Move to NJA
 

Hi everyone,

Me, my husband and two kids, (10 and 13) are moving to Montville, New Jersey at the beginning of August. We wondered if you folks would mind helping us with a few pointers which you have probably heard a hundred times before!

Firstly, do we need to take a driving test? How long after we have been in the country? Is this written or physical? How do we put in to take it?

Does anyone know how we transfer our credit rating in Britain across to the states?

Our son has a Wii console - can he use this in the states and are the games compatible over there? Ditto the games with his PSP, X-Box?

Did anybody take electrical goods with them and buy transformers? Did this work out OK?

We have a sound surround - will this work in the US?

Are you able to take your credit cards with you and just notify them of a change of address or do you have to try to get new credit cards?

If anybody can think of any other useful bits of advice for us at this stage we would be so grateful as everything seems a bit overwhelming at the moment and just having someone to ask is such a big help - thank you.

Re: Move to NJA
 

Hello, welcome to BE.

Can't help you with the driving test as I'm in a different state. Electrical goods...most things don't work without a transformer but somethings might (computers etc because they have dual voltage). I'm sure an expert will be along soon and let you know.

We told our banks and credit card companies we were moving and just had our address changed. Keep at least one bank account and cc. card in case you will be moving back.

You will need to build up a new credit score. We built ours up quickly with a car loan and mortgage and credit card, all arranged before we moved over...see your relocation agent.
We bought cars through International autosource, well known company, again your relocation agent, if you have one, will know of them and can explain.

Bring lots of UK foods etc so it feels like home.

It's all a bit of a roller coaster at first. The USA is a foreign country and it may not be as you imagine. Be prepared to love it and hate it all within the same minute.
Ask on here for advice, we've all got the t-shirt.

Enjoy being here and embrace it for all that it is...harder than it sounds.

Re: Move to NJA
 

Varies from state to state: I live in NJ but got my license when I lived in New York, where foreigners had to do the full written and actual driving test (and attend a seriously lame day-long driver safety course).

Check here for NJ situation: http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/

Re: Move to NJA
 

You have to start your credit score from scratch. Open a credit card here and just put a few groceries etc on it and pay it off each month, that'll get you started.
Love and hate it Doris is very right, Good luck. If Jersey Girls around she should be able to advise on NJ driving issues. I believe you can drive on an international licence for up to a year??
Welcome to BE and all the best. :)

Re: Move to NJA
 

You don't want to run a house full of transformers. While you can get a few for an item here and there, running a house full of them is asking for trouble (they do get warm and they do break, often). If you really want to do this, be sure to get a quality one, not just el cheapo. And you won't find that many here in the US...they are not a very common item.

You're really going to have to go through and decide what is worth keeping and what you might be able to sell. Check the prices of buying some things new (http://www.bestbuy.com / http://www.amazon.com) and see if it isn't that much of a pain to buy new stuff when you get to the US.

Generally, my advice is, unless the item is <6 months old, you are probably better to sell it in the UK and take the money and buy a new one in the US. Laptops are fine. Computers--maybe, if it is worth it (i.e. if you are talking a professional grade system--not just something you use to check email and browse the web). Monitors / TVs. Probably not. You run a lot of risk of damage bringing them over, and then you'll have something that isn't fully compliant (might not have closed captions, or might have the wrong inputs) and you might have warranty issues (is it an EU or Worldwide warranty?)

Someone else might have to answer the question about the video games, but I was under the belief that the actual games (bought in the UK) could only be played on a UK device (at least for the Playstation). You will need to ask some gamers for better advice on that.

As for more general advice: approach this trip in the same way you would approach moving to Tokyo. It's a foreign country, with a foreign culture, foreign government and regulations, and even a foreign language (at times). Don't think it's going to be like moving from Liverpool to Manchester or something like that. There will be a tremendous number of changes (that you don't expect) and there will be times you'll bang your head against the wall saying 'why? why? why?'

They'll also be moments of total joy and happiness. "Wow, this is so easy. Man, that is really pretty. Whoa, this is really cheap."

Enjoy.

Re: Move to NJA
 

Hello and welcome to BE. :) I have lived in Morris County for 11 yrs...we are not very far from you. Englishmum is nearby too...perhaps once you're settled we can meet up.

The only driving test you take is a written multiple question test. Do not volunteer to give up your UK DL...keep hold of it. You will need to take the test pretty much straight away...you cannot get insurance without a US DL and you cannot buy a car without insurance in NJ. Or at least you couldn't when we came here.

You will probably have to start from scratch with the credit rating. It is difficult at first to get any form of credit card/store CC card. One way round it could be to buy membership at Costco...then get a Costco Amex account.

We brought over a couple of large screen TV's and VCRs. Simply because they were new and expensive and we thought we would be returning home after 1 or 2 years. We did not want to leave them in an empty house. They have come in very useful because my MIL sends tapes of Corrie for us to watch. We run them using a transformer but they are very heavy and big...the size of a house brick and twice the weight. They also get very hot so we never leave them plugged in unless we are actually watching TV. Electronic items are cheap over here.

