Visa Options for Britons Moving to the USA (2026)
Here's the thing to know up front: the US has no retirement visa and no digital-nomad visa. UK citizens can visit for up to 90 days on the ESTA / Visa Waiver Program, but you can't work, study, or settle on a visit. To live in America you need a proper visa or a green card — and the right one depends entirely on your situation. If you have capital, the E-2 treaty investor visa is the standout route (the UK is a treaty country). If you work for a multinational, an L-1 transfer avoids the lottery and the new fee. Employer-sponsored professionals use the H-1B or, for standouts, the O-1. And the permanent routes are family and employment green cards (including EB-5 if you can invest big). A pension, savings, or remote income alone won't qualify you.
- A new $100,000 fee on H-1B petitions. A Presidential Proclamation of 19 September 2025 added a $100,000 payment per new H-1B petition for a beneficiary outside the US, on petitions filed on or after 21 September 2025 — effectively pricing out most applicants unless a large employer pays. (Exemptions apply, e.g. an in-US F-1→H-1B change of status or a valid existing H-1B.)
- ESTA now costs $40.27. The Visa Waiver Program fee rose from $21 (from 30 Sep 2025). It's valid two years for 90-day visits — still no work or residence.
- UK-born are ineligible for the Diversity Visa (Green Card) Lottery. The UK is a "high-admission" country. The one exception: people born in Northern Ireland can claim Ireland chargeability, which is eligible.
- EB-5 investor thresholds are unchanged for FY2026: $800,000 (targeted employment area) or $1,050,000 (standard), creating 10 jobs.
- A proposed naturalization fee hike is NOT yet in force. The N-400 currently costs $760 (paper) / $710 (online); a higher figure floated in the Federal Register has not taken effect — budget the current fee.
| Route | Best For | Key Requirement (2026) | Green Card? | Cap / Lottery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-2 Treaty Investor UK is a treaty country | Entrepreneurs with capital to run a US business | A "substantial" investment (typically ~$80k–$300k+); business ≥50% UK-owned | No (nonimmigrant) | No cap |
| L-1 Transfer No lottery, no $100k fee | Staff of a multinational moving to a US office | 1 year with the same employer abroad in the last 3 | L-1A → EB-1C route | No cap |
| H-1B Specialty Occupation $100k fee · lottery | Degree-level professionals with a US sponsor | Employer petition; 85,000/yr cap; +$100k fee may apply | Via employer green card | Yes — lottery |
| O-1 Extraordinary Ability No cap | Leaders in science, arts, business, sport | Evidence of sustained national/international acclaim | Often → EB-1A | No cap/lottery |
| Family Green Card Family | Spouse/immediate relative of a US citizen | I-130 petition ($675 paper / $625 online) | Yes | No cap (immediate relatives) |
| Employment Green Card EB-1/2/3 | Skilled workers; EB-2 NIW needs no job offer | I-140 petition ($715); labor cert for most EB-2/EB-3 | Yes | Per-country limits |
| EB-5 Investor Big capital | Investors seeking a green card directly | $800k (TEA) / $1.05m; create 10 jobs | Yes | Per-country limits |
| Visit (ESTA) Short stay | Tourism, scouting, business trips | Visa Waiver Program ($40.27) — no work | No | 90 days |
Requirements verified July 2026 against USCIS (uscis.gov), the US Department of State (travel.state.gov), and CBP (esta.cbp.dhs.gov). Fees are in US dollars; where we show a pound conversion we use ~$1.28/£1 (July 2026), which moves with the exchange rate. Confirm current figures with the official source before applying.
Unlike Portugal, Spain, or Dubai, the US has no route based on a pension, savings, or remote income. There is no American "retirement visa" and no digital-nomad visa, so a comfortable income by itself won't get you residence. Retirees typically need a family route (an immediate relative who is a US citizen) or an investment route (E-2 or EB-5); remote workers need a proper work visa. If a visa-free, passive-income lifestyle is the goal, a European or Gulf corridor fits far better than the USA.
