Moving from US to UK

[KT7000]

I currently live in the US and I'm making plans to move to the UK. I know I'll need a visa for this and I plan to apply for a UK tourist visa. Because this will only be valid for 6 months, would I have to leave the UK to apply for a long-term Standard Visitor visa?

[secret.simon]

Why do you want to move to the UK? Do you plan to work here? Or do you have a significant other that you will reside with? How old are you and do you have any familial connection (ideally within the last two generations; descent from the Pilgrim Fathers will almost certainly not count) to the UK? What are your nationalities?

Even under more long-term visit visas, there is an expectation that you will visit the UK and not reside in the UK on the basis of a visit visa. The Immigration Rules specifically forbid residing in the UK under the guise of frequent or successive visits.

Also factor in that if you were to need medical assistance during a visit visa, you will be charged at 150% of cost by the NHS. That is not the case for more long-term residency (work/spousal) visas because you will be charged an Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) if you have a visa under those streams.

[KT7000]

I've been to the UK before in 2018. While I still keep in touch with certain people I met there, they're not anyone I'd consider for marriage or extended family. I want to move there because quality of life there is much more fitting than where I am now but want to make all the proper preparations before going through with it.

[CR001]

You cannot move to the UK to live permantly on a visitor visa, regardless of a 6 month or longer term visitor visa. The rules simply don't permit this at all.

You would need to find a visa, that you qualify for, if you want to live here.