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Moving Overseas Guides Why the British Are Moving Abroad | Moving To The USA |
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The terrain is by far the most varied in the world, with glacial plains and deserts, high mountains and sub sea level hot beds and everything else in between. The USA is the world leader in a variety of areas, and if something is popular in the USA you can guarantee that it will spread worldwide at some stage - the ultimate trend setter. These are just a few of the postive aspects why the number of Expats living in America is growing. Content: American Cuture | Employment in the US | Real Estate in America | State Benefits in America | USA Facts American CultureThe creation of the USA was based on mass immigration , therefore the culture, religion and social structure of the country is very varied. The basics of the so called “main stream” culture were heavily influenced by both the English and Dutch settlers who were the first countries to send inhabitants to the new found land. However as time has gone by, the culture has been further influenced by the Irish, Germans and Greeks, and the Italians and Spanish to a lesser degree. The US is one of the few true multi-cultural countries of the world.The US has also built up a strong position in a variety of areas, with Science, Cuisine, Visual Arts, Literature, Cinema and Sports among the strongest. This has allowed the US way of life to be “exported” overseas serving the many pockets of US citizens based abroad. Perhaps one of America’s greatest successes has been TV and Media, with the US home to some of the best TV stations and movie studios in the world. Hollywood is renowned through out the world as the centre piece of the movie business, with the industry able to re-invent itself and adapt to new technologies, styles and trends. Employment in The USAWhile the US is the largest economy in the world, it can be a very difficult market for expats to break in to, due to the tight labour laws and a high degree of protectionism for US residents. In order for any foreign national to work in the US you need to apply for a VISA (the famous “green card”), which can be time consuming with no guarantee of success at the end - there are immigration quotas in place.Even though there are strict regulations in place in the US, over 11 million foreign residents have relocated to the country over the last 10 years, with up to 1 million applications received each year. There is a vast difference in unemployment figures across the many parts of America, but it appears that the recent boom time in the economy has created a number of new positions, which many foreign residents are being invited to fill. The hi-tech industry (e.g. silicon valley type businesses) and nursing are growth areas of the US economy, with many companies unable to recruit from natural born US residents. The government have a major influence on the US economy with the majority of the work force working for the state in some shape or form. Additional areas of industry operate with a fairly free reign, although there are tight labour laws to protect employees. The US economy is a service led economy, with many of the manufacturing processes hived off to more cost effective countries around the world. Real Estate in AmericaThe US has experienced something of a property boom over the last decade, although there are signs that the market may be over heating in the short term. An increase in mortgage defaults at the riskier end of the market has been noted by many, with observers concerned that this may spread to the “safer” lending companies.While there is a healthy property market in the US, historically residents have preferred to rent rather than buy outright. While this is starting to change, the majority of US residents are content to rent for the foreseeable future. As you would expect from such a larger country, the style of housing available is enormous, and the prices are just as wide ranging. However, the country does have an excellent infrastructure offering foreign residents the chance to purchase property outside of the main employment hot spots and travel by public transport. There is a house price and a house style to suit everybody! The US housing market has had volatile patches in the past, although the Federal Bank take a very proactive approach to interest rate manipulation to ensure there is no return to the boom and bust scenarios which so many fear. State Benefits in The USAThe US taxation system and benefits system are some of the most complicated in the world. The collection of taxes may well involve an individual paying possibly four levels of government, from county to state to federal. The rate of tax is based upon the persons income over a tax year, and highly penalises those who earn high salaries.The US state benefit system is a very topical subject in the run up to elections as it seems to have a life of its own. Again the system is complicated by the fact that there is direct interference at all levels, with benefits varying from state to state. Often criticised for encouraging lower skilled citizens to live off the welfare state, there are now concerns that it is now penalising those in lower paid employment. There are the traditional benefits available including income support, housing benefit, etc although it is vital that you check the situation in your area if you do decide to become a foreign national and settle in the US. ConclusionThe USA is most definitely the land of opportunity, and offers massive variation in cultures, employment, housing and communities. Most nations of the world will have a significant foreign national presence in the US, and you will often find pockets in various areas of the country.Employment can be tricky for foreign nationals, as there seems to be an unofficial queue for employment, which allows original US residents to be considered first. If you are qualified in an industry which is crying out for professional workers then you may be able to “fast track” your application which can sometimes take years to complete. For those able to gain entry to the US on a permanent basis, the potential is enormous, in a country which encourages the entrepenurerial spirit and offers a great variation of industries. More facts about the USA :- Capital : Washington D.C. Official Language : English Government : Federal Constitutional Republic with a President and Vice President. Size : 9,631,420 km2 Population : 301.5 million Currency : US Dollar International Dialling Code : +1 Economy : The largest in the world Religion : Various Forms Of Christianity |
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