1. E-2 Treaty Investor — the standout route for Britons
Because the UK is an E-2 treaty country, the E-2 treaty investor visa is often the most realistic way for a self-funded Briton to live and work in the US. You invest a "substantial" amount (there's no statutory minimum, but in practice most cases run ~$80,000–$300,000+) into a real, active US business that you own at least 50% of and will direct. It's a nonimmigrant visa — not a green card — but it's renewable indefinitely while the business trades, and your spouse can apply for work authorisation. The catch: it doesn't lead directly to permanent residence, so plan a separate green-card path if you want to settle for good.
2. L-1 Intra-Company Transfer — no lottery, no $100k fee
If you already work for a company with a US office (or one opening one), the L-1 visa lets your employer transfer you. You need one continuous year with the same employer abroad in the previous three years, in a managerial/executive role (L-1A) or a specialised-knowledge role (L-1B). Crucially, the L-1 has no annual cap, no lottery, and is not subject to the new $100,000 H-1B fee — and L-1A holders have a clean path to a green card via EB-1C. For anyone at a multinational, this is frequently the smoothest route.
3. H-1B Specialty Occupation — and the $100,000 fee
The H-1B is the classic sponsored work visa for degree-level "specialty occupation" jobs. Your US employer registers you in the annual lottery for the 85,000 cap (65,000 plus 20,000 for US master's holders). The headline change: a Presidential Proclamation (19 Sep 2025) added an extra $100,000 payment per new petition for a beneficiary outside the US on petitions filed on or after 21 September 2025 — a cost most employers won't absorb except for senior hires. Existing valid H-1Bs and in-US F-1→H-1B changes of status are treated differently. For most Britons, E-2, L-1, or O-1 are now more practical than a fresh overseas H-1B.
4. O-1 Extraordinary Ability — no cap, no lottery
If you're at the top of your field — science, arts, business, or athletics — the O-1 visa lets a US employer or agent petition for you with no annual cap and no lottery. You prove sustained national or international acclaim with evidence (awards, press, high pay, leading roles, published work). It's demanding to document but powerful, and it often pairs with an EB-1A "extraordinary ability" green card, which needs no job offer.
5. Family & Employment Green Cards (permanent residence)
The permanent routes are the green card. If you're the spouse, parent, or child of a US citizen, you're an "immediate relative" with no annual cap — your sponsor files Form I-130 ($675 paper / $625 online). The employment categories run EB-1 (extraordinary ability/executives), EB-2 (advanced degrees — the National Interest Waiver needs no job offer), and EB-3 (skilled workers), filed on Form I-140 ($715). And the EB-5 investor green card is a direct route for those who can invest $800,000 (targeted employment area) or $1,050,000 and create 10 US jobs.
The Diversity Visa (DV) lottery excludes people born in "high-admission" countries — and the UK qualifies as high-admission, so if you were born in the United Kingdom you cannot enter. The one workaround: chargeability can be based on your place of birth, your spouse's, or a parent's. In particular, anyone born in Northern Ireland may claim Ireland, which is eligible. Don't rely on the lottery as your plan — treat it as a long shot on top of a real route.
Have capital and want to run a business → E-2. Work for a multinational → L-1. A US employer will sponsor you → H-1B (mind the $100k fee) or, if you're a standout, O-1. A US-citizen spouse or parent → family green card. Big capital and want permanence → EB-5. Build your personalised document list with our visa checklist generator.
Cost of Living in the USA for Britons (2026)
Day to day, the US can feel cheaper than the UK on the big-ticket lifestyle items — fuel, cars, electronics, eating out, and larger homes — but there's one enormous asterisk: healthcare. Without an NHS, you pay for insurance and you still face co-pays and deductibles. Where you land also matters hugely: New York and San Francisco rival central London, while cities in Texas, the Midwest, and the South offer far more space for your money. Figures below are in US dollars.
| Expense (monthly) | UK average | US mid-size metro | New York / SF |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom rent, city centre | ~$1,300 | ~$1,500 | ~$3,500 |
| Utilities + home internet | ~$310 | ~$260 | ~$300 |
| Health insurance / cover | ~$86/mo (NHS surcharge) | ~$450–$650/mo+ private premiums (all US) | |
| Monthly transit pass | ~$90 | ~$70 | ~$130 |
| Single person, excl. rent & health | ~$1,000 | ~$1,150 | ~$1,500 |
Illustrative estimates (cost-of-living aggregators, mid-2026) for planning only — your costs vary by state, city, and lifestyle. The "health cover" row contrasts the UK's £1,035/yr Immigration Health Surcharge (~$86/mo) with typical US private premiums, which are far higher and come on top of co-pays and deductibles.
