Moving to Florida
 

"I wanna move to Florida cos I love it soooooo much when been here on holiday" -posts you think? Nope, how wrong you could be! ;)

A week ago never even dreamed of coming here. And then when we landed, it was raining so much, we were doing less than 40 on the highway. And it carried on raining for another 2 days. Not fun, or what one would expect from Florida. (especially with very little knowledge of the place).

And reading all the hurdles and problems people have with visas and whatnots, I wouldn't move here voluntarily. Well, out my pocket anyway.

Yet here we are, visa application in (L1A) And house on the pipeline (as in offer in, just going back and forth with price. And yes, I know we can't buy it without Ssn, but luckily there are LEGAL ways and means around it ... Especially when hubby's company are rather keen for him to relocate).

So just saying hello really and will keep an eye on this board to see useful info and what not to do.

Getting excited about our new life in the near future ...:thumbsup:

Jojo

Re: Moving to Florida
 

Hello

Welcome to BE & to Florida! Which part?

Rich

Re: Moving to Florida
 

Welcome to BE and good luck!

Though probably didn't want to be buying straight off as it's never a good idea, hope it works out :)

Re: Moving to Florida
 

:welcome: to BE.

I agree with Bob...best to rent first for several reasons. Plenty of Brits buy property to use in the winter months...I doubt they have a SSN.

Re: Moving to Florida
 

Really? That'll be news to the thousands who legally buy property in the US without a SSN.

Ian

Re: Moving to Florida
 

Good use of the smiley troll. :)

Re: Moving to Florida
 

What I should have said Is that we can't get a mortgage here without Ssn, or that's what we were told. And buying a holiday home is a little different than moving to a different country permanently to work. And we don't want to rent at all, considering the house we are looking at buying is twice the size and half as much in pounds compared to our house in the uk (living in Surrey has its down sides) so we are happy to invest... Plus a small mortgage gets credit records going nicely... as we are still debating if we should get any credit cards other then the one each we have through our bank in the uk. And not often would you find a house big enough for our family (6 of us plus 2 cats and a med size dog) that the rent would be cheaper than getting a small mortgage. Usually it's the other way round, as long as you have a big enough down payment. And they didn't have any rental property in the right school catchment area anyhow... So our way might not be right for everyone, but it's what suits us :o

And moving about an hour south of Orlando, Brevard county.

So off to home we head tomorrow from the floridian sun to start packing the house and sorting everything out back in the uk ... Woohoo! So excited now! :p

Re: Moving to Florida
 

Good luck...but it's still usually a bad idea unless you've lived in the area for a while.

It's all the other things like realising the maintenance costs, property taxes, running costs with AC in particular for Florida, if HOA's are involved, those hassles too, and then flood/hurricane insurance etc.

Especially when selling a house is so much more expensive here compared to the UK.

You'd also want to sort out credit cards. A mortgage will help, but it's varied as well as length that builds your credit and it affects everything here, from needing to put down deposits on your utilities, to the rates for your loans, insurance and pretty much everything else.

You also don't need a SSN to get a mortgage, decent broker should be able to help. Of course you won't get the best rates going and it won't build you credit history until you have one, but without history, you wouldn't get best rates anyway.

Re: Moving to Florida
 

Welcome.

There's stuff on credit in the Wiki here but for starters:
1. I'm assuming you don't have any US credit history. The chances of getting a mortgage without one are rather slim but not impossible if you have a huge deposit and there's an expat agency who claim to be able to help. [Edit - and as Bob says, high interest rates (because you're an unknown quantity)]
2. Same for credit cards. You ought to be able to get a secured card, by putting down a deposit which becomes your credit limit. If you've had AMEX for a good few months then you ought to be able to get an unsecured card through them - the official line is that you must have had the card for one year but some here have done it in 3-4 months. It also needs to be a genuine AMEX card and not a reseller backed by AMEX.

Basically your UK credit history is worthless to all except small, family businesses. My 999 Experian score in the UK worked in the latter case (house rental and car loan) but meant nothing to the big boys (credit cards etc).

