At Elena Meskhi & Co we work with a number of individuals who move to the UK for a whole range of reasons: their job, their family or simply because they fell in love with a British citizen. Having been through it ourselves (Elena is a Russian national), we appreciate just how difficult and daunting this experience can be. There is little question that the more knowledge you have, the more empowered you are to make the right decisions once you land. So here are some helpful hints on how to best prepare for that move.
Whether you are from the EU or not, Brexit is sure to impact upon your experience of moving to England. Whether it creates a far more hostile culture or volatility in the poud; there is little doubt the ramifications of Brexit will be felt within the British landscape. Only time will tell what this means for a newly located expat, but it is important to stay vigilant and sensitive to the issue.
There is little doubt that regulation regarding the import and export of goods and services will, undoubtedly, change. If you are planning to move for business reasons and hoping to export goods and services between the UK and other countries, then be prepared for additional paperwork and added taxes.
Whatever reason you are entering the UK for; you will undoubtedly require a VISA, whether that’s a tourist, student, or working VISA; without one the British authorities can send you home before you even leave the airport. So make sure you are well prepared and have all your documentation filled in.
Brits love to apologise more than any other nation we know. This means plenty of unnecessary “sorrys” as well as a strict adherence to queuing. This can be quite a shock to a foreign national and is a part of the culture you will learn to love, we hope.
For all its bad press, especially regarding the weather, Britain is a fantastic place to live and at Elena Meskhi & Co we are proud to be residents of London. With some of the most fantastic museums in the world (and free entry) as well as some seriously sumptuous restaurants, it is an inspiringly good place to live.
Opening a bank account at any of the major high street banks should be relatively straightforward, although Metro is the only one that is open evenings, weekends and national holidays. You will need to open a bank account as most bills (and increasingly rent) are paid by direct debit from your bank account. If you are looking to stay in England for the long term then we would recommend being particularly careful with your finances and making sure not to go into your overdraft as it could have an effect your overall credit rating and make longer term success a little tricky. We also recommend, if you are moving between countries and are conscious of the taxes to pay and how much, finding an excellent accountant who knows how to ensure you are sticking to all the regulations and don’t get caught out. ------If you have any further questions or would like us to help assist you in moving to the UK. Please do feel free to give us a call on 02032878706 or drop us an email on info@elenameskhi.com
