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What is good about having a US Green Card?

D

DV2010CAT

Registered Users (C)
I've won the DV2010 and waiting for 2nd NL.

Recently I've done some research and found that the tax rate in US is quite high but social benefit seems minimal. What sort of social benefits I can get when I get a US Green Card / become a US citizen?

This is a big move for me and my family... Would really need to consider seriously. We actually have a nice paid job in our home country. I'm afraid we cannot make the same amount of money in US. The only thing that we are not so happy about our home country is the education system. I wish my kids to study without much pressure.
 
No offense, but I never get why people play this lottery 'just for fun' or without knowing all the facts. Know what you're participating in! If you decide not to go, it means someone else didn't get a letter who is sure about going.

I for one play this lottery because I feel like the American outlook on life resembles my personal view much closer than the Dutch. Europeans are cynical, tend to have a negative perspective on things and I like the American can-do mentality. Economically, it wouldn't make much of a difference to me.
 
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If you earn good pays in your home country, you wouldn't want to move to the US, unless you really like "American ways (life styles)."

As for education, when you put your children in American school, you must expect them to be "Americanized" which you and your spouse may or may not like. I've had education in both Japan and the US and am very aware of the significance of education in forming your worldview -- I'm now completely Americanized.

Hope it would help you decide.
 
DV2010CAT said:
I've won the DV2010 and waiting for 2nd NL.

Recently I've done some research and found that the tax rate in US is quite high but social benefit seems minimal. What sort of social benefits I can get when I get a US Green Card / become a US citizen?

This is a big move for me and my family... Would really need to consider seriously. We actually have a nice paid job in our home country. I'm afraid we cannot make the same amount of money in US. The only thing that we are not so happy about our home country is the education system. I wish my kids to study without much pressure.
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By reading your post...I think that you shouldn't enter, but that is just my opinion.

You are right, the social benefits are not very good over here so you really have to keep working or you need to have a huge amount to live off. Over here you can have a job and the next day you get a pink slip and that means being fired and without a job. unemployment benefits aren't the same as in Europe and way shorter so a person will start to get a job a.s.a.p.

Your last sentence doesn't make sense to me...don't you want your kids to get a good education? In my native country the school level was very high but over here it is very stimulating for the people who want to be the best and if you don't so be it. We are happy with both education systems, although over here they learn better how to speak in front of a group of people and how to express them self better.

To me the minute that some is starting to ask about the social benefits I'm starting to wonder if they are too much used to getting everything for free...although they forget that in Europe the taxes are very high and in a way they pay for all the "free stuff".

In Fl. property taxes are very high but sales tax is very low, unemployment is 12%....and the people only get benefits for a short time...and that is it!
 
Bentlebee,

I am counting the minutes to move to U.S. even if all people in the world say UK is better than U.S.

What about income taxes in U.S.?
(in UK we pay no tax for the first £6000. 20% on the first £34800. 40% on anything over £34800)
 
USAHolic said:
Bentlebee,

I am counting the minutes to move to U.S. even if all people in the world say UK is better than U.S.

What about income taxes in U.S.?
(in UK we pay no tax for the first £6000. 20% on the first £34800. 40% on anything over £34800)
Click to expand...

You can be having a good professional job, be single or DINKs and you can rest assure uncle sam will come knocking at you for atl east a 30-35% of your earnings.

Have 2-3 kids and be a family, then he wont bother you much but at least 12-15%. But then you know what 2-3 kids means!!

It all depends on your outlook on life and that's what the 'American way of Life' is all about!

PS: DINKs= Dbl income no kids!

Go here and play around with the numbers and see for yourself what you are getting into.
http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96196,00.html (calculator link is at the bottom)

And also remember State income/Local income and or sales tax are on top of this. Just google and you'll find out.
go here to get an idea
http://retirementliving.com/RLtaxes.html
 
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I agree with Bent and Holic and others in this, if you are not really looking forward or "counting the minutes" why would you apply? There is no point.

