Acting With No Experience Part 2: Preparing to Move

Packing up and moving to a new place is never easy, especially if you’re moving to an entirely different city or even country.  There are quite a few things you need to take into consideration before moving to London and start acting with no experience.  You need to be prepared, and you cannot expect to move from one place to another without any sort of planning.  I learned it the hard way – smart planning is key to a stress-free transition.

“When I first came to London, I loved hanging around in cafes, smoking, scribbling, and dreaming. It was life-affirming and fun.” – Peter Capaldi

In this chapter, I will discuss life in London, costs of living here, as well as preparation for moving to this new metropolitan city where you plan to start your acting career. To jump to other sections of the Acting With No Experience series, please use the table of contents below.

II. PREPARING TO MOVE

2.1 Why Move to London?

When it comes to the acting hubs of the world, London is right up there at the top of the list with places like Los Angeles and New York City. Known as the “Mecca of theatre”, London has dozens of acting schools, drama schools, plenty of large and small theaters, and more hubs and neighborhoods for aspiring or established actors.

Although London has more opportunities for stage plays and tours at the moment, it is rapidly catching up to Los Angeles in terms of jobs available in film and television. Even Los Angeles-based productions are now often casting actors in London either for shooting in the UK or bringing them to Hollywood.

Acting in London.

For aspiring actors outside of major cities, moving to London is a smart career choice. There are a number of reasons why as an actor, whether a beginner or a veteran performer, you should consider a move to London. For new actors or those just getting into show business, London’s drama schools and acting classes are the biggest draw.

There are dozens of places available to choose from to start your acting training. Well-known acting classes have new actors taught by experienced professionals in a variety of different acting techniques, voice and movement training, and any other skills that actors often find helpful to further their careers.

Drama schools are the epitome of best, most rigorous acting training a thespian can receive, and those are found all over London. In fact, many experienced American actors as well as performers from all over the world often choose to move to London in order to train at one of these prestigious places. Some of them choose a full three-year formal training course while others may take a shot at shorter yet more intensive training.

In addition to the numerous schools that an actor must train at to continue to progress, London offers a plethora of theatres for performances and shows. Whether you’re brand spanking new or already have a background in performance arts, there’s a part for you.

Auditions are held all the time and the number of productions continues to grow. London’s variety of different shows allows actors to build up an impressive resume of stage plays, all while staying in one major city. Not only is this convenient for someone who wants to perform, but it also makes the city a vibrant home for people who love the arts. You can definitely find people who share your passion here.

With these reasons coming together, it’s clear that London is one of the acting capitals of the world. While it may not be as easily recognized as Hollywood or Bollywood, it’s clearly an important area in the world of acting and drama, whether you’re looking for work and experience in theatre, film, television, comedy, improv or new media.

 

2.2 Paperwork and Legal Stuff

Unfortunately, moving to London from another country isn’t exactly easy. Moving to any different country is going to require a lot of planning and paperwork, but their requirements are especially very strict in order to become a resident of the U.K. Luckily, there’s a lot of information available to help you get started on your journey overseas. We’ve gathered some of the more important steps in the process here for you, so you can ready your documentation and start planning.

Disclaimer. This section is going to be important for anybody moving to a different country, particularly when you need to acquire a visa to be able to study and work long-term. However, note that I am NOT an attorney, nor do I know all the laws of immigration to give you a completely accurate advice. Below is what I have found to be true for myself and many other actors from doing a lot of research. I highly recommend you to look into this further yourself and check the links.

Remember that if you live anywhere within the European Union (EU) or in a country that’s part of European Economic Area (EEA), and you’re planning to move to the United Kingdom, you need not worry about this step, because the laws of immigration have already permitted all EU citizens to come and go as they please. With potential changes as a result of Brexit, the situation may be different, but there were no plans for changes at the time of this writing (October, 2016).

If you’re moving to the UK from anywhere outside of EU, such as from USA or India, then this chapter is specifically for you. Immigration is an extremely important step that needs a lot of careful planning before you can even consider packing up and leaving.

Moving FAQs.

The only way you’re going to be able to train and work as an actor in London is if you have a legal right to be there.  Make sure to start looking into this at least a year before you decide to move to London.  I’ve immigrated to several countries over the years, including UK and US, so this comes from a lot of personal experience.

Here are some of the common questions and answers:

• Why do I need a visa when moving to US or UK? You cannot enter the country without a visa. You need at least a tourist visa to go through the border.
• Can I come to the UK or US with a tourist visa? You can come, and you can even join a short-term acting class, but you cannot earn any income on a tourist visa, and you cannot stay for too long either.
• How long can I stay on a tourist visa? Usually, tourist visas allow people to stay in the country somewhere between 3 and 6 months.
• What acting training can I do on a tourist visa? Most private acting schools will accept you for training and won’t even ask about the visa, but you have to keep in mind the term of their training since you’re stay in the country is limited.
• Can I go to a drama school on a tourist visa? When you’re applying to a drama school as an international student, they will explain you everything about visas, and help you get one for the period of your study.
• What visa do I need to move to and work in the US? There are two ways you can move to the US, stay for a prolonged period of time and legally earn income as an actor. You need either O-1B visa, or a Green Card (more of these below).
• What visa do I need to move to and work in the UK? UK has a few Tiers on visas, but as an actor, you will have to apply for either Tier 2 (less likely) or Tier 5 (more likely) visas. More on this below.