There is no NHS in the US. Coverage usually comes through an employer plan (you still pay a monthly share plus deductibles) or, if you're self-employed or on E-2, the ACA marketplace — and premiums for a family can run $1,000+ a month. Budget $3,000–$8,000+ per person per year all in, and never let coverage lapse: a single hospital stay uninsured can cost tens of thousands of dollars. This is the number one thing to plan before you fly. See Healthcare.
Fuel/petrol (often less than half UK prices), cars, electronics and clothing, domestic flights, and larger homes and more space for the money outside the big coastal cities. Salaries, especially in tech, finance, and healthcare, are also typically higher than UK equivalents. What costs more: healthcare, university tuition, childcare, and coastal-city rent. Remember to add sales tax (shown at the till, not on the label) and to tip 18–20% when eating out.
Banking & Money: British Pounds to US Dollars
The US uses the US dollar ($ / USD), trading around $1.28 to £1 in mid-2026 (it moves with the market). The big adjustment for Britons is credit: your UK credit history does not transfer, so you start from zero. Cards, mobile contracts, and apartment applications all lean on a US credit score, so building one early matters. You'll also want a Social Security Number (SSN) as soon as your visa allows — it's the key to banking, credit, and payroll.
Open a US checking account as soon as you have an SSN (many big banks — Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo — will open one with your passport, visa, and a US address). Then get a secured credit card or a newcomer card and use it lightly, paying in full each month, to start a score. Some banks (and Amex) can port a UK card history through a "global transfer" — ask before you leave. Keep a UK account open for your pension, ISA wind-down, and any UK income.
Recommended Sequence
- Before departure — open Wise to convert pounds to dollars at the real mid-market rate and move your initial funds cheaply (far better than a high-street bank's exchange rate).
- Apply for your SSN on arrival — it's the key that unlocks banking, credit, and payroll.
- Open a US checking account (Chase / Bank of America / Wells Fargo) with your passport, visa, and US address; add a secured credit card to start a score.
- Keep your UK accounts open for your State Pension, workplace/SIPP pensions, and any UK income — and mind the tax treatment of UK investments (below).
Once you're a US tax resident, the reporting flips: you must file the FBAR (FinCEN 114) if your non-US (i.e. UK) accounts total over $10,000 at any point in the year, plus FATCA Form 8938 above higher thresholds. This covers UK current accounts, savings, ISAs, and pensions. It's a disclosure, not a tax — but the penalties for missing it are steep, so fold it into your first US tax return. See Taxes & Pensions.
US Tax, UK Tax & Your Pensions
Your tax picture changes the moment you become a US tax resident — which happens when you pass the Substantial Presence Test (broadly, 31+ days this year and 183 days counted over three years using a 1 + ⅓ + ⅕ weighting) or the day you get a green card. From then, the US taxes your worldwide income, wherever it arises. The reassuring part: the US–UK tax treaty, the Foreign Tax Credit, and UK split-year treatment mean you very rarely pay tax twice, and your UK liability largely ends when you leave.
Unlike Canada, Australia, or New Zealand — where the UK State Pension is frozen at the level you retired on — the USA is on the UK's uprating list, so your State Pension rises every year just as it would at home. And the US–UK totalization agreement (in force since 1985) means you pay into one social-security system at a time, not both — with a "certificate of coverage" for temporary assignments — and you can combine UK and US contribution records toward a pension. Two genuine advantages of the US corridor.
ISAs: your UK tax-free ISA is not recognised by the IRS — the income and gains are US-taxable, and a stocks-and-shares ISA is often a PFIC too. PFICs: UK-domiciled funds, unit trusts, and ETFs are "passive foreign investment companies" to the IRS, with punitive tax and heavy forms — review these before you become US-resident. SIPPs & workplace pensions: generally protected by the treaty, but the tax-deferred treatment usually has to be claimed, and lump sums can be treated differently by each country. None of these are dealbreakers — they're reasons to plan with a US–UK cross-border specialist before you move, while you can still restructure.
