9 Things to Know Before Moving Between the UK and the US

It could be easy to dismiss a move between the United States and the United Kingdom as “no big deal.” After all, the two countries share a common root language—and some significant history, since the US was originally an English colony.

However, there are some significant cultural differences between the US and the UK, which encompasses England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Additionally, there are also a few strategies that can make your move between the US and the UK a lot simpler.

Keep reading, and we’ll show you the nine things you need to know.

1. Culture Shock Is Common

Despite the ties between the two countries, living in the US can feel very different from living in the UK. It’s pretty common to feel some culture shock after any international move, and a US-UK move is no exception.

If you don’t have family or friends in your new “home” country, you might feel the effects even more strongly.?Common feelings associated with culture shock include homesickness, disorientation, loneliness, or depression. Give yourself some room to experience your emotions—and recognize that you’re not alone.

Some people find comfort in the familiar, including setting up their home with the furniture, décor, and furnishings they’ve brought with them from their previous residence. If you’re sorting through your belongings and deciding what to bring, select items you love that will give you a warm sense of the familiar, even in a new country.

For example, if you’re hemming and hawing over whether or not to bring your mattress and bed, we’d say:?Pack it!?Beds between the US and the UK can feel very different, and there’s nothing like the comfort of a good night’s sleep.

And when it comes to importing these household goods duty-free, there are a few things you need to know to avoid costly fees.

2. Understand the Requirements for Duty-Free Entry

Both the UK and the US have pathways to allow for duty-free import of your household goods. Of course, whether or not you’re eligible will depend on details such as your residency status, visa, length of stay, etc. We’ll get into the details below.

However, if you meet each country’s criteria—and complete the paperwork correctly—you stand to save yourself a significant amount of money.

If You're Moving to the United States:

If you’re a returning citizen of the US, and you’ve been gone from the US for at least a year, you’ll qualify for duty-free import of your household goods. You will need to complete some paperwork, including?Form 3299. Your moving company can assist you in preparing all the right documents for simple and easy customs clearance.

If you’re entering the US on a visa,?eligibility for duty-free import varies, depending on which visa you hold. Before you decide to pack and send a large number of household goods to the US, do your research to determine the customs regulations that apply to your situation. You’ll find more information on the?US Customs & Border Patrol website.

If You're Moving to the United Kingdom:

In order to import your household goods duty free to the UK, you’ll need to declare the UK your “normal place of residence”—i.e., your main homeYou’ll start by applying for?transfer of residence (ToR) relief?through His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC). By the way, even if you’re a returning resident, you’ll still need to go through this same application process.

Once your ToR1 form is successfully processed, you’ll be able to import your household goods duty-free.?If your application gets rejected, it doesn’t mean you won’t be able to send your goods to the UK. It simply means that you will likely have to pay duties on anything you import.

3. Get Your Chips and Your Crisps Sorted

Although they share a common root language, American English and British English have evolved separately over the last ~250+ years. Besides some differences in spelling (e.g.,?organize?vs.?organise?/?manoeuvre?vs.?maneuver), there are also a whole host of words with different meanings in the US and the UK.

One that immediately springs to mind is the difference between chips and crisps.

In the UK, chips are what Americans call french fries. Crisps are what Americans call potato chips. (If you’ve ever wondered about the origin of fish and chips—a.k.a. fish and french fries—wonder no longer!) If you’re not one for surprises when it comes to your lunch order, you’ll want to get those terms straight ASAP.

Cultural differences like these are part of what makes living in a different country a delight.?However, using the right terms will help you assimilate faster—and avoid a potentially embarrassing mistake.

4. Packing Yourself May Not Save Money

An overseas move can get expensive quickly. If your employer isn’t helping you with the cost—or you’ve been given a strict budget—you might be looking for ways to save money.

One of the first things you might think of is packing yourself.?After helping tens of thousands of individuals relocate all over the world, we’re here to tell you that it’s not worth it—and it probably won’t save you any money.?Here’s why:

Customs Inspections

When your household goods go through customs, any boxes that were packed by owner (PBO) are marked as such. Those can be a red flag for customs, since there’s no third-party verification of what’s in those boxes. Shipments with PBO boxes can be subject to more frequent customs inspections, which come with a bill that you’ll be expected to pay.

Insurance Issues

Additionally, insurance won’t cover a shipment that’s been packed by the owner. If anything gets damaged in transit, you’ll be on your own for repair or replacement.

Potential Damage

The moving crews who pack international moves are experts at what they do. They know how to pack things properly, and they know how to achieve just the right density of items in boxes so that there’s very little wasted space. Leave the packing to the experts, and you’ll enjoy a more efficient, effective, and safe move.

Material Costs

When a professional crew packs your shipment, they’ll bring all the materials they need to do the job right—boxes, tape, heavy-duty packing paper, etc. By the time you purchase all these materials, you probably won’t save yourself much money in the long run.

