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Getting your Green Card
Unlike moving to other countries in the EU, relocation to the United
States is subject to strict immigration rules and requires
authorization from the U.S. Immigration authorities. If your goal is
to reside in Florida on a fulltime basis you will need to obtain an
immigrant visa (known as a Green Card), which permits you to reside
in the U.S. as a permanent immigrant. But, U.S. immigration laws
make it tough for immigrants coming into the country to obtain a
Green Card. They subject applicants to rigid entry criteria, which
we have set out below -
Green Card Eligibility
There are 3 general categories in which you will be eligible for
receipt of a Green Card within 6 - 12 months of arriving in Florida.
1) Family Based Immigration - If you have a family member who is an
U.S. citizen then they can 'sponsor' you for a Green Card and gain
you permanent residency in the U.S.
2) Employment Based Immigration - If you have a specific offer of
employment from an U.S. employer then you can gain entry & your
Green Card.
3) Diversity Immigrant Visa Program - Known as the 'Green Card
Lottery', this is a program where 55,000 applicants each year from
diverse areas around the world are given entry and a Green Card. It
is used mainly to promote immigration to the U.S. from areas where
historical movement to the U.S. is low. Currently, applicants from
the UK do not qualify for this option.
If you do not qualify in the above categories - and lets face it,
not many of us do - then you will have to start your new life in the
States on a temporary non-immigrant visa. There are over 20
different non-immigrant visa options to choose from, some of which
grant you a route to apply for a Green Card and some that don't.
Many homeowners in Florida survive on temporary visas, often using
B-2 or B-1 visas, so splitting their time between Florida and their
home country. There are many others though that have gained their
Green Card by starting out on the temporary visa route. They have
found that the easiest way to get their Green Card has been to use
visas classed as L, E or H.
The L visa route requires you to own a UK business, which is going
to continue trading in the UK whist you are in Florida, and to buy a
business affiliated to your UK business in the U.S. or to set up a
new 'branch' of your UK company in the U.S. By taking this route
your application for a Green Card can be fast-tracked and be
available to you in as little as 1-2 years.
The E visa route requires you to make a substantial investment of
$500,000 (or sometimes $1,000,000) in a new U.S. business venture
that will support at least 2 U.S. employees and comfortably support
you and your family. Again, you will be eligible for a Green Card,
although it is a more drawn-out process than if you were to take the
L visa route.
The H visa route allows those with special skills that are in demand
in the U.S. to enter and apply for a Green Card. This includes
persons in speciality occupations or with specialised knowledge who
possess a degree, qualified nurses, agricultural workers, seasonal
workers (skilled & unskilled), trainers or trainees.
Unfortunately, as it stands at the current time, those of us who are
looking for a quiet fulltime retirement in Florida are excluded from
doing just this. The good news is though that after 5 years of
continuous stay on a Green Card in the U.S. you can apply for
naturalization and become a permanent U.S. citizen with no more
worries about having the right visas!
Please note: 1st-for-florida-property.co.uk are not qualified
to offer professional immigration advice. Before you purchase your
property please seek expert counsel.
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