Moving to the USA: A Complete Guide for UK Residents

The United States has long been the destination of choice for British families and professionals seeking a new chapter. With a shared language, deep cultural ties, and an unmatched breadth of opportunity, moving to America from the UK is a natural ambition for thousands of people every year. Today, an estimated 700,000 to 900,000 UK-born residents call the United States home, a community well-established enough to ease the transition for those who follow.

Whether you are relocating for a career opportunity in New York, establishing a new life in Florida, or moving your family to California or Texas, the move demands careful planning across several interconnected areas: visas and immigration, shipping your belongings, healthcare and schooling, and the financial and tax implications of leaving the UK. For those relocating with fine art, antiques, wine collections, or other high-value possessions, there are specialist considerations beyond the standard removal process.

This guide is designed to help you navigate every stage of that journey clearly and confidently. It covers the essentials across each area, and links to more detailed guidance on the topics that most benefit from deeper treatment.

The reasons British families choose the United States are as varied as the country itself. For many, it is career opportunity: the finance and technology sectors in New York and San Francisco, the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, and the rapidly growing tech and energy industries in Texas attract professionals seeking higher earning potential and a broader stage. Others are drawn by lifestyle, climate, the promise of more space, and a culture that rewards ambition.

Family connections play a significant role too. With well-established British expat communities across New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, and beyond, the transition is more supported than many expect. The shared language removes a significant barrier, and culturally the adjustment is meaningful but rarely disorienting. International and British-curriculum schools are available in all major expat cities, making the move more straightforward for families with children of school age.

California receives the largest share of UK-to-US relocation enquiries, followed by New York and Texas. Florida and Washington State also attract significant numbers of British residents, drawn by climate, lifestyle, and in the case of Florida and Texas, the absence of state income tax. Whatever your reason for making the move, the United States offers a scale and variety of experience that few countries can match.

A successful relocation to the United States begins long before your departure date. The earlier you start planning, the more control you retain over each stage of the process, and the less likely you are to find yourself managing avoidable pressure in the weeks before you leave.

Visa processing timelines are often the most significant constraint. Depending on the route you are taking, immigration applications can take anywhere from several months to considerably longer. This should be the first thing you put in motion, ideally twelve months or more before your intended move date. Engaging a specialist US immigration lawyer early ensures that your application is structured correctly from the outset, reducing the risk of delays.

Alongside the immigration process, your financial and tax position requires early attention. Notifying HMRC of your departure, understanding your UK tax residency position under the Statutory Residence Test, and taking advice on any assets or property you are retaining in the UK are all steps that benefit from being addressed well in advance rather than at the last minute. Those with complex financial arrangements should allow additional time for specialist advice.

For the physical move itself, booking your removals company early is particularly important if you are moving with a large household, fine art, or high-value items that require specialist packing and custom crating. At Williams and Yates, we recommend an initial home survey six to twelve months before your target date for complex relocations. This allows us to assess the full scope of the move, plan the packing and shipping schedule, and ensure all specialist items are properly accounted for before a single box is packed.

Practical milestones to plan around include: beginning your visa application, conducting a home survey with your removals company, engaging a cross-border tax adviser, giving notice on your UK property or arranging management if retaining it, researching schools and neighbourhoods in your destination city, arranging healthcare cover to begin from your arrival date, and shipping your belongings in sufficient time to arrive at your US property when you do. A dedicated move coordinator from Williams and Yates will help you manage the sequence of these steps and ensure nothing falls between the gaps.

For a detailed moving timeline, packing checklist, and step-by-step planning guide: see our full Planning Your Move to the USA guide.

Securing the right visa is the first and most important step in planning your move to the USA. The correct route will depend on your personal circumstances: whether you are moving for work, to join family, to invest, or to retire. The main pathways available to British nationals include the H-1B sponsored employment visa, the L-1 intracompany transfer for those moving within a global company, the E-2 treaty investor visa, the O-1 visa for individuals of extraordinary ability, and family-based immigrant visas for those with close relatives who are US citizens or permanent residents. The EB-5 investor programme provides a route to a Green Card for those making a qualifying investment of $800,000 or more.

Visa processing is rarely quick. Most work visa applications take several months, and family-based routes can take considerably longer depending on the category. The H-1B is also subject to an annual lottery, with a selection rate of approximately 35% in the most recent cycle. Building immigration timelines into your broader move planning from the earliest possible stage is essential. For short visits of up to 90 days, British nationals can use the Visa Waiver Programme via ESTA without a visa.

We would always recommend taking advice from a qualified US immigration lawyer before beginning any application. Williams and Yates works alongside trusted immigration specialists and can make introductions where helpful.

