ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
United KingdomHe's leaving, on a jet plane....
Thanks for that
LansburyMaleEngland2007-09-07 15:40:00
United KingdomHe's leaving, on a jet plane....
Congratulations, I would be interested to know which PDs you applied to.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-09-07 12:15:00
United KingdomDouble Taxation Treaty
QUOTE (RaTBoX @ Sep 9 2007, 01:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Lansbury @ Jul 31 2007, 06:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I have income in the UK a pension from my job over there. As it is a government pension the UK insist they tax it.

For my US tax return I just claim the foreign income tax exemption which is $80,000 per year, so it doesn't even come into the US tax equation.

We went to a tax accountant for our first US tax return and that was the way they did it, as the exemption also then gets carried over to our States income tax.

Not sure why you are paying tax to both. If you are completing a UK tax return and have paid tax on the income in the US do you not claim the exemption from tax on the UK form and money does not change hands.

In the US the foreign tax exemption is claimed on a seperate form submitted with your US tax return.


Sorry to hijack this thread, but just a quick question on this post.

I have a company pension here in the UK with me, and I have yet to decide if I should leave it in the UK until I retire, or transfer it into what ever US company pension fund I get set up when I start working (I'm only 24 so I haven't decided which is the best open given the many number of years until retirement). Am I right in thinking, after reading that post, that should I opt to keep the fund in the UK, I have to declare the cash in that fund on my US Tax Returns as foreign income?


My wife tried to transfer her pension fund from a university to her pension fund in the US when we moved over and it wasn't possible. Not sure of the exact reason but you can only transfer if the IRS recognise the fund and of course being a UK one they don't.

I should have made clear the foreign income exemption you can only claim the 1st year you arrive, once you are in the UK you claim any overseas tax paid on your tax return. As it is a fund presumable not producing any income as I understand it you are not required to declare it.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-09-09 11:27:00
United KingdomDouble Taxation Treaty
QUOTE (pumbaA @ Sep 7 2007, 09:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I have a similar kind of problem and I'm hoping someone can tell me what I need to do. The IRS and HMRC websites are very confusing on the issue.

I moved to the US on a K1 Visa last year and am awaiting AOS.
I'm going to be doing some work for a UK company for a few months.

What steps do I need to take to avoid paying income tax in both the UK and the US?

I'd appreciate any help anyone can give me.

Thank you,

-Pumbaa


As Alan says, if the UK company do deduct UK income tax you claim that on your US tax return.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-09-07 12:31:00
United KingdomDouble Taxation Treaty
If you arrive November 2007 you will need to do a US tax return for 2007.

When doing a return you just fill out the form, you do not have to submit any supporting documentation. You do need the supporting documents in case you are called for an audit and have to keep them for 6 years. I very much doubt you will have to pay any US income for 2007 as you will be eligible for almost the $80,000 of foreign income you can exempt from tax. It will be $80000 dived by 365 multiplied by however many days for that year you lived in the UK.

In 2008 when you do your US tax you will show on that the tax you paid in the UK on earnings and claim that against US tax.

The above is a very simplified explanation which I hope is right.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-08-05 12:57:00
United KingdomDouble Taxation Treaty

A US Tax advisor may know about the US system, you will go a long way to find somebody who knows both, and it will cost you.


That isn't necessarily so. We went to the local guy our son uses and he said having an overseas income wasn't much extra work and it wasn't a problem for him to look up the information he needed. We knew what his normal charge was from what our son paid and ours was an extra $50. Well worth it to have someone who understands thier way around the forms sort the first one out.

As ours will be a bit different again for this year, we will not be able to claim the foreign income exemption, just the double tax we will have him do that as well. Hopefully when we have seen one done properly we will do our own from then on, but the fee to have it done hassle free and the instructional value are well worth it IMHO.


Somebody who knows IRS and Inland Revenue.


Yes both it was no problem at all.


Post their details, whe I was looking there was one possibility in the whole of Colorada, I think they charged $100 an hour, could have been more.
My Wife used Price Waterhouse in the UK, they took forever, fortunately the Company was paying. And hers were not that complicated, just salary.

My Brother is an Accountant, asked him if he knew of anyone who did both, nope.


