Moving from the UK to the USA involves two very different processes: getting permission to live in America and physically moving your household there.

At 1st Move International, we specialise in the second part. We have been arranging international removals from the UK since 1997, but immigration timing directly affects when you can confidently arrange collection, shipping and delivery of your belongings.

That is why we have put together this straightforward guide to the main US visa and Green Card routes British citizens are likely to encounter when planning a move to America.

It is not intended to replace professional immigration advice. Instead, it explains the main routes at a practical level, links to the relevant official US government information and helps you understand where immigration fits into the wider moving process.

Can a British Citizen Move Permanently to the USA?

Yes, but British citizenship does not automatically give you the right to live or work in the United States.

Unless you already have US citizenship or lawful permanent resident status, you will generally need an immigration route that permits you to live in America.

• employment;
• an intracompany transfer;
• business or investment;
• marriage or family;
• or qualifying for permanent residence through an employment or family-based Green Card route.

There is therefore no single “visa for moving to America”.

The right route depends on your individual circumstances.

View official US visa categories – U.S. Department of State

USA Immigration Routes at a Glance

For somebody planning an actual household move from the UK, these are some of the routes most likely to be relevant:

Route	Who might consider it?	What it means for planning your move
H-1B	People taking qualifying specialist employment	Usually employer-led. Avoid committing to final moving dates until your immigration position is clear.
L-1	Employees transferring from a UK company to a related US operation	Your transfer and employment start date may provide a natural timetable for the move.
E-1 / E-2	Qualifying British traders, business owners and investors	Particularly relevant to UK nationals because the UK is a treaty country. These are not Green Cards.
O-1	People with extraordinary ability or achievement in qualifying fields	A specialist route requiring substantial evidence.
Family / spouse immigration	People joining qualifying relatives or a US citizen spouse	Often connected with a permanent household move once immigration and travel dates are confirmed.
Employment-based Green Card	People qualifying for permanent residence through employment	Processing and visa availability may affect when the physical move can take place.
Family-based Green Card	People qualifying through a family relationship	The precise route depends on the relationship and immigration status of the sponsoring family member.

The table is deliberately a starting point rather than an eligibility test. US immigration categories contain detailed requirements that need to be considered individually.

Can I Move to America Using an ESTA?

No. An ESTA is not a visa and is not a route for moving permanently to the United States.

Many British passport holders are familiar with ESTA because the UK participates in the US Visa Waiver Program.

An approved ESTA allows eligible travellers to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program for visits of up to 90 days.

It does not give you permission to move permanently to America or take ordinary employment there.

Official ESTA information – U.S. Customs and Border Protection

This distinction matters when planning a move.

Being able to travel to America to look at areas, visit family or make preparations is very different from having immigration permission to actually live and work there.

Main US Work Visa Routes for British Citizens

There are several temporary employment classifications and the appropriate route depends on the work you will be doing, your qualifications and your relationship with the US employer.

For many employment visas, the US employer has an important role in the immigration process.

Official US employment visa information – U.S. Department of State

H-1B Visa

The H-1B category is principally used for qualifying specialty occupations.

It is commonly associated with professional and highly specialised employment and normally requires sponsorship by a US employer.

There are detailed eligibility rules, and the H-1B programme is also subject to numerical limits in many cases.

The important point from a moving perspective is that simply obtaining a US job offer does not necessarily mean you can immediately relocate to America.

Your immigration position should be clear before you commit to irreversible moving arrangements.

L-1 Intracompany Transfer

The L-1 route can be particularly relevant to British employees working for organisations with operations in both the UK and United States.

Broadly, the classifications cover:

• L-1A – managers and executives;
• L-1B – employees with specialised knowledge.

There are detailed requirements surrounding the relationship between the businesses, the employee’s previous overseas employment and the proposed US role.

For somebody transferring with an existing employer, the confirmed US start date can often become an important part of planning accommodation, flights and the international removal.

O-1 Visa

The O-1 classification is intended for people with extraordinary ability or achievement in qualifying fields.

These can include:

• science;
• education;
• business;
• athletics;
• arts;
• television and film.

It is a specialist immigration route with substantial evidential requirements, rather than simply a visa for an experienced professional.

