Moving to the UK

[stoofur]

My Girlfriend is moving to the UK to live from Italy this year. Woo Hoo!!

Anyway. I know that we are all one big happy European Community now. What will she need to do when she gets here? I mean for getting a National Insurance Card (if she needs one). Getting a UK Bank account. She will not have a proof of address as she will be moving in with me. Registering with a doctor/transfering medical notes etc. Driving on the correct side of the road!!

If you think of any other advice that would be helpful.

Cheers

Stu

[Hgrove]

For the proof of address, the bank may be prepared to accept a letter from you stating that she lives at your address, otherwise you might have to ask the utility companies to put the bills in her name, at least until she has opened a bank a/c.   For a N.I. no., I am not sure but as a first step I would contact my local tax office and explain the situation.   As far as I know, your GP is supposed to register anyone who lives with you, but be prepared for hostility from ill-informed receptionists.

[Sammy Snake]

For a bank account, I know that when I worked for a high street bank, we could send a 'letter of referral' on behalf of a customer who was moving abroad, to a bank they wished to open an account with in whatever country.

Perhaps the bank your girlfriend is with at the moment will do a similar thing and sent a letter or something to a UK bank for her?

Kind of confirming her ID and saying that she is creditworthy and trustworthy, that kind of thing.

[KARL]

Regarding driving, the DVLA will put you right (local offices in all major towns) but I think I am correct in saying she can legally use her license for a year after arriving to stay, following which she must obtain a British one which (unless I am wrong) is issued on a straight forward reciprocal basis - a formality. On any additional advice, be prepared to explain to her that the British are foreign and therefore their ways can be strange.

[beweypm]

Just wondered if the Italian Embassy or the Foreign Office may have some handy leaflets - they must get loads of requests like this - a welcome to the UK leaflet type of thing perhaps.