Permanent Move to St. Helena (UK)

[PugDog23]

So does anyone have thoughts on two Americans, with three dogs, and graduate degrees picking up shop and moving to an island in the mid-atlantic.

This question is directed more at the how-to (legal, logistics, etc) rather than random opining-- but you are open to do such if you choose!

[silenus]

Why springs to mind first.

[Zsofia]

Elba couldn't hold him.

[Cunctator]

I haven't much to add, except a link to this post about St Helena, which I remember seeing ages ago: Happy 500th Birthday! (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=116252&highlight=transit+helena)

[PugDog23]

Soo, I suppose I should just royally piss off the UK and they will exile me to a beautiful island?

[The Second Stone]

St. Helena, California is a much better bet.

[Cicero]

Don't know, but get a big guest room so we can all visit.

[OtakuLoki]

The first question I'd have is a match for silenus's: Why?

Do you have job offers there? Or are you independently wealthy?

Have you considered that, at the moment, the long-planned civil air link is still not completed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Helena_Airport)? This means that travel to and from the island is available either on some of the very limited space available seats on RAF flights, or via the dedicated nautical link via RMS St. Helena. The St. Helena makes only a limited number of stops each year. IIRC it's either four or eight. (Four trips from the UK to Jo-burg and back again annually. I just can't recall off the top of my head if there are stops at St. Helena on both legs of the trip, or just one.) Are you aware that the St. Helena is being kept in service by gov't subsidies that are somewhat controversial in Parliament?

Compared to even the smallest of the islands in the Hawaiian Island chain, St. Helena is going to have a dearth of modern conveniences and products - let alone what a mainstream American couple might be used to. Further, such luxuries are also going to cost out the wazoo, even with the government subsidizing shipping.

Depending upon your age, and the general health for you and your spouse, are you prepared to live in a community where access to specialized medicine is likely to be seriously limited?

One final thought - taking pets across national borders is famously arduous. I don't know what the quarantine restrictions are like for the UK, though I knew several families who were transferred to work in the UK in the 80s, who found that it was preferable to foster out their pets than to try to get them into the UK.

So - to get back where we started: Why do you want to do a permanent relocation to St. Helena?

[Mississippienne]

You also can't work legally unless you have a proper British work visa.

St. Helena is TINY and very remote. Even if you get your papers in order and move there, you better not need a lot of entertainment. You'll be sharing a 47 square mile island with about 4,250 other people (Puerto Rico in comparison seems vast at 3,515 square miles).

[NineToTheSky]

From an official page (http://www.sthelenatourism.com/pages/fast_facts.html):

Residence Permit

All visitors must be covered by medical insurance, proof of which must be produced on arrival.

If visitors wish to stay for more than 90 days they must apply for a Residence Permit, which can be issued for up to a period of 2 years.

Cost of a Residence Permit is as follows:

Valid up to 6 mths £20.00

Valid up to 12 mths £25.00

Valid up to 2 years £40.00

A residence permit can be issued for a period of up to five years, especially where the applicant has a spouse or common law partner with St Helenian status. Applications for an Entry Permit should be submitted to the Secretary of the Immigration Control Board, tel. + 290 2470; fax. + 290 2598; or email: cofcouncils@sainthelena.gov.sh.



Immigration

The St Helena Government welcomes visitors and, subject to certain conditions, those who intend to make their future lives on the Island, particularly those married to or in a stable long-term relationship with a resident with 'St Helenian status'. For further information, please contact the Immigration Officer, tel. + 290 2626; fax + 290 2096; or email: Immigration1@police.gov.sh

[Shirley Ujest]

I'm visiting or, because of such things as no money, expect at least a post card.


And I would like one from Tristan de Cunha too, since you'll sorta be in the neighborhood in a roundabout way.

[Cicero]

I was looking up Tristan de Cunha on wiki a few nights back and almost suggested it as an alternative. After reading about it in wiki, maybe it is not the right place for me.

[Baron Greenback]

I'm just going to mention SurrenderDorothy, because she was born on St. Helena, in the unlikely event she does vanity searches.

[Markxxx]

When I first moved to the Florida Keys, I lived in Marathon about half way through the Keys.

Everyone talked about "Keys Disease" and how it would get to you.