Now let’s talk about the most important visas that you can try to acquire and the only ones that will allow you to move to and work in UK or US.  I’ll begin with the USA visas.

Tier 2 and Tier 5 Visas.

United Kingdom’s visa regulations are a little more complicated and difficult to define, so you’re going to have to work with a professional to acquire the necessary visa that will allow you to stay and work in the UK.

Tier 5 is a common visa for actors, which allows you as a Creative Worker to temporarily stay and earn income within the country.  These are good for one year, and you can extend it afterwards.  Tier 2 visa is an occupation based visa, usually given to applicants in the fields where there is a shortage of UK workers.  I haven’t heard of any actors coming on a Tier 2 visa to the UK, but I encourage you browse through the below resources anyway.

• General UK immigration info: https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration
• See what visa you need: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa
• Official visa application website: https://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk
• More information on UK: https://www.internations.org/london-expats/guide
• Forum for further immigration questions: http://www.immigrationboards.com
• Tips on moving to UK: https://www.internations.org/london-expats/guide
• Tier 5 visa: https://www.gov.uk/tier-5-temporary-worker-creative-and-sporting-visa/

No matter where in the world you are from, the only way you’re going to get a visa is by going to one of the official UK government websites and finding out from there what it is you have to do.  The visa process is complicated and takes a lot of research to understand what specifically applies to you. Each country may vary in prices and application, but at the end of the day, these websites will be your best bet for efficiently getting all the necessary information.

Let’s take a closer look at visas, various documents, passports and what other paperwork you may need to take care of before you can move to London.

A quick note. For the rest of this chapter, we’ll use a US citizen as an example of someone wanting to move to London, UK from overseas. However, all the tips are usually applicable to majority of other countries and the process and documents are similar in one way or another.

Passport.

The first obvious thing you’ll need is a passport. Your passport will serve as the best identification of yourself and your nationality anytime you go overseas. Your U.S. license or identification card won’t matter; it’s only good in the States. You’ll need this document if you want to visit London before you move, and you’ll also need it to apply for a visa.

If you don’t have it yet, then getting a passport is not a quick process in most countries. It can take up to two months for it to be processed and completed, so you should do this as soon as possible. If you really need to, you can pay a hefty fee to have it expedited. If you’ve never had a passport before, you’ll need to apply in person.

When applying, make sure you bring all the necessary documents; you’ll need your proof of citizenship (usually your birth certificate) and a photo identification (usually your driver’s license). They’ll want a photocopy of these documents, which you can have ready before you go, or they can do it at the office.

You will also need to have a suitable picture of yourself ready for your passport. From doing a bit of research, it seems that most countries do not take a pictures at the offices.

There are many requirements for the photo; it must be in color, a 2”x2” square, printed out on thin, photo-quality paper. It must be from within the last six months and must show your full face. You should not wear any hats or headgear, but if you normally wear glasses or other aids, you should include those in the photo. The picture must be taken in front of a white or off-white background.

Worried about getting the right photo by yourself? Many places will offer passport photography. If you live in the US, then check CVS, UPS, and similar places.

Finally, you need the form “DS-11: Application for U.S. Passport”. This must be filled out by hand, but you can complete it before you visit the office. The worst part of the whole ordeal? You’ll need to fork over $165 for both types of passport. After everything is set, you’ll receive your new passport in the mail.

Getting a passport in your home country is actually the easiest portion of paperwork you’ll deal with when moving overseas. The worst part? Visas.

Getting Visas.

We’re back to visas again, since it’s an important topic to cover and many aspiring actors about to move to the UK are often confused by this complicated process.

Once you have your passport for travel, you can visit the UK for up to 6 months as a tourist with no special visas required. If you’re a US citizen, then your passport acts as a ‘tourist visa’. The same applies to many other countries that maintain a relationship with the United Kingdom.

However, if you want to move to the UK and live here, just the passport alone won’t do. You’ll need to apply for another type of visa that permits you to stay for a longer period of time and allow you to work. For aspiring actors, the most common visas are student visas (for drama schools) and work visas (regular acting jobs). These two types of visas will grant you access to London for a longer period of time, allowing you to continue the process of immigration once you arrive.

While the visa is the most important part of paperwork you need to move to London, try not to get overwhelmed. The process for obtaining a visa is actually fairly simple as long as you have the correct identification and information.

Coming from the United States, you won’t have as        much to worry about when it comes to applying for a visa. The UK government website is also a great resource that walks you through the process of immigration. To get started, check out this short ‘quiz’ that tells you if you need a visa and if so, what kind of visa you’ll need to apply for.

