Help! Can anyone tell me what the requirements are for a US citizen to live and work in the UK? I know that a passport will allow you to stay for a period up to six months. What if you want to stay permanently? I've had little help from the British Consulate here in the US. Can anyone out there in Fodorland help?

Bottom line: Can you support yourself. That means either a job or other source of income. The job has to come first; they are tough to come by, since the UK has higher unemployment than the US and employers are supposed to hire Brits first. Only way around it is to have a skill that's needed and not common (computer geeks seem to be the fair-haired children now). If you are looking for a job in the US, go with a multinational and get yourself transferred (yours truly is working that angle as we speak). <BR>You can always work under the table, but if you get caught you can be deported and your picture gets posted inside a big red circle with a slash through it. You also don't get benefits (like retirement funds). Not recommended. <BR>The idea is: you can't take a job from a Brit, and you can't be a drain on their economy.

OK; that's the no frills advice. The technical detail is slightly more complicated. <BR> <BR>A six month visa is a visitor visa and does NOT allow you to work. <BR> <BR>if you area student working your way round the world (or have just finished being one) you can probably get a visa which will let you work for up to a year. <BR> <BR>If you are anything else there are 2 routes:- 1. get admitted legally (3 years normally)then apply for leave to work whilst you're here; 2. get a job no-one here can do(pro baseball; frying green tomatoes; reciting the US constitution- and similar stereotypical prejudices) and get your employer to apply for a work permit..sit back and wait 6-9 months, collect visa, pass Go. <BR> <BR>To be allowed to stay permanently either be very rich(yes, you can buy permananent leave to remain) or get married for a genuine purpose not related to wanting a visa. <BR> <BR>A bit flippant but all true <BR> <BR>

Ok...Sheila - what is the legal way that will allow me to stay for three years? <BR>

There are a list. Have you looked at the Immigration and Nationality web site? It's all in there. <BR> <BR>I'll take a note of your e-mail address and e-mail you from the office tomorrow with chapter and verse

Sheila - Thanks for you help. No, I can't find anything on the web that really answers any of my questions. The British Consulate website doesn't give much info. Anything that you can provide to me would be greatly appreciated! <BR> <BR>P.S. Are you British????? <BR>

Are you married?

What sign are you? <BR>Come here often?

If either your parents or grandparents (now on mother's or father's side) were British you can claim "patriality" (or <BR>"matriality"??). As stated above, the only other way is to be very rich or very much in demand jobwise - or marry a local. Perhaps if you are young enough (b/w 18-27) you can apply for the 2 year max. work permit (available to Aussies, Kiwis, maybe US citizens too??)

Kim, <BR> <BR>Recently I have learned that if you are a student or have been a student carrying at least 8 credits, you may be able to apply for the BUNAC overseas work/travel program (http://www.bunac.org/countryreset.asp). <BR>Apparently, if you fullfill the requirements, you will be given a special work visa for 6 months. If I understand all that I've read, during this time you are the same as an <BR>UK citizen. At this time you are free to go and look for employement! If you find a permanent job during this six month period and your new employer gives you writen confirmation that they want to employee you, I guess you are then able to apply for a regular work permit. I found this site to very helpful too: (http://www.umich.edu/~icenter/overseas/) <BR> <BR>I am in the same boat as are you. Recently, I have begun the process of abtaining this BUNAC work/travel permit. <BR> <BR>I 'm not sure if any of this helps, but good luck! <BR> <BR>