Ok, I want to live there!

[Netty]

If you want to live there then you need to do a lot of research,here is a website to help you.
It will be hard work, but if you follow your dream you may make it
we want to emmigrate to Canada and after 3 years of trying we are still going for it.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/

 

[amystevekai&bump]

As for American insurance, yes you must pay for insurance but our taxes are lower so you can use some of that savings for insurance payments. Also, if you get HMO insurance it pays for EVERYTHING as long as you use doctors in the network.

Hi again! - Its not so much paying for the insurance that I couldn't cope with - its the receiving itemised bills (detailled enough to even include the price of the rubber gloves used!!) - and having to deal with insurance claims of hundreds of thousands of dollars when you are very very sick- the stress alone would kill me!!!

Don't get my wrong - I LOVE the States, but even if I won the lottery - a holiday home would be my limit - IMHO the best of both worlds!!

 

[PoppyAnna]

Hi again! - Its not so much paying for the insurance that I couldn't cope with - its the receiving itemised bills (detailled enough to even include the price of the rubber gloves used!!) - and having to deal with insurance claims of hundreds of thousands of dollars when you are very very sick- the stress alone would kill me!!!

Don't get my wrong - I LOVE the States, but even if I won the lottery - a holiday home would be my limit - IMHO the best of both worlds!!

I'm with you amystevekai&bump a holiday home would be my limit too (along with a lotto win, of course )
Many of us have these feelings when we return home from a holiday, particularly from WDW - I'm not making any less of your feelings, they're obviously very strong to the point whereby you're starting to make serious enquires. The negative points you make are true for many people living in the UK today, for some it's much worse. I'm fortunate enough to say I don't suffer with anti-social issues where I live, apart from the odd bit of grafitti. I feel we have a nice lifestyle, good friends and family, we also have good schools etc where we are. We sacrificed a lot in our twenties to afford this. However, we have two young daughters (1 &4) and do worry about how the outskirts of London will be when they are of an age of independence. My M & FIL are real domestic people, have never owned a passport, have never been out of the country and do not understand the desire for foreign travel That I DO NOT understand.
I've been lucky enough to travel the world extensively and have stayed in/lived in many places that in my opinion could eventually give my children and Myself and DH a better standard of living. DH and I often talk about cashing everything in and going to NZ, Canada amongst other places. We had this discusion upon our return from Florida last month and all rustled up we could make the number 5 option and possibly the number 6 (with a good exchange rate ).
Then WE (not ness you) bump back down to ground and think about our girls, the three weeks we just had in the holiday "bubble" and that it's not the same, living/working hard in the same place. We have friends that have gone to Australia and although they do not regret their move they confirm the the wear off after a year or so. We also have family that went to Orlando (option5) quite a few years ago, they've now split up, he's staying out there with one child (education priorities) whilst she's coming home to the UK with the youngest. This could have happened if they still lived here but she puts a lot of it down to the stress of living abroad and having no extended family support.
Other posters have mentioned the health care system being a negative. Personally, the US's gun laws alone could put me and DH off. Then there's the crime, we've visited Florida quite a few times but both times we have been to Orlando we have had car jacking near misses.
Whatever you decide, I'm sure it'll be the right thing for you and your family.
Best of Luck

 

[afcgirl]

Hi again! - Its not so much paying for the insurance that I couldn't cope with - its the receiving itemised bills (detailled enough to even include the price of the rubber gloves used!!) - and having to deal with insurance claims of hundreds of thousands of dollars when you are very very sick- the stress alone would kill me!!!

I understand what you are saying, but with an HMO it really is pretty simple. Not much reason to read the bills that closely when they are all paid for, LOL! It really is not stressful, luckily, and we do have some of the best doctors and you can usually get right in, no waiting.

So, to the OP, if you want to move to the US, I wouldn't let insurance concerns stop you. Or crime concerns for that matter (I live in Chicago and have never been a victim of a crime). I think in many ways America is portrayed differently by the foreign media than it really is (especially lately).

Oh and 80+ hour weeks are NOT the norm!