If you plan on studying in London’s drama school, a student visa is the way to go. There are three different visas: short-term, child, and general. As long as you are over 16, you’ll be looking at the general visa option. Applying for the visa can be long and stressful due to waiting and the unknown, so be sure to give yourself several months to finish the process and receive approval.

To qualify for the student visa, you must have been offered a place in a course. This includes London’s drama schools. You must be able to speak, read, and write English and have enough money to support yourself and pay for your courses. You will be able to stay in the country for as long as you are in school, and can apply to extend your stay as needed. The visa also allows you to arrive early to prepare before beginning the course. A student visa costs £328, or $426.

The other type of visa you may consider is a work visa (https://www.gov.uk/tier-2-general). There are many different kinds of work visas, and the kind you’ll apply for depends on your skills and the work you’ll be doing.

Most people will be applying for a Tier 2 General Work Visa. In order to qualify for a work visa, you must have already been offered a ‘skilled job’ in the UK. You must also have someone willing to sponsor you. In order to be a sponsor, they must be recognized by the government and be related to the field you want to work in.

A Tier 2 General visa is valid for up to five years and 14 days, depending on the job, and can be extended as needed. For a regular three year visa, you’ll pay £575 ($746) the first time, or slightly less if your job is currently in demand. For longer than three years, you’ll need to pay £1,151 (about $1,500) for your visa.

In addition to these application fees, you’ll also need to pay the healthcare surcharge for Europe’s universal healthcare plans. This will vary depending on how long you will be in the country; check to make sure, as this can easily add another $1,000 to the fee. If you are applying for a work visa, your family is allowed to come with you. Just be prepared for additional fees, especially when it comes to the healthcare surcharge.

These are only the most common visas; there are many other options available. You will likely only be getting one of these two, however, as they are the most used visas.

You can pursue a short-term student visa or temporary work visa if you just want to get into the country. However, it’s always better to plan ahead so you don’t find yourself stranded with no way home if your visa runs out before you can find a longer course or employment that allows you to get a work visa.

Many people run into problems getting a visa because they haven’t gotten the proper documentation either from the drama school or their employer in the UK. It’s important to plan well in advance, and to gather as much documentation as possible while you apply to drama schools or acting jobs here.

Make sure you keep in touch with the school or employer so they know you are going to be coming from another country. They can help you navigate the process of applying for a visa and should be willing to provide information as needed. Remember, the visa process can take a few months, so ensure you and your potential employer and school are on the same page about when you will actually start work or a course.

Once you are sure you have everything you need to fill out the paperwork, you can start the application. If you’re an American, then it’s very easy to get this process started in the United States, but it’s also similar for many other countries. Check out the UK’s government link for more information on applying here.

People applying from the US can submit their application online, making it very convenient. When submitting your online visa application, you’ll also need to pay the fee. Have your payment method ready!

Once your application is complete, you need to schedule an appointment at a physical location for your photo and fingerprinting. This information is needed for your UK biometric residence permit. There are US Department of Homeland Security Application Support Centers located all around the country, but depending on where you live, you might have a bit of a drive for your appointment.

To make sure you’re prepared, have your passport, a printed copy of your complete application, and the receipt from your paid application. You can log back into your visa account at any time to print this information. When visiting the ASC for your appointment, remember that you will not be allowed to use any cell phones or cameras inside – be prepared!

After your appointment, you’ll have everything you need to mail your supporting documents and visa information out. You need to have it in the mail within five days of your appointment, so don’t dawdle!

Make sure you include your completed application form, your stamped biometric confirmation receipt from the appointment, and any supporting documents proving your identity and work/school obligations in the UK. Don’t forget your passport – without it, your visa will automatically be refused!

You’ll also need to include a prepaid electronic shipping label so that your paperwork and passport can be returned to you. If you want to keep track of your application after it’s shipped, pay an extra fee for priority service before mailing it out. Include the receipt for priority service with your application.

Once everything has been put in the mail, your part is done! Now you just have wait. The amount of time it takes to review and approve your visa can vary greatly, so try to be patient. It can take a few months.

Residence Card.

For people who’ve been in London for years now, this should be the next step. If you already have a work visa or plan to apply for one after finishing school, you can apply for settlement in the UK, also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’. This will let you receive a new biometric residence permit saying you have settled permanently. This basically qualifies you as a resident of the UK, and helps you travel into the country more easily, gives you benefits and services provided to residents, and shows your eligibility for employment.

To qualify for a Residence Card, you must have been working using your work visa for 5 years. You have had continuous residence in the UK during this time. You must still be employed, and your job must pay over a certain amount. Certain exceptions can apply, so ask questions often as you move from the immigration process.

To get started with the application, you’ll need the complete application form, two passport photographs, your original passport or other identification card, work visa verification, job verification, and salary info. As these documents will all need to be processed and verified, the application for permanent residency can take over six months.