How your money is taxed once you're US-resident
| Income / account | Who taxes it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| US employment income | US (federal + state) | Federal brackets plus state income tax in most states (a few — Texas, Florida, Washington — have none). Social Security + Medicare withheld from pay. |
| UK-source income (rent, work) | UK first, then US with credit | The Foreign Tax Credit offsets your US bill with UK tax already paid; the treaty resolves conflicts. UK rental income stays UK-taxable. |
| UK State Pension | US (residence), and uprated | Generally taxable where you're resident under the treaty. Crucially, it's uprated annually in the USA — not frozen. |
| UK SIPP / workplace pension | Broadly per treaty | The treaty generally preserves tax-deferred growth; distributions usually taxed in your country of residence — claim the treaty position and confirm your scheme. |
| Stocks-and-shares ISA | US taxes it | UK-tax-free but not IRS-recognised (often a PFIC). Many wind these down before becoming US-resident. |
| UK bank & savings accounts | Report via FBAR / FATCA | Interest is US-taxable; the accounts themselves must be reported on the FBAR (over $10,000 total) and possibly Form 8938. |
Informational only — confirm your situation with a US–UK cross-border tax adviser. The Substantial Presence Test, worldwide taxation, FBAR, and PFIC rules are from the IRS (irs.gov); the totalization agreement is from the SSA (ssa.gov); UK State-Pension uprating and split-year treatment are from gov.uk.
Healthcare in the USA for Britons: There's No NHS
This is the biggest cultural and financial shift for Britons: the US has no National Health Service and no reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK. Care is world-class but you pay for it through private insurance, and even with insurance you'll meet premiums, deductibles, co-pays, and out-of-pocket maximums. Getting cover sorted before you arrive — and never letting it lapse — is the single most important piece of financial planning for this move.
Most people get insurance through an employer (you pay a monthly share plus deductibles) or, if self-employed or on an E-2 visa, through the ACA marketplace. Budget roughly $3,000–$8,000+ per person per year all in — more for a family. Between arriving and your employer plan starting, buy short-term or travel medical cover so you're never exposed: an uninsured emergency can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Your NHS access ends once you stop being ordinarily resident in the UK, so don't plan to fly home for treatment.
Medicare (the US public health programme) generally only covers people aged 65+, and premium-free Part A depends on a US (or totalized UK) work record. New working-age arrivals rely entirely on private insurance. If you're moving for retirement, factor private cover into your budget until Medicare eligibility — it's a major cost.
How It Works in Practice
- Pick a plan tier — marketplace plans run Bronze/Silver/Gold/Platinum, trading lower premiums for higher deductibles.
- Stay "in-network" — using doctors and hospitals inside your plan's network is dramatically cheaper; out-of-network bills can be huge.
- Expect co-pays and deductibles — even insured, you pay a fixed amount per visit and an annual deductible before the plan pays in full.
- Keep travel cover for the gap — short-term medical or travel insurance bridges the weeks before an employer plan begins.
Finding Housing in the USA as a Briton
Most newcomers rent first, and US renting has its own quirks — leases lean heavily on your US credit score (which you won't have yet), and you'll usually pay a security deposit plus first (sometimes last) month's rent upfront. Buying is fully open to Britons with no residency requirement, though mortgages are far easier once you have US income and credit history.
Search on Zillow, Apartments.com, and Trulia. Landlords run a credit and background check — with no US credit history, expect to offer extra deposits, several months' rent upfront, or a US-based guarantor (some use a paid guarantor service). Leases are typically 12 months. Homes are often larger than UK equivalents, but check what's included: many US rentals are unfurnished and utilities are usually extra. A relocation package or an employer letter can smooth the credit hurdle.
Outside the big coastal cities, your rent stretches much further than in the UK — bigger homes, more bedrooms, often parking and outdoor space. There's no restriction on foreigners buying US property, and you don't need to be resident, though getting a US mortgage as a newcomer is easier after you've built income and credit — many buy after a year or two of renting. Property taxes and home insurance (especially in storm/flood states) can be significant, so budget for them.