The end of August is a good time to move here as the humidity will not be so high. The weather is usually pretty mild into November...the winters can be brutal with lots of snow. Good luck with the move.

Re: Move to NJA
 

Have you seen Fatbrit's article on Finance issues (in the Wiki).

I hope your kids are on board with the move, and are adaptable...

I guess you're L1/L2, so at least you'll be able to work?

Re: Move to NJA
 

If you are on L2 apply for your EAD as soon as you arrive and then you can get a SSN which makes life much easier regarding driving licence and credit rating.

I know US Playstation games do not play on the UK consoles and vice versa, so I imagine Wii will be the same. Any handheld games are universal though. We brought a UK TV and VCR over so the kids could use the UK playstation and watch their videos (this was before DVDs became popular).

Re: Move to NJA
 

Thanks for your advice. Jerseygirl, where do we take the written driving test and did you have lessons before you jumped in the car and drove?

Yes, we're an L1 visa so apparently I can work after three or four months. I do clerical work/piano teacher - are these jobs much sought after in this area? How much do the piano teachers charge - does anyone know?

Any advice for the kids?

How much food are you allowed to bring over - I presume this has to be in the hold!!

Thanks

Re: Move to NJA
 

We brought a UK TV, DVD and Video player, also playstation and computer.
We bought a huge, heavy transformer and we haven't used them.
We have never used the TVetc. I have used the UK computer to get some files and I don't even know where the playstation is.

To be honest the transformer is just too big and heavy and I can't be bothered lugging it around.

At the time it seems as though you must bring these things and yet we quickly realised we wouldn't ever use them. What I do regret is getting rid of some of my furniture. I really don't like much of what's available here.

Re: Move to NJA
 

Really what about Pottery Barn or Raymour & Flannigans???
There is of course the ubiquitous Ikea for cheap tat. One in Newark NJ near the airport.

Re: Move to NJA
 

R&F is the one shop my husband refuses to go in. We went in once and were stalked by a salesman the wholetime. If we stopped to look at something he would appear from nowhere and try to force a sale on us. I have been on my own since and the same thing always happens, I hate pushy sales people.

Re: Move to NJA
 

We don't have a Pottery barn nearby and I have never heard of the others.
We seem to be awash in Roomful Expresses, Levins etc. Everything looks as though it was made for a bordello or a museum.

We have Ethan Allen, which is similar in style to Pottery Barn but very expensive.

We bought a sofa from Macys and it wasn't cheap. They have already replaced it once and repaired the replacement. It is less than a year old and looks 10 years old.

Re: Move to NJA
 

We came on the same visas. Lots of work to be had it you want it.

No we did not take any lessons...just read up on the NJ equivalent of the highway code.

As far as food is concerned pack lots of perishable goodies to be shipped with the rest of your belongings. You will miss lots of everyday things you take for granted...it does help to be able to sit down with a nice cuppa and open a packet of digestive biscuits. After a while you will find shops that sell a few British goodies.

My daughter was 11 when we moved here...she adapted very easily. We played the whole 'American adventure' up to her...so by the time we left she was really looking forward to it. I didn't allow family to become emotional around her...they are adults and can deal with it better than an 11 yr old. We said goodbye to everyone a few days before we left...we didn't want any emotional goodbyes at the airport for our daughter's sake.

Your children will be able to keep in touch with their friends via the computer. As time goes on you will probably find they start to loose touch with the UK.

Re: Move to NJA
 

There is also a newer one at the Route 17/GSP/Route 4 intersection...by the Garden State Mall. It's the largest mall in NJ. :thumbsup:

Re: Move to NJA
 

Our youngest , who is 11, has lost touch with most of her friends in the UK.They all moved to secondary school this year and so had lots of new things happening and she has new friends here and lots of new hobbies.

My two eldest, who were 14 and 16 when we moved, have kept in touch more. They are in the UK at the moment visiting friends. They tend to use My Space and things like that , which the youngest hasn't bothered with.

My children do very little compared to most of their US friends but their lives are still busier than in the UK. They get a lot more homework and everyone is involved in so much...sports, music, you name it.
Life is planned with military precision to make sure I don't forget anything!

Re: Move to NJA
 

Once my daughter started to drive she realised if she went back to the UK to visit she'd be stranded. I know it sounds bad but you get so used to just jumping in your car and going where you want...when you want...not having to rely on lifts or public transport. Not that there is much public transport where we are.

Re: Move to NJA
 

There is lots of public transport where we used to live and all their friends use it. None of them can drive.
When they get back the eldest, who is 18 now, has to take her test before she goes off to college. She doesn't want to but I don't want her to be stranded.

Re: Move to NJA
 

Quite right...it's essential to be able to drive IMO...whether it's here or the UK. The younger you learn the easier it is.

Re: Move to NJA
 

When you get here find your nearest Wegmans store. It is by far the best grocery store in NJ and they have a decent international section which has quite a bit of british food.

