Moving To The UK From Overseas

We appreciate how difficult it can be for new members of staff to settle in to life at a new school alongside navigating the subtleties of life in a whole new country, so have put together a few hints and tips that may be useful during your first few months.

When you decide to move to the UK there are a range of things you should be aware of; from understanding the immigration paperwork and finding somewhere to live, opening a bank account and registering with an NHS doctor. We have put together a few suggestions of things to think about when moving to the UK in the hope that it will make the transition as easy as possible for new members of staff.

DO YOU NEED A VISA?

Nationals from 114 countries need a visa to enter the UK and those from other countries will need a UK visa to stay in the UK for longer than six months. 

For further details regarding visas and immigration in the UK you may find the following website useful:
Expatica

FIND SOMEWHERE TO LIVE

If you want to buy a property in the UK it is probably worth researching the local areas thoroughly before making a decision. Charters is situated in an affluent area around 27 miles from central London, and although property prices are high in this area of the UK, most of our teaching staff live outside of catchment with the most popular locations being Bracknell, Camberley, Farnborough, Reading, Windsor and Wokingham. Check out this link to Right Move to compare prices.

Renting is a good option for those who are relocating and you may find the following websites useful:
Homelike
SpareRoom
Spotahome
Zoopla

HEALTHCARE

If you are living in the UK you can access the full range of free health services available through the National Health Service, (NHS), but will first need to register with a General Practitioner, (GP). As it is likely to take a little time to register with a GP, it is worth bringing enough medication to last a few months. Bringing evidence of when and why your prescriptions were prescribed in addition to your medical records is something which may be useful when seeking on-going treatment from your GP.

The guide below explains how to find and register with a GP and outlines the various options for those who may wish to access private healthcare through health insurance:
Health Guide

OPENING A BANK ACCOUNT

Although you can use a credit or debit card from home during your first few weeks in the UK, you will probably incur transaction and currency exchange fees and it is worth opening a bank account as soon as possible.

You will need to prove your identity and your address in order to open a bank account in the UK.

Most banks are likely to ask for:

• Passport/valid photo ID
• A recent utility bill (less than three months old) or council tax bill
• A recent bank or credit card statement
• Proof of employment (some banks may ask for this)

Many standard bank accounts in the UK can be opened within 1-2 days and you can find a complete guide to UK banking below:
Banking in the UK

PURCHASING A UK SIM CARD

Although this may be further down your list of priorities when moving to the UK, it is worth considering purchasing a UK SIM card. There are a variety of options available and whether you are considering a prepaid SIM or a cell phone contract, more information is available below:
UK Mobile Phone Guide

WIDER READING

A book that has been recommended as a way to understand cultural differences in the UK is Watching the English by Kate Fox, who puts the English national character under her anthropological microscope.