Thousands of immigrants come to America to pursue the ‘American Dream’. The United States is the second most popular country for UK emigration. The US is filled with many different cultures and diversity. Many UK citizens see the country as a country full of great prospects, many different climates and world wonders to see. You can see why many people from the UK want to jump across the pond into the United States to start a new life. Immigrants from the UK make up 14.3% of all European immigrants in the US, as of 2014.
There are two main visa categories that you can apply under to become a resident of the US including:
- Worker Programs
- Family Sponsorship
Immigration Options for UK Citizens
To become a lawful permanent resident of the United States, one must obtain a Green Card. Most immigrants will do so through employment, through family sponsorship , or by being an immediate relative. Roughly half of all immigrants from the UK choose to come to the US through employment-based preferences. Through these various pathways, immigrants may reside legally in the US.
Worker Programs: British Citizen Want to Live and Work in USA
One of the main ways immigrants can obtain a Green Card in the US is through employment. If an individual chooses the employment pathway, it is important that they also obtain a work visa in order to work legally. Immigrant work visas include the EB-1 and EB-2 and imply receipt of a Green Card soon after entry. Non-immigrant work visas are temporary and include the H-1B, L-1, O-1, E-1, and TN (note: TN applies only to Mexican and Canadian citizens. Obtaining employment in the United States may open the door for great economic opportunity and success. To begin this process, it may be helpful to speak to an immigration professional in order to determine eligibility, as well as which visa is right for each individual.
Family Sponsorship
Many immigrants also choose to immigrate through family-based preferences, as an immediate relative of a US citizen or through family preference. Depending on your relation to family members in the United States, you may be eligible for the visas that fall under this category. Speak to an immigration professional to learn more about your eligibility.
Study Permits
The US has the largest population of international students in the world. There are more than 1 million students choosing the United States to broaden their educational experience. If you are coming from a foreign country and wish to enter the US to attend a school then you will be required to have an F visa. The F1 visa covers University or college, high school, private elementary school, seminary, conservatory, or another academic institution.
List of US Embassies and Consulates in the UK
Living in The United States for British
Lifestyle
Most Americans believe viscerally in their right to carry arms and do not appreciate objections raised by outsiders on the matter. To keep out of harm’s way, you should educate your children about the dangers of guns which can be particularly pertinent if they are visiting the homes of other families.
Another big difference between the two nations can be seen when it comes to walking vs driving. Here in Britain, perhaps because we have a smaller country, we would think nothing about walking half a mile to a supermarket to pick up a few bits and bobs; in the US, perhaps because of the low cost of fuel or the greater distances to cover, that same trip would most certainly be made by car. Walking in the states is done for the pleasure of doing so in picturesque surroundings and not widely by choice. On the reverse side of this, driving in the UK for a few hours will take you to most regions. From Birmingham, for instance, you can reach either the east or west coast in under three hours. In America, road trips are a way of life and it can take several hours to drive across a single state.
Religion and patriotism play a huge part for Americans; the latter is almost entirely true of the whole population with the former being more localized across different states. As a result, it is important as a newcomer to the country to be respectful of both faith and national pride. The American Flag for instance is an icon that is treated with the utmost of respect and desecrating it is viewed by many as a gross form of disrespect.
What may not come as a surprise if you have ever visited America is the propensity with Americans to be extremely friendly and welcoming. Whilst this may seem like a stereotype, it is based on certain truisms particularly with Brits moving to the USA. Americans love their country and are usually very welcoming towards the British.
Shopping for weekly groceries in the USA is an eye-opening experience for most Brits. Not only are the supermarkets much larger than our own but the sizes of the products and packages are also much bigger as well as being available in wider varieties.
Dress
There are no states in the US that have particularly conservative views on dress codes and a Western wardrobe will suffice in most areas. The only things to consider are generally associated with the prevailing climate of the state you are in with winter in the northern and eastern states being particularly cold.
Casual wear is acceptable in most situations yet formal occasions will require smart dress.
Getting Around
Because of the size of most cities and states, owning a car is essential when living in the US. Fortunately, the cost of owning a car is not prohibitive with low fuel and ownership costs. Insurance as a foreign national may be more expensive until you qualify for an American driving license.
