UK citizen becoming a UK resident again

Sblogz

Dear Moneysavers!

I have been living outside of the UK for 7 years.

It is likely that I will return to the UK next year on a kind of scholarship to study. I will need a part time job.

I have no property in the UK, and no remaining bank accounts.

The part time job and scholarship will clearly require a bank account to receive money into, as will the very modest savings that I would be bringing back in cash (less than the undeclared limit).

Presumably, I will need to have some kind of proof of residency to open a bank account and fulfil other kinds of bureaucracy that I haven't even thought of yet. The scholarship will provide student accommodation but I have a feeling that it will require proof of residency prior to final acceptance.

I'm pretty sure the NHS will want some kind of proof of residency aswell.

Given that I will be staying with friends and family up until the point of moving into student accommodation:

1. How can I get proof of residency at say -my brother's rental address-?

2. Are there any bank accounts that would
a) allow me to open a bank account with no proof of address (this seems an easier route to gaining proof of address for other purposes) OR with the proof of address from Q1.
b) allow me to deposit my cash from abroad
c) have at least a cash card, if not a debit card for purchases

3. Aside from bank account, proof of residency, registering with the NHS again, is there anything else that I would need to organise for a return to UK life? It's been a while.

Side notes:

- I have(d) various unsecured debts when I left the UK, I am seeking advice from the former CCCS regarding what may have happened to the debt and the potential consequences on my return.
- I live in Vietnam and would be happy to answer anyone's questions on life there or as an expat in South East Asia in general. I will be making a post somewhere on the forum offering this.

Thank you!

xylophone

https://financialplanning.hsbc.co.uk/article/89/things-to-consider-before-you-move-to-uk?HBEU_dyn_lnk=Planning_MovingToUK_UsefulArticles_Link1

Can you open an HSBC account where you are now? This should make it easier to open a UK account with HSBC.

Sblogz

xylophone wrote: »

https://financialplanning.hsbc.co.uk/article/89/things-to-consider-before-you-move-to-uk?HBEU_dyn_lnk=Planning_MovingToUK_UsefulArticles_Link1

Can you open an HSBC account where you are now? This should make it easier to open a UK account with HSBC.

Hi Xylophone,

Thank you for the suggestion. That site looks like it's going to be a big help in sorting everything out. I do actually feel like I'm a foreigner coming to the shores of Blighty!

I have a feeling that the account fees and minimum balances here would end up being a pain in the beep, but I will look into it.

Have you (or anyone else) got any ideas on the address front? Even the article linked says it can be difficult to have proof of address for a bank.



I have also just realised that living with my brother could affect his benefits and council tax. I am not sure exactly what benefits he receives, but he does not work due to a fairly severe condition and it has been this way for some time. The rent and council tax are paid for directly by the relevant government agency.

Being this vague about it probably means less useful answers, but could I affect his rights and benefits if I was to gain residency at his house?

Anyone feel free to pitch in, would really appreciate it!

xylophone

https://www.hsbc.co.uk/1/2/current-accounts/student-bank-account/#/international-students

It would appear that they could set up an account before you arrive.

Will you not just be your brother's guest for a few weeks until you move into student accommodation?

10pence

Sblogz wrote: »

Dear Moneysavers!

I have been living outside of the UK for 7 years.

It is likely that I will return to the UK next year on a kind of scholarship to study. I will need a part time job.

The scholarship will provide student accommodation but I have a feeling that it will require proof of residency prior to final acceptance.

1. How can I get proof of residency at say -my brother's rental address-?

Thank you!

Use to open bank accounts for foreign students all the time when working at a bank. All that was needed was proof of the student status - letter from the university or study provider, but it is worth noting that were I use to work we would check with the Home Office if the educational provider was on their approved list. Other banks might have different rules and you never mentioned if subject to VISA requirements.
The letter from normally had the course details and both a UK and foreign address on it.

Sblogz wrote: »

Hi Xylophone,

Have you (or anyone else) got any ideas on the address front? Even the article linked says it can be difficult to have proof of address for a bank.



