Emigrating to the US

Rosbif said:
I dunno why anyone would want to leave England .. good lord ! no football in yankland

Even if there wasn't any football on tv there (which there is) we wouldn't base a decision that affects our whole family on whether there was football shown there or not lol.

I agree with Loki actually in his last post. We want to make a better life for our children and, hopefully, moving to America will make that possible. We already moved out of London, as I said earlier, but I don't like the way this country is going either.
 
Haven't really got much to add. I made it over here the "easy" way - I married an American girl. And even that was a lot of work. Even now I'm still in a certain amount of limbo and I've been here 2.5 years - I have what's called "conditional status" on my Green Card (because we weren't married for more than two years before we moved) and, in theory, they could kick me out next January if they wanted. They're currently reviewing all the paperwork and, fingers crossed, I'll get my full Green Card within the next few months.

As for the usual LOL-worthy misconceptions about the USA... I can't be bothered. I've lived in the UK and US and I know where I'd rather be - it's a no-brainer. I have no desire to live in the UK ever again.

EDIT: Loki used the words "social decay". I couldn't have put it better...
 
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Loki said:
A lot of people say why would you want to leave England to us. Without doubt it is the biggest decision of our life. I am sorry if some people find this offensive but England isn't the be all and end all of everything in my life. I, as my wife, have paid into the system for well over ten years. I am seeing a lot of social decay and the trend is not being bucked in anyway shape of form.

Of course the grass isn't always greener on the other side. However I wan't to enjoy a reasonable standard of living for myself and my family without being penalised for it at every single opportunity. It's hard to explain why America but unless you have been then it doesn't mean that much. I know there's crime, poverty, political correctness the same as here. The difference is that there is still a great sense of community. And if truth be known a greater standard of living to be had. I don't think its that much of a crime as some people would believe to want to live away from England and enjoy a better life

sure i want to move there too but i think your reasons are bs

US has the largest prison population in the world ffs
30% living below poverty line i'd say its social problems are worse and will get much worse
US is full of immigrants too, litterally millions go in each year from mexico
millions of people live in gated communities, thats hardly a great sense of community

you dont want to be taxed but you want to live in a community?
 
Personally i'm thinking about moving to Canada at some point, but like the US it's not a quick process at all! I can't imagine anywhere worse than Florida though, but that might just be me :)

I'm sure you've seen this already (http://britishexpats.com/forum/) but it's a very useful forum for info and help.
 
JodieG said:
Even if there wasn't any football on tv there (which there is) we wouldn't base a decision that affects our whole family on whether there was football shown there or not lol.

I agree with Loki actually in his last post. We want to make a better life for our children and, hopefully, moving to America will make that possible. We already moved out of London, as I said earlier, but I don't like the way this country is going either.

where is it going?

too many immigrants right?
 
Gated communites are communities though, they have good communities within them. I can see how some people would find them unpalatable but if you can afford it them I suppose it gives the people a sense of security and it's also about being elite I think. I wouldn't pick out a gated community specifically but if there was a nice house in one then it wouldn't put me off.
 
neocon said:
where is it going?

too many immigrants right?

Wrong actually, why assume that? I don't like the way the politics is and the way the country is being run. I actually think it's right to accept immigrants into the country that will work.
 
Loki mate can you give me an example of a 'greater sense of community'? I've been to Florida a few times, on holiday mind, but I never got any sense of a greater sense of community above and beyond what I've experienced in England.
 
Loki said:
A lot of people say why would you want to leave England to us. Without doubt it is the biggest decision of our life. I am sorry if some people find this offensive but England isn't the be all and end all of everything in my life. I, as my wife, have paid into the system for well over ten years. I am seeing a lot of social decay and the trend is not being bucked in anyway shape of form.

Of course the grass isn't always greener on the other side. However I wan't to enjoy a reasonable standard of living for myself and my family without being penalised for it at every single opportunity. It's hard to explain why America but unless you have been then it doesn't mean that much. I know there's crime, poverty, political correctness the same as here. The difference is that there is still a great sense of community. And if truth be known a greater standard of living to be had. I don't think its that much of a crime as some people would believe to want to live away from England and enjoy a better life


Excellent post, i myself dont get why people in here get so offended when someone says they want to leave the UK for another country:confused:. For myself ive lived most of my life in Canada, granted i was born here but my heart lies in Canada simple as that. I have dual citizenship ie british and Canadian but i always get a bit of grief from certain members here when i mention Canada or talk about moving back...which im intending to do so very soon.
I myself dont like England, never made a secret about how much i despise living here. This country used to be great but now is going to the dogs and honestly id rather raise my kids and family, when i have them in Canada. Of course i would make sure they have british citizenship along with Canada because who knows they might enjoy England....i do have a lot of family here.

Seriously though people shouldnt take it to heart that a person might want to leave the UK for another country. It isnt a crime or is it??.
 
