Making plans

Accountancy SA, May 2008

YOUR UK TRIP WILL BE LESS STRESSFUL IF YOU START PLANNING BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME

VISAS

If you plan to stay longer than six months or intend to work in the UK, you must obtain a work visa. Laws and regulations change frequently, so check with the relevant embassy or government department for information. See www.ukvisas.gov.uk.

Working holiday maker visas

Commonwealth citizens aged 17-30 can apply for a working holidaymaker visa. On this visa, you are allowed to work in any sector, however, you can only work for i 12 months of the two years of your visa. You must apply for this visa before you leave home. Contact the British High Commission in your capital city.

Sponsorship & HSMP

Non-EU citizens can be sponsored by their employers, which gives them the right to work in the UK longer. The Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP), now known as a Tier One visa, can also be an option for those looking to further their career in the UK. It's a points-based system and must be applied for before you head to the UK.

Ancestry visas

If you have a grandparent who was born in the UK, you should qualify for an ancestry visa, which entitles you to live and work in the UK for up to five years. You must apply for this before you depart.

British passports

If you have a parent who was born in the UK, you'll either be a British citizen by descent or have the right of abode (right to live and work) in the UK. If you are eligible for a UK passport, you can apply for one through the British High Commission in your capital city.

BANKING

To save yourself a lot of hassle, try to organise a bank account before you leave home. If you're going to be working for an agency, they should be able to help you open one.

If you put off this task until you arrive in London, make sure you have as much documentation as possible, including proof of identification, evidence of your UK address and a letter from your agency or employer in the UK.

You will be issued with a debit card as most banks won't issue credit cards unless you have a reliable record in the UK, so bring a or Visa or Mastercard from home.

See www.which.co.uk for an impartial guide to bank accounts on offer in the UK.

TAX

The UK's tax year starts on April 6, and if you work only part of the tax year, you should get some of your tax back. The tax threshold is £5435 a year so, if you earn less than this, you won't pay any tax. The amount of tax you pay depends on your income and is calculated using a series of tax bands, with a starting rate of 10 per cent, a basic rate of 22 per cent and a higher rate of 40 per cent.

NATIONAL INSURANCE AND PENSIONS

When you start working in the UK, you'll need a National Insurance (NI) number. Call 0845-600 0643 to make an appointment to apply for one.

Sortie of your NI contributions go into State Second Pension (S2P), which you can contract out of and, instead, direct the contributions into a private pension fund. You must do this before the end of the tax year or the contributions will be lost.

If you're given the option of your UK employer contributing towards your pension, it's worth looking into as you're unlikely to qualify for a UK pension. There are several types of pensions, so make sure you can transfer it to a fund at home when you leave.

HEALTH

The government-run Healthcare provider is the National Health Service (NHS). NHS treatment in hospitals and surgeries is free, but there's a charge for prescribed medicines (though you won't pay for contraceptives such as the Pill). Once you have a place to live, call NHS Direct on 0845-4647 or see www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk, get a list of NHS-registered doctors in your area, and then find one who's taking patients. Surgeries will only allow you to register if you live locally.

STD treatment is free. To find a clinic, call the Sexual Health Information Line on 0800-567 123 or see www.playingsafely.co.uk.

Dental care can prove costly in the UK1 so make sure you have a checkup before you leave home. Dentists can be NHS-registered, but aren't free. You'll need to pay 75 per cent of the cost of your treatment, and only the most basic treatments are covered by the NHS.

DRIVING

You can use your licence from home for 12 months, but after that you're required to get a British one. Call the Driver And Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) on 0870-240 0009 or see www.dvla.gov.uk for more details.

ACCOMMODATION

A popular accommodation option for new arrivals is dossing - sleeping on a friend's couch for little or no money - but if you don't have any mates with welcoming sofas, a hostel is your next best (and next cheapest) choice.

Once you're ready to settle down, figure out whether you want to share a room or house, or go it alone. If you're moving into an established household you may not need to sign a lease, but you'll still have to pay a bond and usually one month's rent upf ront. If you're going it alone or getting a house or flat with some mates, youll need to sign a lease, usually for six or 12 months.

In general, you'll pay around £100-£120 per week for rent. Some places will include bills as part of the rent, but if not, you're up for another £20-£30 per month for gas and electricity, as well as at least £30 per month for council tax. plus a TV licence (£135.50 per household per year) and phone bills.