moving fro the uk the orlando (Holiday: attorney, rental, job)

[marypoppins]

Originally Posted by LindyUK

although we have considered going through the *buying a business* route it would always be in the back of our minds that we were only there for the duration of the business and once we finished that and wanted to retire and take life easy, then what? That is fine if you are still young enough to have many years building up the business and reaping the rewards, but we are not spring chickens (not TOO old either lol) but we do want to know that where we lay our roots will be where we will end our days.

You should do some research on the L1 visa. It could be a way around things for you. And as I said previously, an L1 visa can make you eligible for a green card. Once you have a green card, you are a legal permanent resident and can then please yourself what you do, even retire if you want to.

Having said that, unless you're very wealthy or have a lifelong income, retirement here is not an option for most people. You see many people working into their 70's and 80's just to pay for their health care costs.

I also am no spring chicken, I'm in my 50's and know I can never retire here, can't afford it. I'll need to always work just to be eligible for my health insurance, if nothing else. And to think......if I was still working in the NHS I'd be getting ready for a nice occupational pension in a few years.

Ah well, hindsight and all that

[tonrob]

Originally Posted by marypoppins

You should do some research on the L1 visa. It could be a way around things for you. And as I said previously, an L1 visa can make you eligible for a green card. Once you have a green card, you are a legal permanent resident and can then please yourself what you do, even retire if you want to.

Having said that, unless you're very wealthy or have a lifelong income, retirement here is not an option for most people. You see many people working into their 70's and 80's just to pay for their health care costs.

I also am no spring chicken, I'm in my 50's and know I can never retire here, can't afford it. I'll need to always work just to be eligible for my health insurance, if nothing else. And to think......if I was still working in the NHS I'd be getting ready for a nice occupational pension in a few years.

Ah well, hindsight and all that

I'm doubting L-1....

- it was designed for multinationals and the like rather than Joe the sole trader and has been abused in the past so things are much stricter nowadays from reports I read

- a requirement is that the UK business continue to trade, which by the sounds of it wouldn't be the case

[cfIfan]

This is absolutly correct. I originally came here on an L1, i now have a green card. The UK business has to continue to trade and there are alot of hoops to jump though. This is why you SHOULD comsult an attorney. I dont think a Franchise would qualify on an L1 to be honest.

[LindyUK]

Originally Posted by marypoppins

You should do some research on the L1 visa. It could be a way around things for you. And as I said previously, an L1 visa can make you eligible for a green card. Once you have a green card, you are a legal permanent resident and can then please yourself what you do, even retire if you want to.

Having said that, unless you're very wealthy or have a lifelong income, retirement here is not an option for most people. You see many people working into their 70's and 80's just to pay for their health care costs.

I also am no spring chicken, I'm in my 50's and know I can never retire here, can't afford it. I'll need to always work just to be eligible for my health insurance, if nothing else. And to think......if I was still working in the NHS I'd be getting ready for a nice occupational pension in a few years.

Ah well, hindsight and all that

Definately NOT wealthy, but we do have hubby's pension every month from his time served in the Military but I doubt even that alone would be enough to keep us, especially with having to pay for Health Care, although have no idea what the cost of this would likely to be, but assume it can cost a fair bit, well it must do as did read somewhere that a high percentage of Citizens within the USA dont even have health insurance!
As the later threads have said I dont think we would be eligible for the L1 Visa, as the business here would be folded up, as if we arent living here there would be no-one serving the designated area that the Franchise consists of, so would have no choice but to wrap the company up. Worth mentioning though, as others who read this thread may find it helps them in their quest to a new life.
Another harsh reality with what you have said about always going to have to work in order to be eligible for Health Care ~ and I thought having to retire at 60 or 65 was bit harsh, but getting that reality check has made me see something else a wee bit differently, something I never realised before.

[RICHNTRISH]

Originally Posted by marypoppins

Hi LindyUK.......

I'm one of the lucky ones, I've been living in Florida for 2 years, I was able to get here on a green card because I'm a Registered Nurse.