You should start preparing to file the application with the government before your visa expires so there will be no lapse. When sending your application out, don’t forget that there is a large fee – £1,875 (nearly $2,500) per person. If you apply in person for priority service, you’ll pay £2,375 ($3,082).

While applying for a visa is usually simple enough to do on your own, it is often recommended to use the services of an immigration officer for your application for permanency. There are a lot of things to go through, and it’s always possible something can go wrong, leaving you high and dry.

While using a professional can obviously make the process more expensive, it does help you ensure it goes through the first time, and that you don’t end up owing more fees for having to apply more than once. It also helps you avoid lapses in legal residency, which can lead to you being deported. Your job may be able to help you with the process, and some companies have dedicated immigration specialists for their workers.

 

2.3 Choosing Acting Training

I’m a big fan of planning when it comes to things like this.  I strongly believe that knowing what you’re going to do helps you avoid stress and falling into those pitfalls of simply meandering around, trying to jump on opportunities.  Before you move to a new location specifically to pursue a career as an actor, you must have a plan of action.

It goes without saying that training is every actor’s first priority.  Actors must always stay in training when they’re not working.  When it comes to choices for training, London has plenty of those.  You only have to decide what type of training you’re going after, and which one you can afford both financially and time-wise.

For example, a drama school will take you 3 (UK) to 4 (US) years to complete, and you’ll be in school every single day, 9 to 5, training.  It’s a big commitment.  Private acting schools, classes and workshops are a lot easier on your time and your pocket, but you also train less.  There are a lot of evening acting classes that you can choose from in both cities.

A quick note on training. All throughout this book, when I mention drama schools, I refer to accredited 3- or 4-year programs in official institutions with versatile acting training and academic curriculum, just like any other University or College.  When I mention acting classes, I’m referring to any type of acting schools, classes and workshops that are privately held and have no accreditation or government backing.  Most of these private acting schools hold their classes in the evenings, are very short and more specific, but some do have long-term programs that emulate those seen in drama schools.  For more on the difference between drama schools and acting classes, I recommend you read this article.

If you pick to go to a drama school for your long-term, all-around training, then you can’t very well move to London and expect to join it right off the bat when you haven’t even applied to train there.  Drama school application process is not only long where you need at least 6 months in advance to apply and audition for it, but it’s also difficult.  Many apply to drama schools, but not that many get into them.  Acting schools and classes are usually much easier to join, most don’t require auditions, and it’s likely you will find one or two that you can become a part of right after you made the move.

Either way, whether you’re planning to commit to drama school’s long-term training, or choose to do weekly evening acting classes instead, all of this requires at least an application or registration, and a little bit of planning.  So let’s plan together as I walk you through the process in a few concise steps. If you want some really in-depth advice on how to research, choose and get into a drama school in the UK or the US, find the “drama school” book on Acting in London website.

Make a Choice.

First, we need to do some research and find places where you can apply once you made the move.  This can be rather hard as there are quite a few schools to harness your acting abilities in London – each of them offering different courses over different periods of time.  It’s inevitable that choosing just one school is going to be hard, particularly when it comes to drama schools, but you cannot go to all of them.  With evening acting classes, you will have more time, therefore you may be able to pick several.

There are a few important factors you need to take into consideration when researching places to study acting: 1) the location, 2) the fees, and 3) what type of acting training the school specializes in (for acting classes only; drama schools are all-around). School’s reputation, both for evening acting classes and drama schools, can also mean a lot, because no actor’s training is equal.

Here’s a word of advice on acting classes from personal experience.  Do not choose a place to study acting just because it’s the popular choice among many others, or because you know someone who went there, or because you believe it will look good on your resume.   You need a quality institution that has acting teacher(s) who can help you become a better actor – not an average school that’s marketed well and is recommended because everybody else goes there.  That will backfire.

If you’re really having trouble choosing a drama school or acting classes because you like the sound of them all, then this is what you do.  For acting classes, find top five choices in the city, and keep that list. You don’t need to enroll before moving there, but it’s a good idea to inquire them over email with all the questions you have.  For drama schools, research the best ones and compile a top three list of schools you would like to enroll in, and apply to them all to raise your chances of getting accepted.

It is then up to you to get the application, fill it out and send it through. It should be rather obvious that this needs to be done before entries close, as you cannot apply to a school that’s no longer accepting applications.  All deadlines for applications can be found on that particular drama school’s website, and if you’re ever in doubt, then simply email or call them.  The admissions office are there to help people in your situation.

The application process can take a while for the school to get back to you and tell you what’s going to be happening from there on end, so you should try and apply as soon as you can – that way, if you have to move to your new location a little earlier to audition for the school, you can.  Again, with acting classes, it’s not important to apply this early.  A month in advance is usually more than enough, unless it’s a long-term study program.

