I am going to start this thread with a question:
Is it worth it to leave your job, sell all your properties and start afresh in the UK?

Short answer: YES.

Long answer:
You really need to know what you're doing! The kind of life you want, and consideration for your kids will inform your choice. You must be adequately informed and not just follow the crowd. But even those who come online to complain, they never say "I've gotten my air ticket back to Ikeja"!

There are three good visa routes to the UK.
Student visa
Worker's visa (skilled or healthcare)
Global talent visa.


I will say the pros and cons of each one shortly.
But anyone you choose, you're likely thinking of where would I work? What kind of job will I do?
First, I must say that there's labour dignity in the UK. Whether you're doing white collar, construction, cleaning, care,... Whatever!... No one looks down on anybody. And no job is dirty in the sense of it. Everybody gets their respect. So before you wonder why that banker took a care job and didn't return to Nigeria instead, this is a highly civilised society!
Second, you can't oppress anyone with money. A minimum wage earner can drive 2024 model car (finance), buy a good house (mortgage), wear premium clothes and shoes, occasionally eat in a luxury restaurant or go clubbing, travel outside the UK for vacation once a year, and have good health care. Not that it's easy, but it's achievable if you don't spend anyhow and you plan well.
Third, if you working, no matter what you do, you can't be a poor man (in the Nigerian context of being poor), but you can't be wealthy either. Taxes are designed to keep it that way. You will have enough, and some extra. That extra depends on your income level, and if you manage your expenses well on high income, you will save enough to live large in a less expensive country after 10-20 years.
Fourth, if you're permanent resident or citizen, the govt takes care of you if you're unable to work due to health issues. And the benefits are such that you will still eat good food, live in decent accomodation (subsidized), wear good clothes and even have a car. That's one of the reasons taxes are very high in UK. The empowered people feed the less privileged. It's a form of insurance for you too, in case something unexpected happens to you and you can't work for a considerable amount of time.

UK has strict immigration policies for obvious reasons. Before you're allowed in, you must be bringing in a good amount of money, or a very valuable skill to contribute to the economy.

Now, let's dive deeper....

Student visa
Pros
The easiest to obtain.
You can convert to Graduate visa in the short term (2 years) after you complete your studies.
You can convert directly to a skilled workers visa if you get a sponsorship job within 3 months of completing studies.
Should you decide to relocate to another country (Canada, USA, Australia, EU countries), your UK degree will open doors of (sponsored) jobs for you.
You can bring your family with you if it's a research masters or PhD.

Cons
It's very expensive.
You need proof of funds covering tuition and living expenses.
You can't work more than 20 hours weekly.
You must complete your studies before change your visa.
The time spent studying doesn't count for 5 years required to get permanent stay.


Work visa (skilled or healthcare)
Pros
Inexpensive. Some employers may even cover all your visa fees and relocation costs.
You don't need proof of funds in most cases. But if you do, it's just for one month living costs.
Qualifies you for permanent stay after 5 years.
You can bring your family.
You can work additional 20 hours weekly with a different employer besides your sponsor.
You can do additional 20 hours running your own business.

Cons
You must get a full-time job first.
To change your primary job, you must get another visa sponsorship job. This makes getting another job challenging.
And you will also need to change your visa every time you change jobs.
Some employers may require you to work some years before you can change jobs.
Not common, but some employers may be highhanded since they know sacking you means you lose your visa (there are labour protection laws in place to safeguard against this, and they are effective if you know your rights).


Global Talent visa
Pros
This is the best visa route for anyone.
You don't need a job offer to get this visa.
You are free to do any number of jobs without restrictions for hours.
You are free to run your own business.
You can change jobs or occupation without changing visa.
You can bring your family.
After 3 or 5 years you qualify for permanent stay (depending on the category of the talent visa).
Relatively inexpensive.

Cons
Qualifying for this visa is challenging, you most likely must have had UK education, or a PhD, or be a tech guru, or successful business innovator. The stakes are high.
You need proof of funds for living expenses.


This list of visas is not exhaustive. I will also mention a few others.

I am leaving on a care giver visa to Birmingham,what and what are my to know before going

blackbone989:
I am leaving on a care giver visa to Birmingham,what and what are my to know before going

Nice!
First is to make sure your employment offer is not zero hours, i.e the company states the minimum hours they want you to work for them every week.
Accomodation is relatively easy in Birmingham, the price range is wide. But generally avoid places like Walsall, Basal Health and Handsworth. Every other place should be okay to live in. Nigerians are many there. So also Indians, Pakistani, Chinese and many Africans and Jamaicans.
Birmingham is very big. Transport is easy - buses, trams, trains, taxis (Uber and bolt).
Are you traveling with family?

