I'm Officially Moving to the USA! 🇬🇧🇺🇸 From England to a New Beginning

Posted by Harry Collins

21 views

I never thought I'd be writing this, but I'm officially one step closer to moving to the United States! 🇬🇧🇺🇸

I'm 33 years old, originally from Nottingham, England, and my H-1B petition was submitted yesterday. If everything goes according to plan, I'll soon be starting a new chapter of my life in America.

I'm a professor specializing in literature, linguistics, and language revitalization. I earned my PhD from the University of Cambridge, where my research focused on language preservation.

Finding the right academic opportunity wasn't easy. I applied to several positions, including one at an American university that I honestly didn't expect to hear back from. To my surprise, they recognized my work and offered me an opportunity that I struggled to find even in my home country.

I grew up in the Black Country, an economically disadvantaged region of England. Opportunities were limited, but I eventually moved to Nottingham to pursue my education. It took years of hard work, persistence, and overcoming challenges to reach this point.

When I told my friends about the job offer, one of them said something I'll always remember:

"You don't choose America. America chooses you."

That really stayed with me.

I know my work isn't in STEM or one of the industries people usually associate with immigration success stories. But I hope to make a meaningful contribution through education, research, and preserving languages that might otherwise disappear.

For now, I'll be entering the US on a temporary work visa, assuming everything is approved. However, my long-term dream is to build a life there, become a permanent resident, and eventually pursue American citizenship.

More than anything, I'm grateful to the university for believing in my abilities and giving me this opportunity.

Growing up, I never imagined someone from my background could make it this far. Now, I'm preparing for a future I once thought was impossible.

To everyone pursuing opportunities abroad: Keep going. Sometimes the right opportunity comes from somewhere you least expect.

I'd love to hear from others who have made a similar move.

Has anyone here relocated from the UK to the USA on an H-1B visa?
What was your biggest challenge when settling in?
Any advice for someone preparing to move to America for the first time?

Looking forward to hearing your experiences! 🇬🇧🇺🇸

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Replies (10)

0
Grace Mitchell
Make sure you give yourself time to settle socially, not just professionally. Moving countries at 33 means rebuilding routines, friendships and your sense of community. University departments can be good places to start, but I'd also look for local clubs, volunteering opportunities and hobbies outside work. And congratulations on the new chapter! 😊
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Andrew Collins
If permanent residency is your long-term goal, I'd ask your university whether they sponsor employment-based green cards for faculty. Depending on your appointment and qualifications, there may be pathways worth exploring, including EB-1B for outstanding professors and researchers or EB-2 options. It's much easier to plan early than to start thinking about it when your H-1B is approaching its limits.
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Rebecca Hughes
That quote about America choosing you is interesting. I see it a little differently though. You spent years building your qualifications, completing a Cambridge PhD and applying for academic positions. The opportunity didn't simply appear. You made yourself a strong candidate, and an institution finally recognized that.
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Michael Grant
Out of curiosity, which state will you be moving to? The experience of settling in Boston, Texas, California or the Midwest can be completely different. Cost of living, weather, public transportation and even university culture vary enormously across the US.
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Sophie Turner
Congratulations, but remember that an H-1B petition being submitted isn't quite the same as an approved visa. I wouldn't book any nonrefundable flights or make irreversible relocation decisions until the relevant approvals and entry arrangements are confirmed. Hopefully everything goes smoothly!
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Daniel Wright
I'd suggest checking the health insurance benefits very carefully before accepting your final relocation arrangements. The NHS and American healthcare system work very differently. Find out your coverage start date, monthly premiums, deductibles and whether your university offers good employee health benefits. It's one of those things that's easier to understand before you actually need medical care.
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Charlotte Evans
Really refreshing to see someone from the humanities sharing an immigration success story. So much of the discussion around American work visas focuses on technology and engineering. Language preservation and revitalization are important academic fields too. I hope you get to continue that research with communities who can benefit from it.
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Emily Carter
Have you checked whether your university is filing a cap-exempt H-1B petition? Many qualifying US universities are exempt from the annual H-1B lottery. That could make your situation quite different from applicants working in private companies. Definitely worth confirming with the university's immigration team.
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William Hayes
One practical tip would be to start looking into housing and transportation before you arrive. Depending on which American city you're moving to, you might find that living without a car is much harder than it is in the UK. Even grocery shopping can be a different experience.
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Olivia Bennett
Congratulations Harry! Going from the Black Country to Cambridge and now potentially teaching at an American university is quite a journey. I especially like that your research focuses on preserving endangered languages. Wishing you a smooth H-1B approval and a great start in the US!

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