Alternative New York Landmarks

Hello everyone. Today we have some weird and wonderful landmarks in New York.

Caboose Motel
State Route 425,
Avoca, NY 14809

If you're looking for an alternate place to stay in New York then the Caboose Motel offers just that. Since 1986 the five cabooses have been open to the public, each sleeping between 5 and 6 guests and fully equipped with a shower, bathroom, seating, cable TV, telephone and bedrooms. Find out more at the website www.caboosemotel.net.

Ghostbusters Headquarters

10 North Moore St,
New York, NY

The building once used as the headquarters for the film Ghostbusters is now an active New York Fire Department station.

Naked Adam and Eve
The Time Warner Center,
New York, NY

Standing in the lobby of the Time Warner Center, Columbus Circle, New York are two 12ft bronze sculpturers of Adam and Eve. Apparently holding Adam's genitals and posing for pictures is a favourite passtime for visitors to the Center!

Nipper the RCA Dog
7 Tivoli St,
Albany, NY

For over 50 years, a 25 foot, 4 ton "Nipper the RCA Dog" has sat on top of this building in Albany. A junior Nipper did sit near him but that now resides in Baltimore.

We have more Alternative New York Landmarks at www.britsinamerica.us/newyork/landmarks.html Can you add any to our list?

Orlando City Soccer

Hello everyone. The USA has never really got behind Soccer but hopefully that's going to change in the near future. I recently spoke with Steve Crane from Striker Soccer Academy about the new Orlando City Soccer Club.

Pro Soccer has finally arrived in Orlando. After all the rumor and talk it was officially announced that the City Beautiful would have a professional soccer team which will compete in the USL (United Soccer Leagues) Pro league, basically the league below MLS. 

Orlando City is not just another US Soccer team though. Granted, it's not a completely new team, they have actually moved an existing team, the old Austin Aztecs, and provided them with a new hometown, which happens in American sports. However, Orlando City has firm roots outside of the US. The majority owner, Phil Rawlins, is a Director of Stoke City FC and another Owner Brendan Flood is chairman of Burnley FC. Both clubs have partnered with Orlando City which makes it totally unique and provides positive vibes that this team will be around for a while and putting together a competitive team for us all to be proud of. Not only that, the Head Coach is Adrian Heath, ex Everton FC striker.

Phil Rawlins is a down to earth guy who has a great vision for the club. He has a focus on community involvement and writes into the players contracts that they must spend so many hours on community work, interacting with fans etc, which is a breath of fresh air when compared to the overpaid embarrassments in the Premier League.

Most importantly to soccer fans, he has set a target of MLS soccer within 5 years.

Last week the club announced it's new crest and a website. It's an exciting time to be a fan in Orlando. Ticket prices are very reasonable, you can get a season ticket for $99, which include league games and showcase games against International Clubs (read Stoke and Burnley, for starters) and MLS friendlies. Any English soccer fan will enjoy visiting a game, it will be different but unique. I feel it will be a bit like travelling back in time by 50 or 60 years, to watch a game, where the fans can get passionate without violence, you can relax and drink alcohol in your seat, and the stadium, the Citrus Bowl, looks like the Colliseum.

All in all, it's something for everyone British to be excited about. Expats can have a local team again, holidaymakers can go catch a game one evening in a fortnights break and it's another thing to do when visiting Orlando. Having spoken with all the movers and shakers concerned in Orlando City Soccer Club, I can comfortably say that the soccer on show will not be Mickey Mouse!

From everyone at Brits In America, we wish you all a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

Florida Choice

Hello everybody. Today we have some bargain Central Florida Real Estate listings courtesy of Florida Choice.

If you'd like to promote your business or services on the Brits In America home page then please e-mail us at info@britsinamerica.us to find out how.

Brits In America Update

Hello everybody. Here is some brief information on some of the new British run businesses recently added to the Brits In America website.

