Re: Considering a move to the US- NON immigration discussion
 

I live in Davenport and can honestly tell you the water bill isn't high about $50 (double that in the next city over) a month and that's with a pool, my electric is averaging $200 a month, there is a considerable amount of poverty around here and a lot of businesses have gone bust here, there are empty building lots everywhere, orange growers are selling their land etc. There are tons of restaurants etc and from what I see alot of them have to give free meals to kids to entice custom these days.

Medial bills I can only tell you of my experience. When my son was born his medical bills alone were just shy of $100,000, we were very lucky because of the state we lived at the time, their state insurance covered everything. Now that was his initial bill, after that we had x-rays, surgeon consults you name it, those bills were another $50,000 on top. Had we not had state insurance I dread to think what we would have had to pay out, we would have lost everything and I mean everything, btw that happens a lot to people over here.

Don't get me wrong I love the US, but seriously think hard about it all, you need money to live here, we have nothing like back home in the UK, no Dole money, no income support or any of that other stuff here now. Also if you work for a company (I don't actually know how many states this applies to) and they need to make lay offs, rather than lay you off they will fire you and most of the time they don't have to give you a reason, the reason they do it is so they don't have to contribute to your unemployment pay, so you get screwed. Honestly think carefully, if you think you have what it takes to move here then do, as I said I love it here, but you do need money to live here comfortably.

Good Luck with your decision, it really isn't an easy one.

Re: Considering a move to the US- NON immigration discussion
 

to dudette
i have been told it is hard to make friends and the schools are rubbish-how do you find these
;)

Re: Considering a move to the US- NON immigration discussion
 

Most of us have lived in the UK and the US so are very qualified to have an opinion. this forum has provided me with enormous help and support, we do not spend our days bitching to our american friends that would be impolite, we come here and talk to people who understand.

I am amazed that people who have been here on holiday feel they have the right to tell people who have experience of LIVING here that they know better.
Oh and just be aware the medical issues are every bit as scary as people make out, when you have a procedure you sign to say you will pay if the insurance wont and there are no guarantees with insurance. My friends sons car accident cost $265,000.00 just for the hospital not counting rehabilitation, imagine if you are paying upwards of 20% copay.
Oh and an irregular smear test when you were 17 or a weight problem, or high blood pressure or pretty much anything you may not even get insurance.

Re: Considering a move to the US- NON immigration discussion
 

Before you worry about making friends there's the small issue of getting the visa and running a successful business.

Re: Considering a move to the US- NON immigration discussion
 

Party pooper!

I'm sure there's a thesis to be done on E2 Floridian wannabes. I could see a follow-up conference or three, too.

Re: Considering a move to the US- NON immigration discussion
 

I would figure that for an own business about 50-60% would be gone in taxes, insurance and retirement. For a family of 3 working your own business, 4k a month will be very tight.

Re: Considering a move to the US- NON immigration discussion
 

the reason i mention friends and schools is that someone said to us whilst we were overthere lasst month that he loved the americans and the schools are brilliant with only 16 children in a class

Re: Considering a move to the US- NON immigration discussion
 

It is really hard to make friends and as yet I haven't managed to make friends, but then again I haven't been here that long, I've met a few implants from other states, I guess if you work here you make work acquaintances but I don't work, I take care of the house and our son.

My son will be going to the equivalent of a British Public School here in the US, the schools I believe around here aren't too great, but we won't be here when it's time for my son to go to school. I have been told that there are some great Charter schools around and about, but again I have no first hand experience.

Should you wish to come to this area, make sure to get a pool as it gets very hot and the pool is great for cooling off. Here's how I feel about it, I used to fly here to the US once a week with work, I loved it but never saw myself living here, I met my husband he is a USC and we still aren't sure we are going to spend our lives here. I don't regret coming here, I at times miss the UK, but when I go back I realize I couldn't live there any more. Way up the pros and cons of it carefully, understand what you would be coming here for, what you would lose in coming here and what you would gain from coming here. There are many other places/states in the US that you could live, FL is not the be all and end all.

Re: Considering a move to the US- NON immigration discussion
 

This cannot be for real.

Re: Considering a move to the US- NON immigration discussion
 

Why do you think folks like Graham Copley are so successful?

Re: Considering a move to the US- NON immigration discussion
 

Maybe it was a private school?

Re: Considering a move to the US- NON immigration discussion
 

Sorry, I was meaning her whole attitude of completely disregarding our posts and sticking to some bit of hearsay on her holiday.

Re: Considering a move to the US- NON immigration discussion
 

Oh yeah - totally with you on that..... :rofl: what do we know, eh??

Re: help on moving to USA on E2 visa
 

With respect, I was born in the UK - as was my brother, my father, my mother, and damn near every other relative of mine... so please don't presume to tell me how hard your life is in the UK.

Ian

Re: Considering a move to the US- NON immigration discussion
 

You never know...:)

Even down in my neck of the woods, in SD, in a great school district, i wanna say my 10 year old was in a class pushing 30...and theyre laying off 2 more teachers...lovely..

I still love California though:)