Experiencing The United Kingdom
Business Customs
UK business customs are increasingly similar to those in the U.S. as the British class structure, based on family history, profession, as well as property and land ownership, continues to erode through taxation, education, and social developments over the last few decades. Liberalization of business and industry has rewarded enterprise, and a new generation of professionals schooled in management, marketing and finance techniques has increasingly taken charge. In addition, ethnic minorities now constitute about 8% of the population and are active throughout the British economy. Some fundamental cultural differences between the U.S. and the UK remain. Variations in pace and style may be most noticeable, and sustained personal contact with potential business partners is expected. Prompt acknowledgment of correspondence, adherence to appointment schedules, and a greater formality in the conduct of business is the norm. British executives communicate more by letter and fax than by telephone, although the Internet is widely used, and e-mail is common. The British are less likely to seek legal advice and guidance than their U.S. counterparts, although a litigation culture is developing along the lines of the U.S. model – i.e. no win, no fee cases have recently been permitted.
Travel Advisory
The United Kingdom is politically stable, with a modern infrastructure but shares with the rest of the world an increased threat of terrorist incidents of international origin, as well as the potential for occasional and isolated violence related to the political situation in Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kingdom.) Americans are reminded to remain vigilant with regard to their personal security and to exercise caution. In recent months, several arrests have been made in Great Britain in connection with various possible terrorist plots. The British Home Secretary has urged its citizens to be alert and vigilant by, for example, keeping an eye out for suspect packages or people acting suspiciously at subway and train stations and airports and reporting anything suspicious to the appropriate authorities by
contacting the free confidential anti-terrorist telephone hotline on 0800 789 321. For more information about UK public safety initiatives, consult the UK Civil Contingencies Secretariat website at http://www.ukresilience.gov.uk. Americans traveling or residing abroad should should register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate via the Department of State’s registration website at https://travelregistration.state.gov. and should regularly monitor the Department of State’s website at http://travel.state.gov where any current Worldwide Cautions or Public Announcements can be found.
Political demonstrations are well policed and generally orderly. The political situation in Northern Ireland has dramatically improved since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 and the announcement by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on July 28, 2005, that it would end its armed campaign. Within Northern Ireland, flash-points for sectarian confrontations still exist, but they are generally removed from areas where tourists congregate. The potential remains for sporadic incidents of street violence in isolated areas in Northern Ireland during the summer marching season (April to August), with tensions heightened during the month of July, especially around the July 12th public holiday. As a result, American citizens traveling in Northern Ireland have experienced delays and disruption.
The United Kingdom and Gibraltar benefit from generally low crime rates; however crime, including violent crime, has increased over the last few years, especially in London. Incidents include pick pocketing, mugging, “snatch and grab” theft of mobile phones, watches and jewelry and theft of unattended bags, especially at airports and from cars parked at restaurants, hotels and resorts. Pickpockets target tourists, especially at historic sites, restaurants, on buses, trains and the London Underground (“Tube” or subway). Thieves often target unattended cars parked at tourist sites and roadside restaurants, looking for laptop computers and hand-held electronic equipment. Walking in isolated areas, including public parks, especially after dark, should also be avoided, as these provide advantageous venues for muggers and thieves.
In London, travelers should use only licensed “black taxi cabs,” or car services recommended by their hotel or tour operator. Unlicensed taxis or private cars posing as taxis may offer low fares, but are often uninsured and may have unlicensed drivers. In some instances, travelers have been robbed and raped while using these cars. Travelers should take care not to leave drinks unattended in bars and nightclubs. There have been some instances of drinks being spiked with illegal substances, leading to incidents of robbery and rape.
Due to the circumstances described above, visitors should take steps to ensure the safety of their U.S. passports. Visitors in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Gibraltar are not expected to produce identity documents for police authorities and thus may secure their passports in hotel safes or residences.
The need to carry a passport to cash traveler’s checks is also minimized by an abundance of ATMs able to access systems widely used in the U.S. and offering more favorable rates of exchange. Travelers should be aware that U.S. banks might charge a higher processing fee for withdrawals made at an overseas ATM. Common sense personal security measures utilized in the U.S. when using ATMs should also be followed in the UK. ATM fraud in the UK is becoming more sophisticated, incorporating technologies to surreptitiously record customer ATM card and PIN information. Travelers should avoid using ATMs located in isolated areas. In addition, the traveler should not use the ATM if there is anything stuck to the machine or if it looks unusual in any way. If the machine does not return the card, it should be reported to the issuing bank immediately.
Visa Requirements
Every U.S. citizen entering the UK must have a valid American passport. For stays of more than six months, U.S. citizens require visas or entry clearance. Visitors intending to remain in the UK longer than six months should check in advance with the British Embassy or the nearest British Consulate. The website of the British Embassy in the United States is http://www.britainusa.com/.
Americans intending to seek employment in the UK should consult the British Embassy or a British Consulate in the U.S. to inquire about work permits. The Employment Service, an executive agency of the Department of Education and Employment, controls the employment of aliens in the UK. U.S. citizens wishing to obtain or extend a work permit should contact the Employment Service by phone on 011 44 1937 840224. A work permit is not a substitute for an entry clearance; both must be acquired by Americans intending to seek employment and remain in the UK for longer that six months.
