American student looking to move to UK

[lackey32]

I am currently a student studying in the United States. I will be graduating college in the next 6 months with a Bachelors in Social Work. Anyway, I would love to be able to move and experience another country. I was thinking/hoping for roughly a year and I would like to work while I am there of course. Seeing as I do not speak any languages other than English I am greatly interested in the UK. I have been trying to do some "research" online on what this would take however I feel VERY lost!!!! There are so many websites and so much information that it is all jumbled in my head! haha. Can anyone dumb this down for me? I did consider a Master's program because it would be easier to let the school do it rather than trying to move myself however, being a Social Worker I have heard that getting a Masters in another country may cause issues if/when I decide to return home. Was hoping maybe there were some programs or businesses or something that would help me do this... guide me through it you know? But I have found none. So if anyone could help me I would appreciate it!

[MPH80]

So what do you want to do in the UK - it's not clear.

Are you intending to come to study?

Are you intending to come to work?

Are you intending to come to travel around?

All three?

[edinburgh]

deleted

[lackey32]

So what do you want to do in the UK - it's not clear.

Are you intending to come to study?

Are you intending to come to work?

Are you intending to come to travel around?

All three?

sorry! I WAS looking at coming to study because I thought that would be easier however I realized that yes it is quite expensive so it's probably not feasible for me. Therefore, I would love to just come work. Not sure what I'd do... I've looked into nanny jobs there since I am currently a nanny here at home. I know that for visiting you can be there 6 months but you can't work. And I'm not rich so that's not gonna be feasible. I do want to be in the country long enough to get comfortable and learn about a new place. So sorry... long rambling answer... I want to come work I guess. Live and work for a year or so.

[lackey32]

an american student wanting us to do their homework - intriguing (!).

anyway, as regards info on the internet, there is only one official governmental website for potential immigrants wanting to come to the uk - http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/
this is your starting point so that you can get an idea of what criteria you'd need to fulfil if you want to come here to work/study/visit.

unless you're a british citizen, or a national of an eu member state - www.europa.eu - then you'll have to pay international fees to do a master's degree which are quite high. unfortunately, funding opportunities are limited, especially for masters' programmes, but look at the arts and humanities research council's website - www.ahrc.ac.uk - or the economic and social research council - www.esrc.ac.uk. to find a private sponsor to fund your studies will be extremely difficult, especially given the current climate, even if you're an outstanding academic. but i wish you luck. to do a master's degree, you need to apply to a uk university directly.

haha yes imagine that! figured it'd be better than just showing up in the UK and hoping I could stay. I have been to that website (http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/) but it confused me some since I really don't know where to start. Not sure what I would have to apply as... tier 1? And I want to actually be there to live and get a feel for the place so I do want to be there longer than 6 months. I didn't know how hard it is to find a job... even a entry level one. Should I do that before applying for a long term visa? or get to the UK first and then try and find a job? Or is this all ridiculous and I have big dreams that are going to impossible to manifest? haha.

[Wanderer]

an american student wanting us to do their homework - intriguing (!).

anyway, as regards info on the internet, there is only one official governmental website for potential immigrants wanting to come to the uk - http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/
this is your starting point so that you can get an idea of what criteria you'd need to fulfil if you want to come here to work/study/visit.

unless you're a british citizen, or a national of an eu member state - www.europa.eu - then you'll have to pay international fees to do a master's degree which are quite high. unfortunately, funding opportunities are limited, especially for masters' programmes, but look at the arts and humanities research council's website - www.ahrc.ac.uk - or the economic and social research council - www.esrc.ac.uk. to find a private sponsor to fund your studies will be extremely difficult, especially given the current climate, even if you're an outstanding academic. but i wish you luck. to do a master's degree, you need to apply to a uk university directly.

haha yes imagine that! figured it'd be better than just showing up in the UK and hoping I could stay. I have been to that website (http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/) but it confused me some since I really don't know where to start. Not sure what I would have to apply as... tier 1? And I want to actually be there to live and get a feel for the place so I do want to be there longer than 6 months. I didn't know how hard it is to find a job... even a entry level one. Should I do that before applying for a long term visa? or get to the UK first and then try and find a job? Or is this all ridiculous and I have big dreams that are going to impossible to manifest? haha.

