Moving from UK to USA Part 2 Q
 

Hi All ,
Here is part 2 of my questions from earlier post -

-I have a good life and job in UK but the American dream is pulling me away from UK. Whenever I visit New York, Florida and Texas I feel I should live and work in America. I have loads of friends and family in America and in UK no friends and family..

What are or where your experiences? UK is better or USA? I know we have many comparisons but to sum up where life is better from your point of view.

-What is the best to transfer my saving from UK to USA? What source you have been using?

-Do I have to pay any taxes in USA when I transfer my taxable saving from UK to USA?

Thanks a lot

Re: Moving from UK to USA Part 2 Q
 

It is probably much easier, and sensible, for you to tell us what constitutes "the American dream", and then we can comment.

Otherwise the only accurate answer on the macro scale is...it depends.

Re: Moving from UK to USA Part 2 Q
 

Totally horses for courses!

In a vast country to vast to even make comparisons, and every BE'r will have a different opinion

A Starter for 10, I live in Cali, the weather is fantastic, the taxes, rent, traffic all appalling, but I love it here, what do I miss, decent bacon and rugby on the telly

Re: Moving from UK to USA Part 2 Q
 

There's a definite sense of culture shock when you first take the plunge, and it'll most likely hit you with things that you hadn't even considered before moving - we all prepare for the major changes but then you suddenly realise there are a huge number of minor changes which can build up and become frustrating! Just one example - not having a clue which brands to buy in the supermarket, leading to a lot of trial and error and wasted money :D Another thing that I have struggled with is not knowing how the local bureaucracy works and who should be contacted for which civic issue etc.

As the others have said, it truly depends on a) what your expectations are and b) where in the US you're moving to. The streets certainly aren't paved in gold and to a certain extent it's a case of 'same shit, different bucket' but at the end of the day the experience you have will be dependent on the effort you make to adapt, so long as you have realistic expectations.

Re: Moving from UK to USA Part 2 Q
 

Use a money transfer specialist: transferwise, worldfirst, xe.com are often mentioned here. I have used TorFx and got excellent service.
No you do not pay US taxes on the sums transferred.

Re: Moving from UK to USA Part 2 Q
 

I used xe.com to transfer around $250K and was very pleased with the service, exchange rate etc.

Re: Moving from UK to USA Part 2 Q
 

Your other thread indicates that you are definitely coming to the US. Is that not so? If you are as undecided as you sound, you should stop worrying about moving your savings etc. at this time, and just experience life here for a while before making up your mind. No one can say how another person is going to react to living here (which, by the way, is very different from just visiting). Nothing is "better" here, it is just "different."

Re: Moving from UK to USA Part 2 Q
 

Piece of string question that's a bit pointless. Someone moving from Devon is going to have a massive difference to moving to NYC in cost of living and lifestyle.

It's basically the same shit, different bucket.

Shit place to be poor, far more manageable if you're not.

Re: Moving from UK to USA Part 2 Q
 

She summarized it nicely. :nod:

Choose your location in the US wisely otherwise the weather will try to freeze you in the winter, or roast you in the summer, and in the vast majority of the US, both, in the same year. The weather may also try to drown you or blow you away. US weather should not be underestimated when you come from somewhere like the UK where the weather is a topic of conversation not a homicidal manic that will try to kill you in multiple different ways.

Re: Moving from UK to USA Part 2 Q
 

Wasn't there a post recently saying that they hate it here so much , it's the worse thing ever moving to the US ?

Re: Moving from UK to USA Part 2 Q
 

I have mentioned it before, weather wise I think only the PNW has similar weather to the UK, gets to around freezing on the odd day and maybe gets in the high 90's (30's) in the summer. AC is optional.

Re: Moving from UK to USA Part 2 Q
 

Kroger is no Tesco, Walmart is no Asda, much less variety of good food in the US in my experience.

Re: Moving from UK to USA Part 2 Q
 

I agree with all of this.

I love where I live in the US. The weather does try to kill me, but I've made my peace with that. (Well, until March. I will spend the whole of March feeling suicidal).

There are plenty of parts of the US I would hate to live in, but the parts I have lived in so far I've enjoyed.

Re: Moving from UK to USA Part 2 Q
 

The "Dream" is what you make of it......just like anywhere you live. America has it's pros and cons and family and friends are far more important that whether you are in the US or UK.

Google this, there are lots of ways, wire transfer or FX companies.

There is no tax on the transfer, but you will pay UK tax on any capital gains you have and be liable to US tax on them too if you are US resident when you sell.

Re: Moving from UK to USA Part 2 Q
 

Hi All ,
Many thanks for all the great responses much appreciated. My respond to the post is below.

‘’The American dream" for me is – More earning and savings potential, job opportunities ( due to size of USA) , Affordable and Bigger houses, Better quality of life , reasonable cost of living , good weather ( I know it snows heavily in NJ but you still get the good portion of sun shine), Florida is 2 hours away , friends and family in USA . I think that’s it from my American dream.. Also I can live without Tesco, Sainsbury and Asda .

I will appreciate if you guys can share some major pros and cons based on your experiences of moving to USA (apart from free NHS service) .

I am definitely moving to states. Its one life so will give it a go .

Thanks
V