questions about going to live in the states...
Discussion
Hi there fellow ph'ers I wonder if I could tap you for a bit of info. I recently decided over a few pints to move from portugal back to england and then on to the states for a while - trouble is I don't know anything about typical renting costs for property or cars, rules on whether I can take one of my cars over with me and the likelihood of getting past immigration with my professional qualification or if I shall have to just go on a student visa and work for cash..anybody any pointers?
Thanks
Thanks
ErnestM said:
Hi Mate...
Where in the States are you thinking about moving to?
ErnestM
Hello! I'm thinking of going to a southern state, haven't really decided on exactly whereabouts although I'm researching it now...I wonder how difficult it is to get a green card?
edit: southern does literally mean anywhere in the south but I have become accustomed to good weather and sun!
>> Edited by minimax on Tuesday 27th July 12:57
The cost of renting property, or anything else for that matter, can vary quite widely across the US
depending on location. The larger metropolitan areas tend to have higher costs of living, as do smaller university communities and other areas that have a higher perceived quality of life.
As far as bringing a car in with you, my understanding is if you bring a car in, it can stay for up to a set period of time(3 years, I believe) and then it has to go back when you do. It cannot be sold here unless it meets all federal standards(EPA/DOT). You can usually go on the internet and research any area of the country through their respective Chambers of Commerce and get some really good information on cost of living, job possibilities, etc.
Good luck.
depending on location. The larger metropolitan areas tend to have higher costs of living, as do smaller university communities and other areas that have a higher perceived quality of life.
As far as bringing a car in with you, my understanding is if you bring a car in, it can stay for up to a set period of time(3 years, I believe) and then it has to go back when you do. It cannot be sold here unless it meets all federal standards(EPA/DOT). You can usually go on the internet and research any area of the country through their respective Chambers of Commerce and get some really good information on cost of living, job possibilities, etc.
Good luck.
taimar78 said:
The cost of renting property, or anything else for that matter, can vary quite widely across the US
depending on location. The larger metropolitan areas tend to have higher costs of living, as do smaller university communities and other areas that have a higher perceived quality of life.
As far as bringing a car in with you, my understanding is if you bring a car in, it can stay for up to a set period of time(3 years, I believe) and then it has to go back when you do. It cannot be sold here unless it meets all federal standards(EPA/DOT). You can usually go on the internet and research any area of the country through their respective Chambers of Commerce and get some really good information on cost of living, job possibilities, etc.
Good luck.
chambers of commerce? that sounds like a good idea..also good to see that it may be possible to bring either the mini or the Ginetta over with me as that means buying a motor won't be necessary. I'm researching it now - thanks for your help
Re: Bringing your own car
The rules are similar to this:
Tourist can have his own car here for a year. Then it's got to leave the country. To be a tourist, you can't be employed. The car doesn't have to go back to the UK. A trip into Canada or Mexico will suffice.
If you have made arrangements for work and are considered permenant - then you are permitted to drive a car that is US LEGAL on your foreign plates for a short time. Real short time, something like one or three months. But if the car isn't US legal, and you aren't a tourist, then you can't even bring it in.
Do a google search on DOT US Car IMPORT and you'll come up with the real scoop.
Re: living expenses. Not only does it vary widely across the country, it also varies across a city. Generally though, it's cheaper than living in the UK, and New York is cheaper than London. I can't think of anything that's more expensive in the US than in the UK except good beer.
The rules are similar to this:
Tourist can have his own car here for a year. Then it's got to leave the country. To be a tourist, you can't be employed. The car doesn't have to go back to the UK. A trip into Canada or Mexico will suffice.
If you have made arrangements for work and are considered permenant - then you are permitted to drive a car that is US LEGAL on your foreign plates for a short time. Real short time, something like one or three months. But if the car isn't US legal, and you aren't a tourist, then you can't even bring it in.
Do a google search on DOT US Car IMPORT and you'll come up with the real scoop.
Re: living expenses. Not only does it vary widely across the country, it also varies across a city. Generally though, it's cheaper than living in the UK, and New York is cheaper than London. I can't think of anything that's more expensive in the US than in the UK except good beer.
