Move to USA, but work in the UK?
Move to USA, but work in the UK?
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Discussion

justin220

Original Poster:

5,735 posts

233 months

Sunday 15th April 2012
quotequote all
Probably some daft questions, but here we go. I would appreciate any advice smile

Basically, I work in the north sea for 4 weeks out of 10, and I'm getting fed up of the UK weather, and fancy a change of scenery. Just some idle Sunday thinking really.

I presume the answer is no, but can I simply buy a property abroad, and live in it during my leave? Or am I limited to 90 days? I would just commute back and fourth to the UK as required.

Next question, my girlfriend was born in Texas, and has a US passport, does this help at all? Or would she need to have employment before getting citizenship?

As you can tell, I'm clueless, but interested. We're off to the states in June and might have a quick look at property (purely out of interest)

Eric Mc

125,606 posts

294 months

Sunday 15th April 2012
quotequote all
You cannot just live in the US because you have bought a property there.

And a girlfriend confers no residency rights to a boyfriend.

johnfm

13,751 posts

279 months

Sunday 15th April 2012
quotequote all
If you marry your US citizen girlfriend you would sort out the visa issue.

But then you'd have to deal with the US tax system, even though you work in the UK I think.

FloppyRaccoon

1,916 posts

195 months

Sunday 15th April 2012
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Lots of oil industry opportunities in Houston. Marry the girl and move back to Texas.

davepoth

29,395 posts

228 months

Sunday 15th April 2012
quotequote all
FloppyRaccoon said:
Lots of oil industry opportunities in Houston. Marry the girl and move back to Texas.
Most likely way of doing it IMO, but still not exactly easy or cheap. You can buy a house in the USA and use it as a holiday home, but the immigration authorities get a bit huffy if you try and live in it for more than 90 days in a year (max length of a VWP visit).

justin220

Original Poster:

5,735 posts

233 months

Sunday 15th April 2012
quotequote all
Yeah that's what I thought, ok thanks.


Solitude

1,902 posts

204 months

Sunday 15th April 2012
quotequote all
FloppyRaccoon said:
Lots of oil industry opportunities in Houston. Marry the girl and move back to Texas.
Take plenty of deodorant, your gonna sweat like a pig for at least 2/3rds of the year !!

Xtype

2,877 posts

227 months

Monday 16th April 2012
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I loved Houston...although it was fking hot! when I worked offshore there lots of opertunity in the gulf of mexico...Might be worth trying to secure a visa and live and work in Hoston.

I use to spend quite some time working from Houston.

toohuge

3,473 posts

245 months

Tuesday 17th April 2012
quotequote all
Personally, I would avoid the US - as mentioned there are increasing taxation rules/regulatinos that prevent expats from evading tax, to the point where there people that are renouncing their US citizenship.

What about moving a little further north into Canada? That is much easier smile There are also oil opportunities there.

Chris

GT03ROB

14,020 posts

250 months

Tuesday 17th April 2012
quotequote all
Houston is not the greatest place in the US, but not too bad and yes its frikking hot & humid in the summer.

The other thing I've found is the immigration guys in Houston tend to be more flexible. I spent 9 months in Houston on the visa waiver programme, with the only breaks being a 5 day trip back to blighty & 2 weeks at home over Christmas. I had an apartment in Houston which they knew. There were no problems going in, no questions asked.

justin220

Original Poster:

5,735 posts

233 months

Wednesday 18th April 2012
quotequote all
Thanks all, good food for thought at least.. smile

XJSJohn

16,151 posts

248 months

Wednesday 18th April 2012
quotequote all
toohuge said:
Personally, I would avoid the US - as mentioned there are increasing taxation rules/regulatinos that prevent expats from evading tax, to the point where there people that are renouncing their US citizenship.
yes know a few that have done this ....

plenty of other warm countries that you could move to, various islands in teh Caribbean, central america (Costa Rica perhaps) or SE Asia.... if you are after some sunshine and perhaps a nicer tax regime!!

yellowtr

1,190 posts

255 months

Wednesday 18th April 2012
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Eric Mc said:
You cannot just live in the US because you have bought a property there.

And a girlfriend confers no residency rights to a boyfriend.
Could be a possible soon?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15406776

voicey

2,493 posts

216 months

Wednesday 18th April 2012
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If you found somewhere hot within the EU to stay on your time off then you wouldn't have any issues with visaa, etc. Greece looks cheap...

justin220

Original Poster:

5,735 posts

233 months

Monday 25th June 2012
quotequote all
Just to bump this back up. We've just returned from a 10 day trip to the States (Miami) and loved it. Normally I'm ready to get back to work and normality, but we really didn't want to leave..

Think I'll need to look more into it.. Just fed up with the UK!

Deva Link

26,934 posts

274 months

Monday 25th June 2012
quotequote all
justin220 said:
I presume the answer is no, but can I simply buy a property abroad, and live in it during my leave? Or am I limited to 90 days? I would just commute back and fourth to the UK as required.
If it is regularly 6 weeks off, that's only 42 days so I don't see why you couldn't do that. Plenty of Brits, including my BIL, own places in Florida and go out there for month's at a time.

Not sure what you'd do about medical care while in the US - that might be a bit of an issue as you'd probably be beyond the scope of normal holiday insurance.

justin220

Original Poster:

5,735 posts

233 months

Monday 25th June 2012
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I get 6 weeks off every 10 week cycle...

blueheron

461 posts

174 months

Tuesday 26th June 2012
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10 days on holiday is a lot different to living somewhere though.

Grass isn't always greener!

Think carefully, i'm not trying to put you off, just try and spend a bit longer there per trip if you can?

toohuge

3,473 posts

245 months

Tuesday 26th June 2012
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In your position OP, I would definitely move out to Miami, why the not? The visa issue only becomes an issue after 90 days. Although be careful exactly how long you stay in the US during one full year. As if you spend more than (IIRC) half a year you CAN be liable to pay state taxes despite not living or working there.

As others have mentioned islands in the Caribbean, such as St. Kitts and Nevis are very tax friendly.

PM more for more information if you want.

Chris