Another US to UK

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I'm going to the UK in about 6 weeks to visit my boyfriend. I am going as a General Visitor and from what I gather will not need a visa if I plan to leave within 6 months.

I understand that to work, I will need a sponsor. Also, need to complete an English test. This was my plan. Take the English test here (the next is in mid-January). I plan to leave at beginning of February. Go to England on my Visitor visa waiver, and apply for a work permit there when I get a sponsor.

Is this frowned upon? I know one of the things to get the General Visitor visa waiver is if you don't plan on taking employment while you are there. But... if I am planning on applying for a different visa, will it be a big deal?

I'm very nervous about the move. My job here is refusing to give me a leave of absence for a while, so I am going to have to leave the current job when I go.

Any advice is helpful. I know I added a lot of info and questions in there.

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Feel like it would be a lot easier to get a work sponsor while I am actually there. That's why I am not applying for a work permit now. Just a clarification

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Very hard to get a work permit for the UK at the moment unless you have experience in an area that is on the shortage occupation list. Have you already met NMC requirements? meeting NMC requirements can take several months and it will also depend on what level you are i.e ADN, BSN

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/workingintheuk/shortageoccupationlist.pdf

Moved to the international forum as per the red banner as nothing to do with actually working in the UK

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Thanks for putting this in the appropriate place!

That's what I was really wondering. How easy it will be. I'm SO nervous. I had read a list of needed occupations and Critical Care nursing was on it, which is not on the link you gave me.

From what I understood, to get on the Register was that I needed the IELTS English exam passing score and then to send it in, in which they will mail me back an application packet.

Now looking at it, I should really look into making sure I meet the education requirements. I have a 4 year BSN degree but it looks like there could still be a chance that it may not meet all the hourly reqs.

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Hmm... not sure how my school's transcripts will work though. The NMC states it in hours of training. 2300 in practical and clinical, and 1533 in theorhetical. I don't have an hourly log!

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Specializes in NICU.

Very low chance of getting a work-permit right now unless you have a UK/EU spouse. UK nurses are having a harder time getting a job just like in the US and the rules dictate that they offer the job to UK, then EU folks first. Done a lot of research on the subject--and I wouldn't count on being able to get a job and quitting your other job unless you can afford to not work. Maybe in a few years with a better economy...or maybe if you marry the boyfriend things would be easier...

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

The list I posted is the latest.

Heads up if you plan on marrying your boyfriend then you will require a visa allowing you to marry in the UK, this is still currently required however may change in the future. No longer a case of just arriving and getting married plus you should only get married because you want to not because you plan on working in the UK.

UK Border Agency | Getting married or registering a civil partnership in the UK

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Thanks for the replies. I started this post not realizing there were tons of other threads. I just didn't scroll down far enough. Tons of information around here. But I really doubt I would pursue the nursing thing it looks like. I don't plan on being there for too long. The plan is for both of us to come back to the USA anyway before the 6 months is up for a visitor visa.

No.. not planning on getting married there. :) Thanks for the heads up though. Didn't know there was a special visa for that. Crazy!

Lots of thanks for the infos

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