My children were 10 and 5 when we moved here. My 5 year old adapted straight away but my 10 year old found settling into his new school quite difficult for the first couple of months but by the end of the school year he had made lots of friends. Five years later both of them absolutely love life over here and although they love going back to England to visit they can't wait to get back 'home' to NJ.

Re: Move to NJA
 

Kings supermarkets are also good...although few and far between and they are only in northern NJ. Up until a year or so ago they were owned by M&S.

Re: Move to NJA
 

Bring lots of deodorant and toiletries. I think the UK stuff is much nicer than the stuff here.
Lots of goodies from Boots and Superdrug.

Re: Move to NJA
 

You get used to finding toiletries that are just as good...although it may take months or years!! Deodorants are another matter...I like sprays but here it's mostly sticks...so I always bring some back from the UK. Imperial Leather soap is a must to bring over.

Toilet rolls are another thing to get used to...there is no Andrex equivalent here. :eek:

Re: Move to NJA
 

We have to use leaves:rofl:

We used to go to France and Spain a lot and I used to bring shower gels and soap back from there. They were lovely. I like perfumed things, not fruity smelling things. I haven't found anything I really like here. However, Sephora is comming to our local mall:thumbsup:
We do have an Ulta and that has nice smelly stuff but it's a bit of a trek and we always spend too much.

Re: Move to NJA
 

Sephora's been in NJ for years now...I like Bath and Body Works too and of course Body Shop. Like you I don't care for fruity fragrances...or the unperfumed stuff...my fav is Vanilla.

Re: Move to NJA
 

We have a Sephora in the city but again it's a trek, now it will be 5 mins away.
I'd forgotton Bath and Body Works! I like their Vanilla, Brown sugar. and the Cherry Blossom. Having said I don't like fruity smells I do like their fig room fragrance and the Midnight Pommegranate.

The one smell I really like here, in the Autumn, is pumpkin spice.
Our nearest Body Shop is in the airport and you can only get to it if you have a boarding pass:mad: I suppose I could order on line.

Back in the UK I liked Virgin Vie stuff too

Re: Move to NJA
 

This might be your nearest NJ MVC office:

http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/Location/Passaic.htm

Re: Move to NJA
 

I prefer B&BW original vanilla line...they dropped it about 8 yrs ago when they brought out vanilla brown sugar. :(

Re: Move to NJA
 

Welcome to BE...and have a gander at the US section of the wiki, as it answers many of your questions already :)

Re: Move to NJA
 

Did you find that your children fitted in O.K with the relevant school year in the U.S. As they start their children older I wondered if British children would be too "advanced" for their appropriate year in the U.S. How do they cater for clever children over there?

Re: Move to NJA
 

She slotted in fine...although I have to say contrary to what we originally thought she was behind in some subjects...especially English grammar.

Re: Move to NJA
 

Our children were behind in Maths when we came here. Because things are taught in a different way they struggled at first (and one of my daughters was classed as gifted and talented in the UK).

Some subjects are totally different.....American history. The children here have done it since kindergarten/1st grade my children had never done it. There was a lot of catching up to do.

It took about 6 months for them all to get to grips with the system.
We are lucky because we live in a very good school district. I can only speak of my personal experience with schools here. We have the IB programme from kindergarten throught to 12th grade and in the high school we also have honours and AP classes.
I thought my girls were bright but they met their match here.

PS They also had to do English as a foreign language here, which enraged me at first but actually was very useful for them because it taught them a lot of stuff about just living here.

Re: Move to NJA
 

Whereabouts are you? What is the IB programme? Do we have honours and AP classes in New Jersey and the IB programme?

Re: Move to NJA
 

Yes our local school offers AP and IB programs.

Re: Move to NJA
 

My 5 year old was put straight into 1st grade and skipped kindergarten. I had a long chat with my son's principal and we decided it would be best socially for my 11 year old to be with children of his own age. He struggled at first dealing with inches, feet and yards, american geography and history but he soon caught up. If we were still in England he would be leaving high school this year but he has another two years to go here.

NJ has some of the best public schools in the US, the downside of that being the property taxes are the highest in the US.

Re: Move to NJA
 

The schools are going to look at this (social and emotional issues) as much as academic, maybe even more so. They don't want to put someone in a grade and have them a older / younger taller / shorter/ more/less mature then the other kids in their class.

When you have found your house and know which school you will be attending, arrange for a meeting with the principal and/or school counselor and go over the curriculum with a fine tooth comb and your kid's transcripts from back home. Generally, they'll be willing to work with you and find what's best for your child.

Re: Move to NJA
 

Sorry not answering your question but I have to ask:Are you from Braintree in Essex??

Re: Move to NJA
 

School counsellors can be very useful but they generally only do something for your kids if you keep on top of them.

Many counsellors are very young and/or inexperienced, and it's worth trying to get your kids allocated to one of the senior ones.

Re: Move to NJA
 

By displaying it on a bumper sticker!

Re: Move to NJA