USA to UK relocation guide
Out of context: Reply #24
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- cherub0
It costs nothing to register, but you technically aren't supposed to access the NHS on a 6 month tourist visa, according to the Home Office. The reason for this is in the UK there is a legal concept called "leave" and this is where it gets complicated. You can have "leave to enter" (like I did) but not "leave to remain" (like I didn't have but wish I did lol). "Leave to enter" means simply, the home office says you can COME IN to the UK but not necessarily stay. "Leave to remain" means you have permission from the home office which will allow you to stay past the all important 6 month period (for first time visitors to the UK). In other words, you have a right to be there.
"Leave to remain" is connected to the NHS such that, since you have leave to remain you can access social services such as the NHS, and you'll be able to apply for a national insurance number.
These things are important for establishing what we might call "residence" in the US.
- Once you have established yourself with a local adress, a local GP, ect... it will make the difficult process of getting a current account much much easier.cherub