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Re: Live in the US, or become a PT?
Originally Posted by Mack
(Post 5954059)
I see the issue here.
I'm stumbled upon the dwelling ground of a feisty middle class. |
Re: Live in the US, or become a PT?
Originally Posted by Dan725
(Post 5954137)
Please be aware that someone like you comes along at least once every month on average. Spouting off about moving to the USA, got lots of money, yadda yadda, yadda. then disappears, never to be heard from again (or worse, reappears under a different ID). So you can understand the cynicism. However, IF you are genuine, I second dbj1000's post above. I appreciate you appear to have done a reasonable about of research and seem quite well informed, so giving you the benefit of the doubt, I'd say why risk all your money on an EB-5? Do your worldwide bum thing for a bit, spend 3 months in the US and really try to get a feel for it - this is hard to do as a tourist, however, where its all rosey. Really approach financial institutions, property agents, insurance companies, etc to try and find out what its all about. Then try to decide whether it'd be worth your while or not.
As far as "lots of money", that was in NO way a boastful statement. In fact, I never once said it. I simply expressed the facts of my situation... that being, I'm grateful to have a footloose structure in my life (after lots of trial and error!) so that I can make these kinds of decisions. It's other people who were quick to judge based upon that. I agree that the EB5 is a risk, and again, a reason I'm asking. It would be all my money, and I'd be landing in the US with very little on top to spend... putting me no better position than the majority of working America. I'd be renting at the start, establishing credit, making ends meet... the same as everyone. On the flip side, it's a nice budget for the PT lifestyle, assuming you're living life by "subscription" rather than ownership. I'm here to discuss the merits of each. Is the US all it's cracked up to be? Do people here moving from the UK feel they've made the right choice? That kind of stuff, ya know... |
Re: Live in the US, or become a PT?
Originally Posted by Mack
(Post 5953856)
No - I don't plan to work in any country at all.
I plan to have a laptop with me and check my e-mails, and that's it. The kind of businesses I run are businesses that don't require my attention... just the occasional check-up and delegation to staff. My companies are offshore, my workers are freelance, my bank accounts are in other countries, and I'm paying using plastic (95% of the time), and I have no physical premises. So getting back to the visa issue, no, one would not be required. I'd be a permanent tourist. |
Re: Live in the US, or become a PT?
Originally Posted by Dan725
(Post 5954154)
You see, there you go again. Conciously or not, with comments like these, you just come across as a twat, implying "I'm considerably richer than yaou". There's ways of approaching this without coming across like you have been.
If you're sick of people "coming across like a twat", perhaps consider the protection afforded to those who deem anyone in a better position than them (usually, self-perceived/inflated) as fodder for insults. Yes, I have some money. I'm not rich and I've worked bloody hard for it. And I started off with nothing, and came from nothing, too. I came here looking for intelligent feedback on people who had found themselves in similar positions. Instead, I was met with cynicism, told my approach was illegal (from people who had never spent a single second researching the facts - or even properly understood the definition), shot down for being "immature", and now called a twat. I mean, huh? I have a legitimate question. If you don't want to answer it, no problem - there are plenty of other threads (and websites) besides. However, is it really fair to launch a tirade of abuse at a stranger because you're threatened by someone asking information on a situation you consider more fortunate (or twattish, as the case may be) than you own? "Grow up" sounds more of an appropriate response to those people, than me. |
Re: Live in the US, or become a PT?
Originally Posted by Tracym
(Post 5954108)
No problem, thanks for the apology :)
OK, I understand the problem - the US is a "do it NOW" or don't do it thing for you it appears. Well, you are 26 right? Young then (yes, I get to say that, I'm older than you :p). So in that case - why not go ahead with the U.S. You can still travel around some, and if you don't like the U.S., you can always leave and do the PT thing. Seems one option is likely to remain open, and one won't - so to preserve your options, I'd try the U.S. first. Many folks on this board miss their home, and their fellow Brits - some don't. I have met quite a few Brits who love it here - and some who don't. It's just a guess on my part - but you sound like you might be one of those who will like it here. Hopefully you have gotten good advise on the visa - one thing that strikes me, in order for you to apply for the visa - you may have to be RESIDENT in the country where the embassy you apply through is located. Not a citizen, but rather a resident. Not the same thing. I hope you can get that sorted, if it is indeed a problem. I would suggest listening carefully to what Folinsky in particular says - he is quite knowledgeable. Wouldn't want to shoot yourself in the foot with that one. Also - you have some time between now and September. Why not come over here to the U.S. for 3 months, and see if you still want to move here. Also, there are SO many different places and cultures in the U.S. - another big choice to make. Cheers :) Like anywhere else, there's a mix of people and you will get a mix of responses. My suggestion - take the ones that are useful, and don't get too upset by the ones that aren't. Many many people come on this board and want advise on how to do things illegally, and haven't done any research. You apparently aren't one of them, but folks on the board do see a lot of that. I wasn't aware of the residency clause and that could certainly have presented a stumbling block for me. That, in itself, could reshape my approach. That's one area I'll need to research more... glad you brought it up, thank you! |
Re: Live in the US, or become a PT?