 

[ziggybaby]

Picture it though, I'm a florida resident, I have a discounted annual pass, my wife and I are a bit bored this evening.

...Shall we just pop over to watch the fireworks and have a hot dog from Caseys Corner before returning to my air conditioned home to relax by the pool.

Or shall I stay here, struggling to find a 4 bed home close enough to work that isn't next to a pub and doesn't have students living next door and where there isn't a regular pile of vomit, urine and broken glass at the corner of my street.

Where my postie gets to my house before 5pm and does actually try to knock rather than just chucking my post in the bin.

Where if I walk in a shop I'm treated with respect (even if it's false) rather than being ignored or scorned. Where my hard work is rewarded and intelligence and diligence are praised rather than mocked.

No I've pretty much made my mind up, just have no idea how to get there! These posts are helping though, thank you all.

Very True, when are we all going

​

 

[london75]

Bum, getting really depressed on the whole visa issue.

I have a good job but we're by no means affluent so some of the investment options would be years away.

Ah well, will keep thinking.

 

[wayneg]

Bum, getting really depressed on the whole visa issue.

I have a good job but we're by no means affluent so some of the investment options would be years away.

Ah well, will keep thinking.

By the time you have enough money you will be older and wiser, and wonder if the grass really is greener on the other side. Thats whats happened to me. Probably now have enough money to buy a small 3 bed villa and not work again(maybe a few hours a week I am only 40 so hope I have a lot of years left) I guess I dont like change.

 

[Feralpeg]

I live in the Orlando area (about 5 minutes from Magic Kingdom). Until I moved to Florida, I had no idea that someone from the UK could not just move here if they wanted to do so. I was shocked to hear how difficult it is. I spend a lot of time around WDW and I have neighbors from the UK. I can honestly say I've never run into anyone from the UK that I didn't like. I'm sure there must be someone I wouldn't like. I just haven't run into them.

I will tell you that living in the Orlando area isn't perfect. We have crime (not enough around me to make me worry). We have crazy drivers. We even have the occasional hurricane or tornado. However, I love it here.

That being said, I've always dreamed of living in the UK. I've never visited there. I want to do so, but things keep getting in the way. Is it just as hard to move to the UK as it is to relocate to the US?

For those of you wanting to move here, I'd adopt you all if I thought they'd let me!

 

[london75]

I live in the Orlando area (about 5 minutes from Magic Kingdom). Until I moved to Florida, I had no idea that someone from the UK could not just move here if they wanted to do so. I was shocked to hear how difficult it is. I spend a lot of time around WDW and I have neighbors from the UK. I can honestly say I've never run into anyone from the UK that I didn't like. I'm sure there must be someone I wouldn't like. I just haven't run into them.

I will tell you that living in the Orlando area isn't perfect. We have crime (not enough around me to make me worry). We have crazy drivers. We even have the occasional hurricane or tornado. However, I love it here.

That being said, I've always dreamed of living in the UK. I've never visited there. I want to do so, but things keep getting in the way. Is it just as hard to move to the UK as it is to relocate to the US?

For those of you wanting to move here, I'd adopt you all if I thought they'd let me!

A good scheme would be if they let families swap for a while! Maybe a 2 year visa for each country and we swap homes lol no risk, no expense (well not too much anyway) and we both get to sample the country.

Shame that's never going to happen.

To be honest, it's not the grotty things about England that put me off staying here, I do love rural England. I just love Florida more.

 

[Sunrisedream]

It is worth bearing in mind that many ex pats have had the heartache of their children being sent back to the UK when they reach the age of 21 - there is no automatic entry/visa for offspring, and for many of these children they don't remember anything but living in the USA, it is very hard for them

 

[Shane]

It is worth bearing in mind that many ex pats have had the heartache of their children being sent back to the UK when they reach the age of 21 - there is no automatic entry/visa for offspring, and for many of these children they don't remember anything but living in the USA, it is very hard for them

Hiya. Do you any more detail on this? (Or maybe I just dont understand)

Thanks

 

[london75]

That's why I think the only way is to try it for a couple of years on a business purchase type visa.

If that works out and we all want to stay, go home, sell up everything and go for one of the larger investment based visas that get a full green card.

