living in your supurb country
Discussion
i,ve recently returned from florida and to say it opened my eyes is an understatement!life in the uk for me as a small buisness is not funny and i only see life here getting worse.
i do mainly block paving,driveways,patios etc.now from what i found out it seems that over there its a very specialist in demand job and for sure the work i did see was very rough,on big houses with large driveways.from the limited research i did it would also seem to pay well.
people there were telling me it would be easy to move there and set up buisness but from what i gather over here its not that easy.
or would it be easy as i,d be setting up buisness there?
would i need loads of money?i reckon i could up and leave here within a year and take 30k(uk currency) is that feasable or laughable
one cheeky way i thought about was to go there for 3 mths,come back to the uk for a week and then back again and keep getting my passport stamped but would that mean
A.i still pay my tax in the uk
B.because i,m a uk resident i can get a bank account there
C.again uk citizen i take it i couldnt get a mortgage or any finance there
the only downside to me would seem to be the heat,but i,m sure i could get used to it.
i loved your country and people
i do mainly block paving,driveways,patios etc.now from what i found out it seems that over there its a very specialist in demand job and for sure the work i did see was very rough,on big houses with large driveways.from the limited research i did it would also seem to pay well.
people there were telling me it would be easy to move there and set up buisness but from what i gather over here its not that easy.
or would it be easy as i,d be setting up buisness there?
would i need loads of money?i reckon i could up and leave here within a year and take 30k(uk currency) is that feasable or laughable
one cheeky way i thought about was to go there for 3 mths,come back to the uk for a week and then back again and keep getting my passport stamped but would that mean
A.i still pay my tax in the uk
B.because i,m a uk resident i can get a bank account there
C.again uk citizen i take it i couldnt get a mortgage or any finance there
the only downside to me would seem to be the heat,but i,m sure i could get used to it.
i loved your country and people
Jasper - have a look at this post which outlines some of the challenges ahead of you if you are thinking on moving out to the US to work. It is not in any way impossible, just somewhat challenging.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
One thing though - I would be very, very wary of going back and forth on the 90 day visa waiver program and working during this time. It is a visa designed for tourists generally (or short term business needs) & I seem to remember it specifically calls out activities you cannot undertake - running a business, gainful employment, & payment by an organization within the US. Were it to be found out that you were falling into these categories during your periods in Florida, you could easily end up being barred from future entry.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
One thing though - I would be very, very wary of going back and forth on the 90 day visa waiver program and working during this time. It is a visa designed for tourists generally (or short term business needs) & I seem to remember it specifically calls out activities you cannot undertake - running a business, gainful employment, & payment by an organization within the US. Were it to be found out that you were falling into these categories during your periods in Florida, you could easily end up being barred from future entry.
Mustang Baz said:
One thing though - I would be very, very wary of going back and forth on the 90 day visa waiver program and working during this time. It is a visa designed for tourists generally (or short term business needs) & I seem to remember it specifically calls out activities you cannot undertake - running a business, gainful employment, & payment by an organization within the US. Were it to be found out that you were falling into these categories during your periods in Florida, you could easily end up being barred from future entry.
Indeed; Not only is it a 90-day visa, but I think they'd ask you to apply for an extended Visa if you were to try and spend more than 6 months in any 12 in their country.As for setting up a business, unless you invest at least US$1m, they renew them on about a 5 yearly basis, iirc.
I've got a link about this somewhere. I'll see if I can find it...
thanks for the replys.i have just looked at the link and see that its going to be near impossible to live there:-(
really england(sorry great britian,england doesnt exist anymore) should have the same process but oh no we just let in any idiots and then the tax payer must support them...grrrr!!!!
my only plus point i can see is the trade i offer(paving works) seems to be in demand with very little companys doing it and even fewer doing it properly.so i do wonder how far that would take me.
would it be easier to move there if you were actually there(say on holiday) and they could actually meet you?
