How to Move to America From UK
Working out how to move to America from UK involves more than booking a flight and packing a suitcase. Visa applications, international shipping, customs regulations, and the sheer logistics of relocating across the Atlantic make this one of the biggest moves a UK household can undertake. This guide covers the practical steps, costs, and common mistakes.
Allow 12 months planning. Giant Van handles UK packing and depot delivery from £149.
What Giant Van Brings to How to Move to the USA from the UK
Understanding how to move to America from UK starts with the right visa.
British citizens cannot simply move to the US.
The most common routes are employer sponsorship (H-1B visa), intra-company transfer (L-1 visa), investment (E-2 treaty investor visa requiring a minimum of around $100,000), and the Green Card Diversity Lottery (DV Lottery, which has a low acceptance rate but costs nothing to enter).
Family-based visas apply if you have a US citizen spouse, parent, or sibling.
The application process for most work visas takes 3 to 12 months.
The E-2 visa is often the fastest for entrepreneurs, typically processed in 2 to 4 months.
Budget £3,000 to £8,000 in immigration lawyer fees, depending on complexity.
Start the visa process at least a year before your planned move date to allow for delays.
How We Manage How to Move to the USA from the UK Access
Pre-Booking Steps for How to Move to the USA from the UK
How to Move to the USA from the UK Booking Details
Giant Van is a UK removals company operating across 50 cities.
Every move is handled by experienced, vetted crews.
There are no added surcharges on moving day and no fine print about stairs or parking.
Man-and-van bookings start from £48 regionally and £49 in London.
Full house removals start from £149.
Your How to Move to the USA from the UK Booking in Three Steps
- 01
Preparation is the biggest factor in a smooth moving day.
- 02
Start packing non-essential rooms two weeks before the move.
- 03
Use proper double-walled boxes for books, kitchen items, and fragile goods.
- 04
Label every box with the destination room, not just the contents.
- 05
Disconnect the washing machine and dishwasher the night before.
- 06
Strip beds on the morning of the move.
- 07
Remove pictures and mirrors from walls and wrap them separately.
- 08
Keep a 'day one' box with essentials — kettle, mugs, phone charger, toilet roll — that loads last and unloads first.
Nearby and Far: How to Move to the USA from the UK Reach
A Giant Van booking includes the driver, the van, fuel, and goods-in-transit insurance as standard.
Full removals include transit blankets, straps, furniture dollies, and tool kits for dismantling and reassembling beds and wardrobes.
Packing services are available as an add-on and quoted separately.
Storage — either short-term during the move or long-term for items that will not fit the new property — is available through Giant Van's storage partners.
Vehicle transport (cars, motorcycles) can be added to a house move quote.
Piano and specialist-item moves require a separate survey but are handled by the same team.
Before the international logistics begin, you need your UK home packed and cleared.
Giant Van handles the domestic side: packing, loading, and transporting your belongings to the shipping depot or storage facility.
This frees you to focus on the visa paperwork, financial planning, and settling-in preparation that makes an international move successful.
UK house removals start from £149 with full insurance.
Message us in the live chat for a quote.
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How to Move to America From UK — FAQs
What are the biggest costs when moving from UK to USA?
You pay in full when you book — there's no deposit and nothing to pay on the day. Budget £15,000 to £30,000 total for a family move.
What are the easiest countries to move to from UK besides the USA?
The easiest countries to move to from UK include Ireland (no visa required under the Common Travel Area), Portugal (D7 passive income visa), Spain (non-lucrative visa), and Australia (skilled worker visa if your profession is on the SOL list). EU countries require residency permits post-Brexit, but the application processes are generally straightforward for UK citizens.
Related Locations and Services
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Sources and further reading
These are the official UK sources that set the rules for a job like this one. Each link goes straight to the source so you can check it yourself. Links open in a new tab.
- GOV.UK — moving or retiring abroad
The GOV.UK checklist for leaving the UK: tax, pensions, healthcare and what to tell each department.
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, s.49 (reasonable care and skill)
Section 49 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015: a service you pay for must be carried out with reasonable care and skill.
- Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013
The regulations covering what a trader must tell you before you book, and your right to cancel a service booked online or by phone.
All links checked on or after 1 August 2026.
Compiled by the Giant Van editorial team
Giant Van Ltd is registered in England and Wales, company number 16071027.