1. Executive Summary: Moving to the United States
Moving from the UK to the United States requires an appropriate U.S. immigration route. USCIS handles many petitions and immigration benefits, while the U.S. Department of State handles visa issuance through U.S. embassies and consulates when a visa is required. The correct route depends on employment, investment, extraordinary ability, family circumstances and whether permanent residence is being sought.
2. US Visa Category Comparison Matrix
The table below outlines main US visa options for UK citizens:
| Visa Category | Visa Purpose | Key Eligibility Criteria | Green Card Path |
|---|---|---|---|
| L-1A / L-1B | Intra-Company Transfer | Qualifying employment abroad for at least 1 continuous year in the relevant 3-year period plus qualifying U.S./foreign company relationship and qualifying U.S. role | Can support a separate EB-1C strategy where all EB-1C requirements are independently met |
| O-1A / O-1B | Extraordinary Ability / Achievement | Required extraordinary ability or achievement evidence and qualifying U.S. work | Separate immigrant routes may be available, but O-1 approval does not automatically qualify for EB-1A |
| E-2 Investor | Treaty Investor | UK nationality plus a substantial investment in a qualifying U.S. enterprise and development/direction of the enterprise | Nonimmigrant classification; UK reciprocity schedule currently provides up to 60 months of visa validity |
| H-1B | Specialty Occupation | Qualifying specialty-occupation position and required degree/equivalent; cap-subject cases generally require USCIS registration and selection | Often used with employment-based immigrant processing; separate Green Card requirements still apply |
3. L-1 Visa: The Preferred Corporate Relocation Route
The L-1 route is not subject to the annual H-1B cap selection process. The beneficiary generally must have worked for the qualifying foreign organization for at least one continuous year within the relevant three-year period and be coming to the United States for qualifying managerial, executive or specialized-knowledge work. L-2 dependent spouses in L-2S status are employment authorized incident to status and do not need a separate EAD to have employment authorization, although they must present acceptable evidence for Form I-9 purposes.
4. U.S. Tax Residence & UK Account Reporting
A U.S. Green Card generally makes the holder a U.S. tax resident under the green card test, so worldwide income is generally subject to U.S. federal income-tax reporting. This is resident-alien taxation rather than citizenship-based taxation. A U.S. person with foreign financial accounts may also have an FBAR obligation when the aggregate maximum value of reportable foreign accounts exceeds $10,000 at any time during the calendar year. Form 8938 under FATCA has different asset thresholds and requirements, so it should not be treated as interchangeable with FBAR.
Essential Summary & 2026 Checklist
- L-1 intra-company transfers avoid the annual US H-1B visa lottery.
- UK nationals qualify for E-2 Treaty Investor status because the United Kingdom is listed by the U.S. Department of State as an E-2 treaty country.
- L-2S dependent spouses are employment authorized incident to status; qualifying E-2 dependent spouses may also have employment authorization incident to status under the applicable rules.
- Green Card holders are generally U.S. tax residents and therefore generally subject to U.S. taxation on worldwide income, subject to applicable exclusions, credits, treaty rules and other provisions.
- UK residents applying for U.S. visas should follow the current U.S. Embassy London/Department of State instructions for the relevant visa category, including the currently designated interview location and appointment procedures.
Frequently Asked Questions (6)
International Money Transfer & FX Rates
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UK Visa Application & Pre-Arrival Security
Protect passport uploads, UKVI eVisa accounts, and booking portals from public network interception.