semi move to US
 

Hi all. The plan was to retire to Florida for 10months of the year but just discovered we can only do so for 6months as will not be working hence unable to get green card. That is fine but I had a few queries and I wondered if anyone would be able to answer them for me based on your experience.

1. We are looking at buying an investment property in a gated community near Disney and renting it out for half the year and staying there ourselves up to the maximum limit of 180 days per year. We have also considered a decent trailer (trailer trash yay!) and wondered if anyone else has a trailer on a park with a pool etc. If so, how easy is it to rent out and how secure is it compared to a condo?

2. Not sure whether to rent a car for 6months or buy a cheap car. Any advice? Also, I will look at applying for an international drivers license to facilitate insurance etc. Any tips for buying vs. renting and any related auto stuff?

3. Health: both my partner and I are on long term meds, nothing major but we will need to consider this in term of obtaining our prescriptions. I am hoping that our GP will provide 6months worth of prescriptions at a time or we could maybe ask a local pharmacy to collect and send them on (or family/friends of course). Does anyone have any experience of this? What about medical insurance? Would an annual travel policy be better?

4. Phones: is there a better network provider that works well in both UK and US that isn't too expensive? Or does it work out better to have a throwaway in US/PAYG?

5. Flights: Any advice for procuring the cheapest flights to and from Orlando and UK?

6. Finally, has anyone had any trouble with a B1/B2 visa? We certainly don't want to cause ourselves any problems by overstaying and plan to return to the UK way before the total 180 days that a visa would provide but wondered if US immigration had ever turned anyone away purely because they were frequent long term visitors and they were suspicious of someone not leaving when they should. Also, I was told that the 180 days can be split up over a year. Would that be best managed by an ESTA (visa waiver)?


Thanks in advance for any replies I may receive.

Cheers :thumbsup:

Karen

Re: semi move to US
 

Welcome to BE. I have moved your thread over to our US forums.

If you use the forum's search engine you will find many threads about retiring to the U.S...also quite a few re retiring to Florida. These may answer some of your questions. :)

Re: semi move to US
 

I know there have been quite a number but I can't seem to find them now. This one comes closest to some of the issues:

http://britishexpats.com/forum/us-im...lorida-832723/

Does Ray still run his Florida forum?

Re: semi move to US
 

It is quite uncanny that the OP appears to be aware of essentially all of the issues that might be obstacles to their plan, and asks all of the right questions.

This almost never happens.

Re: semi move to US
 

Travel insurance intrigues me. Annual travel insurance covers multiple short trips. Not for living abroad. The price is a clue.

I have a friend with a condo. Now they just go for a few weeks now and then. I know the management charges eat into the rent but contributes. People I know in CO go to Florida in the winter. My assumption renting in the winter is easier. Lot of rental competition it seems.

Re: semi move to US
 

Train wreck waiting to happen.

Travel insurance won't cover long spells like that. And as you won't be residing in the US, you won't be able to get on the exchanges I'd have thought, so that could very well be expensive.

You'll also open yourself up for taxes to the IRS, with world wide income reporting. Which will be a lot of fun.

Visa, if you're retired and have the funds, getting a B1/2 should be doable.

Buying property, outright for cash shouldn't be a problem. Insurance could be expensive, then potential for management company to look after it while you're not there and if it's not rented out, the hassle of running AC/dehumidifiers all the time to stop it rotting and if there's a pool, to maintain that as well. Plenty of threads on this part of the top though, so might have luck searching them out.

Car, well I don't know if you'll be able to get a Florida license, perhaps on the B1/2 but would probably need renewing at the next visit, you'll have to look at the DMV site. Buying a car, well insurance will be expensive and they might not like you using a UK license long term and you've got the hassle of dealing with a car that's benched for 6 months of the year and you'll have to register/title it but at least FL doesn't have a annual inspection, but the double edge sword means you could buy a right POS if second hand. A international license/IDP is a waste of money, it's only a translation and not needed.

Phone, PAYG will probably be the way to go, just top it up every few months or whatever type you go with, there are plenty of recent threads and I think Cricket, is the current best value recommendation.

Flights, use the usual, orbitz, skyscanner, kayak etc.

Re: semi move to US
 

Yeah I see US health insurance as a big problem as it is not available to non-US residents......then there's the IRS who will consider the OP resident for tax purposes when they meet the substantial presence test. That will happen after a year if the OP follows the schedule they describe.

Re: semi move to US
 

I wonder how all the Canadian snow birds manage each year, some spend 5-6 months in the US year after year.

