Today's the day...

[Viper_Larry]

Currently at Heathrow awaiting my flight to SFO to start a new life in Califonria! Mixed emotions and lots to organise when I get there, but interesting times...

[EcoBox]

If California doesn't suit you, just move too Oregon. It's far more beautiful, more trees, better air, amazing mountains roads, friendlier people(and far less people), and no Californian accent. Only problem is it rains almost as much as Britain. Oh, yes I saw in the other thread about the car, if your budget is only 8 grand and insurance is a problem; Motorcycle insurance is a lot cheaper then car insurance in the USA. I think I got quoted for 800 dollars a/yr for max coverage for a 1000cc bike with no experience (since I was just curious), but Americans are a lot worse drivers then Europeans. So I wouldn't recommend this depending how you value your life or how much health insurance you have( we have no NHS).

[jeff m2]

Good luck

1st tip

Check no ceiling fans are running when taking off a T Shirt.

[Matt Harper]

Good luck and welcome to your new home. Did the same in 2001 - never looked back.

[bridgdav]

Good luck over here...

Year 1 = just say thank you and pay the man.
Year 2 = just say thank you and pay the man.
Year 3 = haven't I paid enough already..? It's break even time.
Year 4 = start reaping the benefits of USA Tax and Credit systems...

I'm into year 3 and its getting easier.

[pasogrande]

Graham,

I wish you all the best. Having worked in five countries already, I brought my family to the US. That was 33 years ago, and I haven't regretted it.

You need to quickly make the decision. Are you a Brit living over here and blaming everything American? Or are you now an adopted American, and accept the US for all its good and bad? I chose the latter and have not regretted it. When I go back across the pond I know I made the right decision.

Wilf.

[shoebag]

Excellent. Been here 2 years now. Are you bringing your Snake with you?

[chriz1]

How do all you guys finding work out there?

[Matt Harper]

chriz1 said:

How do all you guys finding work out there?

Finding work isn't really an issue, assuming a good ethic, qualifications and ability. Emigrating legally is another issue altogether. There are a multitude of organizations willing to hire British people - with the proviso that the British hire has a visa or status that allows them to work, which creates the old chicken/egg scenario, because to be granted a work visa requires the employer ti incur some considerable cost and hassle which many are unwilling or incapable of handling.

It's probably fair to estimate that more than 50% of British citizens permanently residing in the US do so via marriage to a USC. Those of us who came here on work visa's invariably have a much more convoluted and difficult transition to permanent status (that was my experience anyway).

[dalecan]

You won't regret the move as long as you're going to accept the American way. I moved to Seattle 5 years ago and I love it here.

[unrepentant]

dalecan said:

You won't regret the move as long as you're going to accept the American way. I moved to Seattle 5 years ago and I love it here.

Nah, I'm converting the septics. I moved to Indianapolis 3 1/2 years ago and now we're hosting the US Cricket championships this year! Pip Pip!

[dalecan]

unrepentant said:

Nah, I'm converting the septics. I moved to Indianapolis 3 1/2 years ago and now we're hosting the US Cricket championships this year! Pip Pip!

Great job! I'm trying to convert everyone from American football to Rugby, but the way the Seahawks are playing at the moment I'm not holding my breath.

[off_again]

Interesting - seems that a few others have made the jump too....

I am in the process of doing this myself. Visa all done and relocation package sorted and approved (intercompany transfer) and just a case of getting things booked and done. Moving to California though - cant wait.

I wonder how many other PH'ers are in the same boat - as in emigrated to the USA - I will be in the bay area (yes, its for an IT company) so I would imagine a few.

[Viper_Larry]

off_again said:

Interesting - seems that a few others have made the jump too....

I am in the process of doing this myself. Visa all done and relocation package sorted and approved (intercompany transfer) and just a case of getting things booked and done. Moving to California though - cant wait.

I wonder how many other PH'ers are in the same boat - as in emigrated to the USA - I will be in the bay area (yes, its for an IT company) so I would imagine a few.

Great, you'll love it here! OUt of interest, what company? I work for Citrix in Santa Clara. Another guy relocated recently and I send him an email of useful tips after going through it myself, thought I'd paste them here for you if it helps?

1) I-94 – this is the immigration form that has to be completed online – do this a few days after you arrive and print out a few paper copies, you'll need them:
https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/request.html

2) SSN – you must wait for 10 calendar days before applying for this so all the docs are in place (else it will take longer to process). Just go to your local Social Security office and queue up – get there for around 8:15am, they open at 9. Doesn’t take long. You will need your passport and I-94. Suggest you and your wife apply at the same time
https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp

3) Driving license (needs SSN) – you need to apply for a California Driving license within 10 days of arriving – in reality, this doesn’t work as you can’t get an appointment that quick! There are 2 parts, first you need to complete the 36 question written test, then take a practical test. It will take a couple of weeks to get an appointment for the written test – you can make this online now:
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/foa/clear.do?goTo=officeVis...
This appointment will be for the written test, it costs $32 and takes around 15 minutes. You will need your I-94 with you. Suggest you go to the local office ASAP and pick up the free Drivers Handbook so you can read up and understand the rules. Once the written test in passed, you will be given a temporary license. You can then use this to apply for the practical test.

Credit history is all important in the US! Even Chase will not give you a credit card yet. Best bet is to apply for a CapitalOne Secured Credit Card. They regularly report when you pay it off. Will take a few weeks to get it though, still not got mine yet. You will need your SSN before applying for this:
http://www.capitalone.com/credit-cards/secured/?Lo...

[off_again]

Ah great - thanks for that!

I work for a certain company that was started up in a garage - doesnt take much to work out who!

