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Welcome to Visiting London. London can be an overwhelming place to live, its fast, its big and there is lots to see and do. The best way not to be overawed by this city is to come prepared for it.

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   As a new arrival to London there are a number of the things that you will need to get organised and be aware of. First you should chose a date to leave home and come to London based on the savings that you will have available. You will need a minimum of £500.00 to start with and if you're not sure how much this is in your currency click here.
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   Then you will need to book your ticket and organise your Visa. Once you get here you'll need accommodation & work and then a bank account, a National Insurance Number, a mobile phone and some bars & clubs to party in with your new friends. The good news is that you can do all of these things on our web site so see you soon.
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   When you get to London and are trying to pass through customs there are a few key things to keep in mind. If you are traveling on an EC passport (part of the European Community), then you do not need to fill in a landing form, you can pass through the EC section of customs with very few hassles, just remember to have ready anything you need to declare.
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   If you are traveling into the UK on a Working Visa, or a Holiday Visa, chances are that you may be questioned by customs before being allowed to proceed. Some common questions are -
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"Where are you staying while in London?"
They will generally just ask for a name and address, so be sure to have booked some accommodation for your arrival, or if you are staying with a friend, be sure you know their full name and address, plus a phone number.
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"How long are you intending to stay in the UK?"
Be sure not to answer 'I don't know', if you are on holiday tell them your duration, if you are looking for work and have the appropriate Visas, then tell them a period between which the visa is for. If you have a two year visa, be sure you don't say you are intending to stay here for as long as possible. Just be honest, but don't incriminate yourself!!
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"Are you intending to work in the UK and what sort of work are you intending to undertake?"
Unless you have a European passport, chances are you're going to be in the UK on a working holiday visa for 2 years. Although you are legally allowed in the country for 2 years, the idea is that you only undertake casual work while you are 'on holidays'. Do not say that you are planning to 'further your career' or 'work for as much of the 2 years as possible', as you are only supposed to work for 1 of the 2 years and not for 'professional gain'. Generally casual hospitality work or temping to work is the norm for working holiday makers - again, don't incriminate yourself".
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"How much money do you have?"
It may be a good idea to carry a bank statement in your daypack. If customs are in a really fussy mood, and they think you are the suspicious type, they may ask for proof that you can support yourself, for this you will have to show proof of funds.

   The general rule is don't come to London unprepared, that way you will not be surprised by anything you are asked at customs. In most cases you will pass through customs with little fuss, but be sure to answer all questions honestly and you should not find yourself in any trouble.
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If you have any problems upon arrival or just need some more information please contact us at info@visiting-london.com
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Welcome to Visiting London. You have probably already heard the banking horror stories in London, and for the most part they are true. However, there are some simple things you can do before you leave home that will make the process when you get to London much easier.

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Firstly before you leave, ask your bank for a letter of introduction, which you can show to a London bank to prove that you have a history of saving and banking. Also bring your last few months of statements, this will prove you have always had a regular income, and are not a financial risk. You will also need to bring proof of a permanent address, which you can't have unless you have a Utilities bill from London in your name. Unfortunately this is where it gets tricky, as you generally cannot get a home without a bank account. .    If you are in a share house the bills will either go to the Landlord or to the person who name the let is in. You may find it easier to get a letter from your landlord or letting agency saying that you are a permanent resident at the particular address, and show your invoice slip or receipt to the bank to prove it. You will also need to bring proof of a permanent address, which you can't have unless you have a Utilities bill from London in your name. Unfortunately this is where it gets tricky, as you generally cannot get a home without a bank account. Possibly the best thing to do is open an account from your country with a bank that is situated in London, that way you should be able to transfer accounts easily. HSBC is a bank that operates out of many major world cities, they are also one of the biggest banks in London, and perhaps it would be an idea to start an account with them before you leave.

Money Transfers
There a a few ways to send money back home. Firstly via your bank, you can just ask them and it should cost around £10.00 and take about 3 days. Secondly you can go to many travel agents that supply a Moneygram service for around £33.00 for £500.00. Third you can use Western Union to send money quickly anywhere in the world by clicking here www.westernunion.com.
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   If you have any Banking or Money Transfer problems or need more information please contact us at info@visiting-london.com.
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Welcome to Visiting London. Yes, you will have to pay tax in London and that rate is between 10% - 40% depending on your gross taxable income. The tax free threshold is £4,615.00 per year and if you work less than 12 months you will probably be due a refund. The best way to get your tax refund taken care of is to use one of our trusted taxation experts.

Rapid Refunds have been the UK’s leading tax refund company since 1988 and provide a full service to customers at a low commission rate. www.rapidrefunds.co.uk

National Insurance Number
To get a National Insurance Number you will need to have a job first and your employer will help you set this up along with the correct tax bracket that you should be in. If you don't get this correct you will pay to much tax and National Insurance as many people do. You should then confirm your rate with the Inland Revenue on 0845 070 0040 or www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk to make sure that your employer has it correct. Many employers overtax if you are not careful.
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   If you have any problems upon arrival or just need some more information please contact us at info@visiting-london.com.
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Welcome to Visiting London. While you're in London you will probably build up stuff that you'll want to send home, or if you're traveling on to other destinations & you don't want to continually pay for excess baggage fees.
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   You should be careful when selecting a Shipping company as there are many un-insured start ups that will take your money and keep your baggage. The easiest way to avoid this is to contact one of our preferred Shipping Companies below and take advantage of their inexpensive and guaranteed services.

Budget Shipping has a reputation second to none for offering the best service in the shipping industry.  We are proud that not only do we provide such excellence, we also provide it at a highly competitive price to our clients. www.budget-shipping.com

   If you have any problems or need more information please contact us at info@visiting-london.com.
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