Immigrating to the UK

[xcaliber]

Yeah, I hate visa applications! Glad it's done now.

You did the full 5 year one correct?

 

[xcaliber]

Ah nice, up from 20GB they were doing earlier in the year.
Labara's network quality is rubbish though so switch as soon as you can.

I only needed a bank account and proof of identity (UK drivers license) to apply for a sim contract from Sky.

I've been using them since I got here. Its not too bad. Works consistently on the elizabrth line

 

[2026]

I got a Lloyds account fairly easily. I only needed an address. I wouldn't say they are the best out there but they are good enough.

Take a photo of your BRP (both sides) before you send it off with your driver's license. Almost all checks on right to work and right to rent are done online so you probably won't need to produce the physical BRP card.

I'm terrified of sending stuff in the mail but it seems to just work. Legal documents, valuable ID cards, general Christmas cards. It's quite unnerving but seems to work.

I was once even mailed a code to log into an account online... So weird.

 

[Sinbad]

I was once even mailed a code to log into an account online... So weird.

From Lloyds - it's how they verify your address

 

[xcaliber]

I got a Lloyds account fairly easily. I only needed an address. I wouldn't say they are the best out there but they are good enough.

Take a photo of your BRP (both sides) before you send it off with your driver's license. Almost all checks on right to work and right to rent are done online so you probably won't need to produce the physical BRP card.

I'm terrified of sending stuff in the mail but it seems to just work. Legal documents, valuable ID cards, general Christmas cards. It's quite unnerving but seems to work.

I was once even mailed a code to log into an account online... So weird.

Lloyds rejected me.

 

[The Voice]

I got a Lloyds account fairly easily. I only needed an address. I wouldn't say they are the best out there but they are good enough.

Take a photo of your BRP (both sides) before you send it off with your driver's license. Almost all checks on right to work and right to rent are done online so you probably won't need to produce the physical BRP card.

I'm terrified of sending stuff in the mail but it seems to just work. Legal documents, valuable ID cards, general Christmas cards. It's quite unnerving but seems to work.

I was once even mailed a code to log into an account online... So weird.

Yep, Lloyds was literally the last bank I went to. Super helpful and easy to get set up. The other high street banks wanted a blood sample and my first born son for the privilege of opening an account with them.

My favourite was HSBC: had to phone to make an appointment to open an account in-branch. Take time off work, go to the branch that they made the appointment with. Cow at the front rolls her eyes and says “we don’t open accounts at this branch”.

 

[Sinbad]

Yep, Lloyds was literally the last bank I went to. Super helpful and easy to get set up. The other high street banks wanted a blood sample and my first born son for the privilege of opening an account with them.

My favourite was HSBC: had to phone to make an appointment to open an account in-branch. Take time off work, go to the branch that they made the appointment with. Cow at the front rolls her eyes and says “we don’t open accounts at this branch”.

I'm actually an HSBC premier customer now. I ended up moving to them after losing my **** with Barclays - who offered me a credit card, opened it, did the balance transfer, and then immediately closed it for some unknown reason (saying I didn't qualify or something). Mortgage was with HSBC so decided to move to them as they didn't need to 3rd degree me. They're also the ones who have since approved a £35k credit card for me

 

[The Voice]

I'm actually an HSBC premier customer now. I ended up moving to them after losing my **** with Barclays - who offered me a credit card, opened it, did the balance transfer, and then immediately closed it for some unknown reason (saying I didn't qualify or something). Mortgage was with HSBC so decided to move to them as they didn't need to 3rd degree me. They're also the ones who have since approved a £35k credit card for me

They were my first choice because the wife and BIL bank with them. I eventually did get an appointment at a branch that actually opened accounts, but they wouldn’t accept one of my documents because they didn’t know the company on the letterhead (literally one of the top 5 UK construction companies at the time).

 

[Priapus]

You did the full 5 year one correct?

No, my company issued a 3 year CoS. But that suits me just fine. After being in the UK for 6+ months, I will be switching to the family visa anyway so that I am not tied to my employer and will use my own income to meet financial requirements for the family visa.

That way, I can change jobs if a better offer comes around without needed sponsorship.

Will look at this option in the new year.

I got a Lloyds account fairly easily. I only needed an address. I wouldn't say they are the best out there but they are good enough.

