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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to feel annoyed at these Americans?

44 replies

waddlecakes · 13/08/2013 11:25

I was around a group of American students last weekend, and was annoyed at how they were all swapping stories about how you can get housing benefits, and tips on how to apply for the dole when your student visa runs out, and some of them were explaining how they were going to deal with as many of their health/eye/dental things as possible on the NHS before they fly back to the States.

AIBU to have felt annoyed by it, and in particular to think that if you come from a wealthy country such as America and are obviously wealthy enough to come over to the UK to study, you should just go home rather than taking dole money that's meant to help the indigenous poor who have no option but to stay?

OP posts:

englishteacher78 · 13/08/2013 11:28

They're in for a shock. Americans don't get to automatically stay. A rather obnoxious one married one of my exes for that very reason! But that's another story of Uni days.

TylerHopkins · 13/08/2013 11:28

To be honest, I would do exactly the same as them if I was in the same position. It's not right but when you think about the costs of this medical care in the USA you can see why they want to do it.

America may be wealthy in some respects but when it comes to a health care system they're lagging behind.

WorraLiberty · 13/08/2013 11:29

YABU to be annoyed at them

If everything they suggested is perfectly legal then be annoyed at the Government.

FantasticDay · 13/08/2013 11:30

I'm surprised that they can stay in the UK when their student visa runs out. And they won't have an European Health card, so I'm not sure they can access NHS services for free either.

ButThereAgain · 13/08/2013 11:32

If they aren't breaking any rules, then I'd say that it was fine. Hopefully they will go back to the US and tell everyone how civilised it is to have an NHS.

I did bridle at first at the things you are describing, but if it was any other nationality I wouldn't have -- I would have assumed these were impecunious students making the most of their legal entitlements. I'm worried that a kind of knee-jerk anti-Americanism might give space that lets in an expression of hostility to any non-indigenous person who makes legal use of the benefits provided to them by the country they are legally staying in.

BuskersCat · 13/08/2013 11:32

They will be surprised when their visas run out and they rock up to the JC only to be sent back to america.

Eyesunderarock · 13/08/2013 11:37

If it is legal, and they have found loopholes, then the system needs changing. YABU to blame them for exploiting possibilities openly available to them, you should be asking how and why it is possible.

OnTheBottomWithAWomensWeekly · 13/08/2013 11:39

Housing benefits? On expired US student visas? Either you or they are talking bollocks.

DescribeTheRuckus · 13/08/2013 11:42

Yeah... they are wrong if they think they can stay beyond their visa! I'm American, married to a British man, and my first visa was valid for two years, and I was not entitled to ANY public funds...no benefits at all, NHS care was the only exception...I was allowed that much. If I had not applied for a new visa when mine ran out, I would have had to leave, full stop. I'm a dual citizen now, living in the UK, but I would never have jeopordised my right to remain in this country by trying to outstay my visa. People like that just make it difficult for those of us who want to live here legally...and not all Americans are like that (I hope that's obvious!)

I will say though that a small part of me doesn't blame them for trying to get as much out of the NHS as they can...one of the reasons that I never want to live in the US again is the horrific insurance...the NHS has it's issues, sure, but it's a blessing and such a relief to know that we are cared for without staggering medical costs.

BreeWannabe · 13/08/2013 11:43

They'd be deported. Once their visas run out they have no legal right to remain in the UK. So they're wrong-they'd get nothing but a plane ticket home.

BreeWannabe · 13/08/2013 11:44

Also, they wouldn't get anything free on the NHS. They will need to have health insurance which would cover the costs. Only EU citizens get NHS treatment on the, er, NHS. So again-wrong.

ButThereAgain · 13/08/2013 11:46

Yes, the stuff about staying beyond their visa on the dole didn't ring true, and as for the other benefits, well like any other overseas student they are paying a lot to study here, contributing to the economy, and fully entitled to claim what the system allows for them. NHS dentistry and opthalmology is hemmed in enough for all patients for me to feel confident that they won't be getting anything more than a reasonable provision for genuine needs.

MrsLouisTheroux · 13/08/2013 11:47

Dental treatment? Are they all pregnant? I need dental work and was born/ live in UK . I can't get free dental treatment.

marfisa · 13/08/2013 11:47

Not sure what you're talking about here.

People in the UK on student visas aren't entitled to the dole. It's stamped in your passport on arrival.

Yes, they are entitled to NHS care, but only as long as they're studying. If they overstay they're not entitled to anything.

This sounds like one of those "immigrants on benefits" threads fuelled by prejudice rather than knowledge.

marfisa · 13/08/2013 11:50

That wasn't directed at those posters above who DID share actual knowledge!

"No recourse to public funds" is the line that's stamped in the passport.

TheMagicKeyCanFuckOff · 13/08/2013 11:51

They are only entitled to NHS care on their student visa and no other benefits basically, so there's really no chance of them getting what you were talking about, surely?

DescribeTheRuckus · 13/08/2013 11:52

Yes marfisa...that's what was stamped directly on my first visa.

Either they were swapping complete lies, or op misheard...

TheCraicDealer · 13/08/2013 11:55

I have to admit, I lol'ed at the idea of getting dental work on the NHS.

ratspeaker · 13/08/2013 12:13

YANBU to be irritated at their misinformed story swapping.
But it is just that-stories, doesn't mean it's true.

I know of one non EU national who was convinced they would get a UK drivers license by walking into the local police station, that's what their friend had told them so that had to be true, me trying to convince them to apply to DVLA was dismissed curtly.
I wish I'd worn my "told you so" t shirt as they came out empty handed.

LittleSporksBigSpork · 13/08/2013 12:17

As an American myself, it's most likely they have the wrong end of the stick. If they try to get NHS stuff, even in an emergency, they will then get a bill and told to go prove they have a right or be forced to pay before anything else (this happened to me, I had to prove my rights to NHS treatment after a very traumatizing emergency situation before I could get follow-up care). They will have no rights to any type of benefit, even if they are making plans to get another type of visa after their student visa there will be a waiting period on the few that go to leave to remain (which gives rights to benefits). I would just laugh and be on my way with strangers talking like that, if it was people I knew I would correct them.

On their student visa, there may be something with the States that would allow them to get care while they're here and the US with reimburse the UK, there are quite a few complicated things like that between to the two countries change all the time so I'm not up to date on them and if they can get it, especially as the US in the end pays for it, I would think good for them to get the care they can because it's really hard and far more difficult to get it in the States even with good health insurance. Especially for teeth, likely won't be free, but it'll be cheaper for them and likely get more things done at once. But it all depends on the current deals between the two country.

WireCat · 13/08/2013 12:18

pigletmania · 13/08/2013 12:22

Yanbu this is disgusting, and taking advantage

StickEmUp · 13/08/2013 12:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tinkertitonk · 13/08/2013 12:57

They've paid a lot of money to study in the UK. I would rather my tax pounds went to people like them with the energy to work and contribute to the world than to indigenous layabouts.

KentishWine · 13/08/2013 13:18

Each student will have contributed well over £50,000 to the UK economy in the 3 years they have been studying (including fees, accommodation and living expenses etc.). They possibly work part time too.

They are entitled to free NHS care as long as they are on a student visa.

They will have to leave as soon as their student visas run out. If they think they can stay and get a free house or whatever, they will get a big shock, although I doubt they really think that.

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