Sunday, February 21, 2010

My sister married an American and now lives there permanently. Could I, a UK citizen, buy house+retire there?

Put simply, does a UK citizen have the right to move permanently to the USA because his sister married an American + has lived there for the past 15 years? I have sufficient funds and would intend to buy a property in California. I would not work there.My sister married an American and now lives there permanently. Could I, a UK citizen, buy house+retire there?
i went through the u.k. to usa immigration process. i used an immigration attorney based in california who also was licensed in the u.k. he will consult with you free of charge,and you can ask him all your concerns. got the job done for me and never refused my calls when i called him with endless questions.email me and i will tell you his name and also answer some of your questions,as i know it can be a daunting experience.My sister married an American and now lives there permanently. Could I, a UK citizen, buy house+retire there?
Nope, you can't just move there just because your sister is married to a US citizen. Until she becomes a citizen herself, she won't be able to sponsor you to come over to be a citizen. Just marrying a citizen doesn't automatically get her citizenship, it still takes about 3 years for that to happen. Then your sponsorship to become a US citizen will probably take several more years after that.
Your sister cannot do diddly for you unless she is a US citizen and is willing and able to sponsor your immigration. You'll wait in line for years for admission.





However, there are no restrictions on foreigners' purchasing property in the US. You can buy a retirement home, Brits have Visa Waiver Program, and if you have proof of your retirement income, you can come for 90 days at a time. Plenty of Brits keep winter homes in Florida (direct London-Miami flights, etc, make it very easy), Arizona, Calif, etc, and you can set yourself up to come %26amp; go fairly easily. You would not have legal permanent residency and no chance at citizenship. But if you're just looking for a retirement haven to spend part of the year, you could do that.
No, that doesn't give you the right.





But, there is talk of a retirement visa in the works, because of people who do want to move to the USA to retire. Thousands of Brits retire here for six months out of the year on a tourist visa, then have to go back to the UK... it would be nice to have them here, spending their retirement money in the US. :)
I think you may be able to provided you don't work and can support yourself. It's the job market that's a sensitive area with the Americans? But people in this country do buy retirement homes in Florida for example although maybe they are not allowed to live in them 12 months of the year. I have a cousin who has an apartment in Arizona and she goes out for the whole of the UK Winter but comes back in the summer because she finds it too hot then.





I'm not sure whether the relative issue makes any difference however.





Edit - just read Teekno's reply which would explain what my cousin is doing!!
No, you can't. You need your own green card to live in the US.
yes i would say so, i think you may have to apply for a visa or sumthin but i think you should b able 2
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