Highways are well maintained and due to them being several lanes wide are not normally congested except around major cities during rush hour. City driving, particularly in places like New York should be avoided and the public transport system of the subway and buses and taxis are more than adequate to get around quickly at a low cost.
Domestic airfares are reasonable if you need to get across the country quickly but train fares are lower and offer a great way to travel at high speed whilst taking in the sights. Many people also choose buses as a cheap alternative to cross-country travel with one-way tickets costing anything from $25 for a seven-hour trip (Boston to Washington).
Weather
The weather across the USA varies significantly from states in the north and east of the country experiencing four marked seasons from bitter winters, mild springs, and autumns and pleasant summers to states like Arizona that are dry and arid all year round or Florida that enjoys temperate conditions but experiences hurricanes from August to November.
Cost of Living in America
The cost of living across the USA varies on a wide range depending whereabouts in the country you are looking to live.
From high cost living in cities like New York or Los Angeles to exceptional value in places like Orlando, Florida or Memphis, Tennessee there is much to distinguish communities both in cost and quality of living.
To give you an idea of comparisons, we’ve taken five sample locations from our list of popular areas to provide indicative figures as to the cost of living compared to Birmingham in the UK.
- North Seattle, Washington
- South Sarasota, Florida
- East Boston, Massachusetts
- West San Francisco, California
- Central Denver, Colorado
Figures have been obtained from the online cost of living comparison database, Numbeo.
Rent
Rental prices in all of our test locations were higher than our benchmark city of Birmingham with Sarasota coming out cheaper than the other US cities and San Francisco being the most expensive.
Transport
The cost of transport in Canada is much lower than that in the UK with a liter of fuel costing on average 40% lower than in the UK (£0.67). Cars are also cheaper to purchase with a new car (VW Golf or equivalent) costing around 24% lower than the UK. Likewise, traveling by taxi can also be significantly cheaper with fares being up to 70% lower. A 1km fare in Vancouver will cost £1.14 compared to £4.00 in London.
Buses are a popular way to get around and tickets are between 20-30% lower than the UK with seasonal monthly passes being up to 60-70% lower.
Domestic airfares by comparison with the budget airlines available across Europe are higher in Canada. This is mainly due to a lack of competition in the country combined with the low demand (remember that the density of the population is incredibly low).
Trains are another way to travel in the country but are less common than you would expect. Fares vary depending on the time of travel and the length and route of the journey. By and large, fares are much higher than in the UK and you can expect a patchy standard of service.
Schooling
Education facilities vary dramatically depending on the state and area you are considering; however, the USA overall has a good school system which, just like the UK, has failing and outstanding institutes.
The education system is typically comprised of elementary school (kindergarten to 5th grade or age 5-10), middle school (6th to 8th grade or age 11-13), and high school (9th to 12th grade or age 14-18). Enrollment in state-funded schools is down to application by the district.
However, private and international schools are widely available in most major cities and give a more diverse choice in the type of curriculum which is followed as well as offering options on the types of qualifications gained. Higher education also varies by state and locale but America is home to six out of ten of the world’s top ten universities. Schooling costs in the US do vary greatly depending on the state and the type of institution that you are looking at but are comparable to the UK in fees.
Popular Areas for Brits in the US
Around 750,000 Brits now call the USA home and are spread across this vast country from east to west coast and from the borders of Mexico in the south to Canada in the North.
Drawn to everything from the isolated terrains of Nevada to the characterful communities of Louisiana, the urban megacities of New York and Los Angeles to picturesque New England, Brits are everywhere.
However, there are some states, cities and towns which tend to attract more people from the UK than others and with obvious reasons.
Denver, Colorado
Voted the best place to live in the USA by News and World Report, the capital of Colorado boasts a strong jobs economy, low crime rate, and excellent standards of living. Situated in the middle of the US, an hour’s drive from the infamous Rocky Mountains, the Mile High City also has great schools, world-class universities as well as a great climate.