I have also just realised that living with my brother could affect his benefits and council tax. I am not sure exactly what benefits he receives, but he does not work due to a fairly severe condition and it has been this way for some time. The rent and council tax are paid for directly by the relevant government agency.

Being this vague about it probably means less useful answers, but could I affect his rights and benefits if I was to gain residency at his house?

Anyone feel free to pitch in, would really appreciate it!

How long do you expect to be living with your bother, especially considering you mentioned being provided with student accommodation? If short term don't bother registering as it really could impact your brother's benefits. Benefit agencies these days do real time checks and credit checks so these things get picked up sooner or later.
Also, you will be subject to the Habitual Residency Test if looking at benefits yourself.

Asking as your brother's landlord might not allow other parties to reside in the property; most private landlord's can be okay but a housing association or council property won't be so forgiving.

Regrading your brother's benefits, it will be difficult to provide a full answer, but some insights will help.
Council Tax: your brother will be in receipt of Council Tax Support which each council runs their own scheme. If you're classed as a student (full-time) you might not need to pay for Council Tax. Letter from the educational provider to the council could suffice.

Housing Benefit: this is income based so you living there could impact it. AS in reduce and/or stop.

Sickness benefits: if on ESA only income based is affected. If on PIP or DLA this is not means-tested so no impact.

missbiggles1

Have you been living in an EU/EEA country? This could be relevant to being accepted into the NHS.

Sblogz

xylophone wrote: »

https://www.hsbc.co.uk/1/2/current-accounts/student-bank-account/#/international-students

It would appear that they could set up an account before you arrive.

Will you not just be your brother's guest for a few weeks until you move into student accommodation?

Unfortunately, the overseas account opening service in Vietnam is only available to Premier Account holders.: http://www.hsbc.com.vn/1/2/personal_en/foreign-exchange/overseas-study.

I might well end up having to work in the time between returning and starting study.

Thanks for the ideas

HappyMJ

NHS just requires your passport (which you have as you'll be travelling internationally) to register for a GP.

A&E services are available to everyone whether you're here legally or not.

Sblogz

10pence wrote: »

Use to open bank accounts for foreign students all the time when working at a bank. All that was needed was proof of the student status - letter from the university or study provider, but it is worth noting that were I use to work we would check with the Home Office if the educational provider was on their approved list. Other banks might have different rules and you never mentioned if subject to VISA requirements.
The letter from normally had the course details and both a UK and foreign address on it.

I have contacted the scholarship provider and am awaiting a response, but I may need to be a UK resident BEFORE they make final acceptance of the scholarship. Bit of a catch-22 really.

10pence wrote: »

How long do you expect to be living with your bother, especially considering you mentioned being provided with student accommodation? If short term don't bother registering as it really could impact your brother's benefits. Benefit agencies these days do real time checks and credit checks so these things get picked up sooner or later.
Also, you will be subject to the Habitual Residency Test if looking at benefits yourself.

Asking as your brother's landlord might not allow other parties to reside in the property; most private landlord's can be okay but a housing association or council property won't be so forgiving.

Regrading your brother's benefits, it will be difficult to provide a full answer, but some insights will help.
Council Tax: your brother will be in receipt of Council Tax Support which each council runs their own scheme. If you're classed as a student (full-time) you might not need to pay for Council Tax. Letter from the educational provider to the council could suffice.

Housing Benefit: this is income based so you living there could impact it. AS in reduce and/or stop.

Sickness benefits: if on ESA only income based is affected. If on PIP or DLA this is not means-tested so no impact.

Thank you for the in-depth reply. I will have to go over everything with my family in detail to ensure he isn't affected. By the looks of things, I might need to find my own place if I need to work and/or use a different address for my residency.

Sblogz

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Have you been living in an EU/EEA country? This could be relevant to being accepted into the NHS.

I'm afraid not; Vietnam.

Thanks, though.

Sblogz

HappyMJ wrote: »

NHS just requires your passport (which you have as you'll be travelling internationally) to register for a GP.

A&E services are available to everyone whether you're here legally or not.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-rules-to-improve-overseas-visitors-contributions-to-nhs-care

It looks like I will need to prove my 'settled' status somehow.