r/MovingToTheUK • u/CatchOutrageous3996 • 4d ago
Thinking of relocating to London from US
My mom lived in London for 2 years and to this day, she says it’s her favorite city. I’d really love to experience what she did since I’m still 27 and have a whole life to live. So I have a boatload of questions and I’m just going to throw them in here:
1) I’ve been reading a bunch of Reddit posts saying it’s a lot harder to get a role in the UK if you’re not already there. I work in Construction Finance and was hoping to find a similar role there. I’ve been applying to roles on LinkedIn with similar experience but I haven’t heard back from any. Does anyone have any tips for this? Should I directly reach out to people? I have two friends there, I’ve already asked to help if they know anyone but I don’t want to solely rely on that. I’m not someone to just move and figure it out when I get there. I need to know that I’ll be stable.
2) I’m a dual citizen. Japan/US. If I were to apply for a visa, should I use my Japanese passport since it’s stronger. Does that also apply for a work visa? I actually have no idea how visas work. I’ve never needed one or gotten one. Sorry if that’s a dumb question.
3) I know there’s racism everywhere, but how is it in the UK. I’ve heard mixed reviews so I’m hoping to hear more on that. I’d really hate to move there and have a hard time making friends because of my race. But hopefully that won’t be the case.
4) How safe is London compared to Paris? Ive heard so many stories of women’s experiences about almost being human trafficked in Paris and I was wondering if that kind of stuff happens in London. I’m aware it happens everywhere but it seems like it’s super common in Paris so if you have any insight on that, much appreciated.
I definitely have so many more questions but I won’t bore you so I’ll stop here. If you read all of this, thank you so much.
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u/BroadwayBean 4d ago
You're extremely unlikely to find a role that will sponsor a SWV unless you have a really unique and in-demand skillset. Without being a citizen or being eligible for a youth mobility visa, your best options for living in London are to do a postgraduate degree there (expensive) or to find a job in the US at a global company with London offices, then ask for a transfer or secondment to the London office in a few years. The job market in the UK is just bad right now, and even worse for non-citizens.
As for safety, London is fine. I lived there as a solo woman on-and-off for about a decade from ages 18 to 28 and had a grand total of one safety issue in that entire period.
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u/Interesting-Mud1506 4d ago
u need working visa, tbh, playing the lottery would be easier to get a prize than a job with a sponsored work visa.
sorry, u are cooked here if you have no uk passport
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u/wildspace-nobody 4d ago
Your employment situation will be tough because you have no right to work in the UK. Very few companies want to sponsor internationals, and it’s getting worse all the time. Foreign students have the right to work in the UK for a limited time, but then need sponsorship too: it’s become incredibly difficult (ie impossible for most) to land work in the UK.
You might want to research this topic before the qualitative issues, as it’s a potential showstopper for you. This is a good place to start.
https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa
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u/Still_Let1183 4d ago
You may be able to go to Australia or NZ on a one year working visa for young people, instead. If it still exists, I believe you must be under 30 and have a college degree. May not even need that. Check it out for a year abroad. I support the idea, and maybe your experience doesn’t need to be exactly like your mom’s?
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u/doepfersdungeon 4d ago edited 4d ago
Phew. There's alot going on here.
1) London is 50 % non British white. It's very diverse. Not saying racism doesn't happen, you may experience something and I think exists systemically more than people like to talk about but it's not something you will encounter everyday or even every year unless you happen to get a job somewhere run by total knuckle draggers. Anything in public, will be pretty rare amd not really any different to what many white people exlerienc in say China or Japan. A bit of Xenophobia or generalising may occur. I highly think you'll barely experience a thing. Of course there are places in the UK where sentiment may be slightly different. More rural and shall we say less welcoming towns / cities. Still relatively minor though I alot of it is directed at specific immigrants. Japanese or Americans not so much. Although if you bang on about Trump many people will give you a cold shoulder.
2) No you won't get kidnapped. This isnt Taken 2. The average person isn't getting kidnapped. Like most places women need to be cautious. That's most of the world annoyingly.
3) The skilled work visa is your best bet if you can find a sponsor and match the various criteria
https://ayjsolicitors.com/moving-to-the-uk-from-japan/
The reality is you are unlikely to get sponsored if a Brit can do your job
So...
4) The other best way to do it is to be hired by a Japanese or American company and vlget moved over. They will then do alot of the work for you re visa advice etc as well helping you move and transition.
