Move to Florida
 

Hello everyone,

Be gentle please :-)

Me and my family are coming out during the half term here for 8 weeks to research the areas - looking for a point in the right direction really.

I am a jeweller who does a lot of business in Miami and New York so I would be flying to and from these places often for my work, my children currently go to a lovely private school where there is very small classes (sub 10 per classroom) they are 7 & 5 years old - we spent a month in Orlando last year where we did all the tourist stuff and now looking for areas for property and great primary school.
Can anyone help with this please?

Re: Move to Florida
 

Welcome to BE! The first question on everyone's lips is going to be, "What visa do you qualify for?" No point in planning anything if there is no path to a visa.

Here is some info on that topic; check out the "Work" section: https://britishexpats.com/wiki/Pulas...ork_in_the_USA

Re: Move to Florida
 

Hello, E2 visa.

Re: Move to Florida
 

Where will your business premises be located, so those familiar with the area can make appropriate residential suggestions in commuting range.

Re: Move to Florida
 

[I won’t have business premises over there but the company I am investing in is Miami - I am not looking to live in miami - when we were last over I much preferred orlando to miami.

Re: Move to Florida
 

Will you be running the day-to-day operations remotely? I understood the E-2 required that you are hands-on, it can't be a passive investment.

Re: Move to Florida
 

Buy a Tin Hat - it will get you through the next couple of days on here - few ask about a move to Florida and live to tell the tale.

Not lived there, but it seems a lot of the developments West/South West of Orlando are popular with the Brits - Clermont, Winter Park, Windemere/Lake Butler etc. I'd imagine the latter would have decent schools based on the type of properties! I would certainly do a lot of research on the schooling aspect - even if not at the mercy of the Public system in Florida. I can't speak for it's quality, but this school is in that area - https://www.nordangliaeducation.com/wps-florida

Be ready for a Hot and Humid spring - autumn period. For some, it is clearly oppressive, for others, a thing of beauty, but even in the latter group you'll be running for AC cover regularly.
Brightline starts running a High Speed rail service between Miami and Orlando this year, so transport links should be good. That will also be to Tampa. MCO has a new terminal as well, so you should have no problems flying around the main USA Cities from there.

Re: Move to Florida
 

Thank you

appreciate this will research

Re: Move to Florida
 

Research how high above sea level your property (rented or owned) will be, and how close to the coast.

Re: Move to Florida
 

I am confused. What is the nature of the business you will be "investing in" and what is your relationship with it?

The E-2 is for operating a hands-on business, into which you have invested sufficient capital to generate enough income to live on, and to employ Americans and "grow the business".

You cannot use an E-2 for a passive investment, nor a subsistence business, and when the time comes for renewal, you will have to show how the business is fairing regards growth/ development prospects, and employment of locals. IIRC you are also required to have business premises - you cannot run the business from your spare bedroom, or from the sofa using a laptop.

Re: Move to Florida
 

One suspects that the - inevitably required - consultation with an immigration attorney will result in this idea going the way of the dodo.

Re: Move to Florida
 

My mom lived in Orlando for 10 years working at Universal Studios. I shot the shark on the Jaws ride as my summer job back from college.

I’m a US expat in the UK for 20 years.

To live in Orlando is very different from visiting as a tourist. The public education is bad and you will definitely need to go private. The state is also very conservative and a little bit whacky. Red Neck Rivera. Read Carl Hiassen…his work is satirical but not that far off the mark. Going out and social and business circles tend to revolve around the Parks which can get old fast.

it’s very hot during the summer and those three months you can’t really go outside. The seasons outside the summer are lovely and o even had snow once in December.

rising sea levels would be a concern.

if you’re serious about Orlando to live, I’d look at Dr Phillips which has a nice community vibe and ‘restaurant row’ and Winter Park which is just lovely and where I would choose if I had to. Cute little college there too, but academically not great. If you’re looking to reside in FL, I’d seriously look at other less touristy areas though. Like Naples

Re: Move to Florida
 

Have to agree about Naples. Just spent a week there and it is lovely. Nice houses in good areas are expensive though...... anything near the beach ......

Re: Move to Florida
 

like much of the States now. Looking to move back and gone on the days of cheap housing and stocking up at Target. Ouch.

Re: Move to Florida
 

I’m one of those people who loves Florida, even though I see the oddities & downsides of the place. I’m gonna look at that author you mentioned, his work sounds interesting.

Another love/hate Florida author I recently discovered, the novelist and short-story writer Lauren Groff. I just read her collection of short stories, titled Florida. Really, really good! Mostly based in Gainesville. Protagonist is married to a university professor, is a grad student and adjunct. I assume partly autobiographical. Some of her work gets into the history of Florida. Really quirky and odd but readable & fascinating.

https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/44776662