In short, we’re all in favor of helping you make the most cost-effective move. However, packing your own boxes isn’t an area we recommend, for all the reasons we cited above.

5. Pay Attention to Closing Hours

In the US, it’s easy to get used to lengthy opening hours, like 24-hour pharmacies and diners and other stores that simply stay open late (10:00 pm, 11:00 pm, etc.).

However, in the UK, you’ll find that opening hours are not quite as expansive.?This is especially true on Sundays, when larger stores in the UK (3,000+ square feet) can only open for a maximum of six hours between the hours of 10:00 am and 6:00 pm. (By the way, this isn’t the case in Scotland, although workers in Scotland can opt out of working Sundays.)

Additionally, although a weekly half-holiday for shop staff is no longer mandated by law in the UK, some stores still close for half a day in the middle of the week.

In other words, if you’re moving to the UK, pay close attention to opening hours and plan your shopping carefully. If you’re moving to the US, you may be pleasantly surprised by what’s available at all hours, especially in urban areas like New York and Los Angeles

6. Sales Tax Works Differently

If you’ve been living in the UK, you’re used to seeing VAT (value-added tax) incorporated into the price you’ll see in shops. In other words, the price you see on the shelf is the price you’ll pay at the till.

However, if you’ve been living in the US, and your state or city charges a sales tax, you’re used to seeing that tax added on at the register. So while the shelf might say $4.99, you may pay $5.29 to a cashier in Maryland.

For those coming from the UK, the last-minute mental math can be confusing, as can the rules around what gets taxed and what doesn’t. Those coming from the US to the UK may relish the simplicity.

And speaking of add-ons…

7. Tipping Expectations Can Be Confusing

Even Americans admit to being confused about the tipping expectations in the US. However, as a general rule of thumb, a tip of 15-20% is expected (and appreciated!) to recognize good service by servers at sit-down restaurants, bartenders, hairdressers, taxi/Uber/Lyft drivers, massage therapists, and other workers in the service industry. If someone helps you with your bags at a hotel, you might also give them a few dollars. Additionally, if you’re ordering coffee at a local shop, a tip of a dollar or two is always appreciated.

Again, even in America, the official tipping “rules” are often debated. In general, though, those in the US tip more often than you’ll see in Europe.

In the UK, tipping rules vary as well, although some restaurants may include a service charge on your bill. If so, there’s no need to leave a tip. Otherwise, a 10% tip would be considered normal. At a pub, it’s less common to leave a tip and more common to offer to buy the bartender a beer, which they can just tack on to your bill. For taxi drivers, you might round up to the nearest pound or tack on an extra 10-15% if you received exceptional service.

When it doubt, grab someone and ask. It’s the effort and the interest in getting it right that matter most!

8. You May Need to BYOClosets

Where you store your clothes can vary significantly between the US and the UK. In the US, the majority of apartments and houses come with built-in closets. In contrast, many UK flats and houses don’t have built-closets, so clothes get stored in wardrobes.

While this is an interesting cultural contrast, it also has a big impact on UK-to-US moves.?If you’re moving from the UK, you may initially be inclined to bring your wardrobes with you. However, you likely won’t need them for storing clothes in the US. Additionally, wardrobes can be heavy and bulky, which adds to the cost of a move. Finally, since wardrobes aren’t as common in the US, they may require a special team to assemble them, contributing to an even higher cost for your move.

The bottom line??If you’re moving from the UK to the US, you might want to think about leaving your wardrobe behind in storage—or selling it if you’re anticipating a permanent move. (And if you’re moving from the US to the UK, you may need to invest in a wardrobe when you arrive so you have a place to hang your clothes!)

9. Make Sure You Get an All-in-One, Complete Quote

If you’re responsible for researching and pricing out your move, make sure you’re comparing apples to apples when you’re evaluating different moving companies.

Some companies offer an all-in-one quote that includes all additional fees, such as terminal handling charges (THC).?These common charges apply to most moves. Some companies include them on their initial quote, while others may add on additional fees like this later down the line.

As you’re comparing quotes, make sure to ask whether there are any additional fees (such as terminal handling charges) that might impact the final cost of your move. This will eliminate any surprises—and help you choose the right mover for your relocation.

Making Your UK>US Move Stress-Free

An overseas move is a significant one, with plenty of moving parts that will keep you busy before, during, and after your relocation. By recognizing that a move between the UK and the US can represent a significant transition, you’ll set realistic expectations for yourself, which can lower your stress levels. This will also free up some energy to focus on adapting to your new “home” country and settling into your new lifestyle.

Planning a move between the US and the UK??We’ve handled tens of thousands of international relocations, and we know how to make yours safe, easy, and affordable. Just?reach out to start a complimentary quote?with one of our international experts.

Original article on DeWitt Move Worldwide: https://www.dewittmove.com/moving-uk-to-us/