Relocating across the Atlantic can be exciting, but it also comes with a steep learning curve.
Join St. George’s Society of New York for our Welcome to New York virtual panel created for new and prospective British expats moving to the States. You'll hear directly from experts in immigration, real estate, and cross-border finance who understand the practical realities of moving to the U.S.
U.S. Immigration Law & Visa Strategies
Laura Devine Attorneys
Navigating U.S. immigration requires clear planning and the right visa strategy. This session breaks down the primary visa pathways for U.K. nationals, whether moving for work or family, and highlights common legal pitfalls to avoid.
Key Topics: Common employment and family-based visas (O-1, L-1, EB-1), transition timelines, and essential compliance rules. (Laura Devine Attorneys is pleased to offer a complimentary consultation to SGSNY members.)
Khensani Mathebula is an attorney on Laura Devine's U.S. team in New York. She focuses on O-1, L-1, and EB-1 petitions and brings a background in the performing arts, with special expertise in cases for dance, music, and theater professionals.
NYC Real Estate: Renting & Buying
The Kelly Waters Team at Compass
Finding a home in New York City involves unique rules, tight timelines, and specific financial requirements. This session offers a practical guide to finding a rental or buying property in NYC, including differences in neighborhood costs and unexpected hurdles that British buyers often encounter.
Key Topics: Rental qualification rules, documentation, and guarantors; buying mechanics, financing, and key differences between condos, co-ops, and townhouses; plus closing costs and ongoing carrying fees.
UK natives Kelly Waters & Lynne Morgan bring firsthand transatlantic relocation experience to NYC real estate. Founder Kelly is a top-producing agent, homeowner, and investor with 20+ years of combined team experience across Manhattan and Brooklyn. Lynne, a NYC resident since 2003, is a Brooklyn homeowner and landlord with deep rental and purchase expertise. Supported by real estate advisor Dor Sagi Douglass, the team makes navigating NYC real estate feel a little less daunting, and a lot more like home.
Cross-Border Wealth & Financial Planning
Fawley Wealth International
Managing your finances across two legal and tax systems requires careful structuring. This session focuses on practical financial planning for British expats living in the U.S., helping you make informed decisions about your money on both sides of the pond.
Key Topics: Dual-country tax considerations, managing U.S. and U.K. pensions, investment management, cross-border estate planning, and currency considerations.
Miles Sharpe is the founder and Managing Partner of Fawley Wealth International, an independent advisory firm specializing in wealth planning for British and European expats in the U.S. He is a Chartered Financial Planner, holds Master’s degrees in Wealth Management from Columbia and Loughborough Universities, and is currently completing PhD research in Personal Financial Planning at Texas Tech University.
British Community, Culture & Giving Back
St. George’s Society of New York
Settling into a new city is about more than logistics. It's about finding community and feeling at home. This session covers how St. George’s Society of New York helps British expats stay connected to home culture, build local social and professional networks, and give back to New Yorkers in need.
Key Topics: Annual British cultural traditions (such as Bonfire Night and the King's Birthday Picnic), local networking, and volunteer opportunities to support the wider NYC community.
Joshua Mandelbaum is the Executive Director of St. George’s Society of New York, bringing decades of nonprofit leadership experience to the organization. He previously served as Executive Director of Words Without Borders and 826NYC, where he doubled organizational capacity and expanded youth writing initiatives across all five boroughs. He currently lives in the Lower East Side and is pursuing a master’s degree in psychoanalysis.