I am mulling over a move to LA and have some questions
#16
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Re: I am mulling over a move to LA and have some questions
Hi all. The missus could have a too-good-to-turn-down chance to move to LA with work (she is Canadian) and I've got a few question maybe you guys can help with.
Am I going to find it any easier as a Brit to immigrate with a Canadian spouse? I've only just started looking into things and it looks like I might have to be a resident for 3 months before I start to work? We are in the Netherlands right now and my company here does have a small office in LA and they said they can try and make things work for me, is that the better way to go?
Of course the most important thing to me is my pet rabbit Basil. I'd really like to take him with me. Pretty much every link I've found on google wants me to buy an immigration guide for $50 so does anyone have any advice? Is there a quarantine period or is it all just paperwork.
Finally I love an outdoors life which is why I like Amsterdam. I cycle everywhere and hate driving places. I'm worried that LA is going to be a concrete jungle and not really be for me, but some people have mentioned places like Santa Monica are better than downtown LA. Can I still live a European way of life and get away with it
Any help will be really appreciated, thanks!
Am I going to find it any easier as a Brit to immigrate with a Canadian spouse? I've only just started looking into things and it looks like I might have to be a resident for 3 months before I start to work? We are in the Netherlands right now and my company here does have a small office in LA and they said they can try and make things work for me, is that the better way to go?
Of course the most important thing to me is my pet rabbit Basil. I'd really like to take him with me. Pretty much every link I've found on google wants me to buy an immigration guide for $50 so does anyone have any advice? Is there a quarantine period or is it all just paperwork.
Finally I love an outdoors life which is why I like Amsterdam. I cycle everywhere and hate driving places. I'm worried that LA is going to be a concrete jungle and not really be for me, but some people have mentioned places like Santa Monica are better than downtown LA. Can I still live a European way of life and get away with it
Any help will be really appreciated, thanks!
It is absolutely nothing like Amsterdam and you will be car-dependent here.
Santa Monica is nice but very pricey. 'Downtown' is a specific area of a huge, sprawling city.
#17
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Joined: Mar 2008
Location: NYC
Posts: 222
Re: I am mulling over a move to LA and have some questions
Finally I love an outdoors life which is why I like Amsterdam. I cycle everywhere and hate driving places. I'm worried that LA is going to be a concrete jungle and not really be for me, but some people have mentioned places like Santa Monica are better than downtown LA. Can I still live a European way of life and get away with it
But seriously, LA is not so much a concrete jungle as just huge, in a sprawling American way, which is one reason driving is a necessity for so many people and why public transport is less inviting than it sounds (try taking the bus from Santa Monica to West Hollywood.... half a day later...).
But the LA area is also a place of some fairly distinct, self contained neighborhoods and small cities (such as Santa Monica, Venice, West Hollywood, Silverlake, Los Feliz, Fairfax, etc.) all of which are pretty bike friendly and have some euro aspects to them, all with the wonderful LA climate. Downtown LA is more of a "work" than a "live" area, but also has a few grittier neightborhoods around it.
In fact with the advent of Zipcar and the like it is easier to cope in LA now with just a bike and/or scooter. But "cope" is the operative word. To enjoy it and explore it you really need proper access to a car, even if you don't commute every day. Just visiting friends for an evening can involve a 30 minute drive across the city.
Personally I like LA. For all its faults and problems (and there are many) it is a dynamic place. In many respects, however, it is almost the complete opposite of Amsterdam.
Last edited by wordfool; Jan 8th 2010 at 11:23 pm.
#18
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Re: I am mulling over a move to LA and have some questions
Being outside in LA is great (despite pollution) but if you're looking for a 'European' life-style and you hate driving, then seriously I wouldn't even consider it.
I've spent time in both cities. The closest thing to European lifestyle (IMO) would be Santa Monica or Santa Barbara but LA is HUGE and no doubt you'd spend half your life in a car trying to get to your respective offices unless you could work from home.
No idea about cute bunny or visas though. Sorry.
I've spent time in both cities. The closest thing to European lifestyle (IMO) would be Santa Monica or Santa Barbara but LA is HUGE and no doubt you'd spend half your life in a car trying to get to your respective offices unless you could work from home.
No idea about cute bunny or visas though. Sorry.
#19
Re: I am mulling over a move to LA and have some questions
In LA you can live whatever life you want and be whatever you want to be!
But seriously, LA is not so much a concrete jungle as just huge, in a sprawling American way, which is one reason driving is a necessity for so many people and why public transport is less inviting than it sounds (try taking the bus from Santa Monica to West Hollywood.... half a day later...).
But the LA area is also a place of some fairly distinct, self contained neighborhoods and small cities (such as Santa Monica, Venice, West Hollywood, Silverlake, Los Feliz, Fairfax, etc.) all of which are pretty bike friendly and have some euro aspects to them, all with the wonderful LA climate. Downtown LA is more of a "work" than a "live" area, but also has a few grittier neightborhoods around it.
In fact with the advent of Zipcar and the like it is easier to cope in LA now with just a bike and/or scooter. But "cope" is the operative word. To enjoy it and explore it you really need proper access to a car, even if you don't commute every day. Just visiting friends for an evening can involve a 30 minute drive across the city.
Personally I like LA. For all its faults and problems (and there are many) it is a dynamic place. In many respects, however, it is almost the complete opposite of Amsterdam.
But seriously, LA is not so much a concrete jungle as just huge, in a sprawling American way, which is one reason driving is a necessity for so many people and why public transport is less inviting than it sounds (try taking the bus from Santa Monica to West Hollywood.... half a day later...).