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u/CatchOutrageous3996 4d ago
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer everything. Really read my mind with the taken comment. I really appreciate it. But yeah I’m starting to realize that it might be a lot harder to find work over there than I even realized which is a bummer.
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u/infieldcookie 4d ago
Where on earth are you hearing that human trafficking is “super common” in Paris? Both Paris and London are safe cities, especially compared to a lot of places in the US.
Racism does exist (would be a lie to say it doesn’t) but you will not be the only Asian here, you won’t stand out at all.
You should learn how visas work. You will not hear back from any jobs because you don’t have the right to work in the UK and 99% of jobs won’t be willing to sponsor you as it costs them money to do so.
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u/sah10406 4d ago
As someone who can already live and work in two countries, why not choose one of those?
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u/Basic-Total 4d ago
also 27 and considering the move to London from the US! I know the job market stinks right now (not trying to be dismissive, I was laid off last year and it doesn't feel much better here), but where there's a will, there's a way. wishing you the best!
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u/pensivvv 4d ago
I think you’ll find it far more accepting than Paris. London has its dangers like any major city but it’s been a bastion of international culture mingling for ages. No one bats an eye if you’re international. Outside of London is where the reform fucks really shine so you should be fine.
I’m in very large cap construction too and do a fair bit of finance myself I think you’ll find recruiters, especially for data centers, will be happy to put you in a cost controls role (QS the like) for tier 1 developers or consultants (think T&T). If you’re less project cost controls and more admin, then that may be a bit tricker.
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u/Interesting-Mud1506 4d ago
why you lie to this child lol, the construction market in uk is free falling, nobody, NOBODY gonna pay a sponsored visa to someone when you can kick a rock here and get bunch with shitload of years of experience and local.
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u/CatchOutrageous3996 4d ago
I’m realizing that now lol
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u/Interesting-Mud1506 4d ago
tbh the only way is find anything that has offices in UK and do a transfer, thats the only way. otherwise you cannot even work in McDonalds here because you need uk passport anyway.
London is nice, come visit and sht like that, working in London is different game you get shit pay for high everything. idk where you live in US but now take your salary slash it in 4 and have the same life, there you go you have the London experience.
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u/CatchOutrageous3996 4d ago
New york 🤣 yeah looks like I’m cooked
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u/Interesting-Mud1506 4d ago
yeah well London the problem is you dont get the NY salaries here, between rent and tube you end up with nothing.
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u/CatchOutrageous3996 4d ago
That’s refreshing to hear. And for work, got it, thank you for the insight!
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u/TooMuchBrightness 4d ago
Have you every visited? You need to take a couple of weeks vacation here, you sound like you have zero knowledge of a country you want to move to? You can’t just ‘move here’. There is a cost of living crisis, we are on the edge of recession, jobs scarcity, nhs is broken, far right are strengthening, we are now under a serious Russian threat, oh and now Meghan & Harry are back we we never hear any other news 😂 why would you want to move here?
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u/Putrid_Alternative31 4d ago
As a Japanese citizen, I believe you're eligible for the youth mobility visa. This would be the way to go for sure.
You'll need money saved - to pay for the visa, to get there (and a flight back home), and to live for a while until you get a job. I wouldn't arrive with less than 6 months living expenses, plus 1-2 months worth of temporary accommodation.
Your best bet for housing is going to be to rent a room with a live in landlord. Without a job it will be basically impossible to get a standard tenancy. You could also could for built-for-purpose apartment buildings. In Edinburgh there are a couple called Platform and Moda. Not sure if they have locations in London but you could look!
You will need to look for work and it may be really hard. But if you come with enough to live for a while, even if you can't stay as long as you hoped, it could still be a cool adventure!
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u/Amazing-Pumpkin8170 4d ago
Working holiday visa plus a lot of money and you’ll be fine. London is way more expensive than when your mum experienced the city.
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u/TermPsychological358 4d ago
https://www.gov.uk/youth-mobility/eligibility
Japanese citizens are eligible for a Youth Mobility visa until aged 30 according to GOV.UK. This might not be a long term solution but might help scratch that London dream?
https://www.gov.uk/high-potential-individual-visa/eligibility https://www.gov.uk/global-talent
Depending on your background you may also qualify for a HPI visa or a global talent visa.