Coming to live in the UK

Archergirl

Not sure if this is the right place to ask but I don't know where else.....
My sister in law was born in the UK and has a British passport, at the age of about 13 the family emigrated to the USA and she is a citizen of that country.
Now obviously she never worked when she lived here so what would happen if she wanted to come back and live here?
Would she need to get private medical ins? 

DullGreyGuy

Archergirl said:

Not sure if this is the right place to ask but I don't know where else.....
My sister in law was born in the UK and has a British passport, at the age of about 13 the family emigrated to the USA and she is a citizen of that country.
Now obviously she never worked when she lived here so what would happen if she wanted to come back and live here?
Would she need to get private medical ins? 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/returning-to-the-uk

The above is full of information. 

They can use the NHS as long as they have evidence that they are living here and not just visiting. They may want PMI rather than the NHS which is their choice though it works materially different than in the US

Voyager2002

She would need to register with a GP before she could use the NHS, and as part of this process she would need to demonstrate that she had come here to live rather just visiting. 

She would not be able to claim most state benefits for about six weeks, and again would need to demonstrate that the UK was her home.

Right from the moment she arrives, she is free to work and to rent or buy any property that she can afford. 

She would struggle to open a bank account during her first six months in Britain.

sheramber

Archergirl said:

Not sure if this is the right place to ask but I don't know where else.....
My sister in law was born in the UK and has a British passport, at the age of about 13 the family emigrated to the USA and she is a citizen of that country.
Now obviously she never worked when she lived here so what would happen if she wanted to come back and live here?
Would she need to get private medical ins? 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-the-nhs-when-you-return-to-live-in-the-uk

lr1277

Getting credit might be a problem as she won't have a UK credit file.

One workaround is if she has a well run Amex account in the US, they may open an account for her in the UK. While Amex is not accepted everywhere, as long as she (continues to) use it sensibily she can build up her UK credit file.

Some details here:

https://www.americanexpress.com/us/customer-service/global-card-relationship/

RAS

She'll need habitual residency as well as UK citizenship for benefits. So get registered on the electoral roll, get other evidence of a UK address etc.

A lot depends if she's coming with enough savings to support herself until she finds work?  As you'll see from the list of requirements for NHS treatment, there's a number of proofs needed and sometimes people with limited funds seem to get into Catch 22 situations where they can't get A because they haven't yet got B, for which they need C, which they can't get without A.

She may need a SIM only deal on her phone because she won't pass credit checks, or to see if initially she has any roaming rights with her existing provider?

Her passport should be enough to get employment and accommodation but both need access to banking so she can receive and remit funds.

She can drive on her existing licence for a year, but will need to replace that. I'd suggest that she checks the rules and takes action promptly if she cannot just exchange it, given the time frames.

sheramber

Archergirl said:

Not sure if this is the right place to ask but I don't know where else.....
My sister in law was born in the UK and has a British passport, at the age of about 13 the family emigrated to the USA and she is a citizen of that country.
Now obviously she never worked when she lived here so what would happen if she wanted to come back and live here?
Would she need to get private medical ins? 

Would she be coming with a need for medical treatment, since that is all your are asking about?

Archergirl

sheramber said:

Archergirl said:

Not sure if this is the right place to ask but I don't know where else.....
My sister in law was born in the UK and has a British passport, at the age of about 13 the family emigrated to the USA and she is a citizen of that country.
Now obviously she never worked when she lived here so what would happen if she wanted to come back and live here?
Would she need to get private medical ins? 

Would she be coming with a need for medical treatment, since that is all your are asking about?

No she won't be coming for medical treatment but is 72 so a possibility in the future but is on medication like most of us.
I didn't think she would be able to claim anything since she hasn't paid anything in but then I wondered as others even without a British passport seem to get by...... She probably won't even come as she has children in the USA but just asking for information.

silvercar

Archergirl said:

sheramber said:

Archergirl said:

Not sure if this is the right place to ask but I don't know where else.....
My sister in law was born in the UK and has a British passport, at the age of about 13 the family emigrated to the USA and she is a citizen of that country.
Now obviously she never worked when she lived here so what would happen if she wanted to come back and live here?
Would she need to get private medical ins? 

Would she be coming with a need for medical treatment, since that is all your are asking about?

No she won't be coming for medical treatment but is 72 so a possibility in the future but is on medication like most of us.
I didn't think she would be able to claim anything since she hasn't paid anything in but then I wondered as others even without a British passport seem to get by...... She probably won't even come as she has children in the USA but just asking for information.

There are people born and bred in the UK, who have never left the country who have never “paid anything in” yet they have full entitlement to NHS care. It’s about residency rather than contribution.