About taxes, I would say that taxes are pretty much the same and you need to learn the ways to file taxes so you don't pay more unnecesarily (no I am not talking about cheating the tax man, I simply say know how to do it). Also how much tax you pay depends not only on April 15 but on how much you pay in hidden taxes, for instance in the UK you pay like 1.06 pounds per liter of gas of which they say it is prob over 60/70 % tax. In the US you pay like 2.50 dollars per gallon, almost 4 liter! (West Coast price last time I was there in June).

Taxes depend also where you live. Some states like WA do not have State Income Tax and other do have so that can make a difference too.

In the EU you pay like 15 to 25 or more % over the price of whatever you buy, while in the USA you pay a sales tax which can be 4 to 8 % (California is the highest at 8.25 %) and in many cases there are things you dont pay sales tax. Washington state does not have sales tax over food and medicines as from Jan 2009.

So as you see the tax issue is debatable, but I find that in general you would pay less taxes in the US than in the UK. If you are a giving person and give money to charities, churches etc, that is deductible and lowers your rate.

Hope this helps a bit.

Bless
JC
 
Addition to my earlier post.

Agree also with Bent about benefits. If one is making good money and have a good life in their own country, why would that person even think of benefits? Are you thinking of leaving your country, a good job, good pay and a good status (as you make it sound) and move to the US to live on benefits? Honestly something is not fitting in this picture.
 
rachelimmig said:
AS I have noticed you can visit many countries if you have us green card.
Click to expand...

You can also visit many countries if you have your home country passport, unless you are from a seriously restricted country, in which case it would be hard to get a GC anyway. The GC can be used to travel to countries that have border with the US, like Canada, but if you have a UK passport you can go to Canada without visa too.
 
rachelimmig said:
AS I have noticed you can visit many countries if you have us green card.
Click to expand...


Not true. A green card is not a passport! It's ONLY valid to enter, live and work in the US. You will keep your own nationality until you naturalize as a US citizen. When you travel to another country, visa restrictions will be applied or be waived based on your passport/nationality, not your greencard. (maybe with the exception of neighboring countries such as Canada and Mexico).
 
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E59th said:
No offense, but I never get why people play this lottery 'just for fun' or without knowing all the facts. Know what you're participating in! If you decide not to go, it means someone else didn't get a letter who is sure about going.
Click to expand...

E59th, Completely agree with your comment. I took the decision to participate in the lottery three years ago, to give to my daughters and wife, a better quality of life. I prefer a thousand times, pay high taxes in the U.S., that guarantee peace, tranquility, opportunity, stability, security and a lot more that I don't see and I don't have in my country, where I paying a lot of tax money.

People should take seriously participate in the lottery, because if you do it for fun, you are seizing the opportunity to many people to achieve their American Dream.

DV2010CAT If you are looking for excuses to decide, is better than not participate any more and leave the way open for those who really want to participate and move to the United States.
 
Btw income taxes vary from State to State....in Ny many people are leaving due to high property taxes and high income taxes...

So you really have to check a lot of things. Some States have taxes on cars other than sales taxes while others haven't....

I agree with the previous poster...don't enter if you are so interested in the benefits the system has to offer, since they are way less than in Europe...and you would take a chance away from a person who is so anxious to get here...the same counts for people who aren't eligible and still enter and than win and take a spot from another because they won't receive the GC...
I don't agree with people who are stating that they send 100.000 NL anyway and there are only 50.000+5.000 GC....if you loose you don't want to read about another person winning who has no intention of going any further...that is like being slapped in the face...JMO!
 
CymruArgie said:
I agree with Bent and Holic and others in this, if you are not really looking forward or "counting the minutes" why would you apply? There is no point.

About taxes, I would say that taxes are pretty much the same and you need to learn the ways to file taxes so you don't pay more unnecesarily (no I am not talking about cheating the tax man, I simply say know how to do it). Also how much tax you pay depends not only on April 15 but on how much you pay in hidden taxes, for instance in the UK you pay like 1.06 pounds per liter of gas of which they say it is prob over 60/70 % tax. In the US you pay like 2.50 dollars per gallon, almost 4 liter! (West Coast price last time I was there in June).