Originally Posted by Mack
(Post 5954221)
Brilliant advice, Tracy. Many thanks!
I wasn't aware of the residency clause and that could certainly have presented a stumbling block for me. That, in itself, could reshape my approach. That's one area I'll need to research more... glad you brought it up, thank you! |
Re: Live in the US, or become a PT?
Originally Posted by Mack
(Post 5954221)
Brilliant advice, Tracy. Many thanks!
I wasn't aware of the residency clause and that could certainly have presented a stumbling block for me. That, in itself, could reshape my approach. That's one area I'll need to research more... glad you brought it up, thank you! "Another problem you may encounter is whether the US consulate of wherever you are when you apply for it will accept your application. Some require residency in the country of application." Kind of proves that you are not really reading the posts or are reading what you want to hear and ignoring the rest. You ask for opinions about the US, I give you one and ask a question and get a flippant response. You are given information, yet you claim you didn't know it when the same thing is brought up. I say again. Living in the US is not what you think it will be like. Some people like it, some people don't. Another thing to consider is medical costs. Do you have any medical conditions? If so, don't try to move here. If you don't, have you worked in insurance to your costs? |
Re: Live in the US, or become a PT?
Originally Posted by Mack
(Post 5954197)
Read the post that preceded that remark, and tell me it wasn't met with equal zeal to shoot the other person down.
If you're sick of people "coming across like a twat", perhaps consider the protection afforded to those who deem anyone in a better position than them (usually, self-perceived/inflated) as fodder for insults. Yes, I have some money. I'm not rich and I've worked bloody hard for it. And I started off with nothing, and came from nothing, too. I came here looking for intelligent feedback on people who had found themselves in similar positions. Instead, I was met with cynicism, told my approach was illegal (from people who had never spent a single second researching the facts - or even properly understood the definition), shot down for being "immature", and now called a twat. I mean, huh? I have a legitimate question. If you don't want to answer it, no problem - there are plenty of other threads (and websites) besides. However, is it really fair to launch a tirade of abuse at a stranger because you're threatened by someone asking information on a situation you consider more fortunate (or twattish, as the case may be) than you own? "Grow up" sounds more of an appropriate response to those people, than me. The big mistake that got you off on the wrong foot was that you said "The UK is shit, I want out of here" or words to that effect. To make it complete, all you needed to add was "I want to move to Orlando". Without you stating or having any credible experience of anywhere to constrast it with. As you are now aware, most people here, having gained this experience, do not hold to "The UK is shit" view at all. You then talked about the US option being "A great dream....big house, big car, plugging yourself into the community, etc." Mate, its rare it happens exactly like that. Many here have got all of that stuff....except the last one, by and large, which is hard to come by as there are some very subtle societal differences. Even for Americans, from a different area, its hard to come by. And this aspect is by far the most important. The bits you got right are the cynical people in Britain - like it or not, that is a British national characteristic to some degree, you included. Better that way, than believing everything you hear, like some other places I can think of.... If I was you, from all I understand you on this thread, I'd probably be considering the UAE or Hong Kong, where the dream life of luxury stereotypical expat life is arguably more within reach, and its far easier to plug yourself into a like minded community. |
Re: Live in the US, or become a PT?
Originally Posted by Mack
(Post 5954150)
Thank you T, and welcome.
I agree with you. Unfortunately - as I expressed in a previous post - I'm of the opinion more so nowadays that home/community is a more fleeting entity than it once was. Maybe I'm just feeling the common youthful scenario that is losing friends to schools, jobs, partners and true callings, but I do not consider my home truly "home" - even now, before I've visited anywhere. Friends have left the town (or the UK entirely), gotten married and had children, tied themselves to responsibilities and jobs elsewhere and done the same things everyone does at one stage or another. I'm not alone in this phenomena, of course. It affects everyone. But it does impact my perspective of "home". There's not much of it left... and with increase in youth vandalism, the increasing nanny-mentality of UK politics, the dreary weather and the S.A.D victims it claims... well... I don't have to tell a community of British Expats why I'm looking for an alternative. So either way... PT, the US or Outer Mongolia, "home" doesn't really feel like anywhere, right now. T xx |
Re: Live in the US, or become a PT?