I havn't heard anything about this "tourist" visitor business but from my research (a year or two ago) you can bring your non-dot-epa car for up to one year but then you need to leaving the counrty and come back again to reregister it. Usually, a trip to Canada or Mexico. Look at the HS-7 form. Faisal, a fellow PH'er is employed or is a business man of some kind who does this and has no restriction by being employed or whatever. Ginetta's can be bought in the US legally too. YOu may be better off selling your current Ginetta and getting a new one in the us. The engines are usually a Ford Ztec but don't have to comply with EPA if it is assembled in the US and you're not in a smog tested city. There are ways around this too if you are in a city that tests cars emmissions. California has an acception to the rule where you can get smog tested for the year of the body style. In general, importing cars is nearly impossible but with some additional paper work it is possible for a foreigner.
Having imported a car my recommendation is don't bother. If you put your car on a boat in Southampton you have a lot of aggro in Newark getting to use it, the primary problem being that it is tied to being a tourist. It can stay for a year and then either needs to be exported or destroyed. If you went into Canada you would face the same problem. Is it really worth it?
With regard to getting a Green card you need to be sponsored to get an H1-B visa and 'adjust' which typically takes 4 years. The INS are very thorough with those who submit paperwork. Don't try to get round the system.
So overall not good news but that is the honest truth about the situation.
With regard to getting a Green card you need to be sponsored to get an H1-B visa and 'adjust' which typically takes 4 years. The INS are very thorough with those who submit paperwork. Don't try to get round the system.
So overall not good news but that is the honest truth about the situation.
I recommend the Orlando area (but then again, I would, right?)
Reason: Cost of living is not too bad. The City has decent nightlife without worrying about crime and...
...I'm here and can show you around
Also - depending upon what type of work you do, you may want to check with Disney. If you're just out for a "fun working vacation", Disney may be able to put you on in Epcot or something like that. With Disney, they cut through the immigration paperwork fairly easy. Why? In certain areas of the park (Epcot), your only qualification for the job is that you must be British. (Epcot has a "parade of nations" thing - different sections are like pieces of the countries that they are duplicating - they even have a "Rose and Crown" pub in the British section). More info: click here
Send me an email if you decide on Florida and I will see what I can do to help out...
ErnestM
Reason: Cost of living is not too bad. The City has decent nightlife without worrying about crime and...
...I'm here and can show you around
Also - depending upon what type of work you do, you may want to check with Disney. If you're just out for a "fun working vacation", Disney may be able to put you on in Epcot or something like that. With Disney, they cut through the immigration paperwork fairly easy. Why? In certain areas of the park (Epcot), your only qualification for the job is that you must be British. (Epcot has a "parade of nations" thing - different sections are like pieces of the countries that they are duplicating - they even have a "Rose and Crown" pub in the British section). More info: click here
Send me an email if you decide on Florida and I will see what I can do to help out...
ErnestM
GP,
In terms of Canada and "reimporting" the car I think you just fill out a new HS-7 form as you reenter the US. Traveling into Canada you are just a visitor or something? (I imagine crossing from US to Canada in a car is fairly easy)
But it is a massive hassle overall, bringing a car from Europe or England to the US. Also, I don't have any first hand knowlege of this reimporting business. This is what I have heard from people who have done it. Now that I think about it, I only know of one person who supposedly used this method (for a few years!) to keep a foreign car in the US.
In terms of Canada and "reimporting" the car I think you just fill out a new HS-7 form as you reenter the US. Traveling into Canada you are just a visitor or something? (I imagine crossing from US to Canada in a car is fairly easy)
But it is a massive hassle overall, bringing a car from Europe or England to the US. Also, I don't have any first hand knowlege of this reimporting business. This is what I have heard from people who have done it. Now that I think about it, I only know of one person who supposedly used this method (for a few years!) to keep a foreign car in the US.
ErnestM said:
I recommend the Orlando area (but then again, I would, right?)
Reason: Cost of living is not too bad. The City has decent nightlife without worrying about crime and...
