Re: Is it worth moving to the US?
 

Depends what you mean by "assault rifle", it is a pretty meaningless term often bandied around by the media and gun control lobby. Anyone can buy an AK47, AR15 or any other military spec rifle, so long as it has been modified to not fire automatically.

In any case a semi-automatic, which is about 90% of small arms (long and short barrel) sold over the past century, in the hands of a somewhat competent gunman, is much more dangerous than a fully automatic weapon which just empties it's magazine in a few seconds, whereas with a semi-automatic the gunman can aim each bullet at a target. .... A bolt action rifle is about the same as a semi automatic becase with practice it is possible to fire about one bullet per second and reload quickly enough to average firing two bullets ever three seconds. :blink:

Re: Is it worth moving to the US?
 

Then it would not be an assà ult rifle.

Re: Is it worth moving to the US?
 

Well the US does have stronger freedom of speech protection then some countries, there are things you can say in the US that for example would be considered hate speech in Canada and open to criminal prosecution but would be protected under the first amendment in the US.

That is about the only example I can think of though....

Re: Is it worth moving to the US?
 

Re: Is it worth moving to the US?
 

Once you get a green card, it means you are a US Permanent Resident. The USA should be your permanent home. You can travel outside the USA, freely, but should not stay out for long periods of time. Your trips outside the USA should be temporary in nature. In your thread title (moving to the USA), it sounds like this is what you want...to live permanently in the USA.

No. They can't get a derivative visa from your E2. Once you become a US PR, if you spend the right amount of time inside the USA, after 5 years you can become a US Citizen, and only then can you sponsor your parents to come and live permanently in the USA. In the meantime, they can only visit (either on the VWP if they are UK citizens, or on a B2 visitor visa if not).

Rene

Re: Is it worth moving to the US?
 

Well, in the US there are generally more layers of onerous bureaucracy than in the UK. Federal, state, county, town and sometimes village. In my small town in New York State, there are at least seven police forces that have offices in town and a substantial presence on the streets; town, county, state, state university, border patrol and environmental police. These are all uniformed officers in cars, who could choose to stop you under certain circumstances. This is not to mention the Feds who are responsible for the Post Office and other federal property.

As for the high street, at least you can buy something in a kebab shop or a charity shop. Most US main streets have a couple of lawyers and insurance agents and not much else.

Re: Is it worth moving to the US?
 

Seems like everything you dislike about the UK is present in the US, sometimes magnified. To get round it you might be able live in smaller, out of the way cities but the the same is true of the UK.

Re: Is it worth moving to the US?
 

I certainly get the impression that whilst the US, especially the "red" states, may be more business friendly than Socialist Europastan, it's not necessarily more *small* business friendly. If you can get up to the sort of level which can afford to buy influence through campaign donations etc, you'll probably find the business environment pretty benign. To get to that level though, don't be surprised if you encounter petty regulations, licensing restrictions and downright cartel-like operations designed to keep the existing players on top.

Re: Is it worth moving to the US?
 

I look at it this way.
Would I recommend any of my friends or family to move to the US, sadly no.
As mentioned if you think the bureaucracy in the UK is bad, it's a million times worse over here.
Everything is more expensive and more complicated.
Freedoms that were generally enjoyed in the 80's are gone.
I feel the 'American dream' is really a myth.
Am I sounding bitter? I don't mean to I enjoy living here. We have a great life.
But am under no illusion that if we were not working it would be pretty bad.

Re: Is it worth moving to the US?
 

Licenses, permits, and fees out the wazoo. :nod:

If I don't cut my grass I get a letter from the council, with a date by which I must cut it or they will have it mowed, and bill me the cost, plus a penalty. If I don't pay, they put a lien on my house! :frown:

Re: Is it worth moving to the US?
 

Just like a great many Americans, hence kim's suggestion that he'd fit right in, in certain regions. Like where I live, where everyone seems to consider anyone to the left of Thatcher as a Stalinist.

I think most people mean to say 'carbine rifle' when they say 'assault rifle'. They basically mean an AR-15 or an AK.

Re: Is it worth moving to the US?
 

I you are single and have a lot of money I would recommend NYC, its a great place to party and "date". As others have no doubt mentioned your issue will be getting a visa. As a data point for you I had a similar idea at age 21, it took me about 10 years to get a visa to move here, and then get my Green card. Since then I have married a USC and had a baby, so no more partying or dating for me, but it fun while it lasted, I have also heard that the British accent is even more of an asset in smaller places, to may Brits in NYC/Boston/LA/SF etc...

Re: Is it worth moving to the US?
 

I dunno if OP would much like NYC if he's concerned that the UK is too liberal and over-regulated. A friend of my sister-in-law got nicked by the NYPD for jaywalking a few months ago simply because he was spectating one of the black lives matter protests. He spent a night in the cells and had nerve pain from too-tight handcuffs for weeks afterwards. All charges dismissed when he finally got to court.

Re: Is it worth moving to the US?
 

but the bucket here is bigger and better. :nod:

Re: Is it worth moving to the US?
 

It's bigger obviously, but to say it's better is highly subjective.

Being able to enjoy the best of both buckets is what I like, personally.