Florida: Retirement

Overview

It’s impossible for foreigners without a permanent residence permit to retire in Florida or elsewhere in America. In order to live permanently in Florida you require an immigrant (permanent resident) visa, which is difficult to obtain. Proof of owning a home or self-sufficiency (unless you’re very rich and famous) isn’t a qualification for long-term residence. Therefore if you don’t qualify to live in America by birthright or relationship, it may be impossible to obtain a residence permit. There are, however, a number of ways to obtain a residence permit, but it’s necessary to obtain expert legal advice from an immigration lawyer.

Some people who are interested in living permanently or ‘retiring’ to Florida purchase a small business, which provided you have a partner or manager may necessitate little actual involvement in the day-to-day operation of the business. Anyone with a B visa can spend up to six months a year in Florida and many retirees from North America and northern Europe do so each year, usually during the northern hemisphere’s coldest months, i.e. October to March.

© Survival Books Limited 2004

“Buying a Home in Florida” 2nd Edition, David Hampshire.

Reproduced with the permission of Survival Books Limited.

Further information on this topic can be found in “Buying a Home in Florida” 2nd edition, by David Hampshire.

For extensive information about buying a property in Florida, you can purchase this book at www.survivalbooks.net