britvic

The man's oh soooooo RIGHT

Bob

thing is, you could always get cheap bupa medical in the uk, it's pretty standard benefit these days anyway from employers...but over here, your paying the tax and have to pay the insurance on top....and where we live, seeing a gp takes around 3 weeks, and it costs a bomb, on top of the expensive "good" insurance we're already paying...so frankly, health care is pretty shoddy for the money.

Englishmum

I concur!

It's not just healthcare costs you need to take into consideration (although my self-employed friend has to pay $300 per week plus co-pay on her insurance plan as she doesn't get the benefit of the discount insurance companies give to companies with large numbers of employees):

House and car insurance is also very expensive (although I guess this varies widely depending on which State one lives in).

Utilities - very expensive. In the UK with low humidity and a temperate climate you don't need (or have) air-con in the Summer and no need for heating so your bills decrease. The Summers here in the US are so hot and humid unless you live near a desert that your house would be damp and mouldy without air-con or a dehumidifier. Our electricity bills during the Summer were very high (approx $400 per month and we live in a small house!).

Food - not as cheap as one would think (unless you want to buy crap/unhealthy food which is as cheap as chips).

Private schools: Catholic schooling is quite inexpensive (subsidised by the Church) but in our area the fees start at $20k per year from the age of 6.. and most Americans therefore prefer to utilise the local neighbourhood schools.

Mobile Phones: You have to pay for all incoming phone calls in the US on mobile phones as well as for outgoing calls. Texting is much less popular as you pay the same as speaking so people prefer to talk....

No way would I even consider staying here in the retirement years and health insurance is no longer subsidised by my husband's company to the extent it is now.

Oh and the cost of funerals costs a lot more in the US compared to the UK LOL!

Vicky88

Krizzy, my husband is also in Telecoms and is a test, integration and acceptance engineer.

I'll agree, the streets are not paved with gold. Life in the US is what you make it. There is no point comparing it to back home, and truthfully if it was so shite why do we all move there?

That said, we will only live in the US as long as my husband is working and getting paid in US$. His current salary affords us a good lifestyle, but if that comes to an end, there is no way we could live comfortably in California.

We intend to retire to Australia. We will have Medicare paid for by the government, private health insurance is not that expensive, and the pension we receive from the US will certainly go further in Oz that it will in California. Hell, it wouldn't even pay the rent in California.

Vicky

Bob

For a lot of us, it's to be with our spouses...or just for the adventure of it all...not a long term plan....

the adventure, not the spouse

Angry White Pyjamas

Whoa nice recovery at the end there Bob

Vicky88

Have to agree, nice save Bob.

I think it must be difficult when there is a marriage between nationalities, because someone always has to be the one to concede home territory.

bbb1969

you seem to be well informed on medical issues i must say, what about the E2 visa lead times, i'm hearing all sorts of views some unreasonable and not transparent, just an over reaction, does any have a mature view from some one whom has recently applied or is in the process as to the physcial wait in terms of weeks at the London embassy?

Angry White Pyjamas

I assume by that she said what you wanted to hear as opposed to those that didnt. Ok I'll come clean...I pay $10 a year for the whole family and everything is free at delivery and theres no waiting at all.

Why dont you go on over to Rays forum (Floridaydays) which is mostly for E2 visa types?

Vicky88

bbb, the best thing for you to do would to be call the London Embassy and ask. I know you have to pay, but when I did it here in Australia, it took me about 5 minutes and they told me everything I needed to know.

As we don't know your exact info, and even if we did it would only be guesswork, I think the Embassy would be best placed to answer your question with the definitive answer you appear to be seeking. The problem is every application will be different depending on whether your have a certified sponsor or if you are starting you own business.

Ray

I already told him the answer on the first page of this posting ..

bbb1969

always problem logging in on Ray's forum!!!!!!

bbb1969

you pay $10, i thought you had a deal, buy one get one free!

not to sure what the free is............

bbb1969

you did Ray, with thanks, but how much is accurate, that the million dollar question, i'm of the view some of the articles when i could log in before were at little far fetched!!!!!!!

Ray

Can only be two reasons..
Both username and password are case sensitive
or your computer security is set too high

Regarding time delays.. there was a massive back up ..they have cleared a lot ..we has seven go thru in Aug .. but nothing so far this month
There is only one person that checks them at the embassy ..our Meg ..
if she is on vacation or sick it comes to a grinding halt ..

Far fetched ..hardly ...