So anyone thought of moving back/already moved back???

[JandC 0]

We have been talking about moving back to England. We want to have children in the next few years and we will struggle money wise here in the US. Plus, I would get a lot more support from my family in England and we already have a place to live there. However, I don't want to move until I have my citizenship! So, we are going to wait until the end of the year to see how we feel and how the bank balance looks before we make any serious decisions on the matter.

[britty 1]

We are planning to go back to the UK in five years (I miss my family and good bread) Hubby loves the UK so happy to live there for a while. We have somewhere to live too and we both have international work contacts, and have already been assured there will be good jobs for us in the UK. Obviously I will wait for citizenship here in the US. I don't intend to stay away forever, and our perfect plan would be to spend 4 - 5 years in each country. I'm sure it doesn't work out like that but as long as we have a home in each country, and a job, we will certainly try.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I'm sure it doesn't work out like that but as long as we have a home in each country, and a job, we will certainly try.

I'm sure this must be able to work somehow!

We'd hate the idea of never going back to the UK, and if we left tomorrow equally hate the idea of never coming back here

[no name 1]

I have completely uprooted a few times in the past 10 years and the biggest obstacle by far has been immigration for hubster. I totally understand why people want to get the citizenship.

[no name 1]

I think i wasn't clear enough, I know for sure that things change, and situations change, and what people want out of life changes. I just meant that I can't imagine moving to the US already knowing that I want to move back here. I sorta understand your attitude a little more, Gwen, because I like moving to new places etc. I just don't understand moving over or back just for the sake of citizenship. Again, everyone makes choices that make the most sense for them, no judgement. It's just not something I would do.

I don't think anyone is hanging for citizenship. for myself, he wanted to try America for awhile & see what happened. I would never ask my hubby to give up entirely on their homeland to live with me in America. Kinda harsh, no?

Plus, god forbid someone's parents get ill or something like that.

Never say never.

Edited February 20, 2008 by illumine

[rebeccajo 14]

We have been talking about moving back to England. We want to have children in the next few years and we will struggle money wise here in the US. Plus, I would get a lot more support from my family in England and we already have a place to live there. However, I don't want to move until I have my citizenship! So, we are going to wait until the end of the year to see how we feel and how the bank balance looks before we make any serious decisions on the matter.

That's the part about moving to the UK that I don't think would ever work for us - the 'taking our dollars' over and converting them to anything remotely useable.

Even in Northern Ireland (where my husband is from) house prices are soaring.

I honestly do not see how anyone could consider moving to the UK with intent to purchase real estate with anything less than $250,000.00 US dollars in their back pocket. Seriously.

That $250,000.00 converts to about 125,000 sterling. How much is it going to cost to establish yourself over there and how much would it take to put down on a home so one could afford the monthly mortgage payment?

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Bear in mind that once in the UK you are earning in pounds, not dollars.

The relative affordability of housing depends on where in the US you move from - from CA it's not that much of a stretch, especially if you move to one of the cheaper areas of the UK (which I believe the OP plans to do, if memory serves).

[frustrated1 0]

I would consider moving back to canada one day to be able to have family around. that is one thing you can't get used to being without.

[no name 1]

Bear in mind that once in the UK you are earning in pounds, not dollars.

The relative affordability of housing depends on where in the US you move from - from CA it's not that much of a stretch, especially if you move to one of the cheaper areas of the UK (which I believe the OP plans to do, if memory serves).

Yes, *IF* you plan to buy. Plenty of people would be happy renting if it means living where you want to be.

Edited February 21, 2008 by illumine

[izzysmum 0]

For those thinking about moving back to the UK, the British government has added yet more hurdles for potential immigrants today. Those who are thinking about or have emmigrated to the UK legally are up in arms about this.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7253933.stm

As usual in everything here in the UK, the government has chosen the ones that have to go through all the protocol that suffer, the easy targets. The ones that can bypass all this are the ones that are really causing the problems, ie the EU citizens that are flooding into the UK, these don't seem to count in the figures, nothing can be done about them.

It would be like the USA suddenly opening its borders freely to Mexico, then expecting everyone else to obtain permits and visas, but not only that, everyone else has to pay extra fees and taxes so these Mexicans can stay. There would be an outcry and understandably so.