Where Britons settle
- New York & Boston — finance, media, tech, and biotech, with the largest British expat communities; also the most expensive.
- California (SF Bay Area, LA) — tech and entertainment; high salaries but very high rents.
- Texas (Austin, Dallas, Houston) — booming jobs, no state income tax, and far cheaper housing.
- Florida — popular with retirees and remote workers; no state income tax and lots of sun (mind hurricane-season insurance).
Renting: What to Expect
- Credit check is central — no US score means extra deposits, upfront rent, or a guarantor.
- Deposit + first month's rent upfront — and often a broker fee in cities like New York.
- Utilities usually extra — electricity, gas, water, internet on top of rent; ask what's included.
- Renters insurance — cheap and often required by the landlord; get it before you sign.
Your USA Relocation Timeline
The consular stage — DS-160, interview, decision — can move in weeks once you're ready, but the real lead time is securing your basis: an approved petition (H-1B/L-1/O-1), a set-up E-2 business, or a family petition. Set your target arrival month to see when to start each step.
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1Month −5: Choose Your Route & Secure Your BasisMonth −5
Decide between an E-2 investment, an L-1 transfer, an employer H-1B/O-1 petition, or a family/employment green card. Securing the foundation — an approved petition (Form I-797), a set-up E-2 business, or a filed I-130/I-140 — is the longest-lead step, so start it first. Use the route finder above.
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2Month −2: File DS-160, Book Your Interview & Pay FeesMonth −2
Complete the DS-160 (nonimmigrant) or DS-260 (immigrant), pay the visa fee (NIV ~$185–$315, IV ~$325–$345), and book your interview at the US Embassy in London. Gather civil documents and, if required, a police certificate and panel-physician medical.
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3Month −1: US & UK Tax and Pension PlanningMonth −1
Map your taxes before you move. Once US-resident you're taxed on worldwide income and must file an FBAR, but the treaty, the Foreign Tax Credit, and UK split-year treatment prevent double tax. Review ISAs and UK funds (PFICs) while you can still restructure, and confirm your SIPP treaty position with a cross-border adviser.
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4Month 0: Arrange Health Insurance & ArriveMonth 0
Line up private health insurance (an employer plan or ACA marketplace) plus short-term cover for any gap — there's no NHS. Travel within your visa window, and start a Wise pound-to-dollar transfer for your initial funds.
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5Month +1: SSN, Bank Account, Driver's LicenseMonth +1
Apply for a Social Security Number, open a US checking account and a secured credit card to start a score, and get a state driver's license (the US drives on the right; most states need a written and road test). Your UK licence is only valid short-term — convert early.
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6Month +60: Green Card → NaturalizationMonth +60
If you arrived on a nonimmigrant visa, work toward a green card. Once you hold one, you can apply for US citizenship after five years (three if married to a US citizen), after the civics and English tests. Both countries allow dual nationality, so you keep your British passport.
Documents Needed for a US Visa
The exact list depends on your route, but these 8 items cover a standard US work or investor visa application from a UK citizen. Tick items off as you gather them — your progress is saved in your browser.
Basis & Petition
Personal Documents
Money & Health
Interview & Arrival
Requirements verified July 2026 against USCIS (uscis.gov) and the US Department of State (travel.state.gov). Always confirm the exact document list for your visa category before applying.
After You Arrive: First Steps in the USA
Your visa gets you in; the early weeks are about getting a Social Security Number, opening a bank account, starting a credit history from scratch, and converting your driving licence. A shared language makes the admin easier than most moves — the surprises are practical (credit, healthcare, tipping, sales tax), not linguistic.
Apply for your Social Security Number as soon as you're eligible — it underpins work, banking, credit, and taxes. Then open a US checking account and a secured credit card, and use it lightly, paying in full each month, to begin a US credit score. Landlords, lenders, and even some employers lean on that score, so the sooner you start, the better.
America drives on the right — the opposite side to the UK — so give yourself time to adjust. You can usually drive on your UK licence (plus an International Driving Permit) as a visitor, but once you're a resident you must get a state driver's license, and rules vary by state — most require a written test and a road test, and some recognise a UK licence more readily than others. Sort it early: you'll need it as ID, for car insurance, and to rent.
