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Specifically, initially London. I was just wondering how hard is it to get a working Visa if you are self-employed and incorporated. After that, where are the safe places to live near subway (the underground right?) and How much does it cost to live in such a neighborhood for a 1-2 bedroom apartment (loft?). Mostly I get live north of the Thames, quite broad of a category.
Going to make a visit in April and hope to move before August (ideally June, but Visa can take time and cost a crapload of money). Fortunate it's around ~1.5USD=1, best rates I've ever seen Retired 8 years ahead of schedule. |
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ಠ_ರೃ
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Minnesota
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Isn't London (and the UK in general) one of the most expensive places in the world to live?
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Banging the Bottom End
Join Date: Jun 2004
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Mind the gap.
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Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2004
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Every time I've been to London in the past it's been "magically" expensive. But I haven't been since '02 and obviously the economy is different now so I dunno.
I did like London though. |
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Devonshire - nearly twinned with Narnia
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As far as I know (and happy to be proved wrong) if you want to move to the UK as a self-employed person you must have access to £200k (~300,000 USD) (to prove that you can support yourself for the duration of your stay).Otherwise, you may find it easier to look for a job that utilises your business skills and is willing to sponsor you as a highly skilled worker. Lots of information on the UK Border Agency website.
Afraid I can't help you with the questions about living in London. I've worked there in the past (commuting from Oxfordshire and travelling from Northumberland) and I'd never, ever want to live there but if I did I'd guestimate £800 -£1200 per month (excluding Council Tax & utilities) for something half-way decent. Londoners will probably laugh at my woeful ignorance of the current market. Depending on your business, perhaps there are other locations you could consider living in? There's some lovely countryside just a couple of hours away from London, and even more further afield - with potentially huge drops in rental prices (and, from an entirely biased point of view, huge increases in living conditions). Is there a specific reason why you want to move to London? The UK has some fabulous cities, and depending on your lifestyle and personality, they can all offer something unique. Don't get me wrong, I can understand the appeal of London, but don't forget the beauty of places like Edinburgh, Manchester, Oxford, Cambridge, Bath, or Liverpool (as but a few examples). Even consider Dublin (not the UK - but you get the idea). Oh, and if you do come over, welcome! Many Brits will tell you this country is going to the dogs, but a) they're wrong and b) at least we can have a nice cup of tea while it does. Matt P.S. Luca - consider us a high-class escort. Costly, but classy - and you won't end up with the clap. |
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Veteran Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
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It's really expensive. My best friend from high school lives in Wimbledon now, but he spent several years living in London in the Canary Wharf area. I have another good friend from grad school who works in Cambridge. Cool places to live. If you can afford it, I'd say go for it.
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Formerly Roboman, still
awesome Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Portland, OR
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Oh shit yeah, London is hugely expensive. The rest of the UK is, well, I guess it's as expensive as any other first world country, but not unbearably so. To be honest if you're pinching pennies you probably wouldn't want to live in any "world city," London included, but if you can afford it they can be uniquely rewarding places to live. Or so I'm told. I'm happy enough with B-list cities like Portland
and i guess i've known it all along / the truth is, you have to be soft to be strong |
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ಠ_ರೃ
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Minnesota
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More expensive than Tokyo. But you get what you pay for in Tokyo. Not the UK.
Full of immigrants. Not in itself a problem, but when you can't find a convenience store where people speak English it does get a bit frustrating! Taxes up the wazzoo. It's not just Income Tax, VAT and National Insurance which take around 60% of your income, you also have Council tax which is almost as much as rent these days. But the health care is great. I don't know any right thinking Brits who actually want to live in the UK anymore. Why oh why would anyone think of moving to the UK, especially London. Madness. In case you don't know cosus this is coming from a UK national. The UK is the last place on earth I would choose to live, and London I would only ever visit for short periods. My entire family is either 100% expats, and keep a house there for visits, or is only living in the country around 50% of the year. That's three generations. 'Remember, measure life by the moments that take your breath away, not by how many breaths you take' Extreme Sports Cafe | ESC's blog | scratt's blog | @thescratt Last edited by scratt : 2010-03-08 at 22:43. |
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Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: San Francisco, CA
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Formerly CoachKrzyzewski
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Chicago
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Hmm. London
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Ever since scratt left, the place has improved immeasurably. All the immigrants I asked agreed, and I could understand what they said.
