Offramp← All destinations

🇬🇧 United Kingdom → 🇺🇸 United States

Emigrating from the UK to United States: the real cost

Most Britons arrive via an employer (work visa → green card), family, or marriage. Figures below assume an employment-based green card; an attorney is realistically required.

Difficulty

Harder

Timeline

12–36+ mo

Currency

USD

Cost-to-leave estimator

🇬🇧 United Kingdom → 🇺🇸 United States. Indicative ranges, not a quote.

I-140 immigrant petitioncheck ↗$715
Green-card govt fee (DS-260 or I-485) ×3check ↗$975 – $4,320
USCIS immigrant fee ×3check ↗$705
Immigration medical exams ×3$600 – $1,500
UK police certificate (ACRO) ×2check ↗$140 – $260
One-way flights (UK→US) ×3$1,200 – $3,000
Cross-border (UK/US) tax & pension advice$600 – $3,000
Landing fund (deposit, car, setup)$6,000 – $15,000

Estimated total cost to leave

$10,935 – $28,500

Fees reviewed 2026-06. Indicative FX. Not financial, tax or migration advice. Official fees ↗

Your pension

UK pension (SIPP / workplace)→401(k) / IRA

There is no QROPS route into a US 401(k) or IRA — the US has no QROPS-registered schemes. You generally leave the pension in the UK; the US-UK tax treaty gives UK pensions some recognition, but the US taxes worldwide income and imposes strict foreign-account reporting (FBAR/FATCA). Get US-UK cross-border tax advice before you become US-resident.

Dig deeper on United States

Your UK pension→Tax residency→Cost breakdown→Visa & timeline→

Frequently asked

How much does it cost to emigrate from the UK to United States?

It varies by family size and route, but most households should budget across visa fees, medical and police checks, flights, cross-border tax/pension advice and a landing fund. Use the estimator on this page for a personalised range. Most Britons arrive via an employer (work visa → green card), family, or marriage. Figures below assume an employment-based green card; an attorney is realistically required.

Can I transfer my UK pension to United States?

There is no QROPS route into a US 401(k) or IRA — the US has no QROPS-registered schemes. You generally leave the pension in the UK; the US-UK tax treaty gives UK pensions some recognition, but the US taxes worldwide income and imposes strict foreign-account reporting (FBAR/FATCA). Get US-UK cross-border tax advice before you become US-resident.

How long does the move to United States take?

Typically 12–36+ months. Route varies hugely: employment (H-1B/L-1 → green card), family or marriage.

Get the United States financial-emigration playbook

Step-by-step checklist for UK tax residency, your pension, moving money and banking. Join the list for launch pricing.

See a free sample of the playbook →

Educational information only — not financial, tax, legal or migration advice. Fees reviewed 2026-06; verify current figures via the official links above before acting.