Innovators visa
If you can get one rare lucrative business idea that is new to the UK. You can register a business and get this visa. Usually better for someone who is already in the UK. You will be allowed to run your business, but you can only get employed in another company as an executive or senior manager.

Dependent visa
As flexible as Global talent visa. No limits to work hours or businesses you want to run. Your 5 years requirements start counting from day 1.

No need to say much about this.
More on life in UK...

WeirdAlien:


Nice!
First is to make sure your employment offer is not zero hours, i.e the company states the minimum hours they want you to work for them every week.
Accomodation is relatively easy in Birmingham, the price range is wide. But generally avoid places like Walsall, Basal Health and Handsworth. Every other place should be okay to live in. Nigerians are many there. So also Indians, Pakistani, Chinese and many Africans and Jamaicans.

Birmingham is very big. Transport is easy - buses, trams, trains, taxis (Uber and bolt).
Are you traveling with family?

Am moving alone for now

blackbone989:

Am moving alone for now

Okay.
The biggest challenge most new people have in UK is accommodation, especially when coming with children.
But you would find it relatively easy. Use Spareroom or Openrent apps, you'd most likely be speaking directly to landlords. Unlike Zoopla and Rightmove that are mostly agents who would pile up requirements new entrants find difficult.
Start booking for house viewing a week before you travel, so you would do the viewings that very week you arrive. Your move-in date may be pushed forward than you'd expect.

Make sure you have a dollar MasterCard or visa before you travel. It will make your life easy in the first few weeks. You can get stranded in the UK while holding cash.

The day you arrive you can buy a UK SIM card at the airport for like £10 and have instant data connection and free phone calls to any UK line. If you don't buy at the airport, you can buy at any store you see. Roaming data on a Nigerian line is more expensive - I wish someone told me that before I arrived.

It's better you fly directly to Birmingham Airport. If you use London Heathrow or Gatwick, book a National Express coach online to Birmingham, two weeks ahead for cheaper fees. Make sure the coach departure terminal is same as flight arrival terminal at the airport. Don't use train! It's not only over double the price, they have minimal luggage spaces. Faster though.

Every other thing is plug and play. Google maps will be your best friend the first few months.

blackbone989:
I am leaving on a care giver visa to Birmingham,what and what are my to know before going

You need your UK address to register for NI, DBS, Tax, Open bank account, and just any other thing that requires registration. You typically should get these done in the first month of resuming your job, so settle accommodation ASAP.

blackbone989:
I am leaving on a care giver visa to Birmingham,what and what are my to know before going

Maybe we could connect when you get to UK.

Hello is this real, ive been doing alot of research lately, i got this sent to my email...

…

Jamesclooney:


Bro, sounds like you have a vast knowledge base. What of Coventry? Specifically Holbrook area…any good to raise a family?

I've not explored Coventry. But Holbrook is not on crime watchlist according to online sources.
Guess you'd give us firsthand update in 6 months.

rapheal5:
Hello is this real, ive been doing alot of research lately, i got this sent to my email...

1. Seems you didn't apply or interview for this. Red flag.
2. UK employers will always confirm your work authorisation status before offering you a job, even if they want to sponsor you.
3. The letter is ambiguous about the job role itself, date of commencement or salary figures.
4. Employers issue a COS (Certificate of Sponsorship) with details and reference codes for you to apply for a visa, they don't apply for you.
5. Work permit and health assurance are not common terms in UK. Instead - skilled worker's visa or health and care visa, and IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge).

That site they gave you to help prepare your documents is where they want to rip you off.

WeirdAlien:


1. Seems you didn't apply or interview for this. Red flag.
2. UK employers will always confirm your work authorisation status before offering you a job, even if they want to sponsor you.
3. The letter is ambiguous about the job role itself, date of commencement or salary figures.
4. Employers issue a COS (Certificate of Sponsorship) with details and reference codes for you to apply for a visa, they don't apply for you.
5. Work permit and health assurance are not common terms in UK. Instead - skilled worker's visa or health and care visa, and IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge).

That site they gave you to help prepare your documents is where they want to rip you off.

ok thanks, kindly help me with link for sponsorship job, Aussy and finland..