Your Complete Guide

Understanding which visa applies to you is the single most important step.

Here are the main routes available to British citizens wanting to move to USA from UK.

**L-1 Intracompany Transfer Visa** If your current UK employer has a US office, parent company, subsidiary, or affiliate, you may qualify for an L-1 visa. The L-1A covers managers and executives; the L-1B covers workers with specialised knowledge. The L-1A is particularly powerful because it is a direct path to the EB-1C green card, often without needing a labour market test.

**H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa** This is the most common route for professionals in fields such as technology, engineering, finance, and medicine. It requires a US employer to sponsor you and file a petition on your behalf. The demand for H-1B visas is high, and most cap-subject H-1B petitions are decided by lottery. You can apply for multiple years until selected.

**O-1 Visa for Extraordinary Ability** If you have an exceptional record in your field, whether in science, arts, business, or sport, the O-1 visa may apply. There is no annual cap and no lottery. It requires substantial documentation of your achievements.

**EB-1, EB-2, EB-3 Employment-Based Green Cards** These are permanent residence categories. EB-1 covers priority workers including multinational managers. EB-2 covers professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability. EB-3 covers skilled workers. Most people enter these categories after holding a work visa.

**CR-1 and IR-1 Spousal Visa** If you are married to a US citizen, you can apply for a spousal immigrant visa. Processing typically takes between 8 and 14 months from the UK. Once you arrive, you receive permanent residence.

**E-3 Visa** Unlike most other visa categories, the E-3 is available only to Australian nationals and not British citizens. Do not confuse it with similar visa types.

Moving from the UK to the USA involves more than immigration paperwork.

There are a number of UK-specific obligations and considerations that British nationals often overlook.

**Tax residency:** The UK uses the Statutory Residence Test to determine if you remain UK tax resident after leaving.

If you spend fewer than 16 days in the UK in a tax year (or 46 days if you were UK resident in all of the three previous tax years), you will generally become non-UK resident. The US taxes its residents on worldwide income, so seek advice from an accountant familiar with both UK and US tax law to avoid being taxed twice.

**State Pension:** You can continue paying voluntary National Insurance contributions while living abroad to protect your UK State Pension entitlement.

Class 2 contributions cost approximately £3.45 per week (2024/25 rates). This is often excellent value given the long-term pension benefit.

**Driving licence:** You can drive in most US states on a full UK driving licence for a limited period after arrival, typically 60 to 90 days.

After that, you will need a state driving licence. The test requirements vary by state. Some states allow you to exchange your UK licence without a full test.

**UK property:** If you own UK property and rent it out while abroad, you become a non-resident landlord and must register with HMRC's Non-Resident Landlord Scheme.

Your letting agent or tenant will withhold basic rate tax from your rent unless you apply to receive it without deduction.

**Pets:** Taking pets from the UK to the USA requires up-to-date rabies vaccinations, a microchip, and a health certificate issued by an accredited veterinarian within ten days of travel.

The rules are strict, and non-compliance means your pet is refused entry.