Florida- Paradise Lost

[Lyn]

I watched it and it confirmed that although I love Florida and the US in general I would not want to live there, just have lots of holidays there.

[Oceansplasher]

Whilst I agree with Robert5988 view, it does continue to give both my wife and I cause for consideration of moving to the states, though not necessarily Florida.

It would not be on an E2 visa as we are both nurses in NHS, and the elderly nurses situation in the programme was intersting and a few points enlightnening, though we are both much younger and would not hopefully have the health related problems she and her husband both had.

It does indicate that there are still opportunities out there, though it is clear that people need to thoroughly research the process before they do anything. The guy with the 3 kids, a useless business and plan, and dim wife proved that!!

But what a sorry state of affairs the programme makers made the UK look!! The tabloid jounalsim really did a number on us!!

Nevertheless, the way this country and in particular the health service is going, it could be sooner rather than later for us.

[Frosty]

I hope it serves as a warning to people thinking about moving out there, especially with an E2 visa.
Most people will have read the post from Elaine on here, and we too have lost lots of money by way of an E2 visa.
At the end of the day, the American government do not want us out there and will put as many hurdles as possible to deter you.
If you still do press ahead then be prepared to be ripped off thousands just to get a visa and then again to renew it if you are that lucky.
The other big thing that we under estimated was health cover, its just way too expensive and when needed has so many exclusions that its hardly worth it.
I had a health scare when we first got out there and spent just under 3 day in hospital. Yes the care was great and the tests were thorough but it comes at a price, $22.5k for under 3 days care.
Luckily i had extended cover from the uk so i didn't pay a penny but it was a stark reminder of what could have been.
My advice to anyone considering going out.....DON'T, so many people told me this before we went, but we didn't listen, you get so focused at going at any cost. And it does cost.

[florida4sun]

It swings both ways there are 1000s out there doing just fine and having a great time. Two of the stories in that program I have personal knowledge of and there is a lot of info missing.
We had to leave Florida due to healthcare but that was our decision. We researched the business we bought and did very well from it. I know many who failed and they will be the first to admit that it was there fault, although they will blame the American system. The E2 visa is what it is and they govern it strictly. If on renewal you cannot show you are supporting yourself substantially and employing us citizens, then it is 90 days to leave the country.
I will agree that the London Embassy is nightmare to deal with but too many people blame everyone but themselves for failure.
If you are moving to another country make sure you have a fall back in your home country.


<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Frosty
I hope it serves as a warning to people thinking about moving out there, especially with an E2 visa.
Most people will have read the post from Elaine on here, and we too have lost lots of money by way of an E2 visa.
At the end of the day, the American government do not want us out there and will put as many hurdles as possible to deter you.
If you still do press ahead then be prepared to be ripped off thousands just to get a visa and then again to renew it if you are that lucky.
The other big thing that we under estimated was health cover, its just way too expensive and when needed has so many exclusions that its hardly worth it.
I had a health scare when we first got out there and spent just under 3 day in hospital. Yes the care was great and the tests were thorough but it comes at a price, $22.5k for under 3 days care.
Luckily i had extended cover from the uk so i didn't pay a penny but it was a stark reminder of what could have been.
My advice to anyone considering going out.....DON'T, so many people told me this before we went, but we didn't listen, you get so focused at going at any cost. And it does cost.
[/quote]

[chrizzy100]

I believe the lady with the B&B just joined one of my other forums..I did not see the show and I would like too..I've stopped with the expat thing for the most part..apart from a forum run by a friend..does anyone know if it was posted online..I remember a time when my e-mail would be full every week with people asking about moving to the US it was a shock yesterday to get one from a guy wishing to move here..not had that for about 2 years..myself I feel like I'm living in two different countries at the same time...FL seems very depressing everyone I know is losing something..while in MA everything is going along as normal..we have a few friends having a hard time but nothing to do with how the country is doing so they would be in trouble anyway..a lot of empty shops seem to be on the market for only a few months..its been a quiet summer apart from the beaches..people seem to be spending their day there so us locals get to use the restaurants in the summer..not done that since we moved here 10 years ago..so not sure if some of the smaller places will last..but as they close new ones open some really good ones..we eat out more to support our local eating places..

Not sure I would advise anyone to move here just yet..I see a lot of bad in the future of the US before any good...hope I'm wrong..but we are in drive and heading for a brick wall.. hope someone finds that reverse gear soon..this is a great country to live in ..we have been very lucky so far..

[Lyn]

The thing I learned from the program that I was not aware of is that you have to come back to the US embassy in London to renew your E2 visa and it can take a long time. How are you meant to run a business whilst in London?. The other thing that would worry me is taking small children over, they grow up in the US and at 21 find themselves having to either buy a business or come back to the UK which for them is a strange country. Also when you reach retirement you still need to have a business to stay,also I imagine the health insurance would be very expensive as you get older.

[roger]

I've not seen the program (will watch it later today), but I would never tell anyone simply "don't move here" but I would advise them to do proper research and make sure they know exactly what they can and can't do on whatever visa they intend to use. People moving of also need to make sure they understand the cost of living over here.

We know many people over here on visa's of various types, including green card holders. I'd say nearly all of them are very happy here and glad they made the move, and they enjoy what they consider to be a better way of life. Most on visa's (particularly the E2) are not happy about the renewal process and the risk of not getting a renewal, plus having to run their companies to satisfy the visa rather than running it to make money, but they do not blame the system as they knew what they were letting themselves in for when they decided to move here.

We've been here over 3 years and it's the best thing we ever did. We have Green Cards so that takes away the uncertainty and stress of visa renewals and the worry of kids getting older.

[Lyn]

If you qualify for a green card does that mean you can stay as long as you want even into retirement and does it mean that your children can stay after they are 21?

[ujpest doza]

The thing about the kids reaching 21 with parents on E2 visa's was one aspect i found quite alarming.

My wife has cried on to me about moving to Florida for a number of years but this programme opened her eyes to the pitfalls and made her realise that what i've always said is true, love to visit florida but don't want to live there as visiting somewhere as a tourist is completely different to living somewhere.

[Andrena]

I would think that unless you are sure of getting a green card then it is probably not worth it. The couple who bought a home cinema business would probably have had problems even in the UK, they were totally naive. I found it difficult to understand what the problem was with the couple with the icecream parlour, they seemed to be doing pretty well. I think it is that we are just not wanted in the US, but I know people who have done really well and gained their green card and love it, the life and the opportunities so it works for some, but not others and that is life.

Andrena