Re: semi move to US
 

Plenty of snow birds limit their trips to just avoid tax issues.

Medical side is more interesting, wonder what all those Canadians do?

Re: semi move to US
 

Before the US/Canada border controls were tightened I suppose lots of people stayed for extended periods. That won't be possible now without tax and immigration consequences as passports have to be show.

I assume they buy additional coverage or just get in the RV and drive North.

Re: semi move to US
 

Most Canadian provinces require residence of at least six months plus one day in order to qualify for provincial health insurance.

My snowbird neighbours (Ontario) seem to be away from the start of November until the beginning of April. Five months. That will keep them out of the IRS's hands, and maintain their Ontario health insurance.

No idea what they do on the medical side. I suppose they take out Canadian private travel insurance with repatriation coverage.

Re: semi move to US
 

If they stay five months (say 150) days in the US for 2 consecutive years they will meet the substantial presence test and be liable to US taxation.

Substantial Presence Test

The maximum number of days in a year that you can stay in the US year after year and avoid becoming US tax resident is 122.

Re: semi move to US
 

I will probably corrected by those more knowledgeable but, Visa Waiver will allow you 90 days in the US, then you will need to return to UK for a period of time, long enough to appease the immigration authorities i.e no going back to UK for a week and then trying for 90 days in the US again. I found that annual insurance usually only covers for 1 month trips, most companies will offer 90 day cover though, shop around as the premiums vary greatly. Regards prescriptions, i had no problem getting 3 months supply from my GP when i was going back and forth from US/UK. If i spent 90 days in US then i used to stay in UK for about 5 weeks, but i still got grilled by immigration even then.
Good luck.

Re: semi move to US
 

I'm of course not a tax specialist, but I presume that Canadian snowbirds have little trouble qualifying for the "Closer Connection to a Foreign Country" exemption.

Re: semi move to US
 

Snow birds tend to be the wealthier folks in Canada, and there are travel insurance policies geared towards snow birds, but it tends to be pricey but it's available and seems to sell since insurance companies market it actively.

Using 1950 birth year, and no health issues, quote was 897 dollars for 170 days but most seniors have health issues, so easy to say it would be up to a couple thousand.

Cover is for 5 million.

BC allows a resident to stay out of BC for up to 7 months and still maintain residency and health coverage for return to Canada.

Re: semi move to US
 

Lots & lots of good caveats that I can't advise on. Although I know a fair few Canuck "Snowbirds" who seem to manage very well. (Hint: post #15 might be applicable...).

However, assuming the OP is a UK citizen, normally resident in the UK, a search of both the forum, & google, for long term (& even, age regardless, backpacker) travel insurance, might prove useful.

S

Re: semi move to US
 

Presumably does not cover routine stuff that you would expect to have in Canada and focusses mainly on getting you back if serious?

Re: semi move to US
 

When I looked Backpacker etc had age limits, 40 from memory.

Re: semi move to US
 

Not all companies, no. I'm well over 40, travelling partner over 60, & we have received firm, personalised, quotes from 3 companies for a <6 month overseas trip next year.

S

Re: semi move to US
 

UK or Canada resident?

My Mum has passed away but it was getting to the point that for a 3 week trip the flight cost and the travel insurance cost were similar, UK.

Re: semi move to US
 

My mum too :(. (A UK resident). Up until the last 6 months before her death, she was getting a great travel insurance deal from Saga for upto 175 days/year out of the country. She paid a supplement the last year of her life (I'd have to look up how much, but it was reasonable) because of travelling over 175 days.

(Sorry, a bit OT for the OP).

S

Re: semi move to US
 

My Mum used to use Saga but they got very expensive, can not remember who we last used.

Maybe age but she could not get long term cover.

Re: semi move to US
 

I think you can only buy the insurance if covered by a provincial health plan. I suppose that if things get too serious, the insurance will try to get you back by whatever means, so the provincial coverage can take over.

Re: semi move to US
 

You are correct, but as has already been mentioned, the OP is retired/retiring, and will almost certainly be able to get a B2 visa which will enable visits of up to 6 months, though as has been pointed out, recurring annual visits beyond 122 days can have scary tax consequences.

