Moving to USA from U.K.

[cmiddlwton]

Hello ,

Me and my partner are planning to move to USA in the future.

We have decided to move there in 7-10 years. A long wait I'm aware!

Just a few questions ( I'm aware of how to get my visa!!)

1. How long is the average mortgage years?

1. How much do you pay for your mortgage in the USA a month ( I rent my home in the U.K. so I dunno how mortgages work)

1. Is the USA really worth it? We want a spacious home, and we have always loved the American surroundings!

1. In Florida which is where we want to move to, most of them are holiday homes. Is it really hard to find a home that we can live in all year round?

1. Are the schools good?

1. Is finding a job easy? I work for a care home and by time I move I'll be a manager at a care home

Any experience would be helpful.
Again I'm aware of visas and that I'll need to drive to get around, insurance and all that stuff!

Thanks !

Er, how are you getting a visa?

The job comes before the visa, generally.

Those are some very sweeping questions for a country the size of the USA-schools will cart considerably depending on area! To be honest you sound a bit naive - how have you decided to move somewhere that you know so little about? How do you qualify for a visa? It's notoriously difficult to get into the USA!

Vary, not cart!

My mum is from the USA. But I moved here with my dad.

Thanks ladies but like I said above I wanted answers not to be told it's hard. As I know that.

I just didn't want to get my mothers hopes up incase we changed our minds!

You need a visa, which means a job. There's no public help so you need health insurance (very very expensive) schools are massive and often quite poor. Never lived in Florida but 30 year mortgages were normal. You need nearly double the income to maintain a similar standard of living to the U.K., everything is seriously expensive even groceries (again varies by state a bit). I believe 10% deposit for a house is normal but to get preapproved for a mortgage you will need a work record. Hope this helps - I would do some more detailed research!

I live in the US but in New York City so am now quite sure how much I can help with Florida. I do have a mortgage so can help with that.

However, unless you are or are married to a US Citizen, this all sounds like a bit of a pipe dream. I know you said you’re up on how to get a visa but how are you going to get one? This might help with the advice as there are certain sorts of visa that you’d never get a mortgage in a million years.

Ok so you’re a US citizen? Excellent. Do you currently earn enough to take you over the threshold to bring your dependents into the county? Are you legally married or are you just partners, as stated in your first post?

Ps house prices vary crazily so none of us can really tell you, we couldn't buy where we lived as flats are £1m+ so say goodbye to spacious rooms. We renovated our home in Britain and it's now bigger than our American one

The first thing to is find out if you are eligible for US citizenship.

You will need to get married to your partner or apply for a K1 visa if your not already married and will need to gather lots of evidence to prove your relationship and wed within 90 days.
If you are an American citizen and have all your paperwork you should be able to apply for all your social security, non drivers licence, bank account etc without any trouble but again it will take longer for your partner and lots of paperwork and fees.
You will need 6 months rent up front and depending on where you live will need to get your driving licence as soon as possible as some areas are very spread out. It will be expensive and you will have to start from scratch so no you will not have a big spacious home or even furniture and working in care homes will not necessarily pay well so better start saving!

everything is seriously expensive even groceries

Actually we have found the opposite, especially on groceries.

2 Avocados for 50 cents

We are virtually vegan so fruit and veg when we went was a steal.

We did notice that cheese was enormously expensive and any sort of ready or pre prepared meals was huge. But cakes were really cheap.

Beautiful massive birthday cakes $9.

I am hoping to make the move very soon but getting the visa is going to be hugely expensive.

I just can't see myself living in the UK for much longer

If your mum is living in the area you’re intending to move to then I am guessing she might be more help on this than any of us

Thank you to everyone who said a relevant answer!

I have enough money in my bank account to pay at least half of a Florida home. The ones I'm interested in are about 350000.

No I am not married but we have been together since we were teenagers. I'm sure marriage would of happened within 10 years

You’ll need to get married, OP, otherwise your partner wont even be able to apply for a visa. Not in ten years’ time but now.

Being married makes everything a lot simpler.

I'm American (but live in UK) and most of your questions could be answered with a quick google, especially regarding mortgages.

As far as the schools, that's like asking if schools here are good. Some are and some aren't.

As far as Florida only being holiday homes... are you serious? Florida is a big state and has everything all the other states have, including year round residents.

Jobs are the same there as jobs anywhere. You may have to wait and look for the right job but they always pop up eventually.

I'm assuming you have citizenship if your mom is American? My DS does as I went to the US embassy when he was born and registered his birth. If so, then your DP will still need a visa.

I would advise you to do a bit of online research into the area you want to move. Realtor.com can give you mortgage information including monthly repayment etc.

I lived in the USA OP and I loved it so much it hurts. I still have very good friends and visit when I can

But it is a huge place! I only know a bit of the East Coast and the West Coast. Not Florida I am afraid.

I am really into nature and wildlife so it is heaven, particularly in my field there is so much to see

I can't help with homes because my job provided housing and when I visit I stay with friends but the houses are so much bigger than here in the suburbs.

I think you should take a holiday and explore

I would get married before you leave and the earlier the better. It is such a faff applying for a visa for your partner, he will be very restricted and you will have to marry there if you don’t beforehand.
I had a lot of stress getting my greencard as I arrived just before 9/11 in NY. If financially your already sorted then you shouldn’t have any trouble although you might find it tricky getting a mortgage if you have no credit record in the states.

@Klobluchar - sorry a little off topic but wow you live in New York City! My actual dream! Is it as amazing as I imagine it to be?