JodieG said:
Wrong actually, why assume that? I don't like the way the politics is and the way the country is being run. I actually think it's right to accept immigrants into the country that will work.

i dont see how our politics are different?

except we provide healthcare for all, university education for all and social security for all who need it.

try being a single parent (lower/middle income) in the US?

i'm working for an american company in london. they love to do nice things like outsource jobs to india. real community lol
 
neocon said:
i dont see how our politics are different?

except we provide healthcare for all, university education for all and social security for all who need it.

try being a single parent (lower/middle income) in the US?

i'm working for an american company in london. they love to do nice things like outsource jobs to india. real community lol

I wasn't after a debate, start an SC thread if that's what you want and I'll happily join it; all we wanted was some advice.

I don't think single parents get it all the good here anyway to be honest. I don't plan on being a single parent any time soon regardless but from other forums I frequent I see how hard it is for them and way to go with the government talking about making single parents go back to work when their children are 12, that must really help the parent look after their children adequately.
 
neocon said:
i'm working for an american company in london. they love to do nice things like outsource jobs to india. real community lol


LOL:p and UK companies dont do this do they??. If anything UK companies are notorious for out-sourcing to India...i mean cheap labour equals more money.

Try not to single out the Americans for everything eh??, the Brits are just as bad;).
 
Spawn said:
LOL:p and UK companies dont do this do they??. If anything UK companies are notorious for out-sourcing to India...i mean cheap labour equals more money.

Try not to single out the Americans for everything eh??, the Brits are just as bad;).

yes, there's barely any difference
 
Lol, he wanted advice on emigrating there. Not comparisons between the UK and US. I'm Surprised Muslims haven't been brought into it. :p
There are others that might want advice so stay on topic at least.
 
neocon said:
sure i want to move there too but i think your reasons are bs

US has the largest prison population in the world ffs
30% living below poverty line i'd say its social problems are worse and will get much worse
US is full of immigrants too, litterally millions go in each year from mexico
millions of people live in gated communities, thats hardly a great sense of community

you dont want to be taxed but you want to live in a community?

I respect your comments but I don't agree. I would hardly say my reasons are BS but again your entitled to your opnion

The US may have the largest prison population in the world. By the same token it has one of the largest populations so it maybe relative to the size of the country

30% Living below the poverty line. Ok thats a fair statement to make. I have no intention of going there to live below the poverty line though. However wasn't there a report this week about the gap between the have's & have not's getting ever wider. So as much as America may have a percentage in poverty then I am sure the rate in the UK will be increasing also

There are lots of Immigrants in America America of the last 200-300 years is based on immigration both from Europe and Latin America. It is part of their culture. It is not part of our culture in the UK. Without dumbing down your point I fail to see what it means other than stating the obvious.

Living in gated communities I have family who have lived in America for nearly 30 years now in Chicago and the way the interact with their neighbours, community and local area is completely different than what ours is. Also from my experience of America there is a greater sense of community. Maybe its because over here people are afraid of the big boogeyman of political correctnes not allowing a positive display of patriotism. In America they are proud of who they are and what their identity is. That feeds down to their sense of community. People still speak to each other on the street. They help each other out. They apologise if they bump into you rather than looking at you as if it's your fault.

Tax & community I never said that I didn't want to be taxed. What I said was that I dont like being taxed at every opportunity. The government take approximately 25% of my household income even before we see it. I put money in the bank to save, it's taxed again. I work hard to improve my standard of living by improving my house and the government want to tax the profit on that. The simple pleasures of enjoying a few bottles of wine with my family usually means that 70% of that goes to the treasury. In my opinion we work the longest hours in europe and we get the least benefits. I have no problem paying into the system but there comes a time when you say enough is enough when you pay more out but get less back

There are other reasons as well. I will be honest they are entirely selfish and I have no problem in saying it at all. The quality of life is better. From September to Febuary I get very little chance to enjoy a game of football with my son after work because its either dark, cold, raining or all three. At least in Florida the weather is good enough to do that all the year through. Or goto the beach for an hour or have a play in the pool for an hour. Last year we were there for Xmas. It was the first time I spent Xmas morning in the pool. I can say its a lot more pleasurable than the cold over here that's for sure.

The year before we were there for Hallowe'en and we got called around 15 times by kids who had made the effort to get dressed up for the whole Hallowe'en thing. Not some gobby teenager in a baseball cap who was after as much money as they could get and give you a mouthful of lip if you ask if they are a bit too old to be doing it. Then into the evening we were invited into a party by the neighbours who lived next door permanently. Never met us before but wanted us to enjoy & share their festivities. So much for gated communities ;)
 
Ok it appears you have a bit of a downer on America and a bit of a downer on your perception of England. So I really cant see the point of debating it with you
 
Loki said:
Ok it appears you have a bit of a downer on America and a bit of a downer on your perception of England. So I really cant see the point of debating it with you

ok sorry, im sure if you take a positive outlook you'll have a positive life over there
 
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