Why did you decide to make the move to the USA and not the other way?

[slangofoil 50]

I always saw myself living there, rather than him coming to the US. I had rather romanticized notions of Ireland, of course. I went back there to do a masters and to be with him. I was given permission to remain on the basis of our relationship, but at the time I was barely getting by as floorstaff at a night club and had really no good job prospects. This was in 2009 when things had really started to tank there. I came back to the US because I had student loans that I was putting off and really needed to get a good job. The plan was for me to get settled and then he would come over on a 12-month J-1, and we'd figure things out from there. He always saw himself living in the States for at least a couple of years, so I knew he was willing to come.

Eventually the J-1 started to look too iffy and complicated, so we decided to do the K-1. So far we're way better off here than over there. I have a really well-paying job, and considering that I live near the nation's capital, job prospects are much better across the board. Even though he's still only working as a bartender he makes very good money and we're not wanting for anything.

I loved Ireland in some ways, but found living there tough at times. I'm sure it would have been better if I had a good job, but I found most Irish people very tough to make friends with. They're very settled with the same best friends they've had since childhood, and it can be hard to break through to a real friendship. His family is great and like me, but I don't feel I can really be myself around them. However, I'm pretty independent, so it never really bothered me being away from my family. We all have our own lives and don't see each other that much even when we're in close proximity. For him, being away from his family has been much harder. He's much closer with them and has really missed being away from them. But he's doing pretty well in general.

Since things are way better for us financially here, we will probably be settled here for the foreseeable future, but it's possible we'll move back. We visited in August and I got really nostalgic and started fantasizing about returning. But realistically, it's not likely. We're planning to buy a house in a year or so, and hopefully start a family, so once those things happen, the probability of returning will shrink.

So, long story short - money and jobs were the main reasons for choosing the US. Plus his desire to try it out living here for a while.

[Holly and Patrick 3]

My husband is in the middle of a PHD program and when we got engaged I had just graduated from my Masters degree so was in a more adaptable position. In many ways the States are an easier place for us to get started financially as a young married couple, but all my friends and family and many of his friends are in the UK. I think (hope) we will come back, I would rather raise our children in London.

[macd 1]

I moved over to the States because my husband was on a career track in the States that he couldn't follow in the UK. Also, I wasn't in a career which I was happy with, and I fancied a change of scenery. However like Holly and Patrick, I would prefer to raise my children back home, so I see us moving across the pond in the next few years. It's only fair after all