But the LA area is also a place of some fairly distinct, self contained neighborhoods and small cities (such as Santa Monica, Venice, West Hollywood, Silverlake, Los Feliz, Fairfax, etc.) all of which are pretty bike friendly and have some euro aspects to them, all with the wonderful LA climate. Downtown LA is more of a "work" than a "live" area, but also has a few grittier neightborhoods around it.
In fact with the advent of Zipcar and the like it is easier to cope in LA now with just a bike and/or scooter. But "cope" is the operative word. To enjoy it and explore it you really need proper access to a car, even if you don't commute every day. Just visiting friends for an evening can involve a 30 minute drive across the city.
Personally I like LA. For all its faults and problems (and there are many) it is a dynamic place. In many respects, however, it is almost the complete opposite of Amsterdam.
Rabit stew sounds like a good avenue for Basil ...
#20
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Re: I am mulling over a move to LA and have some questions
And maybe one day there will actually be a worthwhile transit link to Hell-A-X
#21
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Posts: 62
Re: I am mulling over a move to LA and have some questions
Someone told me LA had an underground/metro system, an expansive one, but car companies/oil companies bought it and closed it down. I don't know if that's true or urban myth.
Sally, I wouldn't need to work but in my line of work I would really want a crack at carving a niche out for myself in Hollywood. I'd go stir crazy not working anyway.
Accommodation is going to be provided for 6 months if we do move but what are the best websites to look at for house/apartment rentals? So I can get an idea of what we can afford after that.
Sally, I wouldn't need to work but in my line of work I would really want a crack at carving a niche out for myself in Hollywood. I'd go stir crazy not working anyway.
Accommodation is going to be provided for 6 months if we do move but what are the best websites to look at for house/apartment rentals? So I can get an idea of what we can afford after that.
#22
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Re: I am mulling over a move to LA and have some questions
Someone told me LA had an underground/metro system, an expansive one, but car companies/oil companies bought it and closed it down. I don't know if that's true or urban myth.
Sally, I wouldn't need to work but in my line of work I would really want a crack at carving a niche out for myself in Hollywood. I'd go stir crazy not working anyway.
Accommodation is going to be provided for 6 months if we do move but what are the best websites to look at for house/apartment rentals? So I can get an idea of what we can afford after that.
Sally, I wouldn't need to work but in my line of work I would really want a crack at carving a niche out for myself in Hollywood. I'd go stir crazy not working anyway.
Accommodation is going to be provided for 6 months if we do move but what are the best websites to look at for house/apartment rentals? So I can get an idea of what we can afford after that.
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/apa/
Check out the tabs on the top for more refined searches [westside/southbay, SF valley, etc]
#23
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: I am mulling over a move to LA and have some questions
Someone told me LA had an underground/metro system, an expansive one, but car companies/oil companies bought it and closed it down. I don't know if that's true or urban myth.
Sally, I wouldn't need to work but in my line of work I would really want a crack at carving a niche out for myself in Hollywood. I'd go stir crazy not working anyway.
Accommodation is going to be provided for 6 months if we do move but what are the best websites to look at for house/apartment rentals? So I can get an idea of what we can afford after that.
Sally, I wouldn't need to work but in my line of work I would really want a crack at carving a niche out for myself in Hollywood. I'd go stir crazy not working anyway.
Accommodation is going to be provided for 6 months if we do move but what are the best websites to look at for house/apartment rentals? So I can get an idea of what we can afford after that.
Try Realtor.com, I put in rentals in Santa Monica
http://www.realtor.com/?source=suggest
#24
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Joined: Mar 2008
Location: NYC
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Re: I am mulling over a move to LA and have some questions
For apartment/house rentals, give craigslist.org a look to get a feel for what's out there.
#25
Re: I am mulling over a move to LA and have some questions
For this, you are going to have to deal with visa issues ...
#26
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Posts: 9
Re: I am mulling over a move to LA and have some questions
I'm originally from Scotland and lived in LA for 5yrs in an area called "Palms" which was a good price and safe (only one sighting of a guy holding a shotgun, standing on the street corner ), not too far from Venice, Santa Monica and right next to Culver City/Sony Studios. I tried to be european and ride the bus and was able to do so a number of times without too much trouble, but the LA people I worked with, looked down on this method of transport and informed me that only the "crazy" people used the buses. Slightly true...... I used the car mostly. I had a difficult time finding anything European style in LA. Overall, I found the culture a bit shallow and money grabbing. I did however find some good friends in the world of the Arts who were linked with UCLA and USC (university systems there). Venice was the most european like, and it had one of our favorite places to eat called Mao's Kitchen!
I've been to Amsterdam on holiday and it was beautiful..........LA has nothing on it! Hope you have fun, and carrots to Basil
I've been to Amsterdam on holiday and it was beautiful..........LA has nothing on it! Hope you have fun, and carrots to Basil
#27
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Re: I am mulling over a move to LA and have some questions
moderator note: Split from http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=648105
it looks like we will be moving to San Francisco
it looks like we will be moving to San Francisco
... which is it - San Francisco, Los Angeles or Louisiana?
#28
Re: I am mulling over a move to LA and have some questions
oops, forgot to redirect this thread.
OP's new comment starts a new thread here: http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?p=8401906
OP's new comment starts a new thread here: http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?p=8401906
#29
Re: I am mulling over a move to LA and have some questions
Also, your respective jobs are far better protected in the EU. Something to consider.