The average salary in the city is 12.3% higher than the national average with unemployment 36.7% lower (just 3.1% of Denver residents are not in a job).
The recent decision by the State of Colorado to legalize recreational marijuana has opened up enormous new opportunities for industries. In 2015, the state recorded sales of $996.2 million of cannabis making the market extremely lucrative.
The city is home to a thriving arts and entertainment scene creating a vibrant cultural environment to enjoy leisure time.
The proximity to the mountain range offers year-round access to outdoor pursuits such as skiing or hiking in places such as Aspen and Vail or the numerous National Forests (White River, Gunnison, and Arapaho).
Colorado Springs, just an hour south of the city is one of the most picturesque cities in the region and offers glorious views of iconic red sandstone formations against the snow-capped landscape of the mountain range.
Brits living in Denver have a host of opportunities to meet other British ex-pats with clubs and events running across the city from football supporters groups to socializing meetings, there is plenty to choose from.
Boston, Massachusetts
Also known as the ‘Cradle of Liberty’, is one of the oldest cities in the US; founded in 1630 when puritan settlers arrived from Britain. Of all the cities in our list, Boston has the most English feel to it and is partly due to its long connection to the cross-Atlantic brotherhood with which the US has its roots. Named after the Lincolnshire town, Boston is also twinned with Belfast in Northern Ireland and is home to a large number of migrants from this part of the United Kingdom too.
The architecture of the city is colonial in style and incorporates charming museums and galleries, antiquated bookstores, and independent boutiques as well as pubs and coffee houses that appear to have been ripped straight from a 17th-century tome.
A city more defined by its academic prowess than most, Boston is one of the country’s most famous seats of learning, Harvard University. The population boasts a higher than average intelligence and the city is also home to some of America’s finest research and teaching institutions. In turn, this has attracted the investments of some large corporations keen to exploit the wealth of an educated population. Jobs are therefore well-paid and there are plenty of employment opportunities in sectors as diverse as technology and medicine, research and academia as well as creative sciences and modern languages.
Property is expensive in the city and can be difficult to find as competition is high, particularly for old architecture combined with retro-fitted modern living. With good schools, attractive property, and high standards of living the average salaries are commensurately good which is just as well because Boston has one of the highest costs of living in the USA.
Boston has much to offer its residents from numerous biking, hiking, and running trails across the city for those with an active lifestyle to arts and cultural events as well as pubs, clubs, and restaurants for all. The cuisine in Boston is characterized by the city’s seafaring past and seafood can be found on almost every menu in town.
Sport plays a big part in the social lives of Bostonians with most following the local teams of the Celtics, Patriots, or the famous Boston Red Sox.
Overall, the charm of Boston invokes an era of days gone by with a touch of European elegance and old-world ambiance. It combines this with a prominent economy and modern outlook which embraces the American dream making it an ideal location for Brits to move to.
Seattle, Washington
Situated in the North-west corner of the United States, Seattle has a reputation for experiencing a lot of rain but is not nearly as wet as you would be lead to believe, particularly in comparison to parts of the UK. The average annual rainfall in the city is 96cm which compares reasonably to the North of England whilst Glasgow receives more than its fair share at 112cm or Cardiff at 115cm.
The city benefits from exceptionally clean air, a result of its location surrounded by mountains and water, and is in the top ten most sustainable and environmentally friendly cities in the US.
Jobs are abundant within both traditional sectors such as technology, banking, and healthcare as well as service, marine, and manufacturing industries. Average annual salaries are high at almost $60,000 with no personal income tax; however, the state of Washington has one of the highest combined state and local sales taxes in America at approximately 8.9%. Real estate taxes are average with the State of Washington ranking 27th with an effective tax rate of 1.08%. The city’s economy is stable and has an affluent and well-education population that contributes to an atmosphere described by ex-pats as ‘calm and patient’.
Close to the Canadian border with Vancouver being just 142 miles north, Seattle is eight hours ahead of GMT and is a 10-hour flight from the UK. The location is quite remote from many ‘popular’ destinations in the US but is a self-sufficient state benefitting from excellent transport links, a vast range of leisure activities, and a diversity of cuisines, cultures, and ethnicities.