Re: semi move to US
 

Sorry I know I'm probably being really dense but what is OP? Thanks for replies everyone :-D

Re: semi move to US
 

Original Poster

Re: semi move to US
 

I guess my own plans could also be called a 'semi move' to the US so this is an interesting thread. Travel/medical insurance for longer than 31 days is possible but of course comes at a price. My current annual worldwide insurance, which includes a pre existing medical condition, costs £240 (with Staysure). I am limited to holidays of 31 days or less but have been told I can extend to 60 days for an additional premium. It's also important to check the Ts&Cs of your home insurance policy as that may be invalidated if your UK home is left empty for more than a month at a time. With regard to tax, I think the UK and US has a reciprocal agreement so nobody can be taxed twice? I need to look more into that. A growing number of UK pensioners are spending a few months in sunnier climes to escape the cold winter. Everything is doable, it just needs careful planning and enough funds.

Re: semi move to US
 

That is a bit of an understatement. Trust me you do not want to open yourself up to US taxation or the time, trouble, worry and expense of having to apply the US/UK tax treaty to your own situation. As long as you stay less than 121 days each year in the US you will avoid US taxation and the bottomless pit of horror that is cross border, multi-jurisdiction tax law.

Re: semi move to US
 

For 6 month medical cover, I used 90 days from my Bank card and topped up the other 90 days from either April or Europe Assistance, it was not expensive and I made a couple of successful claims. The max cover was around $200,000, which should be enough to get you back to the NHS or whatever.

Re: semi move to US
 

I'm not an expert but $200K doesn't sound like enough to cover a serious emergency to me.

I'm sure others who are more knowledgeable will be along.

Lx

Re: semi move to US
 

Me either. Last spring there was a local resident hurt in Arizona and while she had insurance they refused to pay citing the activity she was doing was not covered, but in the 3 weeks she was in ICU before being stable enough to be flown back to Canada the hospital bill was in excess of 500,000 and the air ambulance home was around the 45,000 mark.

You can fly through 200,000 in the ICU in the US in no time, and if it costs 45,000 for an air ambulance from Arizona to BC, I'd gate to see the price tag for one to the UK from the US.

Heck in 2003 my 7 days in the hospital was in excess of 30,000 and I didn't even need ICU or anything of that nature, just a basic hospital stay.

My travel policy is 2 million, which is generally the norm for Canadian policies for cross border travel.

200,000 not enough if anything major happens.

Re: semi move to US
 

I got a letter from the hospital the other day, had that feeling of trepidation as I opened it and them realised it wasn't going to be a bill. All so simple here; if the consultant wants to see you he/she orders the appointment, no waiting on the say-so of the insurance company and never knowing what's covered.

The travel insurance solutions suggested sound rather precarious, although I suppose if you're dead set on dividing your time you have to take your chances and hope the NHS will pick up the pieces.

Re: semi move to US
 

Stacking up short term travel policies will not work, may be able to slide by for minor issues.

Re: semi move to US
 

They don't even send you anything here if your covered, all you gotta do is present your care card, however some treatments/medications may not be covered or require special permission from medical services.

We have a hybrid type system, universal for basic medical services with the government being the insurance company, and a slew of things that require private insurance or cash out of pocket.

Re: semi move to US
 

Surely cover of $200000 wouldn't pay for much medical treatment in the US? My medical cover on my annual worldwide insurance is several million pounds and the cost of travel insurance rises dramatically as soon as you say you are going to the US! I can't see why it would be precarious to rely on travel insurance provided you ensure you are complying with the terms. That's what it's for, after all.

Re: semi move to US
 

You get what you pay for. several million worldwide cover must have one helluva premium.
I did not say $200k was good, just what I did and those perhaps on a budget may be interested. Life is full of risks after all.

Re: semi move to US
 

Maybe UK insurance companies are different, but for Canadian's at least we can get emergency medical over a 1 year period including the US anywhere from 120 to 230 per year based on the quotes I have gotten.

The coverage on the low end is 2 million to a high of 5 million.

Quote was for a 35 year old. Older folks would cost more, also doesn't cover pre-existing illness or pregnancy.

Re: semi move to US
 

I'm pretty sure that even many years ago when I took out travel insurance to the US the cover was 1 million - not sure if that was pounds or dollars.

We Brits tend to be cavalier about medical costs until we realise the US system is there to screw every last cent out of you.

Re: semi move to US
 

Does anyone have any advice re driving for snowbirds? Better to buy a cheap car and leave it in US, only being used for 6months of the year? Or rent one? :confused:

Re: semi move to US
 

Do you have a place to park it off street the many months you are gone? If parked on the street it will be be gone in 2 or 3 weeks.

I would imagine somewhat cheaper to buy a wrecker with liability only insurance, than to rent one.