 

2.4 The Moving Process

By now you’ve checked out London and gotten your visa for travel. Now what? Well, now comes the fun of planning for your actual move. Unfortunately, it’s not like you can just rent a truck and drive all of our belongings to your new home if you live overseas.

For the Americans (or people in a similar situation), since London is “across the pond”, you’ll have to look into getting your items shipped. It’s not exactly easy, but we’ve compiled some tips to help you start following your acting dream in the great city of London. Remember, you should start planning for your move as soon as you’ve made your decision to settle here.

The process of moving overseas can be very long, and depending on paperwork, you can look at several months of preparation and planning to get there. The earlier you start preparing, the sooner you can arrive in your dream city for your dream job!

Moving Company.

Once you have decided to relocate to London, you should start looking at different moving companies. These days, there are dozens of international moving companies that can help you transport your belongings overseas. You should look at a few different options to ensure you find a moving company that works for you and your move.

When checking them out, make sure you give consideration to these questions:

• What insurance does the company carry, and what is covered?
• How many moves to London have they completed for other customers?
• Are they familiar with the route for this specific move?
• How long has the company been in business?
• What is the price for moving your goods to London?
• Are there any extra hidden fees?
• Who’s handling customs forms, you or the moving company?

Once you’ve made your choice about which company to go with, make sure you get a contract up front detailing your responsibility, the price of the move, and the delivery date for your items. Keep this with you during your journey so you’ll have the details and their contact information in case of any issues.

Inventory.

The first thing to do when you have your move date in mind? Take inventory of everything you own. If you aren’t attached to it, get rid of it! Seriously, you want to bring as little as possible with you.

If you can easily some of your stuff in London, get rid of it. Don’t use it anymore? Get rid of it. Something big and bulky you don’t often need? Get rid of it. It’s going to be more expensive and time consuming with more things that you try to bring with you, so seriously downsize before your big move.

In addition to being a hassle to move your things, the UK has a limit on the amount of items you can bring into the country before you have to pay duty or tax. The rate for items declared after your allowance of £390 ($506) worth of items, you’ll pay 2.5% duty on any item valued less than £630 ($818). More will be owed on items with a higher value.

On top of that, you may be responsible for paying Import VAT on the total value of your items. The typical cost for this is a whopping 20% of your total, so plan accordingly.

When going through your things, make sure to check with the London laws to ensure your items are not restricted. Restricted items will be seized and you may find yourself in some legal trouble. In a worst case scenario, your visa will be revoked and you’ll have to leave the country.

Things to avoid:

• Illegal drugs
• Weapons of any kind
• Firearms
• Pepper spray or mace
• Certain plants
• Many foods
• Pornography
• Pirated music or movies
• Rough diamonds
• Excessive amounts of liquor or tobacco products

Don’t feel like you should throw all your old belongings away. This is a great opportunity to make some extra cash for your move. You can use sites like eBay, Reddit, and Facebook to list items for sale that you don’t want to bring.

A garage or tag sale is also a great idea to get rid of those last few things. You might be able to find your stuff a new home while also earning some pocket money. Anything you can’t sell, you can always donate. Places like Goodwill and Salvation Army are always looking for things they can pick up.

Pack Up.

Obviously, packing is something you’ll need to do for any moving trip, but it requires a bit of extra care when moving overseas to London. Your stuff will be in transit for quite some time, moving from trucks to boats and back to trucks. It’s too easy for your things to get damaged if you skimp of good packaging supplies and avoid proper packing advice.

Start by gathering up the supplies you’ll need. You want heavy-duty packaging tape, sturdy cardboard boxes, and plenty of bubble wrap or other padding products for fragile items.

While you can use lower-quality boxes for short moves, such as those picked up from a grocery store or a friend, you’ll want to splurge and get the good stuff from a hardware store or moving company for your relocation to London. Don’t forget – your stuff will be crossing an ocean, possibly getting damp and salty; having the sturdy box is a smart idea.

Next comes the packing. You can always have a moving company do this, but it will be pricey and you might have trouble finding exactly what you need when you arrive in London. If you can, just watch some videos from moving companies and people who have traveled overseas on how to properly pack.

Remember to use lots of padding in the form of bubble wrap, blankets, and even clothing. Make sure you fill boxes enough so the content won’t rattle around as they are moved. Once the box is full, tape it up securely and consider doing a second layer so everything stays sealed.

Insure Your Goods.

Accidents happen. In order to protect yourself, you need to have your items insured. As we discussed above, your moving company should have insurance available for themselves and your goods.

However, you may need to choose a plan that is right for you and the amount of things you are transporting. Make sure to always read the fine print of any insurance policy you take through a moving company, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

You can also insure your goods through another company. This can most often be done through the home or renters insurance you have before moving. Often times, you can call them and extend your policy through when your items will arrive in London.

Note that not every insurance company will provide this service, so don’t assume it applies to you. Call and make sure you can be covered.

Pets.