The city has a reputation for the arts and hosts an eclectic mix of annual festivals and fairs across the arts and sports.
Washington state is also home to some unique natural wonders including the active volcano, Mount St Helens, the glaciers of Mount Rainier National Park, and the stunning Puget Sound, famous for its whale watching and salmon fishing.
Portland, Oregon
The job growth rate of Portland is around 2.9% per year and the city offers a wealth of employment opportunities in the technology sector as well as shipping, manufacturing, and the steel industry.
The area has also become a hub for sportswear industries and is home to the international headquarters of Nike, Adidas, LaCrosse Footwear, and Hi-Tec Sports. Nike alone employs 6000 people and citizens of Portland rely heavily on these multinational corporations for local jobs.
The city has a population of around 650,000 people and has a higher than average rate of academic degrees per population. Education facilities in the city are excellent and there are several private schools offering a range of curriculums. Higher education also has a strong reputation for excellence with Portland State University being in the top fifteen percentile in the US for undergraduate education.
Also known as Bridgetown, Portland is situated on the Colombia and Willamette Rivers and enjoys a backdrop formed of mountain views from the cinder cones of Mount St Helens, Mount Tabor, and Mount Hood.
The surrounding area is well known for its forests, parks, and green spaces and is a popular location for cycling and hiking. The city itself is home to some beautiful open green spaces including Washington Park, Marquam Nature Park, and the Smith and Bybee Wetlands.
Known for its quirky residents that celebrate the weird, Portland has a host of interesting independent shops and has a thriving arts scene. As a result, the city attracts creative people which can be seen in the live music acts, performing arts venues and galleries across Portland. Welcoming of diversity, the city has the 7thlargest LGBT community across the US; interestingly the city is also reportedly the least religious city in America with just over 42% of its population identifying as religiously ‘unaffiliated’.
A great place to raise a family the city has many suburban areas, each distinct in character and offering quality accommodation at affordable prices. Quality of life is very high and is ranked 7th in the US overall.
Burlington, Vermont
Known as the Green Mountain state, Vermont has some dramatically beautiful landscapes with Burlington at the center of this little piece of New England.
Situated at the border with Canada, the city is just an hour and a half drive from Montreal and sits alongside the stunning Lake Champlain. A small city by American standards, the draw to this area is the unique blend of cosmopolitan modernity blended with the charm of traditional character. The surrounding area is great to explore and offers great driving through picturesque covered bridges (Vermont has more than 100), hiking along the Appalachian Trail or a boat trip on the lake to the Champlain islands.
Burlington has low crime rates, excellent job opportunities and is a great place to raise a family due to its excellent schools.
The standard of living is high and there are plenty of ways to keep entertained from cultural explorations, adventurous excursions, and educational journeys as well as access to clubs, bars, and restaurants as well as excellent shopping facilities.
An agricultural state of small farmers Vermont has an abundance of small markets offering a great range of local produce.
Its location to the North East of the country (and in common with New England in general), Burlington experiences marked seasons with cold and snowy winters, mild springs, and glorious summers; not to mention the crisp and decadent autumns that characterize this part of America.
Brits will enjoy the smaller town feel of Vermont whilst benefiting from all the major facilities of a city. The added advantage of being so close to Canada are, of course, the extra travel opportunities plus being just five hours behind UK time.
New York City, New York
With the roots of New York inextricably linked to America’s immigrant past, there is no one city that so iconically defines the US. Perhaps it is the city’s ceaseless portrayal across popular culture mediums like film, television, and music but New York city epitomizes American city life for most Brits.
The city itself is expansive and comprises five boroughs, each with its own distinct character; Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island.
The hub of global business and commerce and home to the New York Stock Exchange, high rise lower Manhattan plays a huge economic role for the USA as well as globally. Real estate is a major part of the city’s income but so too is banking, technology, design, and tourism. Food processing, manufacturing and advertising also contribute to the healthy economy in the city. As a result employment is high in New York as well as being incredibly diverse.
