Hi, new to the forum and need some help. We currently live in France & are thinking of moving to Florida. We will be retiring. Would we have any trouble bringing our 2 cats over?

Did you try searching for this before posting? There are plenty threads, 3 or 4 recent ones come to mind.

Have a look on some of the airlines websites, some have good info on bringing pets.

Pet rules vary by state, so you will be dealing with Florida rules. Generally the US is pretty relaxed when it comes to bringing pets. (ie. it's nothing like the UK.)

Also, beware of recent TSA rule changes regarding pets as cargo. They must now be dropped off at the airport by IATA approved pet shipping company. This is very expensive. Many airlines allow you to check your pet as baggage or take it as carry on, this will be a much cheaper option.

You'll find it easier coming from France than from the UK. A few years ago, I read good reports of a business class only carrier called Aviance, out of Orly.

That, of course, assumes you're allowed to live in the USA...

Who are "we"? What are your citizenships? If not US citizens, what visas will you be using?

Pets will be easier to bring over than yourselves if you aren't USC's...and if you aren't USC's, it's probably a no goer unless you do the B2 for 6 months at a time.

As for pets, there's a few threads, most tend to be for Texas and Cali though, but the info is still pretty good.

I can agree from our experience the dog got in easier than we did. We had the mandatory 10 day examination and injection certificates and they didn't even glance at them. The poor little devil was so dehydrated when she got here after 10 hours being locked in a cage and the water bottle must have got emptied somehow cause I know she couldn't have drunk it and still been so thirsty when she came out to us.

But hey they are an important part of any family.

Good Luck

unless you're a South Korean.

Thanks for all your replies, apart from Manc! A few tips for us to look up.

It's already been asked once; how are you planning on retiring to Florida? Is one of you an American citizen?

The cat is.

don't discriminate....

The North too

Continental allow you to fly one pet per person in the cabin,if you have them in a carrier which fits under the seat in front of you. This is relatively inexpensive. The huge cost comes about if you fly them in cargo. How are you going to retire to USA - there's no such Visa?