Moving to the USA temporarily?

Hi, I want to move to the USA permanently eventually, but in the meantime once I've built up some money I want to stay there temporarily (3 month visa waiver) just to see what its like in Miami. (where I want to live) I'll probably vacation there first but can you cover yourself for healthcare under travel insurance? and is there anyway to extend the period I can stay without getting a green card? and anyone have anything to say about Miami. Reasons for that particular place is that I want to move somewhere hot, its a nice city aesthetically, I can't completely explain why I like it, I've been to Montana and love it there but its just too damn cold. Also places to stay, could you rent an apartment for 3 months? or you better off in a motel?

Although you might find some answers here, more comprehensive help might be found at the following forum:

http://britishexpats.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=57

Regarding insurance, you definitely can buy travel health insurance, but be sure to look over the particulars.  Many have exemptions for some services.  I'd definitely make sure you would be covered if you needed to be transported back to the UK for treatment.


ETA: Here are some specific entries in their wiki regarding visas and living in the US:

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Pulaski_Simplified
http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Pulaski%27s_Ways:_How_to_Live_and_Work_in_the_USA

A flow chart graphic regarding US resident visas:
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8458520&postcount=3

Miami is humid. Do you like humidity?

Thanks, as for permanently living in the USA I haven't decided whether to go as a student and then maybe get a work permit, or sell my spare house I have here and save up some extra money on top and qualify financially to live in the USA, but like I said easiest way is probably to go just live there for the 3 months and make sure I like it, which I'm sure I will.

Miami is humid. Do you like humidity?

I've been to Cyprus and didn't mind it there, thats the only real hot place I've been but I'd definitely rather live there than somewhere like Sweden, which I've also been too

Thanks, as for permanently living in the USA I haven't decided whether to go as a student and then maybe get a work permit, or sell my spare house I have here and save up some extra money on top and qualify financially to live in the USA, but like I said easiest way is probably to go just live there for the 3 months and make sure I like it, which I'm sure I will.

I'd not look at it as "living" there, even for the period of the visa waiver.  You are visiting, and you definitely shouldn't use language like "living in the US" to border guards.  

ETA: Miami is a lot different than Cyprus climate-wise.  Cyprus is semi-arid.  There are plenty of dryer places that are hot in the US.  But for a visit, Miami probably would be good.  I just wouldn't base my opinions of the US on it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_the_United_States


ETA mark 2: If you really want brilliant weather and a lot to do during an extended visit, I'd suggest Southern California.

I've been to Cyprus and didn't mind it there, thats the only real hot place I've been but I'd definitely rather live there than somewhere like Sweden, which I've also been too

I'm not sure what the humidity is like in Miami as I've only stopped over at the airport there on the way down to Central America and to South America, but I have spent a total of 6 months in Arkansas in the southern US, most of that time in the height of summer, where it is really humid and really hot... it's generally between 35 and 45 Celsius every day in the summer.

The best way I can think of to describe the humid heat in Arkansas is that it's like living in a steam room. The heat engulfs you the minute you step outside the door and you can only stand being outside for maybe 10 or 15 minutes before you find yourself sweating and needing water . If it weren't for air conditioning, I would never survive the summer there!

On the other hand, I've also lived in New Mexico, where although the temperatures are similar, the air is really dry. It feels less like a steam room and more like a sauna, but it's still really hot... when I lived there in 2008, I used to cycle to uni in up to 38 degrees every day - it only took 10 minutes but by the time I got there, I was sweating like crazy and my hair was plastered to my head .

Miami is a bit cooler though, with the average summer temperature being 30-35 degrees C. Their record maximum temperature is 100 F (38 C) (the same record temperature that was recorded in Kent in summer 2003). They get a lot of rain in the summer months though... up to 10 inches a month, compared to the UK which gets on average 2 inches per month.

and is there anyway to extend the period I can stay without getting a green card?

You can't extend the period without coming back to the UK and applying for a visa to move to the US. If you don't leave before the 90 days are up, you will become an illegal overstayer in the US.

Work visas are difficult to get (only 65,000 are issued every year to the entire world), so your best bet would probably be a student visa. Tuition in the US is expensive though and you would need to prove you had the money to cover the entire degree before you get the visa (a bachelors is 4 years, a masters is 2 years and a PhD can take anywhere from 4-10 years).

Say you studied at the University of Miami, if you were going for an undergraduate degree you would be looking at needing tuition fees of about $40,000 per year ($20,000 per semester), plus about $10,000 per year for living costs. If you were to do a masters, your tuition would probably be at least $30,000 per year (it depends how many lecture courses you sign up for each semester - as an international student, in order to keep the student visa valid, an undergrad must sign up to a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester, and a postgraduate 6 credit hours).

When I was 12, I visited my aunt in the US for the summer - I loved it so much that I decided I wanted to live there. It took me 10 years and two UK masters degrees before I got the opportunity to move there for an extended period of time (more than a few months)... I was accepted to study for a PhD in the US on a visa valid for 4 years.

