christmasoompa

Hi all,

My husband and I are looking to move to the US in 2008 and I've just started looking into it and everything I need to do - I seem to have a very long list! I'm slowly getting organised with things like renting the house here, shipping our stuff over, researching areas to live, getting the cats over there, etc, but wondered if any of you had any tips or hints of less obvious things that you might recommend? Perhaps something that you discovered whilst emigrating and wished someone had told you? I would appreciate it if you could pass on any words of wisdom to a thoroughly befuddled newbie!

Also, we're looking to move to somewhere in New England, partly so that we're close for friends and family to come and visit us and also because of the seasons there - I adore them and simply couldn't live somewhere that was sunny all year round. Does anybody have any areas they can recommend for young families (we have an 8 month old and a 3 year old to consider)?

Any advice appreciated! Thank you.

Silverdragon102

Think the first question would be on what visa are you looking to move to the US and if you haven't do you meet of any of these Work and live in the USA

tonrob

Hi There!

There are quite a few of us scattered around New England so I'm sure you can get some advice and answers to some specific questions you might have. I'd echo the question above first though - what's your visa situation?

christmasoompa

It's not really advice about visas that I'm after (hubby is taking care of that side of things - leaving me with all the more practical stuff which needless to say is far more work!!). It's more general advice about little things that may help that I'm after really? Things that I may not automatically think of but which would be useful to know.

Thanks all.

tonrob

Sorry - wasn't meaning to be nosey or anything. The reason why people will usually ask you about visas here first is that many people post questions similar to your own before researching the visa part, i.e. whether it's actually possible for them to come in the first place. You seemed to indicate that you weren't too bothered where you ended up geographically (other than New England, and New England's big!) - are either you or your husband a US citizen, because if not then most people would come over dependent on employment and that would limit the area of your search.

Just asking questions so we can give you advice that's useful.

Elvira

I know you are not after that kind of advice but, speaking from experience, I would get up to speed on the visa issues sooner rather than later...

In the main forum there are lots of threads about things to do when you move.

Rete

You posted in the visa section, hence the reason you got responses dealing with visas.

I moved your post to the appropriate forum.

Elvira

Ah - so I wasn't dreaming this was in the Visa section!

dbj1000

I suggest that you find out what visa you intend to use to move over here. People on these boards (myself included) read many posts each week from people asking broad questions like you have about living in the US. We often find, after a few questions, that the actual practicalities of getting a visa to live and work here legally are not sorted out.

Unless you or your husband are a US Citizen, or one of you works in a VERY specialized field of employment, or you work for a US company in the UK, your chances of actually getting a visa to live in the US are slim.

Again, I'm sure you'll get loads of good advice from the people here, but it would help to know what kind of visa you're coming over on, since that will effect many aspects of where you're likely to be able to live (e.g. near a sponsoring company, if you have one) and how long you're likely to be here (6 years max. on many visas, if you don't have a route to a Green Card).

And no, the "practical stuff" is never more work than the visa and immigration side. If that's how it appears right now then you've probably missed something!

christmasoompa

Apologies if I posted in the wrong place, the forum I posted in was titled "discuss general US immigration and visa issues here" and I had assumed that my query came under 'general US immigration issues' - it certainly didn't seem to fit any of the other categories such as the marriage or meet ups forum! Anyway, thanks for the response.

Our visa is sorted, my hubby does work in a specialist field (wind industry engineering/project management) and he's being sent to open up an office in the Northeast of the country. There is no particular location, his company simply want somewhere in the North East and although they'll have the final say as to where it is, we can choose within reason, hence why we've picked New England. Don't ask me what visa he's getting as I have no idea! His work are sorting it all out for him.

Hope that clarifies things - we have sorted the visa issue and hubby will be entitled to work over there so those things are not an issue. But my rather long list of 'things to do' is! Any help appreciated.

christmasoompa

Really?!? Moving a family of four including two very young children, two cats, selling cars and buying new ones, renting our home, finding a new one, wrapping up my own company, finding schools, etc, etc - ARGHHHH!! Seems to me right now that the visa/immigration bit is the easy part but that's probably because I don't have much to do with it and hubby's company is sorting most of it for us! The rest of the stuff however is making my head spin!

tonrob

Try this:

http://www.findyourspot.com/

Given that we don't know much about you - what you and you family like, don't like, value, income etc. this website asks you a few questions about what's important to you and then spits out recommendations as to places to live. You can limit it geographically, e.g. North East.

Ray

http://www.findyourspot.com/


mine works

jumping doris

Here's a starter

Is this a permanent move or just for a few years. Depending on your answer do you want to rent or buy somewhere to live. Do you have property in the UK, will you sell it or rent it out.
What can you afford in the US....google realtor.com and find out some property prices.
Google the places you like the sound of and check out the demographics.
Look at the schools in those areas...I know your children are small but they will go to nursery and kindergarten soon and you may not want the hassle of moving twice.

Where I live you cannot use the schools unless you live in the town and are registered to pay property tax.
Check out the cost of living in those areas.
Check out the climate...try the weather underground site.
I know you like 4 seasons but how much will it snow, how cold will it get.

Google really is your friend at first, then a good relocation agent (there are some).
Once I had narrowed stuff down I set up a cheap rate to the states with my then UK phone company and I called the schools, realtors , utilities, cable companies etc...anyone who could give me information.

All of this will be good practice for when you arrive because you will have to think on your feet then.

jumping doris

It's just a process.
We moved a family of 5, a dog and a cat. At least your children are young. I had two teenagers and a 10 year old when we moved. Well I still have them but they are a bit older now.
We used Pets on the Move for our animals and they were excellent. They may not operate in your area but they might know someone who does...or ask your vet.
Try International Autosource for cars and AIG International for insurance.

Once you have narrowed things down, visit the places and look at property and schools. We came over for a week about 3 months before we moved and bought our house, set up bank accounts, visited the schools etc.