Anyone who believes this route may apply to them should normally obtain specialist advice.

E-1 and E-2 Visas for British Citizens

E visas deserve particular mention in a guide for people moving from Britain because the United Kingdom is an E-1 and E-2 treaty country.

Check US treaty countries – U.S. Department of State

E-1 Treaty Trader Visa

The E-1 route can apply where qualifying substantial international trade takes place principally between the United States and the relevant treaty country.

For a British applicant, that can potentially include qualifying UK-US trading activity.

E-2 Treaty Investor Visa

The E-2 Treaty Investor route can potentially allow a qualifying British national to live in the United States to develop and direct a US business in which they have made a qualifying substantial investment.

Official E-1 and E-2 information – U.S. Department of State

Does an E-2 Visa Give You a Green Card?

No.

An E-2 is a nonimmigrant visa rather than permanent resident status.

That distinction is particularly important for families planning a long-term move. Being able to live in America under E-2 status and becoming a US permanent resident are separate immigration matters.

Moving to America Through Family

Family relationships are another major route to US immigration.

Different categories exist for qualifying relatives of:

• US citizens;
• lawful permanent residents, commonly known as Green Card holders.

The route and waiting period can differ considerably according to the family relationship.

Official family immigration information – U.S. Department of State

Moving to the USA to Join a Husband or Wife

If your husband or wife is a US citizen, one possible immigration route is a spouse immigrant visa.

The principal spouse categories include:

• IR-1;
• CR-1.

The appropriate classification depends on the circumstances of the application.

Official spouse immigrant visa information – U.S. Department of State

For couples planning to move an entire household rather than simply travel to America, we would normally suggest separating the two decisions:

Start researching and budgeting for your removal early, but avoid fixing collection and shipping dates until your immigration and likely travel dates are sufficiently clear.

K-1 Fiancé Visa

The K-1 visa is intended for the foreign fiancé or fiancée of a US citizen.

It allows a qualifying foreign partner to travel to the United States to marry their US citizen fiancé(e).

The marriage must take place within 90 days of arrival, after which the foreign spouse can apply for adjustment of status.

Official K-1 fiancé visa information – U.S. Department of State

What Is a Green Card?

A Green Card is the commonly used name for evidence of US lawful permanent resident status.

Permanent residence is different from holding most temporary US visas.

For British citizens moving to America, two important broad routes are:

Family-Based Permanent Residence

Permanent residence may be available through qualifying relationships with US citizens or lawful permanent residents.

Employment-Based Permanent Residence

US immigration law also provides several employment-based immigrant categories.

These include routes for certain:

• priority workers and people with extraordinary ability;
• professionals and people with exceptional ability;
• skilled workers and other professionals;
• special immigrants;
• qualifying immigrant investors.

The eligibility requirements and availability differ significantly between categories.

Official employment-based immigrant visa information – U.S. Department of State

How Long Does It Take to Get a US Visa or Green Card?

There is no single reliable timescale.

Processing can depend on:

• the visa or immigration category;
• whether a petition must be approved first;
• your individual circumstances;
• visa availability;
• interview availability;
• requests for further information;
• current government processing workloads.

Some family and employment-based immigrant categories are also subject to annual numerical limits and priority dates.

The U.S. Department of State publishes a Visa Bulletin every month showing availability for relevant immigrant visa categories.

Check the current Visa Bulletin – U.S. Department of State

What does that mean for your removal?

You do not need to wait until your visa is physically in your passport before researching removals, deciding what to take or obtaining shipping quotations.

Those things can be done considerably earlier.

What we would avoid is committing to a fixed collection or shipping date when your immigration timetable is still uncertain.

What About the US Green Card Lottery?

The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program – often referred to as the Green Card Lottery – provides a potential immigration route for people who meet the eligibility requirements.

Eligibility can change between programme years and is based on factors including country of birth rather than simply citizenship.

Current position – October 2026

The Diversity Visa programme is currently affected by a Department of State pause on Diversity Visa issuances.

The Department’s guidance, last updated on 31 August 2026, says applicants may continue to submit applications and attend scheduled interviews, but Diversity Visas are not currently being issued under that guidance.