Taxes depend also where you live. Some states like WA do not have State Income Tax and other do have so that can make a difference too.

In the EU you pay like 15 to 25 or more % over the price of whatever you buy, while in the USA you pay a sales tax which can be 4 to 8 % (California is the highest at 8.25 %) and in many cases there are things you dont pay sales tax. Washington state does not have sales tax over food and medicines as from Jan 2009.

So as you see the tax issue is debatable, but I find that in general you would pay less taxes in the US than in the UK. If you are a giving person and give money to charities, churches etc, that is deductible and lowers your rate.

Hope this helps a bit.

Bless
JC
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thanks for your info. I am planning to move to CA which is one of the most expensive places in the U.S. I know WA is cheaper but As my friend told me there are less jobs in WA and for many jobs you need to be citizen. Also the weather is better in CA, I am sick and tired of UK weather. All the way, does anybody have an idea how much a typical life for a couple and a 2-year baby in CA cost per month?
 
STAY IN THE UK DUDE -ITS MUCH BETTER OVER THERE -GLOBAL WARMING WILL SORT OUT UKs CLIMATE PRETTY SOON ANYWAY
 
bmx88 said:
STAY IN THE UK DUDE -ITS MUCH BETTER OVER THERE -GLOBAL WARMING WILL SORT OUT UKs CLIMATE PRETTY SOON ANYWAY
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I am sorry but people coming to this forum normally come because they have serious questions most of the time questions that aim to ensure they can fulfill a dream, so replies like this one do not have a place here, not even as a joke.

Do you seriously mean that a person should determine their own future by what global climate might do in a country? Where are you? Sounds you are not in the UK, so why don't you come here?

I said.
 
CymruArgie said:
I am sorry but people coming to this forum normally come because they have serious questions most of the time questions that aim to ensure they can fulfill a dream, so replies like this one do not have a place here, not even as a joke.

Do you seriously mean that a person should determine their own future by what global climate might do in a country? Where are you? Sounds you are not in the UK, so why don't you come here?

I said.
Click to expand...

lived in the UK and now US - so dude take my advice when I tell you its better in EU /UK /Ireland - You want to be anywhere else but here-
but I guess you will find that out by yourself soon enough
-why don't you try Australia -much better solution
 
bmx88 said:
lived in the UK and now US - so dude take my advice when I tell you its better in EU /UK /Ireland - You want to be anywhere else but here-
but I guess you will find that out by yourself soon enough
-why don't you try Australia -much better solution
Click to expand...

If you dislike the US so much why don't you leave....:confused:

Btw this forum is for people who are in need of getting a question answered and some are desperate due to an issue that occured. IMO it isn't respectful to spill your dissatisfy for whatever reason as a response on a serious issue.

There are many forums on which you can say whatever your issues with the US are and you probably like a bailout and a socialist country, which some really don't like so much and rather choose for capitalism and more freedom, although it comes with less benefits and more risks, but also more gains if you are succesful.

Again I don't think any one is holding you here against your will, so please leave and make place for some one who really wants to be here:):p
 
Everyones experience here is different. If most people will give you advice based on their experiences in this country. My advise is, if you are willing to work hard as in any other country you will be OK. This country supports growth, and what I love about it is that there is perfect competition. No one can decide for you. Everyone who cries about how this Country is not so good is somehow still here hustling away.
 
I also lived in the UK and now am in the US. My opinion is that if you are in a profession where you can easily get a job in the US and become a high earner then by all means the US is the best place to be. If on the other hand you don't have an in demand profession, you might want to reconsider moving from the UK. I left because I didn't think the UK was the best place to raise my minority family, and also because I hand been offered one and a half times what the UK was paying for the same job. The cost of living was also a smaller contributing factor as well. That's because cost of living depends on where you ultimately end up as someone stated already
 
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