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Kissyme
20-11-2002, 18:21
We are thinking of buying a second home for when we retire (long way off yet) Does anyone know how long you can stay in florida and how long you have to stay in England before you can go back we where thinking maybe 3 months in florida at a time

esprit
20-11-2002, 18:56
3 months currently without a visa on a visa waiver. 6 months on a B visa. However a change in the law on the B visa means that the INS can restrict access on the B visa to 30 days. No-one knows how this will work yet but it seems to mean it will be up to immigration to decide whether to let you stay more than 30 days or not. This has panicked many people who are now arriving with plans to stay and not knowing whether they will be allowed to or not. Seemingly most Brits are getting through OK though, as it is a post 9/11 thing and not supposed to be targeted at us.

On the question on how long you have to be back in the UK between permitted 3 month stays on a visa waiver, again there is no set time. At one time, you could pop over to Mexico or canada and back in a week or so later and get through. They have more or less stopped that. We go over 4 times a year but only stay 2 weeks at a time. The shortest gap between entrances was two months and we were asked whether my husband had a job in the UK by immigration ( he does!). They did not check out his answer however and let us in. It is something you cannot pre-judge and is down to who you get on the day. Immigration at gateway airports seem to be less stringent than that in Orlando where they must encounter this a lot. And remember they can leigislate to move the goal posts on the maximum permitted stay at any time.

Kissyme
20-11-2002, 20:00
Many thanks for your answer when you say gateway airports do you mean airports other than Orlando Int? also as a complete novice in buying a home in Florida what in your opinion would be the best way to start with tentative enquiries

esprit
20-11-2002, 22:07
Gateway airports - New York, Washington, chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia etc. You gateway in and then take an internal to Orlando. You clear immigration at the gateway and then on straight through as a domestic arrival at Orlando. How to start?? Go over and have a look around. Get a buyers agent who will take you around with him. There are some recommended on here- have a hunt around.