Because this is an evolving position, anyone considering this route should check the latest official information rather than relying on an older immigration article.

Latest official Diversity Visa guidance – U.S. Department of State

Which Immigration Route Fits Your Move?

This is the point at which a general relocation guide reaches its limit.

Two families both moving from London to New York could have completely different immigration circumstances.

For example:

• one person may be transferring with an existing employer;
• another may have a US citizen spouse;
• another may be investing in an American business;
• another may have secured qualifying specialist employment;
• while someone else may be applying for permanent residence through family or employment.

The practical moving process may eventually look similar, but the immigration route that allows the move to happen can be completely different.

When Specialist US Immigration Advice May Be Useful

1st Move International is an international removals company. We do not provide immigration advice or complete visa applications.

Our role begins with planning and moving your household belongings once you know that a move to America is realistic.

You may wish to speak to a suitably qualified US immigration professional if:

• you are unsure which immigration category applies;
• several different routes might be available to you;
• your circumstances are unusual;
• you are making a business or investment application;
• an employer is sponsoring you;
• you have previously had a US visa or immigration problem;
• you need advice about the evidence required for an application.

For straightforward factual information, the U.S. Department of State and USCIS should always be your starting point.

When Should I Start Planning My Removal to the USA?

Earlier than you might think.

You can obtain a removals quotation and start deciding what you want to take while your immigration arrangements are still progressing.

That can help you establish:

• how much you are likely to ship;
• what the move might cost;
• whether you want to take furniture or replace it in America;
• whether you need temporary storage;
• how the shipping timetable fits around your expected arrival.

What we would normally recommend is keeping the planning stage flexible until your immigration position and intended travel date are reasonably clear.

See our removals services from the UK to the USA

From Visa Approval to Moving Day

Once your immigration and travel plans are confirmed, the removal timetable becomes much easier to organise.

For a typical shared-container move with 1st Move International:

1. Choose your intended moving and sailing period.
2. Arrange UK collection and professional export packing.
3. Your household goods are packed and prepared for shipping.
4. For our shared-container service, collection is normally arranged around 10–14 days before the intended sailing.
5. Your shipment is booked onto the appropriate USA service.
6. Shipping and US customs documentation are prepared.
7. Your belongings travel to the USA before customs clearance and final delivery.

Unlike a generic estimated transit time, we publish our actual forthcoming USA sailings, including the vessel name, sailing date and estimated arrival.

See current UK to USA shipping schedules

This can be particularly useful once your visa is approved because you can start matching an actual shipping departure to your intended move rather than simply being told that your belongings will leave “when the container is ready”.

Shipping Your Household Goods to America

Once the immigration side of your move is sufficiently clear, the physical relocation involves a separate set of requirements.

An international removal from the UK to the USA can involve:

1. UK collection;
2. professional export packing;
3. preparation of a detailed inventory;
4. shared or sole-use container shipping;
5. US customs documentation;
6. customs clearance;
7. final delivery to your American home.

Your immigration application and your household-goods shipment are separate processes, but your immigration or residency documentation may also be relevant when your belongings are cleared through US Customs.

At 1st Move International, we handle the removals, packing, shipping and household-goods customs side of the move.

We do not advise on which visa you should apply for.

That separation is important: the immigration specialist gets you permission to live in America; your international remover gets your household there.

See our UK to USA international removals service

USA Visa & Green Card FAQs

Official US Immigration Resources

• U.S. Department of State – US Visas
• U.S. Department of State – Employment Visas
• U.S. Department of State – Family Immigration
• U.S. Department of State – Employment-Based Immigration
• U.S. Department of State – Visa Bulletin
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection – ESTA

About This Guide

This guide is written specifically for people planning a household move from the UK to the USA.

1st Move International provides international removals, professional export packing, weekly shipping services and customs support for household goods moving from the UK to destinations throughout the United States.

Immigration information on this page is checked against official US government sources. We do not provide immigration or legal advice.

Last reviewed: 1 October 2026

As immigration policy can change, the information should be reviewed periodically and whenever the U.S. Department of State or USCIS announces a material change affecting UK applicants.