Sherman, Young & Associates
1165 Molalla Avenue
Oregon City
503-657-9447

Not sure if we are a slightly cross purposes. They didn't do a UK tax return for us, only the US one but they were knowledgeable about the double tax and all such matters. In fact they have someone who works there who is a GC holder.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-08-03 11:20:00
United KingdomDouble Taxation Treaty

A US Tax advisor may know about the US system, you will go a long way to find somebody who knows both, and it will cost you.


That isn't necessarily so. We went to the local guy our son uses and he said having an overseas income wasn't much extra work and it wasn't a problem for him to look up the information he needed. We knew what his normal charge was from what our son paid and ours was an extra $50. Well worth it to have someone who understands thier way around the forms sort the first one out.

As ours will be a bit different again for this year, we will not be able to claim the foreign income exemption, just the double tax we will have him do that as well. Hopefully when we have seen one done properly we will do our own from then on, but the fee to have it done hassle free and the instructional value are well worth it IMHO.


Somebody who knows IRS and Inland Revenue.


Yes both it was no problem at all.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-08-03 10:33:00
United KingdomDouble Taxation Treaty

A US Tax advisor may know about the US system, you will go a long way to find somebody who knows both, and it will cost you.


That isn't necessarily so. We went to the local guy our son uses and he said having an overseas income wasn't much extra work and it wasn't a problem for him to look up the information he needed. We knew what his normal charge was from what our son paid and ours was an extra $50. Well worth it to have someone who understands thier way around the forms sort the first one out.

As ours will be a bit different again for this year, we will not be able to claim the foreign income exemption, just the double tax we will have him do that as well. Hopefully when we have seen one done properly we will do our own from then on, but the fee to have it done hassle free and the instructional value are well worth it IMHO.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-08-02 14:11:00
United KingdomDouble Taxation Treaty
US tax forms are quite complicated and for the small amount a tax accountant charges, ours normally charges $170, I think it is well worth it to avoid the hassle you are having. It certainly saved us a lot of messing around this year, we spent about 30 minutes explaining all our various income from 2 different countries to him and a week later went back and signed all the forms.

We'll certainly do it that way again next year.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-07-31 22:39:00
United KingdomDouble Taxation Treaty
I have income in the UK a pension from my job over there. As it is a government pension the UK insist they tax it.

For my US tax return I just claim the foreign income tax exemption which is $80,000 per year, so it doesn't even come into the US tax equation.

We went to a tax accountant for our first US tax return and that was the way they did it, as the exemption also then gets carried over to our States income tax.

Not sure why you are paying tax to both. If you are completing a UK tax return and have paid tax on the income in the US do you not claim the exemption from tax on the UK form and money does not change hands.

In the US the foreign tax exemption is claimed on a seperate form submitted with your US tax return.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-07-31 12:04:00
United KingdomFlying to Uk... need advice!
QUOTE (Kat And Russ @ Sep 10 2007, 03:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
We are supposed to land at 6.30am in London and then we leave for Manchester at 9.00


Is that enough time? i am worried now!


That time of the morning the security search at the Flight Connection Centre should be busy but even if the line is out the door it only takes about 30 minutes. Say another 30 minutes to get of the plane and get the transfer bus and be at the FCC and even if it was the same again to get through immigration and walk (its a 5 minute walk) down to the domestic pier you will still have time to buy a coffee when you get to domestics. That is about the worst it could be.

The transfer bus goes right passed my old office window wacko.gif
LansburyMaleEngland2007-09-10 18:19:00
United KingdomFlying to Uk... need advice!
QUOTE (John & Annie @ Sep 10 2007, 07:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
If you find yourself short on time to your next flight, there is usually a chap (or chapette) at the head of the line prior to going through immigration at terminal 1. show them your ticket and that you have little time and they will show you to the front of the line.


The immigration staff in the Flight Connection Centre quite often don't bother with having anyone "supervising" the queue, which is where they will clear immigration if transferring from T3 to Domestic.

Edited by Lansbury, 10 September 2007 - 03:19 PM.

LansburyMaleEngland2007-09-10 15:19:00
United KingdomFlying to Uk... need advice!
You will find full Heathrow transfer details here

http://www.uk-air.net/LHRTransfer.htm

Edited by Lansbury, 09 September 2007 - 09:29 PM.

LansburyMaleEngland2007-09-09 21:28:00
United KingdomAirfares: To buy or not to buy
QUOTE (ddkm @ Sep 11 2007, 11:49 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Try deleting the cookies on your computer and searching on the same site again for the flight. I heard somewhere that this method often brings the prices of flights back down to their "normal" price.
Worth a try at least


Depends on the web site. If it is a search engine like Expedia etc yes that does happen, if it is the airlines own online reservation system it makes no difference.

