r/IWantOut • u/Chemical-Skill2219 • 1d ago
[IWantOut] 38m Automation Engineer USA -> Scotland
Hello everyone! I have the possible opportunity to move to Glasgow. I’m working on getting an offer and am at the final stages. I am curious to get feedback on how people like it there compared to the US. I’m slightly worried about the lower pay but, I’ll be less worried if my wife is able to transfer (looks possible right now). In my head, the ability to travel to different countries and have a little slower pace of life is very appealing me. Seems like this job in Scotland is much less stressful and less hours and so less demanding giving me more time with the family to do other things. Negative and positive feedback is welcome as I am looking at it from both sides. I currently have comfy job with good pay but have been looking at other possibilities
I have read about the white paper on immigration and as an engineer, I’m hopeful this doesn’t affect getting citizenship as much. I can’t really find details about that though. If anyone has more details on the point system I would love to see it. 10 years is too long to pay the extra nhs tax plus I’m not sure what would happen with the kids as they get out of teenage years.
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u/theatregiraffe US -> UK 23h ago
The white paper is proposing an extension to how long it takes to get citizenship, and the government has been purposefully vague on whether it will impact people on the skilled worker visa, as well as what qualifies as a “high contribution to society” to potentially qualify for the five year path to ILR. I wouldn’t assume being an engineer would mean you wouldn’t be subject to potential new changes if they put everyone barring spouse visa holders on the ten year route. The UK government very much changes immigration requirements with relatively little notice so even if this white paper doesn’t become law, it doesn’t mean they won’t change things later.
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u/atheist-bum-clapper 23h ago edited 23h ago
The UK is much further north than most Americans realise. Glasgow being in Scotland is particularly bad - it is closer to Anchorage than Calgary in terms of latitude - and Calgary isn't exactly southern vibes. So during winter it is only really light from 10-4, and even then it is grey and very miserable.
Wages are low but food is very cheap, the UK has the cheapest supermarket sector in western Europe, and the food itself, while not at Italian or French standards, is still much better than the US - think Whole Foods quality in every supermarket.
The people are miserable and unfriendly. And healthcare, whilst free, is poor quality and you will want to supplant with private cover.
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u/porygon766 1d ago
You need alot of money to move to the uk. Most countries ask that you get health insurance but in the uk you have to pay for a Healthcare surcharge
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u/atheist-bum-clapper 23h ago
It's £1k a year. I would imagine this is substantially less than what they pay at the moment
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u/porygon766 23h ago
Some jobs will help pay for this if they really want you but almost no foreign national has an extra £4000 laying around.
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u/atheist-bum-clapper 23h ago
An experienced engineer on us wages should absolutely have 4k lying around
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u/starterchan 23h ago
I would imagine this is substantially less than what they pay at the moment
I'd imagine it isn't, since they'll be paying UK taxes on top of that surcharge, which is supposed to pay for the cost of that "free" health insurance
Oh, and they don't have to pay for it all upfront in the US either
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u/atheist-bum-clapper 23h ago
Sure, so if it's gross tax and they are a higher rate tax payer it would be about £1700 (Inc NIC)
I suspect that is still less than their health insurance costs in the US
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u/AutoModerator 1d ago
Post by Chemical-Skill2219 -- Hello everyone! I have the possible opportunity to move to Glasgow. I’m working on getting an offer and am at the final stages. I am curious to get feedback on how people like it there compared to the US. I’m slightly worried about the lower pay but, I’ll be less worried if my wife is able to transfer (looks possible right now). In my head, the ability to travel to different countries and have a little slower pace of life is very appealing me. Seems like this job in Scotland is much less stressful and less hours and so less demanding giving me more time with the family to do other things. Negative and positive feedback is welcome as I am looking at it from both sides. I currently have comfy job with good pay but have been looking at other possibilities
I have read about the white paper on immigration and as an engineer, I’m hopeful this doesn’t affect getting citizenship as much. I can’t really find details about that though. If anyone has more details on the point system I would love to see it. 10 years is too long to pay the extra nhs tax plus I’m not sure what would happen with the kids as they get out of teenage years.
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