If you dont mind, a few questions on the process though - the SSN bit, do you mean that I need to wait 10 days AFTER arrival before applying? What happens if you enter and leave? Or is it a case of entry and then stay until I can apply?

At the moment I dont have anywhere to live, and my family is coming with me (well at some point in the next few weeks) so I am a little worried on the whole process. I dont believe I can rent somewhere until I have an SSN, but I could be wrong here, but where do you get the SSN sent to?

And I am all ears on advice and suggestions. My office will be Sunnyvale, but I am actually a mobile worker so I dont need to commute or anything - but I will be going to the office at first though. I cant wait... bloody miserable weather here....



My kids are going to love it!

[Viper_Larry]

off_again said:

If you dont mind, a few questions on the process though - the SSN bit, do you mean that I need to wait 10 days AFTER arrival before applying? What happens if you enter and leave? Or is it a case of entry and then stay until I can apply?

Yes. Evidently it takes around 10 days once you've entered the US for the paperwork from US Customs to be processed and in the right place. The lady I spoke to at the local SSN said you can apply earlier, but if the paperwork isn't in, it will all get delayed. I waited 10 days exactly. Applied on the Monday morning, card arrived on the following Saturday.

off_again said:

At the moment I dont have anywhere to live, and my family is coming with me (well at some point in the next few weeks) so I am a little worried on the whole process. I dont believe I can rent somewhere until I have an SSN, but I could be wrong here, but where do you get the SSN sent to?

I too arrived with nowhere to live, but a colleague put me up at her house in Palo Alto. My wife flew out a month later. I found somewhere to rent within a few days and moved in 9 days after arriving. Didn't need an SSN to rent. However, I did provide a UK credit report which I had printed out as they will credit check you and it'll come back blank. I had to pay an extra couple of weeks deposit due to the lack of credit history. Where will you stay when you arrive? I assume a hotel? Rental property goes almost immediately now. You can't view a few and then decide. When I got this place in Los Gatos, I was the first in the door and said yes within 1 minute else someone else would get it!

[unrepentant]

Viper_Larry said:

I too arrived with nowhere to live, but a colleague put me up at her house in Palo Alto. My wife flew out a month later. I found somewhere to rent within a few days and moved in 9 days after arriving. Didn't need an SSN to rent. However, I did provide a UK credit report which I had printed out as they will credit check you and it'll come back blank. I had to pay an extra couple of weeks deposit due to the lack of credit history. Where will you stay when you arrive? I assume a hotel? Rental property goes almost immediately now. You can't view a few and then decide. When I got this place in Los Gatos, I was the first in the door and said yes within 1 minute else someone else would get it!

You'll find that they'll want a deposit for electricity, gas, cell phone etc.. Infuriating. I paid cash for a house when I moved here but had to pay a friggin deposit before they'd turn on the electric! The system here is a blunt instrument and everything is governed by your credit score. Fastest way to build credit is to get a car loan. I went from a "ghost" to a 725 in a year after we persuaded Chase to lend me a small part of the cost of my XJ. A year on from that they stumped up for a lease on an XKR without question and I have no problems at all with credit.

[Viper_Larry]

Yep, I had to pay $350 deposit to PG&E for Gas/Electric but to be fair, they're using that money now to pay the bills. Luckily work supplied a nice iPhone 5 and contract. Then there's water, garbage collection, internet/TV, etc.

How do you check your credit score?

[unrepentant]

Viper_Larry said:

Yep, I had to pay $350 deposit to PG&E for Gas/Electric but to be fair, they're using that money now to pay the bills. Luckily work supplied a nice iPhone 5 and contract. Then there's water, garbage collection, internet/TV, etc.

How do you check your credit score?

Yes, the deposit will be used up during the first year in most cases.

You won't have a score at the moment. You will be a "ghost". Until you actually borrow some money you don't register and until you have a score you can't borrow any money..... You can do a pre paid credit card which will establish some credit but it's fairly slow. When I came I did house and cars in cash and so, 18 months later, I was still a ghost. When we ran my credit it basically said "insufficient data". I didn't want to borrow money but until you have a score it affects a lot of things, you pay more for insurance for instance. I work for a JLR dealership so I bought a new XJ and my F&I manager persuaded Chase to lend me $20k towards it. That worked and a year later I had a score good enough to get me tier one credit. I then took out a home equity line of credit which I don't use but the fact that I have a lump of credit available boosts my score! The whole system is bonkers.

[jeff m2]

unrepentant said:

Yes, the deposit will be used up during the first year in most cases.

You won't have a score at the moment. You will be a "ghost". Until you actually borrow some money you don't register and until you have a score you can't borrow any money..... You can do a pre paid credit card which will establish some credit but it's fairly slow. When I came I did house and cars in cash and so, 18 months later, I was still a ghost. When we ran my credit it basically said "insufficient data". I didn't want to borrow money but until you have a score it affects a lot of things, you pay more for insurance for instance. I work for a JLR dealership so I bought a new XJ and my F&I manager persuaded Chase to lend me $20k towards it. That worked and a year later I had a score good enough to get me tier one credit. I then took out a home equity line of credit which I don't use but the fact that I have a lump of credit available boosts my score! The whole system is bonkers.

That, and for those that can't buy a a new XK at dealer cost
May I suggest something know as a pass book loan. Give your bank say $1,000 which you use as security for a $1,000 loan, pay back the loan and repeat after two cycles (6 Months) you have two paid up loans on your credit score.
Also if you get a car loan take it to your bank after the first passbook loan is paid off and ask them if they can better it. If you agree to have it deducted from the C.A. where your salary is deposited they should go for it.
When they pay off the dealership loan to start their loan it shows as another paid off loan on your credit score even though the bank paid it off not you.

Soon you have three paid off loans....better than most Americans

The problem then is you become a marketing target.