Now to tie up the loose ends..

[USArmyWifey 2]

So the time has finaly come! I have my interview and if all goes well i plan to be in the states by the end or March/Early April. Now its time to tie up all the loose ends.

Ive never moved house let alone moved to another country so i was wondering if anyone here could help me.

Who do i notify?

Im closing all my extra bank accounts (im keping my main one open just incase)

I have no job at the moment so i dont need to notify my employer

Im currently living at home with my parents now so i havent got to sort out any utilities or housing issues & i do not own a car.

Do i need to do anything about my NHS and NI or my driving liscence?

I constantly feel like im missing something ovbious...

Is there anyone else i need to notify that im leaving the country or do i have it all under control?

I have so much going through my head right now im probably just over thinking things... but if anyone here has moved to the states and has any input on closing up in the UK before they left id greatly apriciate it!

TIA!

Edited February 23, 2012 by USArmyWifey

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

There is a form P-85 my husband filled in to notify of his departure...Inland Revenue?? UK Home Office??? I don't know the British buzz words. Anyway they figured out he had overpaid taxes and he got a chunk of money from them in refund.

How about cancel mobile phone?

Keep your British license because you can drive on it until you get a license from your new State. That's more important for K1s because it will take some months before they are eligible. With a CR1, you'll get one much easier. But you may want to drive when you return to the UK to visit so don't cancel it or anything.

[USArmyWifey 2]

There is a form P-85 my husband filled in to notify of his departure...Inland Revenue?? UK Home Office??? I don't know the British buzz words. Anyway they figured out he had overpaid taxes and he got a chunk of money from them in refund.

How about cancel mobile phone?

Keep your British license because you can drive on it until you get a license from your new State. That's more important for K1s because it will take some months before they are eligible. With a CR1, you'll get one much easier. But you may want to drive when you return to the UK to visit so don't cancel it or anything.

Ah thats great thank you! Im having a few issues with the tax people at the moment so i may look into this form P-85, hopefuly it will help!

Mobile is pay as you go! But great idea!

& i dont even have a full liscence so i dont think i can drive in the states with a learners liscence anyways? Im asuming that rules there are different to the rules here when it comes to leaners permits and the such..

[cathy2904 97]

I have a PAYG phone too but I have kept it so that friends and family in the UK can still text me for free. Then I can choose whether to reply by text or email.

[USArmyWifey 2]

I have a PAYG phone too but I have kept it so that friends and family in the UK can still text me for free. Then I can choose whether to reply by text or email.

Yeah i plan to keep mine when i move because my network switches over to T-mobile when im in the states and we were going to keep it as a back up phone because our phone company over there (Verizon) isnt very reliable in our area and doesnt allow international calls on our plan

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

i dont even have a full liscence so i dont think i can drive in the states with a learners liscence anyways? Im asuming that rules there are different to the rules here when it comes to leaners permits and the such..

There's 50 sets of rules in the US because driving comes under states rights. Each state decides their rules for driving....and marriage and education and state taxes and auto insurance and.............

[Jessa & Liam 11]

I take it you've done all the boring stuff like notify the bank and utility companies about your change of address.

Here is the link to the P85;

http://search2.hmrc.gov.uk/kb5/hmrc/forms/view.page?record=5Ay4eloD0nw&formId=766

In case you need medical insurance for the first while;https://www.sevencorners.com/insurance/inboundimmigrant/HW7C6Y3

[jayne d 12]

I have just made the move and these are the key things I did:

1. Notified Inland Revenue - you will need to call them, they will tell you which forms you will need to complete.

2. Notified National Insurance - they will need your new address - especially if you have contributed to state pension

3. Notified the GP and Dentist

4. Changed address on all my important accounts - eg: Pensions, Life Insurance, etc

5. Set-up a post redirection with royal mail - just in case I missed something important

6. Notified my bank - they may need to make changes to your account as there are some restrictions if you have an overseas address, for example you can't have an arranged overdraft

7. Applied for an international driving permit - make sure you get one before you leave as this will be essential for driving in many states in the USA. You do not need to tell the DVLA you have moved overseas. If you ever move back to the UK, you just send in your driving license with a change of address to whereever that is in the UK and they will send you a new one.