Re: Moving to Florida
 

Out of interest then, how did this come about? Company in the UK, got offered a transfer to the US? Have you got a green card written into the contract, if appropriate? Any idea of timescales, or when did the application go in? Good luck!

Re: Moving to Florida
 

Sounds exciting! So you are just here scoping out the area? The visa is underway and the house is picked. Sounds like you are all set.

I was under the impression that a small mortgage could be obtained once one had a SSN and a credit history. I was not aware getting a mortgage would get the credit records going, that would have been useful when I arrived.

Do keep us up to date how things are going as lots of people read this to gain valuable information. Feel free to ask questions. Many people here have more knowledge than me.:)

edit: some of them replied while I was typing. I am a bit slow:p

Re: Moving to Florida
 

You start to build up credit history as soon as you pick up credit...it doesn't mean anything till you've hit six months mark when it starts to get reported, but won't count for much till you have a years worth of history.

One line of credit alone also doesn't mean very much, but a mortgage is better than just a credit card.

Getting a mortgage without a SSN is possible, generally harder to get, generally with a really shit rate and requiring massive deposits, but without a SSN you won't build up any history.

Re: Moving to Florida
 

Visa application went in few days ago, and yes, we were here scoping.... On company expenses. The company is American that bought the small British company 18 months ago that my husband works for. Now they're closing that particular office completely and they asked if we'd like to relocate. I was rather against it before coming here, merely on the basis that it was a big unknown, like I said before I've never been here before. Now all for it ;) and yes, green card is in the offer letter, they are obliged to start the process within 3 months of us being eligible for it. And time scales as I've understood is early/late fall

Now I'm looking forward to a new experience as we've been far too long in the uk. We used to move a lot, We have lived in Spain, Belgium, luxembourgh, Germany (twice), scandinavia, and even Brazil. We know there's going to be a lot things that we don't know about and might even shock us, but life is about adventures, and we are ready for this one. We are both still young (early thirties) and are willing to risk things for this experience. It's not as risky as it might sound to some as my husband is in a good position in his job (he will be made VP) and we also have rental property in the uk that we will leave behind, so if we want to go back, there is somewhere to go to. Plus I will always have a place to go to in my country (I'm actually Scandinavian) that we use at the moment as a holiday home back there and I'm planning to go during summer vacation months with my kids when we live here.

Like I said in my second post, the way we do things doesn't suit everyone, or most likely no one, and I would never suggest doing it this way, as renting is a good way to start in a new place (my sisters hubby has also been asked to move to Florida, and I did say that renting is the way forward. But they don't have animals and only 2 children, so it's a lot easier for them to find a right size place). But we have moved around and do know to expect hurdles and problems, and as long as one doesn't expect things to be like they are back home, it makes things smoother. We have got the added bonus of me being Scandinavian, and the way they do things here, is more like the way they do it back home.

Well, for the next few months there won't be much to report. I will be reading things here to get tips and advice. And whilst waiting our visas and and everything to be sorted, I will be going back to my country as I don't want one of boys to go to school in England (he would have started reception) and don't see much point in that as they start that year later here and in my country not for another 3 years. So easier transition in regards to schools.

Gosh, I'm just rambling on and trying to justify our decisions, when I know no one will quite understand our decision on most things. So will stop now, and thank you all for you advice, look forward to more as anything and everything is helpful, even if we won't follow it. But at least it will give another perspective to look at things ;P

Jojo

Re: Moving to Florida
 

Sounds like you have a strong basis for moving and have things well in hand! Good luck and keep us updated.

Re: Moving to Florida
 

Good luck then :)

Hope the company will be stumping for a good accountant, your taxes are going to be a nightmare to deal with, houses in two foreign countries and all that foreign income :D

Re: Moving to Florida
 

You become eligible the day you enter the US... I hope they understand that. Once you have your GCs, you're no longer tied to the company and can simply vanish anywhere you want in America! Sounds like a great adventure to me! :) Good luck.

Ian

Re: Moving to Florida
 

errr doesnt that invalidate the L1 ??????

