Thinking of moving from UK to Orlando!

[minniemouseuk]

Hello,

My Mother (who is a senior citizen) and I are giving some very serious consideration to moving to Orlando in the future.

I have searched online about this, but thought it would useful to have any tips from anyone who has (or knows someone who has) made the move themselves.

Any website links or tips would be very much appreciated.

Love

Lara xx

 

[Chilly]

I guess the 1st thing you need to look at is the legal aspect, do you know under what law you can legally live and work there?

 

[minniemouseuk]

I guess the 1st thing you need to look at is the legal aspect, do you know under what law you can legally live and work there?

It appears that, if you want to work there, you can either apply for a working visa (temporary) or green card (permanent).

We really want to move there on a permanent basis, so would be looking to apply for a green card.

 

[Chilly]

It appears that, if you want to work there, you can either apply for a working visa (temporary) or green card (permanent).

We really want to move there on a permanent basis, so would be looking to apply for a green card.

From what i've heard they aren't that easy to get but I wish you the best of luck. I think I'd like to live there when I can afford to stop working!

 

[alisonbestford]

There was a TV show on recently which highlighted just how difficult it is to move to the US.......I'm certain someone will be able to point you in the right direction to watch it somehow

I have to say I'd be more than a little worried about taking my elderly mother out - the health insurance costs are astronomical

 

[catherine]

It appears that, if you want to work there, you can either apply for a working visa (temporary) or green card (permanent).

We really want to move there on a permanent basis, so would be looking to apply for a green card.

It's soooo difficult to get and keep a green card! I got married in CA to a US citizen and the hassle that we had to go through to get my green card was unbelievable.

Are you planning on starting a business over there or do you do a particular job that can't be filled by an American citizen?

 

[binglybongly]

I don't mean to kill your dream, but you pretty much can't get a visa AT ALL as a UK resident unless you're going over there as a full time student (and can afford all the fees) or one of the specified student/immediately following graduation programs (e.g. BUNAC or Camp America), are marrying a US citizen (and that wouldn't help your mum get there, and even if you were genuinely getting married it would be very difficult and expensive), have hundreds of thousands of pounds to start a new business out there (and you can only get a short term visa for that unless you have half a million spare) or are in a shortage occupation that means a US firm will sponsor a visa for you because they can prove they can't get someone from the US to do the job (e.g. you're a top academic etc, and again you couldn't take your mum, and this also applies for temporary working visas).

UK citizens are not eligible for the green card lottery.

 

[dixonsontour]

My DH's godparents emmigrated from the UK to the US about 20 yrs ago.

He has a specialist job in the aircraft industry and moved due to a job. He obviously had a visa to work but his wife was not legally permitted to work, despite previously working full time in UK.

His job carries the health insurance.

They were finally applied for citizenship and were granted it after approx 15 years. She was then able to work.

They kept their Uk citizenship.

I know they are considering whether they may have to return to the UK when he retires.

Health insurance is very expensive and he will lose the work related cover when he retires. This is one reason why you see so many older people working in US.

Obviously you can stay upto 90 days on a visa but not work eg if you bought a villa and wanted to visit for the winter.

 

[Rosie]

I am sorry but all the posts here are correct and its likely your dream will not become reality.
If you are able to relocate do it instages and be sensible about coming back here if you need to.
I have two sisters and other family members in the USA. Trust me if you or your Mum should fall sick you will need to get back here for treatment.
If I were relocating to the USA I would make sure I had a base here to return to if things didn't work out.
The other thing to consider is think about what you may miss about the UK - some things are obvious and other things are only apparent when you don't have them any more. One of my sisters still misses walking to the shops to buy a paper and she has been in Memphis for 39 years!

 

[alisonbestford]

This morning my OH's 25 year old son has jumped on a plane, originally, in the hope of joining his American girlfriend and living happily ever after in Boston........

Feeling a little like the Angel of Doom I pushed him to look into the logistics and the plans are now that they'll most likely have to live in England as he wouldn't be allowed to stay beyond his 90 days

We're waiting for a phone call........................

 

[janiebubble]

as a United Kingdom resident you are not eligible to apply for a greencard through the lottery system

to live permanently in the USA you therefore have to be:

married to a US citizen or be the parent or child of a US citizen
you can apply as a child (over 21) /brother/sister of a US citizen

or

you have to have an employment visa - which means you need to come within one of the following categories:

irst Preference Category - Priority Workers - Persons of extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, arts, business or athletics: outstanding professors and researchers & certain multinational executives & managers.

Second Preference Category - Members of "The Professions", Persons with exceptional ability in the sciences, arts and business - Defined as a member of the professions holding an advanced degree or equivalent, or baccalaureate degree plus at least 5 years of progressive experience in the specialty, and persons of exceptional ability in the sciences, arts and business.

Third Preference Category - Professionals - A person who holds a baccalaureate degree and who is a member of the professions and Skilled and Unskilled Workers - Skilled workers with at least two years training or experience and unskilled workers whose skills are in short supply in the U.S. Note: The Embassy does not keep a list of these professions.

Fourth Preference Category - Special immigrants including Religious Workers.

Fifth Preference Category - Investor visas - Investors may qualify for employment creation immigrant visas if they seek to enter the United States for the purpose of establishing a new commercial enterprise.

all the details are here http://london.usembassy.gov/immigrant-visas.html

The chances are, like the rest of us, you'll be unlikely to be able to move permanently to the USA sorry!

 

[disneychic2]

I'm seriously shocked to know that it is so hard for people to come to live here in the US! Everywhere you look, there are people from other countries. In DC that's about all you see and they work in public venues and speak very broken english. That's not even counting all the illegals pouring into the US every day! I guess I'm pretty naive and am very sorry it will be almost impossible for you to move here! Still, I hope it works out for you!

 

[Jonjo]

You could look into the EB-5 program.

10,000 visas are put aside each year for the EB-category. The program was designed to encourage foreign investors to create jobs by starting a new business or preserve jobs by investing in money-losing businesses. If you agree to invest $1 million, you can get a visa, apply for green cards, and become conditional permanent residents.

After two years, provided you have made good on your promise to invest, created 10 jobs (family members don’t count), and the business is still an ongoing concern, you can apply to have those conditions removed, and after five years with a green card, holders can apply for citizenship.

Of the 10,000 visas in the program, 3,000 are set aside for “targeted employment areas” — rural areas, or places with an unemployment rate that’s 150 percent or more of the national average. For these visas, the threshold is lowered to $500,000.

Another thing to look into is if your UK state pension would be paid to you out in the US and how much you would get. If you move to some counties you will lose out on many pension increases.

Health Care will be another major issue to consider. Insurace will be very expensive and so too are the cost of drugs.

 

[torsie24]

It's been my dream since I was 11 to live in the States, my parents even spent thousands to send me to university there, but although I researched every option and ny professors helped becoming a citizen really us as hard as everyone is saying.

I've come to realise though that we have it pretty sweet in England with work and healthcare and stuff, I understand the education system here, and we are becoming more and more like the states. So unless one of us gets an amazing job in the USA we have decided its a great place to vacation! And once we buy DVC it'll be like we lube there, but without all the rubbish parts of home owning!