Facehaven Skin Care and Massage Clinic
FaceHaven Skin Care and Massage Clinic in Orlando offers clients a private and discrete location away from busy strip and shopping malls you may be used to, but at the same time not forgetting the quality skin care you expect from a major spa or clinic. www.facehaven.com

Nick Fraser - Realtor at Re/Max All Star, Madeira Beach
Selling residential and commercial real estate throughout the Tampa Bay area.
www.SeeYourNewHomeHere.com

English Pork Pie Company
Owned and run by English couple Damian and Vicky from Yorkshire and Staffordshire, the couple relocated to New York in 2008 to establish a British company, providing America with the freshest & most authentic English Produce. www.englishporkpiecompany.com

Miniature Picture Cards
Expat Roger Penycate runs Miniture Picture Cards from Richmond, VA. You can find cards depicting over 200 themes including, Baseball, Golf, Movie Stars, Military, British Themed and much more. www.miniaturepicturecards.com

OIIA Limited
Offering free QROPS Pension Transfer advice for expats from UK Chartered Insurance Institute qualified advisers. With over 20 years experience. http://www.pension-transfers-qrops.com

Go Go Web O
Go Go Web O provide total web design services at affordable prices. From bespoke sites to contact management systems and everything inbetween.
www.gogowebo.com

Sunshine Foundation Dream Village

Hello everyone. Today we have some information about the Sunshine Foundation Dream Village near Davenport, Florida, where they have been making children's dreams come true for over 20 years.

Sunshine Foundation's sole purpose is to answer the dreams of chronically ill, seriously ill, physically challenged and abused children, ages three to eighteen, whose families cannot fulfill their requests due to the financial strain that child's illness may cause. 

Sunshine Foundation Dream Village sits across 22 acres of scrub oaks, tall pines, and palmettos in Loughman, Florida, a small town 15 miles west of the central Florida attractions. The village is a permanent oasis for families to escape hospitals and needles, if only for a short time. Since our first family arrived in February 1989, over 15,156 special children have enjoyed Sunshine's Dream Village. 

The number one dream of most children is to visit "The Mouse" and the "The Fish", and Sunshine knows that time for families is precious. That's why the Foundation not only flies the child and parents to the Dream Village, but we also try to include each family member that lives in the child's household, with no cost whatsoever to the family. Sunshine pays for airfare, transportation, lodging, and tickets to the attractions. Families arrive on Thursday and leave on Monday.

The Dream Village is a fairy tale setting with nine unique cottages, each with its own childhood theme including, Nursury Rhyme, Seaside, Enchanted Forest, Space, A windmill and A lighthouse.

All children need something to believe in, to know dreams can come true. Whether the dream is a visit with a celebrity hero, a family outing, a trip to Orlando, or a special gift, Sunshine Foundation has granted over 34,500 dreams to these special children. Sunshine Foundation, the original wish-granting organization, is one of the few charities that makes dreams come true not only terminally ill children, but chronically ill and abused children as well. 

The average cost of Adopting a Dream is $5,000. Sunshine would not be able to grant the dreams of these special children without their generous sponsors.

Click here to donate now

British American Club of Southwest Florida

Hello everyone. Today we have some information about the British American Club of Southwest Florida. The BAC are celebrating their 40th anniversary so I spoke with Marci Gower about their many social events and fundraisers.

The British American Club of Southwest Florida was founded in 1970. We are a social club open to people of any nationality.You do not have to be British to be a guest or to join the BAC but if you have just moved to the area or are looking to meet new friends, longing for a taste of 'home' or just want to go out and have a good time with some really great folks then you are invited to join us on the third Friday of every month for fun, friendship and festivities.

Past events and social evenings have included Guy Fawkes celebrations, annual cricket matches, summer socials, bowling nights, chili cook off, St. George's Day celebrations and many many more. Please check our website www.swflabrits.com for more information about other upcoming social evenings and to find out about any special events we have planned.

On the 17th December we will be holding Brit Bash 2010, our 40th Anniersary and Christmas party. We would love to see you at the Clarion Hotel, Fort Myers for our spectacular fundraiser where you can celebrate Christmas British style with dinner, dancing and a live band, The New Vinyls, playing all you favorite songs from The Beatles, The Kinks, The Rolling Stones and more. You can read more about the event and find out how to puchase your tickets in our newsletter here http://bit.ly/dUlN40

You can also keep up to date with all the British American Club of Southwest Florida's news on Facebook, their page is www.facebook.com/home.php#!/group.php?gid=69015686239 

Happy Thanksgiving to all our American friends and fellow Brits In America.

Are you looking to start a new life abroad?

