Well was thinking of getting the ball rolling...

Those bloody beagles · 22nd October 2010, 11:27 AM

To make enquiries about moving, but this bitch has put my plug right in....

I am an American citizen. I lived in England for a while. Then my husband came over to the US (he is an Englishman) and we got married. Up until this point both my husband thought the US and the UK were very similar. However once he was here, he went into a sort of culture shock. (as have other Brits we know that have lived in the US) For the US and the UK to speak very close languages (yes, they are different. You guys speak English, we speak American.) you would think we would have a lot in common. However nothing could be further from the truth. To this day my husband has 2 sayings about the US..
1) It is like living in a 3rd world country (and he has traveled EXTENSIVELY throughout his life)
2) Living in the US is like living in a banana republic.

I don't know if you have ever visited the US. Or how in depth your fiance has gone with you, in regards to America, but there are some things you should know.

1) Wages in the UK, for doing the same job, are 2-3 times higher then they are in the US.
2) Cars in the UK (same make and model) ((look it up on ford.com and ford.co.uk)) get almost 3 times better gas mileage than same American car.
3) Food in the US is so expensive. Fresh fruit and vegetables are through the roof. One example is Calif lower. It is common to pay $3.50 for one head. That is almost 6 pounds.
4) Although you guys pay more in taxes, in the long run you still bring home more money each pay period.
5) Forget about getting sick in the US. Even if you have health insurance they can, and do on a regular basis, deny coverage. We pay ourselves $18,820 a year for our health insurance. That does not include deductibles (a certain amount you have to meet before the insurance even kicks in and pays a dime. Depending on your policy it can be as little as $250 or as high as $5000) Then each and every visit to the doctor you still have to pay a co pay. It can be a set amount like $35 or a percentage..average is 20% copay. That is why in the US 3/4 of all bankruptcy cases are due to medical bills, and 50% of those had medical insurance. What does that tell you?
6) Health care in the US is NOT..I repeat..NOT one lick better than the NHS care. You still wait months, yes months, to get into see specialist (my husband waited over 5 months to get into see an endocrinologist..he is diabetic and this was a very important appointment, yet it took months) Unless it is a medical emergency, you can wait months on elective surgery. Care is rationed in the US, via the insurance companies. So don't believe all the BS people say about how good health care is in the US. Cause it is LIES!!!
7) If you are lucky, you get one week paid (a lot of people get unpaid) vacation in the US, AFTER working an entire year for your employer. Versus ...how much is normal in the UK? EXACTLY!
8) No job protection. Unlike in the UK where you get a job contract after working for an employer for a yr, IF you get a job contract here, it says you can be fired for any reason, or for no reason. Some contract huh?
9) It costs more to fly domestically in the US than it does to fly back to the UK (most of the time)
10) Rent is not any cheaper here, nor are house prices.
11) Believe it or not, you will still run across some people who will dislike you on principal just because you are an immigrant.
12) If you are considering having children, please do some research to find out just how badly our educational system actually is. We (at least last time I checked) are very far from the top as far as education is concerned, when compared to other countries.
13) Higher education in the US is very expensive when compared to University in the UK.
14) As an immigrant you can not under any reason draw public benefits. PERIOD. If your husband was critically injured and you lost your job, Uncle Sam won't give one hoot. No form of help..like food stamps or medicaid...or help with your rent...NOTHING! You will be on your own. Good luck!
15) You have to be extremely careful. If you get into any kind of trouble you can find yourself being deported before you can shake your head. And please don't say it won't happen to you. It can happen to any immigrant.

I could go on and on. There is a very dirty, secretive underbelly to the US that most of the rest of the world doesn't know about.
I know the thought of living in another country is very appealing, but honestly your fiance could be with you in the UK in less that 12 weeks. Most applications are processed in less than 2. My advice to you is to stay in the UK and have your fiance join you there. The UK may have it's problems, but they are nothing when compared to the US.

Quininho · 22nd October 2010, 11:32 AM

One example. I'd move there tomorrow if I could.

Heeeed the Ball · 22nd October 2010, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Those bloody beagles

To make enquiries about moving, but this bitch has put my plug right in....