Directors and employees of existing British subsidiaries of U.S. firms have encountered little difficulty in obtaining permission to enter and remain in the UK. Sending the technical personnel required to install and operate a plant or business generally poses no problem, though it is necessary to establish that British employees with the necessary qualifications are not available. The UK government has issued new regulations easing the entry of experts in emerging technologies from overseas. The UK government has adopted the EU regulations governing the admission of non-EU business visitors and economic migrants to the UK, which limit the ability of some foreign nationals, including American citizens, to reside in the UK. The categories of persons adversely affected, to a lesser or greater extent, by the new immigration rules are selfemployed persons, retired persons of independent means, business investors, and shortterm business visitors. Entry may be denied to those who intend to perform productive services unless a work permit has been issued in advance to their employer. The determination of who may be admitted as a consultant is decided on a case-by-case basis at ports of entry.
U.S. Companies that require travel of foreign businesspersons to the United States should be aware that British citizens may visit the U.S. for up to 90 days for business or pleasure using the visa waiver program. Details concerning who is eligible are available at the following links:
State Department Visa Website: http://travel.state.gov/visa/index.html
United States Visas.gov: http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/. Embassy London Visa Unit: http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/
U.S
Telecommunications
The telecommunications system in the United Kingdom is comparable to the United States’. A direct-dial telephone system links the UK to the U.S. and the rest of the world. Calls on landlines can be charged to international telephone cards such as AT&T, MCI and Sprint. The UK has a highly developed mobile network. Visitors from the U.S. can readily rent or buy pre-pay mobile (cell) phones. To call the UK from the United States, you should dial: 011 44 then the number of the individual or organization you are calling, but without the leading 0. For instance, the phone number for the U.S. Commercial Service in London is: 020 7894 0419. To call from the States, you should dial: 011 44 20 7894 0419. To call the United States from the UK, dial: 00 1 then the number of the receiving party including their area code.
Transportation
While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning the UK is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance. The safety of public transportation, urban and rural road conditions and the availability of roadside assistance are all excellent compared with most foreign countries, although they are not generally up to the standard of some other European countries. UK penalties for drunk driving are stiff and often result in prison sentences. Visitors uncomfortable with or intimidated by the prospect of driving on the left-hand side of the road may wish to avail themselves of extensive bus, rail and air transport networks, though these can be expensive modes of travel. If you plan to drive while in the UK, you may wish to obtain a copy of The Highway Code, available in the UK and online at http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/. Rail transport in the UK is extensive, but poor track conditions have contributed to train derailments resulting in some fatalities in recent years. Repairs are underway and the overall safety record is otherwise good. Many U.S. citizens are injured every year in pedestrian accidents in the UK, forgetting that traffic moves in the opposite direction than in the United States. Care should be taken when crossing streets. The phone number for police/fire/ambulance emergency services - the equivalent of "911" in the U.S - is 999 in the UK.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Government of the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority as Category One - in compliance with international aviation standards for oversight of the UK’s air carrier operations. Air travelers to and from the UK should be aware that penalties against alcohol-related and other in-flight crimes ("air rage") are stiff and are being enforced with prison sentences.
Language
English is the official language of the United Kingdom. Welsh is spoken by a significant minority in Wales. Gaelic is spoken by a small minority in Scotland. In addition, there are many large communities in the UK whose first language is not English. Numerous languages are spoken in London, including thirty-three for which there are resident populations of 10,000 or more.
Health
While good medical services are widely available, free care under the National Health System is allowed only to UK residents and certain EU nationals. Tourists and short-term visitors can expect charges that may be significantly higher than those assessed in the U.S. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. Doctors and hospitals often ask non-residents to pay immediately for medical services, and uninsured travelers who require medical care may face extreme difficulties, unless they have the means to pay.
Check with your own insurance company to confirm whether your policy applies overseas, including provisions for medical evacuation, and for adequacy of coverage. Generally, travel insurance cannot be purchased once you have departed the United States. Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Ascertain whether payment will be made to the overseas hospital or doctor or whether you will be reimbursed later for expenses you incur. Some insurance policies also include coverage for psychiatric treatment and for disposition of remains in the event of death.
Business Hours & Holidays
Banking hours are generally 9:30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on Thursdays when banks tend to stay open later. Offices are open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Stores are generally open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. At traditional vacation times, many British executives are unavailable except by advance appointment. England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are all in the same time zone, five hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Standard Time.
Temporary Entry of Materials & Personal Belongings
Raw materials, temporarily imported for incorporation into products for export, may be admitted without payment of duties and taxes. The importer must provide a bank or insurance company guarantee or indemnity for the applicable duties and taxes. Goods intended for unaltered re-export may also be imported free of duty for a period of up to six months by prior arrangement with HM Customs & Excise. Duty-free entry is also permitted by prior arrangement for leased or loaned machinery, plant, and equipment, and goods imported solely for processing, repair, technical examination and testing. Professional and demonstration equipment may be temporarily imported into the UK free of duty and tax under the Customs Convention on the Temporary Importation of Professional Equipment. For this, a carnet should be obtained from the U.S. Council of the International Chamber of Commerce.
