AtomicUK

My first post here on what looks to be a great resource, so perhaps a little
background would be a good introduction.

I am 45 and have been travelling to the USA almost annually for the past 30
years and since day 1, have wanted to relocate.

I had the application papers and a job offer 24 years ago, but then met my
first wife in the UK, so walked away from that chance.

These days I am a company director and visit on business once or twice a
year for around 10 days at a time. I also normally take a two week vacation
with my wife and daughter, so all in, I normally spend around a month Stateside.

As I sit here once more having returned to the UK and wishing I was back in
the US, I want to finally make a home there a reality, so am busy looking at a
long term plan to make that happen.

I have a good many friends there (akin to family), my cousin has a green card
and lives if Florida, while I married my second wife in Indiana, so I have a
good knowledge of day to day living and have also just ordered the book
'Moving to the United States of America and Immigration' by Mark Cooper.

I don't see how I could relocate the business, so I would be looking at
perhaps buying a home with just a 30 - 90 day vacation stay under VWP
and in later life, the six months with a B2 Visa.

My three questions at this stage are these.

1) I noted the comments about not working, but am not clear on these.
Currently I visit with work on WVP and declare working (Tour operator) but
if I were to live in 'my' home there and monitor the business with email from
Europe about work for my UK based business, is this breaching the rules?

If so, how is it different to me visiting under the VWP when I have to visit
US hotels for meetings?

2) This is more general question to those who have bought a house there.
As mentioned, I know many people there, especially in Florida, Indiana,
Illinois etc, so would I be wise to buy a place in those areas to start with
where I'd have local support rather than say Utah, where I have falling in
love with, but have no close friends?

3) Anyone in Utah have any advice about home owenership pitfalls or laws /
taxes etc that may vary to other States?

Thank you in advance for any advice.

Ray

Is your second wife a US citizen

AtomicUK

Hi Ray
Sorry, I should have clariefied that - no she is English.

We had the wedding in Indiana so we could have 30 of our US friends there
and our families were more than happy to go to the US for the wedding, so
we took over a beach house for them and then hired a small hotel for the
wedding.

Ray

Well that was a poor choice ... should have found the US version

1. technically yes ..but who would know ..
your emailing a few associates

2. Buy a place wherever you like..there are no restrictions on buying

3. UTAH is too cold to mention...

AtomicUK

Good point!

This is what I don't understand - how can I visit on VWP to deal with hotels as a tour operator and naturally email and contact hotels in Europe while I am there, but if I owned a home, technically this is not allowed?

Sure, location has to suit us, but wondered in trying to understand local laws, customs etc etc, we'd be better to buy where we have friends that could help?

Looking for a place that has hot summers and snow in winter.
It was high 80's when we left Utah a week ago and the same place now has snow - sounds good to me!

Bob

Snow is over rated...it really is a ball ache to live with, once you've had to plough out a driveway or two.

Why can't you set up a office over here? how large is the business in the UK? Talk to a immigration lawyer that's experienced in businesses, they might be able to say if you could set up an office and do a L1 transfer, or set up fresh for the E visa.

As for working, your allowed to hold meetings and go to tradeshows on the VWP, which is why you've not had a problem. Running the business from over here goes beyond just checking a few emails and talking to clients in a business meeting though doesn't it.

Dan725

I think the commonsense way of looking at it is - when here, you are a tourist in your holiday home. Or even on a busmans, holiday, I can't see it matters in the slightest. If you should happen to chase up some business while on vacation.....so be it. It's not like you'll be conveyed any US rights on the VWP, so IMO this point is completely moot.

AtomicUK

A valid point, but even that has always appealed.

This is something we have talked about, but the company is still relatively new and not ready for that type of expansion.

I don't need to take care of accounts, banking or any of that side of the
business, just to have contact with hotels around the world over rates etc
and I have to do this when I am in the US now visiting US hotels on the
VWP, this is where I find the confusion.

Perhaps as I can perhaps only spend a month or so in the US at this stage,
it won't be an issue and by the time I can spend longer in 'our' house, I won't
even need to be doing that.

I'll certainly be able to prove I'll be returning to the UK as I will have the
April - October season tours to attend.

Jerseygirl

The only opinion that counts is that of the USCIS. From what you've already said they are aware that you are a travel agent and have been here visiting hotels in the US.

What about your daughter's schooling?

AtomicUK

Hi Jerseygirl

No I would be always be in Europe April to October to do tours and right now,
I could not be in the US November through March, but as I move closer to
retirement (and less work) perhaps I could, but that's a good few years away.

Right now, I think a month or six weeks would be the most I could spend Stateside.

My daughter will be moving towards University or work in the next couple of
years, so she will be flying the nest and doing her own thing.

Jerseygirl

Sorry I forgot to welcome you....welcome to BE.

AtomicUK

Why thank you very much.

It really seems a very helpful site (busy reading other's experiences) so I'm
looking forward to spending quite a lot of time here.

MsElui

I thought that the type of 'minor/light' work that was allowed on the VWP (ie attend meetings etc) was the same as was allowed on the B visas.

Bob

It really doesn't last long, the appeal, and it gets worse when you get older...plus the humidity in the summer....for retirement type locations, could think of better spots...but then it all depends on what you fancy doing I suppose.

AtomicUK

All fair points, although I guess you don't work for the Utah Tourism board?

We are not 100% fixed on Utah, but a big appeal is being near places like
Zion and Bryce as we are getting into hiking and I love landscape photography.

Not looking for huge amounts of snow as I'd want to get the Corvette out in
all seasons.

While Florida is nice and I have family and friends there, it doesn't really have
too much of the right kind of attraction for us and normally none of the cold
white stuff, while even though we love being in Illinois and Indiana etc,
again, they don't come close to the beauty of the National Parks in Utah.

I've visited most major US Cities as I used to tour with rock groups, but we are
looking for a quiet place, not too far from civilisation, but also close to mother
nature and places like St George and Washington seemed to tick those boxes,
while access to direct UK flights is still required and Vegas gives us that.

Jury is still out at this stage and I doubt we'd purchase in the next 12
months, so still happy to consider other places, perhaps in Colorado etc, I
used to visit Crested Butte (before it became the Ski resort) and loved being
around there, we also like Kentucky and California, but the latter seems to
be too costly.

So very much an open mind at this stage.