[madmumof2]

Hi everyone. I've been looking into moving to Florida for a couple of years now. I guess I'm here for advice.

The main things we need are good schools, and low-ish crime rate.

I've been reading a few threads here, and there are so many different opinions I'm still not sure where is best.

Tax here is 17.5% and I know it's about 3 times less in Florida, which is fantastic, plus no income tax. I know there are more taxes though, so that'd probably even out?

The houses are cheap too, even in Orlando. My small 2 bed house with tiny garden is £135k (about $270k I think) so that's a huge difference.

I'm looking to find what parts of Florida match what we want. Good schools, low-ish crime rate are a must.

Where would you recommend?

Also, I'm in no rush, and we're literally at the beginning of the whole thing. I doubt we'll be moving within the next 2-3 years or so. We have no savings or specialist jobs but we're still young enough to save and train.

I would llike to know the easiest way (I know there isn't an easy way at all, just the easiest out of the lot) to get into Florida. Investment? How much do you need and what for?

What jobs will allow us to transfer over there? I'd be willing to train as anything if it'll get me over there.

I've been to Orlando, Florida a few times, and not just for a 2 week holiday either, more like 5 weeks at a time, and I love it.

Sorry for the ramble! The main things I'm asking are

Where in Florida has good school?

What county (I think that's what you call them lol) has the lowest crime rate, or at least pretty low?

How can we get a visa/greencard to move? (how much money, or what type of job)

And can you all please state the pros AND cons of the place you're speaking about. All positive or all negative won't help me. I need to know everything there is to know to make an informed decision. Obviously it'll be a huge step so I want to get it right.

Thanks everyone!!!!!

Gem.

[ellie]

Why Florida? There are so many states with so much going for them. Is it the mystique? Is it the only state you've ever visited?

The last thing this state needs is more people, even good ones.

[LingLing]

I will recommend Jupiter. Beautiful beaches, good school and low crimes. On top of that, there are biotech companies (not a lot but will have more) that pays pretty well compared with the rest of the south Florida. Furthermore, the biotech research insitute where I am working have a lot of British, so you will have friends. You can apply a training position here so you can get trained here. There are so many professors from Europe and I feel that they like to hire entry level position from their own country (France, England and Italy).

[Cougar31]

Originally Posted by madmumof2

Hi everyone. I've been looking into moving to Florida for a couple of years now. I guess I'm here for advice.

The main things we need are good schools, and low-ish crime rate.

I've been reading a few threads here, and there are so many different opinions I'm still not sure where is best.

Tax here is 17.5% and I know it's about 3 times less in Florida, which is fantastic, plus no income tax. I know there are more taxes though, so that'd probably even out?

The houses are cheap too, even in Orlando. My small 2 bed house with tiny garden is £135k (about $270k I think) so that's a huge difference.

I'm looking to find what parts of Florida match what we want. Good schools, low-ish crime rate are a must.

Where would you recommend?

Also, I'm in no rush, and we're literally at the beginning of the whole thing. I doubt we'll be moving within the next 2-3 years or so. We have no savings or specialist jobs but we're still young enough to save and train.

I would llike to know the easiest way (I know there isn't an easy way at all, just the easiest out of the lot) to get into Florida. Investment? How much do you need and what for?

What jobs will allow us to transfer over there? I'd be willing to train as anything if it'll get me over there.

I've been to Orlando, Florida a few times, and not just for a 2 week holiday either, more like 5 weeks at a time, and I love it.

Sorry for the ramble! The main things I'm asking are

Where in Florida has good school?

What county (I think that's what you call them lol) has the lowest crime rate, or at least pretty low?

How can we get a visa/greencard to move? (how much money, or what type of job)

And can you all please state the pros AND cons of the place you're speaking about. All positive or all negative won't help me. I need to know everything there is to know to make an informed decision. Obviously it'll be a huge step so I want to get it right.

Thanks everyone!!!!!

Gem.

One place to get travel information is the US embassy or consulate in London.

Job wise, you are better off starting your own business. And services are the ideal sector: auto mechanic, handy man(remodeling), electricien, plumber,...etc. Also, being in the food industry is a good option.

I would suggest the west coast-since you are moving from a generaly cold type weather- starting from Tequesta all the way north to Melbourne.

[Sueilp]

I live in Vero Beach just near Sebastian.(A Brit who moved here 18 months ago). This area has low crime rate and has mostly A rated schools too. ALso it is by the beach if you like that of course! We are on the EAst Coast which is about an hour's drive south of Kennedy Space Centre and an hour and a half from Orlando.

Even though VAT for you is 17.5% and Tax here is 7% ay the mo.... it does even out as although we have a HUGE house compared to our 3 bedroom house in the UK (our ensuite is bigger than what our kitchen was!!!) - the taxes and utilities are more expensive - and they have substantially increased in th last 12 months - something we didnt anticipate. However we are better off living here than in the UK (not by a huge amount financially but certainly better off physically and mentally & emotionally).

