Fresno
 

Hello,
I am moving to Fresno from Harrogate in the UK in three weeks with my husband and two small children; I wondered if any of the Brit expats on this site live in that region? I am British, but have dual US-UK citizenship and have lived in Florida for three years. I have heard good and bad about Fresno. I imagine that I will just make my mind up about it when I get there! At least is seems centrally located, so we can visit other places of interest.
Another question I have concerns family visits to the US. If my family wanted to come and visit from the UK, do they now need to apply for visas in advance?
Thanks in advance for any advice.

Re: Fresno
 

Harrogate to Fresno must be just about the ultimate culture shock!

Re: Fresno
 

If you've got visa questions, they should go in the US Immigration forum.
If your family members are eligible to travel visa-free on the Visa Waiver Program, they don't need visas for visits.
If they are not eligible, they need a visitor's visa (B-2) before traveling.

Hopefully some Fresno people will pop in.. today is a holiday here though, so there are fewer people around.

Re: Fresno
 

Thanks for your reply. I personally don't have visa concerns. As I said, I am a dual citizen. I have a US passport and so do all my family members. My husband was born in the US. I was merely stating that so people DID NOT think I had visa questions relared to me. I am solely looking to meet other Brits in the Fresno area. The question about family coming to visit was an aside and I will post that in the relevant category. Thank you.

Re: Fresno
 

Sorry, I meant my immediate family are US citizens, not my mother etc. Thanks again!

Re: Fresno
 

No kidding!:ohmy: At least we went from Harrogate to Seattle! :)

What is bringing you to Fresno, if I might ask?

Re: Fresno
 

Re: Fresno
 

Because Frenso is primarily a farming community, many of the schools are not ranked that high due to many families of the children aren't well educated (also many illegal immigrants). It appears that if you want a good school, you should find a home in the Clovis school district (Woodland Park and Clovis area). Click on any symbol to see information about different schools.

http://schoolperformancemaps.com/ca/...68143%2C11%2C1

I haven't been to Fresno for a long time but remember that it is a pretty clean city. However, since it is in the inland valley, it will be very hot during the summer with no cooling ocean breezes.

The only person that I know off on BE that lives in the hot inland valley is "Poppy Girl" but she lives near Modesto.

Re: Fresno
 

Good luck with the move, we aren't far from Poppy and the weather is heating up fast. mid to upper 90's all week here so even hotter in Fresno.
I've been through there one time, not the best but I'm sure there are worse places to live.
Why did you pick Fresno?

Re: Fresno
 

Yep its a Hot one again , but any ways I go there 2-3 times a month I have customers there and its worse then Modesto in my opinion (if thats possible!) there is no culture to the place what so ever its just what I call Blar and rough for the most part, at least I live on the edge of Modesto going into the countryside...
Parts of Clovis are OK but in general nasty, sorry to tell you but you did ask :(

Good luck :D

Re: Fresno
 

Bakersfield is marginally worse than Fresno imo, but it's a close run thing.

Re: Fresno
 

Oh I hear you :lol:

Re: Fresno
 

One of the women in the office moved from Bakersfield to LA around 5 years ago. Her daughter's class were telling stories of field trips to The Getty, Science Centre.... the only place she had been was cotton picking:lol:

She was also shot in the foot in a gang drive by shooting, and a distant relative recently shot dead to steal his car. She seems to think its normal in Bakersfield.

Oh and it smells of cows. Apart from that it seems lovely:rolleyes:

Re: Fresno
 

But you can rent a 3,000 sq ft house for about $2,000 a month in Clovis.

Re: Fresno
 

I went to high school in Harrogate :D

Re: Fresno
 

True very true and at least you won't have to go out and will be content with the space at home and it will be safer :lol:

Re: Fresno
 

As long as the rental house wasn't previously used as a meth lab.

Re: Fresno
 

Did you? Which one?

Re: Fresno
 

:rofl: Wicked.

Re: Fresno
 

I figured Bakersfield was worse, but had no idea its worse than Modesto, and I wouldn't live there for love or money :lol:
Yikes! poor family, moving to a cultural wasteland. maybe cowboys and rodeos and Mexican restaurants is what they are aiming for.

Re: Fresno
 

Thats a lot of money, you can get a house close to that big round here near the golf course for less than that a month.