The Big Apple is home to over 8.5 million people (the same as London) in an area three quarters the size of the UK’s capital city. With a reputation for being the place that never sleeps, New York City is a busy capital that plays host to inordinate numbers of tourists on top of its huge population.
Renting is expensive and many residents choose to commute into the city rather than pay the extortionate fees charged for small apartments.
Rye in New York has a large British ex-pat community and is even named after the small seaside Kent Town in the UK. In an affluent area, the average income is $110,000 making the residents who call it home at the upper end of the pay scale. As well as being home to Brits, there are also plenty of other Europeans, Australians and New Zealanders in Rye. However, the local Post Road Market has been seen to pander to the British tastes in the area and stocks Cadbury’s chocolate, black pudding and is one of a few places in the area to be able to get copies of British Magazines as well as the London Sunday Times and Irish Independent.
Commuting to New York from nearby Hoboken, New Jersey has also become a popular location for young professionals working in the city.
With high state personal income and real estate tax rates and average combined sales tax rates the cost of living is already high. Consumer goods and personal items vary in cost but remain higher than average across the US.
Crime rates in the city itself are high but suburban neighborhoods can vary greatly so research is important before committing to any one location.
Sarasota, Florida
Florida is one of just five states in the USA that does not collect any income taxes which, combined with a healthy employment market, helps to make Sarasota a popular location for expats. Quite aside from the obvious draws of the stable and warm climate, glorious sun kissed beaches and friendly population Sarasota also has a thriving cultural and arts scene.
Employment is strong in the city with the most job opportunities being found in the education, hospitality, and leisure industries. However, there is a diverse mix of start-ups coming out of Sarasota across a range of sectors providing innovative and creative investment opportunities.
South of Tampa on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Sarasota is home to a small population of just 60,000 residents.
Geared towards a huge domestic and international tourism industry as well as retirees the city offers as much in the way of entertainment and nightlife as it does public amenities for comfortable living. The schools are good, standard of living high and maintains excellent leisure facilities. As well as sailing, water sports and fishing, golf is particularly popular.
The property market is reasonably buoyant and has experienced growth in line with the average rates. The median average house price in the Sarasota area is currently $273,000); this compares to the national average of $192,500. Rental prices are lower than the average of $1,945 per month (3-bedroom apartment) at $1,780 per month.
The British expat community in Sarasota consists of a high proportion of retirees but those that cover wider areas such as Bradenton, St Petersburg, and Tampa do cater to younger expats as well as professionals working in the area.
Kissimmee, Florida
Many Brits fall in love with the city of Kissimmee whilst on holiday.
Situated just south of Orlando it is a location best known for its proximity to Walt Disney World. Just a short seven-hour flight from the UK and benefiting from cheap flights much of the year, Kissimmee offers plenty of cheap accommodation, a low cost of living and, outside the tourist season, a relaxed and peaceful way of life.
The English in particular have made large pockets of the area home and have started businesses such as pubs, hotels, and restaurants all of which help to define the expat community. With names like The George and Dragon, The Cricketers Arms, George and Dragon, and the Chippy they are not hard to spot.
The area draws mainly retirees as the employment market is quite restricted to the tourist and leisure industries making working here a competitive business.
It is more common for Brits to buy property in which to live using a visitor’s permit for six months each year and renting their homes to tourists during the peak seasons. Nevertheless, the city is still a popular community and there are plenty of permanent residents here who once hailed from the British Isles.
Austin, Texas
The state capital, Austin is growing at a rate of around 50 new residents every day with a handful of these being British. The city offers a great quality of life as well as lucrative job opportunities amongst its wealth of industries including technology, engineering, and pharmaceuticals.
Unemployment levels are reasonably low with higher than average salaries and the city ranks one of the top areas for venture capitalist investments in the United States.
Texas is also one of the few states in America where residents pay no personal income tax; however, property tax is disproportionately high. Though this can work to your advantage with only five states having a lower overall tax burden than Texas, it is worth looking into the implications of this with a financial advisor.
The city has long been associated with music and there are plenty of live music venues, festivals, and gigs to enjoy this aspect. In addition, Austin hosts several national and international film festivals, sports and arts events.