Take a photo of your BRP (both sides) before you send it off with your driver's license. Almost all checks on right to work and right to rent are done online so you probably won't need to produce the physical BRP card.

I'm terrified of sending stuff in the mail but it seems to just work. Legal documents, valuable ID cards, general Christmas cards. It's quite unnerving but seems to work.

I was once even mailed a code to log into an account online... So weird.

Thanks, I'll do that before sending off for a drivers license.

What other things do I need to be doing? I have:

- Register with local GP
- Get on Voters roll
- Change drivers license

I want to start building up my credit score asap

Will probably be closing my Investec account locally in August (July salary needs to go into it first) and keep the FNB one open as it's cheaper.

I doubt they'll reactivate a dormant account (my natwest account from 2005 was unrecoverable when I moved over).

I don't think you need your BRP, you will need proof of address, your lease agreement should suffice I think. Different rules for different banks here. There's no loyalty to banks, switching is a trivial task and banks will often run offers where they give you money if you switch to them.

Oh I remember - last year whilst in the UK; I visited a HSBC branch. They were willing to reopen the account, as long as I showed them proof of address.

But I will prob just go with Monzo still anyway.

 

[Sinbad]

Loqbox to help build up credit.

 

[Dave]

But I will prob just go with Monzo still anyway.

Be careful with Monzo, they have a bad name for just freezing accounts and taking forever to unlock or return funds. Possibly it’s because they have a name for being an easy account to open so attract bad customers but I wouldn’t rely on them (I do have a Monzo account which I don’t use much) for salary or large amounts deposited.

A more serious digital bank is Starling, and some people have begun recommending Chase as well recently.

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

So when are you more moneyed Southern twats gonna come up a bit north and have a braai then?

 

[Sinbad]

So when are you more moneyed Southern twats gonna come up a bit north and have a braai then?

let's all rather fly to tenerife or something, it's cheaper than getting a train oop norf

 

[Priapus]

Wife has just been offered a UK job as well. Fúcking win!

All hurdles now overcome!!

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

let's all rather fly to tenerife or something, it's cheaper than getting a train oop norf

Isn't that the damn truth!

 

[Priapus]

So when are you more moneyed Southern twats gonna come up a bit north and have a braai then?

Should do a MyBBers in UK meet up of sorts. Would be cool.

 

[2026]

No, my company issued a 3 year CoS. But that suits me just fine. After being in the UK for 6+ months, I will be switching to the family visa anyway so that I am not tied to my employer and will use my own income to meet financial requirements for the family visa.

That way, I can change jobs if a better offer comes around without needed sponsorship.

Will look at this option in the new year.



Thanks, I'll do that before sending off for a drivers license.

What other things do I need to be doing? I have:

- Register with local GP
- Get on Voters roll
- Change drivers license

I want to start building up my credit score asap

Will probably be closing my Investec account locally in August (July salary needs to go into it first) and keep the FNB one open as it's cheaper.



Oh I remember - last year whilst in the UK; I visited a HSBC branch. They were willing to reopen the account, as long as I showed them proof of address.

But I will prob just go with Monzo still anyway.

You'll need NI number if you don't already have one.

Also I would highly recommend keeping a spreadsheet of everywhere you've given your address. It just makes it easier to look back on if you ever move to know what's really important to update. Lots of institutions require you to update address info if you move.

 

[Priapus]

You'll need NI number if you don't already have one.

Also I would highly recommend keeping a spreadsheet of everywhere you've given your address. It just makes it easier to look back on if you ever move to know what's really important to update. Lots of institutions require you to update address info if you move.

The decision letter I got mentioned the NI number will be on the back of the BRP.

I assume it will be ready for collection as soon as i land in the UK next month. It’s going to a local post office near where we staying.

 

[The Voice]

Should do a MyBBers in UK meet up of sorts. Would be cool.

Oh God, I’d actually have to meet @Dave in the flesh then.

 

[The Voice]

The decision letter I got mentioned the NI number will be on the back of the BRP.

I assume it will be ready for collection as soon as i land in the UK next month. It’s going to a local post office near where we staying.

Oh wow ok didn’t know they dish them out automatically now. We thankfully didn’t have to bother because ours were still valid from when we lived here 10 years before.