Re: Moving to Florida
 

I was wondering about that too, and the H1 has filled the quota...but the OP has everything in hand, so what's to worry about.

Re: Moving to Florida
 

whats to worry is they buy a house then find no visa !!!!!!!!!

Re: Moving to Florida
 

I suppose sarcasm doesn't always convey so well... :/

Re: Moving to Florida
 

oh I got it !!!!

Re: Moving to Florida
 

Hmm ... Be nice!

L1 applies as office is still open for another 9 months and doing this now. We know there will be hurdles and problems we face, but why worry about them before they happen? Worst case scenario is we don't get a visa, but the house buying process we started doesn't matter, as for now, the company owner is buying it with his personal ltd name and then we buy it off him when we are there with all the paperwork. They are rather desperate for us to get there, so doing anything and everything to get us there.

And if it doesn't work out, we just go to Scandinavia, like our original plan was to do anyhow.

I know you are trying to make sure I've thought of everything, and that I appreciate. But even you can't predict that well what might or might not happen. I do appreciate all the help I get, but when it starts going into sarcasm as if we are looking into this through rose tinted glasses, it starts being unhelpful. Said it before, saying it again; many things could go wrong! But you lot are there, aren't you? And nothing is signed over to us, until we are actually there to stay. So we don't have much to loose in the house front and if the CFO of the comp wanted to do it that way to make sure we get the house I liked, why not? We expect delays, problems, some teething troubles and set backs, they always happen no matter how much and well you plan, so isn't that the right way to look at it rather than expect things to go smoothly? And I guess mentioning that when we buy the house, apart from tiny mortgage for the sake of it, we are going to be mortgage free. No car loans, no credit cards/loans to start off with, no HOA, $5k yearly tax on house, estimated monthly costs calculated by British utilities plus air con added to that and we should still be a lot better off than here. But then we aren't doing it for the money. Experience is what we want, we might never be offered something like this again, so whilst we and the kids are young, this is the time to do it.

And speaking of utilities, something we should know in that front? Apart from expensive mobile contracts and that receiving end pays calls too ... Do you need satellite, is that a norm or what? In uk we now have digiboxes if one doesn't want to pay for expensive sky channels. How about there? How does it work? Or is that completely different in each state (of course it is, duh me) Maybe RICH knows?

Back home now, so will start process from this end ... Medical records, vaccinations and quotes for removals ... Fun -NOT- !?!!?!

Re: Moving to Florida
 

In 9 months, your L-1 may become invalid.


Well then, you've got this all sorted out. No worries.


Nobody needs satellite unless they're in an underserved cable area. Some people prefer it, others don't.

Ian

Re: Moving to Florida
 

Mobile: ting.com

TV: netflix.com with a Roku box.

Internet: there's usually a duopoly of the local telco and cable provider. Ignore the bundled deals with TV and Phone and just take the cheapest Internet connection. Be sure to buy the modem rather than rent it.

Home Phone: Obi110 and Google Voice

There you go! All sorted! Next, please!

Re: Moving to Florida
 

"Norm" here, is cable for tv & internet (and landline if required). A couple of satellite options are available. I have a dvr/cable converter box and wifi modem rented from Brighthouse, our local cable co. You might have Comcast. Also Verizon FIOS in some areas-fibre optic cable. All alternatives offer mostly the same options.

Re: Moving to Florida
 

But you're rich. Although paying all those bills is likely to make you poor.

Re: Moving to Florida
 

Hope it works out for you and yes, it is a great adventure. Just an expensive one if it doesn't work out.

Sure you can get a L1 easily enough, but what are your plans once the company owner transfers the house to you, closes the UK business and leaving you out of status? Even if they applied for a greencard straight away, the chances are more than likely that you won't get it within the 9 months.

As for utilities, you don't really have a choice of providers, so there's nothing to worry about there. There's only choice when you go with online options and fancy the extra hassle. Cable/phone/internet as a bundle tends to run $100-150 a month regardless of who, and only goes up if you want faster internet and more movie channels or sports stuff.