Culturally, the city is diverse and the local motto, ‘Keep Austin Weird’, is a celebration of the eccentricity that thrives here. Independent shops, businesses and communities flourish in this vibrant and colourful city.
There is plenty to do in and around the city including kayaking, hiking, swimming, and rock-climbing as well as taking advantage of the numerous entertainment venues, restaurants, and museums.
Austin has good schools and is the 16th most literate city in the US, being voted America’s No 1 College Town. There is an excellent network of international and private schools as well as hosting a community of homeschoolers and those committed to ‘unschooling’.
Expats find Austin to be a welcoming city that offers great opportunities for both single and family life and there are plenty of British expats to share experiences with.
San Francisco, California
Having long been a popular destination for British migrants to the US, San Francisco has a charm and beauty that is wholly unique to this west coast Pacific tourist trap.
Home to iconic landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge, former penal island, Alcatraz, and of course the cable cars that traverse the dizzyingly steep hills. With its synonymous history of liberal politics from the sixties and seventies, there is a romantic notion about San Francisco which has endured.
The city remains one of the most progressive and enlightened places to live in America celebrating diversity. Residents are tolerant of newcomers and expats find a warm welcome to this city.
At 1,365 sq. km, San Francisco (and Oakland) is smaller than London but has just 3.2 million residents instead of 8.2 million. The reduced density is evident when you spend time here and manifests itself as a cleaner and quieter city in which to live, despite being such a popular tourist destination.
The property market in San Francisco is booming with average house prices in the city costing over $1.1 million.
The desirable Victorian houses which make up a large percentage of the main city attract even higher prices and most expats choose to live in the suburban districts of Novato or Walnut Creek.
Both neighbourhoods have excellent facilities, particularly for families. Young professionals and singles may prefer the trendier and more lively districts of Bernal Heights or the area known as SOMA (South of Market).
The former is typified by boutique bars, trendy cafes and bohemian living whilst the latter is the epitome of urban chic. Close to the Museum of Modern Art and surrounded by fashionable clubs, SOMA is populated by international foreign nationals who want to be close to the city for commuting to work.
The residential areas are a mix of modern developments and renovated warehouses. The British community is evident in a lot of the city’s bars but none more so than in the Pig and Whistle or You Say Tomato. Head down to the beach on November 5th and you will run into large swathes of the expat community celebrating Guy Fawkes Night with a bonfire.
San Francisco has a lot to offer its residents and is one of those places in the US where you instantly feel an attachment. Bay city does have higher than average living costs particularly with California’s income and combined local and state sales taxes. However, average salaries are over $64k with plentiful job opportunities.
British Communities in USA
Since the 1970s, the number of immigrants from the UK to the US has remained steady at 20,000 individuals each year. Most emigrate to the United States as professionals and skilled workers, students, often moving to be with spouses or family, as well. As mentioned earlier, the long history of immigration and the close relationship between the US and the UK has allowed for British immigrants to assimilate extremely well throughout the country. As of the 2000 US census, the largest populations of English Americans were living in California, Florida, Texas, New York, Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Whilst Brits are occupying every city across the USA, there are states and cities that attract more expats than most.
Every state has its own British expat community with some having dozens to cater for the greater numbers. In Florida, particularly around Orlando, there are groups that cater for every aspect of social networking from sports and leisure activities to cookery, book groups, and martial arts events.
Whilst you may not find it necessary to get involved with an expat community they can provide a useful source of information when it comes to issues that are peculiar to Brits living in the states. Talking to others about matters relating to taxes, visas and schooling can be very informative so it is well worth establishing where your local groups meet and showing your face at a few meet and greet – you never know when you will need them.
Useful Resources for UK Immigrants in the US
The US Embassy and Consulates in the UK provide information on how to apply for a visa, as well as which visa is best for individual cases. Interested in immigration to Canada? Both Canada and the UK are members of the Commonwealth, making moving between the two countries an attractive and relatively easy process.
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VisaPlace Immigration News Contributor
Ella Bergquist
Hello! I am one of VisaPlace's many immigration news contributors. Comment below if you have any questions or comments about this article.
