Englishal,
Some VFR towers have a BRITE or similar radar data display so the locations without depend upon the controlling IFR facility to give them a position report on IFR inbounds. All inbounds to a VFR tower will usually be asked to report approximately 3 miles out so that they can be sequenced in with local pattern traffic.
At a combined approach and tower all inbounds (VFR and IFR) are sequenced by the approach control, so the tower only has to sequence their pattern traffic in with the sequenced arrival traffic.
At some airports we are still permitted to utilize LAHSO (Land and Hold Short Operations), were two aircraft land on different runways but one or both are holding short of the Runway Intersections. Regretfully where I work (KFWA) we are only to use LAHSO between GA aircraft or between GA and Military, so this restrictive use has slowed some of our operations down.
As for someone from the UK coming to the US to train, I think what is truly important is the quality of training, any differences in phraselogy or minor differences in procedures shouldn't prevent anyone from being able to quickly adapt. With the exchange rate the cost of training here in the US is a good deal, and the experience of touring the US is usually a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Mike
NATCA FWA