So, about a year ago I found out that having a british mother meant that I could apply for citizenship.
12 months and a couple thousand dollars later, I'm officially a dual citizen. The consulate gave me a rather official looking certificate, a little flag lapel pin, and a booklet on my rights & responsibilities.
They didn't, however, give me anything on, as it were, the practical.
For example: in the US, we have this thing called a Social Security Number. Initially it was designed to serve as an identifier for tax and welfare purposes, but it's become used as an all-purpose identifier; credit providers, medical insurers, college, employers, and pretty much every large organization you come in contact with uses your SSN as a unique identifier, even if it's technically illegal in a lot of cases.
Does the UK have a similar identifier?
That's kind of specific, though, and I was kind of hoping for general advice. Let me rephrase a bit.
I'm a college student in the US right now, but I am considering a move to the UK after I graduate. What kinds of things ought I really know BEFORE I get there?
This may be a weird place to ask for advice, but my only other real source is watching Top Gear and all that's taught me is that driving in London is insane, that there's something called a "congestion fee" that is the source of all evil in the world, and that they ought to take the bus lanes off the M4, I think it is.
12 months and a couple thousand dollars later, I'm officially a dual citizen. The consulate gave me a rather official looking certificate, a little flag lapel pin, and a booklet on my rights & responsibilities.
They didn't, however, give me anything on, as it were, the practical.
For example: in the US, we have this thing called a Social Security Number. Initially it was designed to serve as an identifier for tax and welfare purposes, but it's become used as an all-purpose identifier; credit providers, medical insurers, college, employers, and pretty much every large organization you come in contact with uses your SSN as a unique identifier, even if it's technically illegal in a lot of cases.
Does the UK have a similar identifier?
That's kind of specific, though, and I was kind of hoping for general advice. Let me rephrase a bit.
I'm a college student in the US right now, but I am considering a move to the UK after I graduate. What kinds of things ought I really know BEFORE I get there?
This may be a weird place to ask for advice, but my only other real source is watching Top Gear and all that's taught me is that driving in London is insane, that there's something called a "congestion fee" that is the source of all evil in the world, and that they ought to take the bus lanes off the M4, I think it is.
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