If you have any furry friends, you’ll need to make the tough decision of whether to bring them with you, or leave them in your home country with family members or another home. Luckily, if you do decide to bring your pet with you to London, the UK has less strict requirements on animals entering the country from the USA (it may be different for other countries).

To enter the country with your pet dog, cat, or ferret (other small animals have no limitations, although a quarantine may be needed), you’ll need to ensure they meet the requirements.

There are three very important rules to be followed:

• Your pet must be microchipped;
• Your pet must have a pet passport;
• Your pet must be vaccinated against rabies.

Why is it so important to make sure these tasks have been fulfilled? If you try to enter the country with your pet without meeting all these requirements, your pet could be placed in quarantine for up to 4 months. They could also be refused entry. This could cause you a lot of logistical problems and fees – not to mention the fact that you and your pet will be separated.

You’ll need to have a veterinary visit before you try to move your pet overseas. This is where you’ll get your pet’s passport, which includes all their health and vaccination information. You should schedule your veterinary appointment at least a month before the move – if your pet needs a vaccine, it will need to be done at least 21 days before they arrive in the new country.

After you ensure that your pet is in good health and meets the UK requirements, your vet can also help you learn how to make your pet comfortable for traveling, whether you’ll be sending them off by sea or air.

In addition to meeting these requirements, your pet must also arrive in the UK the same time you do. There is a 5 day window in which your pet can arrive, either before or after your own arrival. You’ll need to ensure the pet travel service is an approved company as well. You should provide the travel service with your pet’s vet records, bill of health, and other important documents so they will be ready to go upon their arrival in the country.

Take the same amount of time and care with your pet’s paperwork that you do with your own. Remember that if you are using an immigration professional to help you with your visa, they will also be knowledgeable about moving with pets. They can help you with paperwork and advice on moving your furry friend overseas.

Currency Transfer.

One of the last things to do, right before you move, is transfer most of your currency into pounds (GBP). You’ll want to be able to purchase things right away, so you’ll need to be prepared before you actually arrive in the UK.

There are a few different ways to transfer your currency, but the easiest way for immigrants is to either see if their bank offers the service or use a currency broker. Using a broker familiar with British pounds will ensure you can get the best exchange rate. In a pinch, you can also try to transfer money using an online service such as PayPal. If you are leaving soon and need some spending money, this will work in the short-term.

Any way you transfer funds is going to be efficient, but be aware of any fees you may incur. This is especially true with your bank and PayPal. They may have expensive transfer or ATM fees, especially when it comes to international use. Also, make sure you are knowledgeable about the current exchange rate. Even if you let someone else take care of exchanging your currency, make sure you stay involved so you know what’s happening with your money.

 

2.5 Researching, Planning and Packing

Whether you’re moving from another country or just another city within the country, it would be a good idea to research the differences between where you’re from and where you’re going.  Being prepared for these differences will make you so much more at ease when it comes to moving and will make the experience significantly more pleasant in general.

If you’re moving from somewhere else in the UK, then there won’t be too many changes that you’ll have to endure, unless you’re moving from a really rural area.  If you have never been to London before, it’s going to be substantially different experience from any other places you have ever been to because of how fast-paced, big and crowded this city is. It’s also one of the world’s most expensive places to live, as we have already established.

Moving from somewhere else in the world, especially if it is a place that’s the polar opposite of London, can be quite a culture shock, therefore, it would probably be wise to acknowledge these differences before you fully immerse yourself in them.

Aside from the cultural thing, you will quickly notice how dependable you are on public transport in London (which is great, by the way). But taken this into consideration, also the fact how busy the streets are which makes driving almost impossible, you will need to plan each excruciating detail of everything that should or could happen from when you arrive to your new home city onwards.

Planning Arrival.

Naturally, if you know someone in the city you’re moving to, it would be a good idea to ask them to help you when you arrive, as it’s more reassuring to know that somebody from there will be waiting for you on the other side.  If you haven’t planned out your trip to a “t,” then this whole journey can turn into a disaster very fast.

If you don’t know anybody in London before moving there, and you need to find a way to get to where you’re staying by yourself, then the best thing to do would be to simply grab a taxi cab or Uber once you’re at the airport. For the peace of mind, you can grab five taxi phone numbers online before leaving, but this really isn’t necessary: everybody has a phone with an App and 4LTE connection these days.

Also, one thing you’ll quickly notice once you’re in London is how many taxi cabs they have around.  In general, people are friendly and very helpful in this city, so don’t be afraid to ask if you’re ever lost.

Quick advice from personal experience: don’t plan to use public transportation on your arrival. You’ll get confused, lost and will start to panic. Have the address of your end destination – be it a hotel or a place you’ve rented out in advance – written down on a piece of paper and in your phone, and spend a few pounds on a taxi or Uber to complete your trip calmly and stress-free.

Your New Place.

After you’ve laid out the whole journey for yourself on how it is you’re going to get from point A (airport or train station) to point B (where you’ll be staying), then there’s not much else you need to plan for, as the rest is pretty easy.