Hello everyone, today we have some details about a new show being produced in the UK for SKY TV.

Are you looking to start a new life abroad?

We are a London based Production company looking for people who want to take-part in a TV programme being made for SKY TV. The show will follow couples or business partners who are serious about leaving the UK and are ready to move to the U.S. to buy a business.

The show, presented by property and business expert Jonnie Irwin, will help find the ideal business opportunity overseas for you whilst giving you practical help and advice in order to make a successful move.

If you want to find out more please contact Michael at michaeln@fftv.co.uk.

Moneycorp Inc

Hello everyone, if you're looking to purchase a property abroad, investing in a foreign business or planning on emigrating you will need to transfer your money to the local currency. I spoke with Laura McLoughlin from Moneycorp Inc about how they can help.

Moneycorp Inc is a sales and marketing subsidiary of The Moneycorp Group, the U.K.’s largest non-bank provider of foreign exchange services. Due to the number of people from the UK buying property or moving permanently to Florida, I was asked to open up our US office in March 2005. Since then we have gone from strength to strength working with our referring partners throughout the Florida region.

Moneycorp helps clients get their local currency into Dollars, primary for their property purchase, emigration and regular transfers. Moneycorp are able to offer better rates than the bank in addition to offer risk management solutions to ensure clients get the best rate at the best time. We offer a number of currency contracts for all international payments, including forward contracts were clients are able to lock exchange rates in for  up to 2 years in advance in addition to regular payment options.

Moneycorp has been established since 1962, trading currency since 1979. We are unique in the industry by being the only company to have held and maintained the ISO accreditation since 1996. Moneycorp is regulated by the Financial Services Authority and has an excellent credit rating with Dun and Bradstreet, all of our financials can be found on our website – www.moneycorp.com Having offices located in the UK and US ensures clients can always have someone on hand to assist them with any questions they may have. Our trading floor in Knightsbridge London is also open from 7:00am to 10:30pm Monday through Friday in addition to Saturday and Bank Holiday openings.

Moneycorp’s referring partner program is a way for companies involved in the real estate and emigration industry to work with us. Our partners introduce our services to their clients and receive a range of benefits and support from a dedicated team of Account Managers across the globe.

If you have an international payment to make, or if you are a company working with international clients, then you can contact Laura via e-mail at laura.mcloughlin@Moneycorp.com or call +1 407 352 5890.

Brits In America Update

Hello everyone, today we have some brief information about some of the new pages added this week to the Brits In America website.

Hypnoteyes
Central Florida hypnotherapy services.
www.hypnoteyes.me
 

Baron Traders 
Baron Traders can help you transfer your UK pension overseas with a Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme (or QUOPS).
Contact them at www.barontraders.com

Clean First Time
Clean First Time are a Clermont construction cleaning company that also provide commercial and residential cleaning.
www.lm-enterprises-usa.com/index.html

 Central Florida Wedding and Vow Renewal
Are you thinking of getting married in Disney World? Or maybe reneweing your vows in The Sunshine State? Rev. Tim Herring has been providing destination wedding services for UK citizens in the Orlando area for the past 25 years.  www.orlandoweddinglocations.com

 Collins & Collins Investments
Whether you're looking to buy or sell a business in South Florida Collins & Collins Investments can help. 
http://bizbrokersfl.com

Find out how to add your business at www.britsinamerica.us/advertising

Business Connections of Central Florida

Hello everyone, today we have some information about an excellent referral group that can help you increase your business, wether you are in Florida or further afield :

The Business Connections of Central Florida referral groups have been established in Orlando since 1^st April 2010 and have generated over $200,000 of closed business between it members through qualified referrals. The key to its success is a structured agenda and a professional management system through weekly meetings. The concept is very simple; Teams of business professionals are established in various locations which are limited to one person from each profession. Over a period of weeks training is provided on how to promote each others businesses to existing & potential clients increasing the marketing possibilities. The objective is to understand each others business and identify areas where each business can provide qualified referrals for each other.

