Q- Is it going to be difficult for my family, friends and children in UK?
A- Relocation to a different country often has a big impact on family life. While we may not be able to ease the psychological stress of your move to the UK, we can support you with practical information on all areas of family life: childcare and UK schools, university courses and language classes, getting married – or simply bringing along the dog. Even if you are not starring in a twee British rom-com with Hugh Grant, you might just happen to meet the love of your life in the UK. What then? Our expat guide cannot give you any tips on how to successfully romance the man or woman of your dreams. However, we do introduce the less enchanting aspects of a possible long-term relationship – the administrative matters involved in getting married in the UK. We’ll guide you step by step through the process of officially tying the knot as an expat in the United Kingdom.
Q- How do I choose my accommodation my families or friends?
A- You can search for an accommodation by either of these ways-
• Direct Search:-Through Newspapers adverts and Forums/websites. A bit risky but worth a try. I’ve found everything, from accommodation, to a temporary job as a receptionist and even a second-hand computer on websites. These site offers room share and flat rentals across all the main towns in England, sorted by type of accommodation, basic price per week/month and areas.
Advantages: No agency fees as you can contact the Landlord directly. Possibility to find short-term rentals. In some cases it’s not necessary to prove that you have a job (proof required by many well-known agencies)
Disadvantages: You have to be cautious and carefully evaluate the offer. Most landlords are honest people, but sometimes you can end up in very unpleasant situations (I found mice in the house the day of the move, and had to call a lawyer because the landlord would not give me back the money for the deposit.
• Real estate agency: It is certainly the safest bet, but you have to provide more documentation (which will be checked carefully before they give you an answer).
Required documents:
1) Proof that you have a job in the U.K.
2) Proof of residence in the U.K. for the 2 (sometimes 3) previous years. If you do not have that record, your home country address will suffice.
3) Letters of reference from previous Landlords (not always required, but sometimes they require this information too)
4) English bank account. It is not mandatory but is often required, and it’s necessary when you find a job, so you might as well do it as soon as you can
Advantages: The guarantee of a legal contract that you can hold in the event of a dispute, and the possibility to turn to the agency for any problem about the house.
Disadvantages: The agency fees, in addition to the deposit (which is typically a month, or 6 weeks). Always ask how much the agency fee is before signing up. It may vary widely depending on the agency. You can read this interesting article on how agencies try to “scam” you on commissions.
• Short rental websites to find accommodation in London:If you decide to try your luck in the super expensive London, another very good option you can consider for the first few weeks (until you find a suitable place to rent, find a job and sort out all the other documents) is the “short rental” option. It obviously works better when you are a group of 4 or more people and can be the perfect choice to save money.
Why? There are many reasons to consider this alternative.
• You will have a kitchen and (trust me!) this is a huge advantage to save money on food
• Reduce the stress of living in a hotel/hostel while you need to concentrate on finding a proper job
• The feeling of being “home”
• I used this option with FG Properties la
Q- HOW TO FIND A JOB FOR ME OR A FAMILY MEMBER OR EVEN FRIENDS?
A- To find a job in UK keep in mind-
1) The Resume is essential:
If it’s done wrong and it’s inaccurate or incomplete, you could be the perfect candidate for the job, but you will be trashed immediately. In the UK, they are very selective about this. Get help from a native speaker. There is nothing worse than a good resume that’s written in bad English.
2) Do not underestimate your potential:
Some people think that as soon as they arrive in England they will find a “qualified” job. Others don’t even dare to try for the fear of not knowing the language well enough, or not being “enough. “ The middle way is always the best. Take one step at a time. If after a few interviews you realize that you still don’t feel confident, or that the demands are much higher compared to your experience, lower the fire. Several interviews will give you more confidence and you’ll approach them better. For this reason, try to leave the companies that you care more about and the end of your “wish list.”
3) Have a good Word/Excel knowledge:
If you are looking for secretarial jobs, be aware that many recruitment agencies will ask you to complete a 1-hour test on a computer to assess your knowledge. If you don’t pass it, your application will be rejected. This is a widely used practice in the UK. Do not waste an opportunity because you are unprepared, it happened to me and I was quite disappointed as no one had told me how it worked.
4) Go to the recruitment agencies in person:
It has a winning impact and gives you a better chance of scheduling an interview with the recruiter right then and there. I found my job as a production assistant in a fashion company this way. If you present yourself well, you appear confident and willing to adapt, the recruiter won’t risk to lose you, and he/she will find something suitable for you. Always show a positive attitude. Don’t be arrogant but try not to appear too desperate either.
