Moving from UK to LA - should we go for it?
May 19th 2022, 1:19 pm
#46
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Re: Moving from UK to LA - should we go for it?
Anyway, I hope the above posters are not saying that his partner works illegally cash in hand so that 1. the IRS aren't paid 2. they work without authoriz(s)ation.
May 19th 2022, 4:12 pm
#47
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Re: Moving from UK to LA - should we go for it?
Article in todays LA Times: https://www.latimes.com/homeless-hou...Waan2dDqCzXVrc
May 20th 2022, 5:39 pm
#48
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Re: Moving from UK to LA - should we go for it?
I wouldn’t give up life in the UK for $90k for 2 anywhere in the US, least of all the west coast. Are there people here on that kind of money? Absolutely. Some are on even less. A couple making minimum wage each would be on less than that and they survive. But! They didn’t move 5000 miles for it, leaving everything and everyone behind, they likely have a solid support network of friends and family to help them out with things (grandma invites them round for a meal once a week, dad lends them use of the car, that kind of thing) to help with expenses and they are USCs so able to draw help from the government if needed (food stamps, etc). You will have zero of those options.
We are on a combined income of $180k, so double that, not in LA but not far from it and we are comfortable but we also have a 4-year-old and are all USCs. I would not want to be on much less than this. Hypothetically speaking if we were told we had to move to LA and live on $90k a year we would look for another job.
I understand people think it’s a nice experience to move to another country for a while, and the US is particularly attractive to many, but this is not an easy place to be poor. Especially with no entitlement to assistance programs.
We are on a combined income of $180k, so double that, not in LA but not far from it and we are comfortable but we also have a 4-year-old and are all USCs. I would not want to be on much less than this. Hypothetically speaking if we were told we had to move to LA and live on $90k a year we would look for another job.
I understand people think it’s a nice experience to move to another country for a while, and the US is particularly attractive to many, but this is not an easy place to be poor. Especially with no entitlement to assistance programs.
May 20th 2022, 5:45 pm
#49
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Re: Moving from UK to LA - should we go for it?
This is not a lot of money for someone who requires a visa sponsorship. It may work in H1-B category but I suspect it'd be highly scrutinized in O-1 and L-1 categories.
The cost of living is higher in the US than the UK. £75,000 =~ $93,500. I think you would need to look at a 30% increase, so a £75,000 UK salary would roughly equal to $120,000 US salary.
The cost of living is higher in the US than the UK. £75,000 =~ $93,500. I think you would need to look at a 30% increase, so a £75,000 UK salary would roughly equal to $120,000 US salary.
May 21st 2022, 9:22 pm
#50
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Re: Moving from UK to LA - should we go for it?
Instead of trying to find an affordable, accessible rental in LA...have you considered doing a house swap?
https://www.guardianhomeexchange.co.uk/homeswap/21620
Might even be able to include car exchange...
https://www.guardianhomeexchange.co.uk/homeswap/21620
Might even be able to include car exchange...
May 22nd 2022, 4:18 am
#51
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Re: Moving from UK to LA - should we go for it?
Some random thoughts after reading this entire thread. LA without a car sounds like a recipe for disaster, but - there are some pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods in LA, though I suspect they are not going to have rentals for $2200/mo. I personally love Pasadena; it has a great 'downtown', lots of restaurants and shops, easy walking to grocery stores, and a metro station. I don't know Culver City but looking at a map, it's near Santa Monica and Marina Del Rey which are both fun destinations.
Crazy idea (echoing what Pulaski said) - what about you take the job, partner stays in UK, and visits you a lot? When she flies in, plan to do some fun stuff. Can she 'work from home', which would include working from your apartment ... ? With LA being a major city, flights can be cheap. Or, maybe you take the job for a year, with your partner staying in UK (but visiting you several times still), THEN you decide whether she comes over or not (or you throw in the towel and head back).
I've been in CA for almost 40 years now. I've traveled all over the US, and lived part-time in Scottsdale, AZ for over 10 years, but I recently decided to abandon AZ and return full-time to CA. Yes, it's expensive and has a lot of issues, but it's still the most attractive place in the US, in my opinion.
Crazy idea (echoing what Pulaski said) - what about you take the job, partner stays in UK, and visits you a lot? When she flies in, plan to do some fun stuff. Can she 'work from home', which would include working from your apartment ... ? With LA being a major city, flights can be cheap. Or, maybe you take the job for a year, with your partner staying in UK (but visiting you several times still), THEN you decide whether she comes over or not (or you throw in the towel and head back).
