Taking your Brit to the US

My boyfriend is coming over to stay--and complete cohab time, woo-- with me over the summer in St. Petersburg (Florida, not Russia!). He liked it well enough last time when he visited for two weeks, I just wonder how he's going to adjust to a near three month stint. Well, I'm sure the proximity to the beach and to Publix will make up for the humidity and the lack of a car, right?

ETA: There seem to be a lot of fellow Floridians on here. Is there a special bond between Brits and Floridians?

My boyfriend is coming over to stay--and complete cohab time, woo-- with me over the summer in St. Petersburg (Florida, not Russia!). He liked it well enough last time when he visited for two weeks, I just wonder how he's going to adjust to a near three month stint. Well, I'm sure the proximity to the beach and to Publix will make up for the humidity and the lack of a car, right?

ETA: There seem to be a lot of fellow Floridians on here. Is there a special bond between Brits and Floridians?

There certainly must be some attraction, as most every Brit I know has been to Florida at some point!     That's great news, Anne!  I hope everything works out so you can come back to us!

There certainly must be some attraction, as most every Brit I know has been to Florida at some point!     That's great news, Anne!  I hope everything works out so you can come back to us!

This is true. Always to Orlando, it seems. And yet whenever I say 'I went to uni there, I can give you a list of cool, non-touristy places to see.' they say 'Oh, we're going to Disney.' LOL.

I've done this! I tried living over there (the UK) a couple years, and we both decided to move back to the US together. We thought we'd have better opportunities (note that we were a young couple just starting out) -- and we were right. We have been living here nearly 3 years, already.

Once my Scottish husband was able to work (got his green card), he adapted amazingly well. He finally landed the dream job he was never able to find in the UK. Even with his Scottish reserve, he got along great with everyone at work and everyone loved his accent. We were able to get a great apartment and we found things very convenient. (Yes, that includes the sunny weather, even though it gets much colder over here!)

Plus, because I was back "home", I feel about twice as confident and in control. It has actually helped our relationship for me to be the one who "leads," because in Scotland, I always felt lost and was at times was far too clingy. It's great my husband has gotten to know the real me.

We both miss Scotland though, and are now looking at the option of moving back after he gets his citizenship (so we never have to go thru the green card process again) but this time we'll have a different outlook because we're both a lot more confident and have grown much stronger as a couple. (Not to mention he will have an amazing CV from working in America!)

I'm glad we both now experience from both sides of the pond, and from living in the US he completely understands where I'm coming from now. I'm much happier to try living in the UK again now that we've had this experience. I highly recommend it, even if it's temporary. 

I'm glad we both now experience from both sides of the pond, and from living in the US he completely understands where I'm coming from now. I'm much happier to try living in the UK again now that we've had this experience. I highly recommend it, even if it's temporary. 

I think you've got a good point there.  I do feel more confident back in the US.  In the other spouse's country its so easy to defer to them because they know the ropes.  And having a taste of living in each other's countries ought to make both more understanding of the problems.

I always tell my coworkers and those who go to Florida on holiday to go to the Keys instead of Orlando.  They never listen to me!

I lived in Orlando after Key West, so I'm fond of that as well.

This is true. Always to Orlando, it seems. And yet whenever I say 'I went to uni there, I can give you a list of cool, non-touristy places to see.' they say 'Oh, we're going to Disney.' LOL.

Yes! I always try to convice people that Gatorland is worth a visit; zero percent success rate so far.

Yes! I always try to convice people that Gatorland is worth a visit; zero percent success rate so far.

Gatorland FTW. Heck, I dragged my boyfriend to Homosassa Springs. Who wants Mickey Mouse when you can see manatees? It gave him a good idea of what it's actually like in Florida though: Mostly empty, but with lots of cows and cars on cinder blocks...

It gave him a good idea of what it's actually like in Florida though: Mostly empty, but with lots of cows and cars on cinder blocks...

Oh, that made me just a bit homesick. I used to take all visitors canoing on the Wekiva river and to the beach at Cape Canaveral. Everyone used to snigger going through "world famous Cocoa Beach".

For Tim and I, living in the US isn't even an option.  He works for the railway, and there's just no equivalent for his job in the US. The only way him moving to the US would have worked would be if I had a job that was pulling down the bucks and earned enough for him and I to live off of one income. I don't, but he does in the UK, so the descision is pretty easy.

Well....I actually met my wife while in the Air Force stationed in England so we did have to come back to the states first.  I will say that was the harder move.  The visa was more expensive for my wife than mine was to come to the UK, and the process to get a US visa was sooooo much more involved and long.

Adjusting to life in the US was much tougher for her than it is for me adjusting to the UK.....especially since we originally were getting stationed in Misery, sorry Missouri.

Oh, that made me just a bit homesick. I used to take all visitors canoing on the Wekiva river and to the beach at Cape Canaveral. Everyone used to snigger going through "world famous Cocoa Beach".

Ha!! Crack Carnival....ahem....Cape Canaveral.... my former home....that place had a certain beauty if you overlooked the preponderance of methheads, and I do miss the manateees.....oh the manatees!  Ron Jons Surf Shop represent! Man, anytime I would travel, I'd know exactly how far from home I was, they have those bloody billboards that start in alabama stating how far it is to ronjon's, and i lived a mile north of it...


I just threadjacked, i think....sorry.

I'm kind of tempted to start a thread on UK-Floridians now!



I was wondering if any of your British other halves needed to supply evidence when they came to the US for an extended stay. My bf is coming from 25 May-10 August, which is under the 90 visa waiver deadline but still a long stay. My dad's written a letter saying he (the bf) will be staying at his house, but I'm wondering if he should bring any documents to prove his ties to the UK. Or are the US immigration officers more relaxed than the UK ones?

I just saw your post. That seems like a very valid question (which of course I don't have the answer to, since my DH only ever came for a week at a time) so I think you should repost it under a new topic so someone will answer. Hope it works out for you!

Or are the US immigration officers more relaxed than the UK ones?

Not a chance.  I'd make sure he comes prepared with evidence of ties to the UK to allay any concerns at immigration.

Not a chance.  I'd make sure he comes prepared with evidence of ties to the UK to allay any concerns at immigration.

Hm, OK. He'll have his return ticket, his bank statements as proof of funds, his mortage statement and a letter from the University saying he's a full time student to prove ties to the UK.

I figured he could just say he's visting me for summer break, which is true, but it may be better if he says that he's also visiting me so that I can get my UK unmarried partner visa so we can settle in the UK together. Maybe if they know I plan to go with him at the end of his stay it will convince them that he's not going  to overstay.