i,ve literally had it here and i,m only 27.i dont yet own my own house and it will be a massive massive thing getting one.i have no kids so really i have no ties but do have some money and assets so could up and leave here and go there with maybe $60k
really england(sorry great britian,england doesnt exist anymore) should have the same process but oh no we just let in any idiots and then the tax payer must support them...grrrr!!!!
my only plus point i can see is the trade i offer(paving works) seems to be in demand with very little companys doing it and even fewer doing it properly.so i do wonder how far that would take me.
would it be easier to move there if you were actually there(say on holiday) and they could actually meet you?
i,ve literally had it here and i,m only 27.i dont yet own my own house and it will be a massive massive thing getting one.i have no kids so really i have no ties but do have some money and assets so could up and leave here and go there with maybe $60k
You could come over and work illegally, but you're going to be undercut by millions of other illegals from latin America, especially if you're thinking about Florida. If you really wanted to do it you should look at the green card lottery.
Bear in mind though, if you do that and then decide you don't like it and move back home, the US will still want you to file yearly tax returns. Unlike the UK, the US taxes worldwide income, and if you earn over £45k a year in the UK you'd be sending the IRS a checque each year.
Bear in mind though, if you do that and then decide you don't like it and move back home, the US will still want you to file yearly tax returns. Unlike the UK, the US taxes worldwide income, and if you earn over £45k a year in the UK you'd be sending the IRS a checque each year.
Get yourself an E2 business investment visa [google it]. If you look up Florida forums you'll see lots of info there. Your options are buy an existing US business, or start your own from scratch. You will need a solid business plan around $100k [£50k] and employ 1 or 2 US citizens within the first 2 years of it trading. You will also need a lease in place for business premises. The E2 is renewable indefiantly as long as the business is trading.
I am currently in LA scoping out places to live and offices for an E2 visa myself.
I am currently in LA scoping out places to live and offices for an E2 visa myself.
Just a couple of points to add.
UK born citizens are not eligible for visa lottery.
Repeated use/abuse of visa waiver program to gain entry into the US will get you in deep sh1t quick with USCIS - and probably bar you from further entry for some time - same goes for over-stay on VWP.
E2 visa is an option. You will need a 'substantial investment' though all this $100k minimum is nonsense - there is no specific minimum - however, if your investment is deemed 'marginal' when viewed in conjunction with your business plan, your application will fail. Further, your investment must be shown to be 'at risk' - i.e. used to physically run your business, rather than be merely deposited in a bank account.
E2 requires a very detailed and realistic business plan, premises, inventory and adequate working capital. Lots of British people give it a shot - and some do well - but just as many end up broke, disillusioned and effectively deported. E2 is a very risk-laden and difficult to sustain option. It is renewable - but only if you can demonstrate that your business is growing, that you are paying US taxes - and that you are employing USC's. Many, many E2 renewal applications get denied, because of lack of some/all of the above. If your renewal is denied - you're f*cked - and out of the country.
One final consideration on E2 - it is not transferrable to permanent residence status. So, if you sell your business, or retire, you have to leave - so a bit of a last resort, if permanent residence is your aim.
L1 or H1B type visas are better options, but are aimed at managerial/specialist skilled workers. I take the point that US workmanship and work ethic may not be as professional as yours, but (with respect) laying driveways won't be considered specialist by USCIS.
If you asked for my advice it would be - don't try to outsmart the visa waiver program. If you get caught you will nix any future application to come here. Investigate a B1 visa, which allows to to legitimately come here to scope-out a potential business opportunity - I dunno if you qualify, but you might. You can open a US bank account, even if you are non-resident, but you will not be considered creditworthy.
I hate to pour cold water on anyone's dreams for a better life - but the US is not an easy solution. Seeing life here through the eyes of a holidaymaker is also unrealistic. There are just as many social, political and cost of living related problems here as there are anywhere else - and we get hurricanes as well!
Good luck in your future - but be realistic.
UK born citizens are not eligible for visa lottery.