All the business teams are structured to provide the perfect synergy within the group. Power teams are established such as a realtor, mortgage broker, title insurance, home inspection, home insurance, home security etc. Each power team will work closely together to promote a one stop service to clients. Another important aspect to success of referral groups are the connections they have with external business marketing and it is essential to build strong relationships with radio, TV and international marketing such as companies targeting specific clients. Brits In America is a perfect example of this as many of their clients and visitors to their web site are either marketing overseas or considering overseas investments. Each one of these potential clients would have a need for all of the services found within the business referral groups. With Business Connections of Central Florida their motto is “Its not who you are networking with, it’s who you are connecting with."

There are groups in various locations in Central Florida, and many new groups being set up. If you would like to find out more or visit your local group check out the Business Connections website - http://www.bcflorida.com/

Exciting News!!!

Hey everyone, we have some exciting news for you all from a production company in the UK - Pulse Films:



Award winning production company, Pulse Films (UK), are hoping to send a small and charming team out to America early next year. On what will be a fun and exciting journey, we hope to document the lifestyles and stories of the British. We're interested to hear from any British expats who have a story to tell, as well as any places, events or organisations flying the flag for Britain abroad.

Our trip will mostly be guided by the people, and we would therefore be very interested to hear from people who would like a visit from us - or anyone else for that matter. I would be so grateful if you could spread the word about our arrival and generate some interest for the trip.

Anyone who is interested should email me: charlie.kemball@pulsefilms.co.uk and include a little bit about themselves; for example:

- Where they are and what they do in America
- How long they've been in America
- What they miss about Britain / love about Britain
- An interesting fact  or story about themselves / being British in America 

They are planning to travel from California to Florida, West to East and up to New York and Boston, starting in January 2011, so if you are a Brit living in America and would like a visit from Pulse Films to tell your story, then contact Chris at the above email address. We will be posting more information about their journey, and an itinerary over the next few months, so stay tuned!!

E2 Reform

Hi everyone, if you are already in the USA on an E2 visa, or are considering a move to the USA via this visa, there are some important limiting factors that need to be taken into account. The main being that the E2 visa currently does not lead to permanent residency or Green Card, and has to be renewed every 2-5 years depending on the length of time awarded by the embassy. This can cause significant financial stress time after time for businesses that may already be struggling. Secondly, E2 dependent children can "age-out" on this visa, which means that once they hit the age of 21 years, even if they have lived in the USA for most of their lives, and gone through the school system, they are no longer able to stay under their parents E2 visa, and have to either find their own visa through work, study or marriage, or return to their home country.

E2 visa holders bring a significant amount of money, and jobs to the USA each year, and one group - http://www.e2reform.org/ are trying to see some change in the current E2 stipulations, so that a way can be paved for E2 investors for permanent residency.

If you are already on E2 in the USA or thinking about it, please visit their site and sign their petition to help E2-ers. Last year they held an E2 visa reform reception in Orlando, and asked everyone in the room to fill out an anonymous questionnaire, the results of which were staggering and just a tip of the iceberg as to the investment that E2 holders bring into the USA. From only 143 businesses represented there,  over 48 and a half MILLION dollars had been invested in businesses, with 776 employees and a turnover over nearly 56 Million dollars!!

The E2 reform group are trying to get the attention of congress and have a bill passed to allow E2 visa holders some route to permanent residency or at least for the children of E2 holders, and they need your help! So please check out their website to find out how you can get involved - even if you are not on E2. This issue needs as much publicity as it can get and people need to start to take notice of the plight of the E2 holder!!

We will post their October newsletter next time, with an update.

Once again - their website is http://www.e2reform.org/ sign the petition and get as many people as you can to do the same!

Visa2theStates

Hello everyone, today I have information about a company who can help anyone who is looking for advice or the next step in moving to a different country.

Visa2thestates is a specialist Visa Consultancy helping Brits to make their dreams come true with relocation to the United States. The journey from your initial decision to go down this road to acceptance of your visa application at the American Embassy can be a roller coaster of emotion, and frustration, and is extremely time consuming.



Visa2thestates has a wealth of visa experience to guide you through and help you with all E-2 and L-1 visa application and renewal requirements.

Visa2thestates Only entertains a limited number of visa applications each year so is able to provide that personal touch so sadly lacking with many visa attorneys and consultants.  

The Company offers ethical and honest advice and prides itself on keeping up to date and abreast with current developments both at USCIS and the American Embassies in London and elsewhere.They provide support at every stage of the application. They can offer guidance when you find a suitable business, examine marginality and growth potential and can lead you through the technicalities of setting up a U.S. business.  