Here's the visa stuff for you http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/ There are loads of interesting areas north of the river with tube links and good accommodation. The rents probably will make your eyes water and buttocks tighten at first but the rental market is less crazy than it was a few years ago when people thought it was the goose that laid golden eggs every month for them. Look here //www.gumtree.com/london/north-london-two-bedroom-flat_14_1.html I found my first flat through Loot magazine in 1989 and I'm still friends with the stranger who rented me a room. Last edited by Alex London : 2010-03-09 at 16:03. |
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Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Paris, France
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Immigrants are the lifeblood of a city like London. If you turn your nose up at anything less than the Queen's English then London isn't for you. Glad you figured that out, scratt. P.S. What language do you speak when instructing your Thai maid?
Rent in London is very steep but doable if you work, as long as you don't judge habitability in square feet. Non-accommodation costs are very high, however. Transport is a daily hassle and all forms of conveyance cost a fortune. Food is expensive whether at a restaurant or Sainsbury's. Going out is expensive. Cigarettes are expensive. Getting things done is expensive. In return, you do get an exciting city to live in. There's a lot going on, ranging from big art exhibitions to fun corner pubs. You're almost certain to meet some cool people, whatever your definition of cool. I thought I enjoyed London when I lived there, and I do retain fond memories, but I've come to realise I'm far happier in Paris now. London is just too big and fast and powerful for me. Life is a daily fight in London, which is terrific fun when you're winning but dismal when you're losing. I'd rather sit in a café and relive Kundera-Havel with a new friend, and Paris is very much that kind of place. But an ambitious risk-taker like cosus might really love London. |
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Rocket Surgeon
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: The Canadark
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I think London is worth living in for a few years. It really is an amazing place and there's some fantastic things there. Just don't become blase and forget to do anything. At least once a month, pretend to be a tourist and see something.
That said, I was done with the pollution level and the insanely high cost of living, so I moved - first to Newcastle, then to Vancouver. Maybe I'm getting old. |
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I can see where people are going with the odd comment on this, but when you wander around London and simply want to buy a phone card so you pop into any of several stores on a road in say Camden and your wife is stared at because she's not suitably covered, and you go to the counter and ask to buy something and are babbled at in Hindi or Arabic (the latter I actually speak a smattering of) then it is enough to make you regret having popped back home. Just my 2c. Bearing in mind that Americans and Israeli's are second only to Brits for being known to only speak English when abroad I would have thought that it would be handy advice for cosus. But hey, if you guys think a tax rate of roughly 70%, roads that are falling apart, the most popular "news" tv station being owned by Fox and only ever reporting on football, and a country that is more and more a satelite of the European courts, and an increasingly large exodus of it's own nationals abroad, whilst having the biggest influx of benefit claiming foreign refugees in the entire world is a good place to setup your future... be my guest. There is plenty of space. Make sure you take a copy of the Koran with you. 'Remember, measure life by the moments that take your breath away, not by how many breaths you take' Extreme Sports Cafe | ESC's blog | scratt's blog | @thescratt |
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Formerly Roboman, still
awesome Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Portland, OR
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I'm coming from Los Angeles and rent in decent places will cost you at least 1000 for a studio. Considering how cheap the GBP is now compared to the past, high unemployment rates and a economic crisis that surpasses the U.S., I'd think the timing couldn't be better. I just want to rent, not buy, so most real-estate statistics go out the window.
I have no reason to live in London other than it's a better time-zone. I'm a professional investor and plan to form an investment company in the U.K.. I was just wanting to live in London just to try it out, otherwise, high-speed internet is my criteria. After 6-12 months in London I plan to move to somewhere prettier, but I intend to stay long enough to gain citizenship and forget how to drive a car (I used mass transit in L.A. once, took 3 hours to get 7 miles). I have 12 years of experience, consistently for 4 (no school), I have prospective clients today. I've beaten the S&P 500 for over over 4 years but don't have 300k at all. But by self-employed, I'd be forming and LLC with all my assets under it. Though, I'd be running in USD or Swiss Francs, GBP is very bad and Euro isn't my cup of tea. Generally, I'd spend around 2k£ on rent on the high end and about 1k£ on general living expenses food, entertainment & cubans +taxes which I'm not sure of. Ideally when dealing with taxes, I'd do what I do here and make everything a business expense which would reduce my taxes I imagine. Originally wanted to Incorporate in Ireland or off-shore, but felt residency would be easier if the company was domestic. Retired 8 years ahead of schedule. |
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I would have thought that Spain would be a much better bet for you. Perhaps even around Valencia or somewhere like that. Better weather, better food, nicer people.
