What is the longest you can live in Scotland?

Question

I would like to know how long I could live in a Cottage in Scotland if I am an American citizen? I do not want to change citizenship, I would just like to try living somewhere different. A friend of mine said that I cannot live there more then two years before I have to return to the United States. Is this true? Am I able to get a job in the time that I live there? I would also like some information on Scotland. What is it like to live there? I want to live in a small village in a cottage in the country. I would like to live near a shore, either the sea or a lake. How much will it run me to live in a place such as this. I do not plan to try this for another couple of years. Thank you for any info you can give me.

~M.M.A.~

Answer 1

a US citizen can stay in the UK for up to 6 months without a Visa. you can extend your stay with a Visa for a longer period, i think it may be up to a year. However, you will not be able to work during that period unless you obtain a working Visa which are very difficult to come by due to people having to go through a points system for highly skilled immigrants to obtain one. They are only handed out to people who have skills we are in desperate need of in the United Kingdom.

Living in the UK is very expensive, and because the US Dollar is so weak compared to the British pound Sterling, it will be very expensive for you to live here.

as well property prices are very high, and you tend not to get a lot of house for your money in the UK.

The Average house price across the whole of the Uk is about £220'000 so about $440'000 and living cost are approximatley double what they are in the U.S

Edit: The only way to gain dual citzenship would be if one of your Parents or Grandparents were a citizen of the UK, and then you apply for an ancestral Visa, or try and gain permanent residencey through a working visa, but that is difuclut these days. And then you have to live in the UK for at least 5 years out of a 9 year period (i think)to gain Citzenship.

The areas you are looking for, costal or buy the lakes, may be quite touristy, so Rent may be on the pricey side, though it depends, it could range anywhere from maybe £500 to a £1000 a month but i'm not really sure on that point because i live in the North of England.

but this website will give you an idea

http://www.scotland-holiday-cottage.com/

Sorry i couldn't be of more help ... this website is about all the Visa options you have and what you have to go through to get them. I'm sure there are some sort of temporary working visa's that you can apply for, that may suit you best

http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/