BeforeGetting youhelp gowith living in the USA

Help from the US government

SeeFor ourany travelquestions adviceabout formoving to or living in the USA, foryou up-to-datemay informationbe onable localto lawsget help from:

• the US Embassy and customs,Consulates safetyin the UK
• US Citizenship and emergencies.Immigration Services

The UK government and the British Embassy in Washington cannot give personalised advice on moving to, living or retiring in the USA.

Professional help in the USA

LawsYou varycan also get help from stateprofessionals in the USA, including:

• lawyers
• notaries
• funeral directors

Help from the UK government

Read the travel advice for the USA to state.understand Whenthe risks you aremay physicallyface presentif inyou alive state,in evenor temporarily,visit youthe areUSA. subjectThis toincludes thatthe state’slatest laws.information on:

• visas and entry requirements
• laws and cultural differences
• safety and security

SeeRead movingour guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad.

Get help from the UK government abroad., including in an emergency.

VisasVisas, residency and residencycitizenship

SeeThe authorities in the USA set and enforce entry rules strictly. You may be liable to arrest, detention, or removal if you violate the rules or break the law. Even if you have a visa or visa waiver, the final decision on entry is made at the border by a US border official.

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Visas

Check advice.which US visa  you need to live in the USA.

SeeYou applycan forget a visa toto:

• work
• study
• retire
• live enterwith family in the USA
• invest or start a company in the USA
• get medical treatment
• volunteer
• work for a religious organisation

If you want to extend your visa:

• read guidance on how to extend your nonimmigrant or tourist visa
• contact the US Department of State Visa Appointment Service

For more information, read guidance on how to apply for a US visa.

Police certificates

You can get a police certificate, if you’veyou have been asked to providegive a copy of your police records as part of ayour visa application.

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You fastercan entryapply toonline thefor USA.

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Permanent youresidency

You canmay applybe andable payto apply for thisa onlineUS Green Card (also known as a Permanent Resident Card).

Healthcare

See ourThis travelallows adviceyou forto live and work permanently in the USA.

To find out if you’re eligible and how to apply, read guidance on:

• how to apply for a Green Card
• Green Card eligibility

Citizenship

The USA andrecognises thedual UKcitizenship. doThis notmeans havethat reciprocalyou healthcaredo agreements.not Youhave shouldto buygive comprehensiveup travel(renounce) andyour medicalBritish insurancecitizenship beforeto youbecome entera theUS country.citizen.

YouTo shouldfind alsoout makeif sure you’re coveredeligible byfor healthUS insurancecitizenship, read guidance on how to:

• become a US citizen through naturalisation
• apply for UKcitizenship
• prove US treatmentcitizenship
• get ordual you’llcitizenship beor chargednationality

Help bywith thevisa, NHSresidency forand anycitizenship careapplications

The youBritish receiveEmbassy in theWashington UKcannot help with US. visa, residency and citizenship applications.

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• a lawyer in the USA.

Passports

Read Theour USguidance Departmenton ofmoving, Homelandliving Securityor hasretiring informationabroad. aboutThis travellingcovers withhow medication.to:

• apply for a British passport from abroad
• travel urgently without your British passport

WorkingHealthcare in the USA

YouRead areour onlyguidance allowedon tomoving, workliving inor retiring abroad. This covers how to:

• plan your healthcare abroad
• take medicine abroad

The USA does not have a reciprocal health agreement with the UK.

Make sure you have appropriate health insurance to cover any healthcare costs. You can get insurance from US ifand youinternational holdproviders.

To onefind ofout thehow following:to get medical treatment:

• employment-basedcontact immigrantyour visainsurance provider
• temporaryread employmentguidance visa
• greenon cardhealth in the USA (permanentand residenthealthcare card)and families in the USA
• workfind permitmedical (employmentfacilities authorisationand document)doctors in the USA

US

Working in the USA

Read employersour guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers working abroad, including documents you may notneed recognisefrom yourthe UK qualifications.government.

To Therework arein USthe USA, companiesyou thatneed cana work outpermit, thework visa or green card.

US equivalenceCitizenship ofand UKImmigration qualifications.Services Youexplains shouldthe contactdifferent individualwork statepermits educationand authoritiesvisas foravailable furtherto information.you.

SomeYou jobs may requirealso need to provide a criminal records check.

Recognition (knownof asqualifications

If ayou DBSwant checkto work in the UKUSA)., you may need to get your foreign qualifications recognised.

TaxDriving in the USA

SeeRead taxour ifguidance youon leavemoving, theliving UKand toretiring live abroad. andThis taxcovers onhow to:

• drive abroad legally
• take your UK incomevehicle ifabroad
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WeFor recommendinformation youon getdriving professionalin advicethe onUSA, payingincluding taxdriving licence rules, read about road travel in safety and security in the travel advice for the USA.

Disabled drivers

You may be able to payapply Nationalfor Insurancea whilestate abroaddisabled inparking orderplacard, topermit protector sticker. For more information, contact your State PensionDepartment of Motor Vehicles.