Re: Fresno
 

Thanks for all your opinions. I will form my own once I arrive. I recently obtained my Ph.D and am looking to teach at the university or one of the colleges and my husband has a three-year position at the university. We educate our children privately, so we have lined up appointments at two or three private schools.
No place is all bad or all good. So there is no need to feel sorry for us -- 'poor family' -- and what is wrong with Mexican people? I recently met a wonderful Mexican family in London who were more widely travelled and cultured than most people. We are Catholic and have also met lovely Mexican families through church. I don't appreciate your racist comments.

Re: Fresno
 

Sorry, but I don't consider one passing reference to "Mexican restaurants" to be racist ...

... and good luck if your husband is going to be teaching at Cal State Fresno given the current state of the California budget ...

Re: Fresno
 

One post was blatantly racist about Mexicans. I am not worried about my husband's position, the Air Force is paying his wage :) So, as bad as you may try and make it sound, we are not worried. Isn'tt what you wanted to hear? Maybe I should have said that I am now desperately worried and panicking. Would that have made your day? I never asked for all these opinions; I just wondered if there were any Brits in Fresno. Now, I would actually rather meet local people.

Re: Fresno
 

Seriously - which one?

Re: Fresno
 

Have fun! :) Is that what you wanted to hear?

Its amazing how you formed a racist issue out of nothing. Perhaps you are worried.....

Re: Fresno
 

They will be when and if they find out their living next door or close to the local Mexican Mafia or Gang and there are many of them, you don't mess with them or go into their territory...I have Mexican friends and they have even told me what areas to stay away from in Modesto and to watch my back, they are even scared to venture into certain areas, yes this can happen anywhere in the world but its rife in this part of the world.

Re: Fresno
 

Why bother posting on a public message board when you get so defensive when the responses aren't what you seem to want to hear? Have you ever been to Fresno?

Re: Fresno
 

Nothing that has been said on here is in any way racist.

Do you not think it is better to know a little about the area before you arrive with 2 young kids. Better to worry and sort out good/bad areas before you get here to find your new house in the middle of gang territory.

Re: Fresno
 

I am not sure that saying
is exactly "blatantly racist" - more a description of the area.

I don't think people are trying to make it sound bad or make you worried, however unlike yourself most of us have actually been to Fresno (& Bakersfield ) and are merely pointing out it's not a premium kind of place within California. I am sure you'll be able to find somewhere suitable in the area, but don't think there are many Brits living in and around Fresno.

Re: Fresno
 

Eh! was "blatantly racist" aimed at my post?
Most Cowboys and rodeos round here are as white as they come! At the high school the Cowboy kids are known as just that, Cowboys (and girls) They hang with their own group so do the Emo's and the Nerds and the gang bangers. So maybe describing a restaurant as "Mexican" is racist :confused: But thats what they are called we have a few (along with a couple of Chinese restaurants or is that racist too?), and there are two I like, family owned and run, and many I wouldn't set foot in.
I'm sure the Uni campus will be a great place, most seem to be. But the city as a whole has some dodgy places and being aware of this before arrival is recommended. Especially with small children. You don't want to find yourself in the wrong part of town, same would go if you were moving to Modesto, Stockton, Oakland, etc etc etc
Sorry you took offense, non was meant (if it was me you were accusing of being blatantly racist that is)

Re: Fresno
 

I was a Granby Girl..... 1985 - 1990 :D

Re: Fresno
 

My older daughter went to Granby (1998/99) for a year and then finished up at the College.

Re: Fresno
 

There is a bright side she could be moving to Stockton :eek: voted the most violent hole in the US a few times.

Re: Fresno
 

Really?

We came through that way a couple of weeks ago (I-5) on our way back from So Cal. Anyway, not someplace I'd normally stop, but we needed to fuel up. So we stopped. Anyway, I thought it was extremely interesting that there were signs on all the pumps that said if you drove off with the gas hose still attached that you would pay the cost of getting fixed. I can't remember the amount, but it was like $110 for something and another amount for something else. It must be something that happens quite often, and I almost asked the cashier, but he was obviously just taking money and not offering conversation.

Re: Fresno
 

It was also the foreclosure capital a couple of years ago.. maybe somewhere else - perhaps Fresno :) - has stolen the crown by now:

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0143005120080204

Re: Fresno
 

These signs have started to appear around us too:eek:.

Re: Fresno
 

The OP will be able to pick up a bargain then;)

Re: Fresno
 

Welcome to my world :lol:

Re: Fresno
 

I thought it was charming.

A motel on the freeway and take out Panda Express for dinner, what a treat!
At least ours wasn't the vehicle broken into overnight. :D


The coffee date was the best part. :wub: