Anyone moved to America for a long (6mo) "holiday"?

gameover

gameover

gameover

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Hi,

I'm thinking of "moving" to America for just under 6 months (as visas only last 6 months). Maybe pacific beach, San diego, probably when it starts getting a bit cold over here (september ish)

Anyone done this? I figured it'll either be something I may regret doing if i go, probably regret not doing if i don't, or hopefully just enjoy it if i do go and have no regrets :P.

I work from home (online, various affiliate and web design stuff), so thought i might as well take full advantage of the fact i can work anywhere with an internet connection and laptop. Only thing that may be a problem is quite a large % of my income is actually from US companies (affiliate stuff, occasional web design client is based in the US). But as I'll still be self employed and still only paying tax in the UK, that should be ok.

Only annoying thing will be if i like it out there - getting a visa (without marrying) will be almost impossible. I always imagined getting a working visa in the US quite easy (whole country is made up of immigrants, i thought).
 
Totally NOT easy to get a work permit, forget about it if you're self employed. Best chance of getting a work permit would be having a company sponsor it, which in itself is no easy task.

Best you'll be able to do is a three month tourist visa (unless that's also been shortened).

Not to rain on your parade, but getting any kinda of US Visa is pretty damned hard.
 
My bf got his Visa and is now living in LA. He's been there since November and really likes it. If you've got the opportunity to go you can always try it, it means you'll never regret not doing it.

I was there over Christmas and thought it was amazing. I hated coming home, you kinda realise how terrible this country is.
 
OCdude said:
Totally NOT easy to get a work permit, forget about it if you're self employed. Best chance of getting a work permit would be having a company sponsor it, which in itself is no easy task.

Best you'll be able to do is a three month tourist visa (unless that's also been shortened).

Not to rain on your parade, but getting any kinda of US Visa is pretty damned hard.
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The plan was to just treat it like a holiday - get a 6 month visa (which you can get quite easy). I would still be working "from" the uk, still pay tax in the UK etc. It would be like i'm on holiday, but just for 6 months (and renting a place, not a hotel). Although admittedly i haven't looked into this much more than reading websites...

edit - this visa-
Tourist Visa Length of Stay: Persons admitted to the United States on a B-2 Tourist Visa are usually issued a 6-month stay. The maximum length of stay for visitor visa holders is 6 months. The immigration officer at the port of entry determines how long each visitor is allowed to stay in the country. Most visitors have their I-94 cards stamped with a 6-month stay; however the immigration officer has the right to issue a shorter stay on a case by case basis. Upon entry into the United States, the foreign visitor has the right to request an extension of stay.
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https://www.usimmigrationsupport.org/b2-tourist-visa.html
 
dangerstat said:
You sir, are an idiot.
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Ok, maybe I should've said "how terrible living in this country is" :rolleyes:

I'm entitled to my opinion and to me here just doesn't live up to it at all. I will hopefully be moving out there with him when he gets his visa changed so that I can work if I go out. Not working is the only thing that put me off moving with him in the first place!
 
_dogma_ said:
My bf got his Visa and is now living in LA. He's been there since November and really likes it. If you've got the opportunity to go you can always try it, it means you'll never regret not doing it.

I was there over Christmas and thought it was amazing. I hated coming home, you kinda realise how terrible this country is.
Click to expand...

I originally was looking to at LA (apart from Miami, was the only hot place in america i knew of). A lot of things i've read on the web though seem to say LA isn't that great of a place to live in. Lots and lots of travel to get everywhere, and everyone is apparently in their own little world (or something like that). The beaches look nice though.
Think it is only about 200 miles from San Diego though, so pretty close. I'm tempted to just find places on craigslist and only stay for a few weeks. move around the US a bit. Will only really have laptop + clothes.
 
gameover said:
The plan was to just treat it like a holiday - get a 6 month visa (which you can get quite easy). I would still be working "from" the uk, still pay tax in the UK etc. It would be like i'm on holiday, but just for 6 months (and renting a place, not a hotel). Although admittedly i haven't looked into this much more than reading websites...

edit - this visa-

https://www.usimmigrationsupport.org/b2-tourist-visa.html
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Ah lame, the longest tourist Visa i could get when I last went (2005) was 90 days. Is that info you quoted, out of date?

Would be good if it had changed to 6 months, but I get the feeling that's what it used to be.
 
gameover said:
I originally was looking to at LA (apart from Miami, was the only hot place in america i knew of). A lot of things i've read on the web though seem to say LA isn't that great of a place to live in. Lots and lots of travel to get everywhere, and everyone is apparently in their own little world (or something like that). The beaches look nice though.
Think it is only about 200 miles from San Diego though, so pretty close. I'm tempted to just find places on craigslist and only stay for a few weeks. move around the US a bit. Will only really have laptop + clothes.
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We lived in Culver City, not sure how far that is from Downtown but everyone was really friendly, most people smiled at you as you walked past.It was clean, pretty much no litter in the streets, except the day after it rained.

Loads of stuff was really close and it was super easy to get anywhere. Americans seem to think the bus service sucks but it's actually very good, gets you most places for only a buck and runs regularly.

The beaches are lovely, everything is very clean and looked after. It's great being in the warm, which is probably why it was such a shock coming home after a month!

I've been to Florida too and it pales in comparison.
 
You'll actually need to apply for a visa to stay 6 months, standard tourist visa is 90 days. Should be easy enough to get one if you can prove you have sufficient funds to support yourself and a return flight booked, however given that you're self employed and will probably have to admit that you'll probably have to have sufficient funds before you get there.

Personally I think most of southern california is a hole and to be avoided as much as possible. I spent a few months in the bay area for work a couple of years back (and probably will do again soon the way things are looking), enjoyed it a fair bit, not sure I'd choose it as the basis for a long holiday though...
 
OCdude said:
Ah lame, the longest tourist Visa i could get when I last went (2005) was 90 days. Is that info you quoted, out of date?

Would be good if it had changed to 6 months, but I get the feeling that's what it used to be.
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Nah, pretty sure it is up to date.

http://tokyo.usembassy.gov/e/visa/tvisa-niv-b2.html - which as it is an official site, i guess it up to date.

Note: The length of the visa does not equate the length of stay. When you enter the United States, you will be inspected by an officer of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The officer will determine the amount of time you will be permitted to remain in the U.S. Extensions of stay will be approved only for unexpected or compelling humanitarian reasons. The maximum extension period of stay for travellers entering with a B visa is 6 months.
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_dogma_ said:
We lived in Culver City, not sure how far that is from Downtown but everyone was really friendly, most people smiled at you as you walked past.It was clean, pretty much no litter in the streets, except the day after it rained.

Loads of stuff was really close and it was super easy to get anywhere. Americans seem to think the bus service sucks but it's actually very good, gets you most places for only a buck and runs regularly.

The beaches are lovely, everything is very clean and looked after. It's great being in the warm, which is probably why it was such a shock coming home after a month!

I've been to Florida too and it pales in comparison.
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Completely different to 90% of what i've read online. But then most of what i've read were on forums where people posted "what do you think about living in LA", and mostly people who have lived there their whole lives replied that they don't like it. One of the main reasons i've kinda decided against it is the (apparently) lack of decent public transport.
 
gameover said:
Nah, pretty sure it is up to date.

http://tokyo.usembassy.gov/e/visa/tvisa-niv-b2.html - which as it is an official site, i guess it up to date.
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Bear in mind that's a visa, which you will need to apply for in advance and probably go be interviewed at the US embassy for (a friend recently did this). You cannot under any circumstances stay longer than 90 days under the visa waiver program though...
 
OCdude said:
Totally NOT easy to get a work permit, forget about it if you're self employed. Best chance of getting a work permit would be having a company sponsor it, which in itself is no easy task.

Best you'll be able to do is a three month tourist visa (unless that's also been shortened).

Not to rain on your parade, but getting any kinda of US Visa is pretty damned hard.
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I ******* 2nd that ! I've been here since 2004 AND still my being able to stay out here is up in the air.. That's with an employer doing everything in their power to keep me.
 
SDChargers said:
You will absolutely love San Diego and not want to go home. It is such a laid-back city and all of the beaches are beautiful.

Last time I was there was in November/December and it was 70-80 degrees and sunny every day :)
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Hehe, cool :). Is is still hot in Nov/Dec even after the sun has gone down?
 
i did four months in the states last year. favourite place was charleston, SC. however portland and seattle were both excellent. i'd recommend traveling around a bit
 
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