I wonder whether the much talked about and long awaited retirement visa is actually the recently amended EB-5? Apparently, the rules changed in December 2004 after Bush signed into law an amendment for a five year $500 000 investment programme (into an approved 'Regional Centre'), which directly qualifies applicants for Green Card status. If my understanding is correct, twenty UK couples have so far retired to the US under this scheme, which clearly also allows the applicant to work or start a business if preferred.

I've not done any real research on this subject, so there may be other issues of which I'm unaware, but at current exchange rates it's got to be worth checking out.

Paul