Relocating to the US on L1 visa
Feb 17th 2015, 8:12 pm
#17
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2014
Location: Chicago
Posts: 61
Re: Relocating to the US on L1 visa
Feb 18th 2015, 12:31 am
#18
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2013
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 263
Re: Relocating to the US on L1 visa
Congratulations on your forthcoming move - exciting times! We moved here on L1/L2 visas just over six months ago.
We actually signed the lease on our house before we got here - with no US credit history! We had a friend view a couple, we applied explaining our situation (including a family "resume" and our UK Experian report). We had to glamp for some time while I stuff made it's long journey from Southampton to San Francisco, but it was fine!
We used Allied. No idea how competitive they are, as my husband's company footed the bill, but they were very good, very thorough and all but one pretty old and worthless vase arrived in one piece!
We applied on the day after we arrived, accompanied by our company-provided relocation agent, who stood in line from 8am to get us an early appointment! No problems at all and SSN arrived a couple of weeks later. Although some banks may let you open a bank account without a SSN, ours wouldn't (presumably because its checking account is interest-bearing). However, we managed with our brokerage account that we'd opened before arriving in the weeks while we waited for the required SSN.
1. We are planning to do a house finding trip for a week or so shortly before my planned move date. I'm hoping that with her US credit record, SSN and such we should be able to rent somewhere in the area to get us started. Is it realistic to get a house sorted in this time frame so I can come back to the UK, get my stuff shipped and then move?
2. In terms of international movers, I'm trying to get a quote out of Pickfords as they looked reasonable from their site, if anyone has dealt with them I'd appreciate hearing what you think. I'm moving from a 1 bed flat with no furniture, so I'm hoping it won't be too much.
We applied on the day after we arrived, accompanied by our company-provided relocation agent, who stood in line from 8am to get us an early appointment! No problems at all and SSN arrived a couple of weeks later. Although some banks may let you open a bank account without a SSN, ours wouldn't (presumably because its checking account is interest-bearing). However, we managed with our brokerage account that we'd opened before arriving in the weeks while we waited for the required SSN.