Repeated use/abuse of visa waiver program to gain entry into the US will get you in deep sh1t quick with USCIS - and probably bar you from further entry for some time - same goes for over-stay on VWP.
E2 visa is an option. You will need a 'substantial investment' though all this $100k minimum is nonsense - there is no specific minimum - however, if your investment is deemed 'marginal' when viewed in conjunction with your business plan, your application will fail. Further, your investment must be shown to be 'at risk' - i.e. used to physically run your business, rather than be merely deposited in a bank account.
E2 requires a very detailed and realistic business plan, premises, inventory and adequate working capital. Lots of British people give it a shot - and some do well - but just as many end up broke, disillusioned and effectively deported. E2 is a very risk-laden and difficult to sustain option. It is renewable - but only if you can demonstrate that your business is growing, that you are paying US taxes - and that you are employing USC's. Many, many E2 renewal applications get denied, because of lack of some/all of the above. If your renewal is denied - you're f*cked - and out of the country.
One final consideration on E2 - it is not transferrable to permanent residence status. So, if you sell your business, or retire, you have to leave - so a bit of a last resort, if permanent residence is your aim.
L1 or H1B type visas are better options, but are aimed at managerial/specialist skilled workers. I take the point that US workmanship and work ethic may not be as professional as yours, but (with respect) laying driveways won't be considered specialist by USCIS.
If you asked for my advice it would be - don't try to outsmart the visa waiver program. If you get caught you will nix any future application to come here. Investigate a B1 visa, which allows to to legitimately come here to scope-out a potential business opportunity - I dunno if you qualify, but you might. You can open a US bank account, even if you are non-resident, but you will not be considered creditworthy.
I hate to pour cold water on anyone's dreams for a better life - but the US is not an easy solution. Seeing life here through the eyes of a holidaymaker is also unrealistic. There are just as many social, political and cost of living related problems here as there are anywhere else - and we get hurricanes as well!
Good luck in your future - but be realistic.
I think that should read, "southern Ireland connection". Northern Ireland is considered UK by United States Customs and Immigration and UK citizens are definitely ineligible for diversity visa lottery (presumably because they can actually speak English and do dumb things like pay their taxes and contribute to society).
Some UK citizens with foreign-born parents are eligible
Some UK citizens with foreign-born parents are eligible
Matt Harper said:
I think that should read, "southern Ireland connection". Northern Ireland is considered UK by United States Customs and Immigration and UK citizens are definitely ineligible for diversity visa lottery (presumably because they can actually speak English and do dumb things like pay their taxes and contribute to society).
Some UK citizens with foreign-born parents are eligible
Actually if you go onto the INS website you will see that it is for both people born in either Northern Ireland and Eire.Some UK citizens with foreign-born parents are eligible
If you were born on mainland Britain you do not qualify.
Matt Harper said:
Wow - I defer and apologise. My immigration attorney got it wrong then. He stated UK as ineligible. I was unaware that USCIS consider Northern Ireland to be outside of UK.
It's the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland'. I suspect the USCIS definition is to accommodate those of a republican persuasion who were known to visit the US from time to time......Just fly to Mexico and sneak over the border into the US. We have 12 million illegal Mexicans here already, and nobody seems to care. They're not going to notice one lone Brit!
Better yet, I'll trade places with you. I'd rather live in Blighty than in Bushland (AKA The Fourth Reich).
Cheers,
Madman of the People
Better yet, I'll trade places with you. I'd rather live in Blighty than in Bushland (AKA The Fourth Reich).
Cheers,
Madman of the People
MadmanO/T People said:
Just fly to Mexico and sneak over the border into the US. We have 12 million illegal Mexicans here already, and nobody seems to care. They're not going to notice one lone Brit!
Better yet, I'll trade places with you. I'd rather live in Blighty than in Bushland (AKA The Fourth Reich).
Cheers,
Madman of the People
394 days and counting, unless we impeachBetter yet, I'll trade places with you. I'd rather live in Blighty than in Bushland (AKA The Fourth Reich).
Cheers,
Madman of the People
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