What it is, is living on a small remote island. And I must admit, it was ROUGH. It was hard enough to make me fed up and move to Naples, Florida.

Marathon was about 11,000 people (nearly triple in season) and about 50 miles from Key West (25,000 people roughly) and about 100 miles from Miami.

It was fun for about four months, then it gets to you. Even in a place that isn't that remote, you forget about the modern life. Storms knocking out the electricity and cable. The lack of variety of merchandise. I recall simply fixing my car took a week to get the part from Miami sent down. A doctor visit for anything but an emergency or small illnesses required being sent to Key West and when I got sick, I wound up in Miami, as the Key West doctors didn't have enough equipment to treat even allergies properly.

Of course after awhile you get laid back. My co-workers were like "So what if you have to drive to Miami to get allergy tests. You got a car." I needed a heating pad and the K-Mart didn't have them. I had to drive 50 miles one way to Key West. Again the attitude is "So what you have a car."

My point being if it's that hard to adjust to living on a small island in the Florida Keys, which is near Miami, it'd be a very difficult adjustment to move some place even more remote

[ctnguy]

(Four trips from the UK to Jo-burg and back again annually. I just can't recall off the top of my head if there are stops at St. Helena on both legs of the trip, or just one.)

Ahem. Jo'burg is 300 miles from the nearest ocean. The RMS St Helena operates from Cape Town.
[/nitpick over]

[PugDog23]

WHY: I am a 28 year old attorney who has been practicing 2 years. I live in a major city 45 minutes north of the suburb where I grew up (not implying I've never been anywhere, relatively well traveled, most of western Europe, lived in France, undergrad degree far from my home state, and family all over the US---implication being, I never planned on coming back to this state). READ: Drastic life change desired.

I wanted an easy answer, like fill out this citizenship form and start a Napolean-themed beach bar. Kinda like Dorothy and the rainbow--some place where troubles melt like lemon drops. Clearly not realistic, but nothing wrong with asking.

Regardless, hope is not all lost and I appreciate the info.

Florida Keys poster, appreciated your insight; however I just suppose if I move somewhere so remote all those other "needs" will be forgotten, even the medical ones, rather die young from lack of healthcare than from stress and stress induced self-destruction.

Of course I realize how this all sounds and you can psychoanalyze me anyway you choose...

[Mississippienne]

Can you even practice law in the UK/St. Helena? And I don't even mean can you legally work, I mean would you even be able to navigate their legal system?

Also, according to the wikitravel page on St. Helena, there is no mobile network on the island and internet access is spotty.

Really, if you're desperate to chuck it all and move away to some faraway island, I'd suggest investigating Puerto Rico, Guam, the USVI, etc. first, which at least are US possessions and you could legally work and live there.

[notorious]

WHY: I am a 28 year old attorney who has been practicing 2 years. I live in a major city 45 minutes north of the suburb where I grew up (not implying I've never been anywhere, relatively well traveled, most of western Europe, lived in France, undergrad degree far from my home state, and family all over the US---implication being, I never planned on coming back to this state). READ: Drastic life change desired.

I wanted an easy answer, like fill out this citizenship form and start a Napolean-themed beach bar. Kinda like Dorothy and the rainbow--some place where troubles melt like lemon drops. Clearly not realistic, but nothing wrong with asking.

Regardless, hope is not all lost and I appreciate the info.

Florida Keys poster, appreciated your insight; however I just suppose if I move somewhere so remote all those other "needs" will be forgotten, even the medical ones, rather die young from lack of healthcare than from stress and stress induced self-destruction.

Of course I realize how this all sounds and you can psychoanalyze me anyway you choose...

I think it would be a good choice to move. They are looking at getting an airport completed by 2015 and as far as I can remember, since I last visited, it is a very relaxing place to be/live. I dont suppose much has changed and I see that as a very big positive. Money is not the answer to happiness. As I said, with the introduction of the airport should reduce any worries about health issues.

I have also been looking into moving to St Helena. It is a lovely place and I think that fact of it being remote would allow anyone to start there dream business. You may not earn a fortune but I am sure you would earn enough to enjoy life; both in the finacial meaning and stress free meaning.

It is your choice.

[Cicero]

Note- thread is about a year old.