I am an American citizen. I lived in England for a while. Then my husband came over to the US (he is an Englishman) and we got married. Up until this point both my husband thought the US and the UK were very similar. However once he was here, he went into a sort of culture shock. (as have other Brits we know that have lived in the US) For the US and the UK to speak very close languages (yes, they are different. You guys speak English, we speak American.) you would think we would have a lot in common. However nothing could be further from the truth. To this day my husband has 2 sayings about the US..
1) It is like living in a 3rd world country (and he has traveled EXTENSIVELY throughout his life)
2) Living in the US is like living in a banana republic.

I don't know if you have ever visited the US. Or how in depth your fiance has gone with you, in regards to America, but there are some things you should know.

1) Wages in the UK, for doing the same job, are 2-3 times higher then they are in the US.
2) Cars in the UK (same make and model) ((look it up on ford.com and ford.co.uk)) get almost 3 times better gas mileage than same American car.
3) Food in the US is so expensive. Fresh fruit and vegetables are through the roof. One example is Calif lower. It is common to pay $3.50 for one head. That is almost 6 pounds.
4) Although you guys pay more in taxes, in the long run you still bring home more money each pay period.
5) Forget about getting sick in the US. Even if you have health insurance they can, and do on a regular basis, deny coverage. We pay ourselves $18,820 a year for our health insurance. That does not include deductibles (a certain amount you have to meet before the insurance even kicks in and pays a dime. Depending on your policy it can be as little as $250 or as high as $5000) Then each and every visit to the doctor you still have to pay a co pay. It can be a set amount like $35 or a percentage..average is 20% copay. That is why in the US 3/4 of all bankruptcy cases are due to medical bills, and 50% of those had medical insurance. What does that tell you?
6) Health care in the US is NOT..I repeat..NOT one lick better than the NHS care. You still wait months, yes months, to get into see specialist (my husband waited over 5 months to get into see an endocrinologist..he is diabetic and this was a very important appointment, yet it took months) Unless it is a medical emergency, you can wait months on elective surgery. Care is rationed in the US, via the insurance companies. So don't believe all the BS people say about how good health care is in the US. Cause it is LIES!!!
7) If you are lucky, you get one week paid (a lot of people get unpaid) vacation in the US, AFTER working an entire year for your employer. Versus ...how much is normal in the UK? EXACTLY!
8) No job protection. Unlike in the UK where you get a job contract after working for an employer for a yr, IF you get a job contract here, it says you can be fired for any reason, or for no reason. Some contract huh?
9) It costs more to fly domestically in the US than it does to fly back to the UK (most of the time)
10) Rent is not any cheaper here, nor are house prices.
11) Believe it or not, you will still run across some people who will dislike you on principal just because you are an immigrant.
12) If you are considering having children, please do some research to find out just how badly our educational system actually is. We (at least last time I checked) are very far from the top as far as education is concerned, when compared to other countries.
13) Higher education in the US is very expensive when compared to University in the UK.
14) As an immigrant you can not under any reason draw public benefits. PERIOD. If your husband was critically injured and you lost your job, Uncle Sam won't give one hoot. No form of help..like food stamps or medicaid...or help with your rent...NOTHING! You will be on your own. Good luck!
15) You have to be extremely careful. If you get into any kind of trouble you can find yourself being deported before you can shake your head. And please don't say it won't happen to you. It can happen to any immigrant.

I could go on and on. There is a very dirty, secretive underbelly to the US that most of the rest of the world doesn't know about.
I know the thought of living in another country is very appealing, but honestly your fiance could be with you in the UK in less that 12 weeks. Most applications are processed in less than 2. My advice to you is to stay in the UK and have your fiance join you there. The UK may have it's problems, but they are nothing when compared to the US.

Making a note in my diary, dont go to live in America...

Hauser's-Helmet · 22nd October 2010, 11:36 AM

Australia would be my choice, If I had any money to apply for the Visa and that.

Nee Onions Mate · 22nd October 2010, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Those bloody beagles

To make enquiries about moving, but this bitch has put my plug right in....

