a couple questions

cameron_dunn2

@Richard_Scope 1) Can a person still receive their USA Social Security benefits if they become UK citizens? (does it transfer?)

2) How long does the process take to become a UK citizen?

3) Can a new citizen live on disability payments alone if they are unable to work?

4) Does the UK have some type of Social Services network to protect disabled citizens if they are alone?

5) Are there Assisted Living places in the UK?

6) Are there Group Homes for disabled adults in the UK?

7) Does a newly immigrated citizen to the UK immediately qualify for health insurance?

8) Are there services to provide transportation to the doctor or food stores in the UK? 

9) If so, what are the costs for transportation?

10) Can a person have dual citizenship if they are unable to work due to a disability?

a few more questions from me what is the Universal Credit

what is the Personal Independence Payment

what is the Employment and Support Allowance

what is the Income Support

and also Pension Credit

Richard_Scope

Hi @cameron_dunn2

That's more than a couple of questions 😄

The best way for me to probably answer the U.S.-based questions is here.

Unless you have a claim to British citizenship (ex. you were born in the UK or have a British parent), or you meet one of the very limited circumstances that grants Right of Abode, you’ll need to move to the UK from US on a temporary resident visa.

UK Visa Options for Americans

• Partner Visas – If you’re in a marriage/civil partnership with a British citizen, you can apply for a spouse/long-term partner visa that’s valid for 2.5 years and renewable until achieving permanent residency. If you’re engaged, you can apply for a fiancé visa to get married in the UK within 6 months of arrival, and then apply for the spouse visa once you’re married.
• Skilled Worker Visa – Workers who earn enough points on the skills-based evaluation system can get sponsored by an eligible employer (not all companies are certified to sponsor immigrants). The visa length varies based on your employment contract and can be renewed until achieving permanent residency.
• Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) Visa- Existing employees can transfer to the UK branch of their company. This visa is easier to get than the Skilled Workers visa, but it does not lead to permanent residency unless you eventually switch it to the Skilled Workers visa.
• Tier 4 Student Visa – American students aged 16+ who’ve been offered a place on a course of study can live (and potentially work up to 20 hours/week) in the UK. There will also be a Graduate visa that allows university grads to remain in the UK for 2-3 years while looking for work.
• Investors Visa – Investing £2 million in the UK gives you a 40 month visa that’s renewable until you apply for long-term residency.
• Innovator and Start-up Visas – Allows aspiring business owners with an endorsed plan to launch their business in the UK (and eventually switch to an Entrepreneur visa to stay in the UK).
• UK Ancestry Visa – If you have dual citizenship with a British Commonwealth nation, you’re aged 17+, and have a UK-born grandparent, you can work in the UK for five years.

Most Americans moving to England want the option of staying forever. Luckily, the majority of the visas listed above will eventually lead to permanent residency, or Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

You can apply for ILR after five years of living in the UK on an eligible visa (i.e. not the ICT or Tier 4 student visas). In addition to the required paperwork and documents, you’ll need over £2,400 to pay the application fees, so start saving for this expense in advance!

After achieving Indefinite Leave to Remain, you can begin the process of applying for British citizenship.

Americans on a marriage/civil partnership visa can apply right after getting ILR, as long as they’ve lived in the UK for the prior 3 years. Everyone else must wait 12 months after getting ILR to apply.

Whether or not you apply for British citizenship is up to you. The biggest benefit is true, permanent residency rights, as your Indefinite Leave to Remain can lapse if you leave the UK for two years.

I strongly encourage you to seek legal advice when applying for your visa.