Help & Advice needed please ! (Tampa, Christmas: to rent, house, to buy)

[SylviaDR]

We have been living in the Dominican Republic for over 5.1/2 years and would like to move to Tampa. We are from England.

Like to find out as much as possible before we make the move...like schools, cost of living, taxes, huricanes !!

I am 50 years old. Single Mum with two children aged 17 and 14 years. My children have been to schools here in the DR and speak fluent spanish.

How easy is it to move to Tampa ? moving to the DR was very easy.

Thanks for any help !!!

Sylvia in DR

[deckardc]

Are you being sponsored by an employer? If not, you are going to have to apply for a visa from the US State Department: Visa Home

" Like to find out as much as possible before we make the move...like schools, cost of living, taxes, huricanes !!"

Why have you selected Tampa?
Have you been there to visit before?
Are your children going to be attending public schools (American public, not British public)?
Are you planning to buy a house or rent?

If you could be a bit more specific about your requirements, it would be easier for us to answer your questions.

[kmadewell]

are there specific schools you would like information on and cost of living is a pretty vague question, its all in relation to your income.

Yes we have had hurricanes, but they are not an all the time occurance like you might think. The storms we get are normally minimal (damage wise) and its the price we pay for year round tropical climate.

Every place has something... Earth Quakes, Mudslides, Tsunamis, avalanches, snow storms, tornados... it's just different "mother nature" issues from one region of the country to another.

Katrina

[SylviaDR]

Originally Posted by deckardc

Are you being sponsored by an employer? If not, you are going to have to apply for a visa from the US State Department: Visa Home

" Like to find out as much as possible before we make the move...like schools, cost of living, taxes, huricanes !!"

Why have you selected Tampa?
Have you been there to visit before?
Are your children going to be attending public schools (American public, not British public)?
Are you planning to buy a house or rent?

If you could be a bit more specific about your requirements, it would be easier for us to answer your questions.

Thank you for your reply. We were recently in Tampa staying with some friends. We like the climate of Tampa (this is one of the reasons we moved to the DR). My son who is 14 visited a High School .. as far as I can see it would be possible to get a Students Visa for him. I would stay in the States on a temp. visa (either 3 months or on a extended Visa for 6 months). We would be looking to rent something to begin with giving us plenty of time to look around and maybe buy a home.

We would love to be in Tampa for Christmas to begin our new life there but right now its the planning and searching stage.

We will read many threads on this site and ask many questions and we are grateful for any help and advice.

Regards
Sylvia in DR