I am an American citizen. I lived in England for a while. Then my husband came over to the US (he is an Englishman) and we got married. Up until this point both my husband thought the US and the UK were very similar. However once he was here, he went into a sort of culture shock. (as have other Brits we know that have lived in the US) For the US and the UK to speak very close languages (yes, they are different. You guys speak English, we speak American.) you would think we would have a lot in common. However nothing could be further from the truth. To this day my husband has 2 sayings about the US..
1) It is like living in a 3rd world country (and he has traveled EXTENSIVELY throughout his life)
2) Living in the US is like living in a banana republic.

I don't know if you have ever visited the US. Or how in depth your fiance has gone with you, in regards to America, but there are some things you should know.

1) Wages in the UK, for doing the same job, are 2-3 times higher then they are in the US.
2) Cars in the UK (same make and model) ((look it up on ford.com and ford.co.uk)) get almost 3 times better gas mileage than same American car.
3) Food in the US is so expensive. Fresh fruit and vegetables are through the roof. One example is Calif lower. It is common to pay $3.50 for one head. That is almost 6 pounds.4) Although you guys pay more in taxes, in the long run you still bring home more money each pay period.
5) Forget about getting sick in the US. Even if you have health insurance they can, and do on a regular basis, deny coverage. We pay ourselves $18,820 a year for our health insurance. That does not include deductibles (a certain amount you have to meet before the insurance even kicks in and pays a dime. Depending on your policy it can be as little as $250 or as high as $5000) Then each and every visit to the doctor you still have to pay a co pay. It can be a set amount like $35 or a percentage..average is 20% copay. That is why in the US 3/4 of all bankruptcy cases are due to medical bills, and 50% of those had medical insurance. What does that tell you?
6) Health care in the US is NOT..I repeat..NOT one lick better than the NHS care. You still wait months, yes months, to get into see specialist (my husband waited over 5 months to get into see an endocrinologist..he is diabetic and this was a very important appointment, yet it took months) Unless it is a medical emergency, you can wait months on elective surgery. Care is rationed in the US, via the insurance companies. So don't believe all the BS people say about how good health care is in the US. Cause it is LIES!!!
7) If you are lucky, you get one week paid (a lot of people get unpaid) vacation in the US, AFTER working an entire year for your employer. Versus ...how much is normal in the UK? EXACTLY!
8) No job protection. Unlike in the UK where you get a job contract after working for an employer for a yr, IF you get a job contract here, it says you can be fired for any reason, or for no reason. Some contract huh?
9) It costs more to fly domestically in the US than it does to fly back to the UK (most of the time)
10) Rent is not any cheaper here, nor are house prices.
11) Believe it or not, you will still run across some people who will dislike you on principal just because you are an immigrant.
12) If you are considering having children, please do some research to find out just how badly our educational system actually is. We (at least last time I checked) are very far from the top as far as education is concerned, when compared to other countries.
13) Higher education in the US is very expensive when compared to University in the UK.
14) As an immigrant you can not under any reason draw public benefits. PERIOD. If your husband was critically injured and you lost your job, Uncle Sam won't give one hoot. No form of help..like food stamps or medicaid...or help with your rent...NOTHING! You will be on your own. Good luck!
15) You have to be extremely careful. If you get into any kind of trouble you can find yourself being deported before you can shake your head. And please don't say it won't happen to you. It can happen to any immigrant.

I could go on and on. There is a very dirty, secretive underbelly to the US that most of the rest of the world doesn't know about.
I know the thought of living in another country is very appealing, but honestly your fiance could be with you in the UK in less that 12 weeks. Most applications are processed in less than 2. My advice to you is to stay in the UK and have your fiance join you there. The UK may have it's problems, but they are nothing when compared to the US.

She is a fucking idiot marra

DoctorMick · 22nd October 2010, 11:38 AM

Since when was $3.50 nearly £6?

Nannou · 22nd October 2010, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quininho

One example. I'd move there tomorrow if I could.

me too, come the end of next year i'm going to start looking into it.

I'm not sure about the house prices line in particular, i was led to believe by my unreliable sources that you can get twice the house for the same money as over here.