Moving to the USA from the UK: Complete Expat Guide
H-1B, E-2, Green Card… Understanding the US immigration system as a Brit, plus healthcare, taxes and daily life.
before
- Secure work visa (H-1B, E-2, L-1, O-1)
- Arrange health insurance
- Check UK state pension implications
on_arrival
- Apply for Social Security Number
- Open US bank account (Chase, BoA)
- Register with British Consulate
during
- Start building US credit score
An estimated 700,000+ Brits live in the USA, making it one of the top destinations for UK expats. The main visa routes are the H-1B (employer-sponsored, lottery system), E-2 (treaty investor — UK is eligible), L-1 (intra-company transfer), and the Green Card (DV Lottery or employer sponsorship). The biggest adjustment: losing the NHS. US healthcare costs $300–$800/month via insurance, and out-of-pocket costs are significantly higher. This guide covers everything Brits need to know about relocating to America in 2026.
Visa & requirements
- US employer sponsorship
- Bachelor's degree minimum
- Specialty occupation role
- Market-rate salary
- I-129 petition by employer
The H-1B is the most common work visa but uses a weighted lottery system (85,000 places, 780,000+ applicants in 2026). The UK-US E-2 treaty is a major advantage: invest substantially in a US business for a renewable 2-year visa. L-1 covers intra-company transfers. O-1 suits exceptional talent. The DV Lottery is open to UK citizens (~55,000 Green Cards/year). EB-2/EB-3 employer-sponsored Green Cards take 1–3 years for UK nationals (no major backlogs unlike India/China).
Expatriation budget
- Shared flat ($1,000–$1,500)
- Home cooking
- Public transport
- Employer health insurance
- 1BR apartment ($1,800–$3,000)
- Restaurants and socialising
- Car ($500/mo all-in)
- Insurance + 401k savings
- Premium downtown apartment
- Fine dining
- Active social life
- Private school for children
Monthly expat budget
NYC: £3,400–6,000/month. SF/LA: £3,000–5,100/month. Austin/Denver/Miami: £2,100–3,800/month. Health insurance: $300–800/month without employer. With employer sponsorship, it's usually included.
Internet & connectivity
Internet in the US
Fiber available in most cities (100–1,000 Mbps, $50–80/month). 5G expanding. Main providers: Verizon, AT&T, Google Fiber, Spectrum. Free wifi widely available.
Average speed: 200 Mbps
Taxation & obligations
The UK-US tax treaty prevents double taxation. As a US resident, you file with the IRS on worldwide income. Federal tax: 10–37%. State tax: 0% (FL, TX, NV) to 13.3% (CA). FICA (Social Security + Medicare): 7.65% on salary. The US-UK Totalisation Agreement lets you combine UK NI and US Social Security credits. Your UK state pension will be frozen at the rate when you left (UK pensions are frozen for US residents due to no uprating agreement). 401k is the US equivalent of a workplace pension — contribute to get employer match.
Steps to settle in United States
Get a visa
- E-2 investor (UK-US treaty, $100K+ investment)
- H-1B skilled worker (annual lottery, 85,000 spots)
- L-1 intracompany transfer
- O-1 extraordinary ability
- DV Lottery (55,000 Green Cards/year, free entry)
Settling in
- Get SSN (Social Security Number)
- Open bank account (Chase, Bank of America)
- Build credit score (Discover card)
- Housing: 1-2 months deposit + credit check
- Health insurance via employer or marketplace
Daily life
- Local driving licence (required in most states)
- IRS + HMRC tax filing (UK-US treaty)
- Visa renewal before expiry
- Register with British Embassy
- Green Card path after 5 years
Advantages & challenges
Advantages
- Shared language
- Higher salaries than UK (especially tech, finance)
- E-2 treaty investor visa available
- Large British community
- No Green Card backlog for UK nationals
- Career advancement opportunities
Challenges
- Loss of NHS — expensive private healthcare
- UK state pension frozen in the US
- Very few paid holidays (2 weeks standard)
- Gun violence concerns
- Limited worker protections vs UK
- Credit score starts from zero
Yes, but your UK state pension will be frozen at the rate when you left the UK. There's no annual uprating for US residents.
No NHS. Employer-sponsored insurance ($200–$600/mo deducted from salary) is standard. Without employer coverage, ACA marketplace plans cost $300–$800/mo.
Yes, but inform your bank. Use Wise or similar for transfers. Open a US bank account on arrival (Chase, Bank of America). You'll need to build a US credit score from scratch.