8. Cancelled all existing accounts that I no longer needed - gas, electric, credit card, mobile phone, broadband, water, tv license, car insurance, council tax, etc

9. Arranged health insurance for the USA (I am on a K1 visa so I have a gap before I will be covered on my fiance's health insurance)

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

7. Applied for an international driving permit - make sure you get one before you leave as this will be essential for driving in many states in the USA.

Just to point out that you do NOT need to do this if you have a UK license. The point of an IDP is to translate your license into another language. Your UK license is in English, so there is no need to have an IDP in the States, where the de facto official language is, of course, English. The AA recommends that you have one, but it isn't strictly necessary.

Trust me, this has been covered ad nauseam in years past in this sub-forum.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Just to point out that you do NOT need to do this if you have a UK license. The point of an IDP is to translate your license into another language. Your UK license is in English, so there is no need to have an IDP in the States, where the de facto official language is, of course, English. The AA recommends that you have one, but it isn't strictly necessary.

Trust me, this has been covered ad nauseam in years past in this sub-forum.

Agree

The American cops will not need a translation book to read your license. It gives no driving privileges.

[Leatherneck 693]

How about getting extra copies of your important documents;

1. College/university transcripts,

2. Birth certificate

3. Marriage license

4. Divorce decree

5. Medical records

6. Dental records

And any other records you deem important or that would be difficult to acquire via mail.

[KLS2010 30]

Not quite sure how this works in the UK - but what about voting?

In Australia, since voting in elections is compulsory, you are supposed to notify them that you are no longer in the country so that they can take your name off the electoral roll if you don't want to vote while overseas.

Like I said....not sure what the situation is in the UK - but just thought I would mention it

[USArmyWifey 2]

Thank you so much everyone! Ill have to go through this thread in a little while when i have some more time and make a list of everything suggested, i apriciate the help so much! !

[jayne d 12]

Just to point out that you do NOT need to do this if you have a UK license. The point of an IDP is to translate your license into another language. Your UK license is in English, so there is no need to have an IDP in the States, where the de facto official language is, of course, English. The AA recommends that you have one, but it isn't strictly necessary.

Trust me, this has been covered ad nauseam in years past in this sub-forum.

I have heard conflicting stories on this too, so I checked the DMV website for the state I will be living in. It stated:

Non-Citizens

You can drive in Alabama for one year, provided you have a valid foreign driver's license and an International Driver's Permit. This permit, issued by your home country, is not a substitute for the foreign license, but a translation of it that makes things easier for U.S. officials to understand.

I didn't want to be in a position where I was stopped and then found I didn't have one. Some officials will interpret things literally and require one regardless of whether your original license is in english. My choice was better to be safe than sorry, especially seeing it only cost £8.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

I have heard conflicting stories on this too, so I checked the DMV website for the state I will be living in. It stated:

Non-Citizens

You can drive in Alabama for one year, provided you have a valid foreign driver's license and an International Driver's Permit. This permit, issued by your home country, is not a substitute for the foreign license, but a translation of it that makes things easier for U.S. officials to understand.

I didn't want to be in a position where I was stopped and then found I didn't have one. Some officials will interpret things literally and require one regardless of whether your original license is in english. My choice was better to be safe than sorry, especially seeing it only cost £8.

*sigh*

It was a waste of £8. "A translation of [your UK license] that makes things easier for U.S. officials to understand" is prima facie not necessary because there is no need to translate English into English.

Sorry to be pedantic on this point but this is something that has been repeatedly hashed out on here over the years. I think I may saunter over to the Canada forum to see what those folks do, since of course, we share a common tongue.

Meh, busy day here at the office and I'm grumpy. Apologies if this comes out surly.