USA and UK: Should it be easier to immigrate between both? (homes, refrigerator)
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Perhaps some sort of exchange program? I understand that there have been arrangements where travelers swap houses for a specified period, while in each other's countries.
Could it be possible to also swap jobs for awhile?
Anything that improves my chances I'm all for mate
The USA seems to give preference to the poor and desperate of the third world. I'm certainly not advocating for a free-for-all open door type situation to either country. That would be a disaster. But I thought, albeit incorrectly, that there was a 'relationship' between countries that made it easier to move about.
A few years ago, I was in a 'good place', had more than adequate savings and after spending lots of vacations in Georgia, Alabama, and Florida, toyed with the idea of selling up and migrating to the U.S.
My house at the time was worth a conservative 1.75 million dollars, and I had visions of sitting by a pool, drinking grapefruit juice until midday, switching to a couple of vodka and tonics in the p.m.
Around 8.00 p.m., or later if possible, (I prefer to eat dinner late, Spanish style), have my wife drive us to a good restaurant.
To this end I visited the U.S. embassy in Grosvenor Square, London, to explore what would be required.
I got a rude awakening, the very polite official told me that it wouldn't matter if I had $10,000,000 to live on, nor that I would never need one thin dime from the State, and the fact that I had no criminal record other than traffic violations wouldn't make any difference either.
The only possible way that he could suggest, would be to buy a business, dry cleaners, convenience store, men or women's apparel store in the U.S., and employ all American staff.
That scenario didn't appeal to me, so I just satisfy myself with two or three weeks in Naples FL., Savannah GA, or South Padre Island TX. a couple of times per year.
I could of course, have my wife divorce me, and then I could marry a U.S. citizen and get in that way, but for some reason, she would not go for that.
This is MY dream and with our close ties and being each other's biggest allies I can't believe it
Same with Canada and Oz with Brits being aloud to travel more freely..... They have the queens head on there currency should be enough shouldn't it?
But on a serious note that's my dream and it's next to impossible to get there as a scaffolder so study and even a degree is out of reach for me at the moment so unfortunately all I can do is dream it seems
I don't know if this might be helpful-I would imagine that you have already researched this subject.
One thing I like about the City Data forums is that people are so willing to offer help to others.
It just occurred to me that before the Internet sources of advice were quite limited-for practical purposes, there would have been only a handful of people in your life who could offer it.
Last edited by Tim Randal Walker; 06-02-2016 at 08:32 AM..
There is actually quite a lot of immigration/emigration between the UK and the USA. However most of it is either inter-company transfers or student exchanges.
My own company moved people around all the time. Americans to Europe (mainly the UK and Switzerland) and Europeans (usually Brits) to the USA. They were usually two year secondments but in a few cases they stayed on with sponsorship for Green Card, etc.. Reasons for that .... either they were very good and we wanted to keep them or 'boy meets girl', gets married, etc..
I came to the USA on an inter-company transfer. I was already a partner in the firm (Big 4) and my then girlfriend was also a partner in the USA. I also had skills that the US firm needed. So it was all very easy (and very legal). Then I got my Green Card, then we got married and then I got my citizenship.
There is actually quite a lot of immigration/emigration between the UK and the USA. However most of it is either inter-company transfers or student exchanges.
My own company moved people around all the time. Americans to Europe (mainly the UK and Switzerland) and Europeans (usually Brits) to the USA. They were usually two year secondments but in a few cases they stayed on with sponsorship for Green Card, etc.. Reasons for that .... either they were very good and we wanted to keep them or 'boy meets girl', gets married, etc..
I came to the USA on an inter-company transfer. I was already a partner in the firm (Big 4) and my then girlfriend was also a partner in the USA. I also had skills that the US firm needed. So it was all very easy (and very legal). Then I got my Green Card, then we got married and then I got my citizenship.
You don't say... well I guess much of CD is pretty remedial.
I wish it were easier for Americans to move to the UK, even for like a year. Been wanting to do that for awhile, and while my company has a property in London, only upper level management get sponsored for a work visa.
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LOL 
