Living costs are often lower in the US. Even after taking account additional healthcare insurance many have discovered significant financial advantage living stateside. Parents have discovered its pointless paying fees for private schools if particular areas of The USA have state schools equivalent to the best Grammar schools)

Most people need between four and 12 months to investigate options, make the decision and then organise their affairs. Interest in the visa has been increasing and looks likely to continue growing over the next year at least as the desire to emigrate gains momentum, stimulated no doubt by increased awareness of the advantages offered by the USA such as a year round outdoor lifestyle, (Florida and Southern California) certain school areas, taxes etc.

Approximately 130 British/Irish citizens have taken the EB-5 (pilot programme) route. Outside the UK and Ireland there have been many more EB-5 (pilot programme) visa applications.

One of the British couples making an investment in return for a Green Card was Michael and Pamela Green.

The couple were among the first dozen Britons to immigrate to America following amendments to the visa system. The Greens bought into a retail project. They receive an annual return and did not have to live in the area where they had invested.

For the first two years, their Green Cards had conditions related to maintaining the investment which can then be reviewed and removed. After five years, they can seek citizenship.

They left to move permanently into the holiday home they bought in Lakeland, Florida, 12 years ago and sold twin bungalows with a swimming pool, in Bath, Somerset, to move to their bungalow in a complex beside a golf course fairway. "There is a swimming pool, a fitness centre and the same amount of land but other people take care of it," said Mr Green. "I don't have to cut the grass or clean the pool."

He added: "We now enjoy a comfortable lifestyle, a very nice climate, with English-speaking people, and a low cost of living. The investment is a small amount to pay for that benefit." "The sun shines through the window virtually every day."

Mr Green, a 12-handicap golfer, and a former managing director of a car dealership, added: "The comparison in the cost of living is incredible. Petrol is $2 a gallon, or just over £1. Cigarettes, if you have that nasty habit as we do, are £14 a carton as opposed to £42. There is no television licence. It costs £50 to license our two cars in America as opposed to £300 here."

The couple have a son, a grandchild, and another grandchild on the way. "At my stage of life my family can come to me," Mr Green said.

David and Fran Hodgkinson
Retired from top local government consultancy posts before moving last year via the investment visa option. They spent several months thoroughly researching the various options and felt it was imperative they emigrated via a green card route, feeling after stressful high pressure jobs, relaxation in the sun with their dogs was the key consideration rather than having to set up and maintain a business in Florida which was a requirement of the other visa options.

Fran had retained great memories of America after student days as a camp councillor with BUNAC and the thrill was reawakened on holidays to Florida including Disney.

Having looked at a shortlist of options in Florida they chose a ranch style home with 6 acres of land in Myakka several miles outside Sarasota as the ideal move from their home in small Sussex village.

Having personally cleared their land of scrub to design their garden Fran returned to her roots with a summer job at the world famous Bollettieri Academy and again they feel their Florida lifestyle has given them even more than they expected.

Link to a Daily Telegraph article on Britons retiring on the EB5 visa - click here