It would be a good idea to compile a list of everything that should be done to ensure you start off your journey in London on a positive note.  For example, if you’re trying to save money, buying food for home cooking should be pretty high up on that list; it’s very easy to start indulging in everything big cities have to offer food-wise.

But do remember to spend some time enjoying yourself for a week or so, exploring the city and just relaxing for a bit before the journey beings.  Once you’re ready, focus on what other essential things you need to do, such as finding a place to live, opening up a bank account, looking for a job, getting into an acting class or preparing for drama school classes, networking and finding friends, or any other assignments to get you all set up and going in London.

Don’t forget to research some emergency numbers – like the number for an ambulance, police, or the government, if you’re in that kind of trouble – just to have them with you at all times in case you need them.  Having a solid plan is always reassuring, so make sure to plan as many details as you can, including what you need to take with you; that way it’s less scary to be in a new place on your own.

If you’re too lazy to research this, let me help you a little:

112 or 999 – police, ambulance or fire urgent emergencies in London
101 – non-urgent police emergency or to report a crime

Also, just in case, I’ve put together a quick list of things to take for your consideration just so that you don’t miss anything:

• Paperwork. Visa papers (if required), passport, ID, drama school paperwork (if necessary), travel insurance, plane/train/bus tickets, hotel booking confirmations. And take copies of your IDs/passport and store them safely somewhere just in case.
• Money. Have cash and cards ready, and if you’re moving from overseas, have some British pounds with you before you arrive.
• UK plug adaptors. Buy a few of these before leaving home (thank me later).
• Laptop. You can’t do anything without a computer these days.
• Smartphone with GPS, Mobile Data and Google Maps. I highly recommend preparing this and making sure it all works; it will save your life.
• Chargers for everything. For everything!
• Clothes. Seasonal clothes (only for the season), some casual wear, something to wear for job interviews, black canvas kit for acting classes (black t-shirt, black trainers, black comfy shoes).
• Book(s). This is for those long trips on the plane/train/bus; but don’t get too distracted!
• Address of end destination. Have it on a piece of paper as well as in your phone, just in case.
• List of emergency phone numbers. I listed those above.
• Small notebook and two pens in hand luggage. Again, you can thank me for this tip later.
• Snacks and water. For longer trips.

That’s about it for the really important stuff. Don’t go crazy packing – your new life begins elsewhere from now on, and you’ll probably want a fresh start.

Packing.

Once you’ve finished planning, and everything’s good to go, it’s time to commence with the dreadful task that is packing.  Some people enjoy packing and planning, but I don’t; I believe it’s the worst part of moving, simply because there’s so much effort involved in putting away stuff that you’re just going to take out again later.  To top it all off, there’s the really hard decision you have to make on what to pack and what to throw away.

Simply mailing a bunch of things will probably cost you more than if you were to buy them on location, which is why you need to spend a good amount of time deciding what to take, and what to leave behind.  Plus, isn’t it exciting to take as few items with you as possible and then start your acting journey in a new city from a clean sheet of paper?

Firstly, you’ll have to decide which household objects you desperately need to take with you.  Note that very often student accommodation or a place you’ll rent will supply you with a bed, and so if a bed is all you need, then congratulations, you’ve just saved yourself a ton of money (this was my approach which I highly recommend).  If it’s not, and you feel the intense need to take your entire bookshelf, all the wardrobe, a massive desktop PC, and a giant stuffed bear, then you’re going to have to research how to get it all to London, and how much it’ll cost you.

It’s also a good idea to check how long it’ll take to arrive, that way you can send it beforehand and hopefully have it come shortly after you do.  Don’t forget to research how much it’ll cost to take all your luggage with you via different forms of transportation, i.e. plane, train, bus, rentals, etc. My personal word of advice on clothing: if the size of your wardrobe is bigger than the size of your suitcase, it’s a good indication that you should leave some of those clothes behind.

 

2.6 Things to do Before Moving to London

Moving to London to pursue a career as an actor is a big decision that requires careful planning and thorough understanding of what awaits you. You need to plan your move well to avoid any pitfalls, and to save yourself time and money.

Nevertheless, it’s a move that’s inevitable for majority of ambitious actors whose dreams do not align with keeping acting as their hobby and performing in community theatres on the weekends. On top of that, you get to live the true life of an artist and surround yourself with other like-minded people who share your passion and understand your goals.

Have a Plan.

This is what this book is for, to help you plan your journey. It was said many times before that something called “overnight success” does not exist outside of celebrity magazines. Therefore, in order to start from the right foot after moving and then living in London, as well as get somewhere in this big pool of talent and competition, you need a great business plan for yourself.

Consider your options and what you’re going to do once you make the move. Think of ideas how you can start earning acting credits and experience as soon as possible in case no auditions come your way just yet.

My first advice would be to try and produce your own content if nothing comes along right off the bat. Don’t wait for someone to cast you; cast yourself! Maybe you can write a short film or a web series and find people to produce it with? Try connecting with folks from your new acting class, or even your survival job.