Also the airlines use very sophisticated flight management systems which can adjust the airfare according to apparent demand and sales among a host of other criteria, so fares can fluctuate. Also in economy there can be quite a few (10 isn't unusual) fares with the cheaper ones having a set number of seats available from the outset.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-09-11 14:39:00
United KingdomAirfares: To buy or not to buy
That period is when the airfares are normally at their yearly highest. If you see a good fare book it, the chances of it getting cheaper are a lot less than the chance if you leave it to long the flight will be sold out.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-09-11 13:22:00
United KingdomPlease advise on airlines from US to UK
QUOTE (saywhat @ Sep 12 2007, 01:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
It's a while since I was on a virgin (wink wink)

I prefer airlines with the maximum number of gay men as stewards - I prefer people without PMS (PMT in English) serving me, as being irritable and distracted is a recognized symptom of this condition

Never heard a customer complain about a gay man being brusque - have you ? heard plenty complain about female cabin dragons who should have transferred to the admin office 10 years prior when the glam of the job wore off...

and, if you get sick, the gay stewards will offer to take you round the back while you are recovering..

and I can flirt with them without my wife getting jealous - more fun than watching a video

Yes gimme a ginger beer any time.


I boarded a BA flight from Zimbabwe back to London in February a few years ago. It being summer there that time of year and hot even though it was 10 o'clock at night I was wearing shorts and a bush shirt. As I put my carry on in the over head a BA steward who had walked down the aisle said "Oh sir is going to get those lovely legs awfully cold when we get back to London". Only on BA do you get compliments like that whistling.gif
LansburyMaleEngland2007-09-12 10:39:00
United KingdomPlease advise on airlines from US to UK
QUOTE (saywhat @ Sep 10 2007, 04:59 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Fly BMI Chicago to Manchester and train to Leeds and stay in Yorkshire - London is horrible...


My eldest son flies BMI MAN - ORD when he comes to visit. The only problem with Chicago is delays caused by weather. last time we went via there is was raining a bit and we had to wait so long in the take off queue they turned the engines off to save fuel.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-09-10 15:07:00
United KingdomPlease advise on airlines from US to UK
In economy there is no best airline. They have all come to realise that the majority of people who fly economy use search engines to find the cheapest possible ticket and buy that. In fact research by US airlines has shown that a price difference as little as $5 on the ticket price is enough to influence the purchasers choice.

This has resulted in a major dumbing down in service both in the air and on the ground as airlines realise that their back end customers have no brand loyalty and it doesn't matter how well they are treated they will go with the lowest fare next time, so as the customer has indicated service doesn't matter why offer any. All that counts is getting the ticket price lower than a competitors.

There are good reasons why economy is known as cattle class and airline staff call passengers self loading freight.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-09-02 20:36:00
United KingdomPlease advise on airlines from US to UK
At the moment avoid BA. The infrasture at T4 at Heathrow especially the baggage handling system just cannot cope with the demand. BA are having real problems and are mishandling so many bags they are forecast to lose about 1.3 millions bags this year. Some passengers have waiting many hours just for their bags to reach the carousel.

A link to the news story http://tinyurl.com/2wvkju
LansburyMaleEngland2007-09-02 12:19:00
United KingdomCr1 visa is there only 1 packet ?
Have you filled out your application for a visa. That it basically what packet 3 the Embassy sends out is, the form for you to apply for the visa, plus the checklist of documents and instructions for arranging the medical. If you have already filled out the application and it went to the NVC don't see why London would send you another one.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-09-10 15:13:00
United KingdomGood luck tomorrow, samwatts!
At least the formalities are out of the way, congratulations
LansburyMaleEngland2007-09-12 16:34:00
United KingdomGood luck tomorrow, samwatts!
Yes indeed good luck and another approved please
LansburyMaleEngland2007-09-11 13:41:00
United KingdomHas any tried submitting everything at once?
QUOTE (Silas @ Sep 13 2007, 11:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I do wish the London USCIS office would get a move on; they've been stuck processing petitions filed on June 20th for about six weeks now.


Happened last year just the same, they didn't process any during August into September.

The department that processes the I-130 is entirely separate from the Consular Dept that processes the visas.

