[hcho]

England is not the preferred nomenclature. UK is your best bet; size of industry, proximity to continental Europe, ties with US and all...

Depending on your age, income and/or ancestary, you can make use of Tier 2, Tier 5 or ancestary visas, all of which lets you to work in the UK without finding a sponsor.

[ig1]

Tier 1 (which replaced the HSMP) is normally the visa most programmers use to get into the UK. Tier 2 is mainly used in professions where you can't get a Tier 1 visa but for which there is a shortage of workers in the uk.

Although if any if your grandparents were from EU countries, then that's probably the best route as you can get citizenship as opposed to just a work visa.

[hcho]

You are right, I meant to write Tier 1.

[a4]

I said England specifically because I don't know of programmers who have moved to other parts of the UK, but you make a valid point. I hadn't considered the other countries of the UK.

[hcho]

I had a couple of job offers from companies in Glasgow in the past. I had a feeling that the local goverment must be subsidizing the tech companies in Scotland. The pay package was comparable to London. Cost of living looked a lot less compared to London. If you are looking into building cash reserves it might be ideal.

[rmc]

Yes "UK" is the correct term for the country. However London, the capital, is in England, is a large percentage of the UK population (about ~15 - 20million out of a UK population of about 60 million). The vast majority of the programmer jobs would probably be in London, so you might wind up going to "England" itself.