USA – The 2nd Most Popular Spot for UK Expats

After Australia, the US is the second most preferred living and working destination for British nationals moving out of the UK. At the moment, there are about eight hundred and thirty thousand British expats living across the US, with about hundred and forty of them pensioners. Overall, it seems the land of opportunity has a strong pull on British people. Despite the shaky image the US acquired during the financial crisis, places like New York, San Francisco and the state of Florida are proving hugely popular with UK expats. Florida, naturally being preferred by retirement age people due to its tropical climate and sunny weather.

Apparently, there are number things in the US which attract British expats the most and they are low taxes, cheap food (including eating out), much better weather, multicultural and ethnic diversity, the many national parks, strong work ethics and believe it or not – the twenty four seven doughnut shops.

Immigrating to the US, just as doing so to Australia would require a proper visa. Working in the US is not easy without the required paperwork. Having secured a position prior to application for a work visa will make the process much easier and more manageable for UK expats. The best way to ensure entry in the US is to have your work transfer you there – which is common, but not too often. Having said this, the US’ immigration policy allows for individuals to apply and qualify for a number of different work visas. As there are different class visas for the US, do some reading and possibly consult with an immigration specialist. If you are a green card holder to the US, then you are considered a permanent resident. Obtaining a green card happens in a number of ways, including the annual green card lottery. Another common way to obtain a green card is through employment. The lotter however is where most people try their luck. Each year fifty five thousand lucky ones win their permanent US residence. In twenty ten, a staggering amount of people applied for the green card lottery – fifteen million.

If you have everything in order, and the last item on your move-to-US checklist is organising the relocation itself then you better get on it. In the UK, there are many man and van removal companies which deal with international removals, particularly to the US. They are not man and van removal companies in the true sense of the word as you cannot use a van to get to America, but the figure of speech has stuck. So, look for a reputable service provider who knows their stuff and has the necessary means to get your items safely across the Atlantic pond.

If a UK national retires in the US, they will still receive their pension, but what’s best the US government subjects pensions to annual indexation in order to increase their value. In the case of expat pension amounts, the US government will adjust your pension as per the fluctuations of price and service indexes in the home country.