They can advise on the transfer of investment money to escrow ensuring the total safety of your funds. They can advise on all aspects of setting up business models and the construction of visa applications right up
to leaving for the States with an E-2 or L-1 visa in hand.

When you deal with Visa2thestates you get personal advice direct from our visa consultants, each of whom has the experience of having worked and lived the life themselves. Advice and support is not provided by
an underling or clerk, as is the case with many large immigration attorneys’ offices. Our consultants are British and between them have a wealth of experience of business, immigration and of running businesses in the US and Europe.

Our consultants:

Peter, a degree holder in graphic design, has a great deal of businessand boardroom experience at the highest level with a number of companies in the UK, majoring in marketing, sales and business planning. He gained E-2 visa through the US Embassy in London and owned and operated his own a business in Tampa, Florida for a number of years. With his wife Bernadette they own and operate the Florida Forum, a great source of free help and advise to would be visa applicants, and formed Visa2thestates on his return to the UK to pass
on his unique experiences in the visa field.


Julie, has a degree in law. She also degrees in French and German and is fluent in both. She has owned and operated several businesses in the UK, France and America, including a travel business, an import
business, a cleaning company, a property management company and a window blinds franchise in Florida.  She worked for many years dealing with many aspects of British immigration law and is the author of “U.S
Immigration and Visas - the real story” which covers her own experiences on E-2 and L-1 visa and is full of no nonsense advice for would be immigrants.


Julie also has great deal of hands-on experience of the Florida education system having seen her son through all levels of US education.

For more information email us at visa2thestates@gmail.com

Or call - 01530 446197


Don't forget, if you are a Brit living in America and have a business you want to tell us about, contact us at britsinamerica@live.com

Business Plans for Visas

Hello everyone, if you are planning a move across the pond, something to consider with your visa application is a solid business plan. The interviewer will want to see that you know your business inside out and have a plan in place to move that business forward to reach its maximum potential.

Businessplans4visas is a company that provides this service, and takes the stress of having to devise your own business plan away. Bernadette O'Connell, one of the owners of businessplans4visas explained a bit more about why a business plan is essential to your visa application, and how they can help:


Businessplans4visas is a specialist consultancy that writes business plans specifically geared to visa applications.

They are proud to have been praised for the standard of their business plans by the US embassy in London.

Writing your own business plan can be a real challenge at a time when you are changing your whole life and you have so much more to do. Also a business plan for an Embassy application is not the same as a plan to apply for funding which is the more usual type of business plan, there is a different emphasis.

Visa applications are so much more than just forms and tax returns. Including a business plan specifically designed for your visa with your application will show how you as a real person will develop and direct your business.

Providing the immigration authorities with a business plan for the next five years, is a great way to show what you can offer the country, how you intend to develop and direct the venture to success, and how this success will enable you to employ nationals.

This is one of the most important parts of your application, and its importance should never be underestimated. A good business plan could be the difference between a successful visa application and a denial.

If you want to find out more about businessplans4visas, or need advice as to how to move forward with your visa application, you can take a look at their website http://www.businessplans4visas.com/

Or contact them at support@businessplans4visas.com or telephone (+) 44 (0)1234 862107

Brits In America News

This weeks Brits In America News

October Brits In America Promotions
Central Florida
We are offering a year's FREE listing for your Florida vacation villa (One listing per person/company) in our short term rentals section (www.britsinamerica.us/centralflorida/str.html). Not only that but your listing will also be picked up by our new Vacation Home Rental Website, www.floridahomerentals.us at no additional cost.
Usual price $30!! Offer ends October 31st 2010. Listing is under the heading Vacation Villa Rentals By Owner only. Email us at britsinamerica@live.com with FREE VILLA LISTING in the title for all the details.

South Florida
Are you a Brit running a business in South Florida?
We will soon be launching the South Florida pages of our website and you can have your business included for FREE prior to launch. You'll get a full page business profile with all your contact details included. Usual price $99!!! E-mail us at britsinamerica@live.com for details.