The UK is not somewhere I'd want to try and set myself up as a self employed immigrant investor. In order to make it pay you'd need to skirt very close to breaking the law, or have a shit load of money to make you attractive to the powers that be. Renting is probably the most expensive way to accommodate yourself in the UK. Like I said earlier the UK is not a good place when it comes to tax. If you're spending the kind of money you say then you'd be in a slightly higher tax bracket.. although it's so long since I paid domestic taxes I may be out of date on that. In any case with all the various contributions your tax would be at least 40% of your income. And I've not even taken into account consumer taxes there, or your costs for running vehicle, council taxes etc. etc. etc. 'Remember, measure life by the moments that take your breath away, not by how many breaths you take' Extreme Sports Cafe | ESC's blog | scratt's blog | @thescratt |
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Here we go, I need to live in the U.K. make the company, and ask for a 2 year extension. :P
What is the entrepreneur category? The entrepreneur category is for those investing in the United Kingdom by setting up or taking over, and being actively involved in the running of, one or more businesses in the United Kingdom. Who can apply as an entrepreneur? You can apply under the entrepreneur category now if you are: *in the United Kingdom and want to make an initial application as an entrepreneur; *already in the United Kingdom as an entrepreneur and want to extend your permission to stay within your existing category; *already in the United Kingdom as a business person or innovator and *want to extend your permission to stay in the entrepreneur category; *applying for permission to enter the United Kingdom (known as 'entry clearance') under the entrepreneur category. Here we go, now to get on with it ASAP. Retired 8 years ahead of schedule. |
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Another more realistic option is Panama. Have you thought of that? |
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Generally, my business can survive with no customers. Retired 8 years ahead of schedule. |
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There is a massive English speaking expat community in that region of Spain. And thankfully, not your two pints of lager and a packet of crisps style scum bags.
That's why I suggested it. Weather is seasonal with both cold and warm seasons. I lived down there for about 6 months before I moved to Thailand. If I moved again from Thailand, that's where I would probably go. It was just a thought. Rent is cheaper. That area of Spain brings in something like 50% of Spain's GDP. It's where the America's Cup yachts are built. They have an F1 GP. Lots of people who really do have money to invest. Great clubs. Great food. Honestly, and it makes no difference to me, unless you are going to the UK to clean up in terms of preying on other people's misery - and I am making no moral judgement there - the UK is finished. The currency may even devalue in a few years time, if not sooner... Bear that in mind if they make you lock your money into the banks there. I got mine out and stuck it across Euro, Yen and Swiss Francs a long way back. I think in terms of total financial collapse that's the one thing the UK might manage to do before the US. Normally it just follows about 3 years behind. 'Remember, measure life by the moments that take your breath away, not by how many breaths you take' Extreme Sports Cafe | ESC's blog | scratt's blog | @thescratt |
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UK is doing worse than the US as far as I know. But considering that I plan to continue to trade in the US, Time Zone of -5 NYC is not bad. But, I can't open a company in the UK and will probably go for some small Island to Incorporate and live in London. Euro is still no currency to be feeling safe about, Deutschland would be better off without that trouble for example. Only two currencies to be considered safe are the USD and Swiss Franc, the Euro... they don't even have enough of them in existence.
Retired 8 years ahead of schedule. |
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How many Euros do you need them to have for it to be worthwhile? They seem to have enough for most of Europe to use day to day! USD I would never consider a safe bet, nor Swiss Francs by themselves. But then we've already discussed that elsewhere. I have to say I find your outlook on things a bit strange, especially considering how you say you've done on the markets! But hey ho.. 'Remember, measure life by the moments that take your breath away, not by how many breaths you take' Extreme Sports Cafe | ESC's blog | scratt's blog | @thescratt |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: london and københavn
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Hmm. Well.
Have you considered Copenhagen? It keeps winning worldwide 'best city' indexes (quality of life, best city to start a business in the world) and the girls are awesomely hot. There is no crime here. At all. Or poverty. Everything works. It even has its own currency, which is extremely safe, and called 'kroner'. It’s preposterously costly. Yes. And it’s boring. Sorry, Mugge, but it is. But if you’re a rich American you will probably get to sleep with dozens of extraordinarily hot girls. London is... I love London. Love it. My city. gibberish |
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Really also want to be a citizen of an EU nation.
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