I wanted to make some comments about your situation, having had the "dream" myself for quite a few years before taking the plunge and moving here. Like you, I fell in love with Florida after coming here on holidays.

You sound like a very level-headed person, and you come across as being one of the rare few who actually listen to the advice given on forums like this, makes a refreshing change.

Anyhow, what I wanted to say after reading your posts is this......don't kid yourself into thinking living here is like it is when you're on holiday. I thought I knew what the lifestyle would be like, as I'd been coming here 2 or 3 times a year for many years and already had our own home here. It's nothing like I expected. And the work ethics here would horrify you, compared to how things are in the UK.

About the Immigration Lawyer......why spend $150 to hear either what you can find on here, or worse still, get told a load of old bull. You'll get the best advice from your fellow countrymen who've been through the hell of US Immigration themselves.

I believe in not sugar-coating the facts......and (in my opinion) from what you've told us about your situation, you have zero chance of getting here through the employment route. However, as others have said, buying a business could be a way in for you. But the E2 visa is a very insecure one, and your status here would always be dependant on the business you own.

Sorry it's all a bit doom and gloom. But truth be known......this place ain't all it's cracked up to be. If I had my time over again, I wouldn't do it.

But best wishes whatever you decide to do.

Hi Mary,
I would be interested to hear why you feel this way about Florida ? what is it you prefer about the UK apart from the health insurance ?
To be honest if you dislike it so ,why not return to the UK ? you have only been away 2 years and im sure could walk back into an NHS job as they are always short staffed .
Did you have a pension scheme here that you have continued to contribute too ?
We get lots of immagrants of a certain persaussion coming here , saying they dont like us , then continuing their own cultures over here , i say they should go home as well so its nothing personal im just genuinely interested to here both sides of the story .
Richard.

[marypoppins]

Originally Posted by RICHNTRISH

Hi Mary,
I would be interested to hear why you feel this way about Florida ? what is it you prefer about the UK apart from the health insurance ?
To be honest if you dislike it so ,why not return to the UK ? you have only been away 2 years and im sure could walk back into an NHS job as they are always short staffed .
Did you have a pension scheme here that you have continued to contribute too ?
We get lots of immagrants of a certain persaussion coming here , saying they dont like us , then continuing their own cultures over here , i say they should go home as well so its nothing personal im just genuinely interested to here both sides of the story .
Richard.

Hi


Oh, I wish you were right, about walking back into an NHS job. I've already done some networking and of the very few jobs available, they are mostly open only to current NHS employees, or they are in very highly specialised areas.

Also, we brought all our money here and bought a home here, which now of course is worth a lot less than what we paid. We've thought about selling up and moving back, but there's no doubt it will be difficult financially right now. I have to keep asking myself.......where could I live and what would I do for an income if I went home? I'm sad to say I think I've burned all my bridges....I was so certain this move to Florida was the right thing to do. I was wrong.

It's not that I dislike Florida, I'm just very homesick and I miss my family. And I think I've commented on different threads about the work ethics here....I stand by my comments on that, I don't think I'll ever believe it's right the way people are treated, but I accept it......after all, I'm the foreigner.

So, in answer to your question.....I wish I COULD return to the UK, but right now it's not something I can do easily.

I suppose there's a lot of people who come on forums bashing their new homeland. For me, it's not a case of bashing the US or Florida, it's just my own personal feelings of homesickness and missing all things familiar.

[Emigre]

One other option that I haven't seen mentioned is the EB-5 investment visa. Depending on the programme, you need upwards of half a million dollars to invest in a recognised programme. The money is invested for 2 years & then should be 'returned' to you. You get a green card with conditions attached immediately & then after 2 years these conditions are removed - the first batch of Brits using this programme have had their conditions removed &, as far as I'm aware are in the process of sorting out the investment - if anyone's got an update on this I'd really like to hear it.

Medical qualis will not get you into the states -protected market, my husband's a dentist & we'll probably be stacking shelves when we (hopefully) come out. I've got 3 degrees & I'm not expecting any great shakes on the job front.

