Do you really want your relative in the US ?

[Captain Oates 911]

I looked at the 'Bringing your relative to the US' forum and I wondered if people thought about how their particular relative would flourish here or whether they were doing it for their own comfort and some company and to make things more like home.

My daughter is happily settled in her UK council house in quite a nice area where she just calls the council and gets new central heating and a new fence and all new kitchen units etc etc. She does this every couple of years and lives on a pretty good income from the government. It's not my way but it is hers.

I guess that anyone who is happy with this lifestyle would be the last person to come and live in the USA.

My USC wife complains about USC's getting lots of welfare in the US but I don't think it will be as easy as the UK.

Now this is only one example, but there must be lots of aspects of our relatives that means we shouldn't encourage them to come and live in a place that is wrong for them - health care etc being a big factor

I know young people in the UK who are self employed but are dodgy concerning taxes and giving value for money - they would probably end up in jail in the US

There again , there will be young thrusting, outgoing optimistic people with few ties and a great education who should certainly be encouraged to move if it is really what they want

Any stories of imported relatives who did really well/badly ?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

The UK sounds like a great place to live if you're disabled or a bum.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

I have some that I would like to send somwhere else.

[alienlovechild 75]

I know young people in the UK who are self employed but are dodgy concerning taxes and giving value for money - they would probably end up in jail in the US

In America we call those people drug dealers and they will face some jail time if caught with enough drugs. If that's not the case, most deadbeats here don't go to jail because there are many in debt.

[Captain Oates 911]

I know young people in the UK who are self employed but are dodgy concerning taxes and giving value for money - they would probably end up in jail in the US

In America we call those people drug dealers and they will face some jail time if caught with enough drugs. If that's not the case, most deadbeats here don't go to jail because there are many in debt.

I was thinking more of self employed window cleaners etc...

Not deadbeats as such - many have nice homes/cars etc - but they wouldn't be so happy go lucky about taxes etc in the US

But what about people who are sick or old or have their own clubs/hobbies etc - many people just would not flourish in another country and I wonder how many of them (and their relatives) regret bringing them over

[TayRivers 4]

I know young people in the UK who are self employed but are dodgy concerning taxes and giving value for money - they would probably end up in jail in the US

In America we call those people drug dealers and they will face some jail time if caught with enough drugs. If that's not the case, most deadbeats here don't go to jail because there are many in debt.

I was thinking more of self employed window cleaners etc...

Not deadbeats as such - many have nice homes/cars etc - but they wouldn't be so happy go lucky about taxes etc in the US

But what about people who are sick or old or have their own clubs/hobbies etc - many people just would not flourish in another country and I wonder how many of them (and their relatives) regret bringing them over

Both of my parent s have moved to the USA within the last year... I spent 2 years making sure that they knew what they were getting into if they moved over here. Their is a totaly different culture over here than the one most brits see on T.V or when they come on vacation for 2 weeks to visit Mickey Mouse.

They have had to deal with mega expensive medical insurance and all the time it takes to get everything set up once they had arrived, Bank Accounts, Doctors, SSA, Driving Licences, Church and many more things. So far we have no regrets and things are working out well for them. They will admitt that it has been harder than they thought it would be. And of course all of this is after the stress of dealing with immigration...

[Peikko 1,575]

This thread has such potential.

[SunDrop 59]

I would say it depends very much on where they come to when they get to the US.

My daughter's mixed race and there are parts of the country I wouldn't move to, simple as that.

Both my parents have already spent a decade living in the US, albeit while Dad was working. They returned "home" after being away from the UK for over 30 years, and although she didn't like being in NYC when they were there, Mum isn't happy back here. They're in southern Greater London. She misses the lifestyle in NYC and recently experienced prejudice against Northerners, which she is by birth. Wasn't something she experienced ever in NYC as most people were interested in her being British but were cosmopolitan enough to not come out with some of the daft things that people can say or ask!

Her main concern about us moving to Arizona is healthcare. And the fact that the heat and distance is going to make it hard for her to visit except for a couple of months every year and not when we might need her the most, to help out with the incredibly long summer break!

I'm going to struggle with the insane work ethic they have of 40+ hrs/ week on average and no paid leave except getting to executive levels and even then that's stingy! I don't know how more of the population isn't completely burnt out, to be honest.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I have some that I would like to send somwhere else.

My thought exactly.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I'm going to struggle with the insane work ethic they have of 40+ hrs/ week on average and no paid leave except getting to executive levels and even then that's stingy! I don't know how more of the population isn't completely burnt out, to be honest.

I'm used to 40+, I don't think it's insane at all.

And I'm no executive (never have been) and have always had paid leave.

[TayRivers 4]

I'm going to struggle with the insane work ethic they have of 40+ hrs/ week on average and no paid leave except getting to executive levels and even then that's stingy! I don't know how more of the population isn't completely burnt out, to be honest.

I'm used to 40+, I don't think it's insane at all.

And I'm no executive (never have been) and have always had paid leave.

I work 40+ hrs per week but I do get 10 days paid vacation. I dont get any paid sick time so I just never go sick..

[Heracles 417]

I'm going to struggle with the insane work ethic they have of 40+ hrs/ week on average and no paid leave except getting to executive levels and even then that's stingy! I don't know how more of the population isn't completely burnt out, to be honest.

I'm used to 40+, I don't think it's insane at all.

And I'm no executive (never have been) and have always had paid leave.

How is that a good thing?

Do you get at least 4 weeks paid leave? No to mention, 10 days paid public holidays.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Do you get at least 4 weeks paid leave? No to mention, 10 days paid public holidays.

Slightly more.

I get to carry over 2 weeks, which I usually do.

[Heracles 417]

Do you get at least 4 weeks paid leave? No to mention, 10 days paid public holidays.

Slightly more.

I get to carry over 2 weeks, which I usually do.

Let me get this straight, you are provided with more than 4 weeks annual leave every year.

[Captain Oates 911]

Both of my parent s have moved to the USA within the last year... I spent 2 years making sure that they knew what they were getting into if they moved over here. Their is a totaly different culture over here than the one most brits see on T.V or when they come on vacation for 2 weeks to visit Mickey Mouse.

They have had to deal with mega expensive medical insurance and all the time it takes to get everything set up once they had arrived, Bank Accounts, Doctors, SSA, Driving Licences, Church and many more things. So far we have no regrets and things are working out well for them. They will admitt that it has been harder than they thought it would be. And of course all of this is after the stress of dealing with immigration...

Yes we who have done it on our own account know what we had to go through. That's great that they are getting there.

The path is not smooth. I have just had my first encounter and victory with the IRS who tried to charge me an additional 15% self employed tax on my UK pensions (on top of usual US tax).

Lots of problems but eventually they start drying up and we learn how to deal with it.

I bet if it works out with the relatives, then that is great as you have your family (some of) around you.

Conversely, it would compound an immigrant's problems if their family didn't make it in the new country for one reason or another