So, I've now lived in the US twice on student visas - the first time was a study abroad year with my UK university in 2003 - I just had to pay half-fees to my UK uni (which worked out  at only £500 for the year back then) and then living costs in the US (about $6,000 for the year).

The second time, I went back for the PhD - luckily my funding was provided by the university: I was paid $12,000 per year as a TA (Teaching Assistant), but I had to work 20 hours per week, teaching undergraduate labs, on top of my own lectures and research. The university also paid my tuition for me as part of the funding. Without the funding though, I could never have afforded to study for my PhD there.

As it was though, I moved back to the UK after 8 months... I wasn't enjoying my research, I missed my family, friends and English food/drink/TV/shops... and it got to the point that I just couldn't stand living there any more. Although I love to visit (I've been back 3 times since), I have no plans to live in the US again in the future.

I found Cyprus heat much drier than south Florida heat!  And I love me some hot humid tropical/subtropical weather.  The most humid places I've ever been were Savannah (Georgia) in August, New Orleans in July/Aug, and Houston in October (just when I happened to be there!).  But yes - south Florida is pretty humid too! 

They (Miami) get a lot of rain in the summer months though... up to 10 inches a month, compared to the UK which gets on average 2 inches per month.

It's a different kind of rain too - it's tropical/subtropical.  Summer days are sunny (as are most days) - the summer rains come usually somewhere between 3-8 pm, don't last especially long except it comes in a deluge!  Then it passes (humidity likely increased further!) & it's sunny again. 

As someone who has lived in both Montana and Miami, I understand why you would love both places.  Miami is nice but Ft Lauderdale area is great, too.  You'll probably find a large expat community there.  I lived in the Tampa/St Petersburg, FL area before moving to the UK.  I found that part of FL to be a more affordable and a lot less traffic/chaotic commutes.

Florida weather is great for the most part - but really hot.  It's not for everyone.  Same could be said of Kind of English weather - too cold,rainy, wet for me - one of the reasons I'm moving back to the states.

Best of luck to you in your travels.

Even being used to oppressive humidity (not used to it, but somewhat accustomed to it), coming from southern Indiana, I found the southern Florida/Gulf Shores, Alabama heat to be unbearably awful, even in June. I can only imagine what it would be like in July and August. You can have heat without humidity in Arizona if it is only heat you are after. You also have hurricane season to contend with, as another thought to mull over.

Also with Miami, there are a lot of commercially touristy areas that would be overly crowded and also some high crime areas that would probably be better to avoid altogether. I know it is that way with every city, though.

ETA mark 2: If you really want brilliant weather and a lot to do during an extended visit, I'd suggest Southern California.

I prefer California to Florida, too. But three months is a good long time so if the OP has the funds, hopefully he/she will be able to travel around the US a bit.

Dude, Miami is a great place if you are single. True, it is humid and hot, but you will be on an ocean-side deck, martini in hand chatting up las rompe carazones, no?

You could work the James Bond angle....a man with a secret past:

Girl in club - "Like oh my god your accent is so cool....like how long are you here for?"

You (gazing off in the distance) - "Can't say luv, they keep me moving around a lot....a month? a day? In the end none of us are assured a tomorrow..."

LOL. I always laugh at how differently people react to weather. I'm from Maryland which is notoriously hot and humid in the summer. I slightly prefer that to the cold dampness of winter in the UK. When I was in Vegas I could not wait to leave as the dry heat almost did me in! My skin was itchy and my contact lenses hurt. Give me some humidity any day!

Hi,

I'd suggest visiting over a number of times and different places throughout the US to get a better picture overall. This will help in seeing things as they really are instead of just one or two dimensions which you currently are basing things from (the weather in your case!)

As posted by ksand, living there will depend on your situation and which visa you qualify for in order to legally go live there. In short, it's very difficult to just 'go and live' there without a suitable solid basis. Before you spend X amount on visiting one place for 3 months, I'd suggest you look at your skill set and the various visa routes in how you could achieve living there permanently/legally and go from there. For instance, do you have a very niche skillset in some job fields in high demand in the US? do you perhaps have $1million USD (I forget the exact amount) to put into the investment/entreprenuerial (sp) visa? do you have enough capitial to buy an existing US business and show plans of how you wish to grow it and employ more USA citizens? etc etc....

I'm lucky in that I have a vastly extended family all over the USA, worked for 3 US IT companies so have ex work colleagues all over too. My current business has strong ties to the US so I'm over quite a bit on business as well. I haven't been to very many different places in the US, and most of the 'middle' states I've not been to, but from what I have seen personally, and hear about from the above contacts, I have a pretty good picture. It's the same above for Canada as well. So, I wouldn't base a move from visiting one city for an extended period, moreover within that 3 months, go travel around to sample a taste of things which suit your situation.

Cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!