For Tier 1 you have to have a degree and earning history, quite high criteria.

To be honest it's not gonna happen unless you work for a bit to satisfy the earning criteria of Tier 1, or find a Tier 2 sponsor, not easy with no working experience.

Or find work with a big co. with UK offices and try for a transfer.

Or; look into ur family history, any EU parents or grandparents? Depending on State you might find a way in and are thusly (my US word!) allowed to live in UK, or any other EU state.

[lackey32]

For Tier 1 you have to have a degree and earning history, quite high criteria.

To be honest it's not gonna happen unless you work for a bit to satisfy the earning criteria of Tier 1, or find a Tier 2 sponsor, not easy with no working experience.

Or find work with a big co. with UK offices and try for a transfer.

Or; look into ur family history, any EU parents or grandparents? Depending on State you might find a way in and are thusly (my US word!) allowed to live in UK, or any other EU state.[/quote]

may i ask what you mean by working experience? do you mean work experience using my degree? because if that's the case, then you are correct and I do no have experience in that particular setting as of yet. However, I have worked many entry level jobs since I was 16 years old. I will have a bachelors degree in December. I have figured this is quite the ordeal so I'm not looking to move anytime soon. I do appreciate the advice.

[Wanderer]

For Tier 1 you have to have a degree and earning history, quite high criteria.

To be honest it's not gonna happen unless you work for a bit to satisfy the earning criteria of Tier 1, or find a Tier 2 sponsor, not easy with no working experience.

Or find work with a big co. with UK offices and try for a transfer.

Or; look into ur family history, any EU parents or grandparents? Depending on State you might find a way in and are thusly (my US word!) allowed to live in UK, or any other EU state.

may i ask what you mean by working experience? do you mean work experience using my degree? because if that's the case, then you are correct and I do no have experience in that particular setting as of yet. However, I have worked many entry level jobs since I was 16 years old. I will have a bachelors degree in December. I have figured this is quite the ordeal so I'm not looking to move anytime soon. I do appreciate the advice. :)[/quote]

Tier 1 requires a Bachelor Degree and earnings of over £25K I think - u'd need to check, there's a clickable online test to see if u qualify.

It's points based, so so long as you earn the points, you get the visa, there's no perusal by ECO or someone's opinion to be counted - so peruse the UKBA Tier 1 website and see if you qualify!

Anyway it's England vs USA in the World Cup in an hour, if you want to come and live here you will be tested on your football knowledge.

1. Explain the Offside Rule

2. In 1996, who won the World Cup

3. When did England last win the World Cup.

4. Who scored the only hattrick in a World Cup Final?

5. Will England adopt a 4-4-2 formation today or play Rooney as a lone striker?

COME ON ENGLAND - STUFF THE SEPTICS!!!

[newperson]

Based on the information you have provided, it appears that you may qualify for the Blue Card Internship Programme, which is sponsored by BUNAC. This allows US citizens who are recent college graduates to spend 6 months living and working in the UK. It is not extendible, but will allow you to spend some time here seeing what the country is like.

http://www.bunac.org/usa/interninbritain/

[Casa]

Wanderer...guess you did mean 'septics' and not 'sceptics'??

[John]

Wanderer, the problem with football questions like that is that one might be ....... What was the result of the previous USA v England World Cup game, in 1950?

Seriously, it was a delight to see the England goalkeeper in that game, now in his 90s, on TV yesterday. He was obviously reliving that game, and the result, a shock 1-0 win to the USA.

lackey32, obviously not wishing to place unnecessary hurdles in your way, but I think you now appreciate that there are indeed hurdles to get over, in order to fulfil your plan to move to the UK.

[Wanderer]

Wanderer...guess you did mean 'septics' and not 'sceptics'?? :wink:

Septic Tanks = Yanks!

Not discussing the football now.......:(