Is it possible to retire to the USA?

[Trigger48]

I am a British teacher of Physics and Maths at present working in the Arabian Gulf. I am contemplating retirement within the next 2 years and have been looking at France and Spain as possible locations as I do not intend to return to the UK. I have taught in the USA (NY and NJ) and would seriously consider living in the US but was not aware it was an option. Replies with advice or relating individuals experiences of doing it would be gratefully received and acknowledged.

[synthia]

I don't know of any sort of retirement visa option. I have met people from the UK who spend six months a year in the US, but I think you have to win a green card in the lottery to retire here full time.

Have you looked at the state department web site?

[chris1]

Snowing birding does give you the best of both worlds...you don't have to buy in the USA...but saying that a small condo would be cheaper to run than a home...and in some cases cheaper than renting...its finding someone to watch it while you are out the country...

[ZARTAN]

as far as i know, the usa does not check passports when youre leaving, so they would have difficulty knowing how long you stayed. when you enter, you can say that you are on holidays.

[synthia]

They don't check passports on leaving, and don't have direct way of knowing how long you have been in the country. However, anything that happens that means someone might check when you entered the country puts you at risk of deportation. In some states, none of the government agencies, including the police, will report you to immigration. In onther states they will.

[Trigger48]

Thanks for the reply. I have cousins in the USA. Do you have any info as to how I can use them fr sponsorship? Best wishes...Jim

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by Trigger48

Thanks for the reply. I have cousins in the USA. Do you have any info as to how I can use them fr sponsorship? Best wishes...Jim

Cousins probably won't do it as far as sponsorship goes. Normally, they want someone a bit closer - like parents, siblings or children.

While it's true there is no "retirement visa" per se, there are over 20 different sorts of (non-immigrant) visas, so chances are you can probably qualify for one of them, especially if you have taught (i.e. worked) before in the US. Or, given that they are looking for science and maths teachers, you might be able to take a "last job before retirement" in the US and score an immigrant visa that would allow you to stay for retirement.

Take a look at the US embassy website in the country you're currently living in. They generally can link you to all the official websites on visas and often the local staff can be pretty helpful. Or if they aren't, check the website for the London US embassy.

[JohnSoCal]

There are millions of people from different countries that have retired in the US. My parents moved from Canada to retire full time in Arizona.

[synthia]

What kind of visa did they get?

[JohnSoCal]

A resident visa, aka "Green Card".