Knowing exactly where you’re going and what you’re doing will save you time and money, that way ensuring that you’re working efficiently the minute you land (or arrive to) in London. This is especially true if you want to spend the least amount of time exploring and more time moving your acting career forward.

This reminds me of the way great director Ridley Scott works. He believes in thorough planning to avoid any types of mistakes, and to move efficiently and effectively thorough the filming process of the movie.

“Never take your notes into a pitch, because you’ll turn a good film into a development deal. Once you’re green lit you can change it then. I storyboarded the entire film, right through everything. they aren’t stick figures, they are wide shots, mediums, etc. With the power of the board — we doubled the budget…” – Ridley Scott, director

The exact same system of thorough planning (storyboarding) should be applied to an actor’s career, and particularly when you’re just starting out. Therefore, when you’re planning your arrival to London, what you want to think of are things like where you’re going to stay, where you are going to take acting classes, how you’ll find survival jobs and what else you can do with your time.

If you decide to produce your own content, which is one of the best decisions you can make for your career at the very start, then plan for that as well. Consider where to go to find associates or how to raise a little money for your project. Revise your business plan before the actual move so that you spend less time thinking and have more time for action when you’re at the location.

Get Experience.

Actors who aren’t in a rush yet (maybe you’re saving money for the move) can take advantage of that time as well. If you’re just thinking about moving to London and are yet to make the leap, then consider gaining some real acting experience first in your hometown.

There are many things you can do while you’re waiting to save enough cash and move. Anything from starting your acting CV/resume (more on this later), researching the industry, reading acting books and making connections through social media with people in the city you want to move to will be very beneficial.

To start with, get into an acting class or join a local community theatre or a drama club. On the basis of these activities, you will understand whether acting is something you want to dedicate your life to. You will also gain the knowledge and hone your acting chops so that you’re ready for the bigger market with larger pool of experienced talent and competition.

Make Connections.

In these times when everybody is on the social media platforms, and emails are the primary form of contact, it’s fairly easy to make connections anywhere in the entertainment industry. On top of that, those connections can bring you much more work than any acting training or drama school degree could (more on this in later chapters).

Find like-minded people and fellow actors or filmmakers from the city you’re moving to and discuss potential opportunities. Maybe they’re thinking about launching a new project and looking for a partner? You can possibly shake hands on a project you’ll do together (a short film, web series, or a spec commercial) and secure yourself a job right off the bat.

Once ready, ask your new connections questions and don’t be shy to inquire them for advice. Usually people are more than happy to share their own experience and knowledge with newcomers in showbiz (we all have egos). Sometimes, such conversations might lead to more valuable connections, like a filmmaker who’s currently producing a short film and would like you to audition for.

Join the Union.

In the UK, all professional actors will have to join Equity actors’ union. In the US, you’ll have to become SAG-AFTRA eligible first, and then join whenever you decide. Making this one of your priorities before moving to London may benefit you a little but it’s not essential. How can it benefit you?

First, you’ll have one less thing to worry about when you’re in London and you’re already struggling and worrying about too many other things (there’s always less pressure in your hometown). You may also want to join Spotlight – the UK’s #1 casting website – as soon as you’re eligible to do so. It’s not easy, however.

Second, pushing through everything just to be able to become a member of the Equity union (which requires some acting experience) will make you a better actor and you’ll understand how much effort it takes to actually make it in this business.

Save Up.

This one is the last on the list, but it’s arguably the most important part of your planning and preparation. Saving money could be either a tough assignment to accomplish, or an easy one, depending how rich you or your parents are. Unfortunately, money is a big factor for a newbie actor (or any actor, really) who’s just started pursuing this career in a very expensive city like London.

Don’t buy into all those stories of actors coming to the city with no money and sleeping in theatres. It’s not realistic and not sustainable for most of us, and it’s likely that majority of those stories have all been made up or at least extremely exaggerated. Without having saved up some cash, you will most likely go broke in a week, starve for another week and then go home defeated. This is how it goes for many new actors who decide to move on a whim with no proper planning.

To avoid that downfall, you must maintain a healthy balance of naiveté. Being naive for an actor is not necessarily a bad thing, as the quote from Steve Martin below says, but you also should maintain a good amount of skepticism and ground yourself in reality.

“Through the years, I have learned there is no harm in charging oneself up with delusions between moments of valid inspiration.” – Steve Martin

Be one of the few smarter actors when it comes to pursuing your acting career goals and plan well. Prepare yourself properly by reading plenty of books, researching this industry, talking to other people and knowing exactly how you’re going to launch yourself into the market as soon as you move to London.

Money, experience, connections and your acting career’s business plan are just some of the things you should strongly consider before making the big move. If anything else pops into your head what you can do before packing and leaving, then write it down. A good plan of action will never hurt your career.

Be a clever actor, make smart choices and prepare yourself for that “overnight success”. It will only happen if you make it happen.

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