...I'm here and can show you around
Also - depending upon what type of work you do, you may want to check with Disney. If you're just out for a "fun working vacation", Disney may be able to put you on in Epcot or something like that. With Disney, they cut through the immigration paperwork fairly easy. Why? In certain areas of the park (Epcot), your only qualification for the job is that you must be British. (Epcot has a "parade of nations" thing - different sections are like pieces of the countries that they are duplicating - they even have a "Rose and Crown" pub in the British section). More info: click here
Send me an email if you decide on Florida and I will see what I can do to help out...
ErnestM
YHM
PiB said:
GP,
In terms of Canada and "reimporting" the car I think you just fill out a new HS-7 form as you reenter the US. Traveling into Canada you are just a visitor or something? (I imagine crossing from US to Canada in a car is fairly easy)
But it is a massive hassle overall, bringing a car from Europe or England to the US. Also, I don't have any first hand knowlege of this reimporting business. This is what I have heard from people who have done it. Now that I think about it, I only know of one person who supposedly used this method (for a few years!) to keep a foreign car in the US.
Easier said than done. Been there, seen it, done it, bought the Tee shirt. A great deal of hassle when you can get most of the interesting kit in the US now anyway.
BTW I know you cannot get TVRs but you can get Nobles, a far more interesting proposition.
GavinPearson said:
A great deal of hassle when you can get most of the interesting kit in the US now anyway.
BTW I know you cannot get TVRs but you can get Nobles, a far more interesting proposition.
In many ways the the rules in the US are very liberal if the engine is built in the US so I would agree with you but also say that the Ultima GTR, Ginetta G4, G12, Noble (yes), and Leading edge (Tommy Kiara), and vast cobra replicas are fantastic cars I've seen advertised for sale in the US as well. I forgot to mention the Caterham 7 and a simular design with an S2000 Honda lump. The beauty is getting some EFI system that isn't OBD II or whatever it is now and that belches fire! Tuned of course, not designed to belch fire for the hell of it. Also then getting a wicked tranny, like a quiafe or a hewland. Okay, okay okay, I need to settle down but this is what I'm working towards someday.
ok, just been checking out car rental for something nice (corvette/mustang/camaro) and it comes to more than $1,600 per month...so I may as well buy a car! because after all, i'm only after an interesting car not necessarily a sports car it's just that the only interesting new cars are sports cars!
so...I assume there are no restrictions on foreign nationals buying cars in the US, but would I be able to get insured? questions, questions!
thanks for the help guys
so...I assume there are no restrictions on foreign nationals buying cars in the US, but would I be able to get insured? questions, questions!
thanks for the help guys
You can apply for a work permit on a student visa once you're in school a few months.
To obtain a student visa,You'll need documentation from the institution of your choice and they will need one years guarranteed evidence of financial proof .This may only get you a year visa, so you may have to reapply again to get a duration of stay visa (very generous) or duration of education. Be very careful during your immigration. keep it simple. you are only going to school, for example....if various other plans are mentioned, you may well get turned back.
People who come here legally face more aggro than those who swim well.
You could import a non DOT/EPA compliant car and use it, but only for a year, then it has to be deported. It cannot be sold over here either.
To buy a car in the US you may well need a US driver's license, as it is a trustworthy means of legality,identification for internal legal matters, purchasing,banking, and physical location plus cheaper car insurance .
As soon as you get in, find the nearest social security office and get a social security card which is also a major means of identification.
m
To obtain a student visa,You'll need documentation from the institution of your choice and they will need one years guarranteed evidence of financial proof .This may only get you a year visa, so you may have to reapply again to get a duration of stay visa (very generous) or duration of education. Be very careful during your immigration. keep it simple. you are only going to school, for example....if various other plans are mentioned, you may well get turned back.
People who come here legally face more aggro than those who swim well.
You could import a non DOT/EPA compliant car and use it, but only for a year, then it has to be deported. It cannot be sold over here either.
To buy a car in the US you may well need a US driver's license, as it is a trustworthy means of legality,identification for internal legal matters, purchasing,banking, and physical location plus cheaper car insurance .
As soon as you get in, find the nearest social security office and get a social security card which is also a major means of identification.
m
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