ahkhan

Hi All,

I am going to be moving to San Diego, CA in the next couple of months with my family. I wanted to ask if some one can share their experience of moving to California. Things I need to plan for ahead of the move? also specifically interested in:

- Recommendation for a shipping company
- Recommendation for a local bank where opening an account is easier for expats

Best Regards,
AK

SanDiegogirl

Where in San Diego are you moving to?

Are you moving for work?

ahkhan

Yes moving for work. My office location is in Rancho Bernardo so will be looking for a place to live close to that.

SanDiegogirl

When I moved to California had lots of help from company with regard initial accommodation and car rental. Presume your company is helping out with these?

When you first arrive you will need to open bank account (I used Citibank, there is one in Rancho Bernado, but most other banks accept new immigrants, especially if you have money to deposit), make appointment with DMV for driving test, and visit Social Security office in first few weeks to arrange for the SS number.

Sorry, can't help with moving companies from the UK.

Pulaski

Jump on the DMV as quick as possible because per the letter of the law California only gives you 10 days after you "become resident" to get a California license, and given that you will be required to take a road test, the ten day limit is already impossible for you to achieve.

In practice you will be fine using your UK license for a couple of weeks longer, until you get your CA license, but in the unlikely event that you are asked by the police for your license, be prepared to show that you are doing everything you can to get your license ASAP.

vikingsail

This will be your closest and advisable DMV office: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/de...map?number=676

Rancho Bernardo is a nice community NE of SD main. Warm with plenty of 'blue rinse' driving and in the supermarkets which makes for a nice mix.

Pretty much anything East of the main freeway is nice the stuff on the other side tends to be newer but imho not as nice a place to live. If you like golf its got quite a few courses. A lot of celebs live in the hills area which means the house prices tend to climb....

ahkhan

I understand for SS number I need to have a local address. Is it possible to use a temporary address and get it changed later on? Can I use my office address for SS application?

Pulaski

Yes. Yes.

So long as you have a piece of mail addressed to you at that address, or a lease if it is residential, you should be fine. People have reported using a post card mailed to them select as proof of address, or a library card. A cell phone bill/mail would be another possibility.

Beaverstate

Bring money, lots of money. San Diego aint cheap.

Alan17

San Diego city isn't cheap (neithers the county) but you can get better value in north county housing wise. RB is easily commutable from San Marcos, Carlsbad, Vista etc. The Discovery Hills and San Elijo areas of San Marcos are nice areas and close enough to the beach to get the cooling breezes - used to live in Discovery Hills and commute to the Miramar area which was no problem.

malch

San Diego is a wonderful city. Not cheap but not as bad as San Francisco or New York.

Like Pulaski said, jump on the DMV stuff quickly.

If you employer is affiliated with a Credit Union you might consider opening an account there. There are some pros and cons relative to the big banks. I did both.

I would go with one of the big national banks for starters: Citi, Bank of America et al.

Maybe not Wells Fargo, unless you want 23 accounts :-)

[Wells Fargo were recently fined for opening millions of extra accounts without the permission of their clients]

kirstyp

Hi AK,

when it comes to shipping company recommendations, as well as the great feedback lots of BE members have, A great place to start for shipping is to check out FIDI website for a list of FAIM certified international removal companies that serve your area to make sure whoever you're using is fully qualified, licensed and independently vetted for overseas moving.
There are lots more tips about choosing reputable removals companies and your different options over on our vendor forum for International Removals advice. Hope it helps!
Kirsty

Steve_

I don't think there's anywhere around San Diego that's cheap anymore, Carlsbad certainly isn't. Nowadays you've got to go up to Oceanside.

bewildering

FWIW Poway is well known in San Diego for having the best school district.

petitefrancaise

For opening a bank account you will need the following:
1. 2 pieces of ID - one of which must be a government issued one with a photo - your passport or driving license should work and they must be in English;

2. An address. Banks and branches seem to vary on this one. If you have a US address, then great bring the lease or whatever along, If you don't then you can use your work address so bring something with that address on it with your name. A verification of employment letter is perfect. You can sometimes use a friend's address. It has been suggested on BE that you can get a PO mailbox and just make it look like a regular street address. However, I have heard from colleagues in the last few weeks that some banks are checking the address online and not accepting these addresses. It really should be a proper residential address. At a push some banks will use your UK address provided you have a utility/tax bill to prove it is your address. Bear in mind that the address is needed to get the account approved, once it is approved you can change it. The approval is done instantly in the branch and is a federal requirement for opening the acccount.

3. Unless you have your social security number you can only get non-interest bearing accounts.

4. Most banks will charge for having the account and most of them will waive the fees if you are getting your salary paid in by direct deposit. You should ask for an account that does this.

Hoenstly, you shouldn't have too much trouble getting a bank account but sometimes you get junior staff that can't cope with a foreigner. Either ask to speak to a manager or go to another bank/branch.