5) Do not get intimidated by age:
In England, if you are over 30 and looking for a job, this is of little importance.You are not automatically cut out like it would happen in many other countries. If you have the experience and a good level of English, that’s all you need.
6) Test your telephone conversational skills:
Sounds stupid, but answering the phone is more difficult than having a conversation in person (for those who still struggle with English). Make sure you are well prepared when you receive a call back from the recruiter. Believe me, who is calling will remember exactly if you sounded insecure or if you asked them to repeat the same sentence 5 times (it happened to me, and it is no good). As a friend, possibly a local, to practice with him. I did it and it worked wonders.
Q- What considerations while searching a job in UK?
A- These are just few of the most common jobs to start a new life in the UK. What you need in the beginning is a great deal of patience, endurance and a positive attitude. It will not always be easy. I’ve been there. Receiving 10 phone calls and 10 “Thank you, we are not interested” in a day, can be daunting. Don’t get discouraged. You only need to sharpen your weapons, study the market a bit more, and learn how to “sell” yourself better! Be confident and make sure you know what you want. Put all your enthusiasm, optimism, and passion in it.Trust me: the results will arrive, and this obviously applies to every aspect of your life. Not only if you want to move to England of course. I learned my lesson and your attitude plays a huge role to determine whether you will be successful or not.
Q- What if I am thinking about getting married in UK?
A-As far as the bureaucratic aspect of marriage in the UK is concerned, there are several things to take into account. Firstly, celebrating your marriage in the UK is dependent on your nationality. If you are a foreigner with immigrant status (aka “subject to immigration control”), you have to jump an extra hurdle or two, e.g. for a UK visa. As a British citizen or a national of an EEA country, you simply have to check if you fulfill all legal requirements for a valid marriage in the UK, decide between a religious ceremony and a secular wedding, and give official notice in advance. There are minor regional differences for marriage in the UK, with regulations varying between England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. We will try to point out such regional peculiarities below.
Q- Does UK have same sex marriage?
A- If you are in a same-sex relationship and would like to get hitched in Britain, same-sex marriage in the UK used to be impossible. For this reason, the Civil Partnership Act of 2004 was passed. It applies to the entire UK, allowing gay and lesbian couples to enter into a civil partnership. In most aspects, though not in all, a civil partnership is similar to a secular heterosexual marriage in the UK.However, in July 2013, the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Act received Royal Assent. This means that it is now binding law and will probably come into force in the course of 2014. So far, the law applies to England and Wales only. A similar act is still being discussed in Scotland’s Parliament, while Northern Ireland remains opposed to same-sex marriage. Civil partnerships are valid everywhere in the UK, though.
Q- What legal things are required to get married in UK?
A-If you have British citizenship or are a citizen from a country within the European Economic Area (including Switzerland) who is currently residing in the UK, preparing your wedding is not that difficult. Just take the following steps prior to your civil partnership ceremony or marriage in the UK.Please make sure that all the legal requirements for a binding marriage in the UK (or a civil partnership) apply to you:
• You and your partner should be 18 years of age or older.
• Persons aged 16 to 18 need written permission from their parents or their guardian before they can enter into a civil partnership / marriage in the UK. However, this written permission is unnecessary for a marriage ceremony performed in Scotland.
• You and your partner may not be related by consanguinity, affinity, or adoption. This means, among other things, that a person is unable to get married to / become a civil partner of a sibling, a parent, a former partner’s child, or an adopted parent.
• If you and/or your partner were previously married or in a civil partnership, you need to have proof that all such former relationships were legally ended by death, divorce, dissolution, or annulment.
• Both you and your partner understand the consequences, rights, and responsibilities of a marriage / civil partnership and willingly consent to it.
Q- What process take place at the Register OFFICE?
Once you have given notice of your wedding plans, you should contact the register office or any other officially licensed venue where you want to have the ceremony. For the wedding, you need two witnesses aged 16 or older.While the ceremony for a secular marriage in UK or a civil partnership must not include any religious content, you can talk to the official performing the ceremony beforehand. They will help you and your partner to include personal speeches, individual wedding vows, or other elements unique to your wedding day.The secular ceremony for marriage in UK also requires paying a fee. It may amount to as little as £45 or as much as £180, according to the respective region and the day of the week. Sunday weddings in Northern Ireland are apparently the most expensive. For your marriage / civil partnership certificate, you then have to pay another small fee. Now your marriage in the UK will be legal and binding.
