Leaving PhD Program for Another

Hello,

I'm an international student, currently in a PhD program in the US. However, I would like to apply to a new program in the UK. My current program is not working out for me right now.

Should I anticipate any difficulties? Particularly as it relates to acceptances, funding, visa?

Thanks for any thoughts you might have on this.

Acceptances and funding would need much more detail and some constructive reason beyond 'not working out', so you need to think carefully what is going wrong and how it wouldn't be a factor in the UK. It might be that is straightforward, but it needs to be a 'blame free' reason that comes with a reference from the US. It's nigh on impossible, ie very rare, to move during a PhD in the UK.
If you have a mechanism to smooth your path in the UK, like returning to your masters Uni/Supervisor it might be possible, and it might be better accepted if you are in the very early stages of your PhD in the US. It would also help if your US funding could move with you to the UK.

Thanks for your response.

Can you clarify what you mean by "If you have a mechanism to smooth your path in the UK, like returning to your masters Uni/Supervisor"?

Well if you were returning to the same Uni and Supervisor in the UK, you would be known quantity and they might be more considerate of you leaving a prior PhD. The problem for someone who doesn't know you is that there isn't much that stops a PhD except a breakdown in relationship between the Supervisor and the PhD candidate, and the 2nd uni only has access to one side of the story, from the less experienced side. That's by no means to say that's your situation or that people in that situation are always in the wrong, but just like leaving a job after a few month, it raises concerns.