For a full breakdown of each visa route, current processing times, and what the 2025/2026 policy changes mean for British applicants: see our complete Visa Options for UK Citizens Moving to the USA guide.

Choosing where to settle is one of the most consequential decisions of the move, and for most British families the answer is shaped by career, schooling, lifestyle, and the tax environment of the destination state.

New York is the single most popular destination for British expats, offering unmatched career opportunity in finance, law, media, and the arts alongside an established international school network. Families often look to the Connecticut and New Jersey suburbs for more space while maintaining access to the city.

Florida has no state income tax, a warm climate year-round, and a growing international community. Miami attracts significant numbers of British professionals and families, with strong private schooling options. The Gulf Coast offers a more relaxed lifestyle at a considerably lower cost.

California receives more UK relocation enquiries than any other state. Los Angeles leads for those in entertainment, technology, and the creative industries. San Francisco and the Bay Area attract those in finance and technology. California levies state income tax at rates up to 13.3%, a meaningful consideration for those with significant earnings.

Texas has no state income tax, a constitutional ban on income tax, and a rapidly growing economy across Dallas, Houston, and Austin. The cost of living is significantly lower than on either coast, and the quality of life for families is high. Houston has a strong British expat community and the British International School of Houston in Katy. Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio each offer distinct environments worth exploring depending on your priorities.

The presence of international and British-curriculum schools is often a deciding factor for families with children. The British International School of New York, the British International School of Houston, and British-curriculum schools in Chicago, Charlotte, and Washington DC offer continuity of education for children already within the UK system. The USA has over 1,900 IB World Schools, more than any other country.

The United States offers considerable variety in cost of living, and the right destination can deliver an excellent quality of life that compares favourably with the UK. Understanding the full financial picture before you move is essential. According to Numbeo, the overall cost of living in the US is broadly similar to the UK when rent is excluded, though rental costs in major cities are significantly higher, and healthcare requires specific budgeting in a way the NHS does not.

Rental costs vary dramatically by location. In New York, a one-bedroom apartment commands a median of approximately $4,380 per month. In Houston, the equivalent is around $1,078. Miami sits at $2,450, Los Angeles at $2,290, and Dallas at approximately $1,750. Many British families choose to rent initially, giving themselves time to understand neighbourhoods, school catchment areas, and the local property market before committing to a purchase.

Healthcare is the area that most surprises British arrivals. Private health insurance is essential from day one: there is no NHS equivalent, and a single hospital stay without cover can run to tens of thousands of dollars. The average annual family premium for employer-sponsored insurance is approximately $27,000, with employees typically contributing around $6,850. For those relocating with an employer, a healthcare plan is often part of the package. For those arranging their own cover, a specialist expat health insurance broker is the recommended starting point.

A practical approach to budgeting is to think in three stages: pre-move costs (visa fees, flights, removals and shipping), arrival costs (temporary accommodation, vehicle hire, initial set-up), and ongoing monthly costs (rent, healthcare, schooling, and living expenses). Allowing a contingency of at least 10 to 15% across all three stages is advisable. Those moving to Florida or Texas benefit from the absence of state income tax, which meaningfully increases take-home pay at higher salary levels.

Sea freight is the standard route for shipping household goods from the UK to the United States. It is reliable, cost-effective for larger volumes, and entirely practical for the vast majority of possessions. Shipments to East Coast ports such as New York or Miami take approximately two to three weeks at sea. West Coast destinations such as Los Angeles take four to five weeks. Door-to-door timelines, including packing in the UK, customs clearance on arrival, and inland delivery, typically extend to six to ten weeks.

On arrival in the US, your shipment passes through US Customs and Border Protection. The key document for personal household goods is CBP Form 3299, the Declaration for Free Entry of Unaccompanied Articles. This enables household effects to enter duty-free, provided they have been owned and used for at least one year prior to the move. A detailed and accurate inventory is essential. Your Williams and Yates move coordinator will prepare and manage all documentation requirements, ensuring customs clearance is as smooth as possible.

A note on restricted items: US Customs restricts or prohibits a range of goods including certain foods, plants and seeds without phytosanitary certificates, and some medications beyond a 90-day supply. Items containing materials subject to CITES wildlife protection regulations, such as ivory, tortoiseshell, or certain protected timbers, require specific permits and documentation. We will advise on anything requiring special handling as part of your pre-move planning.

Healthcare

There is no equivalent to the NHS in the United States. Medical costs without insurance can be significant: a standard GP visit averages around $171, an emergency room visit can exceed $2,200, and a hospital stay runs to approximately $3,130 per day. Arranging comprehensive health insurance before your departure date is essential and non-negotiable. If you are relocating with an employer, review your benefits package carefully. For those arranging independent cover, a specialist expat health broker or the ACA marketplace are the recommended starting points.