Originally Posted by Dan725
(Post 5954258)
The big mistake that got you off on the wrong foot was that you said "The UK is shit, I want out of here" or words to that effect. To make it complete, all you needed to add was "I want to move to Orlando". Without you stating or having any credible experience of anywhere to constrast it with. As you are now aware, most people here, having gained this experience, do not hold to "The UK is shit" view at all.
In this case, it looks like I understated the patriotism many expats still hold for the UK. I apologize for any offense caused. What I won't apologize for is my opinion. And why must it be compared? People can make opinions of something all on its own, without dragging other countries into the loop. All I can say is, I dislike living here enough to want to move. You then talked about the US option being "A great dream....big house, big car, plugging yourself into the community, etc." Mate, its rare it happens exactly like that. Many here have got all of that stuff....except the last one, by and large, which is hard to come by as there are some very subtle societal differences. Even for Americans, from a different area, its hard to come by. And this aspect is by far the most important. That's the whole point of posting! PT vs. US residency. The facts and fallacies, per experience -- which having not made the move, I do not yet have. The bits you got right are the cynical people in Britain - like it or not, that is a British national characteristic to some degree, you included. Better that way, than believing everything you hear, like some other places I can think of.... My experience with Americans (again, with obvious exceptions) has been more enterprising, positive, optimistic... with a certain joie de vivre that Britons lack. I'm not excluding myself from that group. There are certain aspects of my character I'd love to change, and expose myself to through a different country. This is not a "holier than thou" rant. I'm considering the US for perfectly legitimate reasons, not least to enjoy a better outlook on life. If I was you, from all I understand you on this thread, I'd probably be considering the UAE or Hong Kong, where the dream life of luxury stereotypical expat life is arguably more within reach, and its far easier to plug yourself into a like minded community. Again, exactly why I'm discussing this in a "PT vs. US" thread. |
Re: Live in the US, or become a PT?
Here are my experiences of being a semi PT.
I have lived in 3 different countries over the last decade. I've never been able to vote. I'll never receive a state pension. I won't see any of the money that has gone into private pensions. Had I lost my job at any time I wouldn't have received any state assistance or had access to any healthcare if I had developed some kind of serious illness. The whole of the last 10 years have been spent worrying about my status and knowing that at any time I could be asked to leave (despite being legal everywhere, things can change very easily overnight). I also learnt to be very comfortable on my own. You can get very lonely. Friends from home start to get less interested in what you are up to, friends you make overseas are often also expats who eventually go home to their countries. Over time you realise that people you are close with will be strangers some day and it becomes harder to open up. But it also gets easier to let go as it happens more and more. I had plans to live in more than just those 3 countries, but I met someone who I wanted to settle down with. We're still travelling, but it's a lot harder when you have a child. I left the UK at 21 thinking babies and marriage were not for me. Things change. I don't consider the UK to be my home. I don't have any ties there apart from my husband's family, no friends or family of my own to go back to. I don't feel any kind of connection to the place, and if I had had the cash to get citizenship from my last country I would have done so because it was more of a home to me than the UK ever was. I really do think of myself as a world citizen, mostly because I don't belong to any one particular place. |
Re: Live in the US, or become a PT?
Is the OP an American citizen or does he have permanent residence in the US 'cos if he hasn't, he can't be moving to the US in two months time.
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Re: Live in the US, or become a PT?
Originally Posted by NC Penguin
(Post 5954542)
Is the OP an American citizen or does he have permanent residence in the US 'cos if he hasn't, he can't be moving to the US in two months time.
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Re: Live in the US, or become a PT?
Originally Posted by NC Penguin
(Post 5954542)
Is the OP an American citizen or does he have permanent residence in the US 'cos if he hasn't, he can't be moving to the US in two months time.
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Re: Live in the US, or become a PT?
Originally Posted by elfman
(Post 5953630)
I'm a UK citizen, sick and tired of hearing other UK citizens run the place down continually.
and are British louts really larger than in other countries? Is it part of the overall trend in society towards obesity? |
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