$500k US Green Card

[yasockie]

CNN Money: 500k green card

Not that I am currently interested, but a few more years and the warchest just might get large enough to consider this.
The advantages that I can think of:
1. You, hopefully get all or some the money back, eventually, as profits.
2. You retire on the cheap in Florida? For the price of food and fuel alone this seems almost worth it.
3. You can now set up or have contract in Silicon Valley and the broader Bay Area.

I don't expect a lot of serious replies from you lot, but perhaps someone could chime in about the hidden costs such as Medical Insurance etc (could I get both - ie a US green card and still be reimbursed by NHS for treatments?)

[BlasterBates]

As soon as you have a green card you become liable for US taxes even if you don't live there.

[Paddy]

CNN Money: 500k green card

Not that I am currently interested, but a few more years and the warchest just might get large enough to consider this.
The advantages that I can think of:
1. You, hopefully get all or some the money back, eventually, as profits.
2. You retire on the cheap in Florida? For the price of food and fuel alone this seems almost worth it.
3. You can now set up or have contract in Silicon Valley and the broader Bay Area.

I don't expect a lot of serious replies from you lot, but perhaps someone could chime in about the hidden costs such as Medical Insurance etc (could I get both - ie a US green card and still be reimbursed by NHS for treatments?)

My friend moved out to Florida in 95, He bought several properties in Celebration Celebration, Florida - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and started his own real estate business He thought he would spend the rest of his life living in luxury there. His business folded last year and could not afford to stay. He is now back in Europe, Germany is the only place he can make some money

[DimPrawn]

As soon as you have a green card you become liable for US taxes even if you don't live there.

For that reason and Americans buy record numbers of guns for Christmas - Telegraph and Obama as President, I'm totally not interested.

[mrdonuts]

The advantages that I can think of:
1. You, hopefully get all or some the money back, eventually, as profits.
2. You retire on the cheap in Florida? For the price of food and fuel alone this seems almost worth it.
3. You can now set up or have contract in Silicon Valley and the broader Bay Area.

I don't expect a lot of serious replies from you lot, but perhaps someone could chime in about the hidden costs such as Medical Insurance etc (could I get both - ie a US green card and still be reimbursed by NHS for treatments?)

is the US contractor friendly ? from an overall money making perspective i thought that it was better to have a job over there due to healthcare costs, 401k pensions etc

i would be interested to know if this wasnt the case

[TheFaQQer]

is the US contractor friendly ? from an overall money making perspective i thought that it was better to have a job over there due to healthcare costs, 401k pensions etc

i would be interested to know if this wasnt the case

American companies tend to try to "reward" contractors with a permie role.

It's the healthcare that scares the hell out of me. My uncle lives in America, and when his wife was ill with cancer, he lost everything. He had insurance through work, but needed time to care for her so lost the job. Which then meant that he lost the insurance. Cleared them out completely to the point where he needed to get food stamps to be able to live.

And for that reason, I'm out.

[BrilloPad]

For that reason and Americans buy record numbers of guns for Christmas - Telegraph and Obama as President, I'm totally not interested.

Not all presidents are like Obama. The next one might be like Bush.

[AtW]

UK has got the same -

"Tier 1 (Investor) Visa Requirements

You must have at least £1million at your disposal;
You must be willing to invest £750,000 of that money in either unit trusts or private companies (not bank accounts, property developing or offshore companies);
You may not be employed in any capacity other than managing your investment;
You must be prepared to spend at least 50% of your time in the UK;
You may invest the remaining £250,000 however you wish;
You must meet the English language ability requirements (see below); AND
You must have sufficient funds, as specified by the UK Government at the time of application."

£1 mln - 3 times more than US asks for.

[d000hg]

is the US contractor friendly ? from an overall money making perspective i thought that it was better to have a job over there due to healthcare costs, 401k pensions etc

i would be interested to know if this wasnt the case

I heard the same, also that the whole "set up a company" thing is less common. But I know more about freelancing than on-site contracting.

[DodgyAgent]

UK has got the same -

"Tier 1 (Investor) Visa Requirements

You must have at least £1million at your disposal;
You must be willing to invest £750,000 of that money in either unit trusts or private companies (not bank accounts, property developing or offshore companies);
You may not be employed in any capacity other than managing your investment;
You must be prepared to spend at least 50% of your time in the UK;
You may invest the remaining £250,000 however you wish;
You must meet the English language ability requirements (see below); AND
You must have sufficient funds, as specified by the UK Government at the time of application."

£1 mln - 3 times more than US asks for.

How did you get in then?