We're going down the EB5 route & signed up last Sept - still no idea if / when we'll get through. On buying a business to qualify for the E2, I thought you could make the buying of the business conditional on getting the visa.

Anyhoo, best of luck.

[LindyUK]

Originally Posted by marypoppins

Hi


Oh, I wish you were right, about walking back into an NHS job. I've already done some networking and of the very few jobs available, they are mostly open only to current NHS employees, or they are in very highly specialised areas.

Also, we brought all our money here and bought a home here, which now of course is worth a lot less than what we paid. We've thought about selling up and moving back, but there's no doubt it will be difficult financially right now. I have to keep asking myself.......where could I live and what would I do for an income if I went home? I'm sad to say I think I've burned all my bridges....I was so certain this move to Florida was the right thing to do. I was wrong.

It's not that I dislike Florida, I'm just very homesick and I miss my family. And I think I've commented on different threads about the work ethics here....I stand by my comments on that, I don't think I'll ever believe it's right the way people are treated, but I accept it......after all, I'm the foreigner.

So, in answer to your question.....I wish I COULD return to the UK, but right now it's not something I can do easily.

I suppose there's a lot of people who come on forums bashing their new homeland. For me, it's not a case of bashing the US or Florida, it's just my own personal feelings of homesickness and missing all things familiar.

Regarding NHS Nursing jobs, there IS a shortage of Nurses BUT they refuse to take on more due to the financial difficulties that the Hospital Trusts are having. I know the local Hospital we have here, they were 10 million in the red, but have somehow clawed their way back up over the past year and are now back on course (bet it was at the expense of patient care, sorry but I had enough years working in the NHS to see where they should have spent the money but where it was actually being wasted!) but I read in the local paper last week that they will be taking on lots of new staff (if you want to know any more get in touch with me Mary).
I understand you saying that financially its almost impossible to return to the UK. I know this was my main concern initially, as we would invest everything we had into a property over in FL, which in effect meant that once we were there it would be forever. There wouldnt be the option of ever returning to the UK, due to the variance in the property prices ~ you cannot buy anything here for $150,000, not even a one bedroomed flat, so we had to be 110% sure we would be doing the right thing, and like you, I know I would miss my family, especially my young grandchildren (I have 3 all under 2 years of age), but it wouldnt have stopped me pursuing my dream, but by coming onto the forum and being told things in their stark reality, we now feel it would be a worthless task trying to get our papers to get into america, which saddens me, and were we years younger we would probably take a chance and go along the same route as RichnTrish, (best of luck by the way) but we cant afford to take that gamble at our time in life (we are hitting 50), so, instead will just keep coming to FL for our holidays and enjoying the magic of it all.

[RICHNTRISH]

Originally Posted by Emigre

One other option that I haven't seen mentioned is the EB-5 investment visa. Depending on the programme, you need upwards of half a million dollars to invest in a recognised programme. The money is invested for 2 years & then should be 'returned' to you. You get a green card with conditions attached immediately & then after 2 years these conditions are removed - the first batch of Brits using this programme have had their conditions removed &, as far as I'm aware are in the process of sorting out the investment - if anyone's got an update on this I'd really like to hear it.

Medical qualis will not get you into the states -protected market, my husband's a dentist & we'll probably be stacking shelves when we (hopefully) come out. I've got 3 degrees & I'm not expecting any great shakes on the job front.

We're going down the EB5 route & signed up last Sept - still no idea if / when we'll get through. On buying a business to qualify for the E2, I thought you could make the buying of the business conditional on getting the visa.

Anyhoo, best of luck.

Hi Emigre,
Yes you can put a claus into the contract making it conditional on getting the visa, before putting the money into escrow .
The EB-5 sounds interesting , i thought it was a bit iffy when explained to me but maybe i was wrong , do you have any good links on it ?
Are you garanteed by the goverment to get the money back after 2 years ?
Richard.

[butwick]

Hi Mary Poppins,
I've sent you a PM- hope you've got the time to check it out.
Many Thanks,

butwick