Trying to time the visa, travel, and move is like playing 4-D chess in these times of plague. The UK is not allowing anyone from the US on a travel and tourism visa. That eliminates the ability to go over and scout for a place to live. Even if I had my work visa already, there is a two week self-isolation (a.k.a. quarantine) period where I could not wander about.
The latest wrench/spanner in the works is that there is a part of the visa process which requires the applicant to go to a post office in the UK within a period of time after getting a preliminary endorsement. This is usually a 30-day window. It was increased to 90 days during COVID. That is set to expire Jan 1. So if I get the visa when the requirement is 30 days and there’s a two week quarantine, presumably I’d have to travel over, sit around for two weeks (in a hotel… getting carry-out/take-away the whole time), go to a post office, and then go home.
So the latest hope is that the 90-day period is extended into next year to allow more flexibility OR that the self-isolation period is relaxed OR that I can get a vaccine in advance and that would count for something. Maybe.