First Month — Step by Step
- Apply for your SSN — do this first; it unlocks banking, credit, and payroll.
- Open a US bank account (Chase / Bank of America / Wells Fargo) with your passport, visa, and address.
- Start a credit history with a secured or newcomer credit card, paid in full monthly.
- Confirm your health insurance is active — enrol in your employer plan or the ACA marketplace before any gap.
- Convert your driving licence to a state license, and set up utilities and renters insurance at your address.
Residency & Citizenship Path
| Stage | Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nonimmigrant visa | A qualifying route | E-2, L-1, H-1B, O-1, etc. — where many Britons start. Some (E-2) can renew indefinitely but don't lead directly to a green card. |
| Green Card (permanent residence) | Family, employment, or investment | Via I-130 (family), I-140 (employment), or EB-5. L-1A → EB-1C and O-1 → EB-1A are common bridges. Keep US residence continuous. |
| US Citizenship | 5 yr as a green-card holder (3 yr if married to a US citizen) | Plus civics + English tests. N-400 fee $760 paper / $710 online. Dual citizenship allowed — you keep your UK passport. |
Both the UK and the USA permit dual nationality, so becoming American doesn't mean giving up your British passport. Remember that a green card makes you a US tax resident from day one, and even US citizens abroad keep filing US returns for life. The main things that slow the path to citizenship are long absences from the US and gaps in continuous residence, so track your travel across the five years.
Frequently Asked Questions
No — the US has no retirement or digital-nomad visa. You need employer sponsorship (H-1B, L-1, or O-1), a family tie to a US citizen, the E-2 investor route, or an employment or investment green card. Savings or remote income alone don't qualify.
Budget roughly $13,000–30,000 for one person and $40,000–70,000 for a family — visa fees, flights, shipping, rental and utility deposits, a car, and (crucially) the first months of health insurance.
No — the UK is a "high-admission" country, so UK-born applicants are ineligible. The one exception: people born in Northern Ireland can choose Ireland chargeability, which is eligible.
It depends on your situation: the E-2 investor visa (the UK is a treaty country) if you have capital; an L-1 transfer if you work for a multinational; or a family green card if you marry or are the immediate relative of a US citizen.
No. ESTA (Visa Waiver Program, $40.27) only allows tourist or business visits of up to 90 days — no work, study, or residence. Living in the US always needs a proper visa or green card.
Once you pass the Substantial Presence Test (or hold a green card) you become a US tax resident and the US taxes your worldwide income. The US–UK tax treaty and Foreign Tax Credit stop you being taxed twice, and UK split-year treatment ends most UK liability when you leave.
No — there's no public system for new arrivals and no UK reciprocal agreement. You'll need private health insurance (an employer plan or the ACA marketplace), typically $3,000–$8,000+ a year per person. NHS access ends once you're no longer resident in the UK.
No — the USA is on the UK's uprating list, so your State Pension increases every year just as it would at home. That's a real advantage over Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, where it's frozen.
Yes — both the UK and USA allow dual citizenship. You can naturalize after 5 years as a green-card holder (3 years if married to a US citizen) and keep your British passport.
US immigration is more petition-driven and adversarial than most corridors, and the routes for Britons — E-2, L-1, O-1, EB-5 — reward careful documentation. A US immigration attorney is genuinely worth it for the petition and interview strategy, and a US–UK cross-border tax adviser is invaluable for your ISA/PFIC exposure, SIPP treaty position, FBAR/FATCA reporting, and how the treaty handles your pensions and any UK property.
Find an immigration specialist →Also Considering…
Official sources & references
- Visastravel.state.gov — US Department of State — visa categories & Diversity Visa instructions
- Residenceuscis.gov — USCIS — H-1B, L-1, O-1, EB-5, green cards & naturalization
- Entryesta.cbp.dhs.gov — CBP — ESTA / Visa Waiver Program
- US Taxirs.gov — Substantial Presence Test — IRS — US tax residency, FBAR & worldwide income
- UK Guidancegov.uk/guidance/living-in-the-usa — FCDO — healthcare, tax, driving & pensions
- Pensionsgov.uk/state-pension-if-you-retire-abroad — the UK State Pension is uprated in the USA