AIBU to feel annoyed at these Americans?

[waddlecakes]

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?

Actually, Imperial Collage, London estimate that a student will need £14,768 a year for living costs (inc accommodation, books food etc)

Add the £11,000 fees on top of that and each student will spend over £25,000 a year.
Given their enormous contribution to the economy, please detail why you think they should not get NHS treatment.

'Actually, Imperial Collage, London estimate that a student will need £14,768 a year for living costs (inc accommodation, books food etc) '

Then that explains why so many English students are struggling:

Full-time student Maintenance Loan
Living at home Up to £4,375
Living away from home, outside London Up to £5,500
Living away from home, in London Up to £7,675

Eeeeerrrrm .... I actually know US students on student visas.

These kids were talking bollocks and probably trying to impress each other.

Incidentally, my mate who's lived and worked here since 2008, paid a massive amount into our economy to do her PhD here, has been held at Heathrow on a mix-up for over 24 hours (fun!), and has now found she has little chance of the academic career she was hoping for, as the new rules state she must earn more than she can get from a postdoc in order to qualify for leave to remain. If she goes back to the US and tries there, she faces the disadvantage of having got her degree in a different system. It's not 'woe is me' but it is a total waste of time and energy, IMHO. Our immigration system is set up stupidly.

This is just drivel!

ah, OP perhaps you should have advised them that the best way to get the dole is to stride into a Job Centre, march to the head of the queue and announce in a loud voice "I am here for your Great British Benefit. Where do I go to get my money?"

And if they are told to take a number and wait, the correct response is "I don't need to take a number. I'm an AMERICAN."

They won't be entitled to anything once their visas run out, they're talking bollocks.

BalloonSlayer [hmmm]

I'm not sure about any of the rest of the stuff but I do know that if you aren't a European and you use the NHS you've got to prove that you are entitled to care or you have to pay for it, either through a reciprocal agreement between the two governments, through your insurance or from your own pocket if neither of the former apply.
Most hospitals have a team who deal with this and in my experience they're pretty dogged at getting the money so I wish your students will have to be pretty wily to escape their clutches.

What on earth are you talking about BallonSlayer?
An American student is not entitled to 'dole' from the job centre, although I'm sure you know that, right?

That was kind of my question, KentishWine...I think she may be alluding to the fact that Americans just demand what they want, and expect to get it (though I do hope that's not the case!), which is only true of a minority...

or tell them if they would like their teeth straightened or eyes tested, the best way is to pop into A&E at about 11.45 on a Friday night; the staff there are always a bit bored by that time and will be delighted to see them.

or tell them to stop reading the Daily Mail.

errrm yeeeees Kentishwine I am daring to presume that these American people may be labouring under a misapprehension that they will be entitled to benefits as I think every other poster before me has pointed out. And if they are annoying the OP, she could have some fun by giving them some further misinformation. I am not suggesting that Americans just demand what they want, I was suggesting that people have a stereotypical view of Americans as people who demand what they want so wouldn't it be a spiffing wheeze if she encouraged them to behave like that. . .

< loses interest >

You sound cross BalloonSlayer
Given the fact each student will have "no recourse to public funds" stamped across their passport, as well as a date by which they must leave the country, I doubt they really think they'll be able to stay and get a free house. This information is communicated to all international students in multiple ways throughout their stay in the UK.

well duh

the problem is the system - you think americans are the only ones taking advantage?

'This information is communicated to all international students in multiple ways throughout their stay in the UK.'

So how come the students in the OP don't know it?

I imagine they did know it. There is no way it could have escaped their attention. Perhaps they were joking. The OP may be confused. Either one of these scenarios is more likely than the fact they really think they're getting a free house when they graduate.

Anyhow, even if they really, really believed they could go to the job centre and get the 'dole' and a free house etc, they would be quickly informed they were wrong. International students are not entitled to a free house and dole money when their visa run out.

Do you think people are getting irritated because of the possibility that they might?
Otherwise she'd have just laughed it off, wouldn't she?

This is all complete rubbish.

Most Americans would prefer to be treated back home anyway.