Education

The US school system runs from Kindergarten through to Grade 12, broadly covering ages five to eighteen. Public schooling is free and compulsory, and quality varies significantly by district. Private and independent schools are widely available, with average national tuition running to around $15,000 per year, and considerably more at leading independent schools in major cities. The USA has more IB World Schools than any other country, providing reassuring continuity for families already within the IB system. School quality and catchment areas vary considerably, making where you choose to live and where you send your children interconnected decisions worth researching thoroughly before you commit.

Credit and Banking

Your UK credit history does not transfer to the United States. US credit bureaus hold only domestic data, so you start from zero on arrival. Building a good FICO credit score takes time: most new arrivals achieve a fair score within six to twelve months and a good score after one to two years. A secured credit card is the most accessible starting point. Certain providers, including American Express via its Global Transfer programme, allow you to leverage your UK credit history to accelerate the process. Obtaining your Social Security Number promptly on arrival is a priority, as it is required for employment, banking, tax filings, and building your credit history.

For those with assets, property, pension income, or complex financial arrangements, the implications of leaving the UK deserve careful attention before the move. Several areas require specific action.

When leaving the UK permanently or for full-time overseas employment, you should complete HMRC Form P85 to close off your UK tax affairs correctly. Your UK tax residency position after departure is determined each year by the Statutory Residence Test, which takes into account the number of days you spend in the UK and the ties you retain here. Those retaining UK property should be aware that rental income remains taxable in the UK regardless of residence, and that capital gains tax applies to any UK property disposal, with a 60-day reporting requirement.

The UK and US have a comprehensive double taxation treaty that prevents the same income being taxed twice. From April 2025, the UK’s non-dom remittance basis regime was replaced by the new Foreign Income and Gains (FIG) regime, which has significant implications for those who have historically claimed non-dom status. Your UK State Pension can be claimed in full while living in the USA and is uprated annually under the UK-US Social Security Totalization Agreement.

The tax and financial landscape when leaving the UK for the USA is genuinely complex, and specialist cross-border advice is essential. We would always recommend engaging an accountant familiar with both systems well before your departure date.

For a full guide to UK tax residency, HMRC notification, the double taxation treaty, non-dom changes, and managing UK property from abroad: see our detailed UK Tax and Financial Considerations guide for those moving to the USA.

For those relocating with fine art, antiques, wine collections, bespoke furniture, or other high-value possessions, the logistics of moving to the United States require a level of expertise that goes well beyond standard removals. This is an area where specialist knowledge of US import regulations, customs documentation, CITES wildlife protection requirements, and climate-controlled shipping is not optional: it is essential.

The good news is that original works of art and antiques over 100 years old are duty-free on import to the United States under HTS Chapter 97, and this exemption has been maintained through the significant tariff changes of 2025. However, correct classification and documentation are critical, and items containing protected materials including ivory, tortoiseshell, or certain timbers require specific CITES permits that should be arranged six to twelve weeks before shipping.

All fine art and fragile high-value items should travel in custom-built crates, constructed specifically around the dimensions and fragility of each piece. At Williams and Yates, our craftsmen build bespoke crates in-house. Climate-controlled sea freight containers, tracking throughout the journey, and specialist fine art insurance on a nail-to-nail basis complete the picture. Your dedicated move coordinator will oversee every element, from the initial condition survey of each piece through to installation at your US property.

Our partnership with the British Institute of Interior Design reflects our longstanding commitment to the design and interiors community, and our understanding of what the proper care of high-value and irreplaceable pieces demands.

For a full guide to fine art import duties, CITES documentation, climate-controlled shipping, and what to do before a collection crosses the Atlantic: see our complete guide to Moving Fine Art and High-Value Collections to the USA.

Moving to the United States is a significant undertaking, and the complexity only increases when fine art, antiques, vehicles, wine collections, and high-value possessions are part of the picture. Williams and Yates exists to ensure that every element of that move is managed with precision, discretion, and a quality of care that reflects the value of what you are entrusting to us.

From the moment you engage us, you will be assigned a dedicated move coordinator who will oversee every stage of the relocation. That single point of contact manages the packing and specialist wrapping at your UK property, the customs documentation, the sea freight and onward logistics in the United States, and the delivery and placement at your destination. You do not manage the moving parts: your coordinator does. Our global network of trusted specialist partners ensures that the standards we set in the UK are maintained at every point along the route.

Our in-house fine art and specialist logistics capability, our custom crating workshop, and our accreditations with FIDI/FAIM, BAR, IAM, and Which? Trusted Trader reflect the standards our clients rightly expect. We are proud partners of the British Institute of Interior Design.

To discuss your move to the United States and arrange a tailored home survey, please get in touch with our team. We will take the time to understand your requirements and design a service around them.