Edited by Lansbury, 13 September 2007 - 09:06 PM.

LansburyMaleEngland2007-09-13 21:05:00
United KingdomGood luck tomorrow, CardiffIan!
QUOTE (CardiffIan @ Sep 11 2007, 11:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Thanks everyone! I've been approved! I can't believe that after six long months its almost over and I could be in Chicago next week.

My embassy experience was pretty good, it was fairly quick and simple, so now fingers crossed that i'll get the visa in the mail soon - and good luck to everyone else who've got interviews coming up.


Oh if I had to spend the winter in Chicago not sure I would have bothered whistling.gif

Joking aside many congratulations and well done.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-09-11 13:37:00
United KingdomGood luck tomorrow, CardiffIan!
Best of luck, hopes it all goes very easily
LansburyMaleEngland2007-09-10 18:12:00
United KingdomAnyone been refused entry at Heathrow?
QUOTE (LisaD @ Sep 18 2007, 08:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Everytime I went in, I got 'leave to remain' or whatever it's called stamped in for 6 mos...and I used it going all around the EU and reentry was a doddle.


That isn't the same you remained in the EU, or returned to the UK from an EU state. For UK immigration purposes you never left.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-09-19 01:40:00
United KingdomAnyone been refused entry at Heathrow?
QUOTE (LisaD @ Sep 18 2007, 07:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
If he visited in May, he'll have a stamp that has a 6 mo stamp in it, which would cover the mo of Sept.


I don't think it will, it will be a single entry stamp not multiple entry.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-09-18 21:56:00
United KingdomAnyone been refused entry at Heathrow?
Strictly speaking if he has a criminal record he needs a visa, but in fact he will not be asked that and no-one cares anyway. For 10 years I worked alongside immigration at Heathrow and never once heard an immigration officer ask that question. The only time it got asked was if I or one of my colleagues took over the interview once the immigration officer had landed the person, and that had nothing to do with immigration matters.

He will probably be asked the purpose of his visit and he can say vacation visiting family. As long as he has a return ticket and can show he intends to return no problem. The fact that he came in May and left goes to show he will comply with his landing conditions, and is in his favor.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-09-18 15:55:00
United KingdomConcern about the medical
QUOTE (hexagon @ Sep 17 2007, 03:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Lizzy @ Sep 17 2007, 07:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
If you admit to taking drugs of any kind in the past you will be denied and have to file a waiver, ALWAYS tell the truth to immigration.

Why would I answer truthfully if my answer is guaranteed to result in a denial?


because if you don't and it comes to light you will be refused a visa full stop. If it comes to light after you enter the US the visa I believe will subject to cancellation and you subject to deportation, as the visa is deemed to have been obtain by deception.

In all matters concerning immigration the penalties for not being 100% truthful are very onerous.

If you are truthful and the visa is denied you can file for a waiver I believe. Others will correct me if I'm wrong and you cannot get a waiver for drug use.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-09-17 18:15:00
United KingdomConcern about the medical
QUOTE (Lizzy @ Sep 17 2007, 12:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
They ask you about depression and drug taking on the form as well as other things.


I thought I could remember those sort of questions being on the form but wasn't 100% sure
LansburyMaleEngland2007-09-17 15:52:00
United KingdomConcern about the medical
They do not obtain the records from your doctor but there is quite an extensive medical questionnaire to fill in when you get there. I can't recall now what the specific questions are but they are the sort of questions you might expect about your medical history.

How you answer those questions is up to you but it does form part of your visa application and therefore should be answered truthfully. Perhaps others who recently had a medical might be able to recall the questions in more detail.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-09-17 13:28:00
United KingdomOMG - we are leaving on Friday and I'm a wreck!!!
Have a good and enjoyable trip, and keep positive thoughts.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-09-19 14:35:00
United KingdomJust Received Packet 3....
Great news hopefully the remainder of the process will be a lot quicker
LansburyMaleEngland2007-09-19 15:51:00
United KingdomI leave for Uk tommorow!
Have a safe and enjoyable trip
LansburyMaleEngland2007-09-20 12:29:00
United KingdomCriminal Record
QUOTE (Jmaster911 @ Sep 20 2007, 03:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Just one additional thing to add is that the CRB check (which was advanced) was done some 6 years ago and it was still clean. I'm very tempted to just risk it, if the UK government doesn't have it on record, CRB doesn't have it on record and the Police don't have record of it (remember the check I have had done should include everything on the police computer so spent crimes should of appeared) I can't see how the US would ever have access to it !!