You really need to look other than Orlando- although Orlando can be nice it is very touristy and if you are like us we wanted to be with Americans and live the American life not feel like we are on vacation all the time. Life in Florida is VERY different to being here for 2 weeks at a time. We came here for 13 years 2-3 times a year on vacation and STILL found it difficult to settle (we are settled now though)

It can be a long process to get here - I am a Nurse and it took me 3 years to get here an obtain my Green Card and even now some nurses are having difficulties getting out here even though it is almost guaranteed you would get your Green Card.

\If you want to buy a buisness you would need to obtain an E2 visa which isnt permanent and has its own drawbacks. If you have your own business in the UK you could go for an L1 visa - I am not too familiar with the different visa's but I know a very good Forum (where I moderate) for Brits looking to move to Florida and a lot of people who have done it can give you loads of advise of where you need to start...look here:-

http://thefloridaforums.com/





If I can help you in any other way please let me know by PM or whatever!

Sue

[madmumof2]

Lingling. That sounds great, the entry level thing I mean. How would that work? I'd apply for an entry level job, and if I get it, apply for a visa? Or the other way around? It's all very complicated when you're new at this lol.

Cougar. My partner is an apprentice electrician at the minute. Is there a big demand for them then? He was also a welder/fabricator for 4 1/2 years. What about that?

Thanks for your quick replies!

We chose Florida, as we've vististed a number of times, all over a month long and just love it there. we've have been to a couple of other states, but they don't have the same feel to it iykwim.

Also, which visa would be best for us, if any? And what order would I have to do things in? Apply for a job (trainee, or partner go for a electrician/welder one), then get a visa if we get it, and look for a house to buy or rent?

Or would we need something before applying for a job?

Thanks again!

[lauralei2]

Originally Posted by Cougar31

One place to get travel information is the US embassy or consulate in London.

Job wise, you are better off starting your own business. And services are the ideal sector: auto mechanic, handy man(remodeling), electricien, plumber,...etc. Also, being in the food industry is a good option.

I would suggest the west coast-since you are moving from a generaly cold type weather- starting from Tequesta all the way north to Melbourne.

Just so you are not confused, Tequesta to Melbourne are on the East Coast of Florida.

You may consider Broward County, it's in South Florida. Not to far a drive the the Florida Keys, Everglades, the beach is here, and nightlife of Miami Beach is closeby, as well. Nice areas include....Cooper City (where I live), western Davie, Pembroke Pines, Weston, Coral Springs, Parkland, Hollywood (east of US-I...nice 1920's style homes...near the beach, too).

Here are some links....
http://www.browardschools.com/
http://www.coopercityfl.org/
http://www.westonfl.org/

Good luck in your search.

Regards, Laura

[TriMT7]

I would recommend the area Cougar has suggested. Try anywhere on the East Coast between the city of Palm Beach Gardens North into Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River Counties. (the "Treasure Coast" it's called.... except for the cities in Palm Beach County, which is the "Gold Coast"). Low crime, nice weather, slower pace of life than the hustle of points South.

My mother's fiance is a welder/fabricator who works in the city of Stuart, FL, and at least the last time I talked to him about it, there were ample opportunities in welding and fabricating. I know his son from Germany who was a trained Welder came over and is supposedly making decent money in the area. Even though the housing market has slowed down, commercial building still seems to be going up like crazy.... I imagine there would be a demand for skilled electricians because of that! I'm not so sure about demand for "apprentice" electricians though.... because I'm not sure what the American equivalent would be.

[SKB]

I can understand your excited tone as the thought of living in Florida is a nice one.
I hate to be the party pooper over here but unless you marry an American simply moving to the USA and getting the legal right to work is pretty tough.

You can apply for the green card lottery and see if you get lucky. Here is the link: http://tinyurl.com/yqsu25 (broken link)

There are a lot of illegal immigrants living and working in the USA. Normally these people are Mexicans or Cubans or Haitians working for next to nothing pay. If you get caught living and working illegally in the USA you can be baned for 10 years from entering the Country again.
It is very difficult to get an employer to sponsor you, normally this is done for a specialty field which you have indicated you have none.

Check out the lottery site, they are accepting applications.

[jbravo]

Originally Posted by SKB

There are a lot of illegal immigrants living and working in the USA. Normally these people are Mexicans or Cubans or Haitians working for next to nothing pay.

Illegal Cubans?
No way.
They either make dry ground or not.
They are smuggled here, families pay a handsome amount to have them brought over and then they claim (with their feet in the sand) that their "raft" was sunk at sea. Lack of sunburn or dehydration gives them away.
Some, of course, do come by raft and that's another whole different story and a sad one at that; however, the same rules apply, they either make dry ground or not.
But illegal Cubans, nah, the politics just don't allow for it. A Cuban would be the first to call INS and the FBI if they knew of an illegal Cuban. Why? Because we would know that most likely it would be a Castro spy.