Whatever happens, we'll be lucky to be there living in the next 5 years at least.

Good job we're going back for a holiday in November 2008

 

[london75]

Hiya. Do you any more detail on this? (Or maybe I just dont understand)

Thanks

The majority of visas really only cover the person working and/or investing. They allow you to take family but when your kids become 21 they are no longer under that umbrella and need to qualify in their own right.

I believe the green card is the golden ticket but even then there are no doubt a number of problems!!!

 

[Summer-Caitlin]

I too wanted to move to the States but after really looking into it, I decided to go to Australia instead. I used to live there and it's just as beautiful as the States. I was studying to be a Nurse and even that couldn't get me in to the US easily. I have now switched and am studying Law and will do my masters in Australia.
It really is a shame, since I was 11 I always wanted to move to the States, but immigration laws make it very difficult for us to move. Even after studying there, there is no guarantee I could stay. Unless you want to set up a business or something like that, you have a long road ahead.

 

[Tron[ADS]]

For a country that has so many problems with illegals, they really make a legitimate move tough don't they. I work for an American company, and probably could apply internaly for a US vacancy and transfer accross, but then Id be stuck as my wife and kids, whilst being allowed to come with me, she wouldnt be able to work, so we wouldnt be able to afford to live.

I heard ages ago that one long winded route was to go first for Canadian citizenship, as a move from Canada to the USA is significantly easier....not sure if this is still the case.

Something I have thought about recently though......I keep hearing on Fox news etc, talk of some Amnesty that they are proposing in Congress, where they are wanting to draw a line under all the current illegal aliens by letting them all become citizens, so they can come forward and be counted.....now if we kept an eye on when (and if) they did that....maybe we could all take a quick flight and walk into an office somewhere saying we were illegals, and could we have our citizenship please.

Just a thought.

 

[Goofyish]

There was a TV programme a while ago about ex-pats. in Florida. One couple had got their visa by buying a business. The business was doing well and they were enjoying the lifestyle - but when they came to renew their visa (after 2 years?) they were turned down! So they had to return to the UK while they tried to get the decision overturned!

Another thing that I have heard is you start with no credit history in the US, so it is difficult getting basic things like utilities, phones etc.

 

[london75]

For a country that has so many problems with illegals, they really make a legitimate move tough don't they. I work for an American company, and probably could apply internaly for a US vacancy and transfer accross, but then Id be stuck as my wife and kids, whilst being allowed to come with me, she wouldnt be able to work, so we wouldnt be able to afford to live.

I heard ages ago that one long winded route was to go first for Canadian citizenship, as a move from Canada to the USA is significantly easier....not sure if this is still the case.

Something I have thought about recently though......I keep hearing on Fox news etc, talk of some Amnesty that they are proposing in Congress, where they are wanting to draw a line under all the current illegal aliens by letting them all become citizens, so they can come forward and be counted.....now if we kept an eye on when (and if) they did that....maybe we could all take a quick flight and walk into an office somewhere saying we were illegals, and could we have our citizenship please.

Just a thought.

This is almost certainly going to happen, you need to prove you were illegal before a certain date and it gets you a special visa, not necessarily a green card. It's worth thinking about, another forum suggested they are/will be very suspicious of white English speaking people requesting it though!

 

[Shane]

The majority of visas really only cover the person working and/or investing. They allow you to take family but when your kids become 21 they are no longer under that umbrella and need to qualify in their own right.

I believe the green card is the golden ticket but even then there are no doubt a number of problems!!!

Wow, that really is a bummer! What are the laws if the child is 21 or over before they move, Im guessing they will be denied access to the states?

 

[jtoast]

Just PM'd you some info.

 

[SimonV]

Just to reiterate, this isn't a decision you can take lightly and it is both xpensive and full of potential pitfalls. You should certainly study the various forums that are available to discuss these topics (www.britishexpats.com/forum is another in case it hasn't already been mentioned) and, if you do decide to go ahead with it, you definitely need good legal counsel to handle the immigration application. If and when you do decide to pursue this, pm me for a legal firm we use regularly in matters like this.