A place in the Winter sun (TV) ,moving to another country ?

C_Mababejive

Just watching todays program and its a common theme. Pople pitch up with a view to buying a property outside the UK. Often its in Europe so no apparent issues leaving brexit aside.

The other day i think it was the dominican republic ?? today, Sarasota Florida..

One thing a lot of people aspire to is initially using it as a holiday home or holiday let then eventually moving there.

Id really like to program to expand on that bit.

Unless you have the required family connections, surely its very difficult just to move to,for example, Florida?? US immigration is notoriously difficult and they simply dont want Brits or anyone else there unless they can meet the very stringent visa requirements,,or am i misinformed??

AdrianC

Sorry, are you seriously viewing daytime TV as something more educational than merely vacuous moving wallpaper?

gettingtheresometime

With all these type of programmes, including where people want to relocate within the UK, I'd love to see a follow up programme.


I've often thought wouldn't it be lovely to live in X - and then OH has pointed out that if you run of milk/bread - or even just fancied a takeaway, its a car trip.

wesleyad

When they move to Florida it is always a 6 month visa. They will go there for 4-6 months (normally over winter) and then spend rest of time in the UK. Hence why they almost always get quoted for rental prices. As you say it's pretty much impossible to get a permanent visa for the US, and it's actually getting even harder.

Other countries probably have less stringent visa requirements. Obvioulsy the EU based ones can stay all year. No idea on the others, caribbean, costa rica etc.

Cakeguts

What amuses me is they show people choosing homes in places like France and Spain in the height of summer. Often the homes have no insulation and no way of heating them in temperatures of what can be minus 17 in southern France. In the UK we have mild winter temperatures compared to some places in France and that is not even in the mountains.

DoaM

gettingtheresometime wrote: »

With all these type of programmes, including where people want to relocate within the UK, I'd love to see a follow up programme.

Wanted! Down Under does this sometimes.

Anyway, not sure this thread is suited to this board TBH, albeit does have a tenuous link.

C_Mababejive

Cakeguts wrote: »

What amuses me is they show people choosing homes in places like France and Spain in the height of summer. Often the homes have no insulation and no way of heating them in temperatures of what can be minus 17 in southern France. In the UK we have mild winter temperatures compared to some places in France and that is not even in the mountains.

I had no idea it could get that nippy in France in Winter ??

C_Mababejive

wesleyad wrote: »

When they move to Florida it is always a 6 month visa. They will go there for 4-6 months (normally over winter) and then spend rest of time in the UK. Hence why they almost always get quoted for rental prices. As you say it's pretty much impossible to get a permanent visa for the US, and it's actually getting even harder.

Other countries probably have less stringent visa requirements. Obvioulsy the EU based ones can stay all year. No idea on the others, caribbean, costa rica etc.

Yes i hadnt thought of that. Isnt it the case that US immigration can get a bit snippy about continually returning on what is essentially a 6 month visitors visa? I mean its supposed to be for touristy types and not pseudo residents??

C_Mababejive

DoaM wrote: »

Wanted! Down Under does this sometimes.

Anyway, not sure this thread is suited to this board TBH, albeit does have a tenuous link.

I know the one you mean and its an interesting program. I do love the updates also,especially the ones who have escaped from blighty and made a go of it.

Of course many people harbor a secret desire to escape dark,cold and dreary blighty but one thing they forget,aside from brexit, is that with regard to personal taxation,the UK is better than many other countries. For example in Spain, if you have resided there more than 6 months you are deemed to be resident and subject to their taxation system which means a personal allowance of about half what ours is plus more tax.

I guess many expats are flying under the radar..?

kingstreet

Cakeguts wrote: »

What amuses me is they show people choosing homes in places like France and Spain in the height of summer. Often the homes have no insulation and no way of heating them in temperatures of what can be minus 17 in southern France. In the UK we have mild winter temperatures compared to some places in France and that is not even in the mountains.

TBH when I watch the Spanish ones where there is an empty communal pool I normally turn to my wife and say "I'd like to see what that's like in the summer," as I suspect Jasmine/Laura or whoever are there in eg February as it appears deserted.

Either way, a nice little two bed in Mojacar, Costa Almeria is on my shopping list. :D

AdrianC

C_Mababejive wrote: »

I had no idea it could get that nippy in France in Winter ??

Umm, you know they have mountains there, right? Quite big ones. People go to them on winter holidays to strap planks to their feet and break limbs.