HSMP_NEW_COMER wrote:Hi All
I am planning to arrive in UK in the next two months and holding a Tier 1 visa.
Could you please suggest the things that need to be taken care of before arriving to UK .I live in India and want to be fully prepared before entering UK ( Money to be brought,Mobile,Legal Requirements) and the mandatory requirements when applying for a JOB .
Thanks in advance
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Mobile - if you know where you'll be living immediately upon landing, visit any mobile company (T-Mobile, O2, Vodafone, Orange) and look up the free PAYG sim card offer. This way you'll have atleast a pre-paid sim card when you land. If you have any friends who are already in the UK, get the free sim delivered to their address straight away so you know your number before you fly.
Legal/Job search requirements - Upon landing, get in touch with your nearest Job Centre and apply for a National Insurance number. You will get an appointment within a week or two (depends on which city, London takes longer) where they will issue you a NI number. This is a must for any job, otherwise you will get taxed at a much higher tax rate!
Bank account - try and get a bank account sorted soon upon arrival. Avoid bank accounts that will charge you for services and don't switch to a paperless account (i.e. where you don't receive monthly statements by post) unless it is a massive benefit. Natwest, Royal Bank of Scotland, HSBC, Lloyds TSB are the biggest banks. You also have Abbey, Alliance & Leicester and Halifax who have a strong presence. You will need to carry your passport with you and some address proof.
Jobs - While looking for jobs, don't be afraid to take up a temporary contract for a job that is related to your field. Speak to as many job agencies as possible because this way you will build up contacts with recruiters. Even if they can't help you straight away, there is a possibility they might come in handy in a couple of months or so.
www.reed.co.uk is quite good for temporary jobs;
www.jobsite.co.uk is good as well. Other than that there are a lot of specialist recruitment agencies. Search for the one related to your field before you come to UK, so you can start spreading your CV around as soon as you land.
At the airport - When you fly in for the first time, keep all documents with you in hand luggage. I would suggest you carry your entire Tier 1 application pack. The questions are just standard, where have you come from, why have you come here, where will you live, etc. But in that atmosphere and being new to the country, sometimes people do get tense. At least you will have all information handy in case they ask additional questions and you can't explain everything verbally.
NHS - Register with a GP nearest to where you live as soon as you can. If you can get an appointment, medical treatment is free.
Money - This is entirely upto you. But on average for a single person you will end up spending around £200-300 on food and drink. If you will be living in London, you will need maybe £150 or so a month for the tube. In other cities you'll be able to get around on public transport for around £50 a month. Rents can vary drastically so do some research to decide how much you need. Initially try and live in a house share where all bills are included.
Good luck!
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