In reply to stillengineer: I can't imagine that the US has any huge advantages over the UK for blue collar workers. We probably have better weather in certain parts of the country, and possibly more choice of companies to work for. I don't know where you are in your career, but I doubt that you would be ahead monitarily, the regions that pay the best also have very high cost of living.

Oh, by the way, in case you haven't heard, the current powers that be in the Capitol are planning to cut back on work visas, Chinese Real Estate Investors excluded.