Re: Moving to Florida
 

Agree. It is not cheap, or even good value - I am going to look into your suggestions!

Re: Moving to Florida
 

The company has offices in 13 different countries and as long as my husband will carry on dealing with at least one foreign office, Whilst working in USA, it is okay ... That will happen, as midlands office is where they are basing most of things from the office he is now ... And he is in charge of teams in other countries too. And what I've understood from the rules, it's okay.

3)Â Â Â The Sponsoring Company Must Be a Qualifying Organization-One That Is Doing Business in the United States and One Other Country During the Whole Period of the Transfer.
The "qualifying organization" concept arises from the USCIS concern that the L1 category will be used by owners of small businesses abroad who "transfer" themselves to the United States, in the process shutting down the foreign operation which can no longer function without their physical presence abroad. Under USCIS rules, the transferring company must continue to do business abroad during the entire period of the alien's stay in the United States as an L1 transferee. The overseas operation can be carried out in any of the acceptable corporate forms - parent, subsidiary, affiliate, or branch office.


And maybe just believe the comp laywer who deals with these things when he says it should be all ok. What do I know? And what do I really need to know?! Not much to be honest.

Thanks for the utilities advice, will look into it and see what's what.

:thumbsup:

Re: Moving to Florida
 

I would 100% agree in renting for at least 1 year before buying a place. We rented for a year and said we would do another 12 month rental but then made the mistake of going to look at a house that we liked so we bought it - bad move in our case. A little while later things went sour with my OH job and I decided to move back to UK so we decided to sell. Thankfully, because we decided to do a "for sale by owner", we didn't lose our shirts, maybe only a button or two, but oh how we wished we hadn't been so rash as to buy. The homeowners insurance in Florida (we lived on South East Coast, Martin County), is at best $2,000 and thats with basic cover.
Like you we holidayed in Florida for 18 years before moving out there on the H1B visa and its very true what people say, living somewhere is absolutely nothing like living there 24/7. We had a good couple of years but for me, two years was more than enough.
Hope everything works out for you though.:thumbsup:

Re: Moving to Florida
 

If you had mentioned that 3 days ago, people probably wouldn't have been so concerned about your visa or it's possible ongoing validity. Just sayin'. :)

Ian

Re: Moving to Florida
 

Also could have mentioned the fact CFO is buying the house for now, and then transferring the house to our names when we are there with money that is actually ours that the company 'owes' us in shares and sale profits, and thus we aren't really as such going to be out of pocket. Maybe that would have stopped people being so worried and negative in our way of buying a house straight off? That we intend to keep on as holiday home even if we do come back sooner rather than later. Could have mentioned that too, or the fact that we are not rich but not doing too badly either. And maybe even hint how my husband did manage to put in the offer letter that he signed a clause about him being paid 12 full calendar months from the day of commencing work with them ... So have a quarantine of sorts for a salary for the next year. But chose not to mention any of those things, until felt the need to justify after so much negativity.

My sister is having an opportunity to move to Florida too but never even dream of suggesting anything else then them renting. It's going to be a shock enough for them to realise how different the lifestyle is and how they'd need to leave most of their electronics home (she does love her new dyson she only got few months ago ... Unless its dual one, which I doubt). I on the other hand can't wait to buy new stuff, American size washing mach and tumble drier, new vacuum and hair straighteners plus huge tvs.

Like I've said few times already, we do EXPECT some problems, and things not going to plan, we have done moves from country to country enough times to know that. We also know we do things our way, a way that doesn't suit most people and thus I'd never recommend doing it this way to anyone. But houses are our thing, we invest into them for the future, and that's what we see the house as in long term. Unless we decide otherwise.

Jojo

Re: Moving to Florida
 

I dare say, you're probably right!


Respectfully, we've seen many people crash and burn because of far less! If questions are asked, it's because of possible pitfalls that you need to be aware of. Please understand that no one here wants to see you fail... that's all. :) Such questions may be annoying to you, but they are asked with a genuine concern for your future.

Ian