I am so glad to be moving out the UK, there is no law and order, no respect, housing prices are ridiculous, taxes, bills and cost of living are way too high. OK we get more holidays and vacations but have no spare money to enjoy them. Vacations to a lot of my friends are a stay in a caravan in a seaside resort in another part of the UK, how many Americans would spend a vacation in a trailer? The NHS is a joke, free healthcare is appealing, yes. But waiting 18 months for a routine appointment isnt the ideal, then another long wait for treatment? I would rather pay private and get seen right away, in fact because of the NHS I took out private medical insurance as many more people here are doing more. There is no confidence in the NHS.

The USA isnt perfect, but compared to the UK right now its so much safer. If the UK becomes a much safer place in the future, then maybe I would consider moving back, but as it is now there is no way. I can't honestly see a big change in the next few years though.

Yes, if this passes it will most definitely be very hard to acquire British citizneship. I think it is crazy that she proposes immigrants pay into a special "transitional impact" fund (on top of all the other fees you pay already), do volunteer work (the last time I checked volunteering was something you did on your own, not forced to do!....not to mention the fact that most are already working, taking care of children, etc. who in the H$%£ has time for volunteering), and even then you would only get a "probationary" citizenship. It will take 5 years to even be eligible for citizenship, even with being a spouse. These are a summary of her "Three Steps to Citizenship".

1. At first they will be classed as temporary residents - the status they receive as a worker, relative or recognised refugee.

2. After five years they will be given an entirely new status for a minimum of another 12 months - "probationary citizen".

3. This probationary status will ultimately lead to someone becoming a British citizen or permanent foreign resident - or being told it's time to move on.

The whole thing is ridiculous!

What about someone who moves here from a country that doesn't recognize dual citizenship? Being bullied into giving up citizenship of your home country or being told to leave is horrible! She's even talking about children born in England to someone with British citizenship will not automatically be given British citizenship. They will eventually have to earn their way to it, as well. There is also the possibility of benefits, such as NHS being withheld until a person becomes a citizen. 5 years without any access to the NHS...get real!! This article defines her proposal a little more. I am just totally insulted by everything she states and proposes! I think she is a total CRACKPOT!! My hubby agrees! That is precisely why we are repatriating back to the states next year...

I am so lucky that I will be applying for citizenship next month before all the possibility of this comes to fruition. I definitely feel sorry for the ones who follow, who might possibly feel the wrath of this though.

[SMB x2 0]

Oh, I missed story. Cheers Gordon, you prat.

Stu

[msu17 0]

Unless my husband really starts to miss his family or some other unforeseen circumstances happen, there is NO way we would move back. My pay, BEFORE cost of living, would be less as would his. We live in one of the cheapest housing areas of the country right now, so it would be ridiculous to pay double to price for 1/4 the house and no yard.

[ladyynara 0]

We moved back in 2003. The only way this was a good thing was because 2 weeks after I moved back I discovered I was pregnant, so I got to have all my maternity and birth covered for free, and then did it again quite quickly after the first one. In all other ways, it has not been a good move. We've ended up in enormous debt trying to keep our heads above water, can't get on the property ladder so have had to rent at very high rates. We ended up having to file bankruptcy as it was spiralling out of control. We have no been able to afford to run a car, so have been without for 5 years - not that this is necessarily a bad thing, as there is good public transport but it's also expensive and we've felt rather trapped as a result as we can't just pick up and go somewhere for the day without spending most of it on public transport. Everything costs too much, house prices are ridiculous. Vandalism and crime in my opinion have increased in the years since I left the first time, gangs of youths making trouble seem to be everywhere. I've been horrified at the lack of discipline in the schools (and from parents), it seems to have got a lot worse since I was at school and speaking to one of my old secondary school teachers confirmed this. Honestly, I wish we'd just stayed in the US.

We're moving back to the US next month.

[greeneyedgirlfl 0]

Lack of parental discipline is everywhere, even in the US...since I am a teacher, I see it every day...most parents are good, but the ones who abdicate parental responsibility to someone else (teachers, church, the state) are the ones that cause the vast majority of the problem...I'm sure it's the same in the UK as well...

[gwenneh 7]

Do you think, as a teacher, that the legislation surrounding disciplining a child (from banning spanking to parents suing the school because widdle Junior got a failing grade to children committing and getting away with increasingly violent crimes) has had a negative impact upon parental discipline?