Indeed spent crimes are shown on the PNC and would appear on the police certificate.

A couple of things come to mind. When you were convicted your details were not recorded the same as those you used to request the previous checks (hope that makes sense I know what I mean). So the record is there but wasn't matched. The officer dealing with your burglary for some reason didn't complete the result file and the result has never been recorded. You were in fact 17 when you committed the offence, but 18 when convicted. If that was the case it was a juvenile conviction and would have been expunged after a period of no further convictions.

Nobody can advise you to lie to US immigration you should always tell the truth because if you do lie and get found out the consequences are quite dire.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-09-20 17:54:00
United KingdomDid you get married in a hurry for the visa
The nice thing about getting married in the US, is it is a less defined process than the UK. You can really do just what you want or leave out what you don't want as long as the legal bit is covered. Do what is best for yourselves so you can get the visa, that's what we did so my wife could come to the UK. No partenr visa's in those days.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-08-28 13:35:00
United KingdomVisa granted, but...
QUOTE (Teddy406 @ Sep 20 2007, 02:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Just to let you all know, I believe I can do this move now. The fear is slowly going after I thought how much my number one priority is to be with my fiancée and be with her forever. I'm still anxious, just not REALLY anxious.

In this last week while coming to this decision a couple of things happened which gave me a sign that this is right.

I found out a very big thing regarding the move I was worried about, was a load of rubbish and wasnt true.

Two other unrelated things that I was worried about for a long time also resolved themselves without a hitch.



Great go for it and don't look back.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-09-20 17:41:00
United KingdomVisa granted, but...
QUOTE (saywhat @ Sep 11 2007, 02:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
He is too much of a thinker to be swayed by me


That in itself might be the problem too much thinking and not enough acting on what the heart says. It is good to consider things carefully but sometimes you just have to go with instinct.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-09-11 17:12:00
United KingdomVisa granted, but...
QUOTE (saywhat @ Sep 11 2007, 01:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Teddy I am not going to bed until you decide ! It's popping my skull now.


It's going to be a long night then, I don't think he has the ability to make a decision.

A bit callous I know but it is certainly coming across that way.
LansburyMaleEngland2007-09-11 15:59:00
United KingdomVisa granted, but...
QUOTE (Teddy406 @ Sep 11 2007, 10:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
To be fair, I have expressed my concerns and what I feel and been brutally honest. I did say to her, I'd rather let her go because I do love her than ruin her life by making this change under great pressure and without 100% commitment. My fiancée's "support situation" (job/family/friends) outside of our relationship in the USA, maybe isnt as strong as mine here is in the UK (in my opinion). On the other hand, the wedding **has** to be in the USA, due to family demands.

Her reaction was that "you love me, this HAS to work if we work hard and both love each other"

No, you don't sound harsh and I wish i'd had this BEFORE the interview and issuance, but I cant control my feelings. I am constantly toying with the "gamble, you can do it (emmigrate) more than her" thought.


Like Alan I moved to the US when I was 59. I retired from work and left for the US 10 days later and it is hard to settle in. At the moment I am having speech problems, I am starting to forget which pronunciation of a word is the UK way or the US way.

The big scary thing here is there is no safety net. No government handouts if you lose your job or generally make a mess of things. People here make it standing on their own 2 feet and working hard quite often more than one job. If you've got what it takes to succeed here that has far better rewards than the UK and I don't just mean material. But you have to come with the right attitude of giving it 100% to be successful.

To be very harsh, if you can't decide to come or not or come with the attitude if it doesn't work out I'll go home are you going to put enough effect into it to make it a success.

As to missing friends and family. I lived about 4 hours from my son, I lived in London he lives in Wakefield, I see more of him now than I did in the UK a holiday in America that only costs a plane ticket is too good to miss and he comes over quite often. I live an hour from the skiing and about the same from the beach Your friends and family will jump at the chance of going to visit, don't let missing them put you off. If you love this young lady get your butt on the plane otherwise you are likely to miss the opportunity of a lifetime and spend a lifetime regretting it, somethings you don't get a second chance at. This really is a great place to live and make a life in.

Edited by Lansbury, 11 September 2007 - 01:13 PM.

LansburyMaleEngland2007-09-11 13:11:00