If you have a UK Blue Badge and entitlementlive in the USA, you must return it to otherthe benefitsoriginal andUK allowances.issuing authority.

PensionsTax

SeeRead Stateour Pensionguidance ifon youmoving, retireliving or retiring abroad. This covers tax, including paying UK tax and newNational StateInsurance. Pension 

The UK has a double taxation agreement with the USA. so that you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.

Life

Contact certificatesthe Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for any questions about double taxation relief.

Consider getting professional advice on paying tax in the USA. To do this, find a lawyer in the USA.

Pensions

Claiming your UK state pensionspension

IfRead youour getguidance aon ‘lifemoving, certificate’living fromor theretiring abroad. This covers:

• how to claim your UK State Pension
• where Service,the youUK needgovernment topays respondan asannual soonincrease asin possiblethe –State yourPension

Claiming paymentsa mayUS bepension

Contact suspendedthe ifUS Social Security Agency to find out whether you don’t.can claim retirement benefits in the USA.

Benefits

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Claiming claimingUK benefits

Read ifour youguidance live,on movemoving, living or travelretiring abroad.

Find outThis whichcovers how to claim UK benefits youabroad, mightincluding Child Benefit.  

Claiming US benefits

You may be ableentitled to getsome whileUS benefits.

To find out if you’re abroadeligible and how to claim them.claim:

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• read income-relatedguidance benefitson suchUS asgovernment Pensionbenefits Credit and HousingUS Benefitbenefit can’ttypes
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DrivingBuying and renting property in the USA

SeeRead drivingour guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers buying and roadrenting travelproperty abroad.

The US government offers guidance on housing help.

Contact a lawyer in the USA.

See takingif ayou’re vehicleconsidering outbuying ofproperty or land.

Voting in the USA

UK elections

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

• vote in UK elections from abroad
• register as an overseas voter

US elections

You cannot vote in federal, state and most local US elections unless you hold US citizenship.

VotingStudying in the USA

SeeIf votingyou whenplan you’reto abroadstudy in the USA, you must meet all visa requirements. before you travel.

BritishFor citizensmore livinginformation:

• read guidance on travel grants for students studying abroad canor voteon placements (England)
• contact your higher education provider in somethe UK electionsor the USA
• contact the US Department of State Visa Appointment Service
• read –the you’llUS needDepartment toof registerState’s as5 ansteps overseasto voterUS study.

BirthsChildren

SeeRead registerour aguidance birthon moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers moving abroad with children, including:

Deaths

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• getting whatpermission to dotake afteryour someonechild diesabroad
• claiming UK Child Benefit abroad
• child maintenance payments if a parent lives abroad

Schools and bereavementeducation

The US Department of Education provides information forabout the schooling system in the USA.

Getting married

SeeAll gettingchildren marriedmust abroadattend school or home school in the USA. Check the compulsory school attendance laws by state.

Renewing passports

SeeFor overseasmore Britishinformation:

• read passportsguidance applicationson education and getchildcare anin emergencythe travelUSA
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Pets

Childcare

SeeThe travellingUS withAdministration petsfor Children and Families is responsible for childcare services in the USA.

Emergencies

TheYou emergencymay telephonebe numbereligible infor free or subsidised childcare. For more information, read the US isgovernment’s 911.guidance on:

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• paying informationfor aboutchildcare
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• state and territory childcare resources

Births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships

Births

If your child is born in the USA, register the birth with the US authorities.

You can do this at the hospital where your child is born. If youyour needchild consularis assistance,born contactoutside of a hospital, you must notify your neareststate Britishhealth embassydepartment or consulatelocal vital records office.  

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

Accommodation

• register andthe buyingbirth property

with the UK authorities to get a UK birth certificate

apply for your child’s first British passport

Deaths

SeeRead buyingour aguidance propertyon moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:

Other

• what usefulto information

do after someone dies abroad

how to register the death with the UK authorities

SeeIf also:someone dies in the USA, read guidance on:

• notarywhat andto documentdo serviceswhen someone dies in the USA
• statedealing government:with findthe contactdeath informationof a loved one

Marriages and civil partnerships

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get married or get a civil partnership abroad.  

Check your state government website for more information.

You can also read the US statesgovernment’s guidance on how to change your name and what government agencies to notify

American.

Divorce Barand Association:separation

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to findget a divorce or end a civil partnership.  

Check your state government website for more information

Consider taking legal advice from a lawyer in the USA

.

ReturningDocuments tofor British people in the USA

Read our guidance on documents for British people abroad. This covers: 

• legalising and certifying UK documents
• marriage and civil partnership documents
• affirmations and affidavits
• witnessing signatures

Lawyers, translators and notaries

To movefind youra pensionlawyer, totranslator or notary in the UKUSA, contactread theguidance Internationalon Pensionprofessional Centreservices if you’re abroad.

Pets

SeeIf taxyou ifwant youto returnbring your pet with you to the UKUSA., read guidance on:

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• bringing a pet from another country into the United States
• taking your pet dog, cat or ferret to a non-EU country

Returning to the UK.

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