As a UK citizen there are very few places in the world that aren’t open to you as a new immigrant. At present, the UK has connections with many countries across the world, and if you are looking to emigrate there is more than likely one visa application to suit you and your application.

Some countries do limit their intake of migrants due to social or political reasons, however many countries seek to take more people in order to strengthen their workforce and community.

Main countries were UK residents can apply

The main countries who actively seek individuals on a skill basis are; Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and the USA. Because of this, many people apply for visas in these countries. If you are looking to move to the EU or EEA you don’t normally require a visa but should still inform all the correct local authorities that are becoming a non resident in UK. If you are applying to one of these other main countries you will need to apply for a visa through either the family sponsored route or the skilled migrant route. You generally need to have enough ‘points’ to qualify for immigration into one of these countries. These points are allocated due to education, family, experience, age and much more.

Applying to the USA

If you want to move to the USA permanently, you have to obtain a ‘green card.’ The USA has a wonderfully diverse lottery that allows a certain number of people the chance to move to the USA simply by entering a lottery draw. Unfortunately this doesn’t apply to to UK citizens as too many have already moved to the US. UK citizens must apply through a family sponsored visa or a skilled migrant visa as you would with any country.

Applying and the costs involved

You need to be financially capable of going through the entire application process before you start. You most likely will need to pay for immigration fees, and government application forms, professional advisor fees, removal costs and transport to your new home and of course all the normal costs associated with moving into your new home once you have emigrated. There can be huge variances in the price dependant on the visa class and country you are applying to, however it is important to remember and work out a rough estimation of the costs before you start the application process.

Which countries have in-demand occupations?

There are many countries that are crying out for certain people with set skills. You can usually obtain a list of highest in demand occupations from the immigration website of the country you wish to move too. Remember, just because you are qualified for something in the UK, doesn’t mean to say that the skill is transferable in another country.

You can’t beat being in your own bed, and if you are looking to move abroad, the thought of leaving it behind is a disastrous thought on its own, without the added stress of the financial and travelling problems that come with moving home.

Many countries have restrictions about what you can take with you when you are moving abroad, especially Australia and New Zealand, who have fragile ecosystems which mean that some wood products that have the potential to harm indigenous species are forbidden to enter the country.

However, the situation isn’t as strict as it seems, as most of the rules apply to unfinished wood or whether you have an old antique wooden bed, which would possibly need to be checked for woodworm and approved with a certificate by a pest company saying it was dormant.

When considering the size and weight of a bed frame and mattress, many automatically assume the cost will be high, and automatically look to throw the bed out without weighing up the costs. When a removals company look to ship their customer’s items overseas, they look to use a whole container to store all the items in.

This can often mean that the cost of shipping all your beds abroad, can work out cheaper than buying a set of new bed frames and mattresses.

Joanne Summerscales, Robinsons International Moving Services, said, “If a migrant is taking a whole container to themselves then the cost of including a bed is minimal really if there is room in the container for it.

“If they are shipping with a groupage container, then, of course, they pay for the volume or space. Some beds, and particularly mattresses, are significantly expensive so that the cost of shipping does make financial sense.”

Robinsons have over 100 years experience in overseas removals and can assure their customers gain the right advice and removals services to their new destination, wherever they are travelling too.

Summerscales believes that the services removals companies provide, allow for less stress for international movers upon arrival at their new destination.

“Often clients will ship a bed frame and buy new mattresses upon arrival at their destination, which they may well sleep on until the consignment, including the bed frame, arrives.

Robinsons aim to offer their full support and advice to clients looking to ship their personal belongings abroad. Summerscales adds that clients should compile a list of personal belongings they wish to take abroad, and weigh up the pros and cons of adding a bed to the removals list.

“We would not discourage a migrant from including anything unless we felt it would cause issues with either customers or quarantine at destination,” said Summerscales. “Then we would, of course, advise accordingly.”

Summerscales also points out that people need to be aware that shapes and styles of beds may vary from each country and you may often find that you won’t be able to find what you need at home, abroad.

Summerscales said, “Framed beds rather than divan beds seem to be increasingly popular for migrants in the UK. Bed sizes do vary so it is important to check bedding sizes, as a king size bed in the UK may not be called the same thing in the destination company.”

To ensure you have the perfect night’s sleep before and after your overseas move, visit Robinsons for further information on removals services for your final destination.

Irish people are now among the most reluctant in Europe to go abroad in search of work.

In fact, two in every three people said that if they lost their job they would not emigrate, even if the salary was substantially more than they had been earning.

However, around 15 per cent said that they are considering moving abroad while one in five said they could envisage leaving in the near future.

These results were released after the European Commission released the survey with a report on the rights of EU citizens to live and work in another country, with the proposals for unified rules on seasonal workers coming into the EU and for the intercompany transfers.

It looked into the main reasons the Irish would go abroad which were to find a job, improve their quality of life and discover something new and experience better social and health care.

And more than 20 per cent of those surveyed had worked outside of the country in the past, proving the Irish have the most experience when it comes to emigration.

Younger people said it was because they didn’t want to leave their friends while the older generation said that home is where they wanted to stay.

The only other countries that were less willing to move to another region or country to find a job if they were unemployed were Romanians, Bulgarians and the Portuguese.

The most mobile workers within the EU were the Danish, with more than half saying that they would like to work abroad, even if they had a job at home, while just 4 per cent of Italians would willingly leave their country.

Overall, the US was the preferred location, with Britain, Australia, Spain and Germany following shortly after. Ireland was the 15^th most popular destination with 4 per cent saying they would consider a move there.

“Too few people are taking advantage of their right to work in another country,” said Employment Commissioner Laszlo Andor. “Worker mobility can help cut unemployment by matching people with jobs available. But there are still barriers and we hope to reduce them.”

Each year, thousands of migrant workers come to Europe to work in seasonal jobs such as agriculture and tourism. Many of them are illegal, brought in by criminal gangs who pay them a pittance and they have no legal rights.

Plans for a new directive establishes a simple entry procedure for such workers with a contract and defined salary for a limit of six months a year which would allow them to have social security rights such as pensions but would leave the number to be admitted up to each member state. Ireland may however opt out of this proposal.

If you are emigrating and need help with the shipping of your personal belongings visit Robinsons today, the international removals company who can safely send and deliver your belongings to your new home.