From someone that has relatives that recently escaped from California due to outrageous rents, taxes, straffic tress and crime I have to ask why anyone in their right mind would move to the absolute worst state in the USA? If you want to move to the USA look at Tennessee or Texas. Just because a job offers a higher pay that is located in California does not make taking a job there a good choice. Ask yourself this Why are twice as many native born Californians fleeing the place as incoming replacement population? When my cousin moved from California to Florida last year, She had to fly to Dallas Texas to rent a moving truck and drive it to Southern California. There are almost none available to rent.
May 22nd 2022, 1:29 pm
#52
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Re: Moving from UK to LA - should we go for it?
Hi Steerpike,
A visitor to the USA cannot work from home (from the LA apartment) while inside the USA. So that part of your plan above would not work out.
Rene
A visitor to the USA cannot work from home (from the LA apartment) while inside the USA. So that part of your plan above would not work out.
Rene
May 22nd 2022, 5:15 pm
#53
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Re: Moving from UK to LA - should we go for it?
I do appreciate that what you say is true, but if someone were to fly into the US and casually check emails, answer a few questions, etc then no one would know.
May 22nd 2022, 5:23 pm
#54
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
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Re: Moving from UK to LA - should we go for it?
May 22nd 2022, 5:30 pm
#55
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Re: Moving from UK to LA - should we go for it?
Yeah, we all know nobody would know, but, er Site Rule 2, third sentence. 
May 22nd 2022, 5:42 pm
#56
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Re: Moving from UK to LA - should we go for it?
Although retired, I still participate in immigration attorney chat boards. The issues don't seem to be all that clear cut. Also, the rules are a tad looser when it comes to accompanying spouse.
May 22nd 2022, 7:13 pm
#57
DE-UK-NZ-IE-US... the TYP
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,855
Re: Moving from UK to LA - should we go for it?
https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the...siness-visitor
some of what you describe sound like:
“Consulting with business associates” all be it ones back in the UK.”
I am certain many business travelers to the US do that during their trips…
May 25th 2022, 5:04 am
#58
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Re: Moving from UK to LA - should we go for it?
Moved to the US in 1994, bay area CA. Never heard of the internet/world wide web at that time. Only means of research was the local book store and library and travel guides. Knew no one in bay area CA. Had no idea bay area CA was one of the most expensive areas in the US. Was dating my UK girlfriend at the time, she would not commit to joining me in the US unless marriage was on the cards. Was on an H1B visa so took the stance it was a 3 year temporary gig and would go back to the UK at the end of it.
I'm still in the bay area almost 30 years later. Back in 1994 my girlfriend worked in retail banking and hated that it was becoming very sales-ey. We got married in 1996 and she very happily gave up her banking job and joined me in the US. She was on H4 and could not work. On top of that she had never been far away from her parents for any length of time, so things could have gone horribly wrong for her. I was open minded to all of that, and prepared to go back to the UK if she was not happy. Like I said, we are still here.
Maybe the long distance relationship is a compromise worth trying. It gives you an opportunity to try out the experience without jeopardizing her career. She will get to see glimpses of the lifestyle when she visits, and that can help her determine if she could/would make the move, or if you ultimately go back to the UK.
Or you could try van life. Lots of info on the internet on that lifestyle choice. It would solve your "car" problem for LA
I'm still in the bay area almost 30 years later. Back in 1994 my girlfriend worked in retail banking and hated that it was becoming very sales-ey. We got married in 1996 and she very happily gave up her banking job and joined me in the US. She was on H4 and could not work. On top of that she had never been far away from her parents for any length of time, so things could have gone horribly wrong for her. I was open minded to all of that, and prepared to go back to the UK if she was not happy. Like I said, we are still here.
Maybe the long distance relationship is a compromise worth trying. It gives you an opportunity to try out the experience without jeopardizing her career. She will get to see glimpses of the lifestyle when she visits, and that can help her determine if she could/would make the move, or if you ultimately go back to the UK.
Or you could try van life. Lots of info on the internet on that lifestyle choice. It would solve your "car" problem for LA
May 30th 2022, 3:06 am
#59
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Re: Moving from UK to LA - should we go for it?
In theory. In practice, I bet that H1Bs are massively underpaid compared to L1 and O1. It’s the modern corporate form of slavery.
May 30th 2022, 9:59 pm
#60
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Re: Moving from UK to LA - should we go for it?
I don't know enough about L1 and O1 to have an opinion, but I came over on an H1 and was competitively paid; I was certainly within the range for my position.