’ll have to pay)
Plane tickets and travel expenses for my husband to go to the UK at least once before we move to find a place for us to live
Plane tickets for our whole family (and we’re moving in summer, the most expensive time of year weeee!)
Realtor fees to sell our house, probably around $30,000
Needing to buy new furniture, homewares and a car (offset by selling our car and some of our stuff here, but still)
Deposit on a rental in the UK (because we don’t have UK credit history, we’re expecting to need to pay 6-12 months of rent upfront, around £30,000)
And a million other little things I’m forgetting

3. UK politics isn’t perfect either.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s way better over there. People are mostly kind and respectful and the topics of political conversation are almost quaint compared to the shit show that is American politics. But the UK has their own brand of bonkers, politicians that are cashing in on the Trump playbook of fear-mongering their way to fame and fortune.

The UK now has GB News, which is their own version of Fox News, mimicked to a T, right down to the blindingly white teeth and year-round tans. People mostly make fun of it, but it’s still scary because I know how insidious the propaganda can be, sneaking up on you from all around as slowly, slowly people’s brains start melting as they starting ingesting copious amounts of batshit on a daily basis. But I digress.

Overall, it’s still a calmer and more civilized culture where politics is largely ignored and people just get on with the business of living, safe in the assumption that the government is chugging along and mostly doing the right thing. Which is, I think, what any of us want out of life, right?

Nowhere is going to be perfect. Every country, every community has its pros and cons, so it comes down to what’s most important for you.

4. If you want to move, you’ll find a way.
There are a lot of reasons to not move. It’s easier, less risky, less expensive, less hassle, less of the unknown. So if moving is really the right step for you, you need to keep your eye on the prize, whatever that is. Better work/life balance, new places to explore, safer schools, happier culture, healthier living.

If you really want to make it happen, you’ll find a way.