Business Connections of Central Florida
The BIG Social Networking Event is designed to get you connected in a pleasant friendly environment and try out some traditional food, beers & wines. Come meet your international connections to help grow your business. The Business Connections special deal of the day provided by The Cricketers Arms Pub is traditional Fish n Chips baskets with half pint of beer for just $7.99. This event is FREE to attend.
RSVP for this event is required. Find out more details at www.bcflorida.com

Orlando British Supermarket for sale
Do you fancy running your own British produce store in the heart of Orlando? Right next to all the attractions and holiday makers? The British Supermarket was established in 1998 and is now for sale at $75,000 inc. stock, fixtures and fittings. E-mail us at britsinamerica@live.com for more details.

The British American Club of Southwest Florida
The October BAC Social is on Friday October 15th at Friendship Lanes in Cape Coral. There's a Chili Cook Off and an exciting night to be had playing the new game "Who Wants To Be A Chilionaire?" Find out more at www.swflabrits.com

Would you like your event included in the next News Posting? Just forward your details to britsinamerica@live.com and don't forget to check out the new look website www.britsinamerica.us

U.S. Immigration and Visas - The Real Story

Hi everyone.

I have just heard about this fantastic new book by J.A. and T.R. Carty, which reveals all about the sometimes complicated American Immigration system. It is a fantastic resource for anyone who is looking to make the move to the US, but is unsure of where to start and what visa options there are out there.

This book is on the subject of immigration to the USA, including the various types of visa and discussing in depth their eligibility criteria and pros and cons as well as a general overview of the application process. It also deals with obtaining a greencard and U.S. citizenship.

A chapter is devoted to what is wrong with the U.S. immigration system, its shortcomings and inadequacies, highlighting any problems which you may have in navigating through the system.

Other sections deal with the process of moving to live in the USA, including a discussion of the pros and cons of living in the country, moving to the U.S. with children and the practical problems you may encounter during your first weeks in the country. The book is different from others on the subject of immigration, in that it gives a "warts and all" approach to the subject.

The book was written by fellow British citizens with backgrounds in Law and Computer Programming who have extensive experience of the U.S., having bought their first home in Orlando in 1997, and having moved out to live in Florida in 2003. They have run four separate businesses in the Orlando area, on two different visas - the E-2 and L-1, and have also put a child through school and eventually college on an F-1 student visa.

This book attempts to explain the process of immigration to the U.S. in simpler terms than many books written on the subject and to give their personal experiences as well as explaining the legal aspects.

They hope to have written a book which is both realistic and informative, not only about immigration, but about the whole process of moving to live in the U.S.

The book is available on http://www.amazon.com/ and http://www.amazon.co.uk/ and is also available for download on the Kindle.

***PROMOTION OF THE MONTH***

PROMOTION OF THE MONTH!!!

Do you have a vacation villa or condo to rent in Florida?

We are offering a year's FREE listing of your villa under our short term rentals section on www.britsinamerica.us

The price for a listing is usually $30 so this is an amazing deal. You will get a full page profile of your villa with information, pictures and your contact details.

Offer ends on October 31st 2010.

If you are interested email us at britsinamerica@live.com and put FREE VILLA LISTING in the title.

Check out our short term rental page at www.britsinamerica.us/centralflorida/str.html

Welcome!

Hi everyone,

Welcome to our new and improved blog!

We are Brits In America, a website dedicated to Brits who live in, want to move to or vacation in the USA. Our Central Florida site has been successfully up and running for a while now and contains a wealth of information about immigration, healthcare, property, vacations and a directory of British owned and operated businesses in Central Florida, and also links to people who can help if you are looking to make the move across the pond.

This blog will be updated weekly, and will feature interviews with Brits living and working in the US, guest bloggers, and any useful information on a wide range of topics such as immigration, local events, and any other information you might be searching for.

If you have any questions, please email us at britsinamerica@live.com, and we would love to hear any comments you may have.

Also if you are a Brit in the US and would like to share your story about your new life, please contact us.

You can follow us on twitter or facebook, and please take the time to check out our website.

We will be featuring new areas coming soon, starting with South Florida, and will be featuring a FREE introductory rate for advertising for British owned and operated businesses in this area. So if you would like a profile of your business to be added to the new site or our existing Central Florida site, again, please contact us.

Thanks and we look forward to your questions and comments!

BritsInAmerica