Moving from the USA to the UK

[rhyspw]

Hi all,

After 4 years of long distance my yank fiancee is moving to the UK in July, however I have no idea of the logistics of this. Does anybody know of any good (and cheap!) international movers? Or a better way of doing it?

We are looking to bring one bedroom apartments worth of stuff over to the UK.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

Rhys

[Eric Mc]

Won't she need some sort of Residency Visa to allow her to live in the UK?

[JRM]

rhyspw said:

Or a better way of doing it?

You should move to the USA, I wouldn't encourage anyone to move here

[rhyspw]

Yes she would need a visa and she does have one - is this relevant?

This country is a fabulous place which offers every possible opportunity to people who are prepared to go and make something of themselves - not people who like to sit around and moan about things.

Anybody any ideas on the best way to move ?

[E31Shrew]

Unless she has a great deal of kit that has sentimental value I would just junk it and buy new items here

[Eric Mc]

rhyspw said:

Yes she would need a visa and she does have one - is this relevant?

Extremely - but it looks like she's got that angle covered

[HOGEPH]

The USA
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

The UK
Another 4 years of labour? fk please NO!

[amir_j]

rhyspw said:

This country is a fabulous place which offers every possible opportunity to people who are prepared to go and make something of themselves - not people who like to sit around and moan about things.

She said that about the USA right?

[TotalControl]

amir_j said:

rhyspw said:

This country is a fabulous place which offers every possible opportunity to people who are prepared to go and make something of themselves - not people who like to sit around and moan about things.

She said that about the USA right?

[rhyspw]

No she didn't say that about the USA, i am capable of formulating my own thoughts!! What is the issue? I'm proud to be British and i appreciate everything that this country has given me during my 28 years. I have been to lots of other places in the world which really puts into perspective how fortunate we are (including the majority of the US states)

I was just asking for some help for my lady moving - Can anyone stick to the topic and possibly help?

[Great Pretender]

amir_j said:

rhyspw said:

This country is a fabulous place which offers every possible opportunity to people who are prepared to go and make something of themselves - not people who like to sit around and moan about things.

She said that about the USA right?

I shouldn't be laughing.

[FraserLFA]

rhyspw said:

Can anyone stick to the topic and possibly help?

And you've been a member here for how long?

[Eric Mc]

rhyspw said:

No she didn't say that about the USA, i am capable of formulating my own thoughts!! What is the issue? I'm proud to be British and i appreciate everything that this country has given me during my 28 years. I have been to lots of other places in the world which really puts into perspective how fortunate we are (including the majority of the US states)

I was just asking for some help for my lady moving - Can anyone stick to the topic and possibly help?

Are you serious?

This is PH.

Slagging off the UK is a conditioned response here on PH.

[M-J-B]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

rhyspw said:

This country is a fabulous place which offers every possible opportunity to people who are prepared to go and make something of themselves - not people who like to sit around and moan about things.

My first thought - is she as mad as a box of frogs?

The chav and benefit population take doing fk all and moaning to a whole new level in the UK!

[singlecoil]

Eric Mc said:

Slagging off the UK is a conditioned response here on PH.

I like it here, personally.

[Silver993tt]

Eric Mc said:

rhyspw said:

No she didn't say that about the USA, i am capable of formulating my own thoughts!! What is the issue? I'm proud to be British and i appreciate everything that this country has given me during my 28 years. I have been to lots of other places in the world which really puts into perspective how fortunate we are (including the majority of the US states)

I was just asking for some help for my lady moving - Can anyone stick to the topic and possibly help?

Are you serious?

This is PH.

Slagging off the UK is a conditioned response here on PH.

Probably it's because many have experienced the dire quality of life in the UK compared to many other countries, particularly the rest of Europe.

[JRM]

rhyspw said:

This country is a fabulous place which offers every possible opportunity to people who are prepared to go and make something of themselves - not people who like to sit around and moan about things whilst claiming the social.

EFA

Surely this is what you MEANT to say?

Edited by JRM on Thursday 22 April 10:04

[cazzer]

I agree with "junk it and buy new"

None of her electrical stuff will work without adaptors (well very little).
None of her sheets will fit UK sized beds.
Most of her furniture will be too big for UK sized rooms.

So unless there's masses of sentimental value involved, junk it.

Alternatively, one of the best ways to get over with stuff is to come over on the Queen Mary 2.

Cheapest crossing is about £700 one way and you can take a couple of crates on board if ya want.

[RJDM3]

get container, load all goods into it.

around $3000 USD ish and 2-3 weeks ship time

always found www.schumachercargo.com very helpful

[foilist]

rhyspw said:

No she didn't say that about the USA, i am capable of formulating my own thoughts!! What is the issue? I'm proud to be British and i appreciate everything that this country has given me during my 28 years. I have been to lots of other places in the world which really puts into perspective how fortunate we are (including the majority of the US states)

I suspect many people who moan about the UK have never lived anywhere else and so haven't seen the insane red tape in (say) Portugal or Italy, the lack of civil rights in (say) Singapore or only visit somewhere and see the wonderful hospitals in France, but not the compulsory insurance everyone pays and so on. And expats usually live in a very cocooned bubble- western pay in a 3rd world country doesn't mean a comparison between 'normal' life in the UK and expat life in South Africa, say, is really valid!

Anyway, whenever I've moved long distances (ie from further away than Europe) I've usually done it myself: found an international freight forwarder to deal with customs and insurance and simply packed everything into a 6m container or whatever, and then a UK removals company to take the crates etc from the container port to my new home. The simplest way is to find an international removers who will do the same thing but offer a door to door service for a bit more money.

Be prepared to wait up to 3 months for your stuff